JULY/AUGUST 2020
Country Cozy THE ENDURING CHARM OF AN AUGUSTA FARMHOUSE p.46
THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Local grocery stores with history p.18
KITCHENS & BATHS
A portfolio of stunning spaces from St. Louis to Chicago, Dallas to London p.32
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JUL/AUG
C ON T EN TS DISCOVER 13 REPEAT PERFORMANCES
Hemlock Goods is Beth Snyder’s dream brought to life. 16 COUNTERTOP COOL
Kitchen essentials too stylish to store
18 A FAMILY BUSINESS
Local grocery stores with a story to tell
DESIGN 21 A PERFECT PAIR
Two storied brands collaborate on an elegant contemporary collection. 22 HARDWARE STORES MEET DEMAND
Some local shops are seeing record sales despite shorter hours. 24 THE SEDUCTION OF SLIPCOVERS
Sick of that tired sofa? For an easy style upgrade, try slipcovers.
27 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FLORIST
How an abandoned property grew into a flower farm
28 SHOP WITH A PURPOSE
At Ditto Family Resale, great buys result in aid for families. 30 OFF-LEASH
Dog-friendly apartment amenities are on the rise. I NDEX
58 LIFE SAVERS
Editors dish on the kitchen buys that bring good things to their days and nights.
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DEVOL KITCHENS
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PROPERTY
KITCHENS & BATHS DES I G N CRUSH
60 CHRIS MEYER
Pivoting in a pandemic, Kounter Kulture altered its business model to serve customers and vendors.
ON THE COVER
Photography by Alise O’Brien
A portfolio of beautiful spaces from Dallas to Chicago, New York to London
FEATURE
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COUNTRY WONDERLAND
Designer Meghan Heeter reimagines a barn-loft in a palette of red, white, and blue.
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DESIGN STL
1600 S. BRENTWOOD, SUITE 550 ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 314-918-3000 | FAX 314-918-3099 STLMAG.COM
EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Veronica Theodoro DEPUT Y EDITOR Amanda Woytus CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jarrett Medlin SENIOR EDITOR Nicholas Phillips DINING EDITOR George Mahe ASSOCIATE EDITOR Samantha Stevenson COPY EDITOR Kerry Bailey CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Amy Burger, Cara Downs, Kim Hill, Megan Mertz, Charlene Oldham, Jen Roberts, Brooke Semke, Sydney Loughran Wolf INTERN Kelly Siempelkamp
ART & PRODUCTION DESIGN DIRECTOR Tom White ART DIRECTOR Emily Cramsey SALES & MARKETING DESIGNER Monica Lazalier PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Kylie Green STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin A. Roberts CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS
Alise O’Brien, Matt Seidel, STL From Above, Carmen Troesser
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SALES Chad Beck ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Jill Gubin, Brian Haupt, Kim Moore, Liz Schaefer, Susan Tormala SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR Elaine Krull DIGITAL ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Blake Hunt
EVENTS
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS Jawana Reid
CIRCULATION
CIRCUL ATION MANAGER Dede Dierkes CIRCUL ATION COORDINATOR Teresa Foss
BUSINESS
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Carrie Mayer
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Six issues of Design STL and two issues of St. Louis Family are included with a paid subscription to St. Louis Magazine ($19.95 for 20 issues). Call 314-918-3000 to place an order or to inform us of a change of address, or visit stlmag.com/subscribe. For corporate and group subscription rates, contact Teresa Foss at 314-918-3030.
ONLINE CALENDAR
Call 314-918-3000 or email Amanda Woytus at awoytus@stlmag.com. (Please include “Online Calendar” in subject line.) Or submit events at stlmag.com/events/submit.html.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to the editor to vtheodoro@stlmag.com.
EVENTS
For information about special events, call Jawana Reid at 314-918-3026.
ADVERTISING
To place an ad, contact Elaine Krull at 314-918-3002 or ekrull@stlmag.com.
DISTRIBUTION
Call Dede Dierkes at 314-918-3006.
Subscription Rates: $19.95 for one year. Call for foreign subscription rates. Frequency: Monthly. Single Copies in Office: $5.46. Back Issues: $7.50 by mail (prepaid). Copyright 2020 by St. Louis Magazine, LLC. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts may be submitted but must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. ©2020 by St. Louis Magazine. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1600 S. Brentwood, Suite 550 St. Louis, MO 63144 314-918-3000 | Fax 314-918-3099 stlmag.com
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LETTER
FROM THE EDITOR
MANY OF OUR best ideas are hatched at home.
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her interviews with art dealers and creative directors, who spoke to her about the growing trend of art in kitchens. For those wanting even more wow factor, writer Cara Downs suggests learning from professional interiors photographers. In her story “Style Your Space,” she chats with three of them about mastering the art of the picture-perfect kitchen and bathroom. It’s good advice we can all translate into our spaces: Work with what you have. Add a touch of nature. Let the room dictate the style. And for those dreaming of the possibilities, waiting for the time when our world is less fraught with stress and worry to embark on a remodel, I encourage you to use our portfolio of kitchens and baths as inspiration. Though our passion is St. Louis design, this month we’ve decided that the eye has to travel—as a famous fashion editor once said—especially now that we’re all staying closer to home. In that spirit, in our minds we’ve jetted off to London and New York, Dallas and Chicago to see how designers in those cities create stylish spaces. We’re experiencing them through the thrilling lens of a camera, and we hope you’ll turn the page and join us.
vtheodoro@stlmag.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARMEN TROESSER
Sometimes creativity strikes us in the shower or in bed at night, when the day’s thoughts melt into our pillows and we’re free to dream. More typically, though, the story of how a business was launched or an important decision was made involves sitting at a kitchen table (or the kitchen island). This issue of Design STL lends credence to the notion that kitchens have become multifaceted living spaces. Modern kitchens are no longer the no-frills workrooms of years past where practical tasks reigned. Today, they’re designed for cooking up dreams and dinner, and, yes, sometimes even lounging on a plush sofa. In the world of design, nothing expresses a room’s heightened place in our lives quite as vividly as the display of art. In my kitchen, a favorite work by artist LA Marler speaks to the idea of art as facilitator of emotion and memories. Each time I walk past Marler’s print of a vintage Regula III-series camera in a smoky pink hue, I think about a particularly exhilarating photo essay I shot back in journalism school, almost 20 years ago. As Susan Barrett of Barrett Barrara Projects says, “Art should enrich the experience in the kitchen, not just hang on a wall.” For me, that’s true in the living room and in a busy kitchen. In “Rooms With a View,” on page 41, Sydney Loughran Wolf shares what she learned from
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Join the Conversation GET CONNECTED ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM
FAC EBO OK @stlmag @designstl @stlfamily
T WIT T ER @stlmag @stlmag_dining @designstl
INSTAGR AM @stlouismag @designstl @stlouismag_events
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PRODUCTS AND PLACES
CONNECT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
hemlockgoods.com
Repeat Performances Here’s a design challenge: Take out a sheet of paper and draw a beautiful image—already a daunting task for some of us—then fold the paper eight times or so. Does the design still make sense? That’s the challenge set before Beth Snyder, owner of Hemlock Goods, each time she creates one of her bandanas. The accessories, which come in big, bold, symmetrical designs and smaller repeating patterns, must look good both unfolded and rolled. Use the former as a handkerchief, the latter as a neckerchief or headband. Screen-printed by hand on super-soft cotton, they feature painterly motifs: modern ikats, whimsical rainbows, geometric shapes, feminine florals. What’s consistent is that the wearer can sense the hand of the designer, from the brushstroke-like dashes to the delicate buds of a tulip. —AMANDA WOYTUS stlmag.com
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BY HAND
Time and Materials Beth Snyder always wanted to design textiles. Hemlock Goods is her dream brought to life. using a brush gives a bit of a different texture. I always make sure that a design looks good when it’s rolled. While I’m designing, I’ll roll it up. Then I take it into Adobe Illustrator to choose the colors. I try to come up with 12 designs at a time, so I’m curating colors among those designs.
Beth Snyder
HOW DO YOU SELECT COLORS THAT ARE EYE-CATCHING BUT STILL WEARABLE FOR EVERYDAY? I use
earth tones and colors that have a lot of saturation but are not screaming. I select colors that look nice on your skin, because the product is next to your skin.
AND FOR THE COLOR-SHY, IT’S EASY TO ACCESSORIZE WITH A POP OF SOMETHING RATHER THAN WEARING IT ALL OVER. I don’t look
good in red, but I will wear a red bandana in my hair, because it’s not right up against my face. It’s a nice way to use a color that you wouldn’t normally wear.
YOU HAVE A STATIONERY COMPANY, 1CANOE2, THAT’S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 10 YEARS. WHY THE PIVOT TO TEXTILES?
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came across the word hemlock, and I thought it sounded like something to do with fabric because hem and overlock are sewing terms. I looked it up, and it’s this really beautiful flowering bush, but it’s also poisonous. I thought, Oh yeah, that seems kind of badass.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC?
