26 minute read
Artisian
ARTIST
Something to Bark About
Webster Groves resident turns wood into works of art.
By Mitch Schneider Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton
Woodworker Stephen Musial of Webster Groves often uses native Missouri wood to make objects from pens to home furnishings and accessories like charcuterie boards, cabinets and tables, but his work has included influences including family, steel in Pennsylvania, connections to Japan and the battleship USS Missouri.
“I’ve been involved with woodworking all of my life; my grandfather was a woodworker, and he was a pattern maker in a steel mill in Pittsburg, making wood patterns for the molds used in the mill. I learned from him and progressed on my own, and that’s how I got into it,” says Musial. For a time, Musial stepped back from woodworking as he studied architecture and began a career designing swimming pools. He decided to get back into woodworking in the early 2000s, taking on what he refers to as “handyman work.” He began building items like cabinets around Webster Groves.
Photography courtesy of Stephen Musial
In 2012, Musial acquired some teak wood used on the deck of the USS Missouri, the ship on which Japanese officials surrendered, ending World War II. Musial’s father was once a Marine who’d spent time aboard the ship. Musial used the teak wood to make pens, which he donated to charity auctions and retired Navy personnel instead of selling.
However, Musial was involved in a car accident in 2016 resulting in a traumatic brain injury. After the accident, he spent time relearning many of his woodworking skills; while doing so, he found one of his new inspirations in the woodworking world, George Nakoshima. Nakoshima (a Japanese American who spent time in an internment camp during World War II) was known for making large wood tables with smooth tops with “live” natural edges, a style Musial quickly adapted for his own work.
Musial notes that he considers his work a “labor of love,” which he hopes continues to positively affect his family and community. One way he plans on showing his support for the community is through continuing an Eagle Scout project his son began before the pandemic where he donated a number of wooden hearts to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. These hearts went to grieving families and acted as a reminder of lost loved ones. Musial learned recently that the hospital is running low on them and is planning on making more to help continue his son’s good work. To learn more or support Musial, visit him at www.woodworking@ musial.ws. See stlouishomesmag.com for more photos and resources.
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FOREST PARK PANACHE
Designer Lucy Willis breathes new life into a historic Forest Park treasure while meticulously maintaining the home’s original grandeur and architectural integrity.
By Jeanne Delathouder Photography by Karen Palmer Photography Interior Design Lucy Willis
Designer Lucy Willis ensured a grand entrance for her traditional Forest Park home with a classic striped wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils that wraps the front hallway and main stairwell. A peek into the powder room reveals a custom sink designed with Palmer unlacquered brass legs. Plumbing fixtures by Crescent Plumbing Supply, an authorized Kohler distributor.
with a reverence for traditional design and classic architecture, the new homeowners of this 1917 colonial revival gem were intent on preserving as much of the original structure as they could during an extensive restoration. The 5,500 square-foot home, designed by Gale Henderson—a prominent architect who worked with Raymond Maritz and Angelo Corrubia—sits in a coveted location just across the street from Forest Park. Upon purchase, the home required a complete overhaul, including all plumbing, electrical and heating/cooling systems. So, when the current homeowners, who are surprisingly only the fourth owners of this storied property, sought to restore the house in 2018, they enlisted Lucy Willis, owner of Lucy Willis Interiors, to take on the task. “I wanted to keep as much of the home’s original footprint, wood moldings and flooring intact as possible during the renovations,” the designer explains. “I focused on bringing the house back to life for the young family living there now while maintaining a traditional interior design aesthetic. As a result, the overall feel of the residence is very much in keeping with its age and former grandeur but has the warmth and inviting touches of a family home.”
Both traditional design and architectural integrity were high on the list of must-haves for the homeowners, who love to travel overseas, collect fine art and antiques and entertain family and friends. Lucy worked to ensure the renovations reflected their interior design preferences in a way that still allowed for casual family time together. High-quality, durable materials, fabrics and furnishings that could stand the test of time—and the wear and tear of young children—were also a top priority during the design process. Lucy kept this in mind when making her fabric selections for furniture and custom window treatments throughout the home, which include a gorgeous Beacon Hill silk in the living room, a sumptuous Kravet moiré in the dining room and a vintage Scalamandré for the kitchen windows. She also enlisted the help of Catherine Riebold at Sunshine Drapery for shade and drapery fabrication and installation. Catherine’s team went the extra mile to ensure the window treatments were crafted and installed to perfection.
