1124 St. Charles Avenue

1124 St. Charles a great commercial/residential building with 3 residential units and 1 commercial unit was listed by Dorian Bennett of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty.  This wonderful building has been totally renovated with exposed brick walls. In a fantastic location near Lee Circle it’s gallery opens onto Mardi Gras parades! There is a garage for two cars. You can convert to single-family home or use as-is. For more information or to view the virtual tour click here!

Dorian standing in the Sculpture Garden at the office.

We have some very professional and truly wonderful agents in our office. We’d like to introduce them via our website. Come on inside click here …meet our agents and learn about us while you are there…

708 Mandeville

Indra Ramiah of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty just listed 708 Mandeville – this 6 bedroom/6bathroom duplex is in the Marigny only 5 blocks from the French Quarter! Built in the 1840′s as a “double” and Greek Revival by design it has central air / heat and 2,582 square feet of living space.  708 Mandeville has been restored to its lovely Creole cottage House style. the renovations were carefully planned to maintain historic character yet provide the modern amenities important for comfort, convenience and safety. This beautifully decorated home features five guest rooms with private baths and an additional apartment perfect for Owner/Occupancy. Indra is an owner/agent of 708 Mandeville. To see more pictures feel free to visit our website www.dbsir.com.

2625 St. Charles - Unit 5

Just Sold!! 2625 St. Charles – Unit 5 – Take a look at this one! A wonderful investment. Very nice carriage house condo in an 1870′s mansion conversion on St. Charles, corner at 4th Street. Wood floors, washer/dryer, front porch, balcony, private courtyard and off street parking. Currently rented to a tenant for $800 per month with a lease that expires on 1/31/11. A short streetcar ride to the C.B.D. Listing Agent: David Meeks

534 Chartres Street

Ernesto Caldeira and David Smith of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty listed 534 Chartres Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. This mixed use building is located in a high traffic and central area of the historic French Quarter. This historic property offers a great open space for a shop or other type of business with store room in the back building. Shared courtyard and four apartments. All apartments are month to month rentals. This mixed use building is zoned VCC-2 with an apprx living area of 4,500sqft. 534 Chartres has 3 stories and a lot size of 24.6×69.6

Commercial Unit

Welcome to 1041 Royal

This grand 2 story brick residence is distinguished by its exceptionally dramatic presence and exquisite restoration. The marble-floored foyer opens to the spacious living room featuring hardwood floors and elegant sweeping staircase.

The gourmet kitchen has exquisite cherry stained maple cabinets, granite counters and special stained concrete flooring.

Lustrous hardwood and marble floors along with 4 fireplaces, floor-length windows and 16′ original pressed-tin ceilings.

The expansive master suite features twin fireplaces and an en-suite bath with fireplace. Two additional bedrooms have en-suite baths. A media room, wraparound Gallery and half bath complete the second level.

Listed at: $2,000,000.

1041 Royal Street

Gourmet Kitchen

Within the first 9 years of my life my family and I had lived in 5 different state and finally ended up in Louisiana.  Once here, we declared this was home, so I consider myself a New Orleanian by choice, if not heritage.  New Orleans has a continental flavor that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.  Our history, architecture, art, antiques, food, festivals and zest for life are without compare.

Starting out I was a pre-school teacher for almost a decade, teaching 3 and 4 year olds.  Although I loved teaching, I decided to try my hand at other venues.  Since that time I have worked in both banking and real estate, often in combination.  My real estate career started in 1984.  During the early 80’s I worked as a salesperson on the Westbank of New Orleans.  In the late 80’s I was involved in the REO Department of First National Bank of Jefferson, during a time when banks had hundreds of repossessed properties on their books.  In January 1991 I came to work for Dorian M. Bennett.  Once again I declared this home and have been with Dorian’s company ever since. 

My start as a teacher has made me feel that education is the key to both good salesmanship and good leadership.  Knowledge is the key to better service to our customers and clients, as well as being a valuable asset as a leader within an organization.  Because of this belief I have attained designations as a Master Graduate of Real Estate Institute, Seller’s Representative Specialist, Senior Real Estate Specialist, GREEN specialist and recently ePro, which helped me attain more knowledge about all of the electronic devices at our disposal in our field.