I love to draw repeat patterns; I don’t like it when you can tell that a pattern was made on a computer and it looks really clean and digital. I want you to be able to see the hand of the artist, to be able to tell that somebody made this. Somebody thought, What would look really great on a bandana, and what would someone else like to see? and then made that. That connection is important. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BRINGING ONE OF YOUR DESIGNS TO LIFE? I usually start
by drawing a pattern in my sketchbook, but a lot of times I will paint it, because
cards and see that artwork on stationery, but then it seems to muddy up the message. I would like to branch out and make something slightly different, maybe other kinds of headbands or bows and scrunchies—items that are related to the business, but keeping it within that category. I think there’s something really powerful and super simple about the message. People know that they can get a cool bandana at Hemlock, and there’s a simplicity when they go to the site. They’re not overwhelmed. I like to call that the burden of choice and the delight of choice. The burden of choice is when there are so many things that you feel as if it’s too hard to pick something out. The delight of choice is just enough to make you feel like “Oh, which one do I get to pick?” –A.W.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HEMLOCK GOODS
I have a degree in graphic design and fibers from Mizzou, so really what I wanted to do was design fabric. It took me 15 years after I graduated to get around to that, but I finally did. Before I launched Hemlock Goods, a year ago, I was starting a business with a friend of mine to do kitchen textiles, like tea towels and aprons and oven mitts. At the same time, I had gone into a retail store and bought a bandana with the name of the store on it. When I checked out, it was $25. I thought, How could this be $25? It should be $10. From my industry knowledge, I knew probably nobody was making cool bandanas, especially not with a lot of artwork on them, or in interesting colors, or in really nice fabrics. So there were three things that I knew I could do well. I had the idea for the business for about four months before I actually started taking it seriously, and I didn’t do that until I came up with the name.
WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME? I
YOU HAVE A SELECTION OF BACKPACKS AND MASKS ON THE WEBSITE. ANY PLANS FOR NEW PRODUCTS? I would love to make
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SEEN AROUND TOWN
Countertop Cool Kitchen essentials that are too stylish to store —BROOKE SEMKE
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1. Haden Putty Dorset Kettle, $74.99. Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. 2. Smeg Retro Style Espresso Coffee Machine, $489.95. Goedeker’s, goedekers.com. 3. Moccamaster by Technivorm 10-Cup Coffee Maker, $360. Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com. 4. Russell Hobbs Retro Style 4-Slice Toaster, $124.99. Macy’s, macys .com. 5. Frieling Citrus Press, $119.95. Kitchen Conservatory, kitchenconservatory.com. 6. Frieling French Press, price varies by size. Kitchen Conservatory, kitchenconservatory.com.
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STOREFRONT
In the Business Four of St. Louis’ top grocers are run by local families. —JEN ROBERTS
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FAIR SHARES CCSA
STRAUB’S FINE GROCERS SCHNUCKS
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Straub’s Fine Grocers dates back to 1901, when William A. Straub opened his first store, in Webster Groves. Each morning he headed out into the community to collect orders, which he filled once he was back at the store, and delivered them later in the day by horse and buggy. Trip Straub, current president and CEO, remembers going to the Clayton store as a young boy to have lunch with his grandfather. “As a kid, we didn’t go to McDonald’s every week, so getting to eat with Grandpa at his work was pretty cool,” he recalls. For four generations, Straub’s has been offering highquality specialty foods and fresh meals prepared in-store. GO FOR THE chicken salad, which is made daily. straubs.com.
Schnucks was founded in North St. Louis by Anna Donovan Schnuck, grandmother to the current generation, in 1939. Her husband, Edwin, was in the wholesale meat business, and their children—Ed, Annette, and Don—each opened up stores of their own. The family began reorganizing their seven stores in 1947 and in 1952 incorporated the business as Schnucks Markets Inc. “The fastest way we’ve grown has been by acquisitions,” says Paul Simon, senior communications specialist. “In 1970, we acquired the Bettendorf Rapp chain; in 1995, National; and in 2018, Shop ’n Save.” GO FOR THE pork steak, which was invented by Don and Ed Schnuck. nourish.schnucks.com.
4 DIERBERGS MARKETS
Back in 1854, Dierbergs Markets began as one store on Olive Street Road, now Olive Boulevard. It’s grown to 24 stores in the metro area and one in Lake of the Ozarks. Laura Dierberg Padousis, vice president and secretary of Dierbergs Markets, and her brother Greg Dierberg, president and chief executive, are the fourth generation to run the chain. Laura says she’s learned by watching the previous generations at work. “Our family vacations weren’t really vacations,” she says. “It was my dad’s opportunity to visit other grocers.” Now, she does the same thing. “I’m constantly visiting other grocery stores to learn,” she says. GO FOR THE Crownie, a cake baked with a chocolate brownie base. dierbergs.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT SEIDEL
Sisters Jamie Choler and Sara Choler Hale started Fair Shares Combined Community Supported Agriculture in 2008 to aid local farmers by selling their provisions to customers at three distribution points in St. Louis. “The CCSA lets farmers know that if they grow it, we will buy it,” says Hale. Members select a share size and a weekly or biweekly pickup schedule. Memberships range from $36 to $52 a week. Providers receive payment in advance, and members pay, up front, a minimum of $150. Fair Shares, which began with 225 members, is now at 350, with “people signing up by the minute,” says Hale. GO FOR THE unique items, which change with the harvest. fairshares.org.
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LIVING WITH DESIGN
CONNECT
314-567-7883 salliehome.com
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MATOUK
A Perfect Pair
Two storied brands collaborate on an elegant contemporary collection. For Justin Nangle, owner of Sallie Home in Ladue, the decision to bring the Matouk Schumacher Collection to St. Louis was an easy one: “When two iconic companies collaborate, the shopper gets the benefit of a curated line with the confidence that they have access to the best,” he says. The collection features six bedding lines and three shower curtain and beach towel options in everything from blue-and-white ikat and lush brushstroke motifs to 18th-century botanical prints. Homeowners and designers add a touch of luxury to a room by combining Matouk’s handcrafted linens with patterns from the archives of legendary textile maker Schumacher. “The colorways are appealing and bold,” says Nangle. “Sometimes our shoppers are looking for something novel, and this line offers both traditional and modern choices.” —KELLY SIEMPELKAMP stlmag.com
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A DAY IN THE LIFE
Hardware Stores Meet Demand Some local shops are seeing record sales despite shorter hours. TIM BRANNEKY’S GREAT-GRANDFATHER
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So far, industry advocates have been successful in lobbying to keep independent hardware stores classified as essential, which is important in areas that might be miles from the nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Walmart, says Dan Tratensek, executive vice president of the North American Retail Hardware Association. “In the rural areas, the hardware store is people’s only access to those kinds of materials, so they are essential,” he says. In the St. Louis area, long lines and
crowds at larger stores have prompted some shoppers to explore independent options. Liberty Do It Best Hardware, on South Broadway, typically caters to contractors and maintenance workers buying plumbing and electrical supplies—a niche business that has taken a hit in sales as a result of the pandemic. Steve Taylor, who has co-owned the store with his wife for more than 40 years, says he’s been seeing more homeowners looking to avoid the swarm of customers at big-box stores. “I’m hoping to gain business from it. Saturdays used to be our slowest days, but our business has picked up,” he says. “I’m seeing a lot of people I’ve never seen before. Hopefully we’ll treat them right and they’ll remember that.” —CHARLENE OLDHAM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARMEN TROESSER
opened for business in 1857 to outfit customers headed west on the Oregon Trail. Today, shoppers may need different supplies, but Branneky’s True Value Hardware retains its role as an essential retailer, supplying everything from sanitizer to potting soil. “We’ve gone through close to 600 cases of toilet paper and 200 cases of gloves,” says Branneky, who co-owns the Bridgeton store with his brother, Jeff. “Then, if people come and get that, they’ll get other stuff.” Typically the store might sell a couple of cases of toilet paper a month, but these are unusual times. Supply updates for such in-demand items as masks and disinfectant wipes are posted daily to the shop’s Facebook page. Landscaping supplies and materials for indoor projects are also popular. Branneky says sales are on pace to match a strong spring with good weather. “A lot of people want to get outside, so they’re doing their gardens and having their best yard ever,” he says. Sales are also strong at Southside Hardware, on Hampton Avenue. Homeowners are stocking up on sand, soil, paint, and other items for DIY projects, putting Southside on track to set sales records for March and April, says Allison Jennings. She and her father, Steve Ripper, along with her three brothers, operate the store, which her grandfather bought in the 1960s. “We’ve seen a decrease in day laborers and commercial account purchasing, but that is a small percent of our business,” she says. “Homeowners are our customers.” The family is accustomed to providing hands-on service, taking orders over the phone and helping customers carry items to their cars. That’s all changed as they’ve cut back hours to make more time for ordering, stocking of shelves, and cleaning at the same time sales have increased. “Keeping our distance is awkward, especially when people are used to handing me the guts of their toilet and asking, ‘What’s wrong with this picture?’” says Jennings. Southside specializes in tool and equipment maintenance, which means the family is at work long after the doors close, doing everything from sharpening shears to fixing mowers. “Tool repair is greatest at this time of year, and we feel a responsibility to homeowners and lawn service providers to get their tools back quickly,” she says.
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INTERIOR DESIGN
The Seduction of Slipcovers Sick of that tired sofa? For an easy style upgrade, try slipcovers.
