A St. Louis couple discovers the liberation of living on one floor in a stunning new penthouse showcasing a lifetime spent acquiring contemporary art and whimsical collectibles.
28. CONSERVATION AT HOME
A Kirkwood homeowner strives to create a sanctuary for wildlife by introducing native plants and a year-round water source to his back yard.
On the cover page 18-19 Spotlighting Jasper Johns’s “Numbers” collection, the dining room houses family heirlooms, including an antique dining table and chairs that make an elegant statement against the modern artwork. 8 Publisher’s letter
Photography by Anne Matheis.
PUBLISHER/OWNER: Suzie Osterloh
MANAGING EDITOR: Lily Stassi
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kim Dillon
COPY EDITOR: Melissa Mauzy
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Lucyann Boston, Jeanne Delathouder, Evie Gerhart, Kim Hill, Jessika Eidson, Michelle Mastro, Catherine McCoy
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: George Barberis, Claire Cohen, Kasia Gatowska, Rob Grimm, Anne Matheis, Berlyn Media, Photography by Li, Sundos Schneider, Jennifer Stewart, Matilde Travasos, Taran Wilkhu, Shelby Wilray
St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles is a publication of Distinctive Lifestyles LLC
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"A place for everything, and everything in its place."
—Benjamin Franklin
`I was always the messy one in my family. My grandmother used to say if you stop by Suzie's house unannounced, you'll find her out back playing in the sandbox with the kids, while inside her house it looked like a tornado just passed through. I'll never forget that...but it was true! I never made time or prioritized time to keep my home spotless, though my mom, sister-in-law and cousin did. Their homes were so clean that many would say you could eat off the floor! I had a college friend that loved to "clean house." I loved to do anything but "clean house."
Don't get me wrong, I love a clean house, clean desk, clean car, all of it...and I've slowly learned that life is so much easier to navigate when your environment is uncluttered and organized.
With everything having its place—art collections, family heirlooms, books and even a sophisticated kaleidoscope collection, one of our featured homeowners has maximized their space to its fullest potential. Interior designer and project design manager Garrison Salinas III, principal at the firm Garrison Limited, worked side by side with the homeowners multiple times, conceptualizing three different homes over the years. This move was different. They were done with the never-ending home maintenance that comes along with a large family home. By moving into a condo they felt liberated---no more snow removal, tending to gutters or lawn maintenance. They loved their new found freedom and the ease of walking down the street to great restaurants (pages 18-27)!
Pages 50-53.
Pages 18-27.
Sometimes a family can outgrow their home, which ended up being the case of Julie Abner's recent client. Under her guidance and without major architectural changes, Julie, owner of Julie Abner Interiors, repurposed the home's existing spaces to better suit the family's needs. The children's playroom evolved into a multipurpose room, a game room, a place to share a drink with friends or take a Zoom call. Utilizing all the home's spaces and having them flow into each other was a top priority (pages 50-53).
Need a fun girls day out? Join us on our upcoming Hop Into Spring Tour on Saturday, March 7. Bring the colors of spring into your home after this cold and snowy winter. Five design shops are sure to inspire you!
Hope to see you on March 7!
Enjoy,
Suzie Osterloh Publisher/Owner
Lot #1—Sold
Lot #3 Sold
Lot #4 Sold
Lot #5—Sold
Lot #6 Sold
Lot #8 Sold
Lot #11 Under Contract
Lot #13—Sold
Lot #17 Sold
• Choose from 1 acre to 3.25 acre custom home lots
• Lots backup to Sunset Country Club
• Custom homes require a minimum of 3,500 square feet
• Use our recommended architects or your own
• Interior design service
MAX!
Furnish your fantasy with these eclectic pieces suitable for every inch of your home.
By Lily Stassi
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1. Chelsea House lemon wall sconce, available at Design & Detail.
2. Minka Lavery five-light chandelier, available at Metro Lighting.
Blue embroidered floral pillow, available at Blue Dahlia Designs.
Logan Chesterfield sofa in green tea velvet, available at Frontgate.
Victrola Empire Bluetooth record player, available at Crate & Barrel.
Wooden bud vases, available at Blue Dahlia Designs.
Green glass LED mushrooms, available at Blue Dahlia Designs.
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8. Athena Calderone Nouveauté 3-light metal floor lamp with linen shades, available at Crate & Barrel.
Chelsea House set of five gold starburst mirrors, available at Design & Detail.
MacKenzie-Childs black-and-white check throw, available at Three French Hens.
Nourison Astra rug, available at Amini's.
Chelsea House twin sparrows lamp available at Design & Detail.
Century Furniture Bernard chair and ottoman, available at Three French Hens.
DIVE IN & GO OUT
Immerse yourself in travel destinations and guides, then plan your own adventure!
By Lily Stassi
Wind, Wings and Waves: A Hawai‘i Nature Guide by Rick Soehren. From coral reefs to stargazing and everything in between, Wind, Wings, and Waves is your personal guide to nature in Hawai‘i. With color illustrations throughout, this engaging book introduces you to the islands' natural world and helps to identify common plants, birds and fish. More than a hundred self-guided field trips on six islands will inspire you to get outdoors and explore nature on your own.
Après Ski by Erin Isakov. A visual celebration of all things après-ski: the best spots to visit around the globe, a survey of the fashion and style of ski and even food and drink recipes for the quintessential après–ski menu.
The Great American Retro Road Trip by Rolando Pujol. Celebrate the nostalgic pleasures of America's vintage signs, quirky roadside attractions and offbeat fast food relics in this irresistible retro road trip across the country alongside author Rolando Pujol’s anecdotes and clever narrative.
