LIFESTYLE LETTER
I have a lighting issue.
My home’s decorating style can best be described as “boys-who-played-sports-in-the-house.” Our front door has ball-sized dents from the boys practicing lacrosse in the foyer. (I blame you, coach Gio.) The light above our kitchen table is cracked from an every-man-for-himself Nurf war. (I mean, listen... I’m just happy that was the only casualty.) Baseboards are chipped in the upstairs hallway from Friday night sleepover games of Shiny. (If you know, you know.) Why didn’t they play in the basement? Oh...lucky you for not having boys who built a skateboard course/roller hockey rink in your basement. Although, having boys who quickly learned how to create homemade tourniquets for multiple injuries significantly decreased the number of visits to urgent care. We have fully stocked first-aid kits in cabinets throughout the house for all the run-of-the-mill-Lord-of-the-Flies situations. Collaborating on this issue with Kelly Johnson, the owner of Organized Interiors, reminded me that I need to clean out those cabinets and reorganize the mudroom. The boys have been gone for over four years, and I still have their climbing gear and lock-picking sets in their cubbies. (I swear they didn’t end up in jail.) And, yes, I need to get a new light over the kitchen table. But I took two steps into Metro Lighting and was immediately overwhelmed. I called Chris Maddock at Brighton Electric to have him come and install a new light. He said, “Sure. What kind of light fixture do you have?” I said, “I’m not really good at picking out light fixtures. So, if you can just grab one on your way over, that’d be great.” That conversation ended quicker than I expected. Did you know Roeser Home Remodeling offers interior design consultation? (Hi, Cindy. Where do I sign up?) I don’t know what my home’s “no-boys-live-here-anymore” decorating style will eventually look like. I should do one of the bedrooms in a California/Surf/Boho style to match the hippy vibe of the boy who now calls SF home. In another bedroom, I should throw mounds of thrifted clothes and tons of Jellycats on the floor to match the decorating style of the other boy who lives in Chicago. Though they’re not boys anymore, they will forever be the lights of my life. By the way, “lights of my life” is how I categorically itemized the invoices I just sent them.
RENEE MOORE, PUBLISHER @KIRKWOODCITYLIFESTYLE
March 2025
PUBLISHER
Renee Moore | renee.moore@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Kate Berry | kate.berry@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITER
Jillian Smith
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jillian Smith, Cindy Roeser, Lucy Rogers, Andrea Maddock, Trisha McConkey, Katie Mackenzie, Lorilee Cummings.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
CB Hayes Studio Photography, Jessica Rose Photo & Video, Ron Klein Photography,
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
The Synergy of
Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julie’s Garden Design is one company with
Organized and Simplified For Life
Kelly Johnson, owner of Organized Interiors STL, creates personalized and
The
This is the beautiful Kirkwood home that Bob and Julie Mosby completely transformed using all three divisions (remodeling, hardscape, and garden design) of their company, Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julie’s Garden Design.
THE synergy OF three
“Our company is unique because we have three separate divisions that work synergistically to transform your entire home, inside and out,” said Bob Mosby, owner of Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julie’s Garden Design. “We don’t just focus on one part of the home; we integrate our three divisions – remodeling, hardscaping, and gardening – to create a seamless flow between the interior and exterior.”
Bob and Julie, the husband and wife owners of Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julie’s Garden Design, adopt a holistic approach when working with their clients. This means homeowners can avoid dealing with multiple contractors for various projects.
“Our favorite projects are those where all three of our divisions are involved,” said Bob. In particular, Bob and Julie are drawn to old homes that need total renovation. In fact, they served as both homeowner and contractor on the last three old Kirkwood homes they lived in and completely remodeled. “By applying the same approach we used in our homes, we help clients reimagine their entire space. It’s not just about updating a kitchen or adding a room addition; we focus on how the whole home can be transformed specifically for the family living there.”
Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julie’s Garden Design is one company with three award-winning services.
ARTICLE BY LUCY ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CB HAYES PHOTOGRAPHY
Understanding how families will live in space is an essential first step that Bob takes very seriously. “We begin by ensuring we are the right fit for their vision and that our values and design approach align with their goals,” said Bob. “It’s a bit like a first date, where we ask a lot of questions to see if we’re all on the same page.”
Those quizzical conversations provide pathways for guidance, inspiration, and innovation, particularly regarding outdoor hardscapes.
