Looks can be deceiving. Enter this grandly columned 1854 Victorian Gothic, and rather than antiques and brocades, you’re met with ultramodern, atonal leather furnishings set against stark white 21-foot-high walls. The architectural bones and original embellishments of the house have been retained, including stunning carved cornices, moldings, and chandelier medallions, now accented with abstract art and a pop of green. The overall effect is a sexy shock to the system. The well-appointed guest rooms in the main house (a former Storyville “party house”) and a bungalow range from large to enormous and follow the vibe: low-slung king beds in super-soft sheets, with marble and glass bathrooms (some with Jacuzzi tubs). Similarly chic condo-style suites in a third building have full kitchens and living rooms. Between them is the large pool. There’s a generous continental breakfast, evening wine and cheese, and snacks and staff round the clock—the latter are smooth and solicitous, but not at all cold; they’ll gladly help with arrangements or share recommendations and anecdotes. Like which perfume the ghost of Miss Kitty wears—it’s said to waft through her old room. No worries; it’s a (well-scented) storage room now.