November/December 2018 by St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles

St. Louis Homes + LifestylesÂ® The Holiday Issue

HOLIDAY DELIGHTS

Display through December

v 23

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 stlouishomesmag.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

The Holiday Issue

contents

62 68

DEPARTMENTS

6 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 10 TRENDS 14 FAB FINDS 16 STYLE MAKER 18 ARTISAN 20 DELISH DISH 50 SHAW’S VISION 52 DIRT

34 42

56 SMALL SCALE 62 SMALL SCALE 68 BRIGHT IDEA 76 SIGHTS 80 CONNECT 88 CLASSIC OR CRAZE

FEATURES

26 A FEW OF HER FAVORITE THINGS Decorated for the holidays, Laura Wilson’s home epitomizes her design philosophy as owner of Marketplace at The Abbey.

34 A COOLLY CALVERT CHRISTMAS Too much is just right when it comes to holiday décor. Interior designer Pamela Calvert decks her home with holly-jolly Christmas cheer.

42 NEEDLE WORK Kerry Wright’s Festus-area garden is teeming with comely conifers that provide green and other bursts of color year-round.

ON THE COVER PAGE 74 PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM DILLON Smaller brush trees sit in the undergrowth along with tiny reindeer and even tinier village homes, both glittering under candlelight.

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles (ISSN 1524-8755) Vol. 23, No. 9, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER ©2018 by Distinctive Lifestyles, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request only. St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles is published nine times a year, monthly in MARCH, APRIL, MAY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER, and bi-monthly in JANUARY/FEBRUARY, JUNE/JULY and NOVEMBER/DECEMBER by Distinctive Lifestyles, LLC, 255 Lamp & Lantern Village, Town & Country, MO 63017, (636) 230-9700. Periodicals postage paid at Chesterfield, MO 63017 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles, 255 Lamp & Lantern Village, Town & Country, MO 63017. For change of address include old address as well as new address with both zip codes. Allow four to six weeks for change of address to become effective. Please include current mailing label when writing about your subscription.

Beyond Your Dreams, Within Your Budget.

Kitchen Design by Chris Paul, chrispaul@glenalspaugh.com

9808 Clayton Road, Ladue, MO 63124 314.993.6644 glenalspaughkitchens.com Photography by Alise Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien Photography

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GRAZIE MILLE Finally, I think fall has arrived in St. Louis. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been quite the seasonal roller coaster with a high of 91 degrees on October 3, then plummeting to a high of 46 degrees on October 12! But the cool, crisp air definitely has rolled in nudging us into warmer clothes and encouraging us to grab a mug of hot chocolate to enjoy by a roaring fire. While in Conegliano, Italy a couple of years ago, I was surprised after ordering a cup of hot chocolate to receive what I would describe as a cup of hot chocolate pudding! The Italian hot chocolate, cioccolata calda, is so rich and thick that, to an American, it is almost like drinking pudding. We had spent the day in Venice and rode the train to meet up with some fellow travelers in Conegliano for a warm drink. It was mid October, there was a chill in the air and my husband and I felt darn lucky that we had gotten off at the right stop. I needed that hot chocolate after realizing that not all Italians speak English. What the heck! Doesn't everyone in Europe speak English? If you're looking for some European holiday inspiration, look no further than Solvang, California. Solvang is a quaint Danish village in California (page 76) settled by Danish immigrates in 1911, and it's just oozing with Old World charm. St. Louis holidays are hard to beat though. Just check out the four homes featured in this issue, and I'm sure you'll agree (pgs 27-33, 34-41, 56-60 and 62-65). 2018 has been a whirlwind for us here at the magazine. Besides publishing this magazine nine times a year, we also organized and delivered five informative tours in 2018 by partnering with St. Louis design professionals. These fabulous professionals shared their tips on gardening, holiday tabletop decor and repurposing furniture and also educated tour attendees on the ins and outs of hiring a custom builder and/or a kitchen designer! We could not have organized these tours without the incredible partnerships we have with our clients nor without the support we receive from our loyal subscribers. Our talented clients and faithful subscribers are golden to us, and we want to thank you, grazie mille (Italian â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thanks so much) for making this a wonderful year! Be sure to join us at our Holiday Tabletop Tour on Saturday, November 3, and at the Central West End Window Walk throughout December! Enjoy the holidays,

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Suzie Osterloh Publisher/Owner

River, my little reindeer, will be 3 years old this November! Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

page 62

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HOLIDAY SUBSCRIPTON OFFER

PUBLISHER/OWNER: Suzie Osterloh EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Melissa Mauzy ART DIRECTOR: Kim Dillon COPY EDITOR: Carol Wayne CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Lucyann Boston, Shannon Craig, Jamie Siebrase, Barbara E. Stefàno, Barb Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Nash Baker, Nic Lehoux, Anne Matheis, Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton EVENT PLANNER + SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST: Nikki Davis SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Marla Cockrell-Donato

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TRENDS

ORNAMENT ADORNMENT By Melissa Mauzy

1 3 6

2 Families around the world have been adorning the branches of their holiday trees with ribbons, tinsel and ornaments since the 1700s. Merry up your holiday tree this season with some of these unique and festive finds from local design shops.

1. Pink ball ornament with gold leaf detail, available at Rusted Chandelier. 2. Green-and-white finial, available at Rusted Chandelier. 3. Burlap glitter star, available at Fleur de Chic. 4. Black lab, available at The Gifted Gardener. 5. Metallic bird in cage, available at Fleur de Chic. 6. Galvanized bell, available at The White Rabbit. 7. Angel, Shine Bright, available at Maxwell's. 8. Galvanized snowflake, available at Old House In Hog Hollow. 9. Glitter ball with pearl accents, available at Marketplace at the Abbey. 10. Hanging around the house tree, available at Christopher's. 11. Four calling birds glass ornament, by Jay Strongwater, available at Mary Tuttle's. 12. String of pine cones, available at The White Rabbit. OCTOBER 2017 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

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STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM OCTOBER 2017

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TRENDS

13. Cardinal in wreath, available at Marketplace at the Abbey. 14. Red-and white textured ball, available at Old House In Hog Hollow. 15. Plaid Santa, available at Maxwell's. 16. Hot air balloon, available at The Gifted Gardener. 17. Bottlebrush snowflake, available at The White Rabbit. 18. Santa head, by Vietri, available at Mary Tuttle's.

18 16 13 15

14 17

OCTOBER 2017 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

StLHomesLifestylesad_oct2018.pdf

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FAB FINDS

covering THE BASE When the time comes to trim the tree, most of the focus is on the ornaments, ribbon and tinsel that hang from the branches. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to look down and think about the base. Tree skirts and tree collars dress up the bottom of a tree. Today, skirts and collars are stepping outside the box with a variety of styles that will make a decorative statement. By Melissa Mauzy

1. Piles of patches tree skirt, available at Anthropologie. 2. Gray woven tree collar, available at Pier One. 3. NoĂŤl handmade felted wool tree skirt, available at Ember Home Studio. 4. Plaid Merry Christmas tree skirt, available at The Gifted Gardener.