Bob explains, “Stormwater management is a big issue in Kirkwood and one where we offer a lot of expertise.” Bob said his team can help homeowners and home builders with Kirkwood’s city-mandated water management systems by offering innovative solutions to redirect water flowing into a property. “We have innovative ways to build swales, dry creek beds, and rain gardens to move the water along without creating a nuisance for the next neighbor.” A dry well is an underground well that catches the rainwater from the house, stores it briefly, and allows the water to slowly percolate into the soil. The alternate technique is a rain garden, which captures and diverts the water to a specially prepared garden with water-loving native plants. Bob explained that rain gardens are often preferred because of the cost savings and added benefit of adding a beautiful native garden to a yard.
Whether it’s water gardens, paver patios, room additions, or remodels —if your home needs a transformation, Kirkwood Home & Landscape + Julies’s Gardens offers the synergy of three services provided by one unique pair of business owners.
kirkwoodhomeandlandscape.com
Hardscape/Landscape
designs and installs retaining walls, ponds, patios, walks, sports courts, outdoor lighting, and stormwater management.
Construction & Remodeling
high-end kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, whole-home renovations, and outdoor living spaces.
Garden
offers garden design, installation, and maintenance.
ARTICLE BY ANDREA MADDOCK PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
As a proud Glendale resident and consistently recognized as a Janet McAfee Real Estate Top Agent, Andrea is knowledgeable about the character and charm different neighborhoods offer, which is imperative in both the buying and selling process.
1. Norene and Brett Bennett (Webster Groves) took their boys skiing in Colorado. 2. John and April Travers (Webster Groves) took their family to New York. 3. Megan and John Pardeck (Webster Groves) with their children in St. George Island. 4. Jim and Molly Kelly (Glendale) took their kids to explore Washington, D.C. 5. Justin and Marcie Schular took their family to Maui for spring break. 6. Tom and Amy Gerber (Warson Woods) visited family in Japan. 7. Sarah and Jeff Brown (Frontenac) took their kids to Panama City Beach, FL. 8. James and Rani Grady (Oakland) and their 2 boys enjoyed a family reunion trip to San Diego. 9. Matt and Tracy Koch (Kirkwood) took their twin boys to Cancun, Mexico. 10. Jody and Carolyn Jachna (Kirkwood) took their family to Sequoia National Park. 11. Andrea and Chris Maddock and their girls at the Grand Canyon.
While it may still be a bit chilly outside, March offers plenty of exciting activities to enjoy locally.
Head over to the stunning Kirkwood Performing Arts Center or go ice skating at either the Kirkwood or Webster Community Center.
For something special, don’t miss my favorite event at the St. Louis Art Museum: Art in Bloom, happening February 28–March 2.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Leprechaun Coin Hunt at Kirkwood Park! Get into the spirit with a green tutu and join the 5-mile run before the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, or catch another fun parade in Dogtown on March 17.
As a local Glendale resident, I’m here to be your trusted guide in celebrating our wonderful city or finding your next home. Whether you're looking to make a move now or in the future, I’ll work with you to create the perfect plan for you and your family!
CELEBRATING GROWTH FROM GRASSROOTS
Brian and Katie Pfotenhauer celebrate the 20th anniversary of Timberline Landscapes.
ARTICLE BY JILLIAN SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CB HAYES STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
Over the past two decades, Timberline Landscapes has grown from a small operation into a thriving business with a team of around 40. Founded by Brian Pfotenhauer and co-owned by his wife, Katie, the company initially focused on landscaping services and has since expanded to offer more diverse services, including lawn fertilization, custom-built landscapes that enhance lives through creative outdoor living spaces, and full-service landscape maintenance.
Brian’s entrepreneurial background and willingness to take risks have been crucial in navigating the business world. One pivotal moment in Timberline Landscape’s 20-year history was purchasing its building in 2014, followed by another recent acquisition to support future growth. He and Katie envision the company continuing to grow, with a 10-year goal of providing career opportunities for 100 employees in the next decade while staying true to their mission of enhancing landscapes and impacting lives.
Reflecting on the past twenty years, Brian credits industry education, staying engaged with local competitors, and constantly adapting to changes as key strategies for overcoming challenges. The company’s success is driven by its dedicated team, which handles the day-to-day operations. This allows Brian to focus on high-level projects and community involvement, especially in Kirkwood, where he and his family reside.
