Photography by Alise O'Brien
Twenty-one years ago, John Herlihy and James Kristof were enjoying dinner at since-closed Arcelia’s in Lafayette Square when they caught a glimpse of a nearby home. Built in the 1870s, the house had served as home to various owners—including a congressman—and as a rooming house and homeless shelter. After purchasing the historic building, Herlihy and Kristof have spent decades beautifying the property to meet their “taste and expectations,” and now their house has been voted the 2021 Most Beautiful Home by Design STL readers. Here, Herlihy shares more about their home.
Tell us about the history of this property. The home was built by George Ingham Barnett, a prominent architect in St. Louis during the 19th century. His work is seen in many buildings around the city, including the Governor’s Mansion; the Henry Shaw Mausoleum, at the Missouri Botanical Garden; the Tower Grove House; and the Old Courthouse, in downtown St. Louis. During the depression of the 1930s, the house transitioned into a rooming house. About 40 years later, it became a homeless shelter and remained in that role until a renovation company took ownership for a year. We purchased the home in 2000, wanting to take possession from the renovation company as soon as possible so that we could have influence and renovate to our taste.
What renovations have you made? We laid hardwood flooring on the second and third floors. We’ve renovated all the bathrooms. We replaced light fixtures and painted the house. Some projects took longer than others: Refinishing the staircase was a labor of love. The mansard roof and copper gutters have been replaced, and we planted a vegetable garden in our backyard this year. We’re in the process of deciding if we want to renovate our kitchen.
What do you love about your house? The openness. For an older home, it has a lot of windows, including double glass front doors. It feels very bright inside. It may be an older home, but it does not feel that way.
What’s it like to live in Lafayette Square? We love that there are several restaurants within walking distance of our home and that we can take our dog, Winston, for walks around the neighborhood and the park. Part of our morning routine includes walking Winston and then heading to the local coffee shop as soon as it opens. We also love the proximity to so many places in St. Louis. There are three highways a quick drive from our street. Living in our home is like having a bit of an oasis right in the middle of the city.
