ABODE Spring 2026

LADUE NEWS | SPRING 2026

Take it Outside:

CHICKEN COOPS

Hidden Storage ge

Ideas

KARR BICK

#Nothing Ordinary spaces for families

636-532-9307 | 16825 N. Outer 40 Rd. | www.ChesterfieldValleyNursery.com

ABODE

CONTENTS On the Cover 8

The Shield Remains

by Karr Bick Photo by Lisa Mitchell of Photographie by Li

Designer Insights 10

Jennifer Williams of Saint Louis Closet Co.

12

Jenny Rausch of Karr Bick

Shop Local 16

MoModerne

21

Brody’s Lamps

24

Function & Form 24

Wet Bars

30

Hidden Storage

Take it Outside 34

Chicken Coops

Inside Look 38

April Jensen of ADJ Interiors

Inspired Interiors 43

A Conceptual Conservatory

by TAO + LEE Associates

46

Second Time’s the Charm

by Ellie Redders Interiors

50

An Enduring Elegance

by Murphy & Moore Design

54

Elevating Everyday Living

by Castle Design

38

50

Inspired by your landscape,

designed for your life.

At Baker Pool Construction, we combine decades of experience with advanced 3D design technology to create custom pools thoughtfully designed to complement your terrain, views, and the way you live outdoors.

We don’t just build swimming pools, we transform backyards. Let our team of innovative pool and landscape designers bring your dream outdoor space to life.

636-519-POOL www.bakerpoolconstruction.com

Baker Pool Construction

Cwithonnect LADUE NEWS Follow Ladue News on Facebook to keep up with the latest home décor trends. Each week, look forward to THE RESET column, which showcases three pieces ideal for updating your interior design.

ABODE PUBLISHER Ian Caso

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amanda Dahl | adahl@laduenews.com SENIOR EDITOR Emily Standlee | estandlee@laduenews.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bethany Christo, Pat Eby, Drew Gieseke, Carrson McDaniel, Connie Mitchell, Brittany Nay, Andrea Smith

Photo supplied

ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Kevin Hart | khart@stlpostmedia.com

Get a peek inside luxurious local homes by following @laduenews on Instagram.

Photos from the DESIGN ELEMENTS column show off stunning work by some of the top interior designers in the metro-area.

Photo by Abby Liga Photography, design by Rachel Blindauer Interior Design

SENIOR MEDIA STRATEGIST Katie Ray | kray@laduenews.com MEDIA STRATEGIST Michelle Brown | mbrown@laduenews.com SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Maggie Peters | mpeters@laduenews.com CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT MANAGER Lisa Taylor | ltaylor@lee.net

CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Laura De Vlieger | ldevlieger@laduenews.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Corey Hogrefe Photography, Christina Kling-Garrett, Peter Larson, Megan Lorenz, Nicole Miget, Lisa Mitchell, Alise O'Brien, Wesley Law Photography, Anna Weiss

Get our best FEATURES and other stories delivered weekly to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter on the laduenews.com homepage.

CONTACT 901 N. 10th St., St. Louis, MO 63101-1250 laduenews.com Photo by Megan Lorenz, design by Design Collective STL A LEE ENTERPRISES PUBLICATION

4 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

D

id you have a bad day recently? The car wouldn’t start.

Your utilities bill just went up. Work was tough. Or maybe heavier things were weighing on your mind, like the loss of a loved one. When nothing else feels right at present, the world might somehow slip away the moment you arrive home.

Home is sanctuary. A sacred place where you can unburden and be entirely yourself. It’s a space where you can build rituals: reflective time on your yoga mat, exercise in your pool, family connectedness through breaking bread at the dinner table, self-care through skincare at your bathroom mirror.

In these pages, we explore the sacred aspect of transforming a house into a home. For some, this happens by getting back to the land (see Page 34 on raising chickens) or bringing nature in (see Page 43 on a greenhouse-inspired, two-story addition). For others, it’s through unwinding with friends and loved ones over cocktails (see Page 24 on the renaissance of the wet bar) or maintaining an organized domicile (see Page 30 on how to declutter with discreet storage solutions).

We hope this issue of ABODE reminds you of your own refuge – and that you find, as we have done, inspiration in every feature.

Thanks for reading,

Amanda Dahl

T R A N Q U I L . T I M E L E S S . TA I L O R E D .

Shield Remains The

Edited by Maggie Peters | Photos by Lisa Mitchell

Celebrating 20 years of creating #Nothing Ordinary spaces, Karr Bick’s owners are looking back at how the design firm has grown and how it’s come to symbolize strength and confidence.

I

n 2006, Jenny and Todd Rausch purchased Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath.

It was a courageous step driven by their love of architecture, homes, and family. Their vision was to build a company that felt like family. Creating customer-inspired spaces and valuing people deeply.

The year prior to buying Karr Bick, they got married. A medieval-style family crest adorned their wedding invitations, and when it came time to design the new Karr Bick logo, the couple knew that same style of shield was the perfect fit. The shield

offered the strength of its history: guard what matters most. It stands for loyalty.

It weathers storms.

Over the years the logo has evolved in shape and texture, but it has always remained a shield. It symbolizes resilience, grit, and protection. It is a reminder of risks taken, obstacles overcome, and courage required to build something lasting.

karr bick kitchen & bath design • construction • interiors

Karr Bick has grown into a full-service design-build firm offering space planning, construction, interior design, and curated vintage décor—all under one roof. Clients are drawn not only to craftsmanship but to how the spaces feel: comfortable, layered, and deeply personal. That’s the #NothingOrdinary difference.

In the end, the shield remains. So does a family building #NothingOrdinary spaces for families.

Karr Bick, 2715 Mercantile Drive, Brentwood, 314-645-6545, karrbick.com

LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 9

Designer

INSIGHTS with JENNIFER WILLIAMS of SAINT LOUIS CLOSET CO.

By Pat Eby Photos courtesy of Saint Louis Closet Co.

K

eeping a neat closet has long been a passion for Jennifer Williams, president and owner of Saint Louis Closet Co., as her late mother would tell it.

“My mom used to tell the story that, when I was in middle school, I would always organize my closet,” Williams says. “But when Target first opened in downtown Kirkwood, [my closet] got a major makeover. I bought matching red hangers and clear plastic shoe boxes. I wallpapered the inside walls with a lot of red Time magazine covers and got to work organizing.”