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more than 25 years, says that because the designer can come to the client’s home to take measurements and cut fabric, slipcovers eliminate the need to transport heavy furniture, and they’re typically more affordable than reupholstery or buying new. Clients who inherit furniture can use slipcovers to make these heirlooms viable by commissioning a look that fits into the existing décor. Perhaps their biggest selling point: Slipcovers can be removed, cleaned or washed, and put back on, making them popular in households with children and pets. Kathy Curotto, a longtime client of Ward’s, likes duck fabric because it’s affordable and can be washed: “We have two little pets who we allow up on the furniture. The couches tend to get dirty from their paws after they’ve been outside. With slipcov-
➜ VISIT: facebook.com/SlipcoverSTL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISE O’BRIEN
EACH SUMMER, INTERIOR designer Ken Stückenschneider transforms the look of his country home’s wicker porch furniture with ease. The cushions, dressed in off-white and tan stripes to complement the winter view, are now clothed in a lush fern print that echoes the greens of the trees and tall grasses surrounding the property. Slipcovers give homeowners the ability to change their décor with the seasons, says Stückenschneider, whose clients, from St. Louis to Aspen, appreciate the versatility that slipcovers provide. Covering a family room sofa or set of dining chairs in a floral or other summery fabric gives a room seasonal flair. Slipcovers are prized for both their looks and their practicality. Sharon Ward of Slipcover STL, who’s been making them for
ers, I don’t have to stress about the mess, because I know I can put them in the washing machine.” Cotton denim and twill are the most popular fabrics for slipcovers because they’re washable and don’t stretch. Stückenschneider prefers washable cotton duck or linen, and Ward says many clients request white denim. “At first I found this strange,” she says, “until I realized everyone is bleaching the fabric in their washing machines so that it always looks like new.” Ward sees the benefits of using slipcovers to relax the mood of a home: “Slipcovers make rooms less formal and lend a bit of feminine romance to a space.” Stückenschneider and Ward agree that homeowners will seek out slipcovers as a means to creating a thoroughly different look in a room. Solid pieces take on patterns; dark sofas go light. “Most clients are trying to cover a plaid or a pattern,” Ward explains, “or they have something solid and it just got worn out, so they want to cover it with a different color solid.” Homeowner Anne Hopcraft recently bought a sofa at a sample sale, but the color of the upholstery didn’t go well with the rest of the room, so she sewed a slipcover of linen. “It was a way to transform an affordably priced sofa into one that fit into my décor,” she says. Ward works closely with clients throughout the fabrication process. Using photos that clients email her, she’s able to determine how much fabric is needed, as well as the price of the slipcovers. Clients purchase the fabric on their own, and Ward comes to their home to measure and cut it. Back in her workroom, she sews the slipcovers, then delivers and installs them. “Right now, I’m booking about four to five months in advance, but once I measure and take your fabric, the slipcover will be ready in one to two weeks,” she says. For clients who love the look of embellishments—covered buttons, loops, ties— the sky is the limit. “I have some clients who love them, but most people just want basic coverings,” says Ward. “A client might remove a sofa skirt or add a skirt to a plain sofa. Decorators, however, often want more,” she notes. “I love to add grosgrain ribbon and ties,” says Stückenschneider. —CARA DOWNS
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REAL ESTATE, CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS
CONNECT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STL FROM ABOVE
urbanbudscitygrownflowers.com 573–999–6293
Your Neighborhood Florist
How an abandoned property grew into a successful flower farm in the middle of the city. Karen “Mimo” Davis was a 31-year-old social worker, living in New York City, when her mother and stepfather asked her to look after their greenhouse in Missouri—and the property’s 132 rosebushes—while they honeymooned. “I fell in love with horticulture,” says Davis. Within the year, she left New York and bought a farm in Ashland, Missouri, where she began growing and selling flowers. (In 2008, Davis earned a master’s degree in horticulture.) In 2012, Davis and her then-partner (now wife), Miranda Duschack, got word of a greenhouse for sale in Dutchtown. Feeling adventurous, they bought the greenhouse—designed by Lord & Burnham in the ’50s—with an acre of land, eventually acquiring eight more plots that were once the site of Held’s Florist, a flower farm, dating back to the 1800s. Today, the farmstead is known as Urban Buds: City Grown Flowers, where more than 70 varieties of flowers are grown. “We’re in the heart of the city,” says Davis. “Few people get to connect with farming, and [our shop] gives them the opportunity.” —KELLY SIEMPELKAMP stlmag.com
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LOCAL RETAIL
Shop with a Purpose At Ditto Family Resale, great buys result in aid for families at eight local schools. manager of Ditto Family Resale, says of her shop: “You never know what you’re going to find.” Located on Manchester Road in Warson Woods, Ditto has garnered the attention of both high-end furniture collectors and thriftshoppers. Founded in 2012 by eight schools, the mission of the store is to do more than sell gently used clothes, living room tables, and kitchen appliances. Its larger purpose is to raise money to help defray the cost of tuition. To date, close to $1 million of financial aid has been raised from sales of donated items for families at Central Christian School, Covenant Christian School, Heritage Classical Christian Academy, Kirk Day School, Promise Christian Academy, South City Community School, Twin Oaks Christian School, and Westminster Christian Academy. “For some of these schools, it’s keeping the lights on. By not having to raise as much money for scholarships, the [schools] can pay teachers,” says Ana Woodard, president of the shop’s board of directors. Deborah Shields, the shop’s general manager, was a recipient of the shop’s scholarship fund when her own children attended Covenant Christian School. “We never could have sent our kids there if we hadn’t had help,” she says. Today, merchandise arrives on an almost daily basis. But when the store first opened, the founders worried about attracting enough donations in a market flooded with beloved resale shops. Luckily, that has not been a problem, says Woodard. While local community members are the shop’s main donors, other items wind up at the store through donations from estate sale companies who donate unsold items, and retail boutiques, like Evereve, which gives Ditto a portion of their unsold inventory after each season. The shop purchases sunglasses wholesale and prices them accordingly. Over the years, Ditto has been the beneficiary of coveted items such as a Salvador Dalí print, a vintage Oscar de la Renta dress, and an antique wooden bed. So who shops here? “Most of our customers have nothing to do with our schools,” says Woodard. “A lot of them aren’t even local.” The shop has seen growth over eight years. Today, it employs nineteen people and there are plans for an expansion nextdoor. That space will be reserved for selling designer clothes, a growing sub-category SANDY LUSK, ASSISTANT
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from the days when clients came in to mostly shop the racks of discount clothes. But beyond the good deals, the shop’s original purpose remains at the forefront. “For families who receive funds, it’s life changing,” says Woodard, recalling a conversation with a school director. His school reserves some of the scholarship money for the middle of the year when, inevitably, a family will face a hardship. “Because of the funds, that director can now ask, ‘What do you need?’” —SAMANTHA STEVENSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
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Ana Woodard and Deborah Shields
➜ VISIT: 10027 Manchester, dittostl.com
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HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT
Off-Leash Dog-friendly apartment amenities are on the rise.
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of Chroma’s space for a dog park and spa. Hulse is also working to bring Kansas City– based Bar K, an entertainment space for people and dogs, to St. Louis. “We’re trying to create a robust experience,” Hulse says. “I think having all the amenities that are built into the overall project makes people feel like they can live, work, and have a community here that’s deeper and more thoughtful.” This has certainly been the case for Megan Oliver, a resident of Cortona, who says the complex’s on-site dog park has been a great place to make friends—for both herself and her dog, Marleau. “He grew up being socialized because of the dog park,” she says. “Some of our closest friends in the building were made at the park. And, as much as we tire him out with walks, nothing beats even 15 minutes of play with other pups.” —MEGAN MERTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CHROMA, CORTONA
SOME OF THE fastest-growing residential amenities in the country aren’t for residents; they’re for canine companions. The Trust for Public Land found that the number of dog parks in the parks systems of the 100 largest U.S. cities has increased by 74 percent since 2009, and the number of petfocused amenities is on the rise in housing developments across the country as well. “[On-site dog parks] used to be kind of the hip, cool amenity to have,” says Mark Milford, associate vice president of 2B Residential, which manages 21 apartment complexes in St. Louis and southwest Illinois, “but a lot more people are factoring that into the design of the site plan for the building, just to make sure there is a private spot for people to take their pets… especially for urban properties.” Nine of 2B Residential’s properties have on-site pet parks, and two more parks are under development. Three also have selfservice pet spas and baths. Milford thinks the industry is moving away from breed or size restrictions, thanks to changing attitudes and more durable building materials. Unlike many other complexes, 2B Residential’s Cortona at Forest Park development doesn’t have a weight limit for dogs. Instead, Milford says, they may hold “a pet interview to make sure the dog’s not aggressive. That’s the No. 1 issue.” Apartment complexes are also working to foster community among their poochloving residents through “yappy” hour events, end-of-season doggy pool parties at complexes with swimming pools, and petof-the-month selections. At Chroma, in The Grove, a group text has been started so residents can let one another know when they’re headed to the on-site dog park. The group text “is something that the residents organized even before I was there,” says Blake Hancock, Chroma’s community marketing manager. She lives and works there with her dog, Beaux, and takes him to the dog park every day. “There’s usually a 5 o’clock group and then a 7 o’clock group… We talk and half of us find out that the other half hasn’t eaten dinner and then we end up going to dinner.” Philip G. Hulse, managing principal and CEO of Green Street St. Louis, which developed Chroma, thinks people are looking for “better, fuller experiences.” That’s why Green Street chose to allocate some
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Looking for design inspiration? INTERIORS | ARCHITECTURE REAL E STATE | SHOPPING ART | DE SIGN
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Jessie Miller, of Jessie D. Miller Design, was charmed by this stylish kitchen made by Chicago-based firm Summer Thornton Design. Framed in white-painted brick, with touches of rustic and fine woods throughout, the design represents a departure for Thornton, who’s known for her use of color and feminine florals. Here, however, her facility for blending styles and materials is beautifully on display. “The range of finishes is balanced and nothing feels too designed,” Miller says. That effortlessness, coupled with a deep sense of luxury, creates intimacy even though the space is large: “I love the adjoining sunroom. I can imagine sitting there and having my coffee in the morning,” says Miller. The island resembles a piece of antique furniture, and conjures up the image of a family “baking Christmas cookies there together,” she says. “Overall, the kitchen appears as if it’s been there for years.” It’s a sensory space, says Miller, “which I think is what cooking’s all about.”
