May 2020

St. Louis Homes + LifestylesÂŽ

The Architectural Issue

v 25

MAY 2020

stlouishomesmag.com

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FOR QUESTIONS CALL: Kathleen Pendergast 214-891-2918

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contents May 2020 /// The Architectural Issue

DEPARTMENTS

8 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 12 TRENDS 14 FAB FINDS 16 INSIDER 18 ARTISAN 40 OUT OF TOWN 54 DIRT 56 SHAW’S VISION 60 SMALL SCALE 66 BEFORE & AFTER 70 SPOTLIGHT 72 BRIGHT IDEA 76 CONNECT 80 CLASSIC OR CRAZE

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40 66

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14 59 FEATURES

On the cover page 26

20 ART AT PLAY Light & bright, a young family’s new home combines clean lines with playful art and a sense of fun.

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PRESERVED TO PERFECTION

A major renovation breathes new life into a Kirkwood landmark while preserving its historic integrity.

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GARDENING WITH AN ARTIST’S EYE

Design principles flow through Brenda Dribin’s brimming, buoyant garden.

This house is a stunner of a new build located in Glendale.

Photography by Megan Lorenz.

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St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles (ISSN 1524-8755) Vol. 25, No. 4, MAY ©2020 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.

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slhl

HELLO

Stop the bus!

Did we just get through a crazy month or what? It kind of felt like we were on a runaway bus at times, didn't it?

We're not off that wicked bus yet, and the ride may still get a little bumpy at times. But sooner rather than later, the roads we are traveling will become smoother, and our hair will once again be blowing in the wind, but change is in the air.

Going forward, the way we live, work and play will be a little different, and it will take a little getting used to, but we'll do it. Keeping our chins up, laughing a lot, realizing the importance of making home our happy place and helping others in need just may yield a new inner strength in each and everyone of us, making that bus ride from hell a homeschool teacher in disguise!

Don't just learn, experience.

Don't just read, absorb.

Don't just change, transform.

Don't just relate, advocate.

Don't just promise, prove.

Don't just criticize, encourage.

Don't just think, ponder.

Don't just take, give.

Don't just see, feel.

Don't just dream, do.

Don't just hear, listen.

Don't just talk, act.

Don't just tell, show.

Don't just exist, live.

Roy T. Bennett “The Light in the Heart�

Is this the homeowner's favorite room?

Photography by Megan Lorenz.

Don't just buy online, shop local; not just now, but always!

Take care and support small businesses like never before!

Suzie PS: SLHL Cooking Schools postponed until further notice.

Suzie Osterloh Publisher/Owner

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MAY 2020 STLOUISHOMESMAG.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

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, Jeanne Delathouder, Kim Hill, Gina Parsons, Barb Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Anne Matheis, Barry Halkin/Halkin/Mason Photography, Benjamin Benschneider, Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton, David M. Held, Kip Dawkins, Megan Lorenz, Photographie by Li, Robert Reck, Russell Abraham Photography, Shaun Cammack, Slava Balbek, TeAnne Chartrau-Ray/ Alise O’Brien Photography, Tom Brown SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Colleen Poelker 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 ©2020 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 2020 ISSUE of St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS MAY 6, 2020 Above: RSI Kitchen and Bath, 2019 BOTY Platinum winner.

Photography by Anne Matheis.

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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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FIND US ONLINE CONNECT WITH ST. LOUIS HOMES + LIFESTYLES ON THE INTERNET... HERE’S HOW:

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

2020 CONTESTS: 2020 Baths of the Year: entries due May 6, 2020 For downloadable entry forms and detailed information about each contest, please visit www.stlouishomesmag.com.

Shop Local Retail shops offering curbside pickup, delivery and/or e-commerce: Amelia’s Fine Linens – curbside pickup and delivery, Amelialinens.com, 636-728-0455 Amini’s – curbside shopping, curbside pickup and delivery, virtual sales appointments, e-commerce, Aminis.com, 866-712-2070 or send a text via Aminis.com AUTCO – delivering and installing, when necessary, autcohome.com, 314-373-2000 Blue Dahlia - curbside pickup, shopping over phone, e-commerce, bluedahliadesigns.net, 314-274-8717 Chesterfield Valley Nursery – curbside pickup and delivery (inventory available on facebook.com/chesterfieldvalleynursery), chesterfieldvalleynursery.com, 636-532-9307 Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery – call-in orders, pickup and delivery, virtual appointments offered online, e-commerce, Ferguson.com, 636-519-7298 Marketplace at the Abby – curbside pickup, e-commerce, marketplaceattheabbey.com, 314-965-1400, marketplaceattheabbey@gmail.com and Facebook communication Mary Tuttle’s Flowers – curbside pickup and delivery, marytuttlesflowers.com (floral) and marytuttles.com (gift), 636-728-0480 Metro Lighting – Four area showrooms open with limited hours, call-in orders, call to schedule a Zoom meeting, e-commerce, metrolightingcenters.com, 314-963-8330 Schmittels Nursery – curbside pickup, shopping over phone, installation and delivery, schmittelsnursery.com, 314-469-8900 Sugar Creek Gardens – curbside pick up, online ordering, sugarcreekgardens.com, 314-965-3070, annlapides@aol.com The Gifted Gardener – curbside pick up, shopping over phone, 314-961-1985, Facebook communication

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.

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

To subscribe online visit stlouishomesmag.com.

The Great Cover-Up – curbside pick up, shopping over phone, greatcoverupdesign.com, 314-995-5701 The London Tea Room – pickup, e-commerce, thelondontearoom.com, 314-241-6556 The Porch in Wildwood – curbside pickup, shopping over phone, e-commerce, theporchinwildwood.net, 636-273-3745, theporch.nwi@gmail.com, Facebook communication The White Rabbit – curbside pick up, e-commerce, thewhiterabbitstl.com, 314-963-9784

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MAY 2020

11

TINY

slhl

TRENDS

By Melissa Mauzy

Tables

Cecilia raw brass metal accent table, available at Crate & Barrel.

Your small spot doesn’t have to forgo an accent table just because you’re lacking space.

A tiny table is an ideal solution to give you a spot to set a drink, display a simple decorative accent or fresh floral. Check out these cute and practical cocktail tables.

Cormac end table, available at Ethan Allen.

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Duke accent table, available at Pottery Barn.

Nesting table, available at Forshaw.

Baxter accent table, available at The Gifted Gardener.

Addie pull-up table in pewter, available at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

Laurent drink table, by Interlude, available at Design & Detail.

Mesita Paloma side table, available at Mary Tuttle’s.

Jasper drink table, by Charleston Forge, available at Design & Detail.

Bolton round wood accent table, available at Ethan Allen.

1930s martini square side table in chrome, available at Restoration Hardware.

Lianne chinoiserie box on stand, available at Ethan Allen.

Jessenia table, available at Amini’s.

Modena table, available at Forshaw.

Aldrich side table in antiqued gold, by Made Goods, available at Design & Detail.

Twig table in brass with black granite, available at Mary Tuttle’s.

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MAY 2020

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slhl

FAB FINDS

2

1 3

Between the

BOOK ENDS 5

We don’t judge books by their covers, but maybe we can by their bookends! Bookends add a sense of style and personality to any and every library or book collection.

4

By Moe Godat

6

7

one: White marble bookends, available at Crate & Barrel. two: Archer bookends, available at Ethan Allen. three: Gilded crystal bookends, available at Ethan Allen. four: Casa lantana bookends, available at Design & Detail. five: Brass swirl bookends, available at Design & Detail. six: Fucsia agate bookends, available at Rusted Chandelier. seven: Wise owl bookends, available at Anthropologie.