The St. Louis native – a Kirkwood High School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Saint Louis University – had originally envisioned writing for her living. A meeting with an old friend from high school who worked for a custom closet builder in California changed her career trajectory.

“He was setting up a franchise in St. Louis. He thought I would love it,” Williams says. “I started working with him to learn closet design. After two weeks, I was crazy about it. I’ve always loved my closet and everything about organization, so I made the commitment.”

We spoke with Williams about her process and how her work inspires clients to develop a deep love for the organization of their storage spaces.

10 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

An honest approach

The first thing Williams and her team of designers do at a free in-home consultation is evaluate how homeowners are using their storage spaces. “We don’t want you to clean up for us beforehand,” Williams says. “We want to see the closet, the pantry, or the space you want organized and how it’s working for you. Is there a pile of shoes on the closet floor? Are you a cook with no space for your spices? We can work with that.”

She adds: “When we come out, it’s our job to assess your situation and listen to your needs. We measure the space, inventory the items, and talk to you about your goals.”

Vetting your design firm

In October 2025, Saint Louis Closet Co. received the prestigious Torch Award for ethics from the Better Business Bureau. The award recognizes businesses that embody integrity, trust, and ethical practices in their communities.

“It’s an amazing honor. A business must have a perfect customer service record for a good amount of time. An independent panel of judges who are business owners select the winners,” Williams says. “The Better Business Bureau is a wonderful organization that helps consumers make good choices about where to spend their money.”

Beyond the closet

“People often come to us first for closets, but once they’re installed, they get so excited – they’ll say, ‘Can you do a pantry, or a mudroom?’ or ‘Let’s do the garage.’ Of course we can,” Williams says. “Once people start getting organized, it’s addictive – in a good way.”

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Saint Louis Closet Co., 2626 S. Big Bend Blvd., Maplewood, 314-781-9000, stlouisclosetco.com

Designer

INSIGHTS with JENNY RAUSCH of KARR BICK

By Amanda Dahl Photos by Lisa Mitchell of Photographie by Li

S

taying in business for 20 years isn’t something one dreams into existence – it takes hard work, commitment, and passion. Jenny Rausch built Karr Bick, alongside her husband, Todd, into a still-thriving business two decades later with equal doses of gumption and zeal.

“I think we are still successful because, for one, we have gotten knocked down so many times, [and] we are really good at getting back up. Also, we are really good at knowing what is a trend that will stick, and what will be just a trend,” Rausch says.

She grew up in a household where both parents worked in the remodeling business. From her late father, Rausch says she inherited grit and the knowledge of logical construction as a philosophy. Her mother’s natural ability to design left a mark on a young Jenny, who took to redesigning her doll house. Yet, Rausch first explored another career path – in textiles and fashion.

“In college, I had the most decorated apartment in the city,” Rausch remembers. “Other kids didn’t really get it. It took

my mom sending my resume to a local kitchen company when I was in my 20s for me to realize I was in the wrong business.

I took to [remodeling] immediately.”

We spoke with Rausch about what drives her forward today and what it takes to keep a business strong through the 2008 recession and now a post-pandemic landscape.

“We recognize things early, adjust, and deliver very comfortable, livable spaces people want to be in. You feel it right when you walk into our showroom – it’s beautiful, comfortable, friendly.” Rausch laughs, adding, “And we have a dog.”

Signature style

“My personal style is chic cottage [meets] western cabin. …

That’s a strange combo, I know. But I wear cowboy hats and swoon over vintage animal mounts and antiques. I love menswear fabrics and things that look like they belong in Wyoming. I adore Native American motifs.

“And this all goes back to my first apartment in college. I have matured in my style, but the basic elements are still there.

That being said, I can design in anyone’s style – we have to around here!”

On trend

“Antiques: I have collected for years, but they are back in the mainstream. And clients are letting us use them. It’s also driving the prices, though!”

Local shops worth a stop “I adore Warson Woods Antique Mall or Fox & Hound Antiques. They are curated antiques, and I can always find something.”

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Karr Bick, 2715 Mercantile Drive, Brentwood, 314-645-6545, karrbick.com

LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 13

Welc Welcome CINDY HANDY

ANDREA MADDOCK

314.489.3546 cindy.handy@janetmcafee.com

314.518.6699 ahmaddock@janetmcafee.com

One of the things I love about real estate, is the one-on-one connection with people. It requires trust and skill to guide a client through the process of buying or selling a home. Because our homes are such an important part of who we are, I find the process very rewarding.

As a Janet McAfee top agent, I’d love to be your trusted partner on the sale or purchase of your home. Whether you are ready now or in the future, let’s come up with the best plan for you and your family!

HEIDI LONG

LISA COULTER

314.308.2283 heidilong@janetmcafee.com

314.941.2883 lisacoulter@janetmcafee.com

For more than 25 years, Heidi Long has had the privilege of guiding clients with insights and tools to enhance their homes, analyzing data to support their decisions. She leverages her financial expertise and problem solving skills to create innovative solutions in an ever-changing market—embracing every exciting challenge along the way.

KATHLEEN LOVETT & LAURA DONOVAN Kathleen Lovett: 314.610.7408 klovett@janetmcafee.com Laura Donovan: 314.229.8978 ldonovan@janetmcafee.com With over 50 years of combined experience, our team offers comprehensive resources to guide you through every step of the buying or selling process, ensuring ongoing support long after your transaction. We specialize in navigating the complexities of an ever-changing market, using our expertise to help you make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes.

As a consistent top producer for over 35 years, I am firmly committed to providing exceptional service from start to finish for all my clients. And I love helping my buyers and sellers successfully navigate the current competitive market!

MARCY BYRNE 314.750.5800 mbyrne@janetmcafee.com With 30+ years of experience with Janet McAfee, I know how important it is to have a trusted advisor with local knowledge and market insight in order to find the perfect home in the right neighborhood.

MARY ELLEN STEPHENS

TRICIA KOLBRENER

314.598.1325 mestephens@janetmcafee.com

314.504.5564 tkolbrener@janetmcafee.com

A lifelong St. Louisan and top agent at Janet McAfee in 2025, Mary Ellen has deep knowledge of the local market. With a background in sales and marketing, she delivers a client-first approach, guiding buyers and sellers through smooth negotiations and confident decisions.

I love the ever changing markets in the real estate industry. With 37 years of experience, I have seen and worked through maby challenging transactions.

