12 minute read

68 Snapshot

from January/February 2023

by St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles

from January/February 2023, page 82

Classic or Craze

SNAPSHOT Upsized Living

Downsizing into a smaller home allows for more adventures.

By Gina Parsons Photography by Karen Palmer Photography

ith a move across town, Dan and Heidi Meckes W turned their vision of having more time to enjoy life into a reality. The couple were the first to buy a condo in The Barclay building in Kirkwood in 2019. Once their unit was ready in 2021, they moved from the 3,100-square-foot home in western Kirkwood where they’d raised their daughters into the 1,800-square-foot condo. “I’m able to spend more time with friends, be involved in the community and read! All things I like much better than housework,” Heidi says. “Dan took care of our lawn for years and that took up a lot of time on the weekend. Now on the weekend, we spend more time riding our bikes, and we love hiking in Missouri and southern Illinois.” The house they moved from was traditional, with smaller rooms separated by walls, beautiful woodwork and crown molding. They wanted a different look for the condo’s décor. “While the condo is beautiful, there isn’t the crown molding, so I wanted the furniture to add a lot of interest and also warmth. I wanted patterns, texture,” Heidi explains. Maintaining comfort was important. “In our old house, so often people would come over and say it’s so comfortable being here. So even though the space is much different than where we came from, I wanted that same feeling,” Heidi says. “I wanted people to feel welcome here—that they can kick back and relax.”

SNAPSHOT

Heidi worked with designer Kris Keller, owner of Design Source LTD, through its service, Moving Transformations. Kris and her team helped them decide what items to keep, what items to release and what new items to acquire. “Most everything that Heidi and Dan felt particularly keenly about worked brilliantly in their space,” Kris says. “I believe we were able to showcase things much more to their advantage and for her to be able to appreciate them in the new environment because it is so open.”

They added a couple of small floral chairs in the living room. “We chose them specifically to incorporate the color palette and also to give it a bit of current strength because floral is so popular again,” Kris says.

The neutral paint color throughout the home gives a cohesive look, and lets the colorful furniture and artwork—like the piece hanging above the dining table—shine. Heidi and Kris found the painting on fabric piece at Warson Woods Antique Gallery. “It was interesting, different from some of the other pieces of art we had in here. It’s eye-catching. I liked the colors,” Heidi says.

Dan and Heidi don’t miss having a yard to care for, but having an outdoor deck was a necessity. “It is a perfect size in that it holds four chairs and an outdoor coffee table. And, not too much to take care of!” Heidi says.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

Yours By Design

314-283-1760 • Yoursbydesign.net

CJ Knapp has been creating beautiful spaces for over 20 years. She changed the name of her design firm to Yours By Design because she strongly felt that residential or commercial spaces should reflect you and your family, your business and your lifestyle. We design high-end kitchens and baths, additions and remodels that are as functional as they are timeless. Conveniently located in the Interior Design Center of St. Louis, we are a full-service design firm offering custom furnishings, window treatments and bedding. We will guide you from the initial concept to the placement of the very last accessory.

Anne Marie Design Studio

annemariestudio.com • 636-821-3395

Anne M. Boedges, President and Designer of Anne Marie Design Studio, LLC has been helping clients fall in love with their homes all over the St. Louis area since 2001. She obtained her BFA in Interior Design from Maryville University in St. Louis, MO. She has previously taught the NKBA Bath Design Certification Course at St. Louis Community College. Specializing in Kitchen and Bath Design, Anne’s positive and down to earth approach helps clients feel anything is achievable, and her unique attention to detail distinguishes her work amongst the rest.

Joni Spear Interior Design

314-614-9080 / joni@jonispear.com

It is often said that we must look to the past to set a better course for the future, and no one embodies this more throughout her work than Joni Spear of the St. Louis, Missouri based — and eponymously named — design house, Joni Spear Interior Design. Joni’s approach includes thoughtfully designed interiors that are stylish, yet never trendy because she balances the aesthetic with pieces and antiques from the past. These special finds are curated from salvage yards or auctions and are often the focal point of them room from which the space’s design simply falls into place.

Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath

Skyler Tippetts, B.A. Interior Design 314-993-6644 • glenalspaughkitchenscom

As a designer with experience in both commercial and residential projects, Skyler received his education in interior design with an emphasis in architecture and historical restoration. From the conversion of an 1880s bank into a private residence, to period sensitive historical work, reconfiguring floor plans for gut renovations and designing for new construction residential projects, he has had the opportunity to create spaces that are functional, comfortable and beautiful. He draws his inspiration from architecture past and present, the wonders of nature and from the lives and passions of his clients. He is excited to be applying his enthusiasm, talents and skills alongside the team at Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath to create more beautiful spaces in the St. Louis area.

KH Interiors, LLC

Krista Howard, Allied ASID khinteriorsstl.com • 314-517-5502

KH Interiors, is an award winning design-remodel collaborative. We create interiors that are comfortably classic, rich and relaxed. Interiors that reflect your spirit and give you a place to call home. It begins with listening to our clients about their dreams of how they see themselves in their surroundings. We share how design can make their home flow more beautifully and give meaning to their space. Our team then gets to work instinctively to recreate the home they once knew into a haven that reflects their true essence. At KH Interiors, we ensure that every detail, every decision, and every moment is meaningful, intentional and gorgeous!

The Design Source Ltd.