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11618 Page 11618 Page Service ServiceDrive Drive Maryland Heights, Maryland Heights,MO MO63146 63146 314-872-9339 314-872-9339 premierplumbingstudio.com premierplumbingstudio.com Located at the Interior Design Center of St. Louis

1313 Sainte Genevieve 1313 Ave Sainte Genevieve Ave Farmington, MO 63640Farmington, MO 63640 573-756-5735 573-756-5735 premierstudiocapital.com premierstudiocapital.com

slhl

INSIDER

Edited by Moe Godat

Portrait photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

Q

Architectural guru Jane Ann Forney of FORNEY + architecture leads us through her journey with architectural design.

A

SLHL: What is your professional background?

Jane Ann: In 1987 I started my first company, focusing on high-end single family and multi-family residential. My husband and I eventually felt the need to live closer to family and moved to St. Louis in 1991. Initially I worked for two prominent residential architecture firms before branching out. My business contacts led me to work on numerous luxury residential projects in PRC China, where I also developed and honed my skills with interior architecture. I have designed vacation homes in Puerto Rico and Belize, the Midwest and on the east coast of the USA. While we have the background to do many types of projects, I personally prefer residential projects because of the client interaction, fast pace and personal spaces created. I feel that residential architecture allows me to express my desires for high quality service and design and that my extensive travels allow me to bring a different perspective to my projects.

SLHL: Where in the process do you bring an architect on board—before you buy a piece of property or after?

Jane Ann:: Either. If the client has a particular vision in mind, finding the right piece of property is important. An architect can review the local ordinances prior to a

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purchase to help the homeowner feel assured that they can build what they envision. However, if the lot was already purchased, we design based upon the property layout, topography, local ordinances and the desires of the client.

SLHL: Do you need an architect for a remodeling project?

Jane Ann: Not if it is purely cosmetic. However, most local municipalities require sealed architectural drawings when walls, plumbing and electrical are being altered. An architect can offer a fresh look at the flow and overall needs of the home and may recommend something that had not occurred to the client when initially contemplating the project.

SLHL: How would you approach updating the exterior front elevation?

Jane Ann: Step one is to analyze the existing conditions of the home —existing detailing, materials, roof lines, style, proportions and home shape all affect what can be done, along with the budgetary concerns.

Local ordinances may also impact what can be done with the home, such as how much space there is to the front building line or whether certain material percentages are required by the neighborhood covenants. The client has probably saved some images of homes or details that they like and want to incorporate in the new design. The architect must consider and combine this information to develop the new concept.

SLHL: What architectural elements, both inside and outside the home, define the style of the home?

Jane Ann: Style is defined by many things: details, roof and home shape, materials, colors, proportions, room layout, window and door style, millwork, stair details, etc. and many times, a home may have been built during a time period of transition between differing and evolving styles. Knowledge of historical eras, styles and detailing is critical information to an architect and crucial when designing or modifying a residence.

Photography by Anne Matheis

SLHL: What was the most challenging project you’ve worked on?

Jane Ann: I was asked to incorporate special materials and detailing to create a “healthy home” that followed EPA Indoor airPLUS guidelines, as well as being highly energy efficient. This involved evaluating each building material, construction practices and installation methods to minimize or eliminate potential sources of indoor air pollution and contaminants. We researched and developed many new methods of installation and construction, as well as returning to historical methods.

SLHL: Do you have a favorite style of home? If so, why? If no, why not?

Jane Ann: No—I’ve been exposed to so many different styles and see the beauty in all of them, so it is very difficult to choose just one. But it is important that a home be correctly proportioned and high quality, with well thought out and resolved architecture regardless of the style.

I definitely dislike many of today’s subdivision homes that attempt to have a “style” on the front, but no style for the sides and rear. Whatever the look, it should be consistent throughout all sides of the exterior of the home. It is OK for the interior style to be different than the exterior because that is more in accordance with the personal style and tastes of the homeowner.

SLHL: What’s the most unique project you’ve worked on?

Jane Ann: Designing luxury estate homes in China that ranged from 9000 to 20,000 square feet, 2 ½ stories tall with two levels of basement.

Each home site had a small private island, indoor pool, roof decks and unique Chinese cultural requirements such as south facing main living areas, two master suites and separate Chinese and Western kitchens.

Each home footprint was designed to function as a custom home or as a corporate estate for visiting diplomats or businessmen. The homes were all-concrete constructions (including the roof structure) with stone exteriors and cut stone detailing. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM MAY 2020

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slhl

ARTIST

Making

THE CUT Inspired by the imaginary worlds of her mind’s eye, paper-cut artist Adrian Aquilino puts together the images of her dreams piece by piece.

By Jeanne Delathouder Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

Since childhood, St. Louis artist Adrian Aquilino has been an avid drawer who never passed up an opportunity to take an art class. When she was a little girl, she would draw animals and characters on paper, cut them out and play with them as toys. As she dreamed of also becoming a writer, she would draw the characters, costumes and settings of the worlds she conjured up in her mind.

“I even went through a period of being obsessed with drawing maps,” says Adrian. “You can’t have a proper fantasy story unless you have a map for the front pages,” she jokes. “I’m really interested in mysterious or fantastical imagery. I really like the idea of creating imaginary environments and implied narratives that the viewer can bring their own stories into. I draw a lot of inspiration from folklore, mythology and stories about the supernatural or paranormal,” she adds.

When her talent began to develop further, Adrian discovered a passion for encaustics, otherwise known as hot wax painting. While exploring unique ways to add shapes and designs to her work, she started cutting figures out of paper and embedding them into the wax.

As more and more people responded positively to her finished pieces, she eventually started working with just the paper by itself.

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“I won’t lie,” she laughs. “A big motivating factor was that encaustic paints were expensive, and paper was relatively cheap in comparison.

For the past few years, paper has been my primary medium. I love the flexibility—it’s excellent for creating two-dimensional compositions yet it can also be structural. There are so many different ‘personalities’ to paper, especially aged or vintage papers. One of my favorites I’m currently working with is a black silhouette paper I found in the children’s section of an art supply store. It has a super-matte surface, so when the finished piece is mounted it’s a really lovely, rich, dark black,” she adds. “And yes, I do all of that cutting myself with an X-acto knife,” she laughs. “It’s a very time-intensive process that requires a lot of patience.”

Growing up in Wildwood back when it was still an unincorporated township, Adrian attended Lafayette High School and then studied graphic design at Maryville University in St. Louis while continuing to pursue her interests in fine art on the side. After graduating, she went on to work as a graphic designer and marketing professional and has worked in many different environments including corporations, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and agencies.

“Graphic design is still my day job, and it’s one I really enjoy,” says the

artist. “I find that being a designer makes me a better artist and being an artist makes me a better designer. My graphic design career sharpens my problem-solving abilities and provides an excellent ongoing education in digital technology skills.

Being an artist improves my design work because it heightens my attention to detail and makes me more creative,” she adds.

Adrian has shown her work at many different venues throughout the St. Louis area including Art Saint Louis and the Cherokee Street Art Gallery. Last winter, she produced her very first enamel lapel pin based on one of her paper cuts. She also recently joined MADE, a maker space in the Delmar Maker District, and learned how to use their laser cutter. Her next big project is going to be using these tools to transfer her designs to other materials such as acrylics.

“I’m also planning to create a line of jewelry and accessories based on my designs and imaginary worlds,” says Adrian. “Anyone who is interested in following my work can find me on Instagram at @adrian.aquilino to get the most recent updates about what I’m working on. You might also get occasional pictures of baking projects or weird occult paperbacks I find at the used bookstore,” she laughs. “You get the full Adrian Aquilino experience.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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Art at play Light & bright, a young family’s new home combines clean lines with playful art and a sense of fun.

By Kim Hill Photography by Megan Lorenz

The homeowner “didn’t want bunny rabbits and balloons” dominating the design style of the children’s bedrooms, says designer Maggie Jewell. The mother wanted furnishings and décor that would work long-term.