Let me help you with your next move.

CHRISTY THOMPSON

ELIZABETH ST. CIN

314.974.6140 cthompson@janetmcafee.com

314.412.4687 estcin@janetmcafee.com

I put my 33 years as a negotiator to work on every deal. I love advocating for my clients, making their buying, or selling experience an unqualified success.

Liz St. Cin has sold more than $230 million, earning top-producer recognition year after year.

With a hands-on approach, strong advocacy, and sharp problem-solving skills, she guides each transaction with expertise and energy. Her genuine care for clients and uplifting personality make the experience as exceptional as the results she delivers.

LAURIE BUSCH

TERRI WOLFNER

314.496.9654 lauriebusch@janetmcafee.com

314.440.3737 twolfner@janetmcafee.com

I am passionate about real estate, my clients, and their goals. My previous career with Anheuser- Busch instilled in me the high-quality service that I provide today.

My core values are hard work, dedication and a strong partnership with my clients.

With 36 plus years of experience, I try to make all my clients have the smoothest transaction in buying and selling their home.

I love my job.

j a n e t m c a f e e i n c . | 9 8 8 9 c l a y t o n r o a d | s a i n t l o u i s , m i s s o u r i 6 3 1 2 4 | 3 1 4 . 9 9 7 . 4 8 0 0 | w w w. j a n e t m c a f e e . c o m

Furnishings With Stories to Tell

By Carrson McDaniel Photos by Anna Weiss

16 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

Design aficionados can discover a treasure trove of furniture, art, and keepsakes spanning design eras from Art Deco to postmodern at this showroom and estate sales business.

L

ocally owned and operated, MoModerne has proven itself as a shopping destination for locals in love with the perennially popular design era of mid-century modern – and beyond. From Art Deco glamour to mid-century icons and postmodern experimentation, the design philosophy continues to hold up aesthetically nearly 80 years on. We speak with the mind behind MoModerne about her own design leanings and her sources for furnishings for her 2,000-square-foot showroom in St. Louis’ Midtown neighborhood.

Owner Anna Weiss started her company over two decades ago to supplement her expenses while attending

Washington University in St. Louis. Along the journey, her side business became “a love letter to mid-century design and the stories objects carry.”

“I began it as a way to bring thoughtfully curated vintage pieces to St. Louis,” she says. “My background in estate sales and set dressing is a newer chapter, but they both sharpen the same skill, which is building a space that feels real. That’s why the store is curated the way it is. I’m always thinking about character, warmth, and what a room is trying to say.”

Weiss selects pieces for MoModerne that serve a purpose – whether through design integrity, proportion, craftsmanship, materials rarity, or how well they will fit aesthetically in any given space. “I want the store to feel like inspiration you can take home,” she adds.

Running estate sales has helped Weiss shape her eye for design. “You learn quickly what’s quality, what’s timeless, and what people actually live with,” she says. Weiss aims to make styling and mixing vintage décor feel approachable rather than intimidating for her customers.

There’s also an environmentally conscious aspect of her work. “Vintage is the original form of sustainable design! I use what already exists, keep materials in circulation, and buy fewer, better pieces that last,” she explains. “Buying vintage is one of the most responsible ways to build a beautiful space.”

As for design trends, Weiss always admires true craftsmanship as well as items with great bones and lines.

She currently appreciates the return to warm, rich woods, softer shapes, and rooms that feel built up over time.

“Less perfect, minimal, and stark, and more personal.

I love a collective interior. Mixing materials, eras,” she says.

“I love patina and the interest in craftsmanship and natural materials. I love that we are going away from disposable design.”

Weiss’ business has evolved every year since its inception on eBay in 2002: from her garage to a Cherokee Street storefront to Webster Groves to City Foundry in Midtown.

“Hopefully, as we continue, [we] add more curation, more services, and a deeper focus on quality and provenance,” she says.

In the 24 years since launching the business, Weiss states the goal has never been to just sell furniture, but to offer a resource for people who care about design. “I’ve always been drawn to interiors and how a space can change the way you feel. MoModerne became the place where that instinct meets a service – helping people find pieces that last and feel like a reflection of their personality,” she says.

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MoModerne takes items that fit style and quality standards, Weiss adds. Those interested in selling their pieces should reach out and send photos along with basic information, such as dimensions and condition.

Weiss, whose eye for décor can be spotted on set designs for movies, also loves working with local artists including ceramists, woodworkers, and painters. Additionally, MoModerne offers consignment services, studio rentals, and space rentals. The showroom is open Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MoModerne, 3730 Foundry Way, No. 188, Midtown, St. Louis, 314-620-4194, momoderne.com

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Fifty years never ordinary This year, Sotheby’s International Realty® celebrates what we’ve built for 50 years. It’s also the year we look forward.

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Lighting Up ST. LOUIS

By Drew Gieseke | Photos by Amanda Dahl

With a 9,000-square-foot showroom and nearly a century of expertise, this family-owned gem proves that while you can buy pieces online, you can’t download true craftsmanship.

S

ince 1932, the glow emanating from Brody’s Lamps has been a constant in the landscape of St. Louis County.

While the region around it has transformed, this familyowned gem on Big Bend Boulevard remains a fixture in specialty retail. Spanning an impressive 9,000 square feet, the showroom isn't just a place to find a bulb – it’s a destination where heirloom restoration meets modern design.

Whether it’s finding the perfect lamp shade for a beloved antique base or restoring a piece that’s been passed down from one generation to the next, Brody’s continues to prove that in a world of flat-pack furniture and online shopping, true craftsmanship and a personalized experience shine especially bright.

“I think it’s probably because of our service,” says longtime sales and inventory buyer Mary Price. “You can come in with a lamp and get it repaired. You can get expert fitting sizes and styles right at your fingertips. We have a hand-painted sign in the store from long ago that says, ‘Buying a shade without a lamp is like buying a hat without a head.’ [Its message, which also pertains to customer service], still rings true today.”

Brody’s does more than simply sell new lamps. The shop’s roots reach back to the Great Depression, a time when Price notes that people didn't just toss things away; they repaired them because they had to. This spirit of preservation lives on in the specialty shop, which restores and reinvigorates heirloom lamps.

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Brody’s also sells lamps, chandeliers, artwork, and accessories.

