Modern Glamour

For a young couple and their two children, the home that interior designer Kris Keller, owner of The Design Source, Ltd., helped them create is more than a place to rest their heads; it’s a place to let their spirits soar. Alive with a fresh palette of soothing chameleon-like blues, grays, greens and lavenders and punctuated with striking blacks and whites, this is truly a happy home — at once relaxing and invigorating. 

“We came from a traditional home,” says the owner. “We wanted to move in a more transitional direction with a touch of contemporary style. Achieving superior indoor air quality was an extremely important goal in the building process as well, as our son carries the diagnosis of asthma and allergies." 

In response to this challenge, Kris and her team created an “out of the box” design that marries the home's classic architecture with a modern disposition, evoking glamorous touches along the way. She also worked closely with the custom builder, Jeff Bogard, owner of R.E.A. Homes, with whom she has also recently formed a design/build consulting firm. R.E.A. focuses on the construction of what it calls "high-performance luxury homes," more energy efficient and healthier homes than those with traditional construction. "True luxury goes beyond beautiful finishes," says Jeff. "It's also lower utility bills, better indoor air quality and an overall more comfortable and healthier indoor environment." 

Jeff has certainly done his part with this home. Marc Bluestone, president of Home Green Home, an energy efficiency and sustainability consulting firm, whom Jeff worked with on the home's design, says "This is a remarkably efficient house, especially for its size." 

And the moment you set foot inside the stunning foyer, you see that Kris has succeeded, too. The sweeping curved staircase, highlighted by a sparkling wall of mother-of-pearl, is breathtaking. Glistening above is a whimsical globe. A more contemporary choice than the expected crystal chandelier, the spherical shape helps set the tone for a circular motif that adds softness to the more masculine architectural detailing and millwork. "Creating a contrast in architecture," says Kris, "creates balance, and when the shapes are subtly repeated with intention, harmony develops, and the entire space just naturally feels good." 
Deep taupe walls that can take on green or gray tones, depending on the time of day, give the entry a sophisticated, soft, even organic, feel.

Directly ahead is the living room that sings with warm lime green walls and mid-century-inspired furnishings. Two swivel chairs are upholstered in a soft black tone-on-tone pattern woven by Schumacher, and a striking black kidney-shaped sofa is dressed in linen velvet and accented with a bold black-and-white print. The yin and yang cluster tables are unexpected and fun and further emphasize the peaceful harmony that exists within this home. The circular theme is repeated in the area rug and window treatments, both of which Kris designed. “I design one-of-a-kind window treatments and especially appreciate the play of texture, pattern and color combined with surprising details," notes Kris. 

Adjacent to the bright living room is the expansive kitchen and breakfast room. A softer shade of blue-green melds nicely with the splashier lime, creating two rooms that speak to each other softly but effectively. “I knew I wanted a steel blue color in my kitchen to complement the marble veining of my countertops and the Silestone® of my island, which is made from recycled raw materials, such as glass and mirror," says the homeowner. Shiny stainless steel appliances pop against the crisp white cabinets. Kris deftly wove stainless throughout the kitchen and into the adjoining hearth room, adding full-height stainless columns to the entertainment unit and bookcase and in the over-scaled door pulls. A one-inch ribbon of stainless trim highlights the crown molding. The decorative façade of the boomerang island was designed by Kris and her team. It becomes a work of art featuring inlaid stainless that crisscrosses each panel to create the optical illusion of a curvilinear façade. Hand-carved maple balls sit atop sculpted corner elements that feel like stiletto pump heels tipped in stainless steel. The maple balls optically allude to having been scooped right out of the circular cutout in the bar stool backs. Lee Weitzman, of Lee Weitzman Furniture in Chicago, designed the contemporary dining table and chairs from a luscious sapeli. The cutouts on the backs of the chairs are a subtle nod to the circular motif. 

The hearth room is a beautiful representation of the magic that can happen when contemporary furnishings are mixed perfectly with an organic palette, a comfortable touch and a bit of Hollywood glam. A low-slung sofa, typical of Hollywood Regency style, is done in black leather with a black-and-white geometric print for graphic contrast. The custom ottoman, made in an extra-long length, doubles as a place to display books or set a tray with drinks and snacks. "Every project I design showcases a playful, yet thoughtful, mix of shapes," explains Kris. Indeed, the whimsical chairs flanking the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace are like jewelry, their silhouettes both edgy and feminine. 

Wrapped in a Nina Campbell silver foil large-scale floral wallcovering, "The dining room has an old Hollywood feel," says Kris. The Alyce dining chairs, with their open ribbon-back design, add airiness. Lee Weitzman designed the deco-inspired buffet that is hand-leafed in silver and hand-lacquered. It rests against a wall of beveled mirror. Five tiers of Murano glass adorn majestic buffet lamps. 

The glamorous ambience continues into the master bedroom, where a softer, starlet-like approach delivers a commanding performance. Icy lavender shades add a fancy, feminine point of view, while a retro floral print dressing two contemporary slipper chairs, and a curving armless loveseat upholstered in icy lavender suede add balance in the sitting area. Bedside lamps with Murano glass bases resembling leaves are topped with slick, silvery shades that look like ribbon candy. A coordinating floor lamp in the sitting room wