English Rose

Travels through England inspire European style in a Clayton condo.

Text: Judy Uelk

Photos: Alise O'Brien

August 2010

Photo Gallery

White bookcases with volumes of treasured books line the handsome entryway, escorting you gently into a traditional parlor, richly dressed in the sun-dappled golds, greens and blues of the English countryside.

The formal, yet inviting, dining room is wrapped in a lovely blue and white toile that seems to dance across the walls, providing a lilting backdrop to the homeowner’s cherished antiques. Pale yellows, soft plaids, delicate florals, and just a touch of red imbue the leafy green library with a relaxing vibe.

Taking its cues from classic English Country design, this high-rise condominium at The Plaza in Clayton is beautifully ensconced in the comforts and traditions of our neighbor across the sea.

“My husband and I traveled to England many times,” says the homeowner. “We always loved the refined, yet comfortable, sense of style you find there.” Having moved from a large suburban home in Webster that they adored, it was important to the homeowners to keep the same English Country feel alive in their new urban residence. “We didn’t want to lose what we had,” says the homeowner, “but we needed to find a way to add a bit of new to the mix.”

Holly Blumeyer of Holly Blumeyer Interior Design Group, Ltd. offers these tips for creating a home with a dynamic yet warm and inviting ambience.

1. Don’t be afraid to use bold color and large pattern in a small room, such as a powder room.

2. Always look at colors at different times of day – in the morning, afternoon and evening. The tone of a color can change dramatically throughout the day.

3. Consider lamplight as an essential component within a room’s overall lighting scheme. Updated lampshades can transform a space, as well.

4. Wallpaper is back and more beautiful than ever. Look for grasscloths and textures with overlaid patterns.

Above (left to right): Judy Krewet and Holly Blumeyer. Photo by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

Having worked on their clients’ previous home and now involved in this new project from day one of construction, interior designers Holly Blumeyer and Judy Krewet knew just what to do. “Our condo started out as a great big concrete box in the sky,” says the homeowner. “Holly and Judy transformed that empty space into a home. They really understood where we were coming from.”

“Space planning was key,” says Holly, who collaborated with Brian Smith, AIA, and Daniel Elavsky, AIA, of Gunn and Smith Architects, to create the ideal configuration. “The owners did not want an open floor plan. Each room needed to ‘flow’ while maintaining its own function and personality,” she says.

The gourmet kitchen, for example, was a priority for the homeowners. A good size, but not enormous, the kitchen was designed with the cook in mind. “We wanted our visitors to enjoy our home and not be huddled together in the kitchen,” the homeowner explains.

A spacious home office is lined with large windows that flood the tasteful, functional space with light, taking full advantage of the magnificent views from two different wrought-iron balconies.

“Our clients had a wonderful collection of inherited pieces, beautiful oriental rugs, antique furniture, lovely art and objets d’ art,” say the designers. “We simply designed a new setting for them. But make no mistake, this is a well-lived-in home, not a museum!”

Of special note is the “map” powder room. “Our clients are Anglophiles and proudly admit it,” says Judy. “I couldn’t believe my luck when I discovered a wallpaper depicting the counties of England, most of which the couple had visited.”

Also delightful are the two welcoming guest rooms that encourage visitors to stay the night. The “Lily” room, adorned in the homeowner’s collection of Lily Pulitzer® fabrics, is a special favorite of the owners’ nieces.

While the formal spaces are warm and inviting, the more casual areas are cozy retreats. “Our family loves to visit here,” says the homeowner. “We have lots of nieces and nephews. We needed a home that was welcoming for everyone.”

Holly and Judy collaborated to achieve an inviting home with a decidedly English sensibility rooted in the past. The pair seemed to get it “spot on” as they say in jolly old England.

RESOURCES
Interior designers: Holly Blumeyer and Judy Krewet, Holly Blumeyer Interior Design Group, Ltd., 314-965-2828; Architects: Brian Smith, AIA, Daniel Elavsky, AIA, Gunn & Smith Architects, www.gunnandsmith.com; The Plaza at Carondelet, www.theplazainclayton.com; Contractors: Higginbotham Bros., Inc., 150 Carondelet Plaza, 314-721-3578; Painting and wallpaper application: Rice Painting Company, Inc., www.ricepainting.com; Woodworking: Classic Woodworking, Inc., www.classicwoodworkinginc.com; Master bath marble tile floor and counter: Global Granite & Marble, www.globalgranite.com; Media: The Sound Room, www.thesoundroom.com; Select lamps and shades: Brody’s, www.brodylamp.com.