Maybe a lamp needs a new shade or a complete wiring overhaul – it doesn’t matter, because the customer experience is what really separates Brody’s from the Wayfairs and Amazons of the world. Yes, you can buy cheap plastic lamps from an online market, but Price notes that lamp transformation is possible with just a new cord and a fresh socket, bringing sentimental treasures back to life every single day.

To keep the massive showroom stocked with more than just basic fixtures, the team travels to the High Point Market in North Carolina. There, they hand-select the furniture, artwork, and unique lamps to helps customers visualize a complete room. By treating lighting as the jewelry of a space, Brody’s help patrons to see how a simple change in pattern or shape can provide the update a tired room needs.

“It gives us pleasure to help refresh and figure out what [the customer wants] to do with a room,” Price says, mentioning that the company’s clientele ranges from very young people to patrons in their 90s. “It’s a relationship built over many years, helping them over many houses.”

But why lamps? Oftentimes, Price says, people end up with high-quality hand-me-down pieces – items whose value extends beyond that of sentimental treasures. The team at Brody’s works directly with customers to help them source the right looks and

materials for these inherited goods, amplifying the style of the living spaces in each patron’s home. Customers will bring photos in as examples, too, and staff members like Price identify patterns, shapes, and other fixtures from their vast inventory.

“They want to use an old lamp but don’t want to use the old-style shade,” Price says. “Same thing with hand-painted lamps or brass lamps: They’re good quality, and they don’t want to throw them away; they want to [ find a way to] keep them and update them.”

Price has been a fixture in the shop for 48 years, serving as a true testament to the company’s longevity. Similar to many other longstanding local businesses, it’s people like Price who make the shopping and service experience special. In an era of digital taps and virtual staging, Brody’s offers the tactile joy of touching the silk of a shade or weighing the base of a lamp in your hand and examining up-close the quality of the products in stock.

“People have been buying here for generations,” Price says.

“Their grandmother came here, their mother came here – and now the next generation is coming in. When you think of lamps and accessories, you think of Brody’s first. We are very grateful that people come in and buy local.”

Brody’s Lamps, 2300 S. Big Bend Blvd., Richmond Heights, 314-647-3318, brodylamp.com

WetBar

Photo by Karen Palmer, courtesy of Karen Korn Interiors

Not Your Parents’

This home design renaissance has been revamped for today’s at-home entertaining desires.

By Connie Mitchell

I

f you’re of a certain age, you may remember the heyday of the wet bar. To elevate a homeowner’s ability to entertain, residences often featured a heavily paneled indentation in the family room wall with a sink, a cabinet, and perhaps some wood shelves poised above the orange shag carpeting. When those rooms were later remodeled and updated, many of the 1970s- and '80s-era wet bars

disappeared. As with many home design trends, however, they’re back – and with an updated vibe for the modern host.

“I think COVID[-19] shutdowns were a big motivator” for the wet bar’s renaissance, says Jenny Rausch, president of local design firm Karr Bick.

“We were stuck at home, looking around [and] thinking, ‘Hmm, a bar would be nice!’ Also, we’ve been doing designs that really reflect how people live, what they

24 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

like, and how they entertain. [Wet bars] are a great extension of the kitchen. Now, we think of them as not only a place to stick the alcohol, but also a place to move the beverages – all of them.”

Anne Marie Boedges, owner of Anne Marie Design Studio, agrees that the modern main-floor wet bar can accommodate much more than alcohol storage. Instead, her clients want a convenient space dedicated to the

Photo by Lisa Mitchell of Photographie by Li, design by Karr Bick

Photo by Karen Palmer, courtesy of Karen Korn Interiors

Photo by Nicole Miget, design by Anne Marie Design Studio

creation of coffee, kids’ beverages, and cocktails. The expanded use of a wet bar drives homeowners to add them as kitchen-adjacent spaces instead of living room or family room focal points.

“They can require as little as 42 inches or up to 9-plus feet,” Boedges says. “They pair very well with a wine cellar nearby, but there are also many opportunities to create wine storage within the design by utilizing a tall SubZero wine column refrigeration unit or under-counter wine refrigeration.”

In some cases, homeowners want a grander, more elevated bar-style setting for preparing drinks, serving snacks, and relaxing. Dedicated wet bars that mimic more commercial bar-style spaces are typically designed for lower-level use as part of a larger entertaining space.

However, “We are taking living rooms or dining rooms and converting them to bars with comfortable seating,” says Karen Korn, principal designer and founder of Karen Korn Interiors. “A perfect wet bar includes refrigerator drawers, a wine fridge, an ice maker, dishwasher drawers, and a sink with a disposal.”

Finishes are as individual as the homeowners themselves.

Boedges has styled wet bars using wood or stained cabinetry, stone, brick, or other textural finishes on vertical spaces and waterfall-edged countertops.

“Bourbon tasting is very popular right now, so creating a space that feels warm and earthy really hits the right vibe,” she says. “I’m always addressing the ceiling area of a wet bar, trying to make the space feel like it’s giving you a warm hug.

Sometimes that includes a brick or tile barrel-vault ceiling or wood box beams.”

Photo by Nicole Miget, design by Anne Marie Design Studio

LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 27

Photo by Lisa Mitchell of Photographie by Li, design by Karr Bick

Lighting is another crucial element.

Rausch has designed wet bars with shelf lighting, decorative lighting, task lighting, and mood lighting. Designers also help clients consider seating for large wet bars and special features such as beer or wine taps and warming drawers.

Nearby televisions can turn the space into a sports bar when Blues, Cardinals, or CITY SC games are broadcast or streaming.

Designing and installing a wet bar requires expertise and is typically best accomplished with professional assistance.

“We have the capability of showing what the space will look like in 3D,” Korn notes. “We love to take a blank space and build the bar of our clients’ dreams. We know the questions to ask to ensure that all the features are added from the beginning.”

Anne Marie Design Studio, 17014 New College Ave., Suite E, Wildwood, 636-821-3395, annemariestudio.com Karr Bick, 2715 Mercantile Drive, Brentwood, 314-645-6545, karrbick.com Karen Korn Interiors, 7352 Forsyth Blvd., University City, St. Louis, 636-675-6150, karenkorninteriors.com

28 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

Photo by Karen Palmer, courtesy of Karen Korn Interiors

Subtle Storage AN ORGANIZED HOME IS A HAPPY HOME, BUT YOUR STORAGE AREAS NEED NOT BE ON DISPLAY.