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W

Builder: Herring Design & Development Interior Designer: MKS Designs Architect: Michael Abraham

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hen the young couple who owns this home first got married, they did what most newlyweds do: combined their stuff and made do for a while. “It was kind of conglomerated together with anything we’d had in the past,” says the wife. “They kind of knew what they liked, but I don’t think they really knew what their style was,” says interior designer Maggie Jewell, who knows the couple well. “By the time they got ready to plan for this house, they were more in sync as a couple, and they knew what they wanted.”

This house is a stunner of a new build located in Glendale. Builder Monte Herring vividly recalls early meetings with the couple. “They absolutely had a vision of what they liked,” says Herring, principal of Herring Design & Development. “A very bright, light home with black windows, tall ceilings throughout and a front porch.” Herring says the couple had examples of favorite elements, which were sent to Chicago-based architect Michael Abraham. “We sent the architect some photos from Pinterest or Houzz and described what we were looking for,” says the wife. “He came back with the drawings and we just said, ‘that’s killer.’ It was everything we were looking for.”

Construction began in spring 2018. The homeowners and Jewell, who is principal of MKS Designs, went to work to realize the couple’s vision of incorporating bright pops of color onto a canvas of white walls and smooth lines. “We like aspects of Mid-century Modern, clean along with the classic,” says the wife. “We also wanted to keep it fun.”

Setting the tone for fun, the family room’s reclining chairs covered in a Romo fabric helped establish the colorways used throughout the home. “It’s a cut velvet with blues, pinks, black, aqua and a little orange,” says Jewell. Neutral sofas pair with a burl wood coffee table.

A study in sophistication, the sitting room is the wife’s favorite room in the house. With a table for the little girls to color and swivel chairs for reading, it’s a true “living” room, says Jewell.

Fabric is a Worlds Away geometric chenille in turquoise. The John-Richard lacquered cabinet features reverse-painted glass of golden dunes. The cabinet houses the girls’ toys and games. The large oil painting is entitled “Falling Flower.”

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The reclining chairs covered in Romo cut velvet set the tone for the colorways used throughout the house. In the adjacent kitchen, maple cabinets appear black but are painted a custom-mixed deep navy blue. The family room’s white alabaster chandelier from John-Richard blends beautifully with bold pendants from Jonathan Adler.

For the homeowner, utilizing wallpaper in fun, unexpected ways was one of her great pleasures in the home’s design.

Wicker-sided chairs pull up to a mother-of-pearl inlay table.

Buffet is a John-Richard burl wood.

“The house is very open,” notes Jewell. “You don’t want everything to be matchy-matchy, but it all has to go together.” The light fixtures are a great example, she says. In the family room, a John-Richard white alabaster chandelier with gold tones coordinates beautifully with dynamic Jonathan Adler pendants in the adjacent kitchen. “They’re different, but they have the same sort of feeling,” Jewell says.

For the wife, selecting the light fixtures was one of the most fun aspects of the design process. She compares them to jewelry. “They break up the straight lines of the home and provide something to pick up your eye,” she says. “They bring so much life and a kind of levity and art to the rooms.”

Indeed, artwork takes center stage in the home.

With white walls and clean lines, “it’s almost like an art gallery feeling,” says Jewell. She helped the couple pick artwork in a mix of mediums— oils, watercolors, prints—that evoke a sense of movement and playfulness.

Yet, this is a family home throughout, as two little girls have now joined the family since planning began for the new home. Considering how life changes when children enter the picture, a front room of the home was originally envisioned as a playroom. Jewell suggested utilizing the space as a sitting room that would meet everyone’s needs, not just the youngest family members. The designer envisioned the parents reading to the

girls or the children coloring on a round coffee table in the space, which is now as stylish as any “Mad Men” set.

Turquoise chenille swivel chairs give off a Mid-century vibe, particularly when paired with an adjacent lacquer-topped cabinet housing the girls’ toys and games. “I like spaces where kids can still go in them but if adults come over in the evening, they can sit and have a glass of wine and converse with each other,” says Jewell, herself a mother of four.

A sense of sophistication continues in the children’s bedrooms. “She didn’t want bunny rabbits and balloons,” Jewell says of the homeowner. Thinking long-term, the young mother wanted beds and dressers that could grow with the children and could also work in another home if the family ever moved, says Jewell. Case in point: the artwork in the older daughter’s bedroom. A silk screen of butterflies with gold leaf detail “is kind of playful but yet will still look great and work as she gets older,” says Jewell. The designer also utilized Mid-century Modern chairs the homeowners already owned by reupholstering them in a Schumacher cotton blend.

“We even had the fabric treated so if the kids spill something on them, it will still wear like iron,” says Jewell.

The designer was at the home recently when Jewell asked the homeowner if she could believe she actually lived in such a beautiful home. “I said, yes, because you made it happen,” the homeowner laughs.

At the same time, the homeowner appreciates the craftmanship and attention to detail the entire team of architect, builder, designer, craftsmen and trades brought to the project in making the couple’s dream home a reality. At the end of the day, however, it’s not about perfection. “It’s our house now and this is where we live,” says the wife. “We recently got a puppy, and my mom said we were crazy, that the dog, who’s going to be monster size, would ruin the house. I told her I wasn’t worried about it. It’s not about the house, but what we do in it. If things get a little scratched, that’s OK. I might as well have a little fun while that’s happening.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

Master bedroom: The dramatic light fixture “was a big driver for the master bedroom’s design style,” says Maggie Jewell. The room’s 20-foot-tall ceiling easily accommodates the poster bed from Modern History. Rug is an Australian sheepskin obtained by the homeowners on vacation in Idaho.

Opposite page, master bath:The same tile on the floor continues halfway up the wall but it’s laid horizontally. Wallpaper mimics paint splatters. “It feels like a watercolor painting,” says Jewell. “It’s very calming.”

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Preserved to

PERFECTION A major renovation breathes new life into a Kirkwood landmark while preserving its historic integrity.

By: Barb Wilson Photography by Anne Matheis

Architect: Lauren Strutman

o the medical community, this Kirkwood homeowner is known as Dr. Matt Bruckel, founder, CEO and president of TAUC® (Total Access Urgent Care), the fastest-growing healthcare organization in the region. To his neighbors, Matt is the congenial father of two who purchased and renovated the city’s historic “Spencer Smith house.”

In fact, Dr. Bruckel has a penchant for historic homes, and this is the third residence in the metro area that he’s renovated in recent years. But let’s go back to the beginning…

This particular home is reputed to have been built in 1853 for Spencer Smith, one of Kirkwood’s earliest residents and the owner of a large tract of land he intended to subdivide.

The house itself was expanded around 1870, has had a series of subsequent owners, and is now designated a Kirkwood Historical Landmark. With its cross gables, overhanging eaves and brackets, veranda and other decorative elements, the two-story is usually described as Italianate in design. It was, however, less ornate than many Italianate homes of its era, perhaps since this architectural influence was fairly new to St. Louis at the time.

Attracted by the property’s close-in location, memorable past

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and neighborhood setting, Bruckel acquired the 165-year-old home in early 2018 and began making plans. Based on her skill and expertise, he selected well-known local architect Lauren Strutman, a member of the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission.

Beyond updating the home’s systems, the owner’s primary objectives were to design a more open, functional layout for the main level; remodel the 4-bedroom upper story; add a main-floor master suite, attached garage and recreation area for his children; and, topping the list, create a wrap-around porch that would invite neighborly interaction.

Because of the home’s landmark classification, the improvements were planned in two stages. The initial permit allowed for any necessary structural repairs—a daunting task in itself!—and for rearrangement of the interior spaces.

First on the agenda was replacement of the floor joists on the first floor. The stone foundation walls had rotated outwards, so that the original floor joists were no longer supported on the foundation. When the original plaster and lath walls were removed, structural support issues also had to be addressed to create the new, large cased openings. In addition, the

Comfortably furnished with previously owned pieces, the family room’s original 12-foot ceiling was preserved. For a more contemporary look, the owner added the dramatic lighting fixtures displayed throughout the home.

