Photography by Dilip Vishwanat
PERHAPS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO ELSEWHERE, or maybe because we don’t want to go elsewhere, our private outdoor spaces are more cherished—and more used—than ever. It’s crucial, therefore, that the professionals charged with building, renovating, and styling them are nothing less than top-shelf. We need them to be reputable, responsible, on time, and on budget. Good taste helps, too.
Here we share our list of St. Louis–area companies that we consider to be all of the above.
Pools
6 THF
636-532-3133
Forty-two-year-old Baker Pool & Spa is one of the more senior pool companies in the city, and it is also one of the only ones to combine construction, installation, service, and retail. Still, it’s integrity and quality it talks up the most. “As far as the swimming-pool industry goes, our advantage is that we design intelligently,” says Ray Holt, the man in charge of Baker’s construction arm. “Sometimes a customer chooses really expensive bells and whistles that they may not realize are going to add several thousand dollars to the price. We walk them through all the implications of each decision they make.”
On John and Amy Ryan’s original pool wish list was a diving board, saltwater, and expansive concrete decking, all of which Baker explained might not be worth the money. “They were very honest, very upfront,” says Mrs. Ryan. “We followed their advice, and in the end were so glad we did.”
221 Way
314-822-7946
Prior to opening Liquid Assets Pools six years ago, John Jacobsen worked for several other pool companies in the area. He took away many lessons from those tours of duty.
“So many times, you have foremen not showing up, no one telling the customer about it, and the customer ends up getting upset,” he says.
Determined not to let his business become a cliché, Mr. Jacobsen checks in daily with his clients, usually via text message or email. And whereas most pool builders offer a choice of pool type (concrete, fiberglass, liner), Liquid Assets sticks with concrete. “That’s because there are only so many designs to choose from with liners and fiberglass,” he says “With concrete, you get a completely custom design every time.”
Landscape
1605 S. Big Bend
314-645-7333
At first glance, Garden Heights Nursery looks like just-a-pretty-face garden shop. Look past the bright interior and becoming displays, however, and you’ll discover a real-deal, full-service garden center. Its catalog of vegetation includes the usual suspects, plus bonus doses of shade plants, small-scale ornamentals and shrubs, citrus trees, and organic edibles. The accessory and tool selection is equally deep. Keep an eye out this spring for two pretty but hardworking new additions to Garden Heights: a conservatory and a kitchen garden.
Poynter Landscape Architecture & Construction
1518 Jedberg Ln.
636-256-2600
Most businesses that boast this many services, staff members, college degrees, and certifications are commercial firms, not residential. Poynter Landscape Architecture & Construction chose to focus on homes when it opened in the early 1990s, and since then it has become virtually the gold standard in that market. “Our staff,” says Poynter’s marketing director, Mandy Purviance, “is made up of landscape architects, horticultur-ists, floriculturists, engineers. Our ironworkers are artisans.”
Poynter’s services run the gamut from landscaping and hardscaping to erosion control, decking, and pest prevention. What makes the company special is the fact that it handles all of these services in one business.
Moynihan & Associates
6651 Dale
314-645-5200
Aside from his exceptional talent and somewhat famous reputation, designer Matt Moynihan is also extremely easy to work with. “We don’t have a ‘look’ that we push,” he says. “If you look at our portfolio, you’ll find contemporary gardens, wild meadows, a whole variety.”
Mr. Moynihan is known for certain things—pushing the design envelope, for instance, and more recently, gardening responsibly and sustainably—but in the end it’s what you want that he delivers. It’s a refreshing surprise in a business where talent, success, and high demand can sometimes equal snooty, dismissive attitudes.
20519 Richview
Nashville, Ill.
618-521-4527
Customers’ calls go straight to Tyler Engele’s cell phone. And it’s his face they’ll see on the job site each day. If homeowners have a problem with the work being done on their property, “The problem is mine,” Mr. Engele says. It’s that kind of diligence that gets some St. Louisans to sign up Engele (based 50 miles away) for its landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation, and lighting. “We don’t have multiple crews,” Mr. Engele says. “My brother works for me—we both have degrees in plant and soil science. My dad does my ironwork.”
1011 N. Woodlawn
314-965-3070
Sugar Creek Gardens’ selection of more than 2,000 perennials is maybe the best around, and the company’s “We Plan, You Plant” program invites gardeners to bring in their ideas, photographs, and magazine clippings for a free consultation. “The perennials we sell, you’re not going to find at The Home Depot or any other nursery in the state,” says manager Kim Reiss.
Longtime customer Mary Ellen Hetenyi shops Sugar Creek for both her contract-garden business and her own home garden. “I think their selection of shade plants is the best I’ve ever seen,” she says.
Ponds
314-288-7544
David Johnson finds himself undoing ponds and other water-garden features nearly as often as he builds them from scratch. The reason, says the man behind The Outsider Landscape Design, is that
other companies don’t always listen to their customers. “I had a homeowner in Lafayette Square who wanted a formal, Victorian-style garden,” Mr. Johnson says. “They took me to their backyard to show me another company’s attempt. What I saw didn’t match what was coming out of their mouths.”