Homeowners take inspiration from the work of professional designers. Where do interior designers find theirs? INTERVIEWS BY KELLY SIEMPELKAMP & SAMANTHA STEVENSON
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The Piero Lissoni HIDE Tall Units changed Susan Bower’s perspective on kitchen storage. The matte two-tone brown cabinets, with stainless steel ladder-pull handles are built into the wall, maximizing space and imparting a minimalist feel. “They’re an elegant solution to storage,” says Bower, noting the depth of the cabinets, which permit storage of an oven, microwave, or, as Bower sees it, the kitchen sink. “It leaves the possibility that you could just cram all the dirty dishes in there, close the doors, walk away, and not have to deal with them,” she says, laughing. Every couple of years, Bower, founder of Bower Leet Design, travels to Milan, which is how she became acquainted with the design company. “In the U.S., we don’t think about doing tall cabinets as much as the Europeans do,” she says. “We seem to be stuck on the base cabinet, the countertop, and the wall cabinets.” This new approach to organization has inspired Bower’s work, in which she strives to “respect the principles of solving some things simply and elegantly.”
Wendy Kuhn, senior designer at Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath, was scrolling through her social media feeds when a photo caught her attention: the Classic English Kitchen by London-based deVOL, a tour de force of hunter green cabinets, matching walls, and contrasting white marble countertops accented with vintage art and industrial task lighting. “Their use of color and aesthetic for the rustic and the elegant takes my breath away,” says Kuhn. “The St. Louis market isn’t as bold with color right now, so I try to guide clients to be braver with some of their choices and to choose less wall cabinetry.” Brass pulls and fittings provide an intriguing mix to the homespun wood ceiling. The antique table serves as a place to prep or dine. Kuhn says it’s reminiscent of her grandmother’s St. Louis kitchen: “I want to grab a coffee and sit down.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOMMASO SARTORI, COURTESY OF DEVOL KITCHENS, L ANCE SELGO, UNIQUE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF VICENTE WOLF ASSOCIATES, PETER AARON/OTTO FOR ROBERT A.M. STERN ARCHITECTS
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Designer Ken Stückenschneider, of Stückenschneider Decoration & Design, has always loved white kitchens, wood floors, and butcher block, which he pairs in his own work with wool Oriental rugs for comfort and warmth underfoot. This kitchen, designed by Roger Seifter of Robert A.M. Stern Architects, is, not surprisingly, among his favorites. “It’s brilliant!” Stückenschneider exclaims. “I love the efficiency and small template of this working kitchen in a historic renovation country house.” The country blue island, its surrounding warm wood, reclaimed oak floorboards, and custom cabinetry with inlaid doors and traditional polished nickel hinges are his favorite elements. The appliances don’t get short shift, either. Note the stove by AGA. “I remember my first visit to a great country house kitchen when I lived in England,” Stückenschneider recalls. “My friend’s mother said, ‘You Americans never understand the benefit of warming your plates in the oven before serving food.’” He calls Seifter one of the best in the business: “He combines all the functions of a chef’s kitchen into one condensed area, unlike most of the huge kitchens being designed in the U.S. today.” The eight glass Holophane fixtures with nickel and brass accents—sparkle without “being garish,” Stückenschneider says. And those beautiful hand-painted Delft tiles? He calls them a no-brainer for elegance and practicality: “What more could you ask for in the place you get your morning cup of French roast?”
Every now and then, David Kent Richardson of DKR Interiors will purchase $100 worth of home décor magazines and curl up in bed with them. That’s how he discovered one of his favorite interior designers, New York–based Vicente Wolf. “I’ve been following him for at least 20 years, maybe even longer than that,” says Richardson. Exhausted by the popularity of waterfall islands and brass kitchen fittings, and with an aversion to granite countertops, Richardson finds Wolf’s combination of steel and marble counters refreshing. “I love, love, love the juxtaposition of the Verner Panton chairs with the Anglo-Indian chair and how the chair balances the wood in the island,” he says. The warmth of the Anglo-Indian chair, the legs of the island, and the green plants help balance these tones, says Richardson. The sheer blinds over plantation shutters and the African bowl set atop the marble island are just two of Wolf’s layering touches that Richardson admires. “It’s a constant battle to keep things at a minimum when you’re a collector and a designer,” Richardson says. “He keeps it clean.” Inspired by Wolf’s work, he continues to look for ways to blend old and new.
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Jenny Rapp of JCR Design Group first learned about EJ Interiors from her JCR colleague Natalia Reyes, who’d interned with the Dallas studio at the start of her design career. They marvel at the way Emily Johnston Larkin, the firm’s principal designer, uses color and works in a range of design styles. Rapp is drawn to this kitchen’s decorative cabinet fronts flanking the hood, the choice of backsplash, and the caged lanterns: “It’s a classic design, but the details make it look fresh and new.” The layout provides ample workspace, she notes, and the open floor plan makes it inviting for a busy young family without being too large for a couple. Kitchens inevitably lead to messes, but Johnston Larkin’s product choices minimize damage, Rapp says: “The light granite is a good low-maintenance choice, and the rattan stools with woven plastic seats from Serena & Lily can be wiped down as needed.” “Every detail feels intentional,” adds JCR designer Emily Koch. The lanterns are current without being trendy, and the tile backsplash, stone countertops, and cabinet color add a timeless feel. Johnston Larkin has styled the kitchen to seamlessly merge with the adjacent room. Says Rapp: “The use of consistent and complementary colors from the kitchen to the great room creates an easy and natural flow and beautifully unites both spaces.”
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BACK IN TIME B O R R O W I N G F R O M T H E PA S T T O D E S I G N A K I T C H E N F O R T O DAY
Randy Renner and his son, Randy Renner Jr., specialize in restoring old homes, but that’s not what they did at 7635 Westmoreland, just north of downtown Clayton. Rather, the Renners, co-founders of Period Restoration, built a new house on that lot, one that would be in harmony with the historic residences nearby. “When we do infill, we go to great lengths to make it fit,” says the younger Renner. In this case, they weren’t enacting any specific client’s vision. They were constructing a spec home, and relied on their own instincts for the design and build. They wanted the kitchen to have ample natural light, so they installed three large windows in the main wall. That decision shrank the space available for upper cabinets, but there’s plenty of room for storage elsewhere: inside the island, which is 4 feet deep, and on the adjacent wall, which holds lighted cabinets that stretch up to the ceiling. That ceiling is a showstopper. Its molding is a nod to the coffered plaster ceilings found in many architecturally significant homes in
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The refrigerator and freezer are concealed by quartersawn oak panels. The latches, from Locks & Pulls Design Elements, are made to mimic the look of a 1920s icebox.
the St. Louis area. Its fine, angular shapes jell visually with the trapezoidal range hood of stainless steel and polished nickel—and with the biconical light fixtures and sconces by Visual Comfort. The Renners wanted the future homeowners to be equipped to entertain, so they installed two sinks and two dishwashers. The island features a niche offering enough legroom for guests wishing to sidle up to it on stools and rest their cocktails on the Carrara marble countertop. Adjacent to the kitchen is a wet bar outfitted in handsome dark wood. Renner Jr. says he and his father prefer to feel their way through projects like these rather than follow a meticulous blueprint. “We don’t ever have plans,” he says. “We just do it as we go.” After they finished this project, late last year, the COVID-19 crisis gained steam in St. Louis, forcing them to remove the house from the real estate listings—but they plan to put it back on the market soon. –NICHOLAS PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISE O’BRIEN
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A LIGHT IN T H E C H AT E A U OLD WORLD MEETS OPEN A N D A I R Y I N A R E N O VA T E D FRONTENAC KITCHEN.
“The home has a bit of a European feel,” says Amy Studebaker, of Amy Studebaker Design, recalling a house she designed for clients in 2017. “We wanted to maintain the feel but lighten the aesthetic.” That included the original kitchen, which felt dark and heavy. Studebaker removed the existing cabinetry, reconfigured the layout, and designed cabinets to resemble furniture, concealing the refrigerator and freezer behind wooden doors painted a soft, creamy flax color. The pièce de résistance, she says, is the range hood. Studebaker enlisted the expertise of Kleine Painting to give the wooden hood a faux finish resembling metal. “The layering of deep tones created a patina that we felt was perfect for the home and kitchen,” she says. In a nod to the rest of the house, which is decorated with antiques, Studebaker added custom wood corbels to support the hood. The blue tile with gray undertones in the backsplash and between the refrigerator and freezer cabinets makes a statement without calling
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Barstools are drawn up to the Danby marble– topped island. “My team and I lean toward Danby because it’s denser, which keeps it from staining as quickly as an Italian marble,” Studebaker explains.
too much attention to itself. “The handmade undulated tile creates a wonderful surface for reflectivity,” says the designer. “The natural light filtering in lands beautifully on the face of the tile.” Its undertones complement the island’s color and glaze finish, the metallic finish of the hood, and the existing stone wall in the nearby hallway. Working in the spirit of the dictum “Less is more,” Studebaker placed open wood shelves between the refrigerator and freezer cabinets. The shelves are hung at a height that provides clearance for a TV to rise from the middle cabinet’s interior. “The owners requested a TV but preferred that it be hidden,” Studebaker says. “With the push of a button, the TV rises from its hiding place in the cabinet. The cabinet is fully functional but with shallow drawers.” With a look that feels classic yet up-to-date, the kitchen is a blend of livability and luxury. “We wanted to create a space that would function for the family’s daily needs and at the same time feel very light and open,” Studebaker says. –KIM HILL
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A SA N CT UA RY IN THE CITY CONTEMPORARY ELEMENTS WITHIN T R A D I T I O N A L S T. L O U I S A R C H I T E C T U R E ? YES, IT CAN BE DONE.