3 4

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

7 5. 60â&#x20AC;? ivory cable knit reversible tree skirt, available at Balsam Hill. 6. Felt stars tree skirt, available at West Elm. 7. Fringed burlap tree skirt, available at Ballard Designs. 8. Glossy red tree collar, available at Crate & Barrel. 9. Tibetan faux fur tree skirt, available at Restoration Hardware. 10. Bash gold tree collar, available at Crate & Barrel. 11. Burlap tree skirt, available at The White Rabbit.

8 10 11 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

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STYLE MAKER

Michelle Jessup, floral designer at

Mary Tuttle’s Floral and Gifts in Chesterfield, shares what inspires her designs, and what’s hot for

the holidays.

Edited by Barbara E. Stefàno Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

Michelle Jessup has more than 30 years experience SLHL: What’s your preference: supplying the containers for a design or in floral design, thanks to a creative grandmother who working with a family’s own heirlooms? Why? encouraged her eye for color and shape. Michelle: Honestly, we don't have one. We're happy to utilize the client’s own vessels to make the creation look at home within the space. If that SLHL: How did you get your start in floral designs? isn't possible, we're happy to select something from our vast inventory. Michelle: My grandmother actually got me into it. I told her I wanted to be an interior designer, and she said, “Oh, it’s too hard to get a job in SLHL: What’s trending now in holiday florals? interior design. You should do florals like me.” I started going to work with Michelle: Red and green is always a traditional staple in St. Louis. This her when I was just a little girl and I’ve been doing it ever since. year we're adding a touch of lime green and accents of black and white for a pop of color. Woodland is still strong and fits well with current SLHL: How does your approach to design differ when you work with design trends and colors of gray, taupe and basil. The vintage theme is fresh florals versus high-quality silks? popular as well, with tinsel trees, silver, turquoise and pink. Look to us for Michelle: Basically, the approach to silks is the same as the approach Christopher Radko ornaments and the return of Jay Strongwater to our to fresh florals. You find out where the customer is going to put the holiday selections. arrangement and work to that space. With fresh they don’t necessarily need it to match the house, but with a permanent arrangement they SLHL: What are your design go-to’s for big impact? do, so we look at their color scheme and keep that in mind. We have an Michelle: During the holidays, we trend toward painted birch branches, ever-changing inventory of fresh product throughout the season that curly willow, ilex berries and magnolia. We pair that with white-oriental dictates the style and design that we incorporate into our fresh florals. lilies, hydrangeas, roses and protea, and we begin to use spring flowers like tulips, narcissus and amaryllis. SLHL: What are the first things you consider when designing a floral arrangement? SLHL: Can you think of a time when an event or something you saw Michelle: We take into consideration the occasion for the flowers and changed your approach to floral designs? the venue or place in the client’s home where they will be used. The Michelle: Every year when we attend the gift markets, we are taken to container we'll be placing the flowers in influences the shape the new heights with new products and trends and popular schemes. The arrangement will take as well. experience greatly influences our approach and creativity accordingly. SLHL: How do you balance the size, color and shape of your floral design within a space? Michelle: We analyze the color of the walls, the table and oftentimes furniture fabrics to optimize the impact a piece will have in any given space.

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

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ARTIST

soft

TOUCH

Jeff and Gita Suchland bring the warm-fuzzies to the Midwest, courtesy of Alpacas of Troy. By Moe Godat

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

armers’ markets are home to the freshest local products, and creations from Alpacas of Troy are no different. Though they don’t have a storefront, Jeff and Gita Suchland maintain a booming business at various St. Louis farmers’ markets by selling their quality, homemade alpaca fiber products. The couple's Lincoln County farm is home to much more than alpacas: Sweet “guard dogs” greet those who drive in past the fields of horses. When paying the alpacas a visit, visitors get to meet a family of goats and the occasional mini pig. These animals are a part of a perfectly balanced system to keep the alpacas safe and happy while creating a family-oriented setting for the Suchlands to create products such as yarn, dryer balls and an assortment of handmade creatures. The Suchlands took over the family farm when they moved back to Missouri from San Diego. Jeff’s father used to keep cows but Gita explains there are many reasons why she and Jeff chose to raise alpacas. “Alpacas are easy on the land, gentle to each other and are simply cuter than cows are,” she laughs. Since starting the business, Jeff has discovered that producing his fiber products is what he loves to do most. “I enjoy making yarn; it’s that simple,” he says. “There are so many creative things that you can do to make each piece unique, and alpacas come in so many colors that creating a new style is not only possible, but fun.” The process begins in the morning; Jeff tends to the alpacas throughout the day, moving them from field to field. The alpacas only eat what the land provides, so moving them from one field to the next is crucial for sustaining the proper amount of grass. He then dedicates four hours to making the yarn from his alpacas’ coats. Jeff sheers the alpacas to get what he calls the blanket. The blanket covers the alpaca’s back and contains the highest quality fiber for making yarn. The blanket is tumbled to take out dirt before going through a picking machine, which pulls apart the fiber to make a delicate fluff. Jeff cleans the fluff in a special washing machine to make sure the fiber doesn’t felt (felting occurs when fibers stick together). Next, he processes the fluff to remove coarse guard hair, which allows him to create "roving," a strip of processed fiber that has not yet been spun into yarn. After all that, Jeff is free to spin the yarn however he’d like.

The yarn the Suchlands produce comes in a wide range of colors: 22 from natural variations in the alpaca fleece, plus yarns dyed with all-natural materials, like red onion skin and turmeric, which are versatile and gentle on the skin. The Suchlands make much more than just yarn, though. For example, Gita’s handmade dryer balls are top-sellers. When tossed in with a load of laundry, the product helps clothes dry more quickly and prevents wrinkles. Gita decorates them with a special felting needle that allows her to apply designs to the products. She also creates seasonal decorations. Zoo Babies, Gita’s favorite product to make, are small figures made from the coarser alpaca fur that cannot be used for yarn. She makes figures like pumpkins, yetis and owls. She also creates smaller products such as cat toys, Christmas ornaments and magnets. The Suchlands have partnered with another local company, Seed Geeks, to make all-natural felted soap. The Suchlands have taken great care to develop quality in all of the products they create. To see Alpacas of Troy products up close, follow the business on Facebook for updates on where the Suchlands are selling or visit their website at www.alpacasoftroy.com. See stlouishomesmag.com for more photos and resources.

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

living on

THE EDGE By Barbara E. StefÃ no Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Opposite page: Buffalo chicken. This page: From the Coop.

Potstickers aren’t just for starters. At Crispy Edge, they’re appetizer, main dish and dessert — and customers can’t get enough.

rispy Edge sits unassumingly at the corner of Juniata and Bent avenues in the midst of a quiet residential street. In a way, the Tower Grove South eatery is simply another home — a tight, cozy spot where young and old gather over cute comfort food best eaten with the hands. Owner David Dresner opened the potsticker-themed restaurant in April 2018 with Executive Chef Tori Foster leading the kitchen. Far from one-note, the menu offers more than the standard meat-and-cabbage dumpling and goes beyond cramming soft paste inside a dough round. Every element is fresh: freshly made doughs and fillings in a variety of flavors daily, delivered via two-bite-sized crescents of goodness. While traditional potsticker dough is a never-fail option, one might just as easily encounter pops of turmeric, chia seeds, chives or lemon pepper at first bite — before the tongue ever hits the filling. Even vegan diets are accommodated, with David promising no difference in taste and quality between meat and meatless versions. “Every single day someone comes up with a new concept,” says Tori.

