Photography by Carmen Troesser
Some St. Louisans who are such visionaries when it comes to the home that it's impossible to cover them just once. Dr. John Merkle, of Compton Heights, is one such person. This past year, we assigned photographer Carmen Troesser to photograph Merkle’s garden, the third time in seven years that we published images and stories about his property, collections, and interiors. As you can see from the images above, the outdoor spaces at the home are a means for expressing Merkle's creativity. A passionate traveler, the now-retired physician was inspired to create his own interpretation of English, Asian, and woodland gardens.
Photography by Alise O'Brien
What’s not to love about this kitchen conceived by creative Jenny B in close collaboration with her longtime clients? The copper pot rail, dramatic hood, and elegant Bertazzoni oven are beautiful in their own right, but the design magic takes shape as these and other elements come together, creating a one-of-a-kind look befitting of the historic Georgian Revival home. “Ron [the owner] had items on his design bucket list, and I had some as well,” says Jenny B. “Together we pared everything down to what worked the best when placed next to each other.”
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Photography by Alise O'Brien
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Photography by Alise O'Brien
This room, designed by Jessie Miller, in a prewar apartment building stood out to the judges of the Architect & Designer Awards competition—as well as to us. The fringe-trimmed sofa catches the eye at first glance, but linger on the image a bit longer and you’ll soon discover more, including the copper sconce shades that match the color of the upholstered armchairs, the room's three reflective surfaces that build into a crescendo on the teal-colored wall, and those wonderful antique bookcases chockfull of bound leather volumes. This particular space functions as a first-floor lobby, but I’d gladly welcome it as a sitting room inside my own home.
Photography by Alise O'Brien
Interior designer Wendy Temples-Steinbecker gets all the credit for creating a bedroom design that is warm and inviting, and yet doesn’t skimp on details or panache. Fabrics and furniture work as agents of glamour in a room that is, at its foundation, minimalist and understated, making it the kind of place you want to retreat to at the end of a long day.
Photography by Alise O'Brien
In the capable hands of seasoned renovators Carol and Pat Schuchard, a house is never just a house. In the case of these two accomplished artists, their new Richmond Heights home also serves as a backdrop for displaying their paintings and multimedia collages. The dining room comes down to just a few key, stylish pieces: curated artwork, a wood table handmade by Pat, and a mashup of the modern (ghost chairs) and the traditional (the runner) within the context of historic architecture. "We're both obviously really visual people, and, I don't know, it just felt like the perfect container for our lives," says Carol.