By Andrea Smith Photo by Corey Hogrefe Photography, design by C+M Interiors

T

here is a myriad of ways to hide boxes of cereal, mismatched blankets, cold weather gear, and all the practical items you use all the time. Keep calm and keep organized with these tips from St. Louis-area interior designers on how best to maximize storage space in discrete, stylish ways.

Embrace a functional entryway or mudroom.

“Cabinetry designed for the daily messes and miscellaneous belongings is crucial to keeping a clutter-free and calming peace of mind,” says Maria Hogrefe, co-founder and principal designer at C&M Interiors. She encourages clients to use this space daily and design it to bring relief upon entering the home. Have fun with the color palette, and install a unique tile or wallpaper to lighten the mood.

Helen Lee, principal designer at TAO + LEE Associates, Inc., recommends millwork or cabinetry that includes shoe storage at the bottom, bench seating, hanging options for bags and jackets, and upper shelving for seasonal items. “When you make it easy to put things away, you’re more likely to be neat and tidy,” she says.

Know when open shelving makes sense.

In a living area or dining room, open shelving is great for displaying photo frames, décor, books, and your best dishes.

Open shelving also works well inside closets and closed-off pantries, allowing easy access to food without advertising everything to guests. “It’s also dependent on what you want to store in public spaces and how tidy your family is,” Lee explains.

“If it’s cans and packaged goods or jackets and backpacks, conceal it behind doors. If it’s beautiful platters and glassware, display it on shelves or behind glass doors.”

The kitchen tends to become a gathering place for guests, so closed cabinets here offer ample storage without concern for how beautifully your dishes are arranged. It doesn’t need to be floor-to-ceiling cabinets all the way through, though.

One of Lee’s favorite designs featured a sliding door that concealed oils, dressings, and other cooking essentials within convenient reach of the stove. When stored and covered, the counter remains open with a sleek aesthetic.

Photos courtesy of Peaks View LLC, design by TAO + LEE Associates LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 31

Photo by Corey Hogrefe Photography, design by C+M Interiors

Photo by Corey Hogrefe Photography, design by C+M Interiors

Diversify your doors.

If drab doors bore you, change things up with a jib door or Murphy Door. Jib doors sit flush along a wall and are often covered in wallpaper for a nearly seamless look. We’ve seen these lead to basements, powder rooms, or pantries with a tactful flow from one room to the next. The Murphy Door company has become to designers what Kleenex is to those with allergies – a brand name used to describe a variety of hidden doors, such as a bookcase that opens into an office or a giant mirror that leads to a closet. Some slide and others swing open, depending on the space around the hidden door.

Take advantage of every nook and cranny.

Hidden doors can be small, too. Hogrefe incorporated a few shelves into a powder room, disguised by a flush cabinet door. The wallpaper appears undisturbed, and the room maintains its uncluttered charm.

And don’t underestimate furniture with storage compartments. “Depending on the room, a furniture solution can add style and function to the overall design scheme,” Lee says. At the end of the bed, an ottoman bench can open to store pillows and blankets while providing a convenient seat when putting on socks and shoes. Elegant furniture with cabinets can blend into entertaining spaces, nixing the need for built-in storage. “Particularly in living rooms, this can be a great way to incorporate storage for board games, blankets, and other belongings,” Hogrefe shares. “These can make for beautiful accents that add a lot of character but truly do serve a purpose.”

C&M Interiors, 2855 Accomac St., Fox Park, St. Louis, 314-328-1923, candminteriors.com TAO + LEE Associates, 3115 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 500, Tower Grove South, St. Louis, 314-446-0885, taolee.com

Photo by Alise O’Brien, design by C+M Interiors LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 33

Backyard BIRDS

By Emily Standlee

Photo by Christina Kling-Garrett

Thinking about raising chickens at your home in the county or city? Read on to learn about shelters, local laws, and how St. Louis gets back to the land.

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ike many Midwesterners, St. Louisans toe the line between city and country – perhaps because our neighborhoods and suburbs gradually give way to farmland and forest.

Whether framed by concrete or amid a thoughtfully planned subdivision, these built environments look different yet share a common thread: the desire for a more hands-on connection to what we eat, how we live, and the animals in our care.

Across the metro-area, residents have found creative ways to bring the farm into their own backyards. Raising chickens and collecting eggs offer both food autonomy and fun – a hit of “nature’s dopamine,” as Meghan Noakes, keeper of six hens in Webster Groves, calls it.

“There’s something grounding about caring for them each day and watching their personalities unfold,” she explains.

Providing proper shelter is also part of the deal. “I’ve learned that investing in a solid setup from the beginning saves time and sanity later,” Noakes says.

“My hens free-range daily in my fenced

Photo by Meghan Noakes

backyard, and their coop is equipped with an automated door that opens and closes on a timer.” In the three years she’s cared for chickens – some of which came from Second Hen’d, a local rescue group that saves hens from commercial egg facilities – Noakes’ flock has avoided predators, a challenge for new and seasoned chickenkeepers alike.

Cold weather brings its own hurdles, as frigid temperatures and a dip in egg production create a seasonal lull. Even so, chickens weather these changes well.

“I’ve also found them surprisingly easy to manage when traveling,” Noakes says.

“With enough food and water, they can be self-sufficient for about a week.” Noakes’ flock returns to the coop each night, and the automated door keeps them secure.

When she travels, a neighbor visits to make sure everyone is accounted for.

Her coop was built by The Wingman Custom Coops & Poultry Facility Consulting. Based near St. Clair, Missouri, the business designs both backyard and urban setups – from two-level coops with attached runs to custom builds with solar-powered fans. “I chose to include an extended run, a predator apron underneath, and delivery,” Noakes says.

“Altogether, the setup cost about $850. While there are cheaper options, this coop has proven its value many times over.”

Noakes says the rules surrounding chicken ownership have been easy to follow. “Obtaining

Photo by Meghan Noakes

permits … was simple,” she says. “Overall, my experience with local regulations has been positive, and I’ve found that cities are often more supportive of backyard chickens than people might expect.”

Under City of St. Louis Ordinance 70608, residents may keep one fowl per four square feet of indoor space and 10 square feet of outdoor space, with a maximum of eight fowl per parcel.

“Chickens must be provided with a covered, predator-proof … shelter that is ventilated, designed to be easily accessed and cleaned, and of sufficient size,” it continues. In St. Louis County, rules vary by municipality. Ladue requires coops to be in the rear yard, at least 50 feet from neighboring structures, and limited in size.