“The ability to be creative, innovative and come up with weird new things is important to what we do. One of the first things I brought to the table was our Mexican Chilaquiles, which has garlic dough, chili verde-roasted chicken filling, cotija cheese, avocado crema and cilantro microgreens.” CityFarm supplies the diners’ microgreens, which pack tons of taste and nutrition into 1-inch sprouts. Another savory dish, Mediterranean lamb potstickers, starts with a parsley-and-fennel dough stuffed with spiced lamb and finished with cucumber tzatziki and dill microgreens. Desserts might include an “apple pie” dumpling with cinnamon dough, apple filling and bourbon caramel, or the Cherry Blossom, which is made with mascarpone cheese and cherry inside almond dough and finished with white tea citrus glaze and toasted pistachios. “We take a very medium-specific approach; we’re exploring our medium on a hyper-myopic level,” David explains. “There’s something comforting about a hand-held vehicle for your food. It’s like when a STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

Crispy Edge Learn the art of Potstickers from executive Chef Tori Foster at the Cooking School on Tuesday, November 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at ATUCOhome. Chef Tori Foster.

kid eats food with his hands; the hand creates that trust.” “It makes it very intimate,” Tori adds. She and David hope to carry that intimacy into a holiday potsticker that incorporates all the beloved foods of Thanksgiving, and they have already expanded the menu with satisfying breakfast items. Not even the crispy edge from which the establishment takes its name is the same across the board. Differences in crimping mean changes in texture on the tongue and nuances in how the flavors of the doughs and sauces are perceived. For example, the crew is working on a potsticker with a dramatic, dark squid-ink dough and stuffed with pecorino-lemon filling, crusted with breadcrumbs at the edge. Restaurant hours are still limited — Crispy Edge is open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday — but finger-food fans can get events catered or pick up bags of fresh-frozen potstickers at local supermarkets to indulge a Crispy Edge craving any time.

Apple pie.

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

When: Tuesday, November 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $35 per person ***Where: AUTCOhome 1694 Larkin Williams Rd. Fenton, MO 63026 RSVP by calling 636-230-9640, ext. 27 or email bosterloh@stlouishomesmag.com Reserve your seat online: stlouishomesmag.com/events *Seating is limited. COOKING SCHOOL MENU

Buffalo Chicken: Chef Tori adores the garlic herb dough, which tastes like garlic pretzel knots. Here, it’s wrapped around a creamy buffalo chicken filling, glazed with spicy sauce and sprinkled with celery microgreens. From the Coop: This hearty dish is anchored with a jerk-seasoned chicken thigh with a chorizo-date potsticker balanced on top and a generous serving of sofrito rice beneath. Grilled pineapple relish and lemon pepper cream finish the presentation. Apple Pie: This isn’t your granny’s apple pie! We’re certain Nana never rolled out cinnamon potsticker dough as the base for her pie. The only thing traditional is the scoop of accompanying vanilla ice cream, which Tori drenches in bourbon caramel and dusts with fresh nutmeg.

HOLIDAY TABLE TOP TOUR NOVEMBER 3, 2018 10 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 PM

LEARN FROM THE BEST! Local design professionals share tips on creating fabulous holiday tablescapes from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve.

* Hear fun, design-inspired presentations on the hour, every hour * Purchase raffle tickets at each store to win a holiday decor item * Enjoy complimentary appetizers and beverages at each shop * 100% of proceeds to benefit Whole Kids Outreach

EAST OF 270

PARTICIPATING STORES THE GIFTED GARDENER 8935 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63144

Topic: Reindeer way buffet Raffle item: Pair of cardinal pillows

MARKETPLACE AT THE ABBEY 10090 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122

Topic: It's a plaid, plaid Christmas! How to incorporate the trend of the season into your holiday table Raffle item: Fall floral

THE WHITE RABBIT 9030 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63144 Topic: Rustic farmhouse Christmas with hints of buffalo check Raffle item: Christmas centerpiece RUSTED CHANDELIER

118 N Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122 Topic: Adding candlelight to your table Raffle item: Lafco candle

THE GREAT COVER-UP 9708 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63124

WEST OF 270

Topic: Mixing china patterns for the holiday table Raffle item: Gift basket

MARY TUTTLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 17021 Baxter Road, Chesterfield, MO 63005 Topic: Table inspiration for the holidays Raffle item: Juliska Berry and Thread 15.75" hurricane FLEUR DE CHIC 16636 Old Chesterfield Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017 Topic: Ho-Ho-Ho help! How to decorate affordably for the holidays Raffle item: Gift basket

a few of her FAVORITE THINGS Decorated for the holidays, Laura Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home epitomizes her design philosophy as owner of Marketplace at The Abbey. By Barb Wilson Photography by Anne Matheis

“If you decorate by what matters to you, you create a home.” That statement has been fundamental to Laura Wilson’s success as owner of Marketplace at The Abbey. Located in Glendale, the European lifestyle boutique opened in 2014, featuring a wide variety of unique home décor pieces, accessories, made-to-order floral arrangements and handcrafted custom furniture. The award-winning retail/design establishment was an instant hit and now encompasses 6,000 square feet with a staff of nine.

Meeting Laura for the first time, one might expect an intense, highly focused entrepreneur. Instead, this native St. Louisan is warm, gracious and an easy conversationalist with a delightful sense of humor. She’s also quick to admit that her path to interior design has been rather circuitous. With a degree in finance from the University of Arizona, she started out in pharmaceutical sales, then worked with her husband, Matt, to found Dents Express, a paintless dent repair facility in operation since 1992. Design, however,

Left: Illustrating the owner’s “simple, homey” approach to holiday decorating, the box-beamed living room showcases the family’s traditional Christmas tree and stockings hung from the mantel. Behind the sofa, an antique pine table displays a vintage tobacco planter filled with miniature birch trees and seasonal greenery. Right: Festooned with treasured ornaments and mementos, the tree is the focal point of this inviting gathering space.

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

NOV/DEC 2018

has always been one of Laura’s passions. “For years, I dabbled doing people’s houses for fun,” she says. “Then one of my husband’s friends actually hired me, and I decided to start my own design company.” And the rest, as they say, is history. Custom-built 12 years ago to accommodate their expanding family, the Wilsons’ spacious, six-bedroom, two-story home in Wildwood gave Laura a blank canvas to express her personal design style. She chose a simple black-and-cream color scheme that she describes as “crisp, current and dramatic, with warm pieces to give the house a homey feel.” Proof of her achievement, the residence is bright and comfortable, and seems almost to vibrate with cheerful energy, particularly at Christmastime. Simple and “homey” characterizes Laura’s approach to Christmas decorating, as well. “Less is more,” she maintains, “and you can repurpose things you already have for the holidays.” Working with Linda Higgins, principal designer at The Abbey, Laura has created a yuletide ambience for her own home that’s whimsical, yet tasteful, and avoids being “over-decorated” or “busy.” The festive mood is immediately established in the entry foyer, where guests are greeted by a vintage Santa and a large rustic dough bowl, filled with antique ornaments. The staircase newel is trimmed with a black-and-white bow in velvet and dupioni silk, and a life-size rattan reindeer lolls beside an antique pine accent table in the adjacent alcove. Displayed on the table are more heirloom Santas and an example of what Laura means by “repurposing.” Scattered throughout the home are a significant number of MacKenzie-Childs ceramics, complementing the décor with their signature checkerboard pattern. Filled with greens, pinecones or other small ornaments, these everyday accent pieces become an integral part of the holiday concept. Off the foyer, the formal dining room is a showstopper year-round with its daring black walls, creamy columns, round table and mix of boutique ladderback and fully upholstered dining chairs. “I love round tables, because no one has to vie for a spot,” Laura explains. “And there isn’t much wall space in this room, so painting them black was actually more of an accent.” At holiday time, the walls become a dramatic background for three graceful, lit white birch trees and a jingle-bell garland is all it took to transform the table’s existing centerpiece arrangement. Two slender evergreen trees — one “planted” in a large urn — add seasonal interest in the corner of the hearth room. Trimmed only in tiny white lights, the trees accentuate, rather than distract from, the CR Laine-upholstered settee and comfy wingback chair. A traditional wreath, centered in a window above the settee, and a