Travel Artist: Sketchbook Drawings and True Stories from the Road by James Richards. Travel Artist: Sketchbook Drawings and True Stories from the Road is James Richards' illustrated travelogue drawn from 20 years of travel to 50 countries, and from the scores of sketchbooks and journals created along the way.
Anastasia Samoylova: Atlantic Coast: Photos by Anastasia Samoylova. Published by Aperture and the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida. Inspired by photographer Bernice Abbott’s 1954 US Route 1 series, Anastasia Samoylova documents her own journey from Florida to Maine to revisit those same communities to depict landscapes transformed by the unrelenting expansion of industry, commerce and development.
100 Slopes of a Lifetime by Gordy Megroz. For the passionate skier or adventure seeker, 100 Slopes of a Lifetime is the ultimate visual bucket list featuring breathtaking photography and expert recommendations from National Geographic.
USA National Parks—Lands of Wonder By DK Travel. Read inspiring narratives reflecting the rich diversity and natural importance of the parks, including their role in conserving wildlife, intricate ecosystems and importance as untamed yet accessible spaces for all.
Castles of Scotland, Ireland & Wales by Martin J Dougherty. From the tip of southern Ireland to northern Scotland, from castles maintained over the centuries to ones that are now mere ruins, this book celebrates the stories behind more than 100 strongholds.
Fountain Safari by James Garland. Fountain Safari is written for design professionals, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, students of the arts or the built environment—and everyone else interested in the engaging, one-of-a-kind subject of fountains.
The Peninsula London by Catherine Shaw. Now open after a thirty-five year search, the Peninsula London offers a plethora of luxury features including sights, food and legacy. Photographer Oliver Pilcher captures it all, revealing why this is one of the globe’s most anticipated hotel openings of the past decade.
The Traveling Dictionary by Ella Morton. A clever pocket-sized dictionary that celebrates travel with hilarious definitions and witty illustrations of terms that globetrotters know and love.
Small Town Missouri By Caitlin Yager. Each of the 50 towns featured in this book has a unique story to share. Choose a town for a day trip, two or three for a long weekend or more for a Missouri road trip, and set out on an adventure to discover the wonder and awe of small-town Missouri.
Living Waters
A St. Louis artist captures not just how a subject looks, but how it feels.
By Michelle Mastro Photography by Rob Grimm
Watercolor is an artform that offers a unique blend of control and spontaneity. It’s why Arina Lanis of Lanis & Co, a small business in Chesterfield, uses watercolor to make St. Louis-themed prints, like those dedicated to The Gateway Arch National Park and St. Albans Country Club. “[Watercolor] allows me to capture a feeling, a place and a moment all at once,” she says. “I hope when someone sees my work, it brings them back to a moment, a season of life or a place that mattered to them.”
Lanis began her business with a small painting studio in St. Albans. Shor tly after, a local restaurant owner, Datra Herzog, invited her to rent a small 200-square-foot room inside her restaurant, Head’s Store, to showcase and sell her artwork. It was an unexpected opportunity that allowed her art to be seen in a new way, she recalls. While there, she also started teaching art classes. “That experience became a turning point for me,” she says.
What started as a small studio evolved into a place where creativity, community, mindfulness and learning could all come together...
— Arina
It was then that Lanis realized people weren’t just i nterested in purchasing art: they deeply wanted to be part of the creative process. “They wanted to make art, not just admire it,” she says. “They also wanted all the benefits that creating art allowed—a form of quiet medicine, softening the breath, slowing the heart, easing tension in the body and creating space for the nervous system to reset.”
For Lanis, this discovery shaped everything that came next. She opened a larger store and painting studio, where she could welcome more students and create a space that was more accessible. “What started as a small studio evolved into a place where creativity, community, mindfulness and learning could all come together,” she says. At this new location, she has been able to teach beginner watercolor classes, which include watercolor markers, watercolor pencils and watercolor paints.
However, as with her art, her teaching has been about showcasing the healing and transformative power of watercolor. It is never just about the finished piece, she says. “It’s about the experience of creating it. The artwork is simply the byproduct of the moments spent exploring, slowing down and allowing yourself to be fully present in the process.” See stlouishomesmag.com for more photos and resources.
A Life
Well-Curated
A St. Louis couple discovers the liberation of living on one floor in a stunning new penthouse showcasing a lifetime spent acquiring contemporary art and whimsical collectibles.
By Jeanne Delathouder
Spotlighting Jasper Johns’s “Numbers” collection, the dining room houses family heirlooms, including an antique dining table and chairs that make an elegant statement against the modern artwork. Behind them, a modern Italian-designed buffet table with polished brass legs and supports is topped with a massive solid limestone slab.
Photography by Anne Matheis
Interior Design by Garrison Limited
For many of us, the ultimate luxury in life is having time to enjoy it fully and with intention. This sentiment certainly rings true for these longtime Clayton residents as they settle into their retirement years.
Seeking to simplify their lives, they were thrilled to discover a penthouse on one of the top floors of Maryland Walk, a landmark 17-story luxury high-rise completed in 2012. With every amenity imaginable, including full concierge services, they knew this would be the ideal place to ease into their new chapter—and an even more perfect place to house their extraordinary art collection.
Built by Robert Saur with Conrad Properties, the soaring structure houses 101 units, with the floors above level nine offering limitless views of the city skyline and landscape beyond. The owners especially enjoy the beautiful views of the St. Louis Arch, Washington University, Forest Park and the tree-lined streets of Clayton. “The prior owner,
whom we knew, had finished out the space magnificently,” notes the new owner, “filling it with great contemporary art, which was a passion of hers that we share. The space has great bones, as they say.”
