In the spring of 2021, Heather Helms was hired to renovate the kitchen and primary bath of a house in Quincy, IL, located two hours northwest of St. Louis. Helms, who is the director of interior design at Srote & Co Architects, was tasked with providing both renovation and design services for a client who cherished the home where she raised her family.
But as the work unfolded, the homeowner decided she wanted to keep going. “Like with many projects, mine became a domino effect,” she says. “With each space finished the next demanded equal treatment.” Tearing down the wall between the kitchen and the sunroom flooded the space with natural light, taking the project in a new, and bigger, direction. By the time the work was completed, the entire home had been touched, including an existing swimming pool that was moved six feet to provide more outdoor space.
Get a weekly dose of home and style inspiration
Subscribe to the St. Louis Design+Home newsletter to explore the latest stories from the local interior design, fashion, and retail scene.
The house measures 2,300-square-feet and includes three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Its renovation wasn’t without its share of challenges. Renovating the property in parts—rather than as a whole—made certain decisions more complex, says Helms. Fortunately, there was enough time and budget to accomplish the client’s goals.
Here, we breakdown the details by room.
Midcentury Mood
The house was built right around the year 1960. Helms embraced its midcentury roots by using a neutral color palette throughout most of the house and by creating seamless transitions between the outdoors and indoor spaces. The original honey-colored brick exterior with gray-green trim was painted a contrasting white and black. Architectural lighting contributed to its fresh, streamlined look.
Sunny Days
The sunroom was designed to allow light to “dance around the rooms,” says Helms. Its earth-tone palette is complemented by terrazzo tile floors. Just beyond the sunroom is the pool and deck. The outdoor furniture is paired with orange and yellow cushions, adding a dose of vibrant color to the scheme.
Kitchen Cues
The kitchen renovation was a big job. The team built a new drop ceiling to allow more room for lighting, and expanded the kitchen island to accommodate more seating. The custom cabinets were designed by Cabinet Design & Decor in Quincy. The Victoria Suede granite tops were sourced at Gemstone, also a local business. The team sourced the appliances from Appliance Resource. The statement light fixture by Moooi is from Centro Modern Furnishings.
Living Well
The peaceful feel of the adjoining kitchen was carried into the living room, where white paint lightened up the original wood-beamed ceiling. Helms and her client selected some of the artwork from 1stDibs, the console from Arteriors, and the Lily Pad table lamp from The Natural Light. The upholstery was kept soft and airy. Both the designer and owner were delighted to discover that the Samad area rug amplified the rift-sawn white-oak floors that anchor the room in soft, neutral tones.
Bathroom Refresh
This entire room was rebuilt. The plumbing was relocated to allow space for a corner shower with penny tile floors and stacked tiles along the walls. A high-lacquer red vanity was custom-made with drawer pulls from Bossard. The Tableau Pendant is by Kelly Wearstler. The terrazzo tile from Waterworks.
Lower Level
Some of the most dramatic transformations occurred in the lower level, which was originally set up as a craft room. Now that the homeowner is renting space in a community workshop, the team turned the room into a cozy spot for her grandchildren to hangout. The new lower level features updated lighting, seating, cabinets, and a rug that was originally in the living room. A gallery wall displays family photos.