The main floor’s original footprint was retained, and no changes were made to the dimensions of the family and dining rooms. Major structural issues had to be addressed, however, when creating the large cased opening to the fully renovated kitchen and casual dining area.

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Defining the open kitchen area, the casual dining ensemble is perfect for family meals with its simple wood trestle table, tufted chairs, and cushioned benches.

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former radiator heating was converted to forced air HVAC, and the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems were all updated.

Over time, Kirkwood’s street pattern had changed considerably, and one of the first alterations called for by Strutman’s new design was repositioning of the main entry from the home’s south side to the west. To achieve this, the original study was removed, creating an entry foyer and making access to the house more convenient.

Although the first floor retained its original footprint, major changes made during this phase included fabrication of a large cased opening from the foyer to the main staircase, opening the kitchen to the living areas with another large cased opening, removal of a rear stairway to the second floor and installation of rift and quarter-sawn white oak flooring, five inches in width, throughout the main level. Due to the home’s age, numerous other structural challenges were encountered, as well. For example, seven layers of hardwood had to be removed from the kitchen floor, and interior access to the basement had to be provided, since floor plan changes for the new addition eliminated the original basement stairs.

Carefully preserved throughout the process were the 12-foot ceilings in the living and dining rooms, the free-standing spiral main staircase and niches, the dining room’s bay window and the former study’s fireplace, which is now purely decorative.

On the upper level, the four bedrooms (one of which would serve temporarily as the master) and existing baths were gutted and remodeled, and another Top: Totally redesigned, the spacious kitchen revolves around a large center island, surrounded by banks of white, transitionally-styled custom cabinetry. Bottom left: Fresh and feminine, the daughter’s bedroom is one of the original four on the second floor. Bottom right: The project’s second phase included addition of an expansive main-floor master suite, handsomely furnished with a tufted black headboard and wrought-iron candle light fixture.

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Opposite page: Rich-hued walls and stylish transitional furnishings give the formal dining room its gracious ambience. Adding dimension and natural light to the space, the bay window (visible on the opposite page) is original to the home. This page: Adjacent to the dining room, the family room showcases a graceful chaise set on a hide area rug, symbolizing the transitional décor that bridges the gap between the home’s historic origins and the family’s modern lifestyle.

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To relocate the main entrance from the south to the west side of the home, the original study was removed and transformed into an imposing entry foyer. Although no longer functional, the study’s fireplace was preserved as a decorative element.

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Architect Lauren Strutman carefully chose materials and design elements to establish a cohesive effect while conforming to the City of Kirkwood's regulations.

bath and upstairs laundry were added. The gracefully curved walls and pine flooring were preserved, and flexible moulding was used to reproduce the original crown millwork faithfully. For another touch of authenticity, a curved radiator was salvaged for use as a decorative element in the hallway.

Remarkably, all of these renovations were completed within months, and the family moved in. Meanwhile, negotiations were underway with the City of Kirkwood for the project’s second phase, which involved the planned addition of a 3.5-bay attached garage, main-floor master suite, laundry room, powder room, second-floor recreation room with half-kitchen and a huge outdoor recreation deck with hot tub, gas fire pit, grill and wet bar.

The City’s historic homes are subject to stringent ordinances, and any exterior repairs to the original structure must replicate the architecture exactly. Additions, however, must be clearly identifiable as different from the original. Strutman had faced this challenge before and carefully chose materials and design elements that would establish a cohesive effect while conforming to the regulations. But the biggest hurdle yet to be overcome was obtaining a variance for the full wrap-around porch.

Ultimately, plans for the addition were approved, including the

porch, which was designed with columns and a spindled railing consistent with the home’s original architecture. The existing detached garage was razed, and construction of the long-awaited second phase began, expanding the home’s total area to approximately 6,700 square feet.

In spite of his busy professional life, the owner was involved in every stage of the process. Going for a “contemporary but comfortable” look, he’d personally chosen all of the lighting fixtures and furnished the various spaces with a mixture of new and previously owned pieces.

Brilliantly designed and beautifully crafted, the newly renovated residence is everything the owner had hoped for—ideally suited to his family’s twenty-first century lifestyle while retaining its historic legacy. Asked if he had plans to acquire and renovate another home in the near future, Dr. Bruckel was quick to respond. “No!” he stated emphatically. “This one is big, but doesn’t feel too big. The smaller spaces create an ‘environment,’ and we even have a golf cart for quick trips to downtown Kirkwood. It’s the perfect house!”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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OUT OF TOWN

A reputable St. Louis interior designer for more than 20 years, Joni Spear breathes new life into a historic Victorian home in Smithfield, Virginia.

By Jeanne Delathouder Photography by Kip Dawkins

Interior Designer: Joni Spear

While moving to Virginia three years ago with her partner, Dan Stanton, St. Louis interior designer Joni Spear spotted a beautiful historic home nestled in the historic district of Smithfield. Built in the 1890s, the Queen Anne Victorian home had been sitting on the market for years. It was easy to see why it was a tough sell. The shotgun-style three-story home had undergone a bad remodel that was dark, dreary and stripped of its historic charm. Authentic architectural features including the original pocket doors, the Victorian-era millwork and even the fireplaces had been ripped out. For Joni, however, this was the biggest asset.

“I knew we could keep the shell of the home and create a space that functioned for us,” says the designer, owner of Joni Spear Interior Design. “After living in Clayton for 20 years, we became so accustomed to shopping and eating within walking distance of our home. We were drawn to the walkability and charm of this historic district.

Our back yard has a beautiful marsh and across the street is the Pagan River, which feeds off the Chesapeake Bay,” she adds.

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OUT OF TOWN

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The original home had three rooms on the first floor, but they had been opened into one lengthy room with a long, useless hallway. By removing large wall sections of the hallway, Joni was able to create an even more open-concept space. One unique feature that remained intact was a double stairway—one entering from the front of the home and the other from the back—that meets at the top of the second floor. This was what attracted Joni most about the home.

“When designing spaces for myself or clients, function is my main priority,” she says. “Kitchens and bathrooms must work purposefully in any remodel. My other objective is to use the existing real estate—in our case, it was the height of the rooms. Bringing cabinetry up to the ceiling draws your attention upward and offers more storage. I also like to add quirky characteristics or historic elements that may have actually been in the home,” she notes.

In the kitchen, Joni removed an enclosed laundry room and opened the wall to house an island. She added the glass-front dish cabinet to function like a piece of furniture, and by bringing the corner cabinet down to the counter, she created lots of storage and space to house larger kitchen appliances. For the dining room, she purchased a butler’s pantry at an architectural salvage warehouse and had it painted the same charcoal and navy hues as the new custom broom closet and pantry.

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OUT OF TOWN

“Combined, Dan and I have five children, two of which have spouses and the younger two are in college,” says Joni. “However, most of the time it’s just the two of us. We needed space that would function for a couple but also be able to accommodate the rest of the crew when they visit. It was so exciting to design a kitchen with a large island that opened to the rest of the home—this is our favorite spot. Regardless, if it’s just us or family and friends, we both enjoying cooking and looking out into the back yard,” she adds.

The living room features a pair of chairs that were inherited from a friend five minutes before the couple left St. Louis. Joni had them reupholstered, and now, the area functions as a great reading nook that faces the front porch. The black ribbon tape on the wood blinds is a small detail that adds a big punch.

“We also replaced all the windows in the house with new ones and painted them black,” says Joni. The historic board was a bit apprehensive, but in the end, they reneged and now everyone refers to our house as the one with black windows,” she laughs.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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Gardening with an

ARTIST'S EYE Design principles flow through Brenda Dribin's brimming, buoyant garden.

By Lucyann Boston Photography by Kim Dillon

There is a decorative oval stone just to the side of the lush, front-yard pathway in Brenda Dribin’s Webster Groves garden. Engraved on it are the words: I am still devoted to the garden. Thomas Jefferson Writen in 1811 to American portrait artist Charles Willson Peale, this country’s third president, by then retired at his Monticello home, went on to note: “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth and no culture comparable to that of the garden.”