The couple also selected the penthouse for its east- and north-facing orientation, maximizing natural light and unobstructed views, with no sun bleaching or heat that would impact their artwork or the dwelling’s refined finishes. “The design of our new restoration works to enhance the hand-selected raked white oak woods in the condo,” says the couple’s interior designer and project design manager, Garrison Salinas III, a principal at the firm Garrison Limited. He had previously worked with them multiple times, conceptualizing three different homes over the years. “The interior palette elevates the owners’ contemporary artwork and impressive collections of vintage tin signs and kaleidoscopes. Based on the level of high art, including original pieces by Jasper Johns, and the scale of their collections, every choice in finishes is intended to maximize impressions of the space and the calm it induces, without competing with the endless sky views.”
The den doubles as a family library, emitting an alluring organic modern style with a custom eggplant sofa upholstered in a Kravet wool-linen blend. Swivel club chairs designed by Gwyneth Paltrow from CB2 and sourced from Design & Detail, covered in cozy oatmeal bouclé, flank a chinoiserie coffee table that is part of the family’s Chinese antiques collection. The large abstract painting by Frank Owen anchors the den, while the living area’s neutral furnishings provide the perfect backdrop for colorful vintage signs, mustard-hued armchairs and a 1947 Wurlitzer antique jukebox.
The penthouse offers the new owners everything they need to achieve a nearly stress-free lifestyle. Their most cherished luxury, however, is gaining the time to enjoy their lives fully. The quiet, serene and simple Zen atmosphere of the building focuses on anticipating the needs of all its residents. “We love the views, the ceiling heights and the walls of windows juxtaposed with entire walls of our artwork,” adds the homeowner. “Our art choices are not traditional in any way—certainly not for everyone, and more whimsical than serious. The principle we’ve been guided by for over 40 years is to collect what makes us smile.”
The renovation discussions began in October 2025 after several professionals connected the homeowners with the previous owner’s estate attorney, creating the opportunity for an off-market sale.
“Their unit originally had been designed by a New York team, and the aesthetic was modern with beautiful raked white oak millwork for all the cabinetry, flooring, wall panels and interior doors," says Garrison. The unique grey-green limestone in the entrance foyer, formal powder room and various areas of the penthouse specifies a soft matte finish. The overall aesthetic is reminiscent of sophisticated mid-century modern architecture.”
We love the views, the ceiling heights and the walls of windows juxtaposed with entire walls of our artwork...
—Homeowner
A compelling sculptural work commands attention in the window seat of the den alongside built-in shelving holding the family’s book collection. Directly off the dining area, a salon displaying artwork features Visual Comfort’s satin-black halo chandelier with polished-brass accents. A pair of Art Deco-style benches painted in a mustard tone coordinate with Misia Embellie’s Casamance collection from France. Cushions in a wool and raw silk blend from Design & Detail are flanked by two large contrasting art pieces —one by Seminal Haitian artist Wilson Bigaud and the other by Trompel'oel artist Richard Estes.
A bedroom hallway gallery with a floating raked-oak counter holds an incredible collection of kaleidoscopes and features a commissioned quilt piece by Joyce Carey.
The overall boldness of the living spaces suggests a minimalist approach to furnishings, repeating the integration of custom-made pieces from the owners’ previous home, and maximizing space to function for both intimate and large-scale entertaining. “My primary goals were to make functional alterations to the existing millwork and wood accents without showing any scars,” notes Garrison. “The largest and most complex restorations involved accommodating a larger TV with audio needs and seamlessly restoring flooring in an area that required some reconditioning. The refined raked white oak was handselected to ensure there were no knots.”
Overall, the owners wanted a look that would complement the room interiors and harmonize with the color tones, all completed in less than 120 days. This ambitious effort included numerous master artisans involved in the painting and restoration of all the museum-quality furniture, the framing of artwork, faux painting in various areas to conceal electrical components, custom-made rugs and stunning lighting selections for the salon, primary bedroom and kitchen island.
The home’s previous lighting embodied a robust commercial aesthetic, contradicting Garrison's new approach of warm and serene modern finishes.
The kitchen features an island extending more than 10 feet, with European cabinetry and thick-gauge stainless steel countertops, infusing a modern industrial flavor into the space. Fusion Tech Companies meticulously installed the kitchen island lighting sculpture and all other chandeliers throughout the home working closely with Mike Craft of Metro Lighting. A portion of the family’s tin sign collection hangs above the kitchen cabinets, backdropped by a charcoal hue that highlights their individual silhouettes and unifies a diversity of styles. The breakfast area features an original Knoll Saarinen 48-inch tulip table and chairs, along with a beloved collection of the grandchildren's portrait paintings. Another 1947 Wurlitzer jukebox with colorful lights offers a fun musical diversion every day.
Textured Phillip Jeffries grass cloth now adorns the den, primary bedroom and home office, and statement fixtures from Visual Comfort magnify the ceiling heights and provide warm, 3,000 Kelvin-rated dimmable lighting. Satin brass fixtures create a confident statement of minimal modern design combined with the visual energy of sculpture hanging from the ceiling in the salon, primary bedroom hallway, gallery and over the kitchen Island.
