March 2021

St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles® Hot Issue

Mindful

DESIGN Nature-Centric

DECOR

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MARCH 2021

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the art of organization

contents MARCH 2021 /// The Hot Issue

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20 28

68

DEPARTMENTS 6 PUBLISHER’S LETTER

8 TRENDS 10 FAB FINDS 12 INSIDER—Laura Lee 16 ARTISAN—Lydia Crespo 50 DIRT 52 SHAWS VISION 54 BRIGHT IDEA 58 BEFORE & AFTER 68 SPOTLIGHT—

Modern Farmhouse

72 CONNECT 80 CLASSIC or CRAZE—

Grand Millennial

On the cover page 20

42 FEATURES

34

20

MAKING A FRESH START

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COLOR COORDINATED

An existing wood plank wall in the breakfast area was painted a deep charcoal gray, giving the space a bold contemporary look.

Photography by Anne Matheis

Liston Design Build set the stage for these downsizers as they transformed the décor of their newly acquired home in Wildwood.

This apartment on The Hill proves that sometimes all you need is a touch of color to make a bold statement.

34

SUSTAINABLE STYLE

42

NATIVE SANCTUARY

Builder Jeff Bogard marries energy efficiency with luxury in constructing this low-impact modern farmhouse with high style.

It was a move of less than a half mile, but the setting seems a world away in this Ladue garden.

St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles (ISSN 1524-8755) Vol. 26, No. 2, MARCH ©2021 by Distinctive Lifestyles, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request only. St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles is published nine times a year, monthly in MARCH, APRIL, MAY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER, and bi-monthly in JANUARY/FEBRUARY, JUNE/JULY and NOVEMBER/DECEMBER by Distinctive Lifestyles, LLC, 255 Lamp & Lantern Village, Town & Country, MO 63017, (636) 230-9700. Periodicals postage paid at Chesterfield, MO 63017 and additional mailing offices.

800 Series

©2021 Ferguson Enterprises LLC 0121 2418995

MAKE THE MOST OF HOME YOUR LOCAL SHOWROOM: CHESTERFIELD

Shop online or schedule a personalized appointment from the comfort of your home today at fergusonshowrooms.com.

PUBLISHER/OWNER: Suzie Osterloh EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Melissa Mauzy MANAGING EDITOR: Molly (Moe) Godat CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kim Dillon COPY EDITOR: Carol Wayne CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Lucyann Boston, Karen Cernich, Jeanne Delathouder, Kim Hill, Catherine Martin, Michelle Mastro, Barb Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Shad Eash/Shad Boost, Brighton & Magna Carta, Jeffrey Coupland Photography, Will Ellis Photography, Ryann Ford, Morgan Howart, Haris Kenjar, Ron Klein Photography, Liz Linder, Megan Lorenz, Anne Matheis, Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton, Lauren Muckler Photography, Karen Palmer, Emily Redfield, Peter Vanderwarker SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Colleen Poelker MARKETING + SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST: Ashley McGoff DISTRIBUTION MASTER: Barney Osterloh ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: sosterloh@stlouishomesmag.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: molly@stlouishomesmag.com FOR SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Call 636-230-9640, ext. 27 or email bosterloh@stlouishomesmag.com Visit www.stlouishomesmag.com St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles Magazine 255 Lamp + Lantern Village Town & Country, MO 63017 636-230-9700 www.stlouishomesmag.com ©2021 by Distinctive Lifestyles LLC. All rights reserved.

Permission to reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request only.

If you are the owner or designer of a brilliant bathroom, enter our BATHS OF THE YEAR (BOTY) contest.

Winning baths will be featured in the AUGUST 2021 ISSUE of St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS MAY 5, 2021 Above: Tamsin Design Group & FORNEY + architects, 2020 Gold winner.

Photography by Megan Lorenz.

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Printed in U.S.A.

Missouri/Southern Illinois Chapter

PRESIDENT: Suzie Osterloh VICE PRESIDENT: Barney Osterloh St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles is a publication of Distinctive Lifestyles LLC

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WEBSITE: stlouishomesmag.com BLOG: stlouishomesmag.com/blog FACEBOOK: facebook.com/stlhomesmag INSTAGRAM: @stlhomesmag TWITTER: @stlhomesmag PINTREST: pinterest.com/stlouishomesmag HOUZZ: St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles magazine + FREE WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive it

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When you see a Web dot, visit our website for additional information, photos or resources on that article or advertiser.

2021 CONTESTS: 2021 Baths of the Year: entries due May 5, 2021 For downloadable entry forms and detailed information about each contest, please visit stlouishomesmag.com.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Nine fabulous issues/year Only $15 Send check with name, address and phone number to: St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles 255 Lamp & Lantern Village Town and Country, MO 63017.

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To subscribe online visit stlouishomesmag.com.

Stair builds and replacements as well as Windows, Doors, Wood Countertops, and Millwork in new home building and remodeling.

314-781-5151 www.kstair.com STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MARCH 2021

636-271-4002 www. kstair.com

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HELLO

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Staying connected to Mother Earth

River and I on location at Design & Detail in Maplewood where finding that perfect piece of home decor you've been looking for is made easy!

Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

2 Inspired by 1. A Quiet Moment: By Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction.

2. Fullerton wallcovering and fabric, by Osborne & Little, available at Design & Detail.

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When the magazine’s editorial staff first started discussing biophilia design, my first thought was "What in the heck is that?"

It’s such a strange word! Surely it must be something scientific and complicated, but it isn’t. Biophilia is the connection we feel with nature; our predisposition to love plants and our tendency to prefer natural environments. Easy enough. It isn’t just incorporating a tropical plant into one or two spaces in your home, but rather a total design effort that nourishes and steers the human spirit toward wellness and happiness.

Ever wonder why laying on the ground as a kid looking up at the blue sky filled with puffy clouds gave you such pleasure?

Or how listening to the ocean waves or a babbling creek produced a feeling of calm within you? We are hardwired to the shapes, colors and sounds of nature and even viewing pictures of nature brings us peace. With unlimited options, homeowners are free to incorporate as many natural

elements into their spaces as they choose to create a happier and calmer environment for their families (pages 20–27).

Taking the importance of nature a step further, Jeff Bogard, owner of R.E.A. Homes and a shining star when it comes to building a home with sustainability as a priority, tackles building a new home with homeowners conscientious about environmental impact (pages 34–41). The homeowner also realized his dream of planting a sustainable garden surrounding his sustainable house. While the garden is filled with primarily native Missouri plants, the beautiful perennial landscape continues to bloom and multiply every year and does not require constant attention. (Pages 42–49) “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.

It will never fail you.” Frank Lloyd Wright Enjoy,

Suzie Osterloh Publisher/Owner

locally owned . community focused . environmentally conscious . guaranteed prices

www.metrolightingcenters.com

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TRENDS

Natural attraction

By Moe Godat

Biophilia concerns the human desire to interact with nature; incorporating natural elements into your interiors can help boost your mood, productivity and well-being.

Fullerton wallcovering and fabric, by Osborne & Little, available at Design & Detail.

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1. Bloom wallpaper, by Phillip Jeffries, available at KDR Designer Showrooms. 2. Constance wax tapers, available at Anthropologie. 3. Calla Virid mosaic tile pattern, by Artaic, available at K Armstrong Associates. 4. Lily flower in gold, by AERIN, available at Neiman Marcus. 5. Tropical wallpaper in jungle green, by Tempaper, available at Missouri Furniture.

6. Leaf platter, available at Crate & Barrel. 7. Vines LED pendant, by SONNEMAN-A Way of Light, available at Metro Lighting and Wilson Lighting. 8. Prairie Flowers™ oval drop-in bathroom sink in Prairie Flowers, by Kohler, available at Crescent Plumbing Supply, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Kohler Signature Store by Crescent, Henry Kitchen + Bath and Premier Plumbing Studio.

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FAB FINDS

Bedford Park single drawer nightstand, by Hekman, available at Amini’s.

Calvin right closed nightstand, available at RH.

Rover nightstand, available at Crate & Barrel.

Within Reach

Milbrae bedside table, available at Pottery Barn.

No bedroom is complete without storage space next to the bedside.

Nightstands or bedside tables are the spot to stash that page-turner you can’t put down, a glass of water for a late night sip or your trusty morning alarm clock. All of your sleepy-time essentials are at your fingertips. And these days, you can use just about any piece of furniture in place of a traditional nightstand table.

Hartley, by Vanguard Furniture, available at Design & Detail.