Beyond being involved in their St. Peter church community and the chamber of commerce, Brian mentors smaller landscaping companies trying to get their feet on the ground. “As someone who started independently, I want to help others looking to enter the same field,” said Brian. He encourages new entrepreneurs to ask questions, take risks, and be prepared to work tirelessly, drawing inspiration from his own business experience.
Through customer engagement and a family-friendly office atmosphere where their children Eva and Jack occasionally lend a hand, Brian and Katie look forward to tackling the ins and outs of their business as they design, install, and maintain outdoor serenity spaces for families throughout the community.
www.timberlinelandscapes.com
Opposite Left Bottom: Katie, Eva, Brian and Jack Pfotenhauer
Above: Brian and Katie and the Timberline Team
ORGANIZED AND SIMPLIFIED FOR LIFE
ARTICLE BY JILLIAN SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
KELLY JOHNSON, OWNER OF ORGANIZED INTERIORS STL, CREATES PERSONALIZED AND EFFICIENT ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS AND DESIGNS.
Organized Interiors owner Kelly Johnson specializes in creating functional, easy-to-live-in spaces. Kelly and her team of skilled professional organizers transform high-traffic areas like kitchens, pantries, closets, playrooms, garages, and home offices to ensure a smooth workflow. The result is beautifully organized and efficient environments tailored to each client’s lifestyle.
In addition, Organized Interiors provides move management services to help clients with packing and unpacking, ensuring a seamless transition into a new home and maintaining a stress-free, organized space from the start.
Kelly Johnson, owner of Organized Interiors STL
CUSTOM CLOSET SOLUTIONS
TRANSFORMING HOMES
Have you had organizational goals on your to-do list for a while and haven’t had the time to finish them? Have you started an organizational project and felt overwhelmed before completing it? As a professional member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals, Kelly excels at creating functional systems customized for your family. As a mom of two, she understands the importance of an organized home and how it can relieve stress and anxiety.
Organized Interiors tailors closet designs to meet each client’s unique needs. Kelly partners with Saint Louis Closet Company because every closet should be beautiful and customizable. “If a client has an extensive shoe collection, extra shelving is incorporated to keep everything organized and accessible,” said Kelly. “This approach to closet organization aims to create stylish and functional spaces that match your unique requirements.” Kelly worked with BenchMark Homes to organize a recent new build. With the pantry and mudroom completed, Kelly said, “We really want to wait until the family moves in to design a custom closet that fits their personal style.”
MOVE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
KITCHEN ORGANIZATION
Kitchens are one of the most common areas they work in— and it’s easy to understand why. Kitchens are high-traffic spaces that require smart organizational systems to stay functional. The team handles everything from decluttering to categorizing items, offering personalized storage solutions like bins and baskets that fit the space perfectly.
Packing and unpacking can be overwhelming. Organized Interiors makes transitioning smoother and less stressful. Kelly aims to have clients settled into a fully functional, organized space within the first week of their move. Now, let’s take a look at that garage.
Organized Interiors custom clutter-free design for BenchMark Homes
Labeled baskets for the closet.
How many hat holders do you need?
Organized Interiors custom pantry for BenchMark Homes
layers upon layers
THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING A LAYERED LIGHTING DESIGN.
Many homeowners overlook the transformative power of lighting when redesigning a room. Yet, a well-balanced layered lighting design can work wonders, turning a space from ordinary to extraordinary. Layers upon layers of lighting can breathe life into your design, fully illuminate your space, and infuse personal style into every room.
Flexible and Adaptable Lighting
While all lighting can enhance interior design, layered lighting that is adaptable and flexible is essential. Specific lighting sources can enhance ambiance, add visual interest and depth, or prioritize energy efficiency. Some lights can highlight points of interest, such as artwork, while others can perform a task or provide safety, such as lighting around a stairwell or in kitchen areas where we cook. This adaptability empowers us to make lighting choices that suit our needs and preferences.
Ambient Lighting
This is our overall illumination. It provides a uniform base layer for our rooms. The light brightens the entire space and makes it possible to see clearly. These lights are usually the ceiling fixtures, can lighting, pendants, chandeliers, and ceiling fans. Natural light is also considered in ambient lighting. Ambient lighting is crucial for any room but can often be bland. Another layer is needed to complement the foundational layer for a more personal style lighting solution, a concept where lighting reflects the homeowner’s unique taste and preferences, adding a personal touch to the space.
