Sometimes, it's all in the mix. For a St. Louis couple with distinct tastes, their ability to strike a perfect design balance within their whimsical Ladue home seemed to evolve organically. Over the past decade, the homeowners—both PhDs with demanding professions and two boys—have successfully blended the wife's self-proclaimed "impulsive" purchases and mid-century-modern style with her husband's more traditional preferences. Showcasing a diverse array of art and collections, their 1970s colonial home emanates a palatable, free-spirited vibe to all who enter. Their vibrant mix of old and new with high and low price points—all blended with precious and simple finds—repeatedly proves that opposites do indeed attract.
"The owner has very eclectic tastes and buys what she loves without hesitating," says interior designer Maria Clifford of Style Matters, who has worked with the couple since they purchased this home in 2014. "Mixing styles, prints, patterns and textures is one of my hallmarks, and luckily, both the homeowners entrusted me to work everything in and achieve the right balance."
Clifford began working with the owners shortly after they purchased their 4,500-square-foot home, which tucks into a quiet Ladue cul-de-sac. She immediately gave the dwelling a 21st-century facelift with a mix of modern and vintage furnishings, bold colors, patterns and artwork. A 2023 kitchen renovation featuring a stunning cabinetry design by Louis Rybecki of Marc Christian Fine Cabinetry also included removing a main hallway and the wall separating the family room. The remodel paved the way for the owner to showcase her whimsical style by mixing bold colors with compelling prints and materials.
Standout elements include a mid-century-modern tulip table with a striking orange top featured in the sun-filled breakfast room. To elevate this conservatory-style space added by a previous owner, she enhanced the aesthetic with woven blinds, a mod wallpaper from Irish designer Orla Kiely and a Sputnik-style overhead light fixture. In the family room just off the kitchen, an elegant milkglass collection displayed on a black built-in cabinet creates a dramatic contrast. Elsewhere, the owner's varied collections infuse colorful personality into the home via mid-century mixing bowls, art glass, Viking glass, fairy lamps and Enid Collins handbags.
"I like how Maria describes my personality," says the homeowner, "because I am truly eclectic and tend to purchase things at first sight. She is really good at helping me think through what we already have and how a design element might work. Sometimes, she 'lets' me buy an outside-the-box piece and works it into the design in a way I would never have thought of. Those usually end up being some of my favorite features in the house."
The couple's curated accumulation of furnishings and collectibles offers a signature mix of showroom items and authentic mid-century finds from St. Louis haunts such as CoolStuff, Fresh and MoModerne. As a sociologist, the wife loves supporting local shops while hunting for unique furnishings with fascinating histories. Adhering to a cohesive color palette of cream, grey, navy and orange helps unify any visual juxtapositions.
"Viewing my collections of vintage bowls and glassware brings me joy, and I love how the bright colors contrast with the modern neutrals," she notes. "I find myself working and hanging out more in the kitchen since we opened it up—it's challenging to describe how much this renovation has changed how we function as a family—the island and coffee bar are two notable features that the four of us enjoy immensely."
Beyond the family's varied collectibles, an impressive cache of original artworks may be the most influential element in the home's design. "Their stunning collection features works from modern masters such as Alexander Calder, Robert Mapplethorpe and Ansel Adams alongside local artists Ted Collier, John O'Hara and Maggie Robertson," Clifford notes. "The owners' son, a photography student in Chicago, is admittedly their favorite artist, whose works hang over a pair of chests in the living room."
The dining room's nuanced mix includes prints by Alexander Calder and Maggie Robertson and an abstract painting by John O'Hara. A gallery-like stair landing spotlights a creative montage of Conde Nast prints with John O'Hara's "Black Daisies" and Ted Collier's "Circle Series."
"I was blown away by the texture of Ted Collier's "Circles" when I went to his studio," says the owner, "and similarly impressed by John O'Hara's dynamic encaustic wax paintings. The juxtaposition of Ted and John's artwork hanging next to the retro photography Maria found from the Condé Nast archives really captures my overall aesthetic—modern but very vintage. I spend a lot of time reading in the upstairs gallery, so seeing these pieces is like seeing a friend or a family member every day—I always expect them to be there."
Mid-century modern furniture icons reign supreme throughout the couple's home, making an appearance in almost every room. The living area's classic Barcelona chairs, streamlined sofa, glass-and-chrome table and Lucite accessories effortlessly mesh with a Persian rug and custom Schumacher draperies, creating a satisfying counterbalance. An ethereal diptych over the sofa nods to the wife's love of butterflies, while an abstract print and reclining nude reside harmoniously nearby. In the dining room, traditional window treatments combine with a pre-owned Knoll table surrounded by contemporary metal chairs upholstered in a retro-inspired boucle. A Drexel sideboard blends seamlessly with floor lamps embellished with art glass and contemporary shelving dotted with Orla Kiely ceramics.
"Working with this couple is always fun—they are so trusting and up for anything," says Clifford, "and we also enjoyed collaborating on their vacation home in Scottsdale, Arizona. This new abode has become the go-to house for family gatherings because of its large and functional entertaining spaces. And the owner's colorful, spontaneous finds forever entice friends to come over and see what's new since their last visit!"
Resources:
Appliances: Autco
Architect: Elizabeth Panke
Builder: PK Construction
Cabinetry: Marc Christian Cabinetry
Flooring: LK2, Saga Rugs
Granite fabricator: Stone Fabricators
Interior design: Style Matters
Kitchen designer: Louis Rybacki
Plumbing fixtures: Crescent Supply
Tile supplier: Virginia Tile
Wallpaper: Orla Kiely