“We also had the honor and incredible experience to work with the owners’ parents, who were known in design circles as connoisseurs in English antiques and Early American,” notes Garrison. “We took extreme care to maintain their heirloom round brass-inlay dining room table and stunning Neoclassical gilded dining chairs. These family keepsakes are truly exquisite pieces of art amidst the modern backdrop of their main living and entertainment space. The clients were completely familiar with mixing both modern and traditional furnishings, and the contrast offers incredible beauty, amplifying every detail of the furniture and art pieces.”
The area rugs and wall-to-wall floor coverings spotlight Stark Carpeting’s latest designs and are available at KDR Designer Showrooms. The elegant, minimal textures in silk and wool-like fibers offer spot-on coloration, a subdued waterfall design and excellent sound-buffering for the dwelling’s large-scale spaces. The entire renovation and collaboration culminated in bright, sophisticated spaces full of inspiration, happiness and breathtaking views of St. Louis. Kids and grandkids are welcome to flop around wherever they want, and the kitchen is perfect for creating a family buffet line and hosting multi-generational holiday cookie decorating. “Another positive we hadn’t fully expected was to be surrounded by so many tasty restaurants within easy walking distance,” says the owner. “It’s also hard to overestimate how liberating it is to live on one floor—with no responsibilities for tending to gutters, lawns, snow or leaves.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.
The primary bedroom embodies a palette of toneon-tone champagne cream colors with silky bedding, vintage Kravet pastel accent pillows and gorgeous Fortuny drapery panels. Displaying breathtaking east and northfacing views of St. Louis, the quiet sanctuary creates an ethereal atmosphere of sleeping in the clouds.
Opposite page, right side: art by Carol Summers. This page: wall art by Natalie Bieser.
Conservation at Home
By Lucyann Boston Photography by Kim Dillon Waterfall Design and Installation by Bauer Falls
A Kirkwood homeowner strives to create a sanctuary for wildlife by introducing native plants and a year-round water source to his back yard.
I“am a terrible artist. I can’t paint, I can’t draw and I can’t sculpt. But gardening has given me a creative outlet,” says Don Richardson. “I can put things in the ground and, hopefully, they will grow. I can see the garden evolve and I can share it with others.”
Share he does! With a Kirkwood home that borders a public walkway to a local elementary school, passersby have a full view of both the front and back yards. With a heavy emphasis on native plants and filled with water features that bring the splash of waterfalls and bubbling streams to the entire area, the landscape provides natural sounds that drown out street noise and offers a haven for wildlife.
“Kids stop by all the time and people walk by to enjoy it, which is the whole purpose,” explains Don.
The garden has taken shape over time. “In 2010 I took some classes at St. Louis Community College-Meramec. I was tired of babying plants. I quickly discovered that what I wanted were native plants that would tolerate our very, very difficult climate," he says. He credits this profound interest to St. Louis Audubon Society's Bring Conservation Home project, which played a large part in helping him cultivate a garden dedicated to sustaining native wildlife.
"In 2020, I went on the St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama tour and realized that water is a critical part of a garden as well, and I needed to add water to bring it all together," Don explains.
Clockwise: Meadow garlic. Blue wild indigo. Cardinal flower. Pickerelweed.
One of the homes on that tour had a stream that accented the front yard as well as the back yard, something Don thought could work in his own space. To make that happen, he contacted Caleb Bauer of Bauer Falls and asked him to help create a landscape that would bring both water and his native plants together. Caleb was immediately on board, particularly in the creation of the “little stream in the front yard. We wanted to have something for the neighbors who walk along the cut-through, providing the beautiful sound of water,” he says. Caleb also created a series of stone bridges and walkways through the garden to allow the landscape to be viewed from a number of different vantage points by those inside the garden fencing.
While many gardeners worry that native plants can look weedy in a smaller, more manicured landscape, Don advises checking out the catalog of the Missouri Wildflower Nursery. “They rate plants based on how tailored they are. There are natives anyone would be glad to have in their garden.”
The addition of flowing water proved an immediate draw for the wildlife Don coveted. As well as attracting an abundance of backyard birds, bees and butterflies, he has viewed red tailed hawks, a woodland stork and herons at his waterside.
Don runs his stream 12 months a year even in the coldest weather, knowing that flowing water does not freeze, and firmly believing that “as more and more wildlife adapt to a human environment, we really need to address the need for open water. It’s a way to bring conservation home.”
The St. Louis Water Garden Society’s Pond-O-Rama tour is traditionally held the June weekend following Father’s Day. Additional information is available on the organization’s website. Proceeds from the tour support the society’s maintenance of the water gardens in front of Forest Park’s Jewel Box. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.
Goal: A kitchen reimagined for better everyday living.
Challenge: This remodel was designed to breathe new life into a dark, dated kitchen without altering its original footprint.
Summary: A thoughtfully redesigned kitchen layout with a spacious island improves function, storage, and usable countertop surfaces. While a fresh, updated color palette breathes light into the space.
Tea Time All the Time
Surround
yourself with natural remedies by growing your own tea garden.
By Lily Stassi
Interested in some plants that are both ornamental and edible? There are plenty of options that can grow here in the Midwest. With a little extra care and some ancient harvesting tips, you can proudly drink and serve tea straight from your own garden!
Peppermint: This very easy-to-grow plant is well known for its role in flavoring holiday treats and drinks and is just as easy to harvest for your own relaxing brews! Like other members of the mint family, peppermint does well in partial to full sun, but it is recommended to grow it in containers due to the fast spreading of its root system.
When the plant is looking bushy and healthy, harvest the stems as the plant begins to flower. Don’t be afraid of taking too much—the stems will grow back and allow for one or two more harvests. You can store these stems in a cup of water with plastic over the top in the fridge for fresh mint, or hang the entire stems to dry or or to extract the leaves to dry separately.