Mr. Johnson took over the reins and delivered a scene so on-point, the homeowner has asked him back multiple times to expand and freshen up the garden.
352 Jungermann
636-928-3508
They call themselves “The Pond Guys” because that’s their specialty. Owner Art Ruebel has been designing and installing ponds for 22 years, long enough to know exactly what each project will entail, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. Kathy Deckelbaum saw The Pond Guys’ work all around her Austin Ridge neighborhood, but was surprised by how unique it was able to make her pondscape, as well as by its straight-talking professionalism. “They’ve been here twice for projects,” Mrs. Deckelbaum says. “Both times they gave me an estimate, and both times the estimate is exactly what I paid. They back up their warranty, too.”
636-274-5133
It was about 17 years ago that Todd Rundquist realized Mother Nature wasn’t the only one who could make waterfalls. Since then, he’s been at the helm of his successful Wildwood water-gardening business, West Winds Earthscaping.
“I’m the boss who is always working,” Mr. Rundquist says. “First with the pencil to design it, then with the sales hat to market and sell it, then with the shovel and tractor in the field.”
Mr. Rundquist also strives to be eco-friendly. He devised a natural biological filtration system that keeps his ponds crystal-clear without any chemicals, maintenance, or danger to wildlife. And he tucks native, wildlife-attracting plantings around his waterfalls and ponds.
The result is happiness not only for the homeowners, but also for the creatures that walk their properties. “I learned a long time ago that a good name is to be treasured more than gold or silver,” Mr. Rundquist says.
Patios
Crowdus Custom Homes & Remodeling
20 Lochhaven
314-581-4272
Steve Crowdus’ docket includes the occasional patio, pool, and landscaping project. But it’s not his portfolio that keeps customers coming back multiple times. It’s his work ethic. “He’s very proficient in terms of permits and going by the letter of the law, and extremely knowledgeable,” says customer David Donahoo, who brought Mr. Crowdus in on his current and former Wildwood homes. “Everything Steve has ever done for us has been this way.”
On time, on point, and on budget is one way to earn a reputation of integrity; looking out for customers’ back pockets is another. Before breaking ground on a project, Mr. Crowdus often encourages homeowners to check the annual appreciation value for homes in their neighborhood. “My challenge is to see a client pay for their project over time by appreciation,” Mr. Crowdus says.
12901 St. Charles Rock
314-291-3200
Kirchner’s selection of masonry products, such as natural flagstone, concrete pavers, and clay-brick pavers, is as deep as it gets in this area. “When you’re trying to do these outdoor spaces, it’s the combination of these that make the spaces special,” says Kirchner sales manager Mark Wilhelms.
Kirchner is a licensed manufacturer of Versa-Lok, a well-known brand of retaining wall, and the only manufacturer of Romanstone, its brand of interlocking concrete pavers. “Our big thing is the colors that we have—they’re geared to what people like in our area,” Mr. Wilhelms says. “Drive along the highways and see the natural rock cuts. We try to mimic that.”
311 Sante
314-909-8787
“There are some landscapers that have what they call masons, but in my opinion, to be a true mason you have to be able to lay stone on rock and sand, lay stone on concrete with a mortar bed, and build a structurally sound wall—and do it all skillfully and artfully,” says Mark Seibel.
J.V. Seibel & Sons employs only trained masons. The three-generations-old family business designs and builds pools, fireplaces, and sculptures, and patios. “You can buy stone that’s precut and ready to go,” Mr. Seibel says. “But that’s not what we do. We take each stone and chip it and craft it according to what the customer wants. That’s what they’re paying for.”
Decks and Porches
Artistic Decks & Custom Design
1515A Lonedell Industrial
Artistic Decks & Custom Design owner Derrick Brumley thinks it’s very easy to get caught up in the hundreds of decking products out there—composites, vinyls, woods, etc.—when in reality, it’s the installation that matters the most. “Deck building is very precision-oriented,” Mr. Brumley says. “It has to be, because you’re not covering it up with anything.”
Mr. Brumley employs only experienced deck builders, as opposed to carpenters or home builders, to ensure the highest level of craftsmanship. Customer Sarah McLafferty noticed the difference pronto in her new deck and screened-in porch. “Our original deck had come with the condo, and it wasn’t holding up,” Mrs. McLafferty says. “The new one, it just has something extra—in its layout, its sealing, its look.”
620 Spirit Valley
636-532-4054
Even if you’re not in the market for a deck, it’s worth a trip to Chesterfield Fence & Deck to check out its new showroom. Twice the size of the company’s former space, the new showroom features true-to-scale displays of decks, fencing, and sunrooms. Between their new digs, 41 years of experience, and huge staff, it’s safe to say this is a no-nonsense operation. According to Tom Compas, whose Wentzville vinyl deck came from Chesterfield Fence & Deck, the company’s service is equally impressive. “I was amazed the entire project took only four days on-site,” Mr. Compas says. “Plus, everything was neatly cleaned up.”
