ARTISAN–Linda Cowell

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ARTIST

OLD WORLD SANTAS TELL A STORY

Linda Cowell’s favorite part of creating her Old World Santas isn’t molding the faces or posing the bodies. It’s selecting the props and fabric that will tell the story of each one.

By Karen Cernich Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

“There’s always a story,” Cowell says. Nicknamed “the Santa Lady,” Cowell has been creating these heirloom-quality pieces for 25 years. Her Santas, which feature vintage fabrics and old-fashioned toys like jacks and tops, evoke feelings of nostalgia and visions of a grandfather who carries candy in his pocket. Cowell draws on memories of growing up in Europe, where her father was stationed in the military, and her love of German Christmas traditions to create her Santas.

“I absolutely love the simplicity of Christmas there,” she remarks. From a workshop in her O’Fallon home, Cowell spends her summers creating the components she’ll need to craft each one-of-a-kind Santa. “I’ll spend a couple of days just molding and making faces, then a couple of days painting, staining and sealing faces, so when I need one, they are ready,” Cowell says. “Same thing with the bodies. I cut out and sew a bunch, make the wire armatures and stuff them. I make a whole bunch of socks and mittens and coats.”

“I have bins and pull whatever size body I need, and after I dress him in his black pants, then I glue the boots on.” Once the head and coat are in place, she can begin creating each Santa’s story. “That’s when the fun starts,” Cowell says. “I’ll see a picture in my mind . . . and it starts coming together.” “I’m one of those people who has to see

my options to create, so when I’m working there is stuff everywhere as I’m matching fabric with props. Is he a hunter? Is he a wildlife lover? Is he a toy repairman?”

For custom orders, Cowell interviews clients to gather information and has them fill a box with meaningful fabrics and items to incorporate into the design. Afterward, Cowell takes time to think about the Santa she could create, even praying about it before moving forward. “You really do get a piece of my heart when you buy one of my Santas,” she says.

Most of Cowell’s Santas, which typically range from 14 to 22 inches, are positioned on a base. She likes to use vintage pieces, such as antique silverware boxes or suitcases that she finds in second-hand stores. For Cowell, who has a degree in counseling, transforming discarded items into heirlooms is rewarding.

“I have a real heart for broken and hurting people, so I like finding something that has been thrown away and turning it into something of incredible worth,” she says. “I’ll find a 1920s suitcase with a burn hole, and my husband can put a piece of wood under the hole, stain it, then I put the Santa on top, and now this old suitcase is a treasure. I bring out its worth.” And its beauty. For more information, visit lindacowelloriginals.com. See stlouishomesmag.com for more photos and resources.

NOVEMBER 7, 10AM – 4PM

Learn great holiday table top tips and tricks and gain decoration inspiration from four local design stores.

— View in-store table top designs and virtual tablescape advice videos on our website

— Register online for door prizes at stlouishomesmag.com/events ($10 for one chance, $20 for two chances. Each chance will be submitted to all door prizes)

— 100% of door prize registration fees to benefit Whole Kids Outreach

Whole Kids Outreach is a non-profit organization serving seven counties in rural southeast Missouri. They offer an integrated approach for children, pregnant mothers and families. Their focus is to broadly address the many influences that place children at risk in isolated, rural, low-income areas. Donations and the money from door prize registration goes toward buying Christmas gifts for children in need.

GATHERING PLACE

By Kim Hill Photography by Megan Lorenz

A family of six embraces their loved ones and the holidays in a well-appointed modern farmhouse.

Builder: Rehnquist Homes Interior Design: Anne Marie Design Studios

he Hillin household is a lively one. Parents Andy and Nikki, four children ranging in age from 10 to 19, their friends, two dogs and a bevy of out-of-town family from Texas make the home a beehive of activity. In fact, moving to this home in Town and Country was triggered by Andy’s desire to be the “Kool-Aid” house—the neighborhood place where kids just naturally congregate. “We wanted to be the gathering spot for our friends and our kids’ friends,” says Nikki. To T make that gathering place even more appealing, the couple’s wish list included a pool, a large basement recreation area and rooms for everyone to spread out and feel comfortable. Lots in a development near Queeny Park fit the bill, and the Hillins were off and running. The lot happened to be across the street from close friends who were also building a new home. Nikki and her friend found award-winning interior designer Anne Marie Boedges to help with the design process. “I can’t imagine going through building and selecting every little thing without having some guidance,” says Nikki. “The whole process is so overwhelming, and Anne Marie is great about breaking it down into manageable chunks.” Boedges immediately recognized the Hillins’ desire for a modern farmhouse where nothing felt hands-off or stuffy. “They are a lively family, with a lot of things going on all the time,” says Boedges, founder of Anne Marie Design Studio. The hub of the home—the kitchen and adjoining hearth room—received considerable design attention. “We spent a lot of time laying out those spaces, rearranging door openings, walkways and just how the kitchen sits in the space to make the rooms feel unique,” Boedges says. The kitchen and hearth room feature a wall of large windows and sliding doors leading to the pool and outdoor entertaining area. A massive, custom metal range hood and oversized island topped with a miter-edged Aurea Stone quartz stand

