Classic

I believe built-in wardrobes are here to stay! I love designing a space that not only meets my clients' specific storage needs, it adds style. I can define the aesthetic in a room with the door style, finish and hardware. The built-in wardrobes also guarantee that there is no wasted space. Karen Korn, Karen Korn Interiors

    At best, every home renovation is a challenge. Even the process of selecting the right designer for the project can be daunting, especially when your wish list of must-haves is wholly ignored. Such was the scenario for this St. Louis couple when they wanted to upgrade their kitchen a few years ago. They had purchased a Garden Valley subdivision dwelling in 2011 and moved in with their three teen and pre-teen children. Like most homes in their neighborhood, it was a sprawling suburban two-story house with builder-grade finishes.

Flow and functionality were top of the list for a young family embarking on a kitchen renovation. Anne Marie Boedges, president and designer at Anne Marie Design Studio, joined forces with the couple shortly after they took ownership of the home. The goal was to make the kitchen reflective of their personalities while keeping the design functional, warm and tasteful. “The only thing they didn’t want was a white-and-gray kitchen,” Boedges says.

Classic

Open floor plans are a great concept to keep families and friends together in the same area of the house instead of scattered in separate rooms. It allows for easy entertaining and family time while enjoying a larger space. This has become the heart of entertaining. Most guests congregate to the kitchen, so having an extension to mix and mingle adds to the comfort and pleasure of the evening. I think these expanded rooms are quickly becoming a classic in most homes. Georgine O’Donnell, O’DESIGNS

Sophisticated Style

Kathleen Grim, Srote & Co., Interior Designer, 7 years

"I feel like life in general and the journey itself is full of influences and opportunities for creativity and growth. This conversation is such a great reminder to reflect and practice some gratitude for everything that got me to where I am."

Dream to Reality