A room is never truly complete until the art is up on the walls and the objects we love are sitting on shelves and adorning the mantelpiece, inviting us to reflect on where we were or who we were with when we first laid eyes on them. Art is perhaps the finishing touch in a house, because it says so much about who we are and what we value.
The subjects of this month’s issue certainly know this to be true. The devoted collectors profiled on pages 34-37 fill their homes with objects inspired by a childhood passion or the memory of a beloved family member. Dr. John Merkle can trace his interest in ancient art to his grade school days, and he’s spent much of his adult life amassing a brilliant collection of antiquities—Greek and Roman, Mayan and Egyptian—that he proudly displays in his Compton Heights house. Similarly, musicians Suzy Bacino and Michael Eisenbeis and retired graphic designer John Foster appreciate the act of simply living with their respective ensembles, observing and contemplating them. “I’m not one of those people that has a lot in storage; I want to be around it,” says Foster. The unforeseen joys of collecting, these enthusiasts tell us, are the relationships they’ve formed with other collectors, artists, and dealers. “We don’t know anyone else who collects pottery other than the collectors we’ve met that are around the country,” says Bacino. “It’s kind of different, but it’s been so fun.” Some dealers, such as Philip Slein, sell art and maintain collections of their own. Slein’s new house in Creve Coeur juxtaposes 16th-century paintings with works from the 21st century that, he says, “dialogue with each other”—and that is something to see. The story starts on page 40.
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 power of art to spark conversation, challenge beliefs, and explore new ideas is why we yearn for it, and the employees at Square and Cash App’s downtown St. Louis offices are fortunate to work alongside some very special pieces. Soon after the company moved into their new offices, executives invited local artists to submit works for consideration—and more than 300 responded. You can see a sampling of the art on page 42. Finally, you may have noticed the pretty Hermès scarf in our cover photo. Interior designer Laurie LeBoeuf collects the iconic French accessories, and they each hold a special meaning. Naturally, we waited to photograph the designer’s beautiful new home until they were framed and in place.
