A LOVE LETTER TO
TRAVEL AND DESIGN
ARCHITECTURALLY INTERESTING & HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT HOMES, THOUGHTFULLY RESTORED FOR DESIGN-MINDED TRAVELERS
Our Homes
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BoulignY
UPTOWN
Sleeps up to 6
A historic Victorian home in Uptown New Orleans, thoughtfully crafted for the well-traveled tastemaker. -

Luna
LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 16
An 1800s Italianate double-gallery mansion in the Garden District, tucked beneath Prytania Street’s iconic oak trees. -

Lyra
LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 18Lyra is a restored 19th-century home, offering nine elegantly designed suites and courtyard rooms rooted in history and shaped for modern living.
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Chartres 1883
BYWATER
Sleeps up to 12
A turn-of-the-century corner store and carriage house along the Mississippi River, reimagined as a six-bedroom retreat for creatives and food lovers. -

The Muses
LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 42The Muses is a beautifully restored collection of three 19th-century homes—Lyra, Luna, and Solara—in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, offering twenty-one thoughtfully designed rooms.
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The Avery Mansion
GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 18A historic Greek Revival guesthouse in New Orleans’ Garden District, restored as a refined nine-bedroom retreat with grand interiors and enchanting courtyards.
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Chartres Main House
BYWATER
Sleeps up to 8A restored late-19th-century feed store in New Orleans’ vibrant Bywater neighborhood, reimagined as a six-bedroom retreat with a garden for gatherings and outdoor moments.
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Chartres Carriage House
BYWATER
Sleeps up to 4A historic carriage house in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood, reimagined as an intimate two-bedroom retreat near the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street.
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Constance Townhouse
LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 10A luxury five-bedroom townhouse in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, designed as a spacious three-story retreat with a private courtyard plunge pool and balcony views.
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Thalia Townhouse
LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
Sleeps up to 10A luxury five-bedroom townhouse in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, offering a spacious three-story retreat with a private courtyard plunge pool and balcony.
-celebrations, gatherings & retreats-
From intimate ceremonies to creative retreats, our homes offer a beautiful setting for all meaningful gatherings.
-your host-
FOUNDER
Melissa Shelton
Melissa Shelton is a doyenne of the design industry, a multidisciplinary creative, real estate investor, business strategist, and founder of Dear Valentine. Before launching DV, Melissa led sales and marketing for global design brands including Artek, Carl Hansen & Son, Design Within Reach, and Vitra. Today, she devotes her time to creating memorable experiences for design-minded travelers and offers consulting for fellow investors and entrepreneurs.