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Category 11 / Best Deck/Patio/Porch
Second Place: Mitchell Wall Associates, 2 The Pines, 314-576-5888, wall-associates.com
The Project: This growing, active young family wanted outdoor living areas that would serve as extensions of their shingled, Martha’s Vineyard–style home. First and foremost, it was important that the residence not overwhelm the neighborhood. Additionally, it was important that all areas blend and reflect the prevailing architecture of the house.
The front porch greets visitors and welcomes them inside the home while providing the structure with an appropriate grandeur. A large front swing was installed. Outdoor spaces to the rear of the house include a patio, a deck, a covered outdoor living room with fireplace, and the owner’s private balcony.
The deck provides a connection to the patio and the outdoor living room, as well as providing a transition from the kitchen. The outdoor living room acts as an extension of the gathering room. The stained tongue-and-groove wood ceiling of the outdoor living room completes the connection.
Third Place: Mosby Building Arts, 645 Leffingwell, 314-909-1800, mosbybuildingarts.com
The Project: The original deck on this custom home suffered from water damage. After determining that replacement was smarter than repair, a local architect designed a grand expansion.
The upper level closely adheres to the footprint of the original deck, updating the materials, securing water management, and building vertical brick piers that match the house.
To create more outdoor room, the usually ignored underside of the deck became a ground-level patio. More interactivity with the land inspired the landscape addition of a waterfall stream connecting to an existing creek. And for easier access, there are now three outdoor approaches to the deck, in addition to five entries from inside the house.
Category 12 / Best Residential Landscape Design Construction
Second Place: Goessling Design, 1005 S. McKnight, 314-569-0900, goesslingdesign.com
The Project: A healing garden equipped with sculpture garden, labyrinth, and moon gate echoes the Arts-and-Crafts style of the house. The garden was designed to look as though it had always been there and to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
Completely screened and elevated from the street, the front yard became a perfect place for a sculpture garden. When the design process started, the backyard was vacant except for a magnolia tree and Japanese maple, which were designed into the new landscape. To balance the feng shui, the designers incorporated a secret garden that also acted as a viewing garden from the house. Within the garden, the moon gate draws visitors into the space containing a charming gargoyle fountain with koi.
Due to little slope, the drainage in the backyard was problematic, thus the design sought to create a drainage field under the labyrinth. The labyrinth is used as a walking meditation for problem solving and peace of mind. Surrounding the labyrinth are stone walls that swoop up and down in a manner reminiscent of Arts-and-Crafts organic design.
Third Place: McKelvie Lighting Design, 1306 S. Geyer, 314-822-7114, mckelvielighting.com
The Project: With this project, the lighting designer worked with the landscape designer and architect to provide just the lighting the residents envisioned. The large porch was designed where an existing deck stood. The owners wanted a dramatic space where they could relax in the evening and also host sumptuous dinner parties.
Coves were created by the lighting designer to provide up-lighting to literally highlight the natural wood ceiling’s beauty. To complement this soft illumination, accent lighting was used to bring out the columns and decorative plants. Filters were used to bring out the true colors of various landscape groupings.
One spring, birds decided to nest in the coves. The solution: The lighting was brought up to full brightness, at which point the feathered friends found it “too hot for comfort.” The lighting for both porches and the landscape is on a control system into which a number of “scenes” have been programmed. The light levels are set for entertaining, dinner parties, low-light level for coffee, sunsets, etc. For security, at 11 p.m. the system automatically dims down until sunrise.
Category 13 / Best Bath
Second Place: Glen Alspaugh Kitchens & Baths, 9808 Clayton Road, 314-993-6644, glenalspaughkitchens.com
The Project: In this bath, in order to maintain the most efficient use of space while still achieving the homeowner’s requests, a standing makeup area transitions into the angled wall with a radiused cabinet. The inset cabinetry was designed to look like furniture and the fleur-de-lis adornments give them a decidedly French style. Lighting was very important to the customer, so a valance above the mirror conceals both down and up lighting, while sconces provide light on each side. Cabinetry is conveniently located next to the freestanding tub, providing storage in a generally problematic point of use. The cabinetry and paneling surrounding the freestanding tub matches that of the vanity. The combination of creamy, light colors and soft textures culminates in an airy, feminine space.
Third Place: brooksBerry Kitchens & Baths, 751 Old Frontenac Square, 314-872-7720, brooksberry.com
The Project: This master bath is part of a master-suite addition to a Victorian home located in a National Register Historic District and built to allow the homeowners to live on one floor.
Armed with a modest budget but a lofty vision, the homeowners wanted a space that lives big, including a doorless shower, soaking tub, large vanity, abundant storage, and a walk-in closet.
Drawing on the talents of the eager homeowners to do much of the finish labor and using many salvaged materials allowed them to spurge on some high-end finish materials while remaining environmentally friendly and bringing many naturally distressed elements in to bridge the new and old portions of the house. A full-length mirror on the wall behind the vanity visually multiplies the size of the space and allows a back-of-the-head look at the vanity. A pocket door opens up the doorway.
The recycled, 100-year-old claw-foot tub was donated by a neighbor. Three mismade antique glass doors and a cabinet shop’s old door samples were used on the front of cabinets built by the homeowner for the vanity and over the tub. The octagonal window was found at a salvage store; the Venetian-style mirror and historic woodwork were purchased at yard sales. The splurge item was variegated Carrera marble tile in several sizes and shapes: large tiles on the countertop, decorative nosing trim on the shower soap recess, wainscot transition and counter edge with mini mosaics inlaid carpet runner–style on the floor, surrounded by silver limestone.
Category 14 / Best Kitchen (Less Than 300 Square Feet)
Second Place: CLB Interiors, 1866 Craigshire, 314-721-3232, clbinteriors.com
The Project: The homeowners downsized after their children moved away. In their new home, the 15-year-old country-style kitchen with floral wallpaper was completely remade to become clean and contemporary.
Custom maple cabinets were given a natural finish. The floors were replaced with maple as well, and the ceiling was painted with a rich coat of dark black. The new kitchen is efficient, with side–by-side stainless-steel double ovens and granite countertops. A signature of the kitchen is the set of frameless frosted-glass doors above the double ovens. Pendant lighting and black granite create a distinctive and efficient island, and the breakfast table sits in the bay. The kitchen is enveloped in natural light reflecting off the lake.
Third Place: Glen Alspaugh Kitchens & Baths, 9808 Clayton, 314-993-6644, glenalspaughkitchens.com
The Project: Balancing the height of the vaulted ceiling proved a challenge in this kitchen addition. The solution: Varied cabinet heights prevent a prominent horizontal line from accentuating the high ceiling and instead allow the ceiling to flow from the rest of the room.
A large two-story window dominates one wall, accentuated on each side by the visual weight of a double refrigerator armoire and a mantel hood. A neighboring area was annexed for double duty as an office and walk-in pantry space. To create more tall storage closer to the point of use, pullout pantries were recessed inside doorjambs at the kitchen entry. A concealed TV area requested by the homeowner was located above the refrigerator. Other unseen storage features include pullout trash bins, pullout spice columns, a pullout cutting board, soap-pad trays, rollout shelves, and deep rollout drawers. Stylistically, exposed ceiling beams, chunky turned legs, and leaded-glass inserts in walls, cabinets, and the pantry door convey the ambience of an English manor. The 245-square-foot two-room addition is fully appointed with the following appliances: two dishwashers, a steam oven, a double oven range, a warming drawer, two sinks, a microwave, and two refrigerators.