By Melissa Mauzy

Ingram glass top nightstand, available at Anthropologie.

Cedric nightstand, available at Forshaw.

Melrose chest, available at Forshaw.

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INSIDER

MASTERING BEDROOM DECORATION Laura Lee, owner of Laura Lee Home, gives us an inside look on primary bedroom decoration and how to make the most personal space in your home all the more special and stylish.

Photography by Brighton & Magna Carta

Edited by Moe Godat Portrait photography by Megan Lorenz

Goals Master bedrooms are among my favorite rooms to create for clients. Often, people wait to work on their bedroom until every other space in the house is completed. People spend so much time in their bedrooms, I feel it is a crucial room to complete. The umbrella for designing a master bedroom is creating a sanctuary. This space is your private place to relax, retreat from the world and feel nurtured.

Design Inspiration The aesthetic of a well designed master bedroom varies as much as the tastes of each individual person. Most of our clients lean toward a quiet palette with softer patterns, but some people prefer a bold shot of color in their space. Scour shelter magazines, Instagram and Pinterest to find spaces that inspire you.

Collect ideas and establish a budget before making any purchases. Clients are always surprised by the total cost of designing a

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space because there are so many elements in a room. Prioritize where you invest your budget. Establish a timeline for the project and stay the course until the entire room is completed. Often, clients get sidetracked and find themselves with three rooms or more in progress and in a state of overwhelm.

Bed + Bedding Purchase a good quality mattress and mattress cover to protect it. Invest in the best bedding you can afford. Long staple 100% cotton sheeting is our go to for clients. A nice set of sheets will last 15 years or more. Simple white or soft ivory are versatile and adapt to changing decor. Layered bedding is best. A light cotton blanket or coverlet with a duvet for chilly nights works well. I prefer a light weight down duvet with a cotton or linen cover. Down alternatives are available for those with allergies. Purchase only washable bedding.

Furnishings Create a collected vibe in your bedroom. I shy away from too many pieces of the same collection in favor of mixing two to three different styles. The bed is the biggest piece of furniture and will establish the tone for the bedroom. Select a well-made, sturdy piece that will last for years. Select a matched set of nightstands to provide symmetry and anchor the bed. The height of the nightstands should be within a few inches of the top of the mattress height. A drawer can conceal bedside items. If the nightstand does not have storage, I use a tray to corral items.

Flooring Hardwood flooring with an area rug is my first choice for a bedroom.

It is nice to have a soft place to step out of bed in the morning. The area rug should be as wide as the outside of the nightstands and extend to the end of the bed and bench. For clients who prefer wall to wall carpeting, we select a low pile rug and sometimes even layer an area rug on the top of the carpet to add pattern and color.

Seating If space allows, I love to include a small sitting area in a bedroom. A single comfortable chair is a lovely place to make a private phone call or escape to read. Adding a bench or pair of footstools at the foot of the bed is nice for placing extra pillows or bedding for the night.

Window Coverings We often use functional shades or blinds to provide privacy and light control in combination with drapery panels. Drapery panels add softness and a finishing touch to a room. Hanging the panels close to the ceiling creates a vertical element and adds drama to a space.

Make Your Bed Limit the number of decorative pillows so it is easy to make your bed every day. Less clutter tends to accumulate when the bed is made and the space looks beautiful.

Photography by Emily Redfield

Lighting One of the most polarizing conversations we have with clients is whether to install a chandelier or a ceiling fan. I love a statement piece chandelier to elevate the design of a bedroom and add some sparkle. However, many people simply cannot imagine sleeping without a fan.

If you must have a fan, I prefer a simple design installed close to the ceiling without a light kit. Bedside lamps are important to provide task light for reading, to balance the bed and add another layer to the design. Matching lamps provide symmetry which is calming to our brains. Create a warm glow with incandescent or warm LED light bulbs.

Install a dimmer switch for overhead lighting Flowers Fresh flowers and plants add so much to a space. A simple vase with flowers from the grocery store can make a bedroom feel luxe.

Photography by Brighton & Magna Carta

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MARCH 2021

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ARTIST

SOMETHING ORIGINAL

Lydia Crespo makes wearable art all her own.

By Michelle Mastro Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton Opposite page photography courtesy of Lydia Crespo

Lydia Crespo can claim many titles. Fiber artist, business owner and now e-commerce innovator are just some of the descriptors she can choose from, but Lydia, like her art, defies easy categorization. She creates wearable art in her studio, Argaman&Definance, located in the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO. But in many ways, her art turns to science for inspiration.

Made from 100 percent silk, Lydia’s scarves are hand-dyed using tints extracted responsiby from tree bark, roots, leaves and sometimes onion skins—a technique she likens to a science experiment. “I never excelled in science before,” she laughs, “but at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I took chemistry to understand the process of dying materials.”

Originally, Lydia had started out as a photography major. “But as soon as I got done with the basics, I began working in alternative process photography.

I was painting on photo sensitive material and sewing that into a dress or cutting it up and deconstructing it. I couldn’t stick to one medium; sculpture wasn’t for me—it was just too rigid—I needed something more fluid and flexible.”

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She found her niche and joy in fiber arts, and before long, she began selling her creations and selling out of stock. Although she had never set out to form a business, Lydia quickly realized she was onto something. Flash forward several years, and Lydia’s brick and mortar store, Cozy Shop, sells everything from houseware to apparel.

She runs the shop with sister Sarah Browne. The union, like marrying science with art, is a merger of contraries. Lydia explains, “I’m really creative and impulsive— she’s super analytical and receives data a lot differently.” The two complement each other, reaching new creative heights. “If I didn’t have her, there’s no way I would be able to do this by myself. We really bounce ideas off each other.”

Together, they sell their popular tie dye face mask kit mailed directly to patrons’ doors. The kit even includes an instructional video/link. The idea for the kits sprung from Lydia’s workshop series. “I have a real passion for art,” she says, “but I also have a passion for explaining art and leading others through the process.” For Lydia, her workshops are meant to be eye opening for attendees. “When I begin a workshop, I always say that art is a two-part process. It is first taking on the skill and then perfecting it. But in my workshops, we throw perfection out the door—you are going to leave with this skill and be able to build upon it.”

Taking her workshops to a virtual venue made sense in 2020. Lydia cultivated a solution to keeping people working together while being apart. Transforming her e-commerce into “WE-Commerce,” Lydia has started making workshops for businesses like Google. “WE-Commerce isn’t just commerce. It’s about valuing how we connect.”

“I cannot do in-person workshops right now—the lesson of 2020 is, we have to start over. We have to reset our expectations, and art is a great way to lean into that lesson while making something really cool.” Reflecting on her journey, Lydia muses, “I was making up my own art and path, and now, looking back, I see that was a theme I really stick to, just making my own stuff up as I go along.”

Argaman&Definance products can be found at argamandefiance.com.

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making a fresh start Liston Design Build set the stage for these downsizers as they transformed the décor of their newly acquired home in Wildwood.

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By Barb Wilson Photography by Anne Matheis Builder and Interior Design Liston Design Build

f

ounded in 1984, Liston Design Build has earned numerous awards and an enviable reputation for superior service to clients throughout the St. Louis region. At the helm since 2009, co-owners Keith and Jeanne Liston have continued the proud family tradition, assisted by their expert team of craftsmen, contractors and suppliers.

“We see ourselves as a concierge to the whole remodeling process,” says Jeanne, “accompanying clients to showrooms, helping them make their selections, then putting the layers together for the beautiful, functional new space they had in mind.”

Although nowhere near retirement, the Wildwood residents of this story had decided to downsize to a more manageably-sized home.

“With just the two of us, 7,000 square feet of space was really more than we needed anymore,” owner Matt Behlmann explains. Finding an attractive 4-bedroom 2-story in an upscale community nearby, they made their purchase in late December of 2019.

Opposite page: An existing wood plank wall in the breakfast area was painted a deep charcoal gray, giving the space a bold contemporary look and further emphasized by a monochromatic original abstract. Above: Installation of a wall-mounted Napoleon electric fireplace converted the former living room into a cozy ‘cocktail room,’ appointed with a metallic sunburst mirror, glass front display cabinets, velvety armchairs, and a gleaming marble table.

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The home’s dominant black/gray/white color scheme is immediately established in the entry foyer and continues seamlessly into the cocktail room. Chosen to enhance the character of each space, most of the lighting fixtures were sourced from One Kings Lane.