At this Central West End home, the owners wished to maintain the integrity of their house, built in 1907 as a single-family residence and now comprised of condos, while creating a comfortable modern dwelling. They knew just whom to turn to for both guidance and vision. “That’s really my forte and what I love to do,” says Lauren SweetSchuler of Castle Design. The kitchen opens up to the home’s other main living spaces, prompting Sweet-Schuler to work within a specific palette to foster a sense of continuity. “The entire house is designed in layered neutrals,” she says. They began with the room’s most eye-catching feature: the fireplace, and opted to preserve the mantel’s plaster gingko leaf motif but replace the brown stone with a blue-honed limestone in a matte finish. As they worked their way through the kitchen, they switched out brown tones for more neutral ones, like a taupe paint for the
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Designer Lauren Sweet-Schuler says it’s unusual to see a fireplace in the kitchen these days, but that it likely ended up there when the house was converted to accommodate three separate condo units, one per floor.
cabinetry, white quartz countertops, and a simple white subway tile for the backsplash. The cushion and pillows on the window seat are upholstered in performance fabrics that stand up to the sunlight streaming through the original leaded-glass windows. Throughout the renovation, the homeowners showed Sweet-Schuler inspiration images from magazines and other sources. “We ended up talking about what felt comfortable to live in, and what were other things that would be fun to visit but that don’t quite feel like home,” she says. For modern touches, they chose Knoll’s Bertoia barstools and Plissé pendant lighting from Luceplan, transforming the look of the room without the need to replace cabinetry and appliances. All along, Sweet-Schuler aimed to help her clients create a space that reflects their tastes while being easy to maintain. “They have these dual lives: They’re very busy, but when they’re home, it’s very serene and calming,” she says. “That was the intent with all of this.” –MEGAN MERTZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISE O’BRIEN
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TO THE MAX IN A DESIGN THAT FEELS SO EFFORTLESS, ARCHITECTS POURED IN LOADS OF WORK.
“We believe in celebrating what’s already great about a house or space and then upgrading it for a modern lifestyle,” says architect and interior designer Jessica Senne, co-owner of Studio Lark with her husband, Aaron Senne. In the case of this Midcentury Modern ranch in Kirkwood, the Sennes found many things to love, including the vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, and stunning backyard view. Their task was to preserve these features while implementing necessary upgrades. The ambitious plan called for reconfiguring the ground floor to give as much space as possible to the kitchen and opening up the walls to create flow among the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Another “bold move,” says Jessica, was replacing a floor-to-ceiling window with a 16-foot span of glass that turned a corner. By starting the window at counter height, they were able to add lower cabinets and a work surface to the north wall. To accomplish this feat, Studio Lark relied on the expertise of Webster Window and Door. Full Circle Design Works served as the
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The kitchen’s 16-foot window overlooks the backyard and is the focal point, no matter the season. “You have an entire plane that’s constantly changing,” says architect Jessica Senne. “We really tried to celebrate that with the design.”
general contractor and built the walnut cabinets. After numerous conversations, the homeowners decided to bleach the wood floors to achieve a more modern look and install a twolevel island where the couple’s two children can sit as their parents prepare meals. At the homeowners’ request, the Sennes added a niche for coffee preparation. In the renovation, the Sennes examined every detail of the space—from the storage of pots and pans to how the homeowners might pivot when taking a heavy dish from the oven. “At one point, we took blue tape and put it on the floor and scrutinized the distance in fractions of inches from the back countertop to the island,” Jessica recalls. The goal, as always, was to make sure the kitchen was as functional as it is beautiful. “We start with broad strokes, and get finer and finer with the detail.” In the end, all the hours of work resulted in a space that “seems so simple and effortless.” –MEGAN MERTZ
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A L L - S TA R C A S T A CHEERFUL KITCHEN DESIGN TAKES THE TOP ROLE IN A NEW HOME.
A recently retired Clayton couple was looking forward to a new beginning in a freshly built home within walking distance of their children and grandchildren. They wanted, says designer April Jensen of ADJ Interiors, “a memory-making hub” for family and friends to gather. So Jensen went to work: Using a palette of white, taupe, and gray, she created a soothing backdrop for the well-loved pieces and stylish new purchases that pepper the kitchen. The bird’s-eye maple barstools, for one, were made by a friend and given to the couple long ago. The metal breakfast table, newly fitted with a walnut top by Martin Goebel, has been a family treasure for nearly three decades. Jensen added walnut trim to the range hood and the racks in the wine cooler to layer texture as well as tie elements together. A new saffron chair by B&B Italia in the adjoining family room looks as much like a piece of art as it does a place to unwind. “It was important to the clients that each piece of furniture stand on
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The cabinet hardware is silver. Even though it’s highmaintenance, the hardware was an important decorative element for the client, a silversmith. The hardware “represents such an important part of who she is,” says Jensen.
its own,” says Jensen, noting that local sourcing was also a priority. The chairs around the kitchen table and the aforementioned chair in the family room were purchased at Centro Home Furnishings. Subway tile in Sugar from Waterworks’ Brickworks collection complements the cabinetry, painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray. “It’s almost a platinum,” says Jensen. “It’s the perfect mix between taupe and gray, and light bounces off it so beautifully.” Suspended above the white Macaubas quartzite–topped island are three Louis Poulsen pendants. The island is big enough to allow the clients to host large groups with ease; it’s also operated as an informal office space for the husband as he’s transitioned into retirement. These clients wanted to close the book on the home and décor they’d lived with for 40-plus years. “They let go of many beloved pieces, but kept those that are cherished and frequently used,” says Jensen. – KIM HILL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISE O’BRIEN, COURTESY OF DEVOL KITCHENS/ARTWORK BY WENDY PRATHER BURWELL
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Style Your Space So you want to create a pictureperfect kitchen and bath? Ask a professional photographer how to do it. –C A R A D O W N S 1. S H O P Y O U R H O U S E .
Before purchasing anything, look around your house. A space shouldn’t appear as if it was bought whole from a catalog; rather, it should look as if its contents were collected over a span of years. “If you have a wonderful collection of cutting boards or vases, try to feature those things first,” says Alise O’Brien, an architecture and design photographer. “Looking inside people’s refrigerators and kitchen cabinets is a fetish,” says lifestyle and food photographer Carmen Troesser. “There are always gems in there waiting to be brought out.” And no item is too ordinary to be beautified. Repackage items and display them, says Megan Lorenz, a photographer specializing in interiors and portraiture. “I put almonds in a decorative canister and display them on my counter,” she says. 2. B R I N G I N T H E O U T D O O R S .
Plants refresh a space while adding color and texture. “Herbs in a jar of water on your kitchen counter is nice,” says Troesser. “Plants love bathrooms for the moisture. If there’s a window, it’s a perfect way to add some life,” she adds. Yet, plants don’t need to be large to make an impact. Lorenz likes to put a succulent next to her bathroom soaps. She also suggests adding a handful of silver dollar branches in a vase next to the sink. 3. L E T T H E R O O M D I C TAT E T H E S T Y L E .
The space should be the focal point; the styling simply supports the look, says O’Brien: “If your kitchen is colorful, you can place colorful produce in the middle of an island, and it won’t take over, but if you have a neutral kitchen, the colorful produce might steal the show.” “If you have busy bathroom tile or countertops, I like to go with a solid towel to give the eye a break,” notes Lorenz. Bathrooms can take on a sterile look, especially when fitted with modern fixtures. “Mix it up with a vintage mirror or cup,” says Troesser. “I photographed a modern bathroom recently with vintage perfume bottles on the shelves—perfect.”
Rooms With a View Displaying fine art in the kitchen honors its special place in your home. BY SYDNEY LOUGHRAN WOLF
Over the past hundred years, kitchens have evolved from cold, sequestered spaces to open, inviting rooms that are often thought of as the heart of the home. Kitchens today are places where family members dine and spend downtime—and where guests are welcomed and entertained. This shift in how our society uses and perceives the kitchen has given rise to kitchens that are as much about gathering as, say, the family room, with the added benefit of food and drink nearby. How can homeowners emphasize this transformation? By introducing art into the kitchen. “Kitchens are a central part of family life and one of the most heavily used rooms in the home. Having artwork in our kitchens allows us to interact with and be affected by it on a daily basis,” says Carolyn Miles, founder and owner of St. Louis–based Atrium Gallery. “To our guests, artwork signals that this is a special room, not just a workplace.” Helen Parker is creative director of Londonbased design company deVOL Kitchens. She says that art in the kitchen creates a sociable feel akin to living spaces and lounges rather than working rooms. “This change has allowed for much more creativity, diversity, and style within this once functional room.” Throughout Susan Barrett’s Richmond Heights kitchen, guests and family enjoy meals in the company of a Cy Twombley print and a collection of 350 black-and-white photographs by artist Asher Penn that lines the wall leading into the kitchen and up the back stairwell. Barrett, president of Barrett Barrera Projects, suggests homeowners evaluate their kitchen space to determine the best places for art.
An eat-in area with an open wall lends itself to a single substantial work of art or a gallery wall. Spaces between windows or atop floating shelves are ideal for small, delicate works. Alcoves or upper shelves work well to showcase fine ceramics. “Art is relatively hardy, but it shouldn’t be displayed over a stove or sink, where smoke, heat, and water might [cause] damage,” says Barrett. Painting art onto kitchen walls or inside the cupboard is growing in popularity, notes Parker. “This may be in the form of a wallpaper, now much more acceptable in a kitchen, but also bespoke hand-painted murals, collages, or designs inside your cupboards,” she says. When possible, adjust ceiling lights to highlight art, or invest in sleek library lights. Art for the kitchen should be framed by a professional and covered with UV light–filtering glass or plexiglass. “This may cost more, but it’s worth it, because the frame will protect the art from the elements,” says Miles. Equally important: purchasing art that you’ll enjoy having for some time. “Abstract geometric watercolors with blocks of color are beautiful in minimalist kitchens or can be a nice foil in traditional kitchens,” says Miles. Themed art, such as the black-and-white etching of sliced bread that Miles has hanging in her own kitchen, can also look elegant. Or be playful and irreverent: “You might have a photograph of a cow on one wall and a steak on the opposite,” Barrett muses. The most important consideration is to choose art that resonates. “Art should enrich the experience in the kitchen, not just hang on a wall,” says Barrett. stlmag.com
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IN SYNC A B R A N D - N E W B AT H I N A C E N T U RYOLD HOUSE CALLED FOR S T Y L E A N D P R A C T I C A L I T Y.