As in most areas, roosters are prohibited.

Even with city and county ordinances in place, homeowner associations can set stricter rules – and even ban backyard chickens, as upheld in a 2025 Cole County ruling. Some require prior approval, and many county municipalities require permits, though the city does not.

All things considered, the pros far outweigh the cons in Noakes’ experience.

“Raising chickens in an urban setting has been one of the most unexpectedly joyful experiences of my life,” she says. The same is true for many St. Louisans: The coop and its feathery tenants represent a deeper commitment to care – for animals, for land, and for community.

LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 35

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Eye Candy

By Andrea Smith | Photos by Alise O’Brien

THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF ADJ INTERIORS SHARES HOW SHE TRANSFORMED HER 157-YEAR-OLD HOUSE INTO A VIBRANT HOME.

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here isn’t a boring, neutral room in April Jensen’s home. The CEO and founder of ADJ Interiors lives in color, surrounded by art, music, and poodle knickknacks. Her husband and three kids hardly bat an eye at the bold wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, and vibrant accents she’s chosen. “I don’t think anything surprises them,” Jensen laughs.

Clients of this St. Louis-area interior designer know that Jensen is skilled at mixing patterns and textures, and this home showcases what she can do when there are no guardrails in place. Her house is 157 years old, and it’s belonged to her family for almost 13 years. Since moving in, the goal has been to honor its historical character, welcome natural light, and modernize the interior with color. So, she started by painting nearly everything pure white, of course.

“Every room was a different color, and it was all very dark and heavy,” Jensen explains. “My entire goal was to basically streamline [the rooms] so that you could actually read the architecture of the space. So you could celebrate the sunlight, celebrate the architecture, the molding, the doors – you know, everything that [the] home had brought with it throughout the years. So, I painted the entire home pure white, sans bedrooms. ... I did keep the wallpaper in my office.”

The office wallpaper and clean white walls and cabinets provided a blank canvas for Jensen to paint upon over the next five years. In addition to actual paint, she’s used wallpaper, furniture, window treatments, lighting fixtures,

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decorative accessories, and personal memorabilia to create a work of art.

The combination of colors, modern art, and the occasional farmhouse finish might seem random, but there is a cohesive intention. “You want a common tone throughout your home. You want to repeat without being so overt with it,” Jensen says. “I think it's a matter of picking your accents.

I have to have hot pink in almost every room – it’s my neutral – but I love, love, love the color jade. I love yellow. I love blue.”

In the living room, for example, wood floors and gray furniture allow those colors to pop and to relate to other rooms. “I always tell people to think about it as: You buy really good jeans and good white T-shirts and black T-shirts.

Everything else is layering – your jacket, your jewelry, your great shoes. That's kind of how I approach a room.”

Similar to fashion, developing a unique sense of interior design comes as a result of borrowing from different styles and combining them according to personal taste. Lighting fixtures are, to Jensen, the jewelry that add sparkle to a home.

Chandeliers are a staple for her, and she kept a couple of the chandeliers that came with the house – in the entryway and in the upstairs landing area. The upstairs chandelier is particularly unique with its floral, dark details.

“I love anything organic. I don't want to go through a historic home and just start ripping everything out and making it something modern,” Jensen says. “To me, those sconces and that light. … you can't find those today.”

She points to a few thrifted pieces in that same space, emphasizing how antiques can pair well with modern fabrics and wallpaper. The distressed cabinets in the powder room were originally in the kitchen, and the kitchen preserves a rustic feel with its wood shelving, table, and range hood.

Of Jensen’s three children, two still live with her and maintain autonomy over their bedrooms. They are generally supportive of her expressive designs throughout the rest of the home. And as long as the home is comfortable and functional, her husband, Jason, trusts the vision.

“I always say, if I've done a good job, you're probably going to understand a little bit about that family or that person the minute you walk in the door,” Jensen says. “Another sign of good design is when you can move things around within a home and they still fit. … I can refresh things easily because I've worked out the tone of the home. Hopefully, that’s what this reflects.”

ADJ Interiors, 51 N. Gore Ave., Suite A, Webster Groves, 314-805-5784, adjinteriors.com

your kitchen, elevated 7800 Clayton Rd | Richmond Heights, MO 63117 | 314.991.0900 | STLinfo@rothliving.com

A Conceptual CONSERVATORY

By Drew Gieseke | Photos by Wesley Law Photography

LADUENEWS.COM | ABODE | SPRING 2026 | 43

Here’s how a long-term partnership and a “looming deadline” resulted in the ultimate Clayton renovation: an “inside-out,” greenhouse-inspired addition that brings a century-old home into the light.

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hen your client of 20 years asks for a conceptual indoor-outdoor space, you find a way to bring that vision to life.

Completed in May 2025, this Clayton residence addition designed by TAO + LEE Associates features a soaring, two-story glassy atrium that stands out in a home filled with impressive architectural details and art. The result is a striking modern intervention that remains deeply harmonious with the historic home’s original character and its natural surroundings.

The project was born from the client’s need for renewal.

Since first working on the home in 2001 – originally a renovation for a family moving from Japan – founding principal Helen Lee has seen the structure evolve alongside its

inhabitants. This latest chapter was driven by a different client with a growing family and a looming deadline: their children’s B’nai Mitzvah. To accommodate the milestone and facilitate the massive project, the team “blew up” the back of the house, creating a two-story great room where the kitchen and dining areas flow together, topped by an additional bedroom suite.

“She just wanted to feel a deeper connection with the outdoors,” Lee says of the client. “We envisioned a space so glassy and light-filled that it would become her version of a sanctuary, her personal [greenhouse-inspired oasis].”

The project took about a year-and-a-half to complete.

TAO + LEE Associates partnered with McMillan Construction for the renovation work and with the client’s interior designer, Chicago-based Handman Associates. The addition is just the

latest in a long list of prior renovation projects requested by the firm’s longtime client, which included opening up the living spaces, a kitchen renovation, and a garage addition.

While not listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Clayton home was built in 1925, so Lee and her team worked tirelessly to ensure the addition didn’t feel “tacked on.”

On the exterior, they meticulously emulated the original red tile roof and specific stucco textures of the corners to retain the residence’s 1920s soul. Inside, however, the look is completely modern, continuing a design journey that Lee and Handman Associates in Chicago have been refining with the client since day one.