Brenda Dribin and Thomas Jefferson have a lot in common. For over 25 years, Brenda has been devoted to her highly visible garden, bordered on three sides by public streets. She has never disappointed the folks who pass by car, bicycle or on foot. The buoyant, brimming, English Country style of the garden perfectly compliments the English Tudor architecture of her home.

Stepping-stone pathways wind their way through beds of flowering trees, shrubs and long-blooming perennials.

They curve around the side of the house and lead to the back garden, which also borders a public street. The beauty of the garden is such that the Missouri Botanical Garden recently selected Brenda’s garden to be on its next home garden tour.

Although her primary career has been as a health care management consultant focusing on patient care, Brenda gardens with an artist’s eye for color, texture and rhythm. They are techniques, she explains, absorbed by watching her mother. “My mother had a sheer love of gardening. I watched all the pleasure she got,” Brenda recalls. “She taught me about design, color and balance.

The first time my mother came here and saw this lot, she said it was made for a garden.”

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Originally from Missouri, Brenda had lived in Michigan and Wisconsin before moving back to this area. Gardening here, with the extremes of temperature, was a “big transition,” she says. “This lot was so open. I spent hours pouring over catalogues and books. I learned a lot more about varieties of plants” for the St. Louis climate.

Favorites include the "White Flower Farm" catalogue because of the instruction it provides and "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden" by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. “I give that book to all the young people I know who are just starting to garden,” she says.

She also joined a neighborhood garden club to learn from fellow area gardeners and began ordering caladium bulbs from a Florida grower she learned about from a friend. All have had a huge influence on her garden.

Like all gardens, Brenda’s has evolved. “My front garden used to be shaded and I planted tons of impatiens. Then, 20 years ago we lost a huge maple that was a signature for our house; it anchored the place. I had too much sun for the impatiens. Five years ago, we lost an elm on the side. You re-group.”

Regrouping for Brenda includes changing her gardening philosophy a bit. “I used to collect all kinds of plants; I spent so much money on different things. Now I plant what I know will work and look good.”

She also repeats the same colors and plants throughout her landscape. “I learned from Fine Gardening magazine that you have to have repetition, so your garden doesn’t look like a hodgepodge. Repetition pulls the eye through the garden.” She also believes in a cohesive color palette.

“I like a pink and purple cool color palette,” she explains.

“If I use something red, it is a bluish red. I think a garden needs that to come together.”

That emphasis extends to the multiple fiberglass containers that dot her landscape, which she paints in one of three different shades of blue to carry an onlooker’s vision throughout the entire space.

One of the plants she depends upon most heavily to provide rhythm and flow to her garden are caladiums, which she orders by the box from Florida grower Caladium World. The giant, heart-shaped leaves in green and white, tinged with rose highlight her garden and provide a cohesiveness that ties together different areas, as the foliage plants thrive in both partial sun and shade.

“I normally plant them around Memorial Day when the soil is already warm. They are so easy to grow. You plant them shallow and they come up quickly. I love to watch them unfurl. It’s like watching spring a second time,” she explains. “I get a box of all different sizes; I don’t think you have to buy jumbo bulbs, but I wouldn’t order all small bulbs.” In years when she has the time, she digs up the bulbs in mid-October to save for the next year.

She enjoys her caladiums most in late summer, when all gardens begin to look tired and burnt out from heat.

“They just carry a garden when everything else is gone,” she says.

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Blue salvias are a mainstay of her garden as are daisies with marguerite daisies first appearing in spring and long blooming "Becky" daisies taking over in summer. She selects the salvias for their long bloom time favoring a mix of perennial and annual varieties including guaranitica, "Victoria Blue" and “Mystic Spires Blue."

She loves larkspur and has sewed seed throughout her garden. “It was difficult to start,” she admits. “I tried sewing seed in both the fall and in the spring. I also learned that if you try to transplant it, you have to get it in the ground immediately. It is definitely a cool weather crop.” She also allows annual ageratum to self-seed throughout her garden carrying the blue purple color through her landscape in mid-to-late summer. Various varieties of veronica are also favorites.

When it comes to shrubs, Brenda uses a number of types of hydrangeas to anchor her landscape. "Quick Fire," "Limelight," in both large and small versions, and the smaller ‘Bobo’ are spotted throughout. She is also partial to shrubs with purple foliage. Weigelia "Wine and Roses" pops up multiple places. Along pathways you will see ground covers purple-leaved ajuga intertwined with golden creeping jenny.

In addition to her garden and career, Brenda raised two children, both of whom now have their own families and are tending their own gardens. Her husband, Paul, has cheered her on from the sidelines.

“Over the years, I have juggled a lot,” she says. “The garden has kept me going. I love the decorative aspects and the seasons in my garden.

People tell me that my garden is always on their walking route. I love that I bring pleasure and joy to people. It is my little gift to the world.”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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THE DIRT

PERGOLAS

GARDEN FEATURES Gardens are so much more than the plants inside them! Any garden can be taken to the next level by adding these local landscapers’ favorite features.

Edited by Moe Godat

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Information provided by Richard Poynter, Poynter Landscape, Architecture & Construction

WHERE TO PLACE: Over an outdoor living space where shade is desired

FAVORITE MATERIAL: Cedar is the most natural and versatile and works best in the St. Louis climate

BEST FOR PLANTING: Dwarf varieties of Wysteria

The best part of pergolas are the ceiling they provide, creating coziness to outdoor spaces, areas for vines to grow and structure for drapes as well. Shade can be achieved to varying degrees depending on the sun's movement in your yard combined with the density of the overhead structure. You can anchor it to the home or at the end of an inviting path. The adaptations are limited only by the imagination. The chameleon of outdoor living spaces, pergolas are elegant, and we design them to fit architecturally to traditional, formal or incredibly rustic architecture of your home.

They can even be bled into and over parts of a pool or fireplace.

The rafter end details, drapes, vines, stain color, smooth or rough sawn lumber columns that can be brick, stone, round or square... these are all ways to make your pergola unique.

Water features are one of my personal favorite outdoor features in the garden. There are so many ways in which you can creatively integrate water features into a landscape to create a truly unique feature for a client, whether you want to create a focal point, block noise or have the soft sound of water in the background. However you decide to implement this feature into your garden, you won't be disappointed. Justin Verbryck, Frisella Landscape Group.

Well-placed fountains bring indescribable magic to gardens. With their soothing sounds and beauty, they turn ordinary gardens into awe-inspiring sanctuaries. Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens.

A well-placed garden bench will anchor your outdoor living space.

It is a place all for yourself to rest, relax and enjoy the natural beauty of your garden. Timberwinds Nursery offers a variety of garden bench styles and finishes to fit your style. Mike Curran, Timberwinds Nursery.

This beautiful 800-square-foot koi pond and natural waterfall is the focal point of a backyard landscape. It’s located near a pool house so the owner can relax and hear the calming waterfall. Complete with fish, water plants and Japanese garden-style landscaping.

David Sherwood, Sherwood’s Forest Nursery.

This 120-foot-long stream bursts from the hills like a natural spring.

This beautiful 12,000-gallon-per-hour waterfall gently spills down beneath the over 100-foot oak and dogwood trees. Josh Bauer, Bauer Falls.

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SHAWS VISION

MAY

Stay up-to-date in your landscape with planning tips and events from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Early May If spring rains have been sparse, begin irrigating, especially plants growing in full sun.

Place cutworm collars around young transplants. Collars are easily made from cardboard strips.

Apples, crabapples and hawthorns susceptible to rust disease should have protective fungicidal sprays applied beginning when these trees bloom.

Isolate sweet, super sweet and popcorn varieties of corn to prevent crossing.

Keep bluegrass cut at 1.5 to 2.5 inch height. Mow tall fescue at 2 to 3.5 inch height.