This page top: A jingle bell garland adds a festive touch to the dining table’s existing centerpiece. Bottom: A life-size rattan reindeer and assortment of seasonal trimmings welcome guests in an alcove off the foyer. Opposite page: Visually striking year-round, the dining room’s black walls create a dramatic background for the antique stepback hutch and a holiday arrangement of white birches.

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Left: The sitting room’s natural, earthy décor is accentuated by a second Christmas tree, trimmed in soft greens and cream, with large mercury glass balls. Right: Grass cloth wallcoverings, fern-hued swag drapes, and an antique pine table with tongue-&-groove skirt establish the sitting room’s tranquil ambience. Votive candles and mercury glass balls give the rustic centerpiece a holiday flavor.

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simple holiday throw pillow add a dash of color. Crowned by a 12-foot box beam ceiling, the living room is holiday central and features the main Christmas tree, positioned against a floor-to-ceiling corner window. This tree is reserved for special ornaments and treasured mementos collected over the years, including vintage Santas, personal gifts from friends and family and keepsakes made by the owners’ children. The wood-burning fireplace showcases several more examples of repurposing, starting with a simple swag that adorns the heraldic “bee” artfully painted on two antique windows above the mantel. Small mistletoe bouquets were tied to the mantel’s decorative urns and, on the hearth, the vintage galvanized log carrier

is filled with fresh cedar. On the antique sideboard that serves as a sofa table, an old-time tobacco planter is filled with miniature lighted birch trees and surrounded by evergreen sprigs and pinecones. A secondary Christmas tree is located in the adjacent sitting room, which has grass cloth wallcoverings and a more natural, earthy décor. Reinforcing the ambience of this space, the tree is decorated in soft greens and cream and hung with large mercury balls. Similarly, the oval, antique pine table centering the room is topped with a basket of potted grasses, mercury balls and votive candles. Père Noël would feel right at home in the roomy French country-style kitchen, with its brick range alcove, contoured black granite island, subway tiles and

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This page top: Reclaimed metal letters call attention to the brick range alcove, and Laura “repurposed” various accessories in kitchen and breakfast area, accenting the crisp black-&-cream color scheme with fresh greenery, pine cones, and a few simple ornaments. Bottom: “Less is more” in the sunny hearth room, where the CR Laine-upholstered settee and wingback chair are complemented by a traditional wreath and slender, lighted evergreen trees. Opposite page: Arrayed with memorabilia, including an heirloom Santa ceramic, and a swag tied with a ribbon in the classic MacKenzie-Childs checkerboard pattern, the butler’s pantry captures the overall holiday theme. Home B)uilder: Miceli Custom Homes Interior Designer: Laura Wilson

creamy white windowpane cabinetry. In fact, distressed metal letters spell out “NOEL” in red on the face of the alcove, and the island displays a live miniature Christmas tree on a MacKenzie-Childs cake stand. Open to the kitchen, the casual dining area features a 72-inch round Lorts table with a rubbed black finish. The candle chandelier overheard is festooned with holly and there was no need to remove the hydrangea-filled Corsica bowl that normally serves as the table’s centerpiece. Laura simply replaced the flowers, with fresh greenery, sugar pine-cones and a few small ornaments. By now it should be obvious that Laura Wilson actually lives by her philosophy of design. “These are a few of my favorite things,” she concludes, gesturing around the space with a sweep of her hand. And while she might be quoting Oscar Hammerstein, that’s unlikely, because “favorite things” is what Marketplace at The Abbey is all about. They call them “Abbey finds” — those one-of-a-kind treasures that clients absolutely love and can’t imagine living without…at Christmas or any other time of year. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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A COOLLY CALVERT CHRISTMAS By Barbara E. Stefàno Photography by Anne Matheis

Too much is just right when it comes to holiday décor. Interior designer Pamela Calvert decks her home with holly-jolly Christmas cheer. Pamela Calvert’s Christmastime holy trinity is plucked straight from the holiday decorator’s bible: lights, texture and glitter. The seasoned — and seasonal — interior designer has added her magical touch to scores of St. Louis-area homes over the years, but it’s the glitz and sparkle of Christmas she enjoys more than most. Pamela has a stable of faithful clients, some of whom have called upon her to gussy-up their digs for the holidays and other occasions for more than 20 years. “It’s really the joy of what people get out of it that makes it worthwhile,” she says. “I like decorating my clients' homes when the homeowners aren't there and seeing their reaction, so they see it the way their guests see it for the first time.” While seasonal color schemes may vary from client to client, the interior designer gravitates toward traditional Christmas hues in her own home — bold red, green and metallics on the main level, primarily silver in the foyer and a living room laden with gold. Likewise, the level of flashiness may vary by space.

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"And there is no way to overdo the tree. I start with big-scale pieces layered with a lot of small-scale and lots of lighting. The more I collect, the better it gets.”

“I like ‘less is more’ in a lot of applications but with the fireplace, more is more. I almost overdo it; I put a lot of sparkle and a lot of lights to it,” says Pamela. The heavy-handedness simply works, particularly in the living room, where evergreen foliage festooned in red and gold ornaments, sprigs and lights cascades from the mantel. “And there is no way to overdo the tree. I start with big-scale pieces and begin layering with a lot of small-scale decorations, eventually adding lots of lighting. The more I collect, the better it gets.” The Christmas trees are decorated according to the color scheme of the space, brimming with silver reindeer and sparkling, wintery ornaments in one room and decked in colorful hats, orbs and brightly dressed elves in another. Like any decorator worth her salt, Pamela collects constantly, and each acquisition shuffles the décor on deck. “I re-envision it every year. I like things shaken up a little bit. I may move one or two things around that will totally change the look.” Pamela’s menagerie can’t readily be counted but one can measure its vastness by the time she puts into arranging her home for the holidays. The day after Thanksgiving, she starts moving out everyday décor, serving dishes, glassware and more, replacing it with similar collections in the holiday theme. In a typical season, she’ll spend up to 12 hours a day for a full week getting her home fully into the Christmas spirit. Somehow in the midst of all this, she starts on her clients’ decorating. In roughly a months’ time, it all comes down and goes back into storage until the next year. It seems a great deal of effort for such a short show, but Pamela doesn’t do it just for her own edification. She and her husband, Bruce, love to entertain, and Christmastime is when families gather. “Probably twice a week, whether it’s friends or neighbors or my husband’s work or my work or clients or family, we’re having people over,” she says. “My family’s very big, so these can be huge gatherings.” While Pamela has no children of her own, the Calverts have been known to host sit-down

