The City Club building has grown and changed in many ways since it opened its doors as a men’s club in 1957. But before the days of bustling meal services and rowdy social gatherings, the North Boulevard building had another life—or, rather, lives.

Built in 1894 with eye-catching Renaissance Revival architecture, the structure originally served as a post office. Later, in 1935, the building was repurposed for use as a city hall. It wasn’t until 20 years later that the men’s club would take over the space, opening two years later with a design scheme that would largely remain until the first major renovation in 1994.

Now, the club’s next generation is beginning with the reimagining of several spaces dotted throughout the building’s three floors. City Club general manager Zafer “Z” Goncu’s vision for the renovation focuses on the more intimate spaces that lie outside of the club’s well-known grand ballroom, where rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and other large parties are regularly hosted.

Focusing on functionality, Goncu’s goal was to showcase the versatility and beauty of four rooms that had been underutilized: the third-floor library lounge and bar, the Lipsey Room private event space and the Card and Guard Rooms located next to the grill. To take on the multi-part renovation, City Club event planner Natalie Graham connected Goncu with her friend and local interior designer Helene Dellocono, who has not only worked in the commercial and residential design spaces, but is also a born and raised Baton Rougean who understands and respects the historical significance of a building like the City Club.

“This project felt unique because although it was commercial and hospitality for obvious reasons, it had a touch of residential in the way we were designing the spaces,” Dellocono says. “We wanted them to feel cozy and comfortable, and we were able to get really creative.”

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The renovation kicked off with the library lounge and bar, an intimate space tucked away upstairs, which can now be used for everything from a groomsmen suite to a venue for small gatherings, though it was the last of the rooms to be completed due to the more labor-intensive work required. “To keep the project moving forward, we had two separate construction teams working at once,” Dellocono says. General contractor Ross Tedesco took on the Card and Guard Rooms, while architect Coleman Partners and general contractor Cangelosi Ward completed the Lipsey Room and library lounge.

The classic feel of The Polo Bar by Ralph Lauren in New York City served as inspiration for the third-floor lounge as Dellocono worked to incorporate the existing green plaid carpet. From the glossy green subway tile that makes up the bar backsplash to the faux leather paneling on the walls, the carpet’s deep hues are drawn upward in unexpected ways as different textures add layers of interest. A collection of plush furniture pieces and plenty of antiques complete the space, while the original arched ceiling—designed to mimic a train car—remains the star overhead.

“I think this is where design is heading,” Dellocono says. “Implementing more moody colors and pieces, and less beige and basic elements.” With that in mind, Dellocono brought those same rich, moody colors into the other two spaces as well, making all four rooms a timeless blend of old-world elegance and modern sophistication.

In the Lipsey Room, the space’s use as a wine-tasting room served as the jumping-off point for the design. The walls were drenched in a cabernet-inspired custom hue mixed by Helm Paint. The statement color was carried to the soft white curtains with a ribbon border. For functionality, a custom-built wine cooler was added to the back wall, while furniture designer Bryan Horton created convertible tables that easily transform the space for intimate gatherings and large parties.

The tall ceilings in the Lipsey Room and Card and Guard Rooms were maximized during the renovation. Dellocono designed cornice millwork around the windows in the Lipsey Room, adding a dressier look to the space, which previously had tall windows with shutters. In the Card and Guard Rooms, decorative trim work was added all the way up the wall and accented with wallpaper in order to draw the eye upward and make the room feel more spacious.

“The club’s finishes are very rich and timeless,” Dellocono says. “We wanted to make sure we complemented that while also bringing it to a new age of sophistication.”

Because green is the primary accent color used throughout the club—whether it’s in small details like the finishes or in the City Club logo itself—the team chose to keep the existing olive-toned carpet and bring the green onto the walls in the Card and Guard Rooms.“People joined the club for a reason, so we didn’t want to make a complete departure from the City Club aesthetic and style of the spaces,” Dellocono explains.

“Helene has an old soul,” Goncu says. “She’s able to grasp what I say and create something incredibly beautiful and functional at the same time.”

With these four spaces complete, Goncu, Graham and Dellocono are already excited to take on the next project—in due time.

“Their vision for the club was so clear and their thoughtfulness in what would be best for their members was a huge driving force in all of our decisions,” Dellocono explains. “As a team, we really pushed each other to explore exciting design ideas, and these beautiful spaces would not be what they are without them.”