When the new owners of a house just north of Forest Park decided on a top-to-bottom renovation, they gave Brett Clark, an interior designer at Savvy Ladue, this instruction: Make it feel current while retaining the flair of 1928, the year the house was built. That dual goal posed a challenge on the second floor, where the floor plan had to be redrawn and new rooms, including a guest bathroom, added. “They let us really go for it,” recalls Clark. To start, the homeowners OK’d his selection of a vibrant floral wallpaper by Thibault based on a 1920s stationery design. Then, for a bright contrast on the walls beneath, Clark chose white subway tile, edged by chair rail and cove base tile. The mosaic floor’s black-and-white
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“The client took a risk on the pink-and-green wallpaper,” says Brett Clark, “but the integrity of where it came from helped them feel comfortable with the decision.”
key border is typical of turn-of-the-century designs, Clark says. He was able to salvage crystal knobs from the house’s old doors and use those on the vanity, which was custombuilt by Markway. The Carrara marble vanity top and the chrome fixtures throughout are also typical of the period, he notes. The bath itself was a first for Clark in one respect: It has French doors. The homeowners are grandparents, he explains. They wanted the tub to be grandkid-friendly, but they didn’t want a curtain, and a single door would’ve partially blocked the space. Instead, they opted for doors that open outward so they could kneel and reach the entire expanse of the tub. “It’s just a guest bathroom,” says Clark. “We certainly spent more time and money and energy elsewhere, but small spaces like this hold a concept in a better way, because you don’t have as many distractions. You can take it all in when entering the space.” –NICHOLAS PHILLIPS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN LORENZ, EMILY MINTON REDFIELD, COURTESY OF KARR BICK
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SYM M E T RY AND S O P H I S T I C AT I O N T H E C L I E N T S W E R E D R AW N T O T H E DESIGN FOR ITS MODERN AMENITIES A N D S PA- L I K E A M B I E N C E .
“When you’re working on a historic remodel, you don’t want it to look out of place in the home,” says Janelle Helms, a designer with Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath. In 2018, Helms and Karr Bick’s owner, Jenny Rausch, redesigned four bathrooms, including this master bath, and added a fifth to a historic Clayton home. The room’s long, narrow footprint guided the designers’ decision-making, inspiring them to get creative as they introduced modern amenities while delivering a timeless, spa-like aesthetic. At the homeowners’ request, Karr Bick added a wet area at the far end of the room, with a full-size soaking tub and dual showerheads. Large gray porcelain tiles line the walls, and white quartz was selected for the tub’s waterfall edge. To keep the look consistent, the team chose gray porcelain tile for the floor and had it set in a herringbone pattern. Helms says this arrangement, with more grout lines, is safer, reducing the risk of falls. The half walls leading into the wet room hold niches for soap and shampoo bottles, preventing clutter. More organizational features include the custom double vanity from Mouser Cabinetry, Robern medicine cabinets above, and narrow cabinets for storage on the opposite side. Wood flooring was chosen for the vanity area because that part of the room remains relatively dry; Rausch notes that it’s also more comfortable to stand on than tile. The bathroom features DXV plumbing fixtures in polished chrome for a classic look, complemented by black-finished cabinet hardware and lighting. “We mix metals all the time,” says Rausch. “We usually use the rule
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The dual showerheads impart luxury, while lending cohesion to the design. “The room features a lot of symmetry, but the existing window is offset,” says Jenny Rausch. “It feels purposeful when really it’s what we were dealing with in terms of the original architecture.”
that all the faucets are one finish and lighting and hardware another.” A circular mirror, which the homeowners sourced at Crate & Barrel, introduces a touch of gold. “We thought this was the most magical element,” Rausch says. “The roundness softens the hard edges that are typically seen in a bathroom.” –MEGAN MERTZ
Wallpaper Wow! Designer Laura Lee of Laura Lee Home applied a faux grasscloth paper by Thibaut in her Clayton kitchen. It’s been as resounding success. ★
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From tile floors to marble countertops, hard surfaces are found all over most kitchens. To soften the look, consider using wallpaper, which also lends personality, pattern, and color, says Lee.
Wallpaper, more so than paint, adds dimension, and is less expensive than tile. Lee suggests vinyl and washable wallpapers, which are available in an array of styles from chinoiserie to textures resembling those of leather and wood.
Apply wallpaper to the back wall of a glassfront cabinet or on the walls between open shelves. Be mindful of scale, Lee warns. Take time to determine whether there’s enough wall space for a patterned wallpaper to make visual sense. “If you have small strips of wall around your upper cabinetry, you may want to use a small pattern with a little color, or a textured paper,” she says.
Avoid paperweave wallpaper, which is uncoated, flocked paper with a raised design made of tiny fibers, and handpainted wallpaper, both of which are porous and will absorb moisture and stains. If you do decide to use a delicate paper, particularly near a sink or stove, “have a sealer, or clear acrylic panels, applied to the paper to add another layer of protection,” Lee says.
Wallpapers are available in various lengths, widths, and repeats. Before making your purchase, ask a professional installer to measure your space. “Measuring is a fairly detailed, complex process with a lot of math involved,” says Lee. Once the paper arrives, have the installer prep and prime the walls before hanging it. Walls must be absolutely smooth and devoid of texture.
The look and feel of wallpaper can turn these rooms into spaces homeowners love. “Wallpaper feels special, intentional, and beautiful,” says Lee. “It elevates the space and the experience of being in your kitchen.” –SYDNEY LOUGHRAN WOLF
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The master suite of a 1930s Tudor home in Ladue was less than ideal, comprising small inefficient rooms and awkward room shapes, specifically an L-shaped half-bath that projected into the master bedroom from the adjacent hallway. This projection played havoc with the layout of the master bedroom and its relationship to the exterior architecture of the house. With these challenges in mind, the homeowners hired Greg Worley, principal of ARCH-WORX, to design a master suite that would include a bedroom, bathroom, closet, and laundry room. “Our goal was to create spaces that worked with the existing architecture of the house,” says Worley. The first task was simplifying that L-shaped half-bath. Then, by forgoing the traditional bedroom-bath-closet layout, the team was able to fit all the necessary functions into one large room without the need for transitional spaces. “This way, we have a room that is on scale with the existing house, including the new master bedroom,” says Worley. In the master bath, Worley placed an island with custom mirrors anchored into a marble countertop in the center of the room, allowing the other functions to coexist in the same space while maintaining simplicity and organization. “We designed the mirrors to free the space around
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Placing the island vanity in the center of the room allowed architect Greg Worley to keep the window in its original location. The island’s placement also yielded space for a laundry closet and for placement of the tub and shower as integrated elements.
them and matched the details of the mirrors to the adjacent plumbing fixtures,” he says. The custom cabinetry of Lyptus hardwood, comparable to maple but fully sustainable, in the both the bedroom and bathroom bears a dark grain like that of the home’s oak flooring. “The color, the quality, and the visual appearance of the wood grain in the cabinetry were key factors for the owners,” says Worley. “They wanted to enjoy the quality of the wood, rather than just a stain color,” continues Worley. “It also visually worked very well with both the oak flooring in the master bedroom and the marble tile flooring in the master bath.” Not wanting to disrupt the integrity of the home’s architecture, Worley elected to keep the existing window where it is. Centered as it is on the gable end of the house, he says, moving the window even slightly would have ruined the architecture of the exterior. “If we had divided the room with a wall or run the mirrors to the ceiling,” says Worley, “this would have cut the space in half and destroyed the quality of the light.” Now, light from the window above the tub floods the space. –KIM HILL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISE O’BRIEN, DAVID HUGHES/FRONT DOOR MEDIA
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fixture feels in their hands,” Dinzebach says, “so the selection process is more challenging.” That’s been the case for Randy Munton, who’s renovating the kitchen of his home overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks. Some showrooms have mailed samples to him and taken orders by phone; others, including the flooring retailer where Munton made purchases, are limiting store access. “She only lets one person in at a time, and you’ve got to glove and mask up,” says Munton who, with wife Sandy, used the extra time created by COVID-19–related delays to do much of the demolition work themselves. “Basically, I do the unskilled labor,” he says. “We saved a fortune.” Jimmy Rohrbaugh and Ignacio LopezCosta’s renovation was “past the tipping point where the destruction part was done and we were well into construction,” says Rohrbaugh. They were confident about continuing work because crews had direct access to the kitchen and pantry, which were easily sealed off from the rest of the home. Rohrbaugh was also able BY CHARLENE OLDHAM to set up a workspace quiet enough to allow him to work from home; Lopez-Costa, who’s in the medical field, worked at the hospital Becca Medler, her husband, Andrew, and demic. “There has been trust throughout. It on most days. The couple had already set up a their two daughters planned to share a makecould have been a nightmare, but it’s been small kitchen in an unused bathroom, relying shift shower in their basement and eat most of great,” says Medler. “I’ve also given them rein heavily on Instant Pot recipes, which proved their meals outside the house during a renovato do their job, which I know is appreciated.” good training for cooking in the time of corotion of their Richmond Heights home. Jeanne Dinzebach operates M. Dinzebach navirus, says Lopez-Costa. In mid-March, the family traveled to Florida Construction with her husband, Mike. She Luckily, their new full-sized appliances were for spring break, timing the trip to coincide says most of the company’s current projects delivered in time for them to add more frowith demolition. But when they received news involve unoccupied homes, making social diszen foods and perishables to the stockpile and that schools were transitioning to remote tancing easier. But they’ve had to be flexible cut down on trips to the store. “In a way, this learning and employees would begin to work and adjust the work schedules of some of their remodel was preparing us for quarantine— from home, the challenges of confinement to older tradespeople who don’t feel comfortable preparing us to have to cook with limited one room in the lower level, with construction going to work. The company is limiting the resources,” says Lopez-Costa. on a new kitchen and bathrooms overhead, number of workers assigned to multiple sites Their designer, Dana King of Dana King seemed untenable. and requiring that they wear protective gear. Design Build Remodeling, says that keeping Within hours, the Medlers changed course “The guys don’t use each other’s equipment clients safe has been easy, given that her firm and decided to remain in Florida, knowing anymore,” Dinzebach says, “and, of course, is LEED-certified, which requires many of the that it would be “impossible to learn and work if anyone is even remotely not feeling well, same precautions taken to stop viruses. Crews from home during construction.” They haven’t they’re not allowed to come to work. We norregularly seal off areas under construction and been back to St. Louis since, but work on their mally take people on a shopping day to pick have augmented the cleaning routine. home never stopped. The family monitors its out cabinetry, countertops, and hardware. “So, as far as keeping it contactless, that’s progress from afar, checking in with the crew Even though people do a lot of online shopthe nature of our work,” King says. “Noisevia text message and email three times a week. ping, they still want to experience how that less it is not.” “We’ve been joking that when we get home, But, in most cases, the Jimmy Rohrbaugh and there will be a big reveal, kind of like an HGTV firm has found a way to Ignacio Lopez-Costa’s show when you pull back the blindfold and say, work around schedules kitchen renovation was past the tipping ‘Are you ready to see your new home?’” says and delays, and with the point when they Medler, who’s been staying with her family at help of tech tools like the decided to continue her mother-in-law’s Florida condo. 3D design platform Matconstruction work. Medler, like other local homeowners, has terport and a deep bench found new ways to press on with major projof trade partners and suppliers, even going as ects during stay-at-home measures implefar as designing new projects digitally. “Our biggest hurdle is having clients take mented to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. She credits preplanning and a a leap of faith that we can do this virtually,” good working relationship with M. Dinzebach says King. “I hope people are looking positively Construction, which is spearheading the projtoward the possibilities and know that they ect, for the ease of renovating during a pancan be allowed to dream at this time.”
