I am so excited to be interviewing designer, tastemaker, stylist, and writer Valorie Hart. Valorie is from the old guard (I mean the old blogging guard of which I am a member). Valorie penned the much-loved blog Visual Vamp where she inspired countless readers with her colorful bespoke style in both her home and wardrobe.There is nothing cookie-cutter about Valorie. She has a bohemian spirit and soul. Let’s get this party started. Oh, and did I mention she has a wonderful new book out? Meet Valorie Hart the Vibrant Designer, Stylist and Author Behind Bohemian Soul

Meet Valorie Hart, the Vibrant Designer, Stylist and Author Behind Bohemian Soul

You started the Visual Vamp blog many years ago but that has now evolved to Instagram, and Facebook which lend themselves more visually to showcasing your inspiration. What do you miss most about blogging and what has surprised you about the present-day platforms you utilize?

I miss the writing. No one really wants to take the time to read on social media. There is nothing surprising about present-day social media platforms.

You currently reside in the small beach town of Bay St. Louis, yet you lived many years in NOLA with your beloved first-husband, Alberto Paz, who passed away suddenly in 2014. Tell us about your life with him as a Tango dancer and teacher of Argentine Tango socially, along with the strong impact you both had on salon Tango, and share with us some of your fondest memories of New Orleans’ unique soul. 

Well, there are so many memories of the tango life I had with Alberto. It could fill a book. We danced and taught tango all over the world. We wrote a book together called Gotta Tango. We published a tango magazine called El Firulete. We organized ten annual tango festivals. We sponsored workshops for teachers from Buenos Aires. We had a dance space in New Orleans called The House of Tango where we taught classes and hosted a weekly milonga (a tango dance party). We traveled to Buenos Aires to dance tango.

In 2013, you wrote your first book with photographer Sara Essex Bradley entitled: House Proud: Unique Home Design, Louisiana, all about experiencing the joy of decor and design, restoration and rebirth, color and comfort – all in the enchanting locale of Louisiana. As a New Orleans-based interior designer, you give a private tour of the spectacular residences in the state. How did you land on the idea of “House Proud” and the concept for this first book?

You can purchase House Proud Here. It is still quite relevant, I have it in my library.

It was after Hurricane Katrina and Sara and I wanted to showcase the comeback of New Orleans. People were rebuilding and redecorating. We included some beautiful homes outside the city limits at the suggestion of the publisher.

You love all that New Orleans has to offer so much, that you wrote a second book about it: Bohemian Soul: The Vanishing Interiors of New Orleans, which is a celebration of the unique decorative style of New Orleans, featuring the artistic rooms of seventeen unique residences rich with patina, family heirlooms, and history. How did this publication come to fruition and what did you enjoy most about the process?

If you love New Orleans style you can purchase Bohemian Soul here. I have mine on order!

Sara and I have been working together since 2011, producing editorial content for shelter magazines. During these years we had access to many incredible homes. We noticed a trend of a kind of design gentrification taking hold, and the artistic, one-of-a-kind interiors so uniquely New Orleans were starting to fall by the wayside. We wanted to document and archive these extraordinary homes while they still existed. A book grew out of our love for New Orleans that we saw vanishing. We hope Bohemian Soul will inspire a continuation of an ethos that defines what is loved about New Orleans.

Share with us what you can about your new book, Bohemian By the Bay, launching soon…

Bay St. Louis is in many ways a continuation of New Orleans. I call it New Orleans East-East. There are artists, writers, musicians, and all manner of creative types living here. Their homes reflect this and are camera worthy with stories to tell. Like Bohemian Soul is a Valentine to New Orleans, Bohemian by The Bay is a love note to an extraordinary community. It will be a keepsake for residents and visitors alike. Sara and I are enjoying working on another project together.

Like most American cities, New Orleans has become a rapidly developing, distinctive city. What do you fear most that it might lose during this transition?

I don’t really fear for the old girl. She is a resilient original. People who live in New Orleans will always have that something extra, that soul that transcends the ordinary. 

You found love a second time and are renovating your new home in Bay, St. Louis, Mississippi with your husband and even have an AirBnb Designer Beach Cottage called the Love Shack in Old Town that you rent out to visitors. What do you love most about this new town and why is the cottage so special?

The town is vibrant. The location beautiful. It’s only 50 miles from New Orleans. We live in one of the few remaining old houses standing after Hurricane Katrina. It’s of 1870-1880 vintage, with a separate cottage at the rear of the property. Dave was a contractor specializing in restoring historic homes in New Orleans. We both bring our talents to fixing up this amazing old house. The Love Shack is a way to generate a little money and be a wonderful place to host friends and family. The Love Shack was renovated by Dave utilizing many old architectural elements he collected over the years. The décor is not the usual beach theme, but features my one-of-a-kind mix of furnishings and art. 

Author, designer, photographer, dancer, creator, teacher, you name it, you have done it, are doing it, or are planning on doing it. What are you working on that might surprise us?

I’m considering writing an autobiography, entitled “Tales of Me in the City”.

Tell us all about your interior decorative style.

Color, art, books, flowers are my touchstones; combining vintage, antique, and contemporary furnishings is a specialty.  

How would you describe your own personal style? It’s ever-changing yet you always remain true to yourself.

For years being a tango dancer defined my personal style. Before that, living in New York inspired many looks. I was a downtown girl, a rock singer, a disco baby, an art student. Now living at the beach makes for a more casual approach. The book tour for Bohemian Soul allowed me to splash out with some fun outfits. 

Share with us your hair tips – it always looks gorgeous.

Well, I never shied away from hair color and interesting hairstyles. I had deep blue hair for the past few years, but the upkeep at the beach was tedious. I have let my hair go natural for a woman of my age. I still want edge, so I depend on a haircut for that.

World travel and domestic travel – what are your most favorite places to visit/revisit, and where haven’t you explored that’s on your list?

These days I prefer to stay close to home. I love my house and garden and dog and cat and Dave. Alberto and I traveled all over the USA and to so many countries for twenty years. Dave and I did a great road trip out West, and to his home state of South Carolina. Now if I make a yearly trip to New York it suffices.

You often share snaps of kitties and pups – tell us a bit more about your furry friends!

Kitty Kitty Bang Bang a one eyed, bobtail tuxedo cat was chosen by Alberto. Dave and I got a rescue dog two years ago that he named Lily. She’s two years old and 40 pounds of love and fun. They both give us so much pleasure and purpose.

Do you have any special hobbies that we might not know about?

I never was one for having hobbies.

If you could give your younger self any words of advice, what would they be?

I wouldn’t presume to give advice. The younger self has to find its own way by experience.

Share your words to live by.

Truth, beauty, freedom, and most of all love.

I hope you enjoyed Meet Valorie Hart, the Vibrant Designer, Stylist and Author Behind Bohemian Soul. Big love to Valorie for sharing her spirit , her style and her lust for life.

If you would like to see Bay St Louis through Valorie’s eyes you can rent her airbnb here.

You can follow Valorie on Instagram here , you can follow her on Facebook here. If you would like to read Valorie’s old blogposts (they are really good), you can catch up here.