St. Francisville has become the place to go for weekend escapes, weddings and more, with the quaint town offering a sweet sense of escapism filled with Southern charm. Louisiana Hospitality Group co-owners Brandon Branch and Jim Johnston have been a big part of this revamping with properties such as the popular St. Francisville Inn. Recently, a growing list of homes in the area have been added to the group’s rental roster, including the newly renovated The Hannah House.

With Louisiana Hospitality Group’s website drawing thousands of hits per month, Branch says it just makes sense for them to help members of the community manage their properties.

“We saw there was a need for Airbnb management in town, and we’re able to cover them under our umbrella of what we’re already offering,” Branch says. “We handle marketing, booking, everything.” And for the historic Hannah House, “everything” included a full gut renovation to bring the level of design up to par with the rest of the group’s properties.

Homeowner Allison Wax worked with Branch to complete the renovation, assisting in design decisions and sourcing items everywhere from Facebook Marketplace to her mother’s local St. Francisville antique store, Findings LLC.

“We both love color,” Branch says of himself and Wax and their desire to brighten up the previously dark spaces. “Because it’s a vacation rental, we wanted it to be fun. While most might not choose coral and chocolate coloring for their forever home as we did in the ‘Spicy Bedroom,’ it made sense for a vacation rental.”

The home was built around 1880 for a woman named Hannah by her husband. For the renovation, Branch says much of the design inspiration came from St. Francisville, South Louisiana and many of the historic elements that were already present in the house. “It’s very southern,” he says. “Still traditional and classic, but with a playful edge.”

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By utilizing existing pieces from different areas of the home—like the chandelier in the red-toned so-called “Spicy Bedroom,” which was initially hanging in the dining room—they were able to create an elevated aesthetic that still feels true to the original 19th-century home. “The chandelier was the inspiration for the bedroom, and we just happened to notice coral in the original fireplace mantle, and we ran with that,” Branch says of the exploratory process that saw the historic structure inspire the home’s modern-day design.

In both large bedrooms, custom king bed frames were made by New Orleans-based company Doorman Designs. Utilizing the classic four-poster design, these frames are clean-lined and effortlessly combining old and new, a goal of Branch and Wax. Beyond the bed, modern touches were carried upward with a brass Sputnik light fixture.

“The chandelier in the blue bedroom adds a touch of modern and something unexpected, but we kept the original molding around it,” Branch says. Mixing some of the original architecture and design elements with contemporary components helped to create that traditional yet playful style the duo was going for.

Through strategic color choices and plenty of natural light, the kitchen and dining room bring the outdoors in, harking back to the rural setting that lies just outside of the home’s doors. A sage green was chosen for the kitchen cabinetry, and large windows were outfitted with blue silk curtains. Over the dining table, the organic shape of a bubble chandelier mimics a cloud with the sun shining through.

“When you think of St. Francisville, you think of green,” Branch says of the area that is known for its sprawling oak trees and expansive outdoor spaces. “The black and white adds a modern edge, while the Parisian chairs bring an unexpected element to the space.”

Moving into the other common spaces, each was designed with guest experience in mind. In the living room, plenty of plush seating allows for large groups—given that the home comfortably sleeps eight—to sit back and relax together. A chessboard atop the coffee table offers both entertainment and a chic finishing touch. Even the home’s hallways offer something extra, with each tailored to photo-ops, whether for a bachelorette group, a bridal party or a family.

Although the group just began booking The Hannah House in July, Branch says it has remained booked up ever since being listed on Airbnb. And it’s no surprise, with St. Francisville on the rise and the Louisiana Hospitality Group’s firm understanding of what out-of-town guests want from their stay.

“The town has become so popular because we now have amazing accommodations to stay in, amazing restaurants and bars, and the shopping is great. Our town is like living in a Hallmark movie,” Branch says. “It makes us so happy to finally see our town blossom!”