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Interior designer Andy Villasana spent last summer designing his way through estate sales and vintage shops, rising early on Saturday mornings lest a more enterprising hunter beat him to a find.
“Once I got over the clutter, there were so many hidden gems,” he says. “It became an obsession!”
By the looks of the 1,841-square-foot Central West End condo that he designed, Villasana struck gold with his new style. It’s a sophisticated mix of high and low that’s perfectly suited for a young couple who moved here from Chicago.
The homeowners wanted the condo ready before their move-in date. Villasana had only two months to complete the project, and he wanted quality. “If I had gone the direction of custom-made furniture, it would have taken too long to get it all in,” he says.
After an initial meeting in St. Louis last May, the owners returned to Chicago and Villasana communicated with them by email and text, sending photos of fabric schemes to show warm and cool color directions. A sophisticated, minimalist look caught the wife’s eye, but she deemed it “too classic” and “too adult” for her taste. “I’m not afraid of color,” she told him.
So the team turned to a bold floral fabric from Osborne and Little to jump-start the color story. From there, Villasana focused on creating an eclectic look that appeared pulled together over time and passed down from earlier generations.
All but a few items—the kitchen stools, pendant lighting from Schoolhouse Electric Co., a Jonathan Adler bench in the master bedroom, a hide rug in the living room, and a sleeper sofa for the den from West Elm—were purchased at local vintage shops. At The Future Antiques, Villasana found a complete Midcentury Modern dining room set. The wife wasn’t partial to the chairs, so they mixed in seating from another set. The crystal chandelier hanging above the table, from Jon Paul Designs and Collectibles, strikes an interesting contrast to the room’s modern furnishings.
“I like layering different styles,” Villasana says.
Situated against one wall is a bar cart, which took the wife hours to find because she had her heart set on a circle motif. “I finally found one on Etsy,” she says, “but when it got here it was spray-painted gold!” She and Villasana discussed at length whether to have it replated. She thought nobody would ever be able to tell the difference; he wanted it to be pure. “But I realized, it’s part of the whole look,” he says. “I don’t want to be that person, that designer who says something won’t work because it’s not my style.”
In the living room, his resale adventures continued to inspire him. A vintage Knoll sofa belonging to the late advertising icon Leo Burnett became a centerpiece. Ten feet long and lime green, it was “bought for a song” at MoModerne and reupholstered in gray. Above it hangs Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, 1985 by Andy Warhol, purchased at Lococo Fine Art.
Across from the iconic couch is a sofa from The Future Antiques, reuphol-stered in purple velvet. “You can’t buy a tufted sofa in velvet at the Merchandise Mart for less than $20,000,” Villasana says. Throw pillows in “his” and “her” fabrics went on the couches. Colorfully upholstered ottomans, as well as tables in various styles and sizes, added dimension.
Villasana took a chance on a “surfboard” table for the living room, not sure the
owners would appreciate its quirky sensibility as much as he did. It was too cumbersome to fit into his car, so he took it apart, then put it back together once he got it into the apartment. Fortunately, they loved it.
In the home’s entry is a walnut credenza with some nicks, scratches, and worn-brass details. Villasana opens the top drawer to show off its various compartments and the quality of the workmanship. None of the chairs in the condo cost more than $300, but they were all reupholstered with European fabrics from Cowtan & Tout, Romo, and other companies. “Time takes a toll,” explains the wife. “You want something clean.”
Anxious about the deadline, Villasana relied on Bentley F. Harris Upholstery. “I offered them a bonus to get everything to me early. They delivered.”
While Villasana moved samples around like pieces of a puzzle, the wife was accessorizing the house with personal touches. A graphic designer, she knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. She’s drawn to the unusual and unexpected. In Villasana, she found a kindred spirit and an occasional shopping partner.
“At the shops on the main drag in Alton, there is no A/C,” he says, “and the floors and walls are covered in inventory. We had a hilarious adventure digging through boxes of Pez dispensers, naked Barbie dolls, taking selfies.”
The owners’ vibrant art collection includes Mimosas by Donald Sultan in the master bedroom and a Blue Rose print by Donald Baechler in the dining room. An 8-foot-long shadow box in the living room, created by the owner, is filled with paper flowers from the couple’s wedding day.
The college art major took three varieties of each flower, bending them this way and that to create a personal piece. “When paper becomes something else, it is even more beautiful,” she says.
“At first, I didn’t see her vision,” admits Villasana. “I didn’t want DIY. But I pushed myself out of my comfort level. It’s an art piece.”
The owner bought a collection of Chinese porcelain at estate sales because she had never seen porcelain in pastel shades. “If you find it, buy it, because it won’t be there again,” she advises. Other collectibles include opera masks, a set of placemats from a Barcelona restaurant, and several candlestick collections. In total, the duo estimates, they had 50 pieces of artwork mounted and framed.
The only room in the house that required renovation was the kitchen. It was too dark, with cherry cabinets and brown speckled granite. “There were too many earth tones,” says the wife. “Cliché builder-grade finishes,” adds Villasana. The first priority was to paint the window sashes and the island black and to add a white porcelain backsplash with black grout. Villasana designed a solid walnut butcher block waterfall counter to open up the space. The kitchen needed more architectural details, too. He removed crown molding from the cabinets and added paneling, paying homage to the home’s early-1900s roots.
Like an actor learning a new role, Villasana immersed himself in the world of resale and put on a show worthy of praise. “I believe in pushing the envelope,” he says. As he walks through the den, he points to a light-brown desk near a large window. He reflects on its cool silhouette and drawers, which are placed at the front of the desk—a departure from the expected.
“It only cost $400,” he whispers. “I really wish I had kept it for myself.”
Spoken like a true treasure hunter.
RESOURCES
Andy Villasana Design / 314-974-3963 / andyvillasanadesign.com
Bentley F. Harris Upholstery / 9444 Lackland / 314-427-4295 / bentleyharrisupholstery.com
Big Bend Antique Gallery / 2337 S. Big Bend / 314-645-3130 / bigbendantiquegallery.com
The Future Antiques (T.F.A.) / 6514 Chippewa / 314-865-1552 / tfa50s.com
Jon Paul Designs & Collectibles / 7014 Clayton / 314-645-2722
Maplewood Galleries / 7415 Manchester / 314-449-1525 / maplewoodgalleries.com
MoModerne / 8631 Watson / 314-495-4095 / momoderne.net
Prints Charming Gallery / 9220 Clayton / 314-721-2699 / printscharminggallerystl.com
Quintessential Antiques / 5707 Manchester / 314-531-9701 / antiquesstlouis.com
Lococo Fine Art / 9320 Olive / 314-994-0240 / lococofineart.com
Rocket Century / 3189 S. Grand / 314-875-0705 / rocketcentury.boutiquewindow.com
Warson Woods Antique Gallery / 10091 Manchester / 314-909-0123 / missouriantiquemalls.com
Treasure Aisles Antique Mall / 2317 S. Big Bend / 314-647-6875
