On April 2, St. Louis Magazine announced the 2024 Architect & Designer Awards winners during a cocktail party at Third Degree Glass Factory, presented by Design & Detail. Winners are featured in the April issue of St. Louis Magazine.
Inside the Architect & Designer Awards:
A seven-part video series from the House of Lou podcast
Want to learn more about this year’s honorees? Inside the Architect & Designer Awards, presented by Design & Detail, is a new video miniseries from the House of Lou podcast. Hosted by Design editor in chief Veronica Theodoro, the series features seven winners of this year’s awards in a sit-down, one-on-one interview about their projects, with advice for local homeowners. Watch the interviews on this page, or find more about the series here.
Visionary Award
Randy Burkett, Reed Burkett Lighting Design
The Visionary Award was established seven years ago to highlight a local creative talent whose contributions have had a lasting impact on the design community, as well as the built environment. This year, we’re thrilled to bestow the award on Randy Burkett of Reed Burkett Lighting Design.
Randy is Principal of Reed Burkett Lighting Design. He began his practice in 1978, providing lighting design services for a number of national and international projects. Throughout Randy’s 30-plus years as an architectural lighting designer, creativity has been a hallmark of his practice. His work on challenging and significant projects can be seen in cities across the country, including in such spaces as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C., the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Wisconsin, among many others. Closer to home, Randy and his team have designed the lighting for the Gateway Arch, Lambert Airport Terminal 1, the Penguin Puffin Encounter at the St. Louis Zoo, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
Past Visionary Award winners include Amelia Bond, Esley Hamilton, Alise O’Brien, Carol and Pat Schuchard, and Susan Sherman.
Addition / Remodel
The renovated lower level provides ample space in which to relax on the sectional near the fireplace, challenge friends to a game of pool, or kick back in the home theater, where the paint and metallic-ink wallcovering foster an intimate atmosphere.
Outdoor Living
Kathleen Grim, Srote & Co
Connected yet distinct spaces flow from the outdoors into the home’s first-floor rooms. A crenelated turret covers the veranda, where the homeowners often gather for meals. The covered dining area offers views of the backyard pool and waterfall. The pool house, situated at the far end of the pool deck, is another spot in which the family dines and entertains.
Children’s Room | Use of Color | Use of Fabric / Wallcovering
Ashley Obradovits, Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath
This room started out as a blank canvas, but both designer and homeowner had colorful dreams in mind. The wallpaper and contrasting green trim inspired the room’s color scheme, which includes a bold pop of coral as seen in the dresser. Even the closet conceals a colorful surprise in the form of a contrasting wallpaper.
Commercial Restaurant Space
David Kent Richardson, DKR Interiors
Elegant quartzite finishes and personal collections create an ambiance that transcends the sporty setting and formidable 10,000-square-foot space housing Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria in Ballpark Village. One of the project’s biggest design challenges was casting reproductions of a 10-foot antique wooden door, part of the owner’s father’s collection, to serve as dividers spanning the main dining room and private event space, adding an element of sophistication to the large footprint.
Commercial Space
Rebekah Moore Murphy, Stone Hall Cabinetry + Period Restoration
In this historic restoration project, the roof was replaced with multicolored slate, the woodwork was repaired and painted, and the original transom windows were first uncovered and then restored. Solid mahogany windows and doors imbue the building with a welcoming old-timey storefront aesthetic. Inside, European-inspired design elements—including a black-and-white marble floor and statement light fixtures—abound.
Custom Furniture Design
Rebekah Moore Murphy, Stone Hall Cabinetry
This alcove seat, featuring a fluted back panel and crown-jewel shell motif, is fashioned after classical stonework seen throughout Italy, France, England, and beyond. A storage drawer forms the foundation of the piece; the top and sides are finished with wainscoting and crown molding, seamlessly blending with the surrounding walls. The bench seat is covered in a rich mustard velvet with a half-circle bolster.