Bottom left: Nikki Hillin says most of her Christmas décor is sourced from Home Goods, T.J. Maxx, Hobby Lobby or a massive craft and flea market gathering in Canton, Texas, called First Monday Trade Days. The traditional red and green Christmas colors Nikki favors work well within the context of modern farmhouse design, Boedges says. Opposite page: A massive, custom metal range hood and 9-by-6-foot island topped with a miter-edged Aurea Stone quartz stand as focal points in the kitchen. The imposing island fits well in the space because of the symmetry and balance in the room, designer Anne Marie Boedges explains.

Top: For the Hillin family, using this multifunctional shelving and desk unit from West Elm to achieve that goal worked so well in their previous house they replicated the concept in their new home, where custom barn doors hand-rubbed to look old open to a room off the kitchen the homeowners call the “puzzle room” or “homework room.” The shiplap wall adds a farmhouse feel. Above: With a concrete base and wood top, a table in the entryway is both modern and rustic. And heavy. “The movers said to me, ‘please make sure you know where you want this to go,” Nikki Hillin says of the Restoration Hardware find she had used in her previous home.

as focal points in the kitchen. “The hood is a surprise feature you wouldn’t expect to see, and it’s countered with a black, vintage-looking island that’s massive but fits in the space because of the symmetry and balance in the room,” Boedges explains.

For the perimeter countertop, Boedges selected a black granite in a suede finish. Textured and resembling soapstone, the finish hides water marks and fingerprints and is ideal for a dark color. A black apron sink from Native Trails looks and feels like concrete. Flooring is 10-inch wide planks from Castle Combe Grande. “This floor can take a beating, so it’s a good base for the entire house,” says Boedges. “It’s got a little texture and the color just ties everything together.”

The modern farmhouse vibe continues in the great room. The imposing fireplace is clad in large-scale tiles with the appearance of concrete. Boedges softened the modern vibe with a wood mantel. Overhead, reclaimed oak planks in varying lengths add character. Their placement only in the recess of the ceiling is intentional, according to Boedges. “The wood in the recess balances the weight of the fireplace and the rest of the room,” she says. Black cabinets on each side of the fireplace carry the same distressed finish as the kitchen island. The open shelving’s undercabinet lighting emphasizes family photos and treasured pieces.

For the holiday season, Nikki and her mother-in-law Connie remove every item from the shelves and replace them with her collection of gnomes accented with rustic wood signs, tiny trees and other well-loved Christmas pieces. They take away most of the rest of the house’s accessories as well. “My mother-in-law loves, loves, loves Christmas, so she comes from Texas the week before Thanksgiving and we decorate,” Nikki says. “Since we take everything down, I want to enjoy all the Christmas decorations for as long as possible before we have to take that back down again after the holidays.”

During the holidays, the charming gnomes can even be found in the master bath, a showstopping space featuring a wet room clad in porcelain wall tile from Marazzi that reinterprets traditional handpainted tiles. Boedges says the Hillins were on board with

Opposite page: The wet room concept isn’t common in St. Louis, says designer Anne Marie Boedges. “These homeowners were on board with the idea early on,” she says. “They loved the pop and really wanted the wet room to stand out.” The walls are clad in porcelain tile from Marazzi that reinterprets traditional handmade cement tiles.

Bedroom: The wall behind the headboard is wallpaper in a brick motif and provides texture. Homeowner Nikki Hillin saw a photo of narrow mirrors used on each side of a headboard and brought the idea to Boedges. Traditional Christmas reds and greens coordinate beautifully in modern farmhouse design.

Below: Mirrored tiles from Crow River Creations make a statement in a hallway leading to the master suite. “They make people wonder, ‘what cool building did you take these out of?’ but they’re new,” says designer Anne Marie Boedges.

the idea of a wet room early on. “They wanted the master bath to feel like a spa and have a ‘wow’ factor,” says Boedges.