ARTICLE BY CINDY ROESER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROESER HOME REMODELING
Task Lighting
Created for a specific purpose, task lighting highlights an area and removes the shadows and glares that might cause eye strain. Task lights may be placed in areas such as a stovetop or countertop in a kitchen. Task lights also might emphasize a workstation in an office. These lights are typically floor, table, desk, bathroom vanity, or cabinet lights. When choosing a task light, consider the light function of a particular room. An example would be a pendant light above a kitchen island, stovetop, or reading nook light.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is the third layer of lighting. This is where we can have fun with personal style. Accent lighting complements other features, highlights architectural elements, or provides beautiful decoration. It is a more subjective layer. Typical light sources are wall sconces, track lighting, LED tape lighting, or rope lighting. We can extend this lighting to emphasize featured items or illuminate hard-to-reach places.
Combining all three lighting sources—ambient, task, and accent lighting—can transform your room into a beautiful, safe, comfortable, and accessible space.
Seeing Green
STAYING
ALL YEAR LONG.
ARTICLE BY LUCY ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA ROSE PHOTO & VIDEO
GREEN
Kirkwood resident Trisha McConkey thoughtfully selected a mix of plants to enjoy and enhance her outdoor and indoor living spaces year-round.
The Summit All Seasons Market plant specialists in Kirkwood know that the right combination of indoor and outdoor plants can transform a home. Whether cultivating a backyard oasis or filling your home with greenery, the garden experts can help you choose your tropicals, perennials, annuals, shrubs, and native plants.
Tropical Blooms: Indoor and Patio Showstoppers
While St. Louis winters aren’t ideal for tropical plants, they thrive as patio accents in summer and can be wintered indoors. In the right conditions, they provide stunning foliage and vibrant blooms. Hibiscus, mandevilla, and peace lilies add bold color outside during warm months and adapt well as houseplants when temperatures drop.
Perennials: A Yearly Reward
For effortless beauty, pick perennials like purple coneflowers, blackeyed Susans, and hostas. These hardy plants withstand our fluctuating seasons and return year after year, requiring minimal upkeep. They’re perfect for creating a vibrant outdoor garden with lasting impact.
Annuals: Seasonal Color Boosters
Annuals like petunias, begonias, and zinnias bring quick bursts of color to containers and garden beds. Use them in hanging baskets and window boxes to brighten patios and porches. Experiment with new colors and combinations every season.
Shrubs: Structure and Stability
Shrubs like hydrangeas and winterberry holly provide seasonal interest and serve as natural windbreaks. Boxwoods offer yearround greenery and structure, making them a favorite for defining spaces in both front and backyard landscapes.
Native Plants: Low-Maintenance and Eco-Friendly
Native Missouri plants thrive with little maintenance, like butterfly milkweed, prairie dropseed, and cardinal flowers. They attract pollinators, require less water, and create a sustainable, natural look that blends beautifully into any garden.
The Summit All Seasons Market sources plants from local growers to support the small business economy and create a sense of community.
thesummitkirkwood.com
Trisha McConkey’s Home on 408 Gill
HomeWork with Trisha
You don’t have to sacrifice design over durability when it comes to flooring.
Regarding design trends, we hear a lot about paint colors, cabinetry, and countertops, but what about flooring? Floors are our homes’ most used surface area and should be among the most important selections. Hot buttons for homeowners include durability, affordability, and design.
One of the leading choices for consumers today is “upscale linoleum.”
This new and improved product comes in many styles, from plank to tile to sheet. These products are popular for the wide variety of available styles and tend to be made more durable, proving you don’t have to sacrifice
ARTICLE BY TRISHA MCCONKEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA ROSE PHOTO & VIDEO
Top Left: Trisha in her house on 408 Gill Ave.
Top Right: Just Around The Corner Flooring
Bottom: Trisha’s house on 408 Gill Ave.
design for durability. Today’s choices are easy to install, very durable, and waterproof. They are also beautifully designed to mimic higher-priced flooring options like tile, wood, and other natural materials.
Another popular choice is classic ceramic tile, which has been given a facelift. Beautiful tiles mimic the look and feel of a mosaic floor or hand-scraped hardwood. They are manufactured with recycled materials and innovative designs that make installation a “snap.” Benefits of choosing tile include waterproofing, high durability, and eliminating the need for mortar and backer boards, which can help reduce costs.