Watch for striped and spotted cucumber beetles now. Both may spread wilt and mosaic diseases to squash and cucumber plants.

Thin plantings of carrots and beets to avoid overcrowding.

Mid May

Late May

Mow zoysia lawns at 1.5 inch height.

Remove no more than one-half inch at each mowing.

Trees with a history of borer problems should receive their first spray now. Repeat twice at 3-week intervals.

Place a stake by seeds of squash and cucumbers when planting in hills to locate the root zone watering site after the vines have run.

Zoysia lawns may be fertilized now. Apply no more than 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet.

Remove rhubarb seed stalks as they appear.

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Watch for sod webworms emerging now.

Missouri Botanical Garden

EVENTS TBD

Check here for updates: missouribotanicalgarden.org

BAUER FALLS BauerFalls.com 636-357-3495 Bauer Falls uses a unique organic filtration system that yields sparkling clean water without the maintenance and expense of traditional water gardens. Growing up on property bordering the nearly 6,500 acre Cuivre River State Park, Josh and Caleb Bauer learned to harness the power of plant roots and beneficial bacterial without the use of any added chemicals. The Bauer brothers' lifelong passion for nature led them into an exclusive artistry designing and creating natural luxury waterfalls, water gardens and koi ponds. Their elite artistry is highlighted in their award-winning St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles Garden of the Year that features nearly 1,000 tons (37 semi loads) of natural stone boulders that pumps 48,000 gallons of water per hour.

CHESTERFIELD VALLEY NURSERY 16825 North Outer 40, Chesterfield, MO 63005 chesterfieldvalleynursery.com 636-532-9307 Having an outdoor space provides more opportunity for your to spend time with your friends and family this spring and summer and for many more to come. An outdoor space can create an extension of your home. This multi-seasonal space can create a more interactive landscape design for your back yard. Accents like water features make your yard a more serene place to relax especially in the summer! These spaces can be spruced up more with lighting and pond plants to make the space even more dynamic.

SCHMITTEL'S NURSERY 13801 Marine Ave Maryland Heights, MO 63043 schmittelsnursery.com 314-469-8900 Springtime is here! Great time to start planning and seeing your outdoor dreams come to life. Patios are the center of outdoor living and entertaining. The new trends are using the natural element of Flagstone, to create a warm, earthy, organic space for you to enjoy in every season. Let Schmittel's Nursery, design and install the perfect patio for you. We will be there every step of the way. There is a flagstone choice for every backyard, a shape to fit every need.

Give Schmittel's Nursery a call to make your outdoor living areas a reality this season.

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Rescheduled to Saturday, September 12, 2020

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SMALL SCALE

A Charming EVOLUTION Downsizing to create a cozy, colorful respite.

By Gina Parsons Photography by Photographie by Li

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While growing up, Delia Garcia would sit on the porch of her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two-bedroom home and peruse home magazines while dreaming about the beautiful dĂŠcor on the pages. Today, her home is magazine-worthy.

Perfecting her style has been a journey. After finishing her oncology training at Washington University, Garcia moved to Richmond, VA, where she became enamored by the historical homes there. She frequently attended open houses and shopped at antique stores.

She moved back to St. Louis and enjoyed decorating the two homes she and her family lived in throughout the years, the first in Town and Country, the second on Wydown Boulevard.

Then, after going through a divorce 12 years ago, she saw a for sale sign in the front yard of a lot on Forsyth Boulevard. A developer planned to build there. Garcia jumped at the chance to downsize, and put her stamp on a new home.

“I looked at the blueprint and envisioned where things would go,” she says. There were certain pieces that she wanted to make sure would fit in the spaces where she wanted them. One was a French hutch bought 25 years ago, which is in her hearth room. The other is an antique China cabinet, which graces her dining room.

Her years of living in Richmond and her travels in Europe have given her an appreciation of artwork and of walls being a part of the room’s decoration. Paintings and antique prints that she has acquired over the last few decades adorn her home’s walls.

“I’m not afraid of color. It makes the room pop,” she says. Among the paint colors currently enhancing her home’s walls are Grand Canal, a robust teal by Benjamin

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Moore, in the dining room. In the kitchen, the Benjamin Moore color Golden Gate brightens the room.

She says you have to live in a house before you can decorate it, and how it will look best comes to you over time. “You can’t rush a beautiful house. It’s a process,” she says.

Part of the joy she finds in decorating is the hunt — looking for items here in St. Louis, or while visiting other areas.

The chandelier that hangs over her kitchen table was purchased new, but it’s distressed to give an antique look. “I wanted a big piece that was see-through, not dense that would obstruct the view,” she says.

Outside the home, Garcia does not like grass in her landscaping. Colorful flowers and bright evergreens are much more her style. “I want plants that thrive and enhance the landscape,” she says. “It’s an evolution.” She says that if a plant isn’t thriving, you have to be willing to rip it out.

Both inside the home and out, she likes beauty, color, and calm. “Cozy spaces. It has more of a look of an English home,” she says. “There’s a lot going on visually.”

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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DREAM. SECOND. VACATION.

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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.

ROESER HOME REMODELING

314-822-0839 • ROESERCONSTRUCTION.COM

Roeser Home Remodeling is a design-build residential remodeling company. Our design-build process engages the homeowner, remodeler, design team, craftsmen, and trade contractors to create a single shared vision for your project. One that is unique to each homeowner and will withstand the test of time.

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BEFORE & AFTER

A SPACE for STUDYING…and so much more!

A library is carved out of a too-large family room to create a multi-functional spot splashed with color.

By Melissa Mauzy Photography by TeAnne Chartrau-Ray for Alise O'Brien Photography Designer: Ken Henry, Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath

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After struggling with a room she says was too big for its own good, homeowner Diedre Gray was ready to do something about it. With two children and their growing amount of gear, she had the idea to separate off a private area of the family room that could serve multiple functions.

Deidre knew she would need the help of Ken Henry, designer at Alspaugh, who she has worked with on other projects in the home. “He’s my natural first call for any project,” Diedre says. “Ken and I work telepathically at this point, frankly because I usually know what I want, and he provides thoughtful suggestions.”

She said she gave Ken four main “asks” for the new space. The first necessity was two separate and distinct built-in workspaces for her two children.

They needed a space to store their school supplies and laptops plus a spot to do homework that was not at the kitchen table and distracted by the TV. Significant storage and a cozy reading nook were also on the list. Finally, Diedre wanted to have the ability to shut off the space for quiet but not cut off the natural light to the family room.

Ken designed a multi-functional room that would accommodate all of the family’s requests. Custom-built desks serve as workstations for her two children with plenty of space to spread out and get homework done. Double

BEFORE

brass swing-arm sconces provide ample light at each workspace and are adjustable. A long window seat is the ideal spot to curl up with a good book. In addition to the natural light from the window, the reading nook has brass swing-arm sconces for adjustable light positioning. A second smaller window seat is located near the back door and has open storage underneath so that it functions as a mini mudroom.

Storage is abundant in the library, says Ken. “Wherever there wasn’t a window (except for above the desks) there is custom cabinetry for storage,” he explains. The transitional-style cabinetry includes full-length cabinets for sports equipment, backpacks and coats. Other cabinets store extra school supplies, wrapping paper and other craft supplies.

“We have so much extra storage now in that room, it’s insane,” Deidre says.

To access the taller shelves and cabinets, Ken suggested including a library ladder on a curved brass rail. “The rolling ladder goes around the 90 degree corner, and is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and practical,” Ken says. Another practical feature are the two glass mullion pocket doors, which close off the library from the rest of the family room. “The homeowners can still see what is going on in the library, but it is a noise reduction system,” he explains.

With the homeowners wants covered, it was time to bring the space to life. Diedre served as the interior designer on the project selecting the color scheme, light fixtures, hardware, fabrics and more.