One thing you’ll notice right away is that every transition feels purposeful. To manage the flow between the old and new structures, TAO + LEE designed massive “portals” crafted from white oak. These warm wood frames act as intentional thresholds, marking the passage from the home’s historic roots into bright, airy modernity.

The interior’s true showstopper is the fireplace, anchored by enormous 5-by-10-foot simulated stone slabs. “[The homeowner] picked out this amazing material that looks like black onyx,” Lee says. Because the fireplace is a dual-sided

feature serving both the interior and an intimate outdoor seating area, the material had to be as durable as it is luxurious.

Much like an actual greenhouse, the addition invites an abundance of natural light that reaches deep into the floor plan. This transparency does more than just brighten the rooms; it serves the client’s primary vision of a seamless connection to the outdoors.

“All the spaces flow, so wherever you are, there is a lot of light coming in,” Lee says. “Even with this really bright addition, it doesn’t feel like there’s a dark corner in [any of the original spaces of the] house.”

This seamless integration of light and space is the product of a rare, decades-long creative shorthand established on trust. “[The client] comes up with these really fabulous ideas, and she’s gone through so many renovations with us, we can almost talk in code,” Lee says. “She’s just wonderful to work with, and she gives us free rein; she gives us the idea and lets us run with it.”

TAO + LEE Associates, 3115 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 500, Tower Grove South, St. Louis, 314-446-0885, taolee.com

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CCharm

SECOND TIME’S the

By Bethany Christo | Photos by Megan Lorenz

Returning clients asked St. Louis-based Ellie Redders Interiors to “begin again” by incorporating elements of a beloved previous design they had left behind into their new West County home.

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o nice, they did it twice: Ellie Redders’ clients were so satisfied with their renovations and design, they rehired her team to repeat the process in their new Chesterfield home.

The aptly named Begin Again project transformed the five-bed, five-and-a-half-bath house from a basic new build to Redders’ signature “livable luxury” home.

The luxury interiors firm achieves this by adding personality and character through layers of design elements: new window treatments, trim and molding work, pops of visual interest in patterned and textured wallpaper and wall décor, comfortable furniture, and dramatic light fixtures.

“In general, we tend to incorporate a little more sophisticated color palette – with a touch of glam,” CEO and principal designer Redders says. “The idea is we’re providing a luxurious feeling in the space, but you can still feel cozy, comfortable, and at home.”

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In the fall of 2024, the returning clients reached out to Redders to incorporate some of the prior well-loved renovation elements into their larger new house. “We’d worked with them before and knew they had good taste and style, and we were able to pull from the color schemes we’d developed throughout the home. So, it was different but still flowed,” Redders says.

She notes updates were made in nearly every room in the house – dining room, great room, office, kitchen – but considers the primary bedroom to be one of the standouts in the new place. The dramatic black-and-white floral wallpaper layered inside applied moldings behind the bed, as well as the boxed trim work on the ceiling, were collaborative design choices between the homeowners and Redders thanks to 3D walk-through renderings that showed what the space would look like with or without the range of options.

“At one point, they were going to cut out the ceiling detail in the bedroom, but when we showed them the rendering without it, they were like, ‘Oh yeah, we can’t skimp on that,’” Redders laughs.

The clients were also able to visualize the bed and chandelier in their space via a visit to Ellie Redders Interiors’ 6,000-square-foot showroom in Ballwin, which carries its own lines of beds and other furniture, lighting, rugs, counters, cabinets, accessories, and more to help homeowners get a sense of how things will look in reality in addition to the virtual 3D renderings.

Aside from the firm’s lines available in the showroom, Redders’ team sourced locally for the bedroom carpeting, window treatments, wallpaper installer – and even the homeowners themselves. That is, two deer mounts along one wall of the office were a special request from the husband, who had hunted them himself. Redders played up the rustic element with moody, textured dark wallpaper behind the mounts, juxtaposed with a flowy light chandelier and soft white chairs across from the sit-to-stand desk, which was also imported from the prior residence.

The other showpiece of the Begin Again project is the two-story great room, which was unique to the Chesterfield home and impresses upon first entering. “We were able to do 21-foot window treatments, gorgeous drapery panels, and dramatic oversized lighting to have a really grand effect when you first walk in,” Redders says. “But we made sure to find comfortable furniture for the two kids and dog – and because the family loves to host and entertain, the new house has great flow and indoor-outdoor spaces for friends to gather.”

In fact, the biggest challenge Redders recalls from the project were typical timeline delays for furnishing deliveries and installations – but they were down to the wire because the homeowners had scheduled a party to show off their new digs. “We were working with a tight timeline because of the party and were scrambling a bit at the last minute, but we were able to pull it off, and they were so happy with the results,” Redders says. “They told us they got a ton of compliments and that it for sure had a ‘wow’ factor – and Faith the dog approved the new chairs.”

Ellie Redders Interiors, 14610 Manchester Road (by appointment only), Ballwin, 636-220-8144, elliereddersinteriors.com

48 | SPRING 2026 | ABODE | LADUENEWS.COM

Elegance

An Enduring

By Amanda Dahl | Photos by Peter Larson, florals and styling by Marcie Sherman of Revel & Hearten

Luxury design firm Murphy & Moore revealed the romance of a galley kitchen while renovating this Georgian-inspired interior.

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ucked inside this stately Georgian resid dence, a newly transformed galley kitchen draw ws you in with subtle beauty and impactful organi nization.

S L St. Louis-based is-b d M Murphy hy h &M Mooree D Design i executed d a renovation that elevated the kitchen’s purpose through modern amenities while maintaining the architectural significance of this 1930s home.

“The aim was refinement without formality – a kitchen that feels gracious, practical, and comfortably timeless,” Rebekah Moore Murphy says, adding that “achieving modern performance while preserving historical calm was the central design exercise.”

She, alongside her sister Katherine Moore, co-founded the high-end interior design firm in partnership with their mother, Cynthia Moore, a synergistic career move for all three women whose combined talents balance architectural refinement and historical knowledge with creative vision. Their instinctual approach harnessed harmony in a space where the historically petite footprint could have caused design limitations.

