Lauren Strutman has specialized in the design of custom homes since graduating from Washington University in 1983. Lauren has a master of architecture and master of civil engineering in construction management and is a registered architect in both Missouri and Illinois. Lauren specializes in residential design as well as historic restoration, remodeling and additions. As a talented architect, Lauren has received the 2006 Excellence in Masonry Design for Private Residence from the Masonry Institute of St.

Anne Boedges established Anne Marie Design Studio in 2013 after being in the kitchen and bath industry for 15 years. With a bachelor of fine arts in interior design from Maryville University, Anne has the talent to make every project efficient as well as beautiful. Anne was selected as the Midwest Region Designer for The Tile Shop where she was featured in their annual holiday design book. She was an NKBA Bath Certification instructor at Meramec for two years and is a member of the local NKBA chapter.

For the first time ever, we are honoring female entrepreneurs of design. Local ladies who are at the top of their field paving the way for others within the design industry while also contributing to the greater St. Louis community in charitable ways. These fierce females are respected for their innovative thinking, award-winning projects and mentorship they have provided throughout their distinguished years in the industry. Join us in celebrating our 2016 Leading Ladies.

The luminous blue-gray squares on the rectangle canvas radiate light. They look like swaths of paint, but are, in fact, pieces of cut-up Hell Bank Notes, fake Chinese money that is ritually burned to give ancestors wealth in the afterlife. “I wanted the piece to be a reflection of ourselves, so I gave it this mirror quality,” Albert Kuo, 31, explains. “At the moment, I’m not certain what I feel about it. I’ll put it away for a while and reflect on the experience [of creating the work.]” 

A half-dozen or so entrees and a few new appetizers debut each week at Veritas Gateway to Food and Wine, along with a daily vegetable napoleon, each making the most of the latest fresh regional ingredients. 

For local interior designers Michael Wyrock and Justin Maine of Nistenhaus Design, the design process is more than just picking paint colors, furniture and fabrics. Their main objective, whether in a client’s home or their own, is to create a comfortable environment that reflects the homeowners’ personality. The question they constantly pose is what do you want to put in the space and how does it make you feel?