Dining Room
Jenny Rausch, Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath
The designers chose Farrow and Ball’s Terre d’Egypte for the bar cabinets, and the rest of the palette was selected to complement that terracotta hue, infusing warmth into a largely neutral aesthetic. Wallpaper covers the ceiling, and a silk floral paper on the walls adds texture. The art, purchased on a trip to Barcelona, was framed locally. The room gets a dose of dimension and character from the pattern and shape of the dining table.
Foyer
Thomas Wall, Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design + Emily Castle, Castle Design
Large stone slabs establish an earthy feel, and hardwood flooring lends warmth and texture to this grand entryway. The oversized pivot door (not shown) serves as the centerpiece, setting the tone for the home’s elegant and contemporary aesthetic.
Great Room
Rebekah Moore Murphy, Stone Hall Cabinetry + Period Restoration
The cabinets flanking the fireplace are painted a soft neutral green, and the mullioned Gothic cabinet doors are accented with custom cremone bolt hardware. Rich blue velvet sofas stand out against the black-and-white marble floor, which leads the eye into a dining area complete with a built-in banquette and bistro tables. The custom-made fireplace, with a Calacatta marble surround, heightens the elegance of the room.
Historic Residential Renovation/Restoration | Vacation Home (outside of St. Louis)
Meghan Heeter, Castle Design + Caroline Kerckhoff, Stone Hall Cabinetry + Randy Renner, Period Restoration
The 100-acre lake property originally held two log cabins dating back to the 1850s. The team combined them to create one large family home. Then, the design team had the wall between the kitchen and dining room removed and installed large-scale picture windows with views onto the lake. The kitchen’s organic materials include a honed quartzite backsplash and countertops, brass hardware, and industrial-style pendants above the island. Inset cabinet doors and tongue-and-groove panels accentuate the craftsmanship that’s visible in the exposed log cabin walls. The team also sought to bring an airy feel to the space. Inspired by the homeowners’ desire to lighten the interiors, the team selected colors, fabrics, and textures for their soft and subtle qualities.
House of the Year | Modern Kitchen (greater than 300 square feet) | Home Office / Library
Susan Bower, Bower Leet Design + Kim Taylor, K Taylor Design Group
This house balances rustic elements with sophisticated finishes. Stone and wood wrap the interior and exterior in a design that embraces two courtyards. Two-story glass opens up to the formal entry on the street-facing lower level; single-story glass opens to the main living level in the back. Inside, the wood ceiling arcs over the front entry, living room, and dining room, creating cohesion.
In the study, ten-foot-tall oak cabinets with white alcoves line three walls, providing room for books, collections, and other items. The desk was handmade by a local craftsman. It includes a file cabinet, ample storage, and a glass top complete with a grommet through which to run electrical cords. The desk provides plenty of legroom and a view into the courtyard through two corner windows.
The kitchen features large glass doors and windows, and it opens up to the great room and dining room, permitting flow from one part of the house to the next. Standout features include two islands, a beverage alcove, and a 10-foot-tall appliance wall. The main cooking area holds custom walnut cabinets with stainless-steel toe kicks and beveled-edge quartz countertops. The beverage alcove’s floor-to-ceiling black-stained cabinets feature pocket doors and interior lighting. One side holds a mirrored bar cabinet, the other a coffee cabinet.
Modern Bath (less than 150 square feet)
Tyler Small & Rebekah Moore Murphy, Stone Hall Cabinetry + Period Restoration
Despite its minimal, modern approach, this small bathroom is complex in its layers. The granite wall functions as a base for the built-in stone sink with fluted cabinet apron, brass lip, and stone shelf details. The selection of a sculpture-like sconce and modern black-and-brass chandelier add interest to the room’s 12-foot ceiling and white-painted walls. Zellige wall tile, installed on all four walls, provides visual and textural interest.
Modern Bath (greater than 150 square feet)
Andrea Liston-Jones, Liston Design Build
Liston-Jones and her team carved out more space in this 200-square-foot bath by removing the existing shower walls, reworking the plumbing, and replacing the tub and deck with a freestanding soaking tub. The monochrome palette, new shower with glass enclosure, and marble floor add to the room’s serene spa-like ambiance.