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Set on a lushly landscaped half-acre site, the 3,760-square-foot plan was built in the mid-90s characterized by the traditional styling of its era and due for some updating. Matt viewed the new acquisition as an opportunity to pursue his lifelong passion for creating new spaces. “It’s been kind of a hobby since I was a kid,” he says, “I’ve even helped friends design their homes.” The choice of Liston Design Build was easy for Matt as well since he’d worked with Jeanne previously.

Design and renovation began in January, but several factors made this project unique. First, Matt’s vision for the interior was a complete departure from the existing décor and that of their former home. His objective was a “warm, contemporary look—livable, but not stark,” a style that was somewhat out of his comfort zone and would mean all-new furnishings. Further challenging Liston’s normally seamless process, COVID-19 threatened to interrupt work in mid-March.

Top: White leather chairs from Perigold surround the breakfast area’s round black table. The circular motif is repeated in the eye-catching sideboard and Louis XVI accent chairs, custom upholstered by Ballard Designs.

Bottom: A stunning array of black-and-white artwork fills the great room’s ‘gallery wall.’ To create a central seating area, the owner combined a Bassett sectional with a unique leather strap chair, contemporary accent tables, and a plush area rug.

The solution, however, was achieved with remarkable efficiency. The homeowners moved to an apartment for the duration, allowing Keith and his team (considered essential workers) to stay on schedule. In spite of the difficult circumstances, communication was no problem either, since Liston provides an app that keeps owners advised daily of the progress onsite.

Meanwhile, Jeanne and her client were busy selecting colors and finishes, and Matt was perusing magazines, Houzz and various home décor websites for an entire houseful of new contemporary furnishings. Once ordered, most of the items were stored in the home’s three-car garage and, just seven months later, the house was ready for move-in!

Although no major structural changes were made, the comprehensive design plan called for remodeling all the main-floor living areas and the upstairs master suite, including new casework, flooring, paint and cabinetry.

Matt’s preferred color scheme of black, white and gray establishes a visual flow throughout the home, and Sherwin Williams’ light “Agreeable Gray” was chosen as the predominant wall color.

The theme starts in the foyer, where the handrail and treads of the central staircase were refinished in a dark charcoal glaze, and a gray tufted velvet bench is set on oversize black-and-white floor tiles, installed diagonally.

Flanking the foyer, the former living room is now dubbed the “cocktail room.” Four comfy armchairs are arranged on a plush, striated rug in two-tone gray, encircling a sleek black marble table. Since the room hadn’t originally included a fireplace, it wasn’t vented. So, to create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere, Liston installed a Napoleon electric fireplace, mounted on a near-black accent wall.

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For dramatic effect in the adjacent office, the walls and Liston’s custom-built shelving are painted the same deep charcoal hue—a sophisticated background for the distinctive bronze and shagreen desk, wood and wicker side chair, zebra print rug and striped Roman shades.

Across the foyer, wainscot paneling was added to the formal dining room, and Matt chose a dining ensemble from Restoration Hardware featuring a black-finished French X-based table, streamlined white chairs studded with bronze nailheads, a glass-doored black oak sideboard and hutch and a contemporary beaded chandelier.

Moving to the activity areas, the kitchen illustrates Liston’s ability to integrate existing components with a totally new design style. The original range and sink walls—including appliances, cabinets and countertops, stainless range hood and porcelain marble backsplash—were all in excellent condition. So, it took only repainting the cabinets, a Brizo sink fixture, a new custom-built center island topped in suede-finished Silestone Marquina quartz and pendant lighting to give this culinary space its bold contemporary ambience.

In the bayed great room, a coat of charcoal paint—inside and out— transformed the look of the original gas fireplace with white birch logs for contrast. Liston also converted the outmoded desk area into an eye-catching dry bar with a custom alder top and shelving, backed by variegated subway tile in a herringbone pattern.

The dimensions of the great room, however, presented some problems for Matt when configuring the seating. He opted to center a linen-textured Bassett sectional on a plush charcoal and cream rug, adding a leather strap side chair, casually draped with a sheepskin. Initially frustrated by a long blank wall, he made it into a “gallery wall,” displaying a wonderful array of black-and-white photography, paintings and paper art.

Opposite page top: The kitchen’s existing cabinets were was painted “Iron Ore” gray, and the original island was replaced with a more contemporary version, custom-built and surfaced with suede-finished Silestone Marquina quartz by Cosentino Surfaces. Bottom: Visually dynamic, the office showcases Liston’s finely crafted custom built-ins, a metal and shagreen desk, wood and wicker side chair, zebra patterned rug, striped Roman shades and an antique gold pendant chandelier.

This page top: Lit by a beaded chandelier, the formal dining room is furnished with a sleek black oak ensemble from Restoration Hardware, including a French X-base table, linen-upholstered chairs, and a glass front hutch and sideboard.

Bottom left: The great room’s original gas fireplace was modernized by painting the brick surround and firebox black. Bottom right: Liston transformed the former desk alcove into a handsome dry bar with custom alder top and shelves, backed by variegated herringbone subway tile.

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Upstairs, the master suite is visually intriguing, yet almost Zen-like in its tranquility. Textured charcoal wallpaper extends to the cathedral ceiling behind a white-upholstered king-size bed. At the foot is a chic contemporary acrylic and bronze bench, and, against one wall, a low-profile leather lounge introduces a warm caramel tone to the otherwise black and white décor.

The master bath retained its original footprint, but was completely renovated. The outdated tub deck was replaced with a free-standing Barclay Cordoba tub and floor-mounted Moen filler and hexagonalpatterned porcelain floor tile complements the “Dovetail” gray cabinetry, designed by Beck/Allen. The glass shower enclosure has an easy-maintenance porcelain tile surround resembling marble; separate valves control the multiple shower heads, and the mosaic tile pan mimics the flooring on a smaller scale.

Reflecting on his collaborative working relationship with Liston Design Build, the delighted homeowner enthused, “I’d never done a remodel before, but everything was perfect! Keith and Jeanne are incredibly knowledgeable and involved, and their people are great!

They understand your vision and bring it to life.”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

Opposite page: The owners’ cat enjoys the Zen-like atmosphere of the main suite. Textured charcoal wallpaper backgrounds the white upholstered bed, and a contemporary metallic accent table is positioned next to the acrylic and bronze bench. Against the side wall, a leather lounge adds a warm touch of caramel color to the space.

This page: Totally renovated, the main bath features an oversize glass shower enclosure with multiple shower heads and a porcelain tile surround resembling marble. The free-standing Barclay Cordoba tub is set on a hexagon-patterned porcelain tile floor, and Beck/Allen designed the soft gray cabinetry.

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FEATURETTE

COLOR COORDINATED This apartment on The Hill proves that sometimes all you need is a touch of color to make a bold statement.

By Michelle Mastro Photography by Karen Palmer Interior Design Andrea Miles Design Architect Jahneke Architects, Gates Design

Inside her apartment on The Hill, designer Andrea Miles reinforces a timeworn saying: it’s what inside that counts. For, unbeknownst to passersby and hidden inside a mostly unadorned brick building on Shaw Avenue is Andrea’s home, a treasure trove of rich hues and stark contrasts. Inside, painted white brick walls and rafters play host to pops of colors and quirky details, from a hot pink dishwasher and a citrus green ultrasuede couch to hand-painted grey antique doors from France.

The apartment sits atop a restaurant owned by her brother-in-law, but for the longest time, the space sat vacant. A “treacherous cliff of stairs,” not up to code, made the second floor impractical in terms of any future restaurant expansion. “It never occurred to me that we would move there one day,” reveals Andrea about the apartment. “Originally my husband and I lived in a large home in Compton Heights. We have a blended family of six children, and when the last one left for college,

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FEATURETTE

we were basically heating and cooling floors that we didn’t even go on,” says Andrea. “So, we decided to downsize, sell the home in Compton Heights, and renovate the second floor in the building on The Hill.”

Andrea and her husband, Frank Carretero, could transform the empty rooms of the apartment into anything they chose. What Andrea wanted was loads of color, especially pink. “But my husband didn’t want the

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apartment to be all pink, which if I’m not reigned in, could happen,” laughs Andrea.

“Frank likes a really contemporary look, so we decided to leave the ceiling and brick walls exposed. Then I decided that once the rafters were painted white, we should go ahead and paint the brick too because it was just so bright and cheery.”

The simple yet clean shade of white, along with gray hues, became the unifying factor

running throughout the home. Milk white glass clads the kitchen shelves, for example, while gray microfiber chairs surround the glass dining table. Gray and white are also paired in the bathroom’s cement tiles hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico.