9227 Manchester
314-968-3325
Mike Brueggenjohann, a California Custom Decks staff member, says he considers it a plus that the company’s ranks are small and include no sales-people or part-timers. The company might not be able to handle a large number of projects at once, but on the projects it does handle, customers get complete and undivided attention. “Our company has no alliances with building-products manufacturers, either,” says Mr. Brueggenjohann, “so choosing materials for projects is totally unbiased. Customers get an opportunity to be introduced to all of the best choices available.”
The majority of California Custom Decks’ business involves the full design-build process, but the company does have a retail division that sells products to do-it-yourselfers. “We also offer a line of services,” Mr. Brueggenjohann says. “Homeowners can come into our showroom, view options, and discuss the project with our experts. We even offer drafting and permitting services.”
645 Leffingwell
314-909-1800
Mosby Building Arts has enjoyed brisk business in the outdoor-structure category for the past several years. Some of this certainly has to do with the nationwide refocusing of time and money on the home, rather than on vacations and other luxury items. But marketing director Toby Weiss likes to think it also has a lot to do with Mosby’s Home Life Planning, an approach centered around accessibility and universal design. “Everyone knows about accessible design inside the house,” Ms. Weiss says. “But they get excited when you point out that it applies to the outdoors as well.”
For one of its customers, Mosby recently installed a new concrete patio with a ramp leading to the backyard, an ergonomically scaled potting table, and low-clearance passageways. “The ramp actually looks very beautiful and seamless with its surroundings,” Ms. Weiss says.
Furniture & Accessories
825 S. Lindbergh
314-993-5570
Forshaw’s advertising jingle is a St. Louis staple—partly because it’s been played a few zillion times over, and partly because it’s true. There really is no other store like Forshaw. It has the biggest showroom in the city (24,000 square feet), it’s been around the longest (since 1871), and at its helm have stood four generations of Forshaws (and counting).
At this point, it’s no surprise that St. Louisans trust Forshaw. Customer Alyson Barclay has returned to them again and again over the years, most recently for work on a sunroom fireplace. Less obvious is Forshaw’s solid reputation among vendors. That equals a bigger selection, better pricing, and more options than with other, newer retailers. “We are the area’s largest retailer for Winston, Woodard, Brown Jordan, Hanamint, Treasure Garden umbrellas, and Outdoor Lifestyle, along with many more,” says owner Joe Forshaw.
14121 Manchester
636-227-4044
Seasonal Concepts, the self-proclaimed outdoor-furniture expert, is loaded down with chairs, tables, umbrellas, rugs, pillows, chaises, fire pits, lighting, and more—in an equally mind-boggling number of fabrics, finishes, and styles. Its displays are chock-full, too. “We make them really comprehensive in terms of accessories, matching umbrellas, place settings—all the details,” says manager Steve Rodell.
This is the second year Seasonal Concepts has offered its Worry-Free Winter Storage Program, in which customers can pay a fee to have the retailer pick up, wrap, and store their outdoor furniture for the winter. “When spring comes around, our delivery professionals bring your furniture back cleaned and re-create your outdoor living space,” Mr. Rodell says.
Amini’s Home, Rugs & Game Room
17377 Chesterfield Airport
636-537-9200
Known above all for pool tables, Amini’s may seem a peculiar place to call out for top-notch outdoor furnishings. But it was the store’s knack for styling the game room (a part of the house not necessarily known for its style) that four years ago led it to branch out into another oft-overlooked part of the home: the outdoors. Now Amini’s is the city’s exclusive carrier of some of the chicest brands in outdoor furnishings, including Mallin Casual, OW Lee, and Tommy Bahama. “It’s a seasonal item, but when it’s in season, it’s our No. 1 item,” says CEO Arash Amini.
8935 Manchester
314-961-1985
“Anytime someone is at my house or in my yard and asks me where I got this or that, it’s always from The Gifted Gardener,” says customer Lori Eby.
“This or that” refers to The Gifted Gardener’s stylish mix of home and garden items, including accessories, planters, and gift items. But cool-looking lanterns are the first thing you notice upon walking in the door. So cool, in fact, there’s a good chance they’re what you’ll walk out the door with as well. Around 20 different lanterns are in stock, ranging in style from tabletop to free-standing to hanging and in price from $20 to $200. Even owner Jim Heeter is tempted from time to time. “We just got this new one in—it’s like an old railroad lantern. It has a sort of Captain Nemo look to it,” Mr. Heeter says. “I had to take one home for myself the second I unpacked it.”
Another new temptation: battery-operated outdoor candles (see pg. 16). Built-in timers turn them on and off at preset times. Mr. Heeter took those home as well: “I put them inside lanterns and hung them from my backyard trees.”
