Artistic Rendition

Surely one of the greatest pleasures of purchasing a house is making it your own. When St. Louisans Mike and Julie bought their European-inspired home from a friend, they were already acquainted with its distinct elegance and knew the space would graciously accommodate their family of five. “We admired the house when visiting our friend, but we never imagined that we would end up living here,” says Julie. The custom home was already well-appointed, but like any new owners, Mike and Julie looked forward to making some modifications that would reflect their personal style and allow them to incorporate their existing furnishings into the new space.

To achieve those goals, the owners called in designer Jerry Birkhead, who had worked with them on the interior design of their previous home. “Jerry knew what we liked, what we already had, and he understood our vision; we really felt comfortable with that familiarity,” Julie remembers.

So they embarked on a design journey that included the addition of a porte-cochère and a swimming pool, the finishing of the spacious lower level, and the redesign of the main entry – not to mention the abundant application of new finishes and trims that lend Old World character to the recently built structure. “Jerry’s really big on trims and details of all types,” Julie says with a smile. “He recommended elegant European-style plaster wall treatments and added dozens of linear feet of baseboards and crown moldings. He lightened the architectural beams with a painted finish, commissioned a custom mural, and liberally applied lavish tassels and fringed trims to pillows and window coverings throughout the house,” Julie adds with seeming astonishment.

Jerry agrees that he does like to embellish – and for good reason. “The molding really helped define the individual rooms, while the elegant fabrics and wallcoverings add texture, color, dimension and interest,” he says. “I’m definitely not a fan of beige,” he adds, laughing. “I like color on walls and ceilings and in decorative accents like toss pillows, art and accessories.” One of Jerry’s trademark flourishes is to paint ceilings soft shades of anything but white. “White ceilings are against my religion,” Jerry jokes. The result is subtle, yet it creates an impact that you feel as much as you see.

Throughout the renovation process, many artisans and craftsmen contributed to the project, and the family actually lived in the house while much of the work was in progress. “For five months, we had cardboard protecting the floors, and various rooms were curtained with sheets of plastic to confine the dust and mess,” recalls Julie. “But we really enjoyed watching the artists at work, and they all became like family,” she adds.

The recently finished lower level doubles as the living and entertaining space, and it is the perfect spot for family-friendly fun. The pièce de résistance is a custom bar, made of onyx and marble, and dramatically underlit so that it seems to glow warmly from within. This spacious area also includes an exercise room and a guest bedroom, and it provides easy access to the classically styled pool off the lower level. A gorgeous natural slate floor adds dramatic color and pattern but is durable enough to withstand wet feet – both the human and much-loved canine varieties.

Design inspiration for the renovation came from a variety of sources, including a Parisian hotel (entryway) and the Beverly Hills Hotel (the breakfast room). But make no mistake, this is a family home, and it is the details – rather than the grand gestures – that make it so special. A custom-cut rug here, a piece of hand-painted furniture there, each individual touch lends the house a feeling of permanence, richness, comfort and livability. And while the process was enjoyable for these homeowners, there is little doubt that the real pleasure comes from daily living in the beautifully transformed space.