“I promised my husband that I would keep the apartment neutral with gray and white, but then I was so bored, so we made some compromises. I kept most of the walls white.

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FEATURETTE

But his office is a light gray. He loves blue, so we made the master bedroom in white, navy and periwinkle,” Andrea explains. “And I got to go berserk with color in the guest bedroom.”

There, her love of vibrant shades reaches new heights with the room’s five different wallpapers. The accent wall behind the bedframe sports a floral cotton wallpaper, originally meant for shower curtains from Designer's Guild, along with green damask wallpaper with metallic flakes and a gray and white cartouche wallpaper.

Yet perhaps the most unique aspect of the home, says Andrea, are the antique doors sourced from Fellenz Antiques, originally New Orleans and France painted in custom gray chalk paint and surrounded by white frames. “The doors enhance and unify the apartment. Although the colors in the other rooms may shift, our doors unify everything.”

Andrea and her husband may be a couple of empty nesters, still their apartment is full of brilliant color. “Two of the kids are still in college, but most of the time it is just him and me. With all the changes we made, I wanted to like my surroundings.”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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Builder R.E.A. HOMES

By Kim Hill Photography Anne Matheis Interior Design French Wench Interiors Architect Mainline Group Architecture

STYLE Builder Jeff Bogard marries energy efficiency with luxury in constructing this low-impact modern farmhouse with high style.

When planning a new home, many people dream of a gourmet kitchen, a luxurious master bath and high-end finishes. We see those elements every day, making them top of mind.

Equally important is what we don’t see—what’s “behind the drywall,” says Jeff Bogard, founder and president of R.E.A. Homes. “A properly built shell, which includes the design of the HVAC system, insulation, right-sized ductwork and so on, has tremendous impact on comfort, energy efficiency and helping create a healthier indoor environment,” says Bogard, who has built his company constructing what he calls “High Performance Luxury Homes.”

He says R.E.A. Homes is currently one of the only ENERGY STAR® certified custom home builders in the area. Bogard has been designated a Master Certified Green Professional™ by the National Association of Home Builders, and he earned the LEED Green Associate credential—considered the gold standard for energy efficiency, indoor air quality and overall construction practices—from the U.S. Green Building Council. Bogard says these energy efficient homes maximize comfort, resulting in less hot and cold spots as well as eliminating drafts.

Opposite page: A contemporary artwork and metal spherical light fixture add modern flair.

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R.E.A. Homes has the kind of portfolio the owners of this Ladue modern farmhouse were looking for. “I wanted a high-efficiency, low-maintenance home that would still be comfortable when our two daughters came home, with plenty of room for them, but also worked for us now,” says the husband. At the same time the soon-to-be empty nesters were planning their new home, the husband’s mother contemplated moving in with them to be closer to family. Discussions within the family and with architect Allen F. Roehrig, principal of Mainline Group Architecture, ultimately resulted in the design of a main home of approximately 4,000 square feet with an attached 1,800-squarefoot mother-in-law "cottage."

In the building process, Bogard used several strategies to maximize comfort and energy efficiency. A combination of closed cell foam, blown-in insulation and insulation bats, for

example, resulted in a R-21 rating for the walls.

On the home’s exterior, Bogard used an upgraded Tyvek wrap product combined with a rainscreen before adding the white siding. “The rainscreen gives moisture a place to drain out properly and escape,” says Bogard. “We use nationally recognized, best-building practices throughout the home to minimize any chances of problems associated with the effects of St. Louis weather patterns.”

A rooftop solar electric system will pay for itself in about seven years, according to the homeowner.

“It made sense to me that if we were building a new house we planned to stay in for a long time, then there would be a payback to installing the solar panels,” says the homeowner. Electricity from the solar panels powers the home, including the geothermal heat pump, also called a ground source heat pump. Marc Bluestone, president of SmartHouse Heating and Cooling, explains that

Opposite pgae: The homeowners wanted a modern design for their new home, a style completely different from any of their previous residences.

Flooring is a whitewashed white oak with a no VOC finish. This page top: A screened-in porch or three-season room was a “must-have” for the wife.

With plastic windows and a wood stove, “we use this even in the dead of winter,” says the husband. “It’s way more useful than you might think, so it’s really become a four-season room for us.”

Bottom:The husband’s mother lives in a two-bedroom “cottage” attached to the main home. Although it was difficult to pare down her beloved furnishings and antiques from her previous homes, “she loves it now,” says the homeowner.

“She’s independent in her own space,” which includes a full kitchen, laundry room and two bathrooms, all ADA compliant..

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Opposite page: A focal wall in the master bedroom utilizes the same wide-plank white oak used for the flooring. A clear non-VOC finish on the wood lets the wood’s natural beauty shine through and warms the space. This page clockwise: “My wife and I work hectic jobs, so we wanted the house to be calming when we came home,” says the husband. The master bath is a study in serenity in tones of gray and white.

Stairs: The porte-cochère connects the main house to the mother-in-law’s “cottage.” Natural landscaping equates to less maintenance and less water usage for the homeowner. “There is no grass anywhere on my property,” he says. Kirkwood Stair & Millwork constructed a strikingly modern stairway of wood risers and steel railing.

geothermal transfers heat to or from the ground. It uses the stable temperature of the earth as a heat source, Bluestone says, but is powered entirely on electricity.

These homeowners “made wise, intelligent choices in aligning their energy sources so they are producing electricity through the solar electric system that they are then using to heat and cool their house,” says Bluestone. Their geothermal system consists of variable capacity heat pumps which can scale down to 30 percent of their capacity. “It’s like the gas pedal on your car,” Bluestone explains. “Going downhill, you need to apply the gas very little.

When going uphill, you apply more. These variable capacity heat pumps work the same way.” According to industry experts, geothermal systems can offer between 25 and 50 percent savings on heating and cooling costs compared to conventional fossil fuel systems. This heating and cooling system leads to an overall higher comfort level within the home.

A home’s energy performance can be rated by the Residential Energy Services Network, which assigns a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index, the industry standard. A rating technician examines the home throughout the construction process, checking variables such as air leaks in the building envelope and HVAC distribution duct leaks. When construction is completed, the rater assigns the home a score, which can range from 0 to 150. Bogard says this index is “just like golf, the lower the score the better.” A home with a HERS score of 0, a highly unusual score, produces or conserves as much energy as it uses.

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“This home actually received a negative HERS rating, which means it was less than zero,” says Bogard. “No other home that I’ve built, and no other home that I’m aware of in St. Louis, has received a negative HERS rating, which means depending on the time of day and time of year, the home’s solar electric system is producing more energy than the home is consuming.” In addition, the home meets Indoor airPLUS construction specifications established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Every Indoor airPLUS qualified home is also ENERGY STAR® certified.

Even with all this attention to detail "behind the drywall," what’s in front of the drywall is equally impressive. Stylistically, the homeowners wanted a home with a modern, “almost Scandinavian feel inside, completely different from anything we’d had before,” says the husband.

The husband, the cook in the family, wanted a kitchen connected to the living and dining spaces. With the help of designers at Beck/Allen Cabinetry, the layout ensures the husband is facing the great room while working at the island sink. Topped with a white quartz, the island holds a trough cleverly positioned in front of the sink’s faucets. “It serves two purposes,” says the homeowner.

“People helping prep on that side can cut and scrape into the trough, which has a garbage disposal in it. And when we have friends over, we fill it with ice and put drinks or shrimp cocktail in it, so it becomes a serving station. It’s a cool feature.” The idea of the trough came from Stacy Stratmann Galt of French Wench Interiors.

The kitchen is visually connected to the large great room.

“It’s one of only two spots to hang out in the house,” says the husband. “This brings the family all together and that’s what we wanted.” Declaring that he’s a “bit of an audiophile," the husband wanted an acoustically sound great room, eliminating echo as much as possible. To help address this, the fireplace and an opposite wall are clad in Italian cork tile. “This absorbs and breaks up sound,” says the husband. “The pattern looks like brick and has some texture.” Because the ceiling beams don’t provide structural support, the tops were left open and filled with sound-baffling material to help absorb sound.

With such careful attention to design, construction and materials, the finished home fulfills the owners’ vision. “We have a calming place we just love,” says the husband. “It works for our family now, and it’s going to work in 25 years when we are older.” Those words are music to Bogard’s ears. “I think most of our clients would say they have a superior living experience inside their home,” he explains, “not just what it looks like but how it feels to live in it.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

Kitchen: Martin Goebel & Co. crafted the dining table from a fallen tree in Tilles Park, where the homeowners’ children played as little girls. “This dining table is central to the whole house,” says the husband, who notes it has a no VOC finish and can seat 14.