To Renovate or Not?
During the public health crisis, some homeowners had no choice but to continue on with their construction projects.
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DESIGNER MEGHAN HEETER REIMAGINES A BARN-LOFT IN A PALET TE OF RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.
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The renovation of a barn loft in Augusta, an hour west of St. Louis, was a dream project come true for interior designer Meghan Heeter of Castle Design. From the first time she visited the property, nestled at the base of a wooded valley off Highway 94, she knew that her design work would serve as a backdrop to the memories that would be made there. So before deciding to apply a first layer of stain to the pine floors or discussing the addition of shiplap walls and a walnut plank ceiling, the designer looked no further than her own childhood as muse. “One of the reasons I love this project so much is because it’s in Augusta, and that’s where my grandparents live,” she says. “I grew up spending summers with them, swimming, fishing, catching fireflies. It’s the best place for kids to run around and just be kids, and that’s what the client wanted.” The family’s main home is in Richmond Heights, where school activities and weekend sports occupy the majority of their time. They were searching for a weekend retreat within an hour’s drive of St. Louis where they could enjoy the outdoors—hiking, swimming, canoeing. “It started with my husband, who felt like we needed a sanctuary, and he had a log cabin in mind,” says the homeowner. The couple had been looking in southern Missouri and had even made an offer on a house there, but when that deal fell through, they broadened their search. “Right away we fell in love with the drive out to Augusta. It’s just such a pretty wooded area,” says the wife, who saw the listing online and within two days was visiting the 110-acre property with her husband and real estate agent. The winding driveway is almost a mile long, leaving first-time visitors to wonder what awaits them at the end of the drive. “All of a sudden you get to the base of the valley,” she says, “and the space opens up to this beautiful log cabin.” Although the pebble drive is shared with another property owner, who lives in the area year-round, the drive splits at about the quartermile mark and the two families rarely see one another. “We’re very secluded. At times that has been a little nerve-racking, but now we’re used to it,” says the wife. The main house is rustic in appearance and décor, just as the husband had wanted. Previous owners had designed it as an homage to the late 1800s, buying a period schoolhouse and moving it from Hermann to the shore of the property’s 7-acre lake. They also
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purchased a dogtrot-style house from the same era, which they found off Highway 109, took apart, and reassembled like Lincoln Logs on their land, combining the two structures into a 3,700-square-foot cabin with updated systems. Complementing the exterior, the interiors are chockfull of antiques sourced from around the country. The barn, on the other hand, is just 10 years old. It had been used as a machine shed until the current owners decided to convert the loft into a dormitory with built-in bunk beds and a living room, dining room, kitchenette, and bathroom for their three teenage children. Working with Nick Westerheide, of NRush Electric, the project’s general contractor, one of the team’s first tasks was to move the original set of stairs leading up to the loft from the interior to the exterior, adding a door as the main entry and exit points and a measure of safety for the family in case of an emergency. The floor plan’s basic long rectangular-shaped room called for some dimension, inspiring Heeter to design built-ins, such as the window seat and banquette in the kitchen, and install a large sliding barn door to close off the sleeping quarters from the living spaces as needed. The structure’s three dormers were creatively incorporated into the internal architecture: One became the shower, another a reading nook, and the third a desk space in the bunkroom. Heeter and her client designed the loft to have its own look. The log cabin is very dark. And the client wanted the barn to inhabit her idea of a farmhouse. “I wanted white, and I wanted bright,” she says.
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The team chose crisp white shiplap for the walls and walnut plank for the ceiling to add depth. They kept the original pine floors for their inherent rustic quality, but applied a coat of stain to add some polish, too. The décor is classic Americana in a patriotic color scheme, as seen in the Dash and Albert star ottoman, performance fabrics from Tilton Fenwick and Thibaut, and linen draperies with a stitched blue appliqué by Anna French. “It’s playful and colorful and a kid-friendly space, but it doesn’t feel too kitschy or doesn’t have a strong country theme,” says Heeter. “The main house has more of the wood and rustic details, so we didn’t want to completely go away from that, but we also
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wanted the barn to feel fresher and a little bit brighter.” The details, such as rope-like cording on the pillows and the accessories sourced at local shops, instill a handmade, folkloric feel. The dining room’s Cole & Son “Wood and Stars” wallpaper is a fitting companion to the walnut-top table with a base of aged iron. The kids had just one request, says the homeowner. “They wanted a big old table where they could play games and cards with their cousins and friends during sleepovers at the house.” Westerheide enlisted the help of local business Haslag Steel to build the iron railing with a decorative tree branch motif in the bunkroom’s hayloft window. He also suggested adding a deck onto the barn—an addition that, by all accounts, now provides the best views of the property. Like the main house, a geothermal heating and cooling system as well as new electrical and plumbing was installed in the barn. Heeter is partial to the black-and-white–patterned Jeffrey Court tile in the bathroom. She says it reminds her of a quilt in her grand-
mother’s collection and, perhaps, of her own youth spent frolicking around a country house in Augusta. The Kohler Brockway trough sink captures the spirit of the architecture. The home’s ability to inspire family memories has been documented here, but also in a journal for visitors to the barn. Heeter discovered the entry while finalizing the loft’s accessories at the house one weekend. “My client’s daughter had written about how much fun she was having, sitting out on the deck with their two golden retrievers and cooking family dinners together in the main house. It was so validating that this project, really, is all about family, and that they’re going to enjoy it for years to come.” stlmag.com
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S P EC IA L A DV E R T IS IN G S EC T IO N
KITCHEN & BATH GUIDE R E F R E S H O F
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ADJ INTERIORS
MARCIA MOORE DESIGN
Mixed metals and modern lighting combine with traditional cabinetry, marble countertops, and classic drapery to create a master mix of majestic. ADJ Interiors creates spaces that are funky, functional, and 100 percent original.
Leave ordinary behind. Tired of your lackluster kitchen or barebones bathroom? Marcia Moore Design has earned acclaim and awards for creating kitchens that wake you up in the morning and bathrooms that soothe you at night. Let them create the artistic, visionary, unexpected, and memorable space you deserve. Because life is too short for ordinary.
314-230-9099 / ADJINTERIORS.COM
314-395-1114 / MARCIAMOOREDESIGN.COM
KAREN KORN INTERIORS
JCR DESIGN GROUP
Karen Korn Interiors honors your tastes and vision, while gently nudging you past your comfort zone (where true magic happens). She listens closely and observes the way you live your life. Then, trusting her instincts, she takes strategic risks to design a space where you can live comfortably.
Located in the Interior Design Center of Saint Louis, JCR Design Group is an award-winning design firm specializing in high-end custom interiors, renovations, kitchen and bath design, and new construction collaborations. With more than 30 years of cumulative industry experience, the team, led by owner and principal designer Jennifer Rapp, works closely with homeowners, architects, and builders to create distinctive and functional interiors that are fresh yet timeless.
