Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Jacob Laws & Emily Elbert
Together 5 years: Jacob Laws of Jacob Laws Interior Design & Emily Elbert
How We Met: “Emily called me when she and her husband were interested in a house in Ladue. While they didn’t buy it in the end, what I didn’t know at the time was that she was moving Byrd (Designer Consignment Boutique) into its current location and wanted to design a new build out of that space.”
Modern Made: “I had a vision of what I wanted my store to look like,” says Elbert. “I lean toward Midcentury design, clean lines, and Jacob has a way of bringing that vision to reality.”
What My Client Taught Me: “People hire me for a reason. I don’t need to placate or be too nervous. I learned that from Emily.”
Laws Rules: “I can get a project going, like the 1937 duplex we live in now,” says Elbert, “but I need someone to put things together. Jacob can walk into a space and tell me the six things it needs to polish it off. He steers me away from going down the wrong path.”
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Kim Taylor West & Tracy Sporrer
Together 12 years: Kim Taylor West of K Taylor Design Group & Tracy Sporrer
How We Met: “I walked into Frank Patton Interiors, and she greeted me,” recalls Sporrer. “I liked the fact that she was a young mom. We were in the same place in our lives. She was from California, and I had always kept up with what was current on the coasts. Kim brought things to St. Louis that weren’t here. She had a more modern style than the transitional look I was used to.”
What I Learned From My Client: “That it’s not about me,” says Taylor West. “A lot of designers can be controlling of their projects. Tracy taught me to trust the client more, that it’s a team effort. I love it when my clients take pride in a project.”
Design Team: “We redid a whole house together,” says Sporrer. “We’ve rehabbed and updated two more. I always wanted quality, and Kim always pushed me to think outside the box.”
Tricks of the Trade: “Bring in three items of the same shape into a room. That’s the level of detail she’s at in her mind,” says Sporrer of Taylor. “It’s a big undertaking, but she ties it all together.”
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Kathleen Matthews & Kristi Parsons
Together 13 years: Kathleen Matthews of Savvy Surrounding Style & Kristi Parsons
How We Met: “Kathleen designed the display home in our subdivision. I loved what she had done and asked the builder to get me her name and number,” says Parsons.
Special Rapport: “Our compatibility was there from the beginning. We can bounce ideas off each other. She is special in that respect,” says Matthews. “Many years and experiences add to the relationship you have with a client.”
Beyond Business: “Kristi’s husband is an oral surgeon, and Kristi and I designed three of his five offices, which they also wanted to feel like home. After that, we did their lake house in Cuba, Missouri. We tore down a house and rebuilt it. Our last project was their place in Beaver Creek, Colorado.”
What My Designer Taught Me: “I’ve learned to put things together: colors, fabrics, area rugs. Kathleen has always understood what I like. She narrows down the options, and I always choose something she’s selected,” says Parsons.