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dinners with up to 100 guests, including family, extended family and friends. It is important to her and Bruce to have a warm, welcoming space and guest tables that are joyful yet functional. “While decorating for the holidays, I keep in mind that I don't intend to move things around when entertaining. I try to make the table as festive as I can without interfering with dinner conversations.” That means bold splashes of red from holly berries, crimson trees and Santa hats, with a few rattan reindeer surveying the tablescape. To achieve a festive holiday home, Pamela insists one doesn’t need to splurge a fortune on rare finds. You just need to know how to use what you have. Not every piece must be precious. Simply “lay a base” with inexpensive tchotchkes from the local hobby/craft shop or home décor store, she says, then place meaningful family heirlooms front-and-center. “It’s OK to start small — or start big,” she says. “You can add every year, or you can scale back what you have. Try different arrangements to see what your gut tells you.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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NEEDLE WORK Kerry Wright’s Festus-area garden is teeming with comely conifers that provide green and other bursts of color year-round. By Lucyann Boston Photography by Kim Dillon

he license plate on his Toyota Tacoma pickup reads “conifer.” That is really all you need to know. Confers are Kerry Wright’s gardening passion. Simply described as “cone-bearing trees with evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves,” Kerry’s spectacular, manicured one-acre garden near Festus is home to more than 500 varieties of conifers. They are beautifully woven into a lush textural tapestry incorporating sculpture, antique artifacts, stone pillars, perennials and annuals. The property includes a woodworking shed masquerading as a Tudor cottage and a potting shed disguised as a country chapel, complete with a stained-glass window. Both are testimonials to Kerry’s artistic talents. When you ask him, “Why conifers?” he gives an answer that is surprising to those uninitiated into the wonderful world of what most of us call evergreens. “It is,” Kerry says firmly, “for their winter color,” noting that when everything else is drab there are pines, spruces and arborvitaes that put on a brilliant show and fill his garden with color 12 months a year. Kerry’s love of plants began before he was out of high school, with jobs at local nurseries. He went on to work at Ritter Landscaping and Forrest Keeling Nursery before taking a job as the head gardener at Selma Farms near Festus, the corporate conference center owned by Union Pacific, where he specialized in ornamental plants. Now retired after 30 years, Kerry can fully concentrate on his own garden, which has been 22 years in the making. That is when Kerry and his wife, Susan, purchased their home and the five-acres that adjoins it. The acre immediately surrounding the house, designated by Kerry for a garden, bore no resemblance to the stately space it is today. “It was all crabgrass,” Kerry says, “with one oak tree and a silver maple.” By necessity, Kerry started small. Most of the trees that now stand so gracefully began as tiny seedlings. “We were raising two kids and I didn’t have the money to spend on large plants,” he recalls. What Kerry did have was knowledge, gardening friends and a sense of color and design. One of the first trees he planted was a rare golden larch, a descendent of two exotic trees that came to St. Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair and stood outside the Chinese STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

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pavilion. The tiny sprig he carefully nestled in his infant garden came to him by way of the Missouri Botanical Garden, where another relative of the original World’s Fair trees grows outside the Sachs Museum building. Visitors to either the botanical garden or Kerry’s garden can admire the soft green foliage in spring and summer that turns a brilliant gold in fall before dropping its needles. Kerry has a particular fascination for “witch’s brooms,” which are mutations that cause a number of shoots to grow from a single point, changing the growth pattern of a tree. In conifers, they can appear as a dwarf plant growing within a normal tree. Worldwide propagation of these witch’s brooms has led to the creation of a number of dwarf conifer cultivars. They have become a collection within Kerry’s larger collection, lovingly tended in separate garden areas of their own but

also tucked in the borders of his larger assemblages. Working with close friend and conifer specialists Gary Gee of Gee Farms in Stockbridge, Michigan, the state’s largest retail nursery, he has become an expert at grafting unusual conifer species to hardier rootstock. A network of acquaintances that extends to Europe has introduced him to the most spectacular varieties that are hallmarks of his garden. Proper drainage is the key to growing conifers and most other plants, emphasizes Kerry, who recently began a garden consulting business. A stroll through his garden provides a small taste of the drama, beauty and color conifers can add to gardens large and small. Kerry talked about some of his favorite cultivars he would recommend to the home gardener.

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Japanese falsecypress ‘Tempelhof’: His wife Susan’s favorite bears whorls of needles that look almost flower-like. New growth is yellow-green, maturing to deep green with the foliage turning bronze in winter. For yellow color: ‘Vintage Gold’ and ‘Lemon Thread’ falsecypress. Both stay relatively small, topping out at around 7-8 feet. With Oriental spruce ‘Skylands,’ the exterior needles are bright yellow in full sun and the tree can grow to 35 feet but may need a bit of afternoon shade in hot, humid climates. ‘Wate’s Golden’ Virginia pine has a wind-swept look and turns “school bus yellow” in winter. For blue color: The spruce that is so beautiful and gray-blue in Colorado can be tricky to grow in stifling Midwest summers. For the best results, Kerry recommends: blue spruce, which can grow into a stocky, 6-foot tree; ‘Egyptian Pyramid,’ which grows into a low triangular mound, and ‘Otto von Bismark,’ which grows to about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. All need full sun. ‘Rydal’ Norway spruce is a dwarf that was discovered as a witch’s broom in Sweden and sports new growth that is bright crimson. ‘Morgan’s’ arborvitae, native to Australia, only grows to about 3 feet tall but may be the champ when it comes to color changing. Lime green, yellow-tipped summer foliage turns purplish in fall and then bright orange when winter chill sets in.

While conifers are his passion, Kerry continually emphasizes the joys of winter gardening, and he has additional recommendations regarding woody plants that add color to the landscape. One whole area of his garden is devoted to deciduous hollies or winterberries that sport berry clusters in red, yellow and orange, depending upon the cultivar. Massed together, they provide a neon display during the winter months. Coral-bark maples are small, often multi-trunked trees that put on a show even when they lose their leaves. Bark color can go from orange to bright red and make them standouts in the winter garden. Kerry also recommends a new variety of shrub dogwood that takes the tried and true red twig dogwood a step further. ‘Midwinter Fire’ dogwood has stems that go from yellow to orange to bright red once the leaves are gone, making it truly live up to its name. Questions on growing conifers? Ask Kerry at gardenwrightsolution.com. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

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SHAWS VISION

November / December Stay up-to-date in your landscape with planning tips and events from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

All of November Continue watering evergreens until the ground freezes. Soils must not be dry when winter arrives.

November 15 – 30 Set up bird feeders. Birds appreciate a source of unfrozen drinking water during the winter.

Remove the spent flowers and foliage of perennials after they are damaged by frost.

Mums can be cut back to within several inches of the ground once flowering ends. After the ground freezes, apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of loose mulch such as pine needles, straw or leaves.

November 1 – 15

Roses should be winterized after a heavy frost. Place a 6 to 10-inch deep layer of mulch over each plant. Top soil works best. Prune sparingly, just enough to shorten overly long canes. Climbers should not be pruned at this time.