Another room unique to the Hillin family is what they call the puzzle room or the homework room. Adjacent to the hearth room, in a space that might be a formal dining room for another family, custom barn doors open to an area where family members can lay out a puzzle for days or kids can do schoolwork. “I didn’t want the kids disappearing into their bedrooms to do their homework,” says Nikki. “We had this concept at our old house, and we liked it so well we did it again in this house.” The multifunctional shelving and desk unit from West Elm allows different configurations — important for multiple students learning from home during the pandemic. The shiplap wall adds to the farmhouse feel.

The reclaimed wood ceiling, the intentional placement of door openings and sightlines to optimize views of the outdoor spaces, antiqued mirror tiles in a hallway, the dog-ear corners of the kitchen island—all these details contribute to the overall feel of a house that looks effortless. “Everything we touched had a specific, special detail,” says Boedges, referring both to individual elements and the rooms themselves. “Like when you get dressed in your best outfit and put on the perfect bracelet, but you add a different necklace that ties in. Your shoes don’t match your purse exactly, but it all looks amazing together. That’s how we thought about this whole space. Every single room is balanced and intentional.”

For the Hillins, however, their new space just feels like home—an inviting place where friends and family can gather comfortably and feel welcome. Just like they imagined it could be. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.

Festive & Fabulous!

Months of preparation—and a lifetime of creativity—transform this elegant Town and Country residence into a holiday wonderland.

By Barb Wilson Photography by Anne Matheis

Builder: Lewis Homes

“When it comes to Christmas, too much is never enough.” That quote from the late Charles Faudree, a world-famous interior designer, has been this talented homeowner’s mantra for years. Raised in the Deep South, she’s made holiday ornaments since childhood, and the spectacular décor of her West County home at Christmastime proves her lifelong passion for the beauty of the season. But first, a little background information…

Six years ago, the owners decided to relocate from the East Coast. Both had retired— she from pharma, her husband from a lengthy career as a CFO, and they wanted to live closer to family here in St. Louis. Eventually, the couple found a classically styled residence in an upscale Town and Country neighborhood that appealed to their traditional tastes. Custom-built in 1992, the expansive 1.5-story had a remarkably open floor plan for its time. “The house had great potential,” the wife remembers. “We liked the architecture and the brightness of the interior, and the finished lower level was ideal for entertaining.”

Opposite page left: The dining table’s elaborate centerpiece complements the hues of the embroidered silk-on-linen drapes. Right: Bunched gold lamé and coppery sprays accent the staircase newels. This page: A stunning array of glittered deer, poinsettias, and fresh floral arrangements in the sconces and silver epergne centering the flame mahogany table create a festive holiday mood in the step-up formal dining room.

“Coming from the South, I like to use natural materials—feathers, dried pods, pinecones, twigs.”

With Lewis Homes as the builder, exterior and interior remodeling began. The kitchen, baths and laundry were redesigned to the wife’s specifications; all of the home's draperies were designed by Pizazz 2 Interiors. New hardwood flooring and vintage lighting fixtures were installed, and paint colors were carefully chosen to create a sophisticated backdrop for another of the wife’s passions—antiques! At one time, she’d worked in an antique store, and the home showcases a magnificent assortment of hand-selected period furnishings and accessories that reflect her appreciation for history and fine craftsmanship. So, it’s hardly surprising that she devotes the same meticulous attention to decorating for the holidays.

Although her “storehouse” of ornamental items has been collected since the 1980s, each year’s display is original and astonishing in its scope. She designs and fabricates the impressive array herself, combining favorite pieces with new creations and elaborate fresh and artificial arrangements. “Coming from the South, I like to use natural materials—feathers, dried pods, pinecones, twigs,” she explains, “but I’ll sometimes add shiny, store-bought things.” She notes that the color scheme varies from year to year but is always designed to complement the décor of each space.

The massive project typically begins in October. Asked if she has an annual master plan, the owner laughs, “No, I pretty much fly by the seat of my pants, but it all comes together. And there’s still glitter everywhere until at least July!”

A brief tour illustrates the energy and artistry she invests in each season’s

Opposite page: Gleaming in gold and copper, the owner’s handcrafted ornamentation emphasizes the décor of the 3-story living room, with its antique brass fireplace fender, serapi Persian rug, vintage Scot-Irish wing chair and rich earth-toned drapes. Fresh flowers fill Imari vases on the mantel. This page top left: A spectacular entry swag, handmade wreaths, and fresh noble fir trees greet holiday guests. Top right: Fresh poinsettias are clustered under an antique demilune table in the foyer. Bottom: Garland and gold lamé line the handrail of the freestanding main staircase.

