Kirkwood Coastal

Architect Darryl Labruyere and builder Monte Herring brought the homeowners’ dreams to fruition in a modern farmhouse with coastal overtones.

A talented team creates a modern farmhouse built for easy, California-style living.

The minimalist design of the rectangular pool is deliberate. Grass surrounding the understated pool is inspired by California-style poolscapes, bringing a coastal vibe to the Kirkwood backyard. A fireplace, TV and several seating and dining areas provide multiple spaces for relaxation.

When the Glynn family moved to the St. Louis area from Indiana nine years ago, they were drawn to the variety of design styles found in Kirkwood’s homes and neighborhoods. They purchased an existing two-story home, and the wife, Kim, set about making it their own. As the Glynns planned a dream home that would satisfy their desires for a fun, casual space where they and their teenage sons would enjoy entertaining friends, Kim “wanted to be super involved in everything,” she says. They found a lot within the Kirkwood city limits and engaged architect Darryl Labruyere, president of DL Design and builder Monte Herring of the Herring Design & Development team to bring their dreams to fruition.

The homeowners like clean lines with a sense of fun, evidenced by the choice of a print of minimalist landscape photographer Paul Edmondson’s work “Thanks Come Again” in the home’s entry. The artwork hangs above a Bernhardt credenza bought from a friend.

"The homeowner knew she wanted the home to be a modern farmhouse style, so we began thinking of ideas based on that," says Darryl Labruyere. "There are many shapes, angles and slopes that work with farmhouse design, especially vertical lines on the exterior. All these aspects came together in this project to create both beautiful curb appeal and functional spaces."

The homeowners wanted a home that embodied easy living with a seamless flow between indoor/outdoor spaces. “I’ve got a fun, kind of an eclectic personality, and I wanted the house to reflect that,” Kim explains. “I like the clean lines of a modern farmhouse, but I didn’t want it too modern or too ‘farmsy.’ I like a lot of different design styles and overall, I wanted to be creative and have something different than everybody else.” They were also mindful of universal design so they could remain in the new home for many years to come.

She drew inspiration “by following really, really good designers on Instagram who are fun and a little edgy. I feel we ended up with a home that reflects that but that’s also cozy and welcoming.”

In the kitchen, Kim loves white and believes it’s a timeless choice for kitchen cabinetry and tile. She didn’t, however, want an all-white kitchen. Inspired by Instagram photos, three selections for cabinetry were made—the moody black (Benjamin Moore’s Soot) for cabinets along the sink wall, crisp white for cabinets on the opposite wall and a rift, cerused oak for the base of the island and a beam above the stove alcove. Walls are finished

Above: Benjamin Moore Soot paint provides the moody black for the cabinets on the sink wall, crisp white cabinets line the opposite wall, and a rift, cerused oak provides the base for the imposing (6 feet x 8 feet) island. Shiplap walls, an oak accent beam over the stove alcove, and distressed wood barstools with tan leather seats bring a rustic vibe. A walk-through pantry is located behind the wall housing the Wolf range. Right: This custom black-and-glass piece is the only upper cabinet in the entire kitchen. The cabinet’s convenient location close to the Sub-Zero wine storage was a must-have for the new home.

Shiplap walls continue in the dining area, outfitted with a Bernhardt table and modern leather side chairs from Williams-Sonoma Home. The Phillips Scott end chairs of natural seagrass were obtained from Rusted Chandelier/Pizazz 2 Interiors in Kirkwood.

Top: A walk-through pantry is behind the shiplap wall to the left. The black and glass door to the right leads outdoors to the patio. Countertop throughout the kitchen and most of the bathrooms is honed Danby marble in White Mountain. Right: The front foyer features brass sphere light fixtures from Restoration Hardware. Kim found the console table at Warson Woods Antique Mall; she paired it with a whimsical artwork from Sugarboo & Co. Flooring is 7-inch-wide European white oak. Bottom left: Color reigns in the first-floor office, where they selected Benjamin Moore Caribbean Teal for the walls, cabinetry and the ceiling. in white subway tile and white shiplap. "Windows and natural light were important to the homeowner and to this design," adds Darryl. "The windows in the kitchen as well as the dormer windows in the great room provide excellent lighting. And at night when the lights are on, the home is stunning from the street."