Chamomile.
Chamomile: As a member of the daisy family, chamomile is a lovely flower that also has a variety of health benefits. To grow, make sure the plant has plenty of room to grow. Once the plant starts flowering, stems can get up to two feet tall. As an added bonus, chamomile flowers attract good pollinators, while deterring pests with its strong fragrance. The tea itself can even be used as a spray-on pesticide for other plants!
To har vest, pay attention to when the flowers’ petals start to arch backward toward the stem. You can use these flowers as well as the leaves of the plant to make a mild earthy-floral tea. Dry both out and store as usual. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bed is known to help you relax and get better sleep, and can even aid in digestion.
Lemongrass: This lesser known plant may surprise you—both in flavor and in ornamentality. Though it is a sub-tropical plant, lemongrass can be grown outdoors in the Midwest during the warm season with plenty of water. Make sure to give it lots of room, as it can get 2-3 feet tall and pretty wide.
You k now when lemongrass is ready to harvest when the plant starts to get to it’s full height. Cut leaves down to the main stem, wearing gloves—the leaves are sharp like paper and can cut you. Hang them to dry,
then cut into smaller segments as desired.
There are many other plants you may have around that can be used for tea as well. Dried lavender flowers make a lovely floral tea, as well as dried rose petals and rose hips, which are the seed pods that bud after the petals fall away. Elderflowers are another plant native to the Midwest that can be foraged— pick the flower clusters from the stem when they are in full bloom, dry them and then pick off the individual blooms to store.
There are a few different methods of drying plants and flowers for tea. The first is the easiest—bundle stems of leaves or
flowers together and hang upside down in a dry spot that is out of direct sun. If you want to dry just the individual leaves or flowers, spread them evenly on some parchment paper and cover with a thin towel to keep away dust. Both of these methods should take about two weeks depending on the moisture levels of your home. To speed up the process, you can put the leaves and flowers on a baking sheet in the oven on the lowest setting for a few hours. When they are crispy and brittle, you know they are fully dry. Store your tea ingredients in jars for up to several months of homegrown enjoyment!
Lemongrass.
Rose Hips.
Morpho Mania
Discover the natural hues of blue during Morpho Mania at the Sophia M. Sachs
Butterfly House.
By Jessika Eidson
You and your little ones don't have to travel far to enjoy a tropical escape during spring break this March. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House welcomes guests of all ages to enjoy the lush, colorful atmosphere of its Tropical Conservatory, where vibrant, free-flying Blue Morpho butterflies fill the air.
Morpho Mania celebrates the majestic Blue Morpho of Costa Rica, known for their striking, almost neon-blue color. During this special, monthlong exhibition, guests can experience the wonder of more than 1,500 Blue Morphos
When
March 1–March 31
Where Cost
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, 15050 Faust Park, Chesterfield, MO 63017
and other butterfly species fluttering throughout the Tropical Conservatory.
Along with the tropical display, Morpho Mania also offers educational opportunities for visitors to learn about the butterfly’s critical role in nature, how they use camouflage and habitat conservation efforts. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, located in Chesterfield, and dedicated to fostering a better understanding of the role bugs and insects play in plant conservation.
Morpho Mania is included in admission to the Butterfly House.
What's in BLOOM
Along with the mesmerizing Blue Morphos, the Tropical Conservatory also features a wide variety of tropical plants. Chenille Plants, Powderpuff Tree, Chinese Hibiscus, Yellow Bells and Porterweeds add colorful splashes of color throughout the lush greenery.
Photography by Sundos Schneider.
Photography by Claire Cohen.
A Backyard fairytale
By Lucyann Boston
Photography by Kim Dillon
Landscape Design by Frisella Landscape Group
Think Cinderella, My Fair Lady and the story of The Ugly Duckling. Joe and Cara Reinberg can totally relate to these transformational tales.
In their case the Ugly Duck ling was the over one-acre yard of their Frontenac home. Not only was the back yard open to the street traffic of a main road, a Metropolitan Sewer District creek/culvert designed to channel run-off rainwater bisected the property.
Undaunted, Joe recalled his days growing up in Seven Oaks Neighborhood and his love of exploring nearby creeks and woods. He spent the early days of Covid driving around to get ideas on how the largely undeveloped landscape could be transformed into something unique. Not only that, he wanted the yard to be the kind of place his children, now ages six, three and one, could grow up exploring. “I didn’t want just a back yard with a swing set,” he explains. “I wanted a place where they could go on some adventures.” Evergreens had a high priority as they would provide year-round screening and privacy.
The process began by installing a line of large ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae to block the view of the main road and muffle the traffic noise. Working with landscape designer Paola Behner of Frisella
The landscape of this frontenac yard was artfully reshapped into a whimsical garden perfect for playful discovery.
Landscape Group, Joe was thinking in terms of a row of one kind of evergreen here and another kind of evergreen there. Paola quickly impressed upon him the importance of “mixing things up.”
“T he first big project was making the culvert look natural,” she explains. Drawing her inspiration from Colorado and the former silver mining town of Telluride in the rugged San Juan Mountains, she ordered up over 60 tons of boulders to transform the creek and blend it into the landscape. While some boulders lined the creek, others went into nearby areas to give them a rugged, Colorado ambiance and tie the design together.
She had high praise for the craftsmen who looked at every boulder, selected the right one for each spot and, using heavy machinery, painstakingly placed it so it looked as if it had been there for centuries.