“My favorite part of this project was brainstorming with Lucy as to how to retain the character of this home yet make it a comfortable place for an active family to enjoy,” Catherine recalls. “We discussed fabrics, rods and custom window-treatment styles
Opposite page: The living room’s colorful palette was inspired by all the natural hues of the surrounding Forest Park setting that can be viewed from nearly every window. A chocolate brown sofa trimmed in silk tassels is one of the homeowner’s favorite finds. This page: Catherine Riebold at Sunshine Drapery assisted Lucy with the window treatment fabrication and installation throughout. Here, sumptuous Beacon Hill silk draperies provide the perfect color complement to the room’s rich blue walls.
A view into the dining room beautifully frames one of the homeowner’s treasured oil paintings, making an impactful focal point over an antique buffet. Elegant sconces and a crystal chandelier lend a touch of sparkle to the room’s formal design.
and determined ideal choices that provided beauty and function. Lucy’s unique and exquisite accessories and artwork added much to the finished look, and her masterful ability to determine placements of these finishing touches added to the home’s grandeur.”
Another essential aspect Lucy considered before the renovation was the home’s highly sought-after location. The dwelling is ideally situated overlooking the scenic neighborhood of Forest Park, which greatly influenced the interior design. The homeowners are an active young family that enjoys spending time together in the park and the large back yard of their home. Lucy’s color palette draws on the natural elements on display from every window of the house. She selected nature-inspired Benjamin Moore paints for every room to create a seamless flow throughout the home. The creative vision for the living room’s rich color palette was a large pink magnolia tree in the back yard set against a vivid blue sky that reaches peak bloom in the springtime. The bark of the trees surrounding the property inspired the dark brown dining room walls, and the rusty orange fall leaves gave Lucy the idea for the room’s curtains. Hues from the paintings in the homeowners’ art collection helped guide the decorative finishes, such as pillow and furniture fabrics and accessories.
“As Lucy told me at the time the owners first purchased the home, ‘it was a hot mess,’” laughs Catherine. “With her design skills, it is now stunningly beautiful yet retains the charm of a family home for three young children.
Opposite page: The dining room’s dark brown walls were inspired by the bark of the trees surrounding the property and bring an element of coziness to this intimate space. Pleasing vignettes highlighting the owners’ cherished heirloom antiques and artwork can be found in nearly every corner of the house. This page: The home’s traditional style flows into the kitchen, which features polished Calacatta Oro marble paired with white cabinetry. Lucy customdesigned the copper range hood that lends a lustrous pop of color. The master bedroom takes on a soft and serene color palette to complement the dark wood antiques and magnificent four-poster canopy bed.
Lucy has incorporated many of the owners’ cherished heirlooms along with her own special finds. Every time I visit, I am mesmerized that each room—every nook and cranny in this large three-story home—has special visual treats. I can literally find something fascinating in every corner and on every wall. She truly has a knack for finishing every space, especially in this impressive historic home.”
Some of Lucy’s notable selections include a custom powder room sink made with Palmer unlacquered brass legs and topped with marble from the home’s original sink. For continuity, she chose Rohl unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures in both the kitchen and powder room. The lighting throughout the home features predominantly restored antique fixtures purchased from local dealers—Jon Paul Designs and Collectibles and Ronnie Vinton’s Cool Stuff Period. For the kitchen, Lucy customdesigned the unlacquered brass pendant lights from Rejuvenation and the copper range hood. The Blue Star range lends gourmetquality functionality, and the backsplash and island top are outfitted in elegant Calacutta Oro marble.
Luxurious touches that radiate an authentic traditional vibe include the living room’s Century chocolate brown velvet sofa trimmed in silk tassels that Lucy purchased from a dealer in Chicago during one of her buying trips in search of the perfect furnishings. To create a grand entrance, she strategically chose a classic striped Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper to cover the front hallway and main stairwell.
“The couple who took on this home restoration have always wanted to live on Lindell Boulevard,” says Lucy, “and they recognized what an amazing opportunity and blessing it is to be the custodians of a St. Louis architectural treasure. They entertain family and friends often and are delighted their children have such a wonderful home to grow up in.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.
All for the Family
With help from Tegethoff Homes and their longtime designers, empty nesters design an expansive new home where everyone can gather comfortably.
