Photography by Carmen Troesser
Veronica Theodoro
Veronica Theodoro
Like many of you, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home this summer. We pressed Pause on travel and took a credit on the kids’ sleepaway camps in favor of local tennis and hockey clinics. If we’re socializing, it’s through long walks in the park with friends and dinner in the backyard with family. There was a time not too long ago, in the doldrums of a dreary St. Louis winter, when I complained to my husband about how little time we had together at home. “We’ve spent so much time renovating this house,” I said, “but we’re never home to enjoy it.”
We all know what happened next. Suddenly the house became the center of our universe: the kid’s school, my office, our family’s place of entertainment. In early June, I began to venture out again to scout properties for the magazine’s Most Beautiful Homes feature. Assembling this year’s portfolio, wonderfully photographed by Alise O’Brien, proved an easier feat than I had anticipated. Unlike past years, most homeowners were actually at home or tending to their gardens when I rang, eager to share stories about their house. You can read these stories, and enjoy those beautiful pictures, beginning on page 48.
As you will see from that feature, we’re fortunate to live in a city that values exceptional architecture, and The Hill, known for its historic brick bungalows, has experienced a resurgence of development and growth in recent years. One woman who’s chosen to live and work there is Abbey Eilermann of Daily Disco. We’ve been in talks with Eilermann about featuring her home for nearly a year, trying to align the magazine’s shooting schedule with her decorating timeline. But good things take time, and we’re happy to share her house with the pretty pink front door with you. Turn to page 40 to go inside and be sure to follow her on Instagram @daily_disco. You’re going to love all the joy and color!
In this issue, we’ve reserved page 62 for our editors and art directors, who weigh in with their observations on one topic. I always look forward to editing this feature because it offers a novel perspective on my colleagues. Tom White, for one, has been organizing creative obstacle courses at home for his sons this summer. How perfect is that for the magazine’s design director? Dining editor George Mahe and his wife decided to camp out on their deck one night, surrounded by hibiscus and yellow-and-purple petunia. Something tells me there was good food, too. We’re all searching for meaningful ways to make the best of a challenging time. My colleagues remind me of our collective creativity, strength, and can-do spirit.