636-391-7640 / thedesignsourceltd.com

Celebrating our 30th Year! At The Design Source LTD., our talented designers not only create award winning interiors, we create personal spaces that support well-being and uplift the spirits of the people who live there. We value creative expression, service to others, listening and honest and trusting communication. You can count on us for creating environments that honor those who live in them. We thrive on homeowners' input. The more input we get, the happier we will all be at the conclusion of the project. Combining savvy design and functionality are our primary concern. After a thorough interview with the homeowner and learning how they intend to use each room, our team gets to work making the homeowners' dream become a reality.

Three French Hens

Rae Sutton 636-458-8033 / threefrenchhenswildwood.com

Rae Sutton, granddaughter of the late Jeanie Hood, is continuing the legacy at Three French Hens in Wildwood, MO. The showroom includes everything from staple to statement pieces that complement any style. Customers can shop in-store or work with designers to create a completely unique look for their home. Employing an original team of designers, clients can utilize Three French Hens for projects from total renovations to custom furniture to an accessory overhaul. Mention this ad and get 10% off your project.

MJM Design Company

M. Joyce Mathis, Allied ASID, LEED Green Associate 636-288-1001 • mjmdesignco.com

From a one-hour consultation to whole house design (window treatments, flooring, paint color selection, space planning, green and sustainable, aging in place, upholstery), remodeling, kitchen and bath renovation, home office, room additions, and new construction. 25+ years in the design industry, where exceptional design and customer service go hand in hand. Finding You in every detail!

JE Design Group, LLC

Ellen Wortham, ASID 314-984-0003 • jedesigngroupstl.com

At JE Design Group we believe your space should be a reflection of you. We focus on your unique needs to create a space that perfectly melds style and life. We pride ourselves on creating beautiful, timeless spaces with attention to personal style, function and comfort while providing excellent customer service and lasting client relationships. Our extensive knowledge of the build and remodel process as well as our relationships with industry trade partners gives us the tools to provide our clients with expert design advice to successfully navigate any build or design project.

SNAPSHOT

Architect: Srote & Co. Architects Builder: Prestige Custom Homes Designer: Castle Design Cabinetry: Beck/Allen Cabinetry

By Melissa Mauzy Photography by Alise O’Brien

Mastering

THE MIX

A second home allowed these homeowners to try something a little different in their new kitchen by mixing reclaimed materials with modern clean-lined finishes.

With their primary residence on a lakeside property in the country, the homeowners’ love of all things rustic shines in their main kitchen with casual and dark, heavy elements perfect for country living. When purchasing a second home in the city, the couple found themselves dialing back their rustic style in favor of a more refined and transitional aesthetic in the new space that is more bright and open. With the help of designer Laurie LeBoeuf of Castle Design their new kitchen has an emphasis on more elegant fixtures and clean lines.

LeBoeuf says the homeowners are drawn to warm wood tones, rust colors and anything that feels cozy and inviting. “We chose to design the majority of the cabinets using a beautiful ‘cashmere’ tone for the cabinetry with warm, medium-tone wood accents in the island and dessert bar area,” she explains. She worked in conjunction with Carla Farris of Beck/Allen Cabinetry to curate the cabinetry for the space. A mitered, more traditional door style with matching five-piece mitered drawer fronts were selected, and a combination of finishes were used. “A mix of finishes creates visual interest and can highlight focal points within the space,” says Carla.

In this case, the finish is also used to differentiate areas within the kitchen. The stained dessert bar area transitions from the kitchen to the hearth room. The stain sets the cabinetry apart from the perimeter cabinets and provides a casual, furniture-like feel. The built-in stained cabinetry is a combination of drawers and counter wall cabinets and provides an attractive storage solution for serving piece and display of home décor. Beck/Allen carried the same door style used in the kitchen to this space for continuity.

Distinctive details selected by LeBoeuf bring in a more transitional aesthetic. The two-toned Jeffrey Court marble basketweave backsplash has subtle hints of shimmer with warm golden tones that catch the light as you move through the space. The Vadara quartz countertops have subtle, warm veining as well. Hanging over the island, the Visual Comfort pendants feature restoration glass and a soft brass finish, which was echoed in the cabinetry hardware. “Once it was all put together, we were able to create a space that felt like a more refined version of their lake house property,” LeBoeuf explains.

Even with the more refined, transitional style, the homeowner had to work a few rustic touches into the space like the reclaimed ceiling beams and custom hood with wood trim. LeBouef chose the rustic parts of the design with practicality in mind. This home is closer to the homeowners family and a place to share with their kids and grandkids, so the kitchen needed to have durable, well-wearing surfaces. The rustic, multi-toned flooring helps mask any imperfections picked up during daily living, and the more refined finishes were carefully picked to age beautifully. The island is at bar height so that food prep can be

hidden from the adjoining great room.

Not only is their new home a place to be closer to family, but the homeowners want to be able to stay in the space long term, so aging in place considerations were also kept top of mind. With LeBoeuf’s background in hospitality design and years of experience in senior living, she knew that they needed to pay attention to the width of the openings as well as create ample distance in the work space so that the homeowners can easily navigate the kitchen with different levels of mobility. “We kept the space ADA friendly and worked with the builder, J.R. Mayer of Prestige Custom Homes, to make thoughtful changes to the layout,” she says. With the future in mind, the design team has created a home that can be enjoyed for years to come.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

These architectural firms are doing some of the best work in the Greater St. Louis area. We’re proud to call them our architect partners. Look to them first for your next project.