By Kim Hill Photography Anne Matheis Builder Tegethoff Homes Designer Diane Breckenridge Interiors
The great room space flows into a formal dining area. The interior designers suggested a floral fabric in blues and creams for the upholstered side chairs. “We wanted comfortable chairs you can sit in a long time that can also be moved to other parts of the room for extra seating,” says designer Colleen Ertl. The Fine Art light fixtures add elegance but don’t distract from the beauty of the barrel vault ceiling or the outdoor spaces visible through the large doors.
the owners of this spectacular new home in Ladue are all about family. As the parents of five adult children and grandparents of six, the couple wanted a home with more room for everyone to spread out.
Their previous house, traditionally styled with a formal living room and dining room, had been a wonderful family home for more than 20 years. As they approached their next phase in life, however, the couple wanted spaces where everyone could gather easily and often. A large great room, a kitchen designed to accommodate multiple generations of cooks at the same time and expansive outdoor spaces were high on their wish list. Designers Colleen Ertl and Megan Barry of Diane Breckenridge Interiors (DBI) had worked with the couple for years. Joined by builder Jim Tegethoff, the team reviewed the couple’s inspirational photos and specific ideas for their new home. Early on, the couple shared an inspirational photo of a triple barrel vault ceiling. “That photo and design choice began our discussions of style,
Above: A triple barrel vault ceiling architecturally defines the great room. Sited underneath the center vault, a sitting area appointed with a soft blue sofa and ecru chairs overlooks the expansive outdoor spaces. Opposite page top left: The homeowner’s specifications for the prep island included a dishwasher, second sink, refrigeration drawers and additional storage fresh foodstuffs. A white Zeus quartzite countertop contrasts with the wood island and hardwood floors. Right:A large family needs a big spot for gathering, and the corner banquette fits the bill. “Fabric is a great way to warm up a space that has a lot of hard surface,” senior designer Colleen Ertl says of kitchens. The wood chairs painted blue add a touch of whimsical fun. Bottom: A wet bar is tucked into a corner of the great room. color palettes, moldings and other elements,” says Ertl. “Because we’d worked with them on their other home, we knew the colors they’re drawn to.” For the new home, the palette included soft blue and creams. The large great room, featuring the triple barrel vault ceiling, includes several gathering spots. One is next to a large window overlooking the back yard and sited under the center ceiling barrel. Another space features two ecru sofas in front of the fireplace. Swivel chairs in the middle of the room draw up to a round, tufted ottoman, which also provides more seating. The room includes a formal dining area, anchored by a 12-foot-long wood dining table that can seat a dozen people. “With the dining area as a part of the great room, we wanted chairs that can be moved to other parts of the room for extra seating,” explains Ertl. “We selected comfortable chairs with fully upholstered backs and seats so you can sit on them a long time.” Overhead, two Fine Art pendant lights feature double-faced beveled
crystals floating in English brown metal frames. “We needed two lights because of the size of the table, and we wanted something you could see through to the barrel vaults and on to the outdoor area,” says Ertl.
The great room opens to a large, covered porch appointed with a TV over a stone fireplace, radiant heaters for cool days and ceiling fans for summer. The expansive outdoor space was a must-have for the husband. Tegethoff’s team installed concealed cavities around the rim of the wood ceiling; these cavities hide the mechanisms for a dual-roller system for both screens and vinyl panels. “When the vinyl panels are down and the heaters are on, that outdoor room becomes an extension of the house, even in winter,” says Tegethoff, the owner of Tegethoff Homes, a custom home builder and specialty carpentry company. The outdoor living space is their favorite room, the couple says. “We’ve ended up using this area even more than I thought we would,” says the wife. “It’s just where everyone wants to gather.”
Perhaps that’s because Ertl and Barry dressed the outdoor living area with furnishings that could go in a family room. “The goal is to make that room feel like it’s indoors,” says Barry, noting all indoor/outdoor furniture is covered in weather-resistant fabric. “We wanted it to be just as comfortable as the indoor furniture so they can sit out there for hours, which we know they do.”
The wife’s must-haves included two islands in the kitchen—one for prep and one where everyone gathers to talk and watch the action. “My kids like to cook,” she says. “I was specific on that island and what would be included, knowing our family gatherings are a lot of people helping out,” noting that the prep island includes two refrigeration drawers, a sink, dishwasher and storage drawers.
The islands are topped with a light Zeus quartzite, a material that requires far less upkeep than marble. The designers also kept practicality top of mind when suggesting the faux leather barstools for seating at the island.
In a corner of the kitchen, the designers created a delightful gathering spot. “We knew we wanted to seat a lot of people there, and a banquette is ideal for that,” says Ertl. “You can smoosh a lot of people on a banquette, especially little people,” referring to the couple’s grandchildren. The designers chose a floral fabric in greens, blues and crisp white for the banquette’s back, and added wood chairs painted a vivid blue.