Fallen, spoiled or mummified fruits should be cleaned up from the garden and destroyed by burying. Plant tulips now.

December 1 – 15 Hairspray works well to keep seed heads and dried flowers intact on wreaths and arrangements. Apply mulches to bulbs, perennials and other small plants once the ground freezes. Hollies may be trimmed now and the prunings used in holiday decorations. Holiday poinsettia plants do best with sun for at least half the day and night temperatures in the 50s or 60s. Keep plants away from drafts, registers and radiators and let the soil dry only slightly between thorough waterings. Be sure to punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions.

EVENTS October 29 – November 4 Tree week at Missouri Botanical Garden

November 17 – January 1 Garden Glow

December 8 Saturday with Santa at Missouri Botanical Garden

November 3 and 4 Doris I. Schnuck children's garden seasonal closing

November 17 – December 30 Victorian Christmas at Tower Grove House

November 17 – January 1 Gardenland Express

December 2 Chanukah: Festival of Lights at the garden

December 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 Supper with Santa at Butterfly House

November 6 – December 29 Winter jewels at the Butterfly House

November 17 – January 1 Garden Glow

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captivating

CONIFERS

Conifers are a staple in most landscape designs. The trees bear cones and evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves. We asked local landscapers to share their favorite conifers.

1. "This truly elegant conifer has exceptionally dark green, shiny needles that adorn the pyramidal form with dense, pendulous branching from the ground up. It is one of the last spruces to break bud in spring. An excellent specimen tree, it produces showy female cones that have a lovely purplish coloring before maturing to brown. Great in large pots or planted in the landscape." David Sherwood, Sherwood's Forest Nursery.

2. "The Oculus Draconis pine is a favorite here at the nursery. This Hindu Pan pruned conifer boasts beautiful green needles with bright-yellow tips. With such unique shape and coloring, this pine is the perfect staple piece for any landscape." Andria Graeler, Chesterfield Valley Nursery.

3. “If you are looking for a specimen conifer to add to your garden, look no

further. Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera' Compacta is a unique multi-stem conifer. This tree features eye-catching orange-red bark along with bright-green needles that float across its broad spreading canopy.” Justin Verbryck, Frisella Nursery.

4. "One of my favorite evergreens is the weeping blue atlas spruce. Their unique design causes them to grow out and then gently weep down. We use them to frame and draw your eyes to a focal point of beauty. They are a great specimen tree that we naturally blend into many of our waterfall creations." Josh Bauer, Bauer Falls. 5. “Green Giant Arborvitae, Thuja, has fast become a top selection due to its lush evergreen foliage and its vigorous, fast-growing growth, shooting up by as much as 3-4 inches per year until maturity. Its lovely natural pyramidal form adds majestic grace to the landscape. It matures to 30-60 feet tall. Perfect for blocking unsightly views, noisy neighbors or strong winds. It prefers full to part sun.” Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens.

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celebrate

EVERYTHING A Webster couple puts their personal spin on the holidays, creating a setting ideal for the celebration of new and old family traditions.

Shawn Eagleburger and Chase Sechrist live by the mantra “celebrate everything,” so it's no surprise that when the holiday season rolls around the two don’t just put up a tree and some lights and call it decorated. They splash special seasonal spice around every inch of their historic Webster home. Frequent entertainers who often host family and friends, the two decorate first for their own delight. “Our mindset in our home décor, holiday season or not, is always to first host ourselves,” explains Shawn. “When we get home at the end of the day, we want to walk into our home and be excited and comfortable.” In the fall of 2015, the newly married couple started a search for their first home that led them to the little old farmhouse in Webster. It was built in 1907 on land purchased in 1904 by Margaret Walch Smith, whose sister owned the home across the street, where she lived with their two siblings. Shawn and Chase loved the home because of its history and character, but most importantly it was a place they could make their own to celebrate family traditions, both new and old. “The celebration of family has been rooted in the history of this home since its beginning,” says Shawn. This year brought the couple a special opportunity to grow their family and share their home with foster children, making the

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By Melissa Mauzy Photography by Anne Matheis

Opposite page: Fresh garland wraps the entryway bannister, while a gold swagged tree leads guests into the home. This page: Gold holiday accents complement the brass hardware and fixtures found throughout the kitchen and main level.

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SMALL SCALE holiday season even more meaningful. Shawn describes their décor as personal and traditional. “Not traditional Christmas by any means,” he laughs. “But everything has a connection or meaning to us to bring back memories of the past.” For example, in the entryway, images of childhood visits with Santa invite guests into the home, where the senses are immediately excited by the smell of fresh cedar and boxwood garland draped on the staircase. Shawn says Christmas is the time of year one can really go overboard with fresh flowers and greens, and that little touch makes all the difference. A more formal tree swagged in gold ribbons sets the tone for the festive color scheme, which complements the existing everyday décor and furnishings. In the living room, the sofa is filled with oversized tartan print pillows and warm throws with touches of blue and gold that are also found throughout the home. The large tree in the living room is filled with blown-glass ornaments the couple has collected during their travels and meaningful life moments. They fill each other’s stockings with new ornaments each Christmas morning and keep a book marking where they got the ornament and why each holds special meaning. “Every year it is fun to unpack the ornaments and look back at the Top: New Orleans holds a special place in the couple’s hearts, so it’s only befitting their holiday decor include a twist of green, gold and purple for Mardi Gras. “It’s a great way to transition out of the holiday season in January and right into Mardi Gras,” Eagleburger says. Bottom: Oversized tartan print pillows and warm throws make the living room cozy for both the homeowners and guests.

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The nursery was a fun new space for the couple to decorate this season. Wooden blocks mix with ornaments on lighted garland to frame the window creating a whimsical space for their foster children.

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memories we’ve made,” Shawn says. Circling the tree is a train set gifted to Chase from his grandfather. Connected to the living room, the dining room is set and ready for holiday guests. As the physical center of the home and one of the first spaces that catches the eye from the front door, the dining room tablescape had to be spectacular. There was no question the floral centerpiece would include hydrangeas, because if the couple has fresh flowers in the house it is always hydrangeas. They love the way they go from fresh to dry, and the arrangement lasts through weeks of celebrations. Shawn purchased reindeer candlesticks and was just waiting for the perfect setting in which to use them. Their gold flatwear and china represent a memory from their wedding in front of the Art Museum on Art Hill. “I love how some of the pieces on the table arrangement could have

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been on that table back when the original homeowners celebrated the holidays more than 100 years ago,” Shawn says. Honoring and respecting the age of the home has always been at the forefront of Shawn and Chase’s minds as they’ve renovated and decorated the house. Extensive renovations they mostly completed themselves have made the home modern and comfortable to live in but they’ve maintained little touches of the Edwardian age, such as picture rail, brass hardware and the doorbell turn. “We have experienced so much joy in getting to know about who built the home and their story,” Shawn says proudly. “We haven’t been the first to live here, and we won’t be the last, but we get to take care of this home for a while while we have it.” Throughout the rest of the home are joyful decorations that simply make them happy. They bring out their favorite treasures during the holidays believing if you love it, it all goes together. “To us, the holidays are a reason to celebrate,” says Shawn, “to open our doors to family and friends, to enjoy traditions and to dream about all that’s to come.” See www.stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