A bridge over the culvert to enable the homeowners to utilize their entire property
provided another important landscaping step. In addition, Paola designed a firepit area with seating, a small water feature and included a play area for the children.
While the hardscape was impor tant, it is the selection and planting of the trees and shrubs that caused the property to receive a 2025 Award of Excellence from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
Learning that Joe had a lifelong interest in trees and particularly evergreens, “they let me run with it,” he says with a laugh. More than that, Paola happily joined the race. Joe is “passionate about landscaping and he loves trees and to talk about trees,” she affirms.
Nearly 30 different varieties of trees and shrubs now thrive in the landscape, the vast majority of them evergreens. Many are selected for their architectural interest. The Japanese red pine ‘Tanyosho’ is known for its umbrella-like shape. The pyramidal Blue Atlas cedars feature silvery, draping, twisted
limbs. Another Japanese pine sports pom pom-like branches resembling a Dr. Seuss drawing of a Lorax, Paola notes.
“It was not an easy pr oject,” she adds, explaining that many of the trees were already large to create immediate impact. “Some of the tree root balls were six feet wide.”
From its start in 2022, the project is still being tweaked. “It’s been super fun,” she says, “especially because the clients are so nice and you get to do this for a family that is growing. It is something that the kids will enjoy for years. It (the landscape) is a collection of unique specimens, some that are rare and hard to find. It is almost like creating a family botanical garden.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.
Personality &
PURPOSE
By bridging traditional design elements with the homeowner’s playful style, Julie Abner worked with this homeowner to create a tailored space that feels joyful while still highly functional.
By Catherine McCoy
Photography by Alise O’Brien Interior Design by Julie Abner Interiors
When a project begins with partnership, both the homeowner and designer share equal satisfaction in watching the vision come to life. Julie Abner and her client have spent years creating spaces that lead with both function and beauty.
“This is a client I have worked with for many years, and it has been very fun and rewarding to get to know them,” Abner said, having helped them design their previous home. “When I met them, their family was young, and I have gotten to see how their home has changed and grown with their evolving needs.”
When the homeowners moved in to their current home just over 10 years ago, it fell flat with a very neutral color pallet. While its strong footprint, striking woodwork and beautiful ceilings provided an excellent foundation, the space lacked flair. This was when she decided to call upon Abner once again, and from there they developed a long-term renovation plan to bring in fresh elements while matching the family’s lifestyle and practical needs.
Though the homeowner’s style has always followed a common thread, Abner has noted its small evolutions as well. Having long favored antiques and traditional elements, the homeowner now prefers to layer in modern pieces, creating a dynamic visual outcome that Abner was especially proud to see in the latest design iteration.
Factoring in the flow of one room into the next, Abner was challenged to ensure that the design was appealing from different vantage points. Whether standing in the sunroom or the great room, each space needed to be visually appealing. It was a large area to undertake, though Abner was confident to make each room feel connected yet distinct, both welcoming and cozy.
“The house is not comprised of showrooms—each area is used by the family and we needed it to function well, look pretty and connect with one another,” said Abner. “This will be their forever home, and I wanted to make sure they can enjoy it as the years go by.”
The great room, as a more formal area, used more subtle pattern mixing and lighter colors. As it has become an ideal hosting space that maintains an intimate feel, the homeowner deemed this as her favorite room.
“It ’s where I often spend my evenings curled up in a chair with a book, listening to the gentle busyness of the house,” she said. “From there, I can see up the stairs to my children’s bedrooms and into the kitchen and sunroom. I love taking in the beauty of the great room while feeling connected to everything happening throughout the rest of the home.” The great room’s subtle elements flow into the wet bar, where the patterns are a bit stronger.
Ack nowledging the homeowner’s love for entertaining, Abner created the wet bar to be a space that feels both purposeful and
inviting for the homeowners and their guests. In its original iteration, the bar was tucked in the corner and clad with neutral, warm wood tones. In the redesign, she layered the space with texture, added new appliances and a stack of drawers to improve the overall function of the space. While changing the cabinet colors and adding a patterned backsplash, the wood bar stayed the same, unifying the new with the old. Now the wet bar serves as a cohesive area of the home while maintaining its own element of playful sophistication.
The sunroom brings in even more color and pattern. Originally functioning as a playroom during the family’s early years, the space has transformed with their needs while maintaining a casual feel. It is now used to share a drink with friends, play a family game night, take a Zoom call or simply have a quiet moment to escape the busyness around them.
A home goes through many iterations through the years, not only through design but in the individuals who build their lives in the space. When this young family moved in, the home was well-loved with a strong foundation, but felt a lack of life and too tired for them to connect with.
Through Abner’s guidance, they were able to reflect the family’s joy through each redesigned room, bringing vitality to original beloved elements with a newfound brightness. Now around every corner is a reminder of what makes their story unique and that personality and life can be returned to even the most classic spaces. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.
Where the
PAST
Still Lives
The old attic space in this historic St. Charles home became a cozy living space fit just right for the homeowner’s style and needs.
By Evie Gerhart
Photography by Photography by Li Interior Design by Liston Design Build
The intention for every room is to create a dreamy escape that also brings functionality to everyday life. This attic in a 1938 St. Charles home was once a cluttered, forgotten space and now beams with eclectic warmth, seamlessly matching the rest of the house. In a compact room, the inspiration was to construct a functional area that corresponds with the owner’s lifestyle. In older St. Louis homes, ripping down walls is not always the solution. Instead, the heart of this build was reimagining what was already there, preserving the home’s structural charm, while emphasizing individual style.