Top: Well-appointed outdoor spaces, a must-have for the husband, invite the couple and their large family to enjoy every minute outdoors. The designers specified comfortable, durable seating that would be suitable for any indoor living space. Bi-fold windows and doors blur the lines between indoor/outdoor living. Right: A study located near the primary bedroom serves as a private retreat for the couple. “In the winter we’re in here a lot, having a fire in the fireplace and watching TV, just the two of us,” says the wife. The oil painting hanging over the green velvet sofa reflects the family’s love of horse racing.
With its stone exterior, cedar shake siding, limestone trim and windows and doors trimmed in white, the home carries a coastal vibe, according to builder Jim Tegethoff. “When you put all the elements together in this particular setting, the home really stands out as being one of a kind.” Windows and doors by Pella Windows & Doors.
Bedroom: The designers chose to keep the drapery the same tone as the walls, painted in Sherwin-Williams Argos, a gray-blue hue. “There’s just such a warm and comfortable feeling to this room you want to tuck yourself in at night,” designer Megan Barry says of the first-floor primary bedroom. Opposite page: The sophisticated primary bathroom features furniture-like cabinetry and a tile inlay.
The couple put great thought into their new home. A home gym was located on the main floor, in part “so we would try and use it a little more,” the husband jokes, but also so their adult children living nearby can access the gym through an exterior door, have a workout, shower in an adjacent bathroom, and be on their way without disturbing anyone else in the home. “This was wellthought-out by the owners, architect and designers, and I thought we executed the building of it very well,” says Tegethoff, noting the exercise room also overlooks the pool and landscape. “We were just all about having everyone using the house,” says the husband.
Thinking again about family needs, the couple specified a charming “bunk room” with queen-size beds. Barry designed the bunk-bed system to scale, and Tegethoff’s carpenters built it on site. “This turned out to be very, very cool and it’s something special I know their grandkids really enjoy,” says Tegethoff.
The grandchildren and children, along with the homeowners, were top of mind from the beginning, says Ertl. “The spaces in this home were designed for them to use for the entire family,” she says. “While it’s a gorgeous home with a lot of great movement, at the heart it’s very much a family home. It’s just a great hub for them.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.
Above: Tegethoff Homes’ carpenters built the queen-size bunk bed system on site based on designer Megan Barry’s custom design. The bunk-bed system pictured is mirrored on the other side of the room. “This turned out to be very, very cool and it’s something special I know their grandkids really enjoy,” says builder Jim Tegethoff. Opposite page: Bold blue wallpaper lends a cheery note to the laundry room, which also holds a gift-wrapping center.
JOY ABOUNDS
Something to see fills every corner of this small, perfect space.
By Lucyann Boston // Photography by Kim Dillon
If a garden could smile,
Gene Pulliam’s Glendale landscape would be grinning from ear to ear. It is at the same time exuberant, charming, beautiful, serene, artistic and clever enough to bring chuckles of admiration. Gene has managed to create this stunning, joyful tribute to horticulture and design in just five years’ time. And all in just a .15-acre space.
There is a hint of what’s to come in the manicured landscaping of blue spruce, boxwoods, oak leaf hydrangeas and colorful annuals in front of the Spanish-style bungalow. The gates from the front yard and rear of the property, tagged with signs proclaiming “GARDEN”, leave no doubt that something special is in store. “Where nothing would grow” just a few years ago, the shady narrow strip of land on the other side of the front gate now overflows with hostas of all sizes and shades of green. To help define the small space and add vertical elements to his garden, Gene built two pergolas. One further shades the hostas and screens a neighboring house with three large, drooping, trailing spider plants suspended in baskets from the top railing of the structure.
At the end of the shadow-filled walkway, an arbor-style gate with the sign “FLOWERS” emblazoned on top is true to its word. A riot of daisies, daylilies, blacked-eyed susans, phlox, bee balm,
coreopsis, Asiatic lilies and coneflowers, all organized along gravel pathways, teems with color-filled happiness. Along the pathways, hydrangeas, small boxwoods and diminutive evergreens provide structure and winter interest.