We have a dynamic group of real estate professionals as well as an invaluable staff in our company that I am very proud to work alongside.

Dorian M. Bennett

Dorian Bennett has long been a patron and supporter of the arts. This self-described “aesthete” majored in Fine Arts and Russia while in college at Tulane University and the College of William and Mary. He is classically trained in piano and played the clarinet in the school band. Additionally he enjoys painting and pottery in the studio behind his house.

Born in Hammond, Louisiana, Dorian has lived in New Orleans for over twenty years and now considers himself a native. He was unsure about what to do with his degrees when he graduated from Tulane. He knew that he did not want to translate Russian for the government and he did not want to work for an art gallery. A friend suggested that someone with Dorian’s personal skills and appreciation for antiques, architecture and preservation would be ideally suited for the real estate business. Dorian followed this advice and a career was born.

What a distinguished career it has been! Prior to opening his own firm, Dorian M. Bennett Inc., in October of 1984, Dorian worked for 3 agencies honing his skills and winning numerous sales awards. Dorian also serves as New Orleans “Real Estate Agent to the Stars!” He has sold local real estate to such notables as Lenny Kravitz, Taylor Hackford, Jimmy Buffett and Zachary Richard. He even sold House of Blues its Decatur Street property. Through his work with the New Orleans Film Commission and by word-of-mouth, his name has been spread around the Hollywood community. As a result, when stars come to town they most often call Dorian.

Dorian’s appreciation of architecture and preservation is not limited to his professional career. He received a restoration award for the renovation of his office at 2340 Dauphine Street. His residence in the “Bend of Bourbon Street” also has a lot of history behind it. Built in 1825, it has been home to the son of Louisiana’s first Governor – Claiborne, and more recently, Clay Shaw of JFK conspiracy theory fame. It was also featured in the book House in the Bend of Bourbon, by Terry Fletrich. Dorian says that he has always been attracted to unique and special homes, “As special as I can afford, anyway!”

Civic activities play a prominent role in Dorian’s life. In addition to his work with the Jazz and Heritage Foundation as a board member, Dorian was on the Board of the Contemporary Arts Center, past president of the Friends of Contemporary Art of the New Orleans Museum of Art, on the board of the New Orleans Opera, and the board of trustees on the New Orleans Museum of Art.

While Dorian was in New York for his daughter Delia’s audition with Merrymount – he decided to go visit the Sotheby’s Auction House and look at their Real Estate Wall which the major collectors of the world have to pass on their way into the auction house.  Here Dorian is pointing to one of our listings featured there – The Lafitte Guest House. In the heart of the French Quarter at 1003 Bourbon at the corner of St. Philip Street sits this circa 1849 French-style mansion originally built as a private residence, now used as a luxury boutique hotel filled with fine reproduction furnishings that have been collected from around the world to ensure unsurpassed authenticity. Each of its 14 rooms with private bath is spacious and uniquely decorated; as well as many having their own private balconies which offer spectacular views.

is unique property has endless potential for any investor, including combining it with other small hotels available for purchase that could be bundled with it to create a more effective use of marketing dollars, or returning it to its former glory as a single family home!

Lafitte Guest House

Dorian M. Bennett from Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty listed this elegant, luxury Boutique Hotel – A circa 1849 French-style mansion in the heart of the French Quarter. The Lafitte Guest House, originally built as a private residence, greets you with elegance & charm. Fine antiques & reproduction furnishings have been collected from around the world to ensure unsurpassed authenticity. This 14 room luxury Boutique Hotel boasts a prime location in the heart of the residential area of the French Quarter. Each room is spacious & uniquely decorated; all enjoy private baths as well as many with private balconies offering spectacular views. This property has a variety of options. A Cooking School for an extraordinary culinary vacation & adventure your guests will long enjoy. Unique, intimate weddings for that special day; your guest will soak up the ambiance of the exquisite courtyard to our traditional parlor boasting one of a kind sky ceiling. Great for exclusive rentals for weddings, parties business meetings/seminars or the most special of family reunions. To see more about this wonderful opportunity please click here.