The kitchen holds no upper cabinets except one, and that’s by design. “I really wanted to take advantage of the view outside, so almost 90 percent of the back of the house is windows and doors,” says Kim, noting windows compose almost the entire wall above the sink.

On the opposite wall, she continued the airy, open feel by commissioning a custom blackmeatl and glass cabinet (the kitchen’s only upper) for the space near the Sub-Zero wine storage. Glassware for the bar area is stored on the lower shelf, and decorative pieces are displayed on upper shelves. A walk-through pantry is located behind the wall housing the Wolf range and provides substantial storage.

One of the homeowners' favorite aspects of the home is the flow from the kitchen through the dining area into the great room, where they selected a porcelain tile to clad the 2-story fireplace. “I wanted hot rolled steel, but it was really hard to source,” says Kim. After considering several options, she stumbled upon the porcelain at The Tile Shop.

A large area of the white shiplap wall underneath a steel railing proved to be a challenging space for choosing just the right artwork. “I wanted something unique here, because I like to be

The two-story great room with its 20-foot ceilings called for materials and furnishings with heft and substance. The homeowner used rope and reclaimed wood to create a distinctive “frame” to highlight a reproduction of Leonard Nones’ iconic photo of a man underwater. Gray velvet barrel chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams surround the Bernhardt cocktail table, which features a weathered charcoal finish to the oak top and cast aluminum legs.

different,” says Kim. Inspired again by Instagram, she used rope and reclaimed wood to create a distinctive 7-foot x 6.5-foot “frame” to highlight a reproduction of Leonard Nones’ iconic, early 1960s photo of a man underwater.

Some of the same mix of natural and industrial elements carried into the primary bath, where they also wanted both masculine and feminine aesthetics. The sink wall is charcoal marble tile, which lends a masculine air, while the white and gray marble floor features “flowers” of black marble hexagons placed in a random pattern. Striking Restoration Hardware light fixtures flank custom mirrors made by Nathan Hudspeth of Alliance Home Solutions. Rift, quarter-sawn white oak lends a rustic vibe to the vanity, topped with the same honed Danby marble in White Mountain used in the kitchen.

Kim also brings her eclectic sensibility to the first-floor office. She says green was a popular color during their 2018 building process, and she hit upon Benjamin Moore Caribbean Teal, painting the walls, built-in cabinetry and the ceiling in the coastal hue. The Lucite desk, while ultra-modern, is perfect in the space and allows both the painted walls and indoor/outdoor black and white rug from Target to command attention. Kim loves mixing high-end/budget-friendly pieces, noting the Devon & Claire Avery hot pink armchair came from a big-box store.

The outdoor spaces embody easy living as well. Grass surrounding the minimalist hardscaping and rectangular pool is inspired by California-style poolscapes, bringing a coastal vibe to the Glynns’ backyard. A fireplace, TV and several seating and dining areas provide multiple spaces for relaxation and entertaining friends.

Selecting each design element—from drawer pulls to downspouts—was a painstaking process. “It was a ton of work, but I had a lot of fun doing it,” Kim comments “I would do it all again in a heartbeat.” Architect Darryl Labruyere agrees that the work was worth the final product. "Every time I drive by this home, I smile," he says. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

Combining masculine and feminine touches in a minimalist, timeless primary bathroom was a priority. Charcoal marble wall tile provides visual substance to the room, while black marble hexagon “flowers” placed in a random pattern in the white and gray floor add a feminine touch. Striking Restoration Hardware light fixtures flank custom mirrors by Nathan Hudspeth of Alliance Home Solutions. Honed Danby marble tops the vanity constructed of rift white oak with a bit of cerusing, a wood finishing technique that adds contrast. Opposite page: In the primary bedroom, animal print pillows add fun and flair to the crisp white linens. A Wayfair leather bench sits at the foot of the canopy bed from One Kings Lane. Placing the primary bedroom on the first floor was a part of the homeowners’ long-term thinking of aging in place in this home, plus it provides extra privacy away from children and overnight guests.