Beth Campbell Jay Baker

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The holidays are a time for welcoming friends and family, reminiscing with loved ones, and sharing stories ‘round the hearth. The Kolbs of St. Charles have plenty of stories and a magnificent hearth, so please come in and get acquainted…

When Johann Kolb sailed into Baltimore harbor in the early 1840s, he must have felt relieved to have the sea voyage behind him, yet apprehensive about what was still to come. After all, he had left his native Germany to begin a new life in a country that was still mostly unsettled. Upon arriving in America, Johann headed west with his family and in 1842 arrived in St. Charles County, built a small log home, and began farming the fertile land flanking the Missouri River.

Flash forward 164 years and meet the present-day Kolbs. Eight family members still live on various parts of the vast property, including Jeff and Diana and their three sons, who are 7th-generation descendants of Johann Kolb. A recent renovation of their home has kept this busy family busier than ever, and the outcome is nothing short of spectacular. Although not evident at first glance, the home is actually a renovation of the ranch-style house Jeff and Diana purchased from his parents over a decade ago and were beginning to outgrow. “My Mom and Dad literally built the house themselves, and it’s where I grew up, so I couldn’t imagine knocking it down when it came time to expand,” Jeff notes. So rather than bring in the wrecking ball, he and Diana embarked on an ambitious plan to preserve as much of the house as possible by building around it—a plan they now laughingly acknowledge wasn’t the easiest route to take.

Today, when you approach the completely renovated and transformed brick-and-stone structure, it is impossible to date the house. Comfortably nestled in the crook of the road, amidst towering trees, the home is reminiscent of a stately Bavarian hunting lodge. Handsome wood doors, dressed simply with classic pine greenery, bid a friendly welcome and beckon visitors to enter. Once inside, the abundant windows and soaring wood plank ceiling create a feeling of openness and community with nature. Towering exposed beams, each amazingly cut from a single tree, lend a sense of permanence that belies the recent construction. The massive stone fireplace is flanked by cherry built-ins made by a local carpenter from wood harvested on the property. The stone used for the interior and exterior of the house was also sourced in an ecologically friendly way—it was salvaged from a nearby construction site after Jeff drove by one day and noticed that a recent rain had washed the dust off the rocks, revealing their natural beauty. For the holidays, the mantel is adorned with pine garlands studded with crystallized pomegranates, a lovely and natural approach to seasonal decorating well suited to this casually elegant dwelling.

The wooded setting provides a spectacular backdrop for the home’s interiors. “We used only the most minimal

Resources Cindy Berg, A.S.I.D., Designer Aly’s Interiors Kim Egelhoff, Designer Aly’s Interiors Mike Egelhoff, Managing Contractor R.E. Builders Glenn J. Autullo Masonry, Brick and Stone work Richard Berg, Architect, Exposed beam work Lauren Strutman Architects, P.C., Architectural design and plans Home Illustrated Custom Cabinets, L.L.C, kitchen cabinets Tuepker Brothers Construction Frame, Timbers, trim and built-in cabinets

window treatments throughout the house so as not to obscure the views,” says Diana. And the views are magnificent. A stone patio off the living room overlooks lawn and forest—and bountiful wildlife. Wrought iron fencing salvaged from the original patio now glows with a gentle patina, thanks to a recent application of a rubbed copper finish. Back inside, the dining room, kitchen and family room flow easily, and a light-filled space above the garage provides a separate area for the younger family members to relax and play. The three bedrooms original to the 1966 ranch were preserved intact and are now the boys’ rooms, while a spacious master suite was added for Jeff and Diana.

The lower level, accessed via a spiral staircase in the great room, features a wine cellar and wet bar, a second stone fireplace, a guest suite, and one of the home’s more unique features, a room the owners jokingly refer to as the “man room.” This garage-like space includes a system of open closets and cubbies for storing and organizing sporting goods (all the males in the household hunt, fish and participate in sports).

But in spite of the male-dominated household, Diana has ensured that the home is beautifully decorated and welcoming throughout the year and especially at the holidays. Working with designers Cindy Berg and Kim Egelhoff, of Aly’s Interiors, Diana has filled the house with gracious furnishings and accessories. Soft, soothing palettes that blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings are a pleasing counterpoint to the stone and timber. Every detail has clearly been thoughtfully considered, from textiles and textures to finishes and floral arrangements. The result is a home that feels at once strikingly grand and supremely comfortable

As we set off around dusk one evening to observe Jeff’s efforts to restore habitat for the quail that once flourished in the area, the Kolbs’ middle son points out the spot where he hopes to someday build a home. And so it goes; the Kolb property is not only being preserved but also enhanced for future generations, all the while honoring tradition, family ties and the environ-ment – a legacy that would surely make Johann proud.