Sleek Poggenpohl cabinetry surrounds a GE baking oven, warming drawer and Wolf steam oven. “If I had to get rid of everything in the kitchen except one item, I’d keep that steam oven,” says the husband, an enthusiastic and talented cook. Appliance garages to the left of the induction cooktop house oils, vinegars and spices in addition to small appliances. Gray quartz on the perimeter countertop mimics concrete.

Great room: “I’m a bit of an audiophile,” the husband admits, so he wanted an acoustically-sound great room. Because the great room’s beams aren’t structural, they could be left open and filled with sound-baffling material to reduce echo and absorb sound. The fireplace is clad in Italian cork tile, which also helps break up sound. “I found this pattern that looks like brick, which I also thought would add some texture,” says the husband.

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NATIVE SANCTUARY It was a move of less than a half mile, but the setting seems a world away in this Ladue garden.

By Lucyann Boston / Photography by Kim Dillon / Builder: R.E.A. Homes

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A

little over two years ago, the home these Ladue homeowners loved, and where they raised their daughters, was surrounded by vast lawns and manicured shrubs.

Now, they are tucked away in the woods in a house designed to resemble a country cottage. Creeks run along two sides of their property and gravel pathways lead through fields of wildflowers to a clearing containing a fire pit surrounded by tree-stump stools. Making it seem even more remote, the nearly one-acre lot backs up to an 8-acre nature preserve. Both the house and the landscaping that surrounds it are designed with sustainability in mind and to be a part of the natural setting.

While the change seems abrupt, the mind-set that created it was years in the making. “We used to live in a classic, old-school house on nearly two acres with manicured landscaping and a crew that came every week to cut and trim. I used to joke that I put all the landscape guys’ kids through college,” the homeowner recalls. “With the children grown, nobody was coming to play soccer on the grass, and we didn’t need a large lawn. I decided I wanted to build an efficient house.”

“We’ve always been interested in sustainability and it drove us nuts that the kids were giving us grief about living in a world with global warming. I decided if I was going to build a house, it would have as little impact on the environment as possible, he continued. “You can do that for good reasons (strictly for the environment) and you can do it for selfish reasons. In seven years, you break even on your investment in solar and after that it is payback.”

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Finding the right location for their sustainable home was not easy. Fate intervened when the homeowners were out walking their dog in a charming area full of twisting lanes not far from their current home. “We actually walked past when the man was putting a ‘for sale’ sign in front of his house.” The couple saw wonderful potential in the wooded lot, which at that time contained a small ranch house. They quickly purchased the home for the lot alone.

Long interested in gardening, the husband had grown up with a father who had a huge vegetable garden that he worked on as kids and also lived for a time while working as a reporter in Detroit with an aunt who had a beautiful English garden that was on numerous garden tours. The wife's job concerns environmental compliance and sustainability.

Their experience of traversing The High Line in New York City gave them ideas about sustainable gardening.

Once an abandoned, elevated railway spur on the west side of the city, the tracks had become overgrown with local vegetation creating a green ribbon in the midst of bricks and cement.

What had happened by chance inspired environmentalists in New York to expand the space into a walkable garden featuring native species, that is now the center of numerous community activities. Once they saw those plantings, the homeowners knew just how they wanted their own landscape to appear.

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Taking their cue from the beauty of the flowering native and sustainable plants they had seen on The High Line, they began to create a plan for a similar native/sustainable garden surrounding their sustainable house. But before they could create a garden, the creek bank to the east of the property had to be shored up. Rapidly deteriorating, chunks of the property were sliding into the creek and an existing shed, grandfathered where it was on the existing land, was in danger of being swallowed up. It was an erosion and drainage project that eventually involved the Metropolitan Sewer District and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Once the shed was stable, eventually becoming an art studio for their daughter and later an office for the wife, it was time to plant. “I tried to choose native plants and grasses, but I also didn’t want the landscape to look like I was a hermit that didn’t do anything to the yard,” he explained with the thought that native gardens can be criticized as looking weedy. “I like the look of native plants but I didn’t want it to look neglected.”

Fate intervened a second time when the homeowner and his daughter were on a bike trip to Jefferson City and cycled past a nursery in Defiance that was going out of business and filled with locally grown trees and shrubs. “I drove back out and bought everything they had left,” he explains. They also talked and took suggestions from experts in the best native plants to use in more controlled environments.

The plant list included “many plants I had never thought to plant before,” the homeowner says; black-eyed susans, purple coneflowers, liatris, liriope chamomile, Joe Pye weed and goldenrod. Included in the plant list are swamp oak and river birch for wet areas, viburnum, oakleaf and Annabelle hydrangeas, “Early Amethyst” beautyberry, "Red Sprite" winterberry and golden "Tiger Eye" sumac. Flowering trees include fringe trees, dogwoods, red buds and American holly. The landscape features multiple grasses such as Little Bluestem, "Cheyenne Sky" switch grass, pink muhly grass and prairie dropseed.

Full Care landscaping provided a valuable assist in the placement of trees, shrubs and perennials to give the garden a look that was at the same time both well maintained and natural.

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While some of the garden was carefully planned, one of the best surprises came from two pounds of wildflower seed ordered from American Meadows, a website the homeowner discovered when searching on the internet for wildflower seeds. “You can order for sun or shade and the state you live in. It was a real Hail Mary. I just tossed the seed into the rocks along the creek and thought maybe something might come up.”

Everything came up. “We had some flowers 5 feet tall, and it seemed like fireworks when you looked into the creek. When we had friends over, we had giant bouquets of flowers from the creek. This year, I am ordering five pounds of seed,” he happily confirmed.

Working with different plants has been a learning experience. “It is more difficult to weed a garden with native plants than a normal garden because some of them look like weeds when they are coming up. This year, I am not pulling anything out or cutting anything down until I am sure,” he says with a laugh.

Over the past year, they have also added bees to the landscape. “One of my old neighbors had several hives and had to move them,” he explains. “I suggested he could move a couple of hives to my house. Now I have pollinators in the spring and honey in the fall.”

This past year, being confined with COVID, gardening has been a major outlet for the homeowners. “COVID led me to spend every afternoon in the garden last spring and summer,” he says, estimating that he spread 15 yards of gravel on existing pathways and 60 yards of black mulch in spring and fall.

While planting the garden was a monumental undertaking, the result is a beautiful landscape filled with sustainable plants that come back every year and do not require constant attention.

“You can have a pain-in-the-neck garden, or you can plant things that come back year after year,” the homeowner says. “For two years, we haven’t had any annuals in the garden except for window boxes.”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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THE DIRT

WEED OUT theCompetition Learn from local plant professionals how to LOCATE, NEUTRALIZE and ERADICATE WEEDS in your garden.

Edited by Moe Godat

Honeysuckle.

What are the most common weeds found in St. Louis and the surrounding areas?

Nutsedge, crabgrass, clover, dandelion and spurge are the most common weeds in Missouri. However thistles, bindweed and honeysuckle are the most invasive weeds in the area. In order to stop these weeds from multiplying, promoting a thick healthy lawn is a good line of defense.

In the lawn, be sure to use post-emergents that are labeled for broadleaf and grassy weeds and are also considered selective herbicides, meaning they target specific weeds. There are also organic options for herbicides as well.

— Brian Haley, Chesterfield Valley Nursery.

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Crabgrass

Nutsedge

Nutsedge is a perennial, grass-like lawn weed that is a lighter green and grows faster in hot weather than our lawns do. It can be distinguished from grasses by its V-shaped stem. Nutsedge produces tubers and rhizomes below ground to multiply and may eventually form patches of 10 feet or more in diameter. Dave recommends spraying with SedgeHammer® to kill it.

—David Sherwood, Sherwood’s Forest Nursery.

Image provided by University of Missouri division of Plant Sciences.

You can free yourself from weeding with pre-emergent weed preventers. It takes minutes to apply, yet saves hours and hours of back-breaking work by preventing weeds from germinating. Ann recommends the product called Preen® which also contains a slow-release fertilizer, saving us even more time. She applies Preen to the flower beds right after they have been freshly mulched —Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens.

A particularly tough Missouri weed is Mulberry Weed (Fatoua villosa), which has exploding seed heads and rapid growth to the seed stage so it can reseed vigorously all season long. Before its seeds appear it looks a bit like garden favorites bee balm and hummingbird mint, which is how it manages to establish itself in herb and vegetable gardens.