After waiting 20 years, the owner knew she wanted built-ins along the steeply angled walls and hoped to preserve the delicate wallpaper that had adorned the space for more than 30 years. At the start of the design process, two different patterned wallpapers were paired with a floral border, causing the room to feel as though it was competing with itself. Because the wallpaper was in such pristine condition, designer Erin Fleher with Liston Design Build suggested covering the border with white wooden trim to soften the visual busyness while continuing to highlight the history hanging on the walls.
As the room began to come together, Erin was intentional about maintaining its charm while allowing it to fully reflect the owner. “She’s taken her time…to curate the things she loves that have come together as very fun and beautiful, the things that are very her,” Erin explains. “I didn’t want to steal from all the things she already had.”
The majority of the furnishings seen in the final photos were already living in the space. With newly reimagined bones that introduce brightness and airiness, the room now offers a welcoming backdrop for the owner’s decor.
By honoring the existing character while thoughtfully integrating personal style, Erin created a space that is both practical and deeply personal. The careful preservation of the wallpaper, paired with custom built-ins along the angled walls, underscores the power of reimagining rather than reinventing. This attic stands as a reminder that the most meaningful spaces aren’t made by erasing the past, but by allowing it to evolve alongside the life lived within it. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.
RIGHT TURN
Extensive restorations honor the architectural intent of a Florida waterfront beauty.
By Kim Hill
Photography by Jennifer Stewart
Interior Design by Gigi Lombrano Interiors
Architecture by Seibert Architects
It’s a tremendous opportunity in life to help make something right that had been very wrong. That was the opportunity for St. Louis-based designer Gigi Lombrano, ASID, NICDQ, in helping restore a client’s Florida home to the architect’s original intent.
Designed by the award-winning Seibert Architects, the waterfront home in Boca Grande draws heavily upon the style of the Sarasota School of Architecture. This midcentury modern approach utilizes extensive use of glass walls, sliding doors and open spaces to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, creating light-filled, breezy homes.
A previous owner’s renovations, however, resulted in a home that felt dark and heavy rather than breezy and light. Gigi’s client
puts it bluntly: “It was just horrid. But once I knew that the original owners had worked with architect Tim Seibert, I knew what it could be.”
Restoration was extensive. Case in point: the ceiling in the great room. The 26-foothigh, black tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling was torn out and reinstalled in a more natural color to recreate the original architecture. “It was a big deal to do this, the scaffolding was up for months, but absolutely necessary for the restoration project to be successful,” says Gigi, founder of Gigi Lombrano Interiors. “All the spaces in the home have a direct relationship with the great room.”
Cabinetr y in the family room and kitchen, a bulky staircase in the great room, enormous pendants over the kitchen island—all were
removed but salvaged by contractors working on the home. “They were thrilled to take everything, and I was thrilled, too, because nothing went into dumpsters,” says the homeowner.
New, 24-inch porcelain tile replaced a travertine tile throughout the main level. The new tile’s white, high-gloss finish creates an ethereal effect, “like you are walking on clouds,” says Gigi.
To ensure unobstructed views from the kitchen to the outdoor spaces, upper cabinets were installed only along the cooktop wall. “Lighting was reimagined to bring task light to the island, but it was discreetly tucked up out of the sight lines,” Gigi explains.
Lighting was also meticulously designed in the great room. “Wilson Lighting in Naples sent three designers, and they spent hours here drawing up plans,” says the owner. “A room with such a tall ceiling is tough to get right.”
In the family room, a new, built-in entertainment center nods to midcentury modern styling, complemented with new lighting and new furnishings. A blue and white area rug mirrors the hues of the water just steps away.
Upstairs, the primary bathroom was gutted. New custom vanities were placed in recessed niches accented with wallpaper to bring added interest to the room. In the adjacent primary bedroom, Gigi utilized the same color palette as the public
spaces—bright blues and sunny orange—but toned them down to bring a lighter, softer note to the bedroom.
“When you’re in the house, you can feel how it has come to life,” says Gigi. “The owners saw the opportunity of this house and were not daunted by the challenge of restoring it. We like to think the Sarasota School of Architecture architects would be pleased with the results.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.
Form & FANCY
Explore the unconventional form and visual direction of modern light fixtures.
By Lily Stassi
Layering, texture and a nod to organic shapes drive the look of modern lighting. These traits stem from an innovative use of pendant lights to create simple accents or complex clustered chandeliers. We most often see these statement pieces mounted above bathtubs, kitchen islands, dining tables and in grand living rooms, designed to be the crown jewels of the space.
Cluster chandeliers consisting of spherical forms can be low hanging or higher mounted in grand bathrooms and above dining room tables. Talia large chandelier, available at Visual Comfort.
Ring chandeliers can be very large and make a great statement in high-ceilinged and lofted rooms.
Above: Grace 48” wide LED ring chandelier, available at Ferguson Home.
The sputnik chandelier resembles starbursts or clusters of lines. It’s great for any room! Hinkley
Lighting archer 6 light 43” wide sputnik chandelier, available at Ferguson Home.
Pendant chandelier by Minka-Lavery, availble at Metro Lighting.
Sometimes chandeliers can even be made of pendants! These use clustered minimalistic bulbs to create a layered and directional body.
Tala 9-light chandelier with Voroni II bulb, availavle at West Elm.
Linear pendants and chandeliers add horizontal direction and visual interest to rooms with lower ceilings, like dining rooms and kitchens. Camryn glass globe linear chandelier, available at Pottery Barn.
The classic pendant is made to be minimalistic and serve as a functional accent in a space, often seen in foyers and hallways.
