Prudhomme-Begnaud House

The Prudhomme-Begnaud House was designed in the Colonial Revival style, a style considered to be of truly American origin. The Colonial Revival architectural movement peaked during the post World War II period in the United States, a time of enthusiastic patriotism. The style was enlivened by the desire to romanticize the era of United States history that occurred around the time of the American Revolution. The popular sentiment at that time included a fascination with homes built by early settlers of English, Dutch, Spanish and French origin. Many Colonial Revival homes in South Louisiana were built to resemble antebellum Greek Revival structures of the early 1800s. Prudhomme-Begnaud House was built by Gaston Mouisset to serve as Andrew Prudhomme’s residence sometime between 1903 and 1906. In 1941, Mr. Prudhomme sold the house to Louis Begnaud, who was the founder of Mello Joy Coffee Company. Mello Joy originated in 1936 in Downtown Lafayette and has continued operations within Lafayette’s downtown district, to the present day. Today, the Prudhomme-Begnaud House is home to the holistic mind & body wellness center, called the Camellia House.