Last but not least is the ever-popular hardwood flooring. Consumers love the classic unfinished hardwood floor, with endless finish color and design layout options. But I would be remiss not to also mention the progress that has been made in engineered hardwood. In the past, the choices and performance were limited, but there are engineered options that look
This Page: Trisha’s house on 408 Gill Ave.
like exotic hardwoods but are built with thicker veneers, providing a beautiful and more durable product.
Choosing your flooring expert is essential. I spent time in the Just Around The Corner Flooring showroom with owner Simon Pataky and his crew. We discussed flooring trends, and Simon pointed out beautiful, incredibly durable flooring options. It is important that your investment not only stands the test of time but also looks good while doing it.
Whether you choose linoleum, tile, or wood flooring, the first thing to consider is the reality of your daily life. With our lives busier than ever, I like to choose products that work for our home rather than products that create more home work. Follow @HomeworkWithTrisha on social media and discover your new floor at jatcwoodfloors.com
DINNER IS DONE!
The Power of Meal Prep: Staying on Track with Healthy Eating
Meal prepping at the beginning of the week can be a game-changer in maintaining a healthy diet. Having a plan ensures that nutritious options are readily available, making it easier to stay on track.
I’ve found this incredibly helpful for both myself and my clients—it removes the guesswork and prevents last-minute, less healthy choices.
Recently, my friend Jen Maness, owner of Hello Juice in Kirkwood, shared one of her favorite meal
prep recipes, and I couldn’t wait to try it. Cooking and planning are my priorities, but let’s be honest—some weeks, life gets busy, and I fall short. That’s when Hello Eats from Hello Juice comes to the rescue.
Hello Eats offers a line of healthy, nutritious, and pre-portioned meals ready to go. Whether it’s in-store pickup or weekly delivery , their meals have been a lifesaver during hectic weeks when
ARTICLE BY KATIE MACKENZIE AND JEN MANESS | PHOTOGRAPHY
PROVIDED
Katie Mackenzie and Jen Maness (L to R)
meal prep doesn’t happen. These convenient, healthy options make staying committed to my nutrition goals much easier. If you ever struggle to keep up with meal prep, know there are great solutions out there! Whether you prep ahead or find a trusted source like Hello Eats, having a plan makes all the difference.
Follow @ktelizabethwellness on Instagram.
CHEESY CHICKEN CASSEROLE
SERVES
~12 bowls
Ingredients:
Chicken Rice
• 2 ½ cups Jasmine rice
• 3 ½ cups chicken stock (prepared)
Casserole
• 110 oz chicken breast (shredded)
• 1 2 oz shredded cheddar
• 3 p oblanos (diced)
• 1 3 oz broccoli (bite size)
• 1 ½ lbs cottage cheese
• 1 ¾ C m ilk
• 1 ¼ t bsp celery seed
• ½ t bsp white pepper
• 2 ½ t bsp gran. garlic
Directions:
Chicken Rice
1. Add rinsed rice and prepared chicken stock to the rice cooker and follow the instructions for plain rice.
Casserole
1. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic in a bowl. Toss to coat, then spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Bake the chicken at 350°F for 20-30 minutes, then remove and cool on a rack.
3. Once cool, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces (use hands or a mixer with a paddle attachment) and set aside.
4. Next, sauté diced poblanos with a bit of olive oil until tender. Set aside.
5. Blanch the broccoli florets in boiling water until tender. Cool in an ice bath, then allow them to drip dry. Set aside.
6. Combine cottage cheese, cheddar, milk, and seasonings in a blender. Blend well, scraping down the sides once or twice to ensure even distribution.
7. Combine everything (rice, chicken, broccoli, poblanos, and sauce) in a large mixing bowl. Mix well and let cool. Package and store. Dinner is done.
2 3 4 5
1: Shop furniture and home decor at The Dollhouse by Megan Temple Design in downtown Kirkwood. megantempledesign.com
2: Lorilee Cummings, owner of Lorilee Realty powered by Keller Williams, at Forty Elephants. llhomes.kw.com
3: Three French Hens interior design services, home decor, furniture, floral design, and gifts.
4: Three French Hens has a huge selection of MacKenzie-Childs imaginative, whimsical designs. threefrenchhenswildwood.com
5: The Initial Design in Old Webster Groves is the only store in Missouri with beautiful Jon Hart bags and accessories. theinitialdesignstl.com
The Dollhouse in Downtown Kirkwood
Three French Hens
Three French Hens
The Initial Design
Lorilee Cummings, Lorilee Realty
