After 43 years in a Los Angeles studio dwelling, the thought of spreading out in a traditional St. Louis home sounded blissfully appealing to this California transplant. A graduate of Mizzou, she moved out to L.A. after college in 1976, where her father had been transferred. After working at CBS network for 15 years, she blossomed into a former co-producer for the game show The Price Is Right, where she worked for 28 years. Admittedly, after more than four decades, the L.A. traffic did her in—and eventually drove her back home. 

    However, being a relatively new resident of the area after all these years, she needed some help navigating the process. In 2016, she purchased a house in Creve Coeur for its idyllic location and sincere design, yet didn't move in until 2019. During the interim, she subscribed to St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles magazine to get a sense of the regional style and the interior designers in the area. Drawn to the work of Jenny Rapp, owner of JCR Design Group, she was especially impressed by Rapp’s fresh design aesthetic and love of color. 

    "When we met, I knew she was it," says the homeowner. "We developed a wonderful working relationship, although she often had to wrangle me in with some of my crazy ideas! But she did not disappoint and always gave me kudos for an idea that did work—plus, her staff is an awesome group of people."

    Situated at the end of the street, the 3,850-square-foot home built in 1977 uniquely does not face the street. Instead, the front view frames a plush, sprawling lawn with the woods beyond, as well as a pond with a fountain. Clad in traditional brick with crisp molding below the soffit and fascia, the structure's original architecture befits its charming setting dotted with mature trees and quaint neighboring homes. The back of the house boasts a sunporch facing a pool—a luxury amenity unimaginable in the owner's former L.A. abode. But these days, being outside is her top priority. 

    Surrounding the pool and along the driveway, a stunning rock wall fashioned from an old, demolished church highlights carved stones with intricate designs, including wheat sheaves. The home's interior mimics the exterior's conventional aesthetic, yet the furnishings elicit surprise with pops of color everywhere—especially green—the owner's favorite hue.

    "The home, as well as the client's style, is traditional," says Rapp. "She has beautiful furnishings and antiques, both collected and inherited, as well as wonderful art from her travels. She has great taste, loves color, and likes to have fun with design, so for us, the project was a joy!" 

    What started primarily as a renovation of the kitchen, laundry, powder room and guest-suite wing quickly bled into other areas, including the foyer and dining room. The design aesthetic unfolded naturally from the client's style and sense of whimsy. The kitchen components, including all the cabinetry, appear classic in terms of design, style and color, but bold accents give it a modern twist. Rapp adds, "You can see this in the green tile backsplash accenting the kitchen's adjacent beverage station, a wild jungle-themed powder room wallpaper enhanced with dark green millwork and vibrantly painted custom built-ins designed for a uniquely angled wall leading into the sitting room." In the dining room, the designer implemented a pale green grasscloth wallpaper that blends perfectly with the greens throughout the house.

    Beginning their renovation in the foyer, Rapp first replaced the solid front door with a glass door to invite the glorious views inside. For privacy, she installed "smart glass" tied into a Lutron switch that makes the glass opaque at sunset and transparent at sunrise. Pristine wall moldings expand to the second floor, lending dramatic architectural interest to the foyer staircase. To polish the look, a patterned stair runner and a statement chandelier complement the furnishings and Asian-inspired paintings. "The design and selections for the kitchen, breakfast and laundry rooms, as well as the guest suite, were all done concurrently," notes the designer. "Working with the existing walls, we were still able to change the layout to provide better flow and organization. The laundry room was the one space where we did bump into the garage a few feet to accommodate our desired floorplan."

    Throughout, custom cabinetry fabricated by Classic Woodworking embodies a classic style, complemented by added bottom lip moldings, arched toe kicks and other details, which elevate the design and attention to detail. Quartzite stone countertops have become an immediate favorite for their alluring blend of neutrals, accented with subtle hints of green and terra cotta. "Initially, the client said she wanted green countertops, and I inwardly panicked," laughs Rapp. "But when we found this gorgeous stone, everyone was happy." The island pendants, the breakfast room chandelier and the kitchen/cabinet hardware all harmonize in a French antique brass finish. According to the homeowner, the island storage highlights the best part of the kitchen, where five shelves organize all her spices alphabetically. 

    Another standout feature includes an added vibrant green hallway bookcase. "I love cookbooks—and every single book in this case is indeed a cookbook," laughs the owner. “Jenny found the perfect green paint for the piece and matching wallpaper for the room. She also added a small, upholstered chair so I can read—and not cook! The picture lights at the top of the bookcase give it a sleek, illuminated look and one of the bottom cabinets has bi-fold doors that swing open to reveal a bench so I can work on the computer."

    The original bathroom in the mother-in-law's quarters was a very utilitarian ADA-type bathroom, which the team opted to keep so their client could age in place. Rapp expanded the shower by adding a bench seat and curbless shower entry, and she created more storage with an added linen closet by stealing space from an adjacent bedroom closet. An eye-grabbing basketweave floor tile and a framed mosaic on the shower wall generate a compelling wow factor.

    "The most impressive part is how the rooms flow together yet are completely different," notes the owner. "It's a calming and visually interesting walk through the house, and the design ended up making this an ideal place to have friends over while cooking. They were all wowed with the spice cabinet—it was just like the scene in Sex and The City where Carrie Bradshaw shows off her new closet—lots of oohs and aahs!"

    Rapp adds, "This homeowner was a joy to work with, and we were all sad when the project came to an end. Our conversations were always lively, and our meetings typically ended with laughter and chocolate. And, of course, we loved returning for the unveiling of her perfectly organized and stocked cabinets!"

Resources:

Interior Designer: JCR  Design Group

Appliances: Thermador

Builder/Remodeler: Henson Home Improvements 

Cabinetry: Classic Woodworking

Granite: SFI 

Lighting: Metro Lighting

Plumbing: Premier Plumbing Studio

Tile: Boardwalk Flooring