Boutique hospitality company Dear Valentine has debuted new guesthouses, Luna and Lyra, in New Orleans’ historic Lower Garden District.
Part of the brand’s evolving Muses collection, the side-by-side properties are developed and managed by Dear Valentine founder Melissa Shelton, and brought to life through creative contributions from locally based Logan Killen Interiors, owner Katherine Moses, and Nashville-based architecture firm Pfeffer Torode.
Luna and Lyra join the brand’s growing New Orleans portfolio—including Chartres 1883, the flagship Bywater property set within a restored 19th-century corner store and carriage house—bringing Dear Valentine’s total footprint to seven properties across the city.
The foyer of Lyra
Preserving heritage at Luna and Lyra
Made to operate individually or in tandem, the two homes share a visual language but maintain distinct historical identities.
Luna, a stately Italianate residence built between 1865 and 1871, draws on its legacy as a former boarding house and hotel. Its sister property, Lyra, is an early-20th-century home featuring Neoclassical Revival and Craftsman influences that incorporate the remnants of an 1840s cabinet shop.
Preserved architectural details, like historic millwork and original heart pine floors, serve as the foundation for the interiors. These heritage spaces are elevated by rich plaster walls, tropical murals, and whimsical hand-tiled accents that nod to the vibrant personality of the city.
Sculptural furnishings and richly textured textiles are paired with curated color palettes to create a residential quality that feels both personal and lived-in.
Spacious interiors for group travel
Lyra offers nine bedrooms accommodating up to 18 guests, while Luna features eight bedrooms that sleep 16. Both residences are equipped with eight-and-a-half bathrooms and high-end chef’s kitchens that complement expansive dining areas, which include an eat-in nook at Lyra and a 14-seat setup at Luna.
Tucked beneath the neighborhood’s live oaks, the guest experience extends outward with double galleries and outdoor porch spaces, as well as private bluestone courtyards complete with heated plunge pools.
Lyra parlor
Lyra kitchen and breakfast nook
Lyra twin bed guestroom
Luna kitchen
Luna dining nook
Luna bathroom