Looking for a change and a chance to downsize, these empty nesters relocated from a ranch-style home in Chesterfield to a two-story house in Kirkwood. “We had lived in Kirkwood for several years when we were first married and enjoy the charm of the Kirkwood/Webster area,” says the homeowner. Wanting to experience a new area of St. Louis, the couple found a comfortable house with character, charm and lots of busy wallpaper.
When it came to consulting with a designer, they knew just who to call. They worked with Chelsea Design Company on renovations in their previous home and felt she was the perfect person to help them through this big change.
Chelsea Design Company and Wise Bros teamed up to tackle the renovation and help the couple seamlessly transition into this new chapter. “First, we helped them cleanse their old home of things that no longer served them,” says Chelsea Smith. “Their new home was quite a bit smaller and had recently been renovated, so they thought it was relatively turnkey, minus the questionable wallpaper choices!”
Upon further inspection, the team realized some areas, such as the primary bathroom, would require a complete renovation. “The shower installation was incorrectly done and was leaking, and the tub filler was stabilized by a crumpled-up paper towel. Therefore, we decided to completely renovate and ensure they would not have to worry about any water issues down the line,” Chelsea continues.
When it comes to core design elements, the homeowners favor a traditional style and love pops of blue. Chelsea gave this classic color palette a simple refresh by trading some of their previous vibrant, red decor pieces for calming shades of green and blue, which added an airy, fresh feel to the home. “Chelsea already had such a feel for what we like and don’t like since we had worked with her in the past, so it was easy to jump back in again focusing on blue and green hues, as well as furniture that had character,” the homeowner says. From their previous home, the couple was able to reuse two-bedroom sets and a decent amount of casement pieces, which helped bring familiarity and existing personal touch to the new space. “It really was a breath of fresh air when the right pieces were set, and everything had a place,” says Chelsea.
To help the homeowners adjust to a space with smaller square footage, Chelsea knew it was important to weave storage solutions throughout the home. A thrifted old secretary desk sits in the foyer and holds their mail, keys and anything else they collect throughout the week. A window seat in the kitchen provides additional seating and optimized storage, and a set of built-in bookcases in the living room holds 12 drawers and plenty of shelf space to display family photos and decor pieces from their old home. “This is a prime example of how life can be rejuvenated by giving the proper amount of attention and care to curating a story that you cannot find within most of the newly built homes today,” Chelsea continues. This sentiment is also found in the artwork throughout the home, featuring art previouslt owned by the homeowners’ parents, thrifted pieces and a painting of a dog above their primary bathtub that they like to think of as an homage to their dog, Friday, who passed away. Each piece was carefully conidered within the design and treated as a focal point within the main living area.
The renovation did come with a couple of hiccups, described as “a few minor challenges and one major challenge.” Many of the small challenges involved finding unique furniture peces that added character to the home. Though originally they had picked out a coffee table that was too large for the space, the homeowners recalls, “Chelsea handled the situation with ease and grace by acquiring the piece from us and replacing it.” The challenge ended up feeling more like a blessing when Chelsea obtained a 120-year-old found antique tiger oak wood table that truly felt uncomparable to any ‘new’ piece they could have
The larger challenge was the complete renovation of the primary bathroom. “We ended up deciding to fully remodel the primary bathroom using Konnor and his Wise Bros team,” the homeowner continues. With the help of Wise Bros, they transformed the poorly renovated bathroom into the perfect oasis with serene blue paint, a crystal chandelier and checkerboard tile.
The homeowners could not be happier with their decision to trust Chelsea and Konnor with this project. “Chelsea’s level of energy is amazing and with her in charge, we were able to pull it off,” says the couple. “Konnor and his team are top notch too. Konnor is really good at listening to Chelsea’s design ideas and putting them into place - they are a great team!”
Chelsea is just as happy with the finished product. “I am incredibly grateful to have delivered a home that provides an easier and happier lifestyle for my clients as they enter this new phase of their lives,” she says. “It truly is a masterpiece that I know will be cherished for many years to come.”
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