When Jennifer Waghalter first discovered the historic house on St. Charles Street, she imagined it as the perfect place to work. After an initial renovation, it served as the office for her advertising company, Next Level Media. Now, in its latest iteration, the vibrant yet cozy destination welcomes visitors year-round to shop, play and stay. Part renovation and part restoration, the home stands as Waghlater’s ode to Downtown Baton Rouge.

Built about 100 years ago as one of a pair of twin houses once connected by a small walkway, the home required extensive work just to sit level. “If I sat in my office chair in some places, I would roll right back,” Waghalter says with a laugh. The original windows, cypress floors and board-and-batten ceilings remained pristine, though. As much as possible, Waghalter retained the home’s distinctive historic features, especially in the guest quarters, which tout the original Victorian fireplace tiles and transoms.

Once the floors were releveled, the doors had to be replaced, as previous owners had trimmed them over the years to fit the sagging frames. But to maintain its charm, Waghalter scoured Facebook Marketplace for antique doors in the exact style of the originals.

“Somebody had these stored in his barn in Mississippi,” she says, opening the heavy, soundproof door that connects the boutique wing to the private suite. “They were pitch black, but they’re all cypress, and all of the original brass hardware was on them.” She wasted no time crossing state lines to retrieve and refurbish them.

Also sourced from Facebook Marketplace are the pieces of an iron fencing gate that Waghalter affixed to custom brick columns to create a fully fenced-in outdoor living area that, while not original to the house, feels effortlessly lived-in. That blend of old and new reflects Waghalter’s larger vision for the property: preserving its history and character while giving residents and far-flung visitors alike a reason to experience it.

“I love downtown, and the mahjong boutique and the Airbnb are getting more people downtown to see how much has been done—all the restaurants, walking [trails] and everything people love about downtown,” she says. “It’s really fun. So we’re trying to get more people here.”

More than a restoration project or bespoke mahjong boutique, The Mahjong House is Waghalter’s way of contributing to downtown’s continued revival and inviting people to discover, or rediscover, the community she loves so dearly.

1 of 6

Learn more about The Mahjong House and see upcoming events by visiting mahjonghousebr.com.