A LOVE LETTER TO

TRAVEL AND DESIGN

ARCHITECTURALLY INTERESTING & HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT HOMES, THOUGHTFULLY RESTORED FOR DESIGN-MINDED TRAVELERS

Our Homes

  • 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 18

    Lyra is a restored 19th-century home, offering nine elegantly designed suites and courtyard rooms rooted in history and shaped for modern living.

  • 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 42

    The 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.

  • The Avery Mansion

    GARDEN DISTRICT
    Sleeps up to 18

    A historic Greek Revival guesthouse in New Orleans’ Garden District, restored as a refined nine-bedroom retreat with grand interiors and enchanting courtyards.

  • Chartres Main House

    BYWATER
    Sleeps up to 8

    A 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.

  • Chartres Carriage House

    BYWATER
    Sleeps up to 4

    A historic carriage house in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood, reimagined as an intimate two-bedroom retreat near the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street.

  • Constance Townhouse

    LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
    Sleeps up to 10

    A 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.

  • Thalia Townhouse

    LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT
    Sleeps up to 10

    A 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.