With a deep, gracious porch spanning the front of the house to catch the breezes off nearby Lake Pontchartrain, and cushioned swings and benches at either end, the gallery of the Laurent-Cottage in Old Mandeville beckons with the embodiment of classic Southern charm from a lofty perch 11 feet in the air.

It looks like it has always been there, basking quietly in its own gentility.

No, so. Just five years ago, the now graceful cottage was a derelict, rotting hulk. Having taken on six feet of water during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the cottage was left to fester until Dr. Brian and Kristy Ball saw its potential in 2020. Their renovation more than doubled its size, with indoor and outdoor spaces to suit their relaxed lifestyle.

A plaque secured to the home’s wrought metal gate identifies T

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