A Guest Room Delights

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“Decorating is like finding the perfect little black dress. Make it timeless, and you’ll always be drawn to it.”
– Mary Stieven, MKS Designs, Inc.

Oh, to be the lucky guests invited to stay a night – or maybe two – at the lovely Brentwood home Jim and Mandi O’Leary share with their three small children, James, Lucy and Peter. Never mind that this gracious residence wraps you in warmth the moment you set foot inside the door. Or that its charming hosts implore you to enjoy their home as if it were yours. No, the real treat awaits you at the top of the stairs. It’s a holiday gift that Jim and Mandi have created especially for their family and friends, or anyone lucky enough to be invited to stay.

With the vision of Mary Stieven, owner of MKS Designs, Inc., the O’Learys’ guest room has been transformed into a fairyland of vibrant colors and traditional twists that says “happy holidays” in a fresh and unexpected way.

Against a backdrop of snowy white walls, Mary introduced a palette of saturated hues that pop to the foreground. “Mandi had painted a cocktail table a deep raspberry,” says Mary. “That table dictated the sofa’s rich deep pink upholstery and allowed me to bring in golden yellow, various shades of greens, and vibrant teal.”

According to Mary, “teal is the latest and greatest holiday color.” The greenish-blue teal, however, has been replaced with a robin’s-egg or Tiffany & Co. blue shade. “The vivid hue lends itself to a crisper design,” says Mary.

This happy room, dressed for the holidays, can’t help but put you in a festive spirit. As you move into the space, you immediately notice the thoughtful furniture choices and accessories that bring it to life, not only for the holidays, but for every day. “Decorating is like choosing the perfect little black dress,” she says. “Make it timeless, and you’ll always be drawn to it. That’s what you must do when you dress a home.”

“I know what I like,” says Mandi, who with the expert advice and assistance of her decorator mother-in-law, has done much of the home’s interior herself. “Jim’s mom, Susan, has been pivotal in helping me create a warm, inviting and beautiful home. That’s why, when I saw Mary Stieven’s Christmas designs in a previous issue of St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles, I knew that she would be a wonderful complement to what Susan and I had already done.”

Needless to say, Mandi and Jim couldn’t be happier with the enchanting results. “We’re lucky to have Jim’s family in town,” she says, “but my parents live in Florida. So it’s wonderful to be able to offer them such a charming retreat when they visit.”

The O’Learys’ guest room, transformed into a merry and bright holiday haven, is indeed a charming place to kick off your shoes, plop down on the bed and just enjoy staying a night – or maybe two.

“When I saw Mary Stieven's work, I knew that she would be a wonderful complement to what Susan and I had already done.”
– Mandi O'Leary, homeowner