In the family room, the color scheme shifts to the traditional red, green, and white of the season. Between niches displaying the owner’s collection of antique majolica, the fireplace garland [this page] and tree [opposite] are a dazzling pastiche of “sugared” fruit, amaryllis and magnolias, feathers, tallow berries, dried okra pods, and other organic elements.

panorama. Starting at the columned entry porch, holiday guests are greeted by a sophisticated gold-and-bronze color scheme that harmonizes with the brick masonry. Oversized bells and bows in faux birch bark ribbon are tied to the carriage lamps, and fresh noble fir trees flank the entry doors, which are draped with a majestic swag and hung with handmade wreaths trimmed with feathers, dried pods, birch ribbon and gold ornaments.

Inside the foyer, fresh poinsettias are arranged under matching early 19th-century demilune tables, topped with the owner’s collection of antique Imari porcelain. Garland and bunched gold lamé fabric line the handrail of the dramatic, freestanding main staircase, and blue-flocked, copper-glittered sprays accentuate the newel post.

The earthy colors and metallic accents continue into the 3-story formal living room, where the 10-foot main tree (one of four throughout the interior) corresponds to the palette of the furniture and draperies. Filling the branches are gold and coppery glass ornaments, pine cones, gold bows and lamé and—a salute to the owner’s Georgia roots—sienna-hued magnolias.

With an antique brass fender skirt and andirons, the sheen of the fireplace is repeated in a lavish swag featuring gold botanicals and amber glass beads. On the mantel are Imari vases filled with bouquets of fresh greens, roses, orchids and berries. “I love to do floral arrangements,” says the owner, “but there just isn’t enough time before Christmas, so Mary Tuttle’s does those for me.”

In addition to its stunning antiques and exquisite holiday décor, the living room includes a vignette worth mentioning. Grouped around a demilune George III sideboard in a side alcove are several small art pieces, each with a story. Commissioned by the homeowner, an oil painting above the sideboard portrays a building in Milledgeville, Georgia, that served as the governor’s mansion during the Civil War. On either side are original botanical prints by Crispijn van de Passe, a renowned 17th-century Dutch engraver.

Similarly elegant, the step-up formal dining room has a tray ceiling and is lit by an antique Italian crystal chandelier. Set for

Opposite page: The octagonal breakfast room is transformed into “kids’ central” at holiday time. Crystal-glittered fruit and foliage top the windows; Santa heads festoon the candle chandelier; and ornamented napkin holders, Christmas crackers, and sugar cookies embellish each place setting. This page top: A simple bouquet adds a festive touch to the guest bedroom’s red-and-white French country styling. Bottom: Ribbons, pinecones, and berries garnish the kitchen’s custom-built cherry breakfront, and the fondant-iced cake on the island is destined to become an annual decoration.

festive holiday gatherings, the double-pedestal dining table is finely crafted in flame mahogany and satinwood and surrounded by traditional Chippendale-style chairs. Glittering deer and a crystal-and-silver epergne filled with fresh gloriosa lilies, roses and hypericum berries create the centerpiece. On the wall, silver sconces with similar floral arrangements flank a tranquil landscape by a German artist.

In the family activity areas, the color scheme shifts to the traditional red, green and white of Christmas. The “kids’ table”—an antique Hepplewhite table with shield-back chairs— is located in the octagonal bayed breakfast room. Each place is set with custom holiday stemware, tatted linen napkins in ornamented holders, Christmas crackers and sugar cookies. Overhead, Santas festoon the candle chandelier and, for the colorful swag above the architectural window, the owner devoted countless hours to hand-spraying crystalline glitter on artificial fruits.

The “sugared” fruit is a key decorative element in the cathedral-ceilinged family room, as well, reappearing in the mantel swag and organically themed tree. Trimmed with feathers, birds, amaryllis, berries, okra pods, velvet ribbon and much more, the tree is a work of art in itself.

One final anecdote demonstrates the owner’s ingenuity when collecting items that just might come in handy at Christmastime. On the kitchen island is a beautiful cake iced in red fondant she’d once made for a holiday party. Too pretty to eat, she served the guests an alternate dessert, then preserved and stored the cake, which is likely to become an annual kitchen decoration. It’s said that passion drives perfection. Based on the wonderland this multi-talented homeowner creates every year, there can be no doubt that she is perfectly passionate about Christmas. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.