Modern Interior Design
Julie Abner, Julie Abner Interiors
The homeowner wanted this room to be both dramatic and livable, with comfortable seating and space to showcase artwork. A baby grand piano serves as another point of interest. The moody palette lets the light fixture, brass objets and barware, and textiles shine.
Modern Kitchen (less than 300 square feet)
James Howard, Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath + Emily Castle, Castle Design
The key to adding natural light and connectivity to this 190-square-foot space was to bring the outside in through custom windows that run cabinet to cabinet and from counter to soffit, requiring minimal trim. An opening from kitchen to dining room permits flow to the rest of the home. The straight-grain cherry-veneer cabinets are accessorized with lift doors and pull-out shelves that conceal storage for appliances and other essentials. The reflective stainless-steel wall (not shown) enhances the sense of light and spaciousness, and pop-up counter outlets flank the cooktop.
New Build
Thomas Wall, Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design
This custom floor plan is notable for having two separate owner’s suites, each with its own wing, on opposite sides of the house, intersected by another plane, this one holding common spaces. Visitors to the house are met by a set of cantilevered stairs. A massive wall of stone is perforated with portals to various rooms.
Powder Room
Amy Studebaker, Amy Studebaker Design
New wallpaper in an eye-catching pattern is complemented by an antique mirror. The custom-designed vanity, ceiling, trim, and door are all lacquered in the same soft green as the wallpaper, creating a simple yet elegant look that defines this small space.
Primary Suite
Amy Studebaker, Amy Studebaker Design
This serene escape started with creamy white walls but was warmed with the use of soft greens and ivories in both the fabric and furniture. A stained table balances the painted furniture, and a geometric pattern appliqué, rendered in millwork on the ceiling, adds interest.
Specialty Room
Jenny Rausch, Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath
A second-floor renovation in this historic home was fueled by a passion for color, texture, and wallpaper that extended into a new laundry room. Originally a fifth bedroom, the space was given a marble-and-travertine checkerboard floor, green-painted cabinets, and a moody floral wallpaper.
Traditional Bath
Jenny Rausch, Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath
On the second floor of a historic home, the team found space in a former closet to add a shower to an existing bathroom. The shower’s curved opening is a nod to the home’s architecture, as is the soldier course, which adds interest to the subway tile and is inspired by the turn-of-the-century exterior brickwork. The antique light fixtures are a historically appropriate addition.
Traditional Interior Design
Ashley Obradovits, Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath
Color, antiques, and cherished heirlooms come together in this traditional, family-friendly design. Wallpaper adorns the upper half of the dining room. The applied wainscoting below is easy to wipe clean. In the living room, an antique flamed bamboo case displays a collection of antique pitchers and fits in seamlessly with the chintz chinoiserie drapery panels, a custom console table, and bench stools covered in Schumacher performance fabric.
Traditional Kitchen (less than 300 square feet)
Meghan Heeter, Castle Design + MDG Renovations + Marc Christian Fine Cabinetry
Set in a stately turn-of-the-century home, this renovated space is influenced by classic American architecture and graced with an array of details, including raised-panel cabinets, a coffered ceiling, and ironwork accents inspired by the home’s grand foyer staircase banister. Artistic Tile’s Sakura mosaic showcases a delicate cherry tree design celebrating the gardens just outside the kitchen window. The embroidered Colefax and Fowler fabric on the stools adds another element of pattern and personality.
Traditional Kitchen (greater than 300 square feet)
Rebekah Moore Murphy, Stone Hall Cabinetry + Period Restoration
A paint-and-stain cabinet finish and mixed metals heighten the appeal of this custom kitchen. The refrigerator panels are fashioned from natural walnut and studded with bright brass hinges and latches, giving the appearance of an old-fashioned icebox. The La Cornue range, finished in polished brass and glossy black paint, features a custom hood that runs the length of the nearly 13-foot ceiling. The pantry, 12 inches deep, is fitted with a walnut larder cabinet and drawers with inlaid text. The walnut top holds space for such small appliances as a toaster, coffee pot, and blender.