Above: Kichler Melko LED chandelier, available at Metro Lighting.
A Place TO CHAT
Take a look at some of the ways to incorporate a conversation pit into your home as sunken seating makes a comeback.
Edited by Lily Stassi
Details Design, LLC
The Carpenter’s Cabin in Hocking Hills, Ohio draws inspiration from the iconic conversation pit by Eero Saarinen at the J.I. Miller House, a place that shaped designer Jami Jenkins of Details Design while living nearby. Reimagined in a contemporary cabin setting, the sunken lounge offers an unexpected 24 feet of seating within a compact 9' × 9' footprint. More than a functional gathering space, it’s designed to spark imagination, creativity and connection across generations. Photography by Shelby Wilray.
Marmol Radziner
The sunken conversation pit forms an intimate gathering space within the home’s open plan. The family area and fireplace offer a grounded vantage point that contrasts with the soaring doubleheight kitchen. By subtly shifting elevations on an otherwise flat site, the design creates a sense of spatial variety while maintaining openness and connection to surrounding nature. Photography by Kasia Gatkowska.
HSH Interiors
Inspired by the home’s 1960s architectural roots and the client’s passion for street art, this Beverly Hills bachelor pad balances retro influence with contemporary, indoor-outdoor living. At the heart of the outdoor space is a sculptural, circular conversation pit that functions as both a gathering place and an architectural focal point, oriented to take in hillside and city views. The curved form reflects the client’s preference for circles, creating an inviting setting for conversation, entertaining and enjoying the surrounding landscape. Photography by Berlyn Media.
This sunken living area includes a bespoke perfectly sized corner sofa designed by Echlin in cayenne velvet. It rests in a home declared as the epitome of ‘broken-plan’ living with small alcoves, different seating areas, places to rest or hide away but also feel connected. Photography by Taran Wilkhu.
Bright Designlab
Designed for slow coastal living, this sunken conversation pit centers the home around warmth and gathering. The fireplace acts as both anchor and invitation, drawing people in and grounding the space. By lowering the seating plane and wrapping the hearth, the fireplace shifts from a backdrop to a shared experience, prioritizing connection over spectacle. It’s a quiet example of how thoughtful architecture can shape the way people come together. Photography by George Barberis.
Echlin London
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BREAKING THE MOLD
Sometimes the key to design is just smoothing out the edges.
By Lily Stassi
Design by SPACEGRAM (Architecture & Design) Studio
Photography by Matilde Travassos
Originally a space structured to be entirely for office use, this dull and angular interior was turned into a soft and inspiring home space. With the goal of completely transforming the space’s form and function, architects and designers at SPACEGRAM knew exactly how to grasp that hidden potential hiding within its empty, gray corridors.
The per fect solution was found within form. Eliminating the vacant hallway-ofcubicles feel was the first objective within the renovation process. SPACEGRAM accomplished this by smoothing the sharp angles with curved walls and ceiling details that doubled as storage space—a design to serve multiple purposes.
It was this detail that became the home’s groundbreaking feature and further inspirational guide. As each curve winds around the corner of a room or hallway, it beckons inhabitants to explore and venture into new niches of the space, as opposed to the previous air of privacy and stagnation. The natural light each room receives throughout the day was also an important anchor, creating a concept led by fluidity and freedom of expression.
The raw-sanded birch veneers in white wash softly glow in the sunlight throughout the day, creating geometric shadows as a natural contrast. Inside each cabinet and pull hides darker walnut veneers, further solidifying this contrast and creating intimate details. Contrast, it seems, runs deep throughout this project, both to create visual interest and further represent fluidity.
SPACEGRAM highlights the “stair-like” layout brought to the home’s design. Around the curve of each doorway and hallway lies a separate room with its own potential. The choice to maintain this “stepped geometry” allows each space to be visually connected, while still allowing some amount of each room to be independent from the rest, rather
than be closed off by a door or frame.
Another highlight—the built-in shelving design—makes its own statement about the unity of the home’s history and transformation. Art Deco-inspired shapes and colors harmonize with raw aluminum and dark terrazzo, creating a storage space that is both functional and appealing. Such a design is made to store and display memories, history and representation of both new and old.
Not only does this home’s new interior redefine modern design flow, but it also serves as a representation of the fluidity of identity. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.
or CRAZE CLASSIC
By Lily Stassi
Boucle fabric
has made its mark in both fashion and upholstery throughout history, but does it still stand the test of time today?
“Boucle style fabric has been around for decades (think Chanel tweeds!), but we’ve seen it become a bit of a craze in the interior space,” says Erin Fleher of Liston Design Build.
Despite being around since the 40’s, boucle had its comeback in 2025 as a textural addition to living rooms and bedrooms. “They are now being used primarily in smaller doses for accent
items such as pillows or ottomans where durability isn't a concern for the long run,” says Gigi Lombrano of Gigi Lombrano Interiors.
Garrison Salinas of Garrison Limited emphasizes the primary downside— quality and upkeep. “These will depend on whether the fabric is all synthetic, has quality weaving and is manufactured with regard to upholstery services and seaming,” he notes. Some versions of boucle are rated for both indoor and outdoor—which are all synthetic with dense weaving—and more durable.
But the consensus is that boucle is still a fabric that requires certain care and upkeep to stay in good condition. Is it stylish enough to be worth the effort?
What do YOU think?
We’ve gathered the opinions of our favorite designers to end every issue, but now we want to know your opinion on our favorite trends. Scan the code below to submit your “classic or craze” vote and check back here in the next issue for the results!
