An iconic Garden District residence has officially claimed the title of New Orleans’s most expensive residential sale of 2025, closing at $5.275 million in a transaction led by Ricky Lemann of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred, REALTORS^®. The historic sale underscores both the enduring appeal of New Orleans architecture and the strength of expert representation when legacy properties change hands.

Lemann’s strategy for selling the home blended modern marketing with a more traditional, relationship-driven approach. “My expertise in selling this beautiful home was rather old-fashioned,” he explained. “While of course it was well marketed, I communicated directly with several brokers regularly to try to find a buyer. Mission accomplished!” The buyers, based in California’s Bay Area, have a long-standing relationship with New Orleans and were drawn to the home’s architectural pedigree and cultural significance.

The home, known as the George W. Sully House, dates back to 1847 and stands as a rare example of meticulously preserved and thoughtfully restored 19th-century design. Originally purchased in 2016 by New York–based architect Morris Adjmi, founder of Morris Adjmi Architects, the property underwent a careful, multi-year renovation that respected its past while adapting it for modern living. Adjmi acquired the home for $2.75 million before embarking on a restoration that would ultimately elevate it into one of the city’s most distinguished private residences.

Located in the heart of the Garden District, a neighborhood famed for oak-lined streets and historic mansions, the home reflects a style and sensibility deeply tied to New Orleans culture. From its grand proportions to its layered architectural details, the residence exemplifies why historic properties in the city continue to command attention from buyers nationwide. According to Francesca Brennan, who represented the buyer, homes like this resonate because they carry a sense of authenticity that can’t be replicated. The architecture, she noted, feels inseparable from the city itself.

Before the renovation, the house already possessed strong architectural bones, but time had taken its toll. Adjmi’s approach was not about reinvention, but revelation. Rather than overwriting the home’s character, the renovation focused on highlighting original features and improving flow throughout the space. Period details such as marble fireplaces, ornate plaster ceiling medallions, and historic windows were preserved, grounding the home firmly in its 19th-century origins. Meanwhile, subtle structural enhancements allowed the interiors to feel more open, connected, and livable without sacrificing historical integrity.

The result is a residence that balances grandeur with comfort. The six-bedroom home includes multiple formal living spaces, a dining room designed for entertaining, and a chef’s kitchen that integrates effortlessly with the rest of the house. Outdoors, the property offers an equally compelling setting, with landscaped patios, a swimming pool, and a two-bedroom pool house that expands the home’s flexibility for guests or extended stays.

For Lemann, the transaction carried meaning beyond the numbers. “This was a very sentimental sale for me because it’s the very special historic neighborhood that I grew up in and this was one of the finest examples of the Greek Revival architecture that we are so renowned for here in New Orleans,” he said. That emotional tie, paired with deep market knowledge, played a key role in positioning the home for a successful outcome.