“Homes of this period were never designed to accommodate contemporary refrigeration, storage capacity, or luxury appliance performance,” Murphy explains. “Rather than allowing those requirements to dominate visually, we worked

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to integrate them architecturally.” One wall conceals two large Sub-Zero columns (single-purpose units – one a refrigerator, the other a freezer), which appear as freestanding furniture with antique mirror mullions, alongside recessed pantry storage, to amplify functionality.

Georgian architecture is recognizable through an homage to Greek and Roman design elements, from framing a residence within symmetrical lines and typically beneath a hipped roof to using double-hung windows and understated ornamentalism. So, how did the interior designers craft a comfortably sized layout in a narrow space that can blend well within the Georgian design philosophy? They did it through symmetry and disciplined proportion to align the layout with Georgian principles.

“Proportion guided nearly every decision,” Murphy elaborates. “Cabinet alignments follow existing architectural axes, while softly arched mullions reference the geometry found in the home’s original transoms and entry doors.”

Superior craftsmanship is at the core of the room’s transformation. The Murphy & Moore Design team takes pride in its local partnerships.

“Construction was led by Christopher Welch of Welch Carpentry, a rare craftsman who combines traditional woodworking skill with the oversight of a general contractor [who has] integrity,” Murphy says. “His hands-on involvement ensured that fine architectural details were executed with care and continuity rather than delegated broadly – an increasingly uncommon approach that greatly contributed to the finished result.”

Theiss Plating contributed with custom-made, exteriorstyle brass hardware and specialty finishes that add richness and depth, creating a sense of settled luxury. Fluted glass fronts on the cabinets and an apron-front sink made of carved marble, with a solid brass towel rail, exhibit how functionality need not be utilitarian and how elegance can come from restraint.

Two quintessential features of Georgian design are put to expert use in this space: Paneled doors provide seamless storage, while painted cabinetry in a matte finish softens the space and directs the attention to the kitchen’s refined detailing.

“The matte cabinetry finish was chosen to lend butter softness and permanence to the room,” Murphy describes. “The aesthetic draws from traditional English kitchens and service spaces – rooms designed first for usefulness yet possessing quiet elegance. Elements such as reeded glass cabinetry, finely detailed tongue-and-groove wall paneling, coffee mug peg rails, and scalloped marble [edges] reference historic butler’s pantries while supporting contemporary living.”

The curved liquor bar was tailored to look inherited, and it is this dedication to marrying the vintage beauty of the home with contemporary conveniences that define Murphy & Moore’s redesign. Symmetry is reflected throughout the authentically livable space.

“The kitchen overlooks what was once the property’s horse stable, now transformed into a family herb garden, reinforcing the connection between daily living and the home’s history,” Murphy says. The homeowners can move from the espresso bar to their garden to the kitchen sink with ease of comfort. As Murphy explains, “[The space] was designed to feel lived in from the outset – comfortable, welcoming, and enduring.”

Murphy & Moore Design, 11622 Page Service Drive, Suite 109, Maryland Heights, 314-873-1154, murphyandmooredesign.com

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Elevating Everyday d Living

By Brittany Nay Photos by Alise O’Brien

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Modern interior design specialist Morgan Brown strikes a balance between cozy and classy inside a young family’s Olivette abode.

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or a local young, fun-loving family, a comforting, contemporary remodel completed their dream home.

Amid a neighborhood filled with Craftsman architecture and contemporary-style homes in the metro’s serene suburb of Olivette, the homeowners desired a residence with dual purpose: a comfortable retreat for daily family use and a sophisticated backdrop for entertaining, says Morgan Brown, an interior designer at St. Louis-based highend interior design firm Castle Design. “[I] sought to create a contemporary space that incorporated calming tones and organic patterns,” explains Brown, who specializes in modern interior design.

Unique among today’s traditional abodes, this house’s dining area is the focal point. “The dining room is the first [space] that catches your eye when you walk into this home,” she notes. “[I used] bold color drenching coupled with the furniture’s organic symmetry [to] create a powerful impact off the entry.”

Benjamin Moore’s Brownstone paint makes a dramatic declaration on the walls, crown molding, and ceiling as a sleek modern dining table seems to float upon a soft Jaipur area rug. Thoughtfully curated abstract art accents the space, while curtains by Mark Alexander frame the room for a feminine touch.

The crown jewel of the project – a Julie Neill statement light fixture featuring stunning crystal baubles suspended from a gold chain – shines above the sculptural table, emitting a gentle glow across the sophisticated space. “Moody and romantic, this dining room is equally equipped for hosting lively parties as it is for intimate dinners,” Brown shares.

Seamlessly connecting the chic dining area and clean, bright kitchen, Brown’s remodel of the eye-catching bar is complete with custom countertops and cabinetry, plus a striking cream, gray, and rusty shaded wall covering, all beautifully reflected into adjacent spaces by a wall of mirrors.

“Modern geometric Schumacher wallpaper introduces a pop of color and creates a sense of proportion with its largescale pattern,” the designer notes.

And when the couple of the home requested a serene escape for the primary bedroom, Brown delivered a calming place to unwind and relax in spa-like luxury, right in their own abode.

Amid the elegant respite, a creamy, tone-on-tone color palette is layered with neutral textures and patterns, creating depth in the clean, contemporary space. Thibaut Grasscloth graces the wall behind the soft, upholstered bed flanked by modern, curved nightstands. A beige and cream geometricpatterned Jaipur rug anchors the room.

Subtle mauve accents offer a whisper of color and plenty of comfort, from vases of florals to cozy pillows, and a pair of plush velvet Lee chairs serves as another opportunity to relax, read, and chat. Soft beige curtains can be opened for viewing the natural green landscape and closed for a night of serene sleep.

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Inspired by natural elements and elevated living, the secret behind this dreamy design lies in the thoughtful details of each room, creating a cohesive and seamless residence, Brown explains: “Combining the comforts of everyday life with the luxuries of modern living, this home exemplifies the longevity of thoughtful contemporary details.”

The family’s final verdict? The home renovation, with its mix of modern comfort and elegance, is a hit.

For homeowners looking to create their own cozy, contemporary retreat, the modern designer recommends layering geometric patterns, modern silhouettes, and comfortable upholstered pieces, noting, “Mixing a contemporary dining table with unexpected, upholstered chairs and geometric accents like lighting or art can help achieve a contemporary and comfortable space.”

Castle Design, 1215 N. Warson Road, Creve Coeur, 314-727-6622, emilycastle.com

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Thoughtful design brings a sense of luxury to everyday routines.

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