At the center of the garden, another pergola shades the brick-floored seating area accented to overflowing with flower- and shrub-filled containers. Streamers, which Gene picked up at a garden center and made up of tiny pieces of driftwood, dangle from the corners and sway in the breeze, providing a soothing, calming element. A collage of rusty farm implements, utilizing shovels, saw blades and rakes in artistic ways never dreamed of by a farmer, decorates the garden side of the pergola wall. A bronze of galloping horses races across the interior backdrop. No space is wasted. With earth at a premium, Gene builds upward, utilizing everything from terra cotta urns to old wash tubs on legs as planters for shrubs and flowers. There is not a corner of the yard his landscaping talent has not touched.
Although the garden is only five years in the making, the expertise that has gone into it reflects a lifetime of living with the land. Growing up on a farm southwest of Kansas City, Gene spent his youth working the earth and going to farm auctions with his father. His fascination with vintage farm artifacts, his appreciation for their design and history and his ability to cleverly include them at just the right spot in his garden are what makes visitors want to take an hour or two to explore the small space. There is something to see everywhere.
An old-fashion wire garden gate, immersed among the daylilies and black-eyed susans, is tucked just a few feet beyond the actual gate into the flower garden. The large, multi-spoked metal wheels leaning up against walls of the house and garage came from the hay rake he “walked behind as a kid.” Wooden wagon wheels trim other spaces. A whimsical statue looking like Will Rogers in full cowboy regalia stands guard against the back of the house and surveys the garden. A rusty, miniature windmill accents the opposite corner of the stucco residence.
Gene stepped away from his farm roots for a 42-year career as a mortgage banker but still owned a ranch where he raised angus cattle. The influence of his farm upbringing is never far away. The design and plants in his landscape, however, reflect his high school junior and senior years spent in Denmark, where the family he lived with tended an English country-style garden.
Ten years ago, a career move brought Gene from the Kansas City area to St. Louis. When he bought his home in Glendale in 2017, he knew exactly what type of garden he wanted to create. He considered the small yard “perfect” for the cottage garden he had in mind. The stucco and brick garage off an alley at the rear of the property and backing the garden space, however, “was falling down.” Rather than raze it and build something new, Gene decided to make the necessary repairs and salvage the old structure. “I thought, ‘No. It’s an antique,’ so I saved it. One of my grandmothers lived in a really old house and as a little kid I was attracted to really old stuff,” he says, describing his penchant for structures and objects with history attached.
Now, the garage is a treasure trove of Gene’s collection of everyday garden tools coupled with farm antiques and vintage garden pots and implements. Collages of plant tags decorate the walls like fine artwork. He has furnished one corner with wicker chairs including a rocker. “Sometimes during the winter, I come out here with coffee and read,” he says.
The garden includes 50 hostas permanently planted in containers. In winter the garage attic, which Gene built, provides a place to store the smaller dormant pots of hostas. The containers come out again in late March or early April. Watering brings them back to life.
Gene designed the garden and worked with a contractor to install the hardscape. Then, his own talent took over to finish the project. “I have no formal training,” he explains. “Everything I know comes from years of trial and error. I have a large garden library and I read all winter long and dream of spring.”
He created this hosta-filled shade garden during the Covid lockdown. “I’d come out here to get away from my inside office,” he recalls. Gene began with just a few hostas and when a friend noticed his interest, he suggested Gene join the Saint Louis Hosta Society, which Gene did two years ago. It proved a match made in horticultural heaven with Gene vastly expanding his collection and the group recently touring his garden. “It had to be perfect before I turned it loose,” Gene says with a laugh.
The garden’s small size makes watering labor intensive as there is no space for sprinklers. Gene estimates watering by hand can take three to four hours per day during particularly hot spells. Fortunately, it is a garden chore he enjoys. He is judicious and picky about the plants that he puts into his landscape due to its compact size. “Even the work area has to look good,” he emphasizes. “I don’t hesitate to fire a plant if it is not working. Real estate is in high demand in this garden.”
He never tires, however, of searching for additional containers and adding interesting and whimsical objects to the garden. “In the winter, I get bored. I’m always going to antique malls and picking up stuff I can use to plant,” he continues. “I have friends trained. If they see something out by the curb, they take a picture of it and send it to me. I’ll text back and say, ‘put it in your vehicle.’”
After a lifetime of owning various properties including the ranch and a couple of condos, one at the Lake of the Ozarks, Gene has spent “a lot of time going back and forth. This is the first time in my life I have owned only one home, and I love it,” he says. “I retired in March,” he continues, “People asked me, ‘What are you going to do? I thought, ‘You have no idea. I have a plan to do what I enjoy most.’” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and additional photos.
