When the current homeowners bought this property, the interior of the original structure consisted of a mix of original and non-original framing, much of which was exposed without any drywall or plaster. Having been mostly vacant for over four decades, the structure lacked any sort of mechanical or plumbing systems, and had minimal electric wiring. With the construction of the home’s new and improved walls, new building systems were also installed.
The home’s original wooden staircase going from first to the second floor was maintained and refinished. Two existing fireplaces on the first floor were both replaced with historical replicas, and the two original mantels on the second and third story fireplaces were restored.
The dreary, unfinished basement of the home was transformed into a recreation room for the new residents. The severely uneven brick floor was removed by the owners; the ground was leveled, and a new concrete floor poured. In addition to the new lounge space, a full bathroom and dog-washing station were added to the basement.
In the process of renovation, roughly 25% of its existing stone façade and nearly 30% of the exterior masonry walls were reconstructed. The remaining existing windows within the home were replaced with historic replicas. At the front façade, the original exterior sills, intact but crumbling, were replaced with new sills, cast from the original mold.
At the front of the property, the bricks from the basement floor were salvaged and installed at the new front walkway, and a new decorative iron railing and gate was installed around the front yard. Over time, the original stone entry steps at the front entry had begun to pull away from the building. During renovation, these steps were removed and reset.
In the backyard, a new deck and stair was constructed at the rear door of the home, and a wooden fence was built to surround the new patio and backyard space of the home. In addition to replacing the roof of the main house, a new deck was constructed atop the flat roof of the second floor, providing a beautiful view of St. Louis from the back of the house. Access to the new rooftop deck was provided from the third story of the home by converting a window into a door and adding new interior stairs.
Upon purchasing the old home, the owners had clear, creative visions for what they wanted their dream home to become. With these ideas in mind, they selected everything from the tile, cabinets, colors and fixtures that had not previously existed. In the early spring months of this year, the newly renovated, historic home was finally completed and its residents, expressed that they “could not be happier with the result.”
This 1920’s Spanish revival-style home was transformed to accommodate the owner’s growing family of seven. The three-story, 4000 ft² wing addition was designed the match the existing home and provide a seamless transition to a sprawling outdoor entertainment area.
The first floor hosts a great room, garage, oversize laundry room and a climate controlled-insulated wine room. The original kitchen and dining room were renovated, and the adjacent walls removed to connect to the new great room addition. Hardwood flooring is extended from the kitchen to this open-concept space separated by the kitchen peninsula.
Crowned with a large chandelier, the great room features a two-story vaulted ceiling finished with stained slatted wood panels and recessed lightning. A great Palladian-style window spanning two-stories sits atop French style doors, allowing for ample natural light to spill over the stone fireplace below.
Nearby, a set of stairs leads to the second floor of the new wing, adding much-needed bedroom space and a spiraling three-story slide. The slide begins outside of the kids’ bedrooms and passes through the first-floor mudroom before ending in the basement.
The basement expansion includes a spa, interior gym, game room and basketball court. A challenge was placement of the basketball court. After considering an additional structure, the architect designed a plan to place the recreational space below the new three-car garage. To ensure safety and weight baring capability pre-stressed concrete slabs were used as flooring in the garage. The height of the home-owners jump shot was measured to determine the ceiling height of the basketball court.
Even the oversized laundry/mud room was designed to accommodate this large family and their two Great Danes. The room consists of multiple washer and dryer combinations, a row of storage cabinets and a specific area for washing their beloved dogs.
After years in a small rented apartment, this young St. Louis couple dreamed of owning a new, custom-built home. Unlike most households, however, they faced a unique challenge: accessibility. Aiming to prove that a custom-built, fully accessible home could be both affordable and beautiful, they purchased a lot in historic Benton Park and began working with a local architect and home builder to design their dream home.
The challenge of fusing universal design principals with the neighborhood’s strict historic design requirements and a tight budget was significant, requiring multiple rounds of design revisions, problem-solving and meetings between the design team, neighborhood groups and government officials.
The 2,830 ft², single-story residence with attached garage is the culmination of those efforts. The front façade, designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century factory, has clean lines and limestone-accented brick. All the home’s passageways are “zero-entry,” providing flat, roll-in access.
Inside, the home is modern-rustic, with unique features such as repurposed barn doors and a wine-barrel vanity. The sloped ceiling, high transom windows and large glass patio doors provide a bright, airy setting for the open-concept kitchen/living/dining space. The flooring, chosen for durability, is faux wood laminate and stamped-and-stained concrete.
The kitchen is equipped with lowered granite counter tops and extra-wide walkways to access hardwood cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. A large island separates the kitchen from the living room. An indoor elevator leads to the finished basement, which doubles as a home office.
A vaulted ceiling gives the master suite a spacious feel. The ensuite bathroom features a large walk-in closet, double vanity, energy-efficient washer-dryer and wide roll-in shower with redwood bench.
Finally, smart technology is integrated throughout the home, including smartphone-operated garage doors, Nest heating and cooling, interconnected audio and a state-of-the-art security system.
The interior includes an open floor plan, ample natural light and tall ceilings with a loft feel. On the first floor, stairs, bath, laundry, closets, and utility are banked on one wall to allow the kitchen, dining and living room flowing together and be wide open. A bright breezeway connects to a 4-car garage.
The 2nd floor includes the master bedroom, a guest room and an open office which can later be converted to a child’s bedroom. The open feel is enhanced with white walls and light stain groove ¾” oak flooring was installed throughout.
The exterior, with veneer brick and metal panels, was designed to have the modern lines the owners desired yet tastefully contrast the neighboring 1920’s bungalows.
Sustainable design features include recyclable metal panels, bamboo floors, energy star appliances, high efficiency windows, recyclable materials for the deck and fences, minimizing waste during construction and most importantly location.
The city location eliminated the homeowners’ commute to work and other activities, diminishing their carbon footprint.
This 3,430 square foot home remodel in Kirkwood consisted of updating, expanding and enhancing multiple facets of the home. The first floor consisted of a complete kitchen remodel. Cosmetically, a front gable was added and the front bays were given roofs. The second floor bath was expanded and a bedroom closet was removed and replaced with a walk-in.