Lauren Strutman Architects P.C. laurenstrutmanarchitects.com

Schaub+Srote Architects / schaubsrote.com

Donna F. Boxx, Architect, P.C. / boxxarchitect.com

Fendler + Associates, Inc. / fendlerworld.com

Brendel Architects, LLC / brendelarchitects.com

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natural

NATIVITY Bustio elegance defines a Clayton family's home for the holidays. By Shannon Craig Photography by Anne Matheis

ike the first light dusting of winter snowfall, James and Joo Czyzewski’s holiday home may be the fresh and glistening scape needed to inspire your season. The sprawling and intricate décor, designed by Robin Bretz of The Jeweled Cottage in Glendale, is the manifestation of what Robin describes as a few years’ worth of “throwing ideas around and seeing what sticks.” And, as it turns out, sticks stuck, along with other natural accents. Robin and The Jeweled Cottage previously worked with the homeowners on their kitchen and bath design, but the Czyzewskis were looking for something special to highlight the most wonderful time of the year. “They were entertaining and wanted to be sure the space looked good,” Robin says. “They liked the store, and we’ve been decorating their home for the holidays ever since.” Adorned with glittering fir branches, spun wooden orbs and an assortment of holiday bric-a-brac, the dining room makes for an elegant — and tastefully understated — backdrop

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for party guests or gatherings at home. Steering away from the typical palette that emphasizes “holiday,” the Czyzewski’s crisp smattering of metallics and natural woods, berries and greenery creates an idyllic wintry wonderland that is both modern and down-home. “We’ve added some things from year to year,” Robin explains, “but the homeowners love natural and kind of glittery. Everything is nature-inspired.” Beyond the kitchen, office and dining room, Robin placed special emphasis on the hearth, guaranteeing that all eyes would be drawn to a dazzling focal point. “I love putting the fireplaces together. Everyone spends time in front of them during the holidays.” And with such a delightfully visual space, it would be hard to tear anyone away. If, like many homeowners, you find the trappings of decorating too daunting during one of the busiest times of the year, it may be worth considering bringing in professionals. The Jeweled Cottage, specifically, provides additional decorating on a referral basis, while other interior decorators and firms across the St. Louis area have a variety of services catered to making sure there is indeed no place like home for holidays. See www.stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

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NOW ON

Visit our new showroom: 1047 S. Big Bend Blvd. 314-645-2722 • www.jonpauldesigns.com • Monday - Friday 10-6 & Saturday 10-5 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

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BRIGHT IDEA

tabletops

THAT POP By Barbara E. Stefàno

The White Hare

There is more to setting the Christmas table than putting out dishes — at least if one is also looking to set a festive mood. In addition to working wonders in the kitchen, make sure the main meal takes place in a dining room that wows the guests. It may not be as difficult or time-consuming as appears, as these well-appointed place settings demonstrate. St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles gave three local design shops the heady task of putting together tabletops that shout “Merry Christmas” from the snow-topped roofs. We set the designers loose in the dining room of a gorgeous home in Frontenac custom built by Stylecraft Homes.

The White Rabbit

Rusted Chandelier

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

LM-SLHL-Xmas-ad copy.pdf

10/7/18

1:23 PM

Visit The London Tea Room for high quality tea and unique gifts. Why not gift a loved one with an Afternoon Tea for two? Gift cards are available online and at our store.

CMY

3128 Morganford Rd, 1 block south of Tower Grove Park | thelondontearoom.com

BaumHouse Design KITCHENS

•

BATHS • INTERIORS

Wishing all a wonderful holiday season! Celebrating

10 YEARS OF DESIGN in 2018

1st place ASID Pinnacle award winner & 2018 St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles Magazine Gold Kitchen Winner

BaumHouseDesign.com 636-225-9000 | 11 Vance Rd | St. Louis, MO 63088

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

Elegant Evergreens By The White Hare

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The White Hareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of negative space makes for a very positive space for holiday guests. A slightly understated table features a charming centerpiece overflowing with evergreens, cotton branches and gold twigs. More rustic cotton rings the wine glasses in the center of the table settings, while green and gold foliage adorns the chandelier. The brown in the dining room doors is reflected in the napkins and tablecloth for a cohesive color scheme.

WINDOW WALK

9th Annual

CENTRAL WEST END

WINDOW WALK

Saturdays in December

DEC. 1, 8, 15 & 22 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Celebrate this holiday season while you stroll past festively decorated storefront windows in the Central West End. Enjoy FREE live music, carriage rides, carolers, street performers, ice carvings and more!

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

Blue(ish) Christmas By Rusted Chandelier

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Bold cobalt-blue-and-white Oriental vases inspired this teeming tabletop design by the crew at the Rusted Chandelier. The color scheme is carried into the setting elsewhere â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the blue-and-white china, towering urns, blue velvet ribbons, stemware and various table ornaments. Of course, it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be Christmas without generous quantities of holly berries and evergreens, and the introduction of gleaming gold with the candleholders, flatware and centerpiece.

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“Reclaimed Herringbone”

Classic Coffers™ “Suspended” Wood Ceiling

CUSTOM FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS SPECIALIZING IN COMPLETE WOOD INTERIORS

100% American Made

“Massive White Oak Plank & Table”

16092 Lageman Lane Brighton, Illinois 62012

877-297-2228

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

Festive Forest By The White Rabbit

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Who says neutrals canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make a statement? The White Rabbitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiday table is dominated by off-gold, twinkling trees strung with lights and adorable mini pine cones. Smaller brush trees sit in the undergrowth along with tiny reindeer and even tinier village homes, both glittering under candlelight. The table settings are simple and elegant, topped with metallic ornaments to make this table merry and bright.

All Wood Floor Company • 636-938-7510 1720C Westpark Center Dr., Fenton, MO allwoodfloorcompany.com

Allen Interior Furnishings/ Inside And Out 314-962-3100 9849 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, MO

Classic Metal Craft • 314-535-2022 1315 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, MO ClassicMetalCraft.com

Enjoy winter! Directions In Design, Inc. • 314-205-2010 1849 Craig Rd St. Louis, MO 63146 Directionsindesign.com

The Scobis Company • 636-530-7545 137 Chesterfield Ind Blvd, Chesterfield, MO scobiscompany.com

The White Hare • 636-441-1111 1010 Miralago Way, Cottleville, MO TheWhiteHare.com

Volume Carpet • 314-963-7847 8994 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, MO

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SIGHTS

Christmas in

SOLVANG

By Jamie Siebrase

Photography courtesy of Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

In the Danish community of Solvang, California, small-town merriment makes it easy to slow down long enough to enjoy the holidays.

t’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. For many of us, that means a Dyson clogged with pine needles and a seriously jam-packed schedule. When crowded malls aren’t stressing out the heartiest among us, it’s holiday baking, meal planning, cocktail parties, extended family gatherings and so on. Personally, if I forget to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I might miss the whole point of the season. This year, though, there’s a cure for the chaos: Solvang, California, where time moves to the easy tempo of horse hooves clip-clopping down tree-lined streets, and a quaint series of celebrations remind even the busiest urbanites what it means to feel merry and bright. When I first rolled up to The Landsby, one of Solvang’s upscale hotels, I thought I’d stumbled upon a lost village from Epcot. Words can’t quite capture the Disney-style, thatched-roof charm permeating the Danish village planted 30 miles northwest of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, a wine region comprised of six communities. Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, Solvang, which means “sunny field,” was initially a Danish-American farming colony rooted in Old World tradition. Even as they assimilated, the Danes of Solvang continued honoring their heritage, speaking Danish at home, celebrating Denmark's holidays and eating traditional food from their homeland. In fact, it wasn’t until 1947 that Solvang became known as the Danish Capital of America, soon after the Saturday Evening Post ran a story on the “spotless Danish village that blooms like a rose in California’s charming Santa Ynez Valley.”

