Native grasses line the winding drive and sway in the near-three-digit heat.  A sunburst of black-eyed Susan daisies backs to the dense forest encircling the residence.  With its low profile, all-stone exterior, gently sloping rooflines and cantilevered terraces, the 7,200-square-foot structure harmonizes beautifully with its glorious setting.

You’ve seen his talents at The Muny and at Straub’s grocery stores, and he’s all over the Warson Woods Antique Mall. But Rand Rosenthal’s talents have nothing to do with song and dance or promoting a tasty morsel or two. 

If you’re tired of watering the lawn, switch up grass for rocks with a modern rock garden. Appreciate their natural, rugged beauty, plus they are low maintenance. SLHL asked local landscapers to share their favorite plants for rock gardens.

The Tower Grove House, Garden founder Henry Shaw’s restored country residence, is located in the Lichtenstein Victorian District. After an extremely successful business venture, Shaw retired and made several trips back to Europe. After his first trip, he was inspired to make St. Louis his permanent home. In 1849, he commissioned George I. Barnett, an English-born architect and friend, to design the Tower Grove House. The building is Barnett’s first design with an Italianate influence, a style popular among Americans who traveled to Europe in the Victorian era.

It was once common that the majority of smaller vintners were farmers whose grape vines shared acreage with orchards, olive groves and even fields with corn, wheat and vegetables. Horses, cows, pigs and chickens might be roaming the grounds. In other words, a working farm.

To the husband and wife, the master bathroom in their Town and Country home was uninspired and sometimes even unfriendly, lacking privacy and functionality for them, their four children and occasional visitors. It’s a large space, but it had no enclosure for the toilet. Two tub-side columns, while attractive, blocked a beautiful outdoor view and made the room feel close. And the overall design didn’t address potential changes in mobility.