She is inspired by some of her favorite designer’s work featured in national shelter publications. “I saw a gorgeous red library space with a window seat and double-armed wall lamp a couple of years ago and it stopped me in my tracks,” Diedre says.

The blue color scheme in the library is also used in the home’s butler’s pantry, and Diedre knew the library could take the bold color with all of the natural light. She brought pattern into the room through the window treatments, bench cover and pillows. “I love the mix of small animal print fabric next to a large ikat,” Deidre says. The fabrics give the space the finishing touch.

The multi-functional space has been the perfect solution to the oversized room, and one that will serve the family’s needs for years to come. “The best part is that we can still be together as a family, but we now have the appropriate amount of separation for the kids to do their homework without distraction.” Deidre says.

See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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A door that leaves a lasting

First Impression

CUSTOM ENTRY DOORS Design • Build • Install

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BEFORE

BaumHouse design KITCHENS • BATHS • INTERIOR REMODELING Call to schedule an in-home appointment to discuss your project and visit our website BaumHouseDesign.com for inspiration

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SPOTLIGHT

Not Just

Country Anymore Spacious, functional and versatile, farmhouse design is adaptable to virtually any style or setting.

By Barb Wilson

Photography provided by Jeff Day Architects

Evoking thoughts of comfort, family, fertile fields and the aroma of baking bread, the farmhouse is more than a structural design. It’s a feeling.

The basic farmhouse concept originated in Europe and Scandinavia, subsequently migrating to Canada, then to Colonial America. Wealthy Southern landowners built magnificent plantation houses during the pre-Civil War era, but life for the average American farm family was harsh. Their homes were small, low-ceilinged and dark, except for the kitchen where most of the daily indoor activity took place.

As city dwellers began moving away from congested urban centers in the late 1800s, they often fashioned their country homes after European villas. But with the introduction of electricity and indoor plumbing to outlying areas in the 1930s, American farmhouse design came into its own. Adaptable to a huge range of architectural styles and décor— from traditional to rustic, European, Scandinavian, Coastal, even Boho, the nostalgic charm of farmhouse styling continues to appeal to today’s homeowners.

It would take pages to describe the countless variables associated with farmhouse design, but the focus is always on comfort and functionality. Among the most common elements are one-or-two-story elevations; rectangular or square floor plans, light or neutral exterior colors, large and wrap-around porches, sizable windows and roomy kitchens. Classic interiors typically feature wood-plank flooring, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, ample comfy furniture, antiques and vintage accessories.

In the St. Louis region, farmhouse designs with a French or Italian flavor have been especially popular. French exteriors tend to be simple in shape but elegant with natural stone or painted brick masonry, contrasting shutters, dormer windows and lush formal landscaping.

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Photography provided by DL Designs

Interior décor is likely to emphasize pastels and florals, plaster walls, ornately detailed furniture, dramatic chandeliers and gilded or distress-painted appointments.

Italian-styled elevations can vary widely, but may include a cupola and either a grand porch or front courtyard. Exteriors emphasize natural materials—stone, stucco, wood and/or terracotta roof tiles, deep eaves and brackets, wood shutters and elongated or arched windows. Inside, the focus is on contrast and texture—a neutral, earthy palette, dark-stained beams, stone or tile floors, rustic fireplaces, dark wood and leather furnishings and wrought-iron fixtures In recent years, the Modern Farmhouse has become a similarly popular trend. More streamlined and minimal, exteriors are usually light-colored and can incorporate various architectural motifs. The most significant innovation is the open-concept floor plan with a spacious island kitchen at the heart of the activity spaces. Large windows capitalize on the views, and expansive covered porches or decks invite outdoor enjoyment. Interior walls are usually white or off-white, sometimes shiplap, and complemented by varnished or lightly stained hardwood flooring. For a “homey” feel, kitchens most often have wood or granite countertops, a farmhouse sink and wood cabinetry, frequently glass-fronted. Elsewhere, the décor can range from contemporary to transitional or eclectic, and mixed metals and mid-century modern pieces are common features.

Well-suited to almost any location, today’s farmhouse design offers owners an incredible variety of style options, from chic and sophisticated to casual and relaxed. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

Brendel Architects, LLC brendelarchitects.com

DL Design DLDesign.com

Schaub Projects Architecture + Design schaubprojects.com

These architectural firms are doing some of the best work in the Greater St. Louis area. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to call them our architect partners. Look to them first for your next project.

FORNEY + architects, LLC FORNEYplus.com

Donna F. Boxx, Architect, P.C. boxxarchitect.com

Jeff Day & Associates jeffdayllc.com

Lauren Strutman Architects P.C. laurenstrutmanarchitects.com

Dick Busch Architects dickbuscharchitects.com

William D. Cover, Architect LLC williamdcoverarchitect.com

Schaub+Srote Architects schaubsrote.com

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BRIGHT IDEA

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Raise the ROOF LINE

Cantilevered roofs are a visually appealing look for the front elevation.

Defined as a structure that is unsupported on one side, the roof style is ideal for a home location with sweeping views. The structure provides a covered place for homeowners to spend time outdoors without having any support beams getting in the way of the view.

By Melissa Mauzy

5

6

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1. Compelling Cantilevers. By Kelly and Stone Architects. Cedar, steel panel, stone and glass are materials that scream to be with one another. Cantilevers are compelling but become enormously challenging to execute where seismic and snow loads of the High Sierra are working against you. The largest cantilever in this custom home in Martis Camp in Truckee, CA, is greater than 20 feet. This roof deflects almost 3 inches when the roof is loaded, requiring an innovative slip joint above the expansive window wall system of the living room.

2. Nestled Among the Trees. By Krannitz Kent Architects.. A house nestled among the trees on Puget Sound’s Marrowstone Island capturing views of Mystery Bay. This owner-built project is broken into separate buildings (main house, guest house and garage) to minimize the impact of the footprint among the trees, including the existing home of a bald eagle. Corten steel-clad boxes form the utility core of the main house. Simple shed roof volumes with exposed fir beams and ceilings define the major living spaces. Stone chimney walls provide anchoring points and create a sense of place. Large multi-panel lift and slide doors dissolve indoor/outdoor boundaries.

3. Modern Restraint. By Swatt l Miers Architects. The project is the architect's home for a family of five, including three children in Lafayette, CA. The residence is situated on a 1-1/2 acre north-facing site, overlooking a creek, mature oak trees and the hills of a regional park. Goals of the project include an open interior suited to family life and entertaining, and a strong connection of the interior to exterior spaces and the natural environment. In form, the house is quiet, restrained and modern, building on the language of earlier modern West Coast architecture.

4. House on the Hill. By McClellan Architects. The home is perched on a hill overlooking Lake Washington in Seattle. The exterior is stained cedar and stucco.

The butterfly roof opens up to gather light from both the east and the west.

5. All About the View. By neely architecture. The design concept for this house was inspired by the beautiful sloping wooded site: "Boulders & Trees.” Some of the key features of the house are walls of glass that capture spectacular views of the surrounding woods and overlook the pond below. Board formed concrete walls anchor both interior and exterior spaces. Likewise, the landscape was brought indoors as trees that were felled on site were used throughout the design for elements such as wall and ceiling cladding, casework and live edge pulls. A very skilled and fantastic project team brought this dream to life!

6. Tucked Away. By Archaeo Architects. This serene master bedroom is tucked into an evergreen forest. A singular column supports the entire exterior roof as it slides out into the landscape. A stone fireplace serving the master bedroom anchors the architectural massing, and a blue stucco retaining wall mediates between the outdoor seating area and the natural terrain.

7. Lake Views. By Uptic Studios. The goal of the project was to create a modern log cabin on Coeur D’Alene Lake in North Idaho. Uptic Studios considered the combined occupancy of two families, providing separate spaces for privacy and common rooms that bring everyone together comfortably under one roof.

The resulting 3,000-square-foot space nestles into the site overlooking the lake.