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

When the town realized its potential to attract tourists, new provincial-style buildings went up, along with a handful of windmills, and Main Street became Copenhagen Drive. Despite the souvenir shops, Solvang retains a lot of its authenticity: Many Danish-Americans still consider it their cultural home and most local bakeries are owned by descendants of the town’s original settlers. A month-long celebration called Julefest (pronounced Yule-fest) is how Solvang welcomes Christmas, and the town’s kringle-scented bakeries are a good place to start a cultural immersion. Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery displays a giant gingerbread house during the month of December. A few blocks east, The Solvang Bakery is famous for its gingerbread houses, which are popular among celebrities and ship nationwide. With average daytime temperatures in the mid-60s, you aren’t likely to see any snowfall in Solvang. But in the nearby town of Buellton, 20 tons of powder is trucked in for Winterfest, Sunday, December 2. The annual event includes breakfast with Santa, a traditional tree-lighting ceremony and a parade of lights through the town’s holiday-themed village. Back in Solvang, the season kicks off on Friday, December 7, with the Julefest tree-lighting ceremony in Solvang Park, a modest green space scrunched between some 150 boutiques all decked out for the season and peddling everything from Danish clogs to high-quality antiques (try Solvang Antiques).

Photography courtesy of Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

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SIGHTS

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

Los Olivos

Photography by Liz Dodder

Los Olivos

The tree-lighting ceremony is a charming event drawing hundreds of visitors for live bands, caroling, dancing ballerinas — and the arrival of Santa. (If you’re traveling with children or grandchildren, Santa poses for photos from 4 to 6 p.m.) The festivities continue on Saturday, December 8, with a Julefest Parade with more than 400 participants marching, cruising and strolling around the town’s main streets. Window-shopping is a great way to while away a day in Solvang, and the town’s eclectic businesses run holiday deals and host special events December 7-9 and December 14-16. But there’s more to the Santa Ynez Valley than cute stores. With bentgrass greens accented by mature oaks, the two 18-hole championship golf courses at Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort offer spectacular views of the foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains. If you’re up for a steep hike, Gaviota State Park, south of Solvang off the 101, has a stunning cluster of windswept caves. Located in River View Park in Buellton, the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden (open year-round, sunrise to sunset) is a beautiful place for a stroll. But when the weather’s crisp, a treatment at The Spa at Fess Parker Wine Country Inn is another great way to dissolve holiday stress. You’re in wine country, so you’ll want to explore a few of Santa Ynez Valley’s 120-plus wineries and vineyards, preferably by horseback during a 90-minute tour of the 714-acre Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard in Los Olivos (offered through KAP Land & Cattle). For tastings, try Gainey Vineyard or Buttonwood Winery & Vineyard, the latter of which serves a hoppy chardonnay that’ll entice the most devout beer lovers. If possible, I recommend closing a trip with a free candlelight tour of Solvang, departing from the Solvang Visitor Center at 5 p.m. every Saturday in December. Participants explore the town’s downtown district, while a costumed interpreter discusses the region’s unique history. Between the glistening holiday light displays and heartfelt caroling, it’s the perfect ending to a perfect day. See stlouishomesmag.com for more photos and resources. Photography by Kevin Steele

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

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CONNECT

Places to go, things to do and see and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style. By Moe Godat

Gateway Arch Museum, Downtown St. Louis, MO Photography by Nic Lehoux. A towering symbol of the surge westward, the Gateway Arch is one of the nation’s most iconic American architectural landmarks and the museum within is an attraction in itself. Since its completion in 1965, the Arch has beckoned visitors to the Mississippi riverfront — but getting there has largely been tricky. The renovation of the Arch grounds has made the landmark more accessible to foot traffic from Downtown. For the museum part of the project, Architect Cooper Robertson, associate architect James Carpenter Design Associates, both of New York City, and Trivers of St. Louis collaborated to reconfigure existing interior space for improved galleries, public amenities and offices that preserved the original architectural elements. A free-access public lobby is housed in an addition, serving as a visitor center for the entire Arch grounds park. Guests will see echoes of the Arch in the circular shape and stainless steel and glass entrance, and in the arc of the landscape design that welcomes them to enter via the landscape. Built to Universal Design Standards, the Gateway Arch and Museum welcome all to enjoy a memorable visit to the great hall and the thoughtful exhibits scaled to its impressive size and scale.

Moody Center for the Arts, Houston, TX Photography by Nash Baker. Rice University in Houston, Texas, gained a new art building in 2017. Built and designed by renowned Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan, the Moody Center for the Arts serves as a space to unite the campus with varying forms of art. The center’s design focuses on cross-campus and community collaboration and transformative encounters with the students’ unique creations. To achieve this goal, varying sightlines through rooms and hallways allow one to stand in any given room and see both finished pieces and works in progress in adjacent rooms and workspaces. With multiple uses catering to all art forms, the Moody Center for the Arts allows for creative partnerships with visiting national and international artists. Rather than using only painted brick to separate rooms, the entire interior contains large glass windows to act as dividers while letting light flow between brick to create a playful atmosphere. A wide staircase rises along the north facade and turns toward the interior to create an amphitheater that doubles as an informal social setting. The modern feel on a historic campus caters to different art forms with classrooms, workspaces and galleries, while the artistic process accentuates the new age architecture of Moody.

NOV/DEC 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

DC Towers, Vienna, Austria Photography by Michael Nagl, Wien II. On the edge of the Danube river in Vienna, Austria stands the first of the DC Towers, finished and opened in 2014. This 12–year project connects Vienna with the future, bridging the modern city with its past. One facade is meant to face the future tower, and this side ripples to create a new vision of Vienna as a city ever warping, changing and growing. This contrast between the other three sleek sides of the skyscraper create a charged space at the tower’s foot for guests and visitors to experience. The interior, however, portrays a more constant and rigid feel. Walls do not hide the structure; exposed concrete and metal provide a physical experience for anyone walking inside. Another important aspect of the building is its location; perched on the edge of the river bank, the towers become a hub for economic endeavors. The location provides a distinct difference between the DC Towers and surrounding buildings as they are the tallest in the city. This exemplifies the towers’ mission to reach into the future while staying grounded in Vienna’s rich past.

STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM NOV/DEC 2018

Hixson Middle School PTO Presents: The 27th Annual

Sunday, December 2, 2018 11 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 p.m. Tour beautiful Webster Groves homes decked out for the holidays! Boutique and tickets can be purchased day of the event at the Steger Sixth Grade Center For more detailed information on the houses, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/WebsterHolidayHouseTour

http://bit.ly/JDRFKitchenTour