Purchasing an old off-market home in mid-renovation after a leak caused significant water damage is not for the faint of heart. But for a St. Louis couple who had both grown up just a couple of streets away, it was a sentimental return to a neighborhood they loved. Located on the west side of Forest Park, the picturesque setting offers convenient dog walks, nearby golf, family picnics on Art Hill and frequent trips to The Boathouse and the Zoo, which the couple and their young daughter take full advantage of.

Go For It!

Homeowners who want to experiment with color can incorporate colorful throw pillows, accessories or art. At ADJ Interiors, we love working with color, but we also love working with tone or natural projects - especially if those projects incorporate natural wood grains and lots of texture and layers. Our tip to homeowners would be to go for it; don’t second guess yourself. Paint a wall or the crown or the ceiling; do what is going to make you feel how you want to feel in the space.

Garnering Inspiration

“We love old homes with all the qualities that make them unique,” says the owner of this 1913 beauty. The owners already lived in a beloved older home nearby, but they wanted a larger kitchen and other upgrades in that house that would require an addition, a project that wasn’t feasible. They also wanted a pool and to stay within the Clayton neighborhood they adored.

Sometimes, it's all in the mix. For a St. Louis couple with distinct tastes, their ability to strike a perfect design balance within their whimsical Ladue home seemed to evolve organically. Over the past decade, the homeowners—both PhDs with demanding professions and two boys—have successfully blended the wife's self-proclaimed "impulsive" purchases and mid-century-modern style with her husband's more traditional preferences. Showcasing a diverse array of art and collections, their 1970s colonial home emanates a palatable, free-spirited vibe to all who enter.

Before Barbara moved into her new condo, she knew the interior needed a major makeover before it felt like home. The space had great bones, but it just didn’t fit with her style. “I am a very visual person. As soon as I stepped into the condo, I started to picture what I wanted it to look like,” says Barbara.

The first element of her vision was the color palette. “I dreamt of mixing shades of pink with black. Those colors felt dramatic and fun, which is exactly what I wanted for the space. They became the starting point for the rest of the design,” she adds.

By Castle Design and Alspaugh Kitchens & Bath. Designed to be a colorful office space and a place of respite, this She-Shed packs a punch. This room incorporates custom blueberry cabinets from Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath, vibrant floral wallpaper from Thibaut and bright fabrics to create a true “maximalist” room and the client's colorful happy place. Photography by Alise O’Brien Photography.