Photo by Carmen Troesser
Jay Beard’s home in Edwardsville, Illinois, is nestled in a quiet neighborhood just off historic St. Louis Street. In a city known for its traditional Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Victorian architecture, Beard’s hip contemporary house may come as a bit of a surprise to some.
In 2014, Beard purchased a scenic lot on Dunlap Lake with a master plan of creating his dream home there. At the time, he was considering stepping outside his comfort zone to build a home a little different from his usual traditional style. (Beard is the CEO of a construction company, co-owner of Goshen Coffee, and a business and life coach.) He says he was inspired, in part, by the houses he has visited while vacationing in Colorado: “When I had a place in Boulder, I’d go around to these modern houses and see things I liked and thought about what made me comfortable.” But before embarking on his lake project, he decided to experiment with the modern build on a smaller project in downtown Edwardsville. He sketched out the plans and worked with architect Karl Winkler of Hurford Architects to solidify the design.
“I figured, if it didn’t sell, I could live in it,” he says, “but when it was done, I liked the house and the neighborhood so much, I didn’t want to move.” His kids also fell in love with the “test house.”
“Our previous home was 8,000 square feet, but this works so much better,” Beard says. “We’re either all hanging out here or we’re in a bedroom. There are no wasted areas and no segregated living spaces.”
From the outside, the two-story contemporary home’s clean, minimalist design makes a statement without overpowering. The light-gray LP SmartSide siding is balanced by natural stone and gray James Hardie front panels. The property is surrounded by redwood fencing.
Most of the interior walls are white and 10-foot ceilings imbue the rooms with an expansive feel, making the house seem larger than its 3,200 square feet. The main room, which combines the kitchen and living area, feels cozy and spacious. It is united by engineered wood, which is used both on the floors and on the walls. The angular lines of the high marble hearth and 72-inch linear fireplace are softened by a massive sectional couch large enough for Beard’s four teenage kids. Two Villa Church armchairs and a cowskin chaise are from Cassina.
1 of 5
Alise O'Brien
2 of 5
Alise O'Brien
3 of 5
Photography by Alise O'Brien
4 of 5
Alise O'Brien
5 of 5
Alise O'Brien
A self-made man who started working construction right out of high school and owned his own company by age 19, Beard says that his taste has evolved to focus on what is essential. “Everything you own should have meaning,” he says, pointing out favorite paintings by local artists Henryk Ptasiewicz and Renee Raub-Ayers.
The dining chairs and rugs throughout the home are from The Gingham Buffalo, an eclectic home furnishings store in Edwardsville that’s owned by Beard’s ex-wife, Chris Beard. “I run everything by her,” he says. “We’re still best friends.” In fact, he often collaborates with her on projects.
“I’ve seen his style evolve over the last 10 years,” says Chris. “He has been inspired a lot by his love of homes in Colorado, but he definitely put his own twist on it. I’ve never been that into modern, because it always seemed cold, but Jay did a good job making it warm and inviting.”
The home’s exterior is a combination of stone, glass, and steel, and Beard used wood to warm the rooms and make the house feel inviting and open. The living room’s glass doors lead to the covered patio, yard, and portico connecting the house to the garage. “You can stand anywhere in the main room or in the garden outside and feel a part of things,” he says.
The floating wood ceiling inset with LED lights, massive steel beams, and a custom wood-and-steel staircase are some of the features that make the design sing. “I wanted a design that didn’t look trendy, because that would age right away,” says Beard.
Upstairs are the bedrooms and master bathroom. The zero-entry shower glass incorporates a specially designed frost line, which provides privacy for the shower and separate toilet area. The flooring is heated 18-by-36 ceramic tile.
Back downstairs is a state-of-the-art kitchen that retains the warmth of its natural materials, including walnut for the cabinets and the bar. White quartz countertops add to the room’s cool vibe.
Beard designed the oversized steel light fixtures in collaboration with John Beck Steel. He chose Toto fixtures and Brizo faucets, adding stainless steel slat pulls on the seamless drawers to complement the minimalism of the induction stove and oven. The backsplash is a unique but understated slab of glass that adds interest. It is back-painted with the same dark gray of the wall behind it.
Tucked behind the main kitchen is a “dirty kitchen,” where Beard experiments in pursuit of the ultimate cup of coffee.
See Also: Five Steps to the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Now, the builder-turned-coffee connoisseur-turned business and life coach has expanded his repertoire to include more modern infill houses in traditional neighborhoods. In fact, he’s designing a house on the lot right next door.