636-675-6150 / KARENKORNINTERIORS.COM
314-706-2727 / JCRDESIGNGROUPSTL.COM
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K I T C H E N
SPECIAL ADV ER TI S I N G S ECTI ON
& B AT H
Bored of the standard all-white kitchen and bath? Craving a home unlike anyone else's? JDM Interior Design clients trust them to create one-of-a-kind spaces that are both beautiful and functional. With experience in both custom-build and renovation, JDM Interior Design delivers creative design solutions for every project. 314-833-3445 / JESSIEDMILLER.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN LORENZ
G U I D E
JESSIE D. MILLER INTERIOR DESIGN
PREMIER PLUMBING STUDIO Experience the finest kitchen and bath products at Premier Plumbing Studio, located in the Interior Design Center of St. Louis. Their 6,000 square-foot showroom displays the latest plumbing styles and finishes, working displays, and accessories that will truly enhance your design. They offer products from top-of-the-line manufacturers including Kallista, Brizo, Hansgrohe, Kohler, Moen, Robern, Rohl, and many more. 314-872-9339 / PREMIERPLUMBINGSTUDIO.COM
WILSON LIGHTING
KARR BICK KITCHEN & BATH
Wilson Lighting is a family-owned company established in 1975. The showroom is packed with in-stock product including lighting, fans, lamps, mirrors, art, furniture, and accessories, all with personalized service from a certified staff of experts to guide you. Wilson also designs and manufactures its own exclusive brand, Mariana Home. With Wilson, you can make something beautiful come to light.
Whatever space you want to renovate, Karr Bick can help you create one that is #NothingOrdinary. The greatest compliment that their award-winning design team gets is that they listen. Every Karr Bick design uniquely reflects the loves and lifestyle of the client. Get started on your next project with some showroom inspiration or a free design consultation.
314-222-6300 / WILSONLIGHTING.COM
314-645-6545 / KARRBICK.COM
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FLOOR SOURCE
SUB-ZERO, WOLF, AND COVE SHOWROOM
Located in the Interior Design Center of St. Louis, Floor Source is a full-service floor covering company focused on servicing residential and to-the-trade individuals. Their state-of-the-art designer showroom features the latest products and trends of carpet, vinyl, tile (ceramic, porcelain, glass, mosaics), natural stone. and hardwood. They are there to help you create your dream kitchen and bath.
The Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom is a creative and collaborative space. Chef demonstrations and interactive products will inspire you, while knowledgeable consultants will guide you through your entire kitchen project. Delicious moments spent cooking with the ones you love start here. 314-991-0900 /SUBZERO-WOLF.COM/STLOUIS
314-447-1972 / FLOORSOURCESTL.COM
CLASSIC CABINET COMPANY
AMY STUDEBAKER DESIGN
Do you hate cooking in your kitchen because it is ugly and just doesn’t work well? At Classic Cabinet Company, they help you design a gorgeous kitchen that maximizes your space. When they are finished, your kitchen will be your favorite place to nourish your family and friends. Call or email Tammy to set up your free in-home consultation.
Amy Studebaker Design has served St. Louis as an interior design firm for more than 10 years, specializing in luxury living spaces. Amy and her team's design capabilities include renovations, updates, and designs conceived from blueprints for new home construction. They collaborate closely with their clients to meld dĂŠcor with their lifestyles and personalities, often expertly blending a mixture of new and antique furniture and accessories, creating a timeless space that feels comfortable and collected.
314-862-0545 / TAMMY@CLASSICSTL.COM
314-440-0853 / AMYSTUDEBAKERDESIGN.COM
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SPECIAL ADV ER TI S I N G S ECTI ON
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MCMILLAN CABINETMAKERS
PERIOD RESTORATION
McMillan Cabinetmakers is a handcrafted locally built cabinet shop in Brentwood. They offer true customization, beautiful and longlasting finishes, endless wood selections, and uniquely detailed styling for your home. They work with homeowners and design professionals on projects of all types and sizes. Visit the website to learn how they can design any space for you and your home.
Using traditional craft techniques, Period Restoration preserves and restores the original beauty of historic properties, while building with equal devotion to excellence on new construction projects. Craftsmanship is the cornerstone of Period Restoration's work. 314-704-5146 / PERIODRESTORATIONCO.COM
314-644-4535 / MCMILLANCABINETMAKERS.COM
F O R O N
I N S P I R AT I O N
Y O U R
N E X T
H O M E
I M P R O V E M E N T P R O J E C T,
V I S I T
stlmag.com/design METRO LIGHTING Updating lighting is an easy way to give your kitchen or bath a quick facelift. The experts at Metro Lighting are certified by the American Lighting Association and trained to lay out and design lighting that works for you and your project. Visit the Metro Lighting showrooms at one of their six Missouri locations. 314-963-8330 / METROLIGHTINGCENTERS.COM
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INDEX
LIFE SAVERS Editors dish on the kitchen buys that bring good things to their days and nights.
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My electric kettle is getting heavy usage. I’ve always relied on it to make tea, but now that I’m cooking at home more often, I use it to preheat any water that I need to boil on the stove. Reduces cook time. –NICHOLAS PHILLIPS, SENIOR EDITOR
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During the stayat-home mandate, we upgraded to a smart TV in the kitchen so we could bingewatch shows even in the morning if we wanted to. We’ve even joked about watching Tiger King while eating grrreat big bowls of Frosted Flakes. –GEORGE MAHE, DINING EDITOR
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Now more than ever, the sous vide I use to cook proteins has kept me from leaning too heavily on frozen meals. I’ve been setting the temperature and dropping the bags while my toddler takes his afternoon nap. Doing so and then walking away, knowing the seasoned meat will be perfectly cooked and still juicy in a couple hours is one less thing to worry about. –KEVIN A. ROBERTS, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Last year I received a Keurig for Christmas. Every morning it makes the perfect cup of coffee on the fly…and with a third kiddo now— a baby girl!—I need my morning jolt to be quick, easy, and no-hassle. –TOM WHITE, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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I use an 8-quart Dutch oven on Saturdays to bake a loaf of [food journalist] Mark Bittman’s no-knead bread. Then, on Sunday, I use it to make a huge batch of soup. My husband and I eat both throughout the week because they’re easy to reheat and enjoy. Plus, it’s about all we really have time for, juggling work and childcare. Everyone needs at least one piece that can go from oven to stovetop. My red Le Creuset is incredibly versatile. –AMANDA WOYTUS, DEPUTY EDITOR
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For years, my husband’s been suggesting we buy a robot vacuum cleaner, but I’d been skeptical. Lately, though, I’ve started to feel like I have a broom and dust pan attached to my hands, so we invested in the Eufy RoboVac 11S. At night, it runs in the kitchen, and during the day it picks up everything under the beds. How did I ever live without it? –VERONICA THEODORO, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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On a whim, I decided to purchase a silicone microwave popcorn bowl for less than $10. It’s easy to use. You simply add popcorn kernels and a little butter and salt, and you’ve got a gourmet snack in three minutes. Hands down, it’s the best purchase I’ve made in the last few months. You really can’t beat the joy that comes from plopping down on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn after a long day of not leaving the house. –EMILY CRAMSEY, ART DIRECTOR stlmag.com
5/26/20 2:57 PM
A PREVIEW OF THE DAY ’S TOP STORIE S
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DESIGN CRUSH
CHRIS MEYER Pivoting in a pandemic, Kounter Kulture altered its business model to serve customers and vendors. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE DIRECTION AFTER CORONAVIRUS HIT? It happened
organically. We started making preparations for ourselves as a small business the first week of March, so we had a two-week head start. By the time the shutdown happened for the city, we were at least stable internally, so that gave us the ability to look outside of ourselves. Our farmers, for whom the majority of their deliveries to St. Louis were wholesale, within a week their business was gone, and they were just spinning. Meanwhile, our customers were calling and saying things like, “I went to the grocery store, and there’s no meat.” I could see there were two sets of people and I could put them together.
WHY WAS HELPING THE FARMERS AND, IN TURN, THE CUSTOMERS, IMPORTANT TO YOU? With the farmers’ market postponed,
that’s a huge piece of the economic puzzle for small businesses and farmers. [At press time, many area farmers’ markets have reopened with safety guidelines and limited capacities.] We thought we could keep buying from them for the food we make but also buy the extra and sell it. I know that the folks at Fresh Pasture [Farms, in Millstadt] have gathered the eggs themselves that morning. I know the precautions they’re taking, so I also know the folks who are matching our concern for safety. I feel like, now more than ever, that is so important. It’s also about the quality. Whereas people might have been eating at home 40 percent of the time, now it’s like 90 percent of the time, so they’re cooking more and taking more pride in what they’re preparing.
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farmer/vendors directly with customers and closing the circle on the food supply chain. WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF FOOD BEGIN?
I grew up in the ’60s, and people didn’t eat out as much as they do now, so we always cooked meals. It was important to my family, cooking together and eating together. We always had a huge garden. I grew up caring for plants and having a focus on what was on the table seasonally, so that carried over into young adulthood. I wanted to learn about farming, so I worked for three years on a farm in Bourbon, and I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 15. So that was the path I was on.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
St. Louis native Christine (Chris) Meyer and her business partner, Mike Miller, started Kitchen Kulture, a catering business and stand at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market in 2010, eventually gaining a cult following for their incredible breakfast sandwiches. Four years ago, they transitioned to a brickand-mortar Asian-fusion takeout restaurant that they dubbed Kounter Kulture. When the world took a dramatic shift in March 2020, the pair was forced to adapt to life during a pandemic. “I think anybody, no matter what business you’re in, you’re going to have to reinvent what you’re doing,” says Meyers. For Kounter Kulture, that meant connecting
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK? We already had set deliveries with different farms on different days, so throughout the week we’re replenishing supplies, from flowers to lettuce to ground beef. By Thursday or Friday, we’re completely loaded. IN WHAT WAYS WILL KOUNTER KULTURE CONTINUE TO ADAPT IN THIS NEW NORMAL? We’re taking this to the next level
with preordered pickups in our parking lot [distributed directly by local farmers]. We started with Newman Farm—they’re a well-respected pork farm in southern Missouri, and they sell to the top restaurants around the country. The consumer can now get a higher quality pork than they’ve ever been able to. –AMY BURGER stlmag.com
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