Heavy mulching around your preferred plants will help keep these weeds under control.

—Kathie Hoyer, Bowood Farms.

Put pulled weeds in the trash, not your compost bin where the seeds will survive. Kathie Hoyer, Bowood Farms.

Mulberry Weed

Spurge

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SHAWS VISION

Aging in Style The Persian ironwood tree of Iran brings its mottled bark and beautiful fall foliage to The Missouri Botanical Garden.

Information provided by Catherine Martin, The Missouri Botanical Garden Photography courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden

Originally from Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran Found at The Missouri Botanical Garden English Woodland Garden, Daylily Garden, Strassenfest Garden Name: Persian ironwood or Parrotia persica

The flowers emerge in the spring (above) and the leaves look similar to those of our native witch hazels and turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall.

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Persian ironwood is a small-to-medium sized deciduous tree native to the biologically rich Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran. It is considered to be a tertiary relict species that are survivors of a population that was once more widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere during the Tertiary period (65-15 million years ago). The species is considered to be "near threatened" in its native range due to its limited distribution.

Mature trees will have rounded-to-spreading canopies and can reach up to 40 feet tall, but they can also be grown as large, multi-stemmed shrubs if pruned regularly. The bark develops showy mottling with age, peeling away to reveal contrasting patches of brown, white and green.

The flowers emerge in spring before the leaves and lack showy petals, but are still colorful and worth viewing up close. The leaves look similar to those of our native witch hazels and turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. This tree gets its common name from its hard, durable wood. Although it can be difficult to find for purchase, the Persian ironwood's versatile size, colorful fall foliage and exfoliating bark make Persian ironwood a great ornamental tree for St. Louis gardens.

The Garden has several of these trees on grounds, with two in the English Woodland Garden dating back to 1972. You can also find Persian ironwood in the Daylily Garden, Strassenfest Garden, as well as three additional trees in the English Woodland Garden. Look for them in bloom in March and April.

Create a beautiful and lush landscape with the help of St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles' Outdoor Expert, Chesterfield Valley Nursery. These industry experts will conceptualize creative solutions to help you design the ideal landscape for your home. Whether you desire an outdoor fireplace, patio, pergola or simply need assistance in plant selections and garden layout and design, this Outdoor Expert will bring your backyard to life.

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BRIGHT IDEA

1

GOING GREEN As life has changed and people are more accustomed to spending time at home, gardening and growing your own food have exploded in popularity. Backyard greenhouses are springing up all across the country. Consider carving out your own green space.

By Melissa Mauzy

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1 GLASS HOUSE IN THE GARDEN

By Flavin Architects, Peter White of ZEN Associates and Thoughtforms. The interior is divided in two with a finished sitting space in the front and a functioning greenhouse to the rear. The sitting space has a green roof of native grasses and overlooks a Japanese rock garden.

A glass roof lets light into the rear greenhouse, and the gravel floor and teak benches lend this space, used for Bonsai cultivation, a naturalistic atmosphere.

2 A QUIET MOMENT

By Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction.

This multi-phased project began with a blank slate. Developed over many years, it has grown into an expression of the owner’s love of nature and intense curiosity about plants of all types—many of which he has collected in his greenhouse. He often goes out there to simply sit and enjoy a quiet moment while breathing the fresh, moist air.

find an

EXPERT

stlouishomesmag.com

Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath Anne Matheis Photography

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BRIGHT IDEA

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3

5

6

3

4

DREAM GARDEN SPOT

By Berger Partnership and Architectural Glass/Greg Carman. An avid Northwest gardener commissioned the firms to renovate her back yard to support both her hobby and family gatherings. The bright and clean-lined, custom designed greenhouse provides space for cultivating her dream garden and starts for her raised beds while adding a touch of sunshine year-round.

BACKYARD FARM

By B Jane Gardens. B. Jane Gardens in Austin, TX, designed and built this backyard farm space for homeowners looking to grow as much of their own food as possible. A working vegetable garden is fed by rainwater harvesting and composting; chickens and bees contribute to self-sufficiency, along with a greenhouse and productive pecan trees.

5 NANTUCKET IN NATURE

By Sturdi-Built Greenhouse Mfg. This 10x14-foot Nantucketstyle greenhouse with welcoming double doors is crafted from clear heart California redwood and installed on the customer’s 18” high masonry base wall. Sturdi-Built Greenhouse kits, available for view at sturdi-built.com.

1. Photography by Peter Vanderwarker. 2. Photography by ©Morgan Howarth. 3. Photography by Jeffrey Coupland Photography.

4. Photography by Ryann Ford. 5. Photography courtesy of Sturdi-Built Greenhouse Mfg. 6. Photography by Liz Linder.

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6 GROWING A GREENHOUSE

By Sego Design. This greenhouse sits on a six-acre estate with conservation land and trails. The project spanned nine years of phases including a native herbal meadow, terraced bluestone patio, sunken barn patio, the greenhouse, a maple sugaring shack, a multi-species orchard, bee habitat, lush front grass plantings, reconfigured driveway, cloister garden with pizza oven, raised reflecting pool, night lighting, and espaliered wisteria, trees, and vines.

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BEFORE & AFTER

Cozy COMFORT

By Jeanne Delathouder • Photography by Ron Klein Photography • Design by Roeser Home Remodeling

BEFORE

After downsizing to their Ballwin condo, these empty-nesters transform a once-narrow kitchen into an airy and welcoming haven for entertaining.

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When Scott and Joan Holley left their large family home for a smaller-scale villa, they soon realized the new layout needed some tweaks to suit their new lifestyle.

Recent empty-nesters, the couple were attempting to downsize but were still very involved with their church, friends and family. They wanted a comfortable home for their daily lives, but also one with the ability to accommodate large and small–scale entertaining for any occasion. But soon they noticed their spaces were too cramped. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that could flow together beautifully without walls, so they called on Roeser Home Remodeling to help them visualize a plan.

“My creative approach came from the clients’ need to make their space not only functional, but also warm and welcoming,” says Brandi Ward, Director of Design at Roeser Home Remodeling. “I try not to be influenced by my personal design taste.

My goal is to gauge our clients’ specific needs, creative taste and vision for the space and make it flow into a design that reflects them. This area was very long, so I needed to flip the existing set-up in order for it to function. My team removed the

original hearth room and relocated the kitchen in that space. Doing this gave way for a larger kitchen and dining area,” she sums.

Opening up the space required installing a large steel beam. Typically, Brandi likes to invert beams to get a seamless ceiling, but it was not possible with this project, so she had to get creative. She decided to have the steel beam wrapped with reclaimed barn wood. The wood tones softened the design and added warmth to the space. She also took wood beams and added them to several other areas of the house, tying the new look together as if it were part of the design all along.

“I try to envision my family and me using the space in order to relate to how my clients and their families might,” notes Brandi. “Initially, I use a mock daily routine to assess functionality. Then, I consider our clients’ family dynamic and tweak the design to create a layout that is specific to their needs. After all, they are the ones who are going to use the space every day and it needs to be a reflection of them. I really want them to own it—that’s the only way they fall in love with the design and functionality,” she adds.

The kitchen’s fresh look is a transitional design with a mix of modern clean walls and a comfortable setting. The design is incredibly open, yet areas are designated by changing cabinet colors or the placement of wood beams. These touches help showcase the structural changes

that were made. The Holleys wanted white cabinets, but they were open to color for the cabinet piece that housed their dishes. The mixture of white and warm woods makes the open space seem cozy and comfortable. They also wanted the accent pieces they’ve collected from all over the world to stand out. The white walls and simple lines help make these pieces the star of the design.

“The new kitchen is a workable, functional space with easy-to-reach appliances, not to mention tons of counter space,” Joan notes. “It’s also a great gathering space. The island seats six and opens to a large dining area with a breakfront—perfect for entertaining,” she adds.

“I loved how the Holleys were willing to take risks when transforming this space,” tells Brandi. “When the walls started coming down and cabinets started coming in, they began envisioning their family there and grandchildren running around. That was a turning point for them, because it was really hard to leave their previous home and neighborhood where they raised their kids. They started to get excited about making new memories. It was a stressful time for them—moving and remodeling all at the same time,” she recalls. “But once it was all finished, Joan said it finally felt like home and they both were so appreciative.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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See our work on pages 20-27 and pages 34-41.

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See our work on pages 34-41.

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OUT OF TOWN

WITH A HERITAGE Transforming a historic barn into a modern home began with a commitment to the environment.

