“The bulk of the back yard was a blank slate,” says Richard Poynter, president of Poynter Landscape. Lead landscape architect Bob Wilhelm did have a few pre-existing features to work around: Mature trees, for example, and a sturdy wooden deck. The deck created access issues during construction, but it was worth keeping, Poynter says, because it softens the surrounding hardscapes and adds linear aspects to the overarching design scheme, too, which is zoned for a kitchen, living room and pool. 

When Kevin Berges moved into his 2,500-square-foot loft a couple of years ago, he knew he’d want to update the space and make it his own. He was equally certain that the apartment, located in the Central West End in a 100-plus-year-old former pharmaceutical warehouse, needed to retain its unique metropolitan charm.

one: Space under the stairs, by Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects. Photography by Whit Preston. 

two: Home office for two, by Olander & Capriotti Interior Design. Photography by Darius Kuzmickas, KuDa Photography.

three: Office, by Brown Davis Interiors. Photography by Moris Moreno.

four: Contemporary office, by John Donkin Architect. Photography by Justin Van Leeuwen.

five: Modern in Montrale, by Jennifer Pacca Interiors. Photography by Peter Rymwid.

Wallpaper takes—to some—a fearful level of commitment. Ambling through home improvement stores and dry goods ateliers scanning aisles and “look books” for a potential match takes time. Not being sure you’ve found “the one” until you take it home where it must meet and complement your valet and throw pillows takes being vulnerable to a possible let down. Trysts with trendy colors, here-today-gone-tomorrow adhesives and aimless paint dabbling can be satisfying in the short term but, as mom says, “isn’t it time you think about settling?”

My husband looked quite dashing trotting along on his sleek Arabian mount, wielding the polo mallet at the new, sumptuous La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club. We were in San Francisco, affectionately known as “San Pancho,” a delightful small town on the Pacific coastline of the Mexican state of Nayarit. Polo (at an affordable price) is just one of the many offerings we’ve enjoyed in the Riviera Nayarit on our repeated visits to the region. 

Varsity Tutors, Clayton, MO
Photography by Alise O’Brien
Varsity Tutors sought to create a singular, modern collaborative space for their leadership team and support staff that reflects their brand and company culture. The company challenged the team at Bond Architects to create an innovative, hyper-collaborative workspace that would function as a recruiting and retention tool. The 19,000-square-foot headquarters supports the rapidly growing technology company.