A delicate balance of natural materials and custom amenities fill the interior spaces with stunning views of the lake from almost every angle.

1. Photography by © Martis Camp Realty, Inc. 2. Photography by Tom Brown. 3. Photography by Russell Abraham Photography. 4. Photography by Benjamin Benschneider. 5. Photography by Barry Halkin, Halkin/Mason Photography. 6. Photography by Robert Reck. 7. Photography by Shaun Cammack.

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find an

EXPERT

stlouishomesmag.com

Schaub Projects Architecture + Design

See my work on pages 30–39

Designing excellence with your ideas in mind.

16676 Old Chesterfield Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 PHONE: (636) 537-0880 FAX: (636) 537-1027 laurenstrutmanarchitects.com

Stay safe, stay well, and we will see you soon!

New Homes • Additions • Renovations Condominiums • Restoration • Historic Rehab

Charles W. Schagrin, President cschagrin@aol.com amherstcorporation.com 314-862-9399

See our work on pages 30-39

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CONNECT

Architectural Icons Places to go, things to do and see and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style.

Schlafly Tap Room Photography courtesy of Schlafly Tap Room

St. Louis is known for its vast history of craft breweries and stunning architecture, and the Schlafly Tap Room on Locust Street is no exception.

Originally built by famed self-taught architect Samuel L. Sherer, who was also the first Director of the St. Louis Art Museum, the structure was built to house the Swift Printing company in the early 1900s, which explains the buildings’ steel girders to support the vast weight of printing presses.

Sherer’s design philosophy was that “architecture is the most useful of the fine arts and the finest of the useful arts,” which is evident in the design of what is now the Schlafly Tap Room. After 65 years, Swift Printing relocated their operations, leaving this robust structure uninhabited for the next 22 years when Schlalfy moved into the space in 1991. The 22 years of emptiness and disrepair, however, inspired the makers of the movie "Escape From New York" to film Kurt Russell walking past 2100 Locust Street, giving viewers a sense of post-apocalyptic Manhattan.

Nowadays, however, the Tap Room puts out a very select 2,000 barrels per year in the hallowed workshop below the main space. The historic downtown Tap Room and their Maplewood Bottleworks locations receive over a million visitors each year, making Schlafly a destination brewery in the Midwest. Schlafly maintains local ties in their community through unique programming such as: Farmers Markets at Bottleworks and travel-worthy festivals such as their Stout & Oyster Festival (March), Art Outside (May), Hop in the City (September) and more.

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By Moe Godat

Soloman R. Guggenheim Museum Photography by David M. Held

When thinking about iconic architecture in the United States, Frank Lloyd Wright is often the first architect that comes to mind. His last major project, the Soloman R. Guggenheim Museum, began in 1943 and wasn’t completed until 1959, six months after his death. The design of the stark white building with organic curves thoroughly contrasts the strict Manhattan city grid, giving it a life and personality of its own within the urban jungle. To create the organic curves, the museum’s exterior is a stacked white cylinder of reinforced concrete, which creates "one great space on a continuous floor” on the interior in Wright’s words. Inside, the 92-foot atrium rises up to an expansive glass dome, shedding light on the quarter-mile gallery space.

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CONNECT

906 World Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA Photography by Slava Balbek

In 2016, the team at balbek bureau architecture began work designing a multi-functional cultural complex in San Francisco, CA. The complex consists of a former residential building, church and freestanding educational center. The church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, is a historical building in the area, but unfortunately closed in the 1990s. To rehab the facility for use as a community center, the architectural team focused on restoring all architectural elements according to the historical reference. Originally completed in 1880, a fire and earthquake destroyed the church, but it was reconstructed in 1912 by Frank T. Shea and John D. Lofquist in the Mission Revival style.

Because the historical and architectural image of the building was already strong and important to the community, the team used the geometry of modern shapes to emphasize original components of the architecture, such as the original naves in the building. Now updated, the church can house up to 200 guests for lectures, presentations and exhibitions that support young startups. The complex now enables these startups to live, work, develop and socialize with like-minded individuals.

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Giving isn’t just about making a donation, it’s about making a difference!

Many ask, “How can I help others in dire need because of the dreaded virus?” Simply put: feed them!

The Arnold Food Pantry is now dealing with the prospect of depleting income. The demand for our services is growing and will continue to do so as layoffs and terminations increase.

Many hard-working men and women will be affected. It is not unreasonable to think that your relative, friend, neighbor or co-worker will come to our doors in need of food. They will need our help.

Please make check out to Arnold Food Pantry Mail to: Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath 9808 Clayton Road, Ladue, MO 63124 Or go online to make a donation with credit card or Paypal www.wefeedthehungry.org

Missouri law gives anyone donating to a food pantry a 50% tax credit up to a $5,000 donation per tax-payer.

Monetary donations are most appreciated.

Sponsored by:

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CLASSIC OR CRAZE

A Pocketful of Sunshine

Pocket doors are a useful design element in small spaces where swinging doors would take up too much room; but are they over used? We asked local design professionals whether or not pocket doors are the perfect answer for any era.

Edited by Moe Godat Photography courtesy of Andersen Corporation

CLASSIC

It would not be accurate to call pocket doors a trend as they have been used for centuries. When a doorway is needed but a swing door would create a problem a pocket door is the best solution. For people who like the open concept living but still want the privacy, double pocket doors can solve that issue. You can have a doorway larger than standard and get doors custom made. If you use glass in them, when they are closed you still get light. Just note that no electrical or plumbing can be in the space where the door goes into the wall. I say pocket doors are a classic. Linda K. Kusmer, Total Interior Designs Inc. I think pocket doors are not a craze but a necessity. They offer the possibility of getting from one space to another without taking up room or using valuable space. They give the option to close off a room and make a statement if the door is interesting. I believe it is a classic and people will only get more interesting and creative with them in years to come. Nettie White, The Porch in Wildwood.

I didn’t know they ever went out of style! They have been a staple for us, especially as we manage dueling doors in older homes or want to manage the optimal furniture layout in some spaces where space is a premium. The pocket doors that are difficult to maneuver, don’t use quality tracks and hardware, are always out, and I hope they never come back! Kick them to the curb. Attractive and easy to use, pocket doors will always be "in" and classic. A little trick of the trade, we widen the slot when possible in framing for the best operation.

We also use quality hardware. It makes all the difference to do it right. Dana King, Next Project Studio.

NEITHER

Pocket doors originated in homes during the Victorian era. At first, pocket doors slid on a floor track, which was noisy, susceptible to malfunction, not to mention a trip hazard. In the 1880’s, a top-hung track was introduced to make this renowned design feature more functional. Large pocket doors were generally used to separate a parlor from a dining room which served as an architectural feature as well as a space saving element. In this day and age, having a pocket door in your home is a quintessential detail that all homeowners should include based on the location. Adding classicality and sophistication, pocket doors are an architectural detail that will live on forever. Natalie Slavik, Youtopia Designs.

Classic. We are currently working on a 1903 home remodel in the Central West End where every room on the first floor has a pocket door. Every door still works perfectly. Sadly, one will need to be removed to make room for an elevator. It does not matter if it is an historic home or new construction, pocket doors can be of real benefit in a space. They require less floor space than traditional swinging doors, freeing up room to walk or place furnishings. They are great for bathrooms, which tend to be small to begin with. The drawback is that nothing can be hung on the walls where the pocket is. This could create a problem hanging art work or televisions in an adjoining space. Still, because a pocket door can be the right choice for a room, I consider it a classic. C.J. Knapp, Yours by Design.

I'm not sure if I would call this classic or craze. I've always seen pocket doors as a necessity due to space constraint or where a door pulled back would be awkward or impossible. I love them in big old houses where they allow you to close off large openings to "customize" your entertaining space.

I especially love them in any "close quarters" situation when there just isn't anywhere to put the door. I think as long as there is a circumstance where they are needed, there will be pocket doors!

Teddy Karl, The Great Cover-Up.

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