By Karen Cernich Photography by Shad Eash/Shad Boost

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Architect: Fox Architects, DTLS Landscape Architecture

W

hen Chris and Julia Montroy, a husband and wife design team living in St. Louis, began the years-long project to transform a portion of her family’s 200-plus-year-old bank bar n in Lan caster Coun t y, Pennsylvania, into a modern home with full amenities, they didn’t just want to make it warm and functional. They wanted to preserve its centuries-old details for future generations to discover—like how sunlight moving through the space creates a magical feeling as it bounces off the beams or how past relatives once used an old license plate to patch a hole in the wall.

“It was a project of passion,” said Julia, a founding principal at DTLS, a landscape architecture and urban planning firm.

Although the couple’s driving focus was to maintain the structure’s heritage, a top priority was to do it in a way that protected the environment. They installed geothermal for heat and solar fields for electricity; they reused materials wherever possible—troughs became benches, barn doors were re-purposed on track systems to create flexible walls, and the wood exterior siding that was removed

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OUT OF TOWN

was added to the interior space to create feature walls. Even the wood that was used for flooring on the second story was harvested from the surrounding forest over the course of a decade and dried in the barn.

Outside, the Montroys were equally as careful. “We have been working for years on restoring the wetlands in the area because it is part of the Chesapeake watershed, and it’s really important that we are not dumping more water, which is part of reusing the existing structure and not adding more pavement or more roof,” Julia explained.

The family also has been working with the American Chestnut Foundation on a reforesting project on the farm, where the wood was once prominent. “We believe a lot of the barn’s beams are made of chestnut wood,” Julia said.

Finding the right contractor for the job proved challenging. Most had never done any kind of work like this before. “They had

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done a lot of erasure, but we wanted to archive it, even down to the bird nests on a beam,” said Julia, noting they actually left the nests in place and clear-coated them. “Barn swallows are big in this area, so it’s all part of the story,” remarked homeonwer Chris Montroy, AIA, of Fox Architects in St. Louis.

The Montroys took a utilitarian approach to the interior design of the space, preserving existing walls and only adding new ones where necessary.

They made a point of leaving the simple beauty of original construction techniques exposed, details like the joinery, hand-hewing marks on the beams and stone walls. They also saved the family’s own markings, places where relatives had scratched into the wall to indicate the amount of grain bags that were being stored each year.

For years the barn’s massive forebay has served as the venue of choice for family events—weddings, baby showers, memorial services. Now that will continue for generations to come.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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755 S. New Ballas Road STE 210, St. Louis, MO 63141 314-997-2300 • www.prestigech.com

Changing and saving lives through the power of aviation

www.wingsofhope.ngo

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BROUGHT TO LIFE

D R E A M S PA C E

SUSTAINABLE solutions designed to perform

CREATIVE designs to keep you inspired

YOUR

FUNCTIONAL spaces to meet your needs

314.626.4555 | SchaubProjects.com

BaumHouse design KITCHENS • BATHS • INTERIOR REMODELING 11 Vance Rd, St. Louis, MO 63088 • 636-225-9000

Call to schedule an in-home appointment to discuss your project and visit our website BaumHouseDesign.com for inspiration

AWARD WINNING KITCHEN DESIGN

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SPOTLIGHT

Modern FIXIN’S Modern Farmhouse: Mixing common farmhouse touches like shiplap, various metals and barn doors with modern concepts such as wide plank floors, open concept layouts and sleek lighting lends a clean and sophisticated feel to farmhouse design without losing its character. Bring the simplicity of country living into your home with raw wood materials, animal hides and natural hues.

By Moe Godat Design by Marianne Simon Design Photography by Haris Kenjar

Focus on the Kitchen

Whether you adhere to customs of farm-to-table cooking or not, kitchens are the focal point of any modern farmhouse home. Have your kitchen make a statement with herringbone backsplash, colored cabinets and bold light fixtures over the island to draw visitors’ attention to the heart of your home. Use this opportunity to tailor your space to your exact needs, making every cooking experience a comfortable one.

Family First

One staple of farmhouse design is a large dining room table ready for a full family gathering. When choosing your dining table for this design, choose a color and texture that complements the design in your kitchen area, making the move from cooking to eating a seamless experience. To make your table functional for everyday use in a smaller space, consider buying one with a removable leaf. Don’t have enough space inside for your dream dining table? Set one up in your back yard for the perfect outdoor feast!

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SPOTLIGHT

Colors A neutral color allows the room’s textures and views to shine. When choosing colors for your modern farmhouse look, start with whites or off-whites on the walls and layer with natural tones of deep navy blues, forest greens and burnt oranges that complement the natural beauty outside.

Tap into Industry To help with layering textures, take inspiration from industrial design trends, such as adding concrete and metal accents. Mixing natural elements like wood with concrete and metal accents give a raw (yet sophisticated) vibe to a modern farmhouse home.

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hy

Lauren Muckler Photograp

Expert advice from Stephanie Pohlman, owner of Stephanie Pohlman Designs.

What are common materials/features used in Modern Farmhouse design? “Light, natural wood and light upholstery mixed with textures.

I like to incorporate pops of matte black metal and greenery when my client requests modern farmhouse style!”

How would you define/describe Modern Farmhouse design? “I would describe a modern farmhouse as cozy, livable and modern: a neutral color palette with earth tones and natural wood mix with the clean, crisp lines of geometric patterns and metals.”

Is there a certain feeling that Modern Farmhouse design evokes? “I think it’s popular because it’s so warm and inviting. The elements come together to make a space that feels like home.”

Why would someone choose to use this design in their home? “It is very family friendly and feels beautiful at the same time.”

Do you have any tips to share about decorating in this design style? “Don’t be afraid to mix whites, wood tones and metals. I think it helps with the “old feel” of a farmhouse. Bring in modern elements with textiles and patterns.”

Farmhouse Foliage

While greenery is an important touch in most design styles, it’s especially important to modern farmhouse interiors! Connect with the country lifestyle by bringing the outdoors in; one easy way to incorporate greenery into your home is with an indoor herb garden.

Layering Textures

Farmhouse interiors are known for combining rough wood and shining metals, giving a handmade atmosphere to any room. Make your wooden flooring modern by choosing wide planks, bring metal into the space with striking pendant lights and warm everything up with assorted hides, leathers and furs. Adding neutral feathers here and there never hurts!

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CONNECT

POP-UP STYLING Places to go, things to do and see and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style.

Pop-up retail is a trend of opening short-term sales spaces that last for days to weeks before closing down, often to catch onto a fad or scheduled event.

By Moe Godat

House of Harth, London, England Photography courtesy of House of Harth

House of Harth, an online platform for furniture rental, took their shop to the streets of north London to allow potential customers to view their furniture selections in person. Henrietta Thompson and husband Edward Padmore, owners of the brand, say the shop will not only allow them to meet with borrowers face-to-face but will also open up opportunities for discussion about the company’s future. Located in a two-story unit Islington Square, a space containing mostly restaurants and other small boutiques, the House of Harth shop’s eclectic and surprising ambience designed by Campbell-Rey Design Studio adds to the complex’s already vibrant atmosphere. The brand offers a broad array of furniture styles, so the shop’s design needed to complement these different styles while also showing off the brand’s fun, experimental side. Rich tones like sea green, sapphire blue and sunny yellow on the walls mixed with pops of patterned wallpaper make each space interesting and unique. The changing colors also convey a sense of constant flux, an idea promoted by the brand as a furniture rental company. The owners believe that renting furniture will let homeowners experiment with new design styles and will ultimately lead to more environmentally friendly buying practices in the furniture industry.

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LADD SUYDAM CONTRACTING, LLC 314-324-1537 • LADDSUYDAM.COM

We specialize in historic renovations, kitchens, baths, exterior facades and porch rebuilds. We use technology to promote organization and communication. Passion for detail, quality and design drive our team. We value building relationships while building our projects.

If you're looking to remodel your home, St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles knows the best remodelers in the St. Louis area. No matter the size, age or budget of the project, one of these esteemed remodelers will be able to fit your needs and help find your vision.

ALETO CONSTRUCTION GROUP 314-352-0507 • ALETOGROUP.COM

There is a narrow space where artistry and architecture exist in harmony. This is where Aleto operates. From design to delivery, Aleto approaches every project with a singular passion for creating the space you see, both in your heart and in your mind. From a completely new home to a re-imagined room, to a single thoughtful detail, we understand that great things can happen when artistry meets architecture.

