Harnessing the power of design to uplift the human spirit and located two blocks from the French Quarter and Reinventing the Crescent, International House is the boutique hotel in America's boutique city.

Sean Cummings and LM Pagano, whose private clients include Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage, created a sophisticated sanctuary, a mecca of sorts for the forward-looking artisans, entrepreneurs and visitors who are reinventing the great city of New Orleans. The hotel, loa its candlelit bar, Entrepreneurs' Row and Start-Up New Orleans radiate this city's signature sense of place yet herald a bright new time.

New Talent. New Ideas. New O. Food. Music. Architecture. Film. Digital Media. Sports. Joyful culture. Opportunity. And optimism. Inspired as they are admired, there are layers upon layers to discover.

The Lobby

Alive with the energy of contemporary New Orleans, the lobby offers 23' ceilings, ornate pilasters and intimate groupings of furniture hand crafted by local artisans.

Designed by Los Angeles-based LM Pagano, the hotel's lobby glows in tones of carnelian and opulent antiqued velvets. Hinting at the ritual and religiosity that season New Orleans’ mysterious character, “The candles and floral offerings transform a Senegalese bench into a sacred altar.” says Pagano, the designer of choice for Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp. Tapping the sensuality, magic, mystery, and elegance, Pagano created a soulful and inventive expression of new New Orleans style.

History

The International House building in New Orleans is a timelessly beautiful Beaux-Arts building. For three major incarnations, it has served as both a local institution and international destination.

The first major incarnation began in 1906 as the Canal Louisiana Bank & Trust Co. Designed by architect General Allison Owen, it housed one of the leading financial institutions of its day, an era of remarkable wealth creation in New Orleans.

In 1943, visionary businessman Archie Jewell renovated the building to become "The International House", the first World Trade Center in the world. Dedicated to world peace, trade and understanding, it thrived for more than 50 years as New Orleans' most prominent business address.

In 1998 entrepreneur Sean Cummings purchased the building. He and architect Brooks Graham created a quintessentially boutique hotel around the idea of a forward-looking New Orleans. The building continues to reassert itself as the iconic local institution and international travel destination of its day.

The hotel remains the culmination of a passionate creative process. Cummings and Graham reached out to local artisans and wove into the hotel the eclectic mix of objects - old, new, bought, found and bequeathed - which is contemporary New Orleans style. Whether it is a backlit front desk inspired by a field of Louisiana wild Irises, the imaginative use of indigenous woods and metals, the warm glow of flickering candlelight, handcrafted chandeliers, or S. Pablo & Son mineral water bottles, one can explore the ensemble that is International House.

Renovated in the Fall 2007, by Los Angeles-based designer LM Pagano, designer of choice for Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp, the two suites reflect Pagano’s self-defined style: "... pristine but tattered grace, coupled with unexpected moments that radiate this city's unique sense of time and place". Cummings and Pagano infuse the hotel with a more sensual and elegant sense of glamour, in keeping with the increasing sophistication of International House’s clientele. Evident influence from Africa, France, Spain, and Italy meets a distinctly contemporary style inspiring a new New Orleans enthusiastically taking shape.