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CONNECT

Maapilim, New York City, New York Photography by Will Ellis Photography

The Israeli beauty brand Maapilim, specializing in handcrafted men’s products crafted with natural products from the Mediterranean sea, wanted their pop-up shop in New York City to embody the Mediterranean lifestyle. Craft & Bloom, a design studio in Tel Aviv, drew inspiration for the shop’s design from a Grecian rooftop garden. In Greece, many buildings are built with white plaster to reflect the city’s strong sunlight, which works in this small interior to create clean lines and a lack of clutter. Fresh green herbs planted around the studio (which are often used in the brand’s products) complement the mainly white decor, including white gravel and large, pale concrete paving stones. To create a calming atmosphere, architectural details like soft arches set the mood for customers to relax while testing products or consulting with skin-care specialists. "The soft lines and imperfect shapes of the store's display, creates an approachable scene for customers—inviting them into vacation mode as opposed to the pristine clean lines of more modern displays," said the brand. The Grecian vibe shines through the smallest details, such as the sink designed by a Tel Aviv ceramicist that reminds visitors of the spa experience found in Greek bath houses.

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Herschel Supply Temporary Store, Shanghai, China Photography courtesy of Linehouse Architecture, by Dirk Weiblen

Herschel Supply, a retail company based in Vancouver, Canada, commissioned the architectural firm Linehouse to design a pop-up structure for their international streetwear event in Shanghai, China. Linehouse designed the store to reflect both the urban atmosphere and surrounding natural landscape of Vancouver as well as the distinct style of urban China, making the shop stand out from other stores in the busy city while staying cohesive with urban Chinese design. Horizontally stacked timbers combined with vertical mirror columns make up the shop’s structure, creating contrast and visual interest. The architects say the horizontal lines invite customers in, while the mirrors and translucent panels help create the illusion of home profiles.

Black metal and acrylic frames house the displays. Inside, the wood slats are painted in a gradient ranging from blue, green, yellow and orange. The mixture of urban and organic elements helps to promote YO’HOOD, the brand’s streetwear extravaganza, in a tasteful new way. Herschel Supply prides itself on its attention to detail, which this stylish pop-up perfectly emulates.

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SUBSCRIPTION

OFFER

TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR

$15

BUY ONE, GIFT ONE

To take advantage of this offer, send your check along with name, address and telephone number to: St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles 255 Lamp & Lantern Village Town and Country, MO 63017

Or call Barney, 636-230-9640 ext. 27

Chesterfield Valley Nursery

Forshaw

Bauer Falls

Classic Metal Craft

An outdoor kitchen not only makes a statement but provides a great space for the whole family to enjoy during spring, summer, and fall!

From a smaller grill area, to a full package with a custom counter top, outdoor refrigerator, grill, sink, and storage space, we can transform your outdoor space into an extension of your home!

636-532-9307, ChesterfieldValleyNursery.com.

Imagine an organic luxury koi pond that sits five feet deep with a floating patio and stairway overlooking a waterfall that pumps 14,000 gallons of water per hour. Imagine a sheet waterfall that dives into a 100 foot split stream and stumbles down vertical fall, tumbling under an artisan bridge. Imagine your backyard bursting with natural springs that fall gently and spill beneath oak and dogwood trees. Bauer Falls recreates nature at its finest. 636-357-3495, BauerFalls.com.

A modern yet classic look, the Monaco collection combines a slim, elegant silhouette with gracious details. Crafted of enduring wrought aluminum, Monaco features refined accents like sloping arms and the signature X-frame design that together create a timeless statement.

Available at both the Ellisville and Fontenac locations either as a stock or special order. 636-527-7655, forshaws.com.

An ornamental iron drive gate will look beautiful at the entrance to your home. Call on Classic Metal Craft to design a custom gate just for you that works perfectly for your driveway entrance. Or see the large selection of gate designs shown on our website. We can meet with you in person to discuss or we can provide a budget quote based on photos and measurements provided to us of your driveway entrance.

314-535-2022, classicmetalcraft.com.

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Marketplace TRUSTED GUIDANCE EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP LASTING VALUE

314-822-0839 • RoeserConstruction.com

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See our work on pages 20-27 and 58-59.

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Marketplace

Better Living Begins at Home ChesterfieldValleyNursery.com

Call us for new iron projects and repairs to existing handrails and fencing.

314~535~2022 Visit our Showroom:

1315 S. Vandeventer St. Louis, MO

Call for your free landscape & hardscape estimate 636-532-9307

natural stone & quartz countertops

classicmetalcraft.com

Pleasantly Simple · Functional · Sophisticated

See our work on pages 58-59.

4160 Meramec Street, Saint Louis, MO 63116 314-771-1234 ∫ www.russostoneandtile.com

11622 Page Service Road, Suite 109, 63146 314-610-7288 · KTAYLORDESIGNGROUP.COM STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MARCH 2021

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CLASSIC OR CRAZE

Classi

c

While all design styles will go in and out of flavor, they always return with just a bit of a twist. This style is currently referred to by some stylists as "eccentric grandma.” The layering of patterns, colors, trims, floral and geometric wallpaper, plush and hard seating pieces have been a mainstay of English cottage design and never really faded from use. Designers Parish/ Hadley, who worked from the 60s to the 90s, and Rita Konig today are masters of this mix of color, pattern and texture. These homes reflect a laid back, cozy style that offers comfort at this time of global challenge. Janice Bohn, Anne Marie Design Studio.

GOING GRANDER

Ranging in age from mid-20s to late-30s, Grand Millennial styling focuses on design trends considered by mainstream culture to be “stuffy” or “outdated”—Laura Ashley prints, ruffles and embroidered linens. Local design professionals give their opinions on whether going grand in your decor is a passing trend or here to stay.

Edited by Moe Godat

Photography courtesy of Courtney Kleeman Design

This new group of consumers appreciate design.

They are striking back against minimalism. They have grown tired of gray walls and white upholstery. It’s wonderful to see a return to draperies, window coverings and classic furniture that add softness and character to rooms. I applaud them! I believe interior design is turning a corner, leaving behind the rustic look for a more complex level of interior design. CJ Knapp, Yours by Design.

After years of growing up in clean sparse spaces and visiting hotels that are streamlined in the name of Zen, I think it is only natural that Grandmillennial style will continue to evolve and emerge. Plus after seasons of Downton Abbey and The Crown, it has become an inspiration. Clients are embracing pattern and color and think they are welcoming the comfort and warmer interiors. Robert Idol, IDOL DESIGN.

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I am not sure that the "Grand Millenials" are on to anything new. This is classic traditional style.

It has always been around, just not considered "trendy.” Design, like many other things, is cyclical. Trends peak and fade, come and go.

Classic design is always in style, it just depends who you ask! Keep up the good work Grand Millennials! Teddy Karl, The Great Cover-Up. Grand millennial styling is really just a modern take on traditional styles. After years of minimalist and monochromatic spaces, the big doses of pattern and color are a welcome change for many and a way to create rooms that are fun and full of personality. It takes confidence to mix bold patterns, colors and textures, and as this style takes hold, we will probably be seeing a lot more of it!

Jenny Rapp, JCR Design Group.

I see the grand millennial as an evolving classic. While not wanting the formal, stuffy look of your grandmother, this look embraces brown wood furniture and combines it with big doses of pattern, texture and color, yet in an edited manner to avoid being fussy. The brown "antique" furniture is typically available at a great price and is environmentally responsible. This style is successful because it's fun and full of individual personality. It is easy to add abstract art and metallic accents to keep the look fresh and modern.

Gigi Lombrano, Gigi Lombrano Interiors.

125 years of Quality Custom Cabinetry - Plato Cabinetry

BEFORE

Goal: To update the builder grade kitchen and give it a more functional layout.

Having a kitchen that flowed functionally and mirrored the homeowner’s sense of style was imperative.

Challenge: The original peninsula was less than ideal when entertaining.

It was a bottleneck area when trying to get something done.

Summary: Moving the cooking area to one wall and putting the sink into the island allows the chef to move around while entertaining. The new pantry is a showstopper allowing the homeowner to use it as a scullery to keep the clutter off her beautiful quartzite countertops. This new layout will keep the guest close enough to socialize, but out of harm’s way, making entertaining a delight.

Photography by Megan Lorenz

Award-Winning Designs • National Recognition By appointment only (c) 314-482-5590 www.accentoncabinets.com

Open by appointment only

Chesterfield Valley 636.532.3303

Kingshighway 314.773.3636

Henrykb.com

Des Peres 314.984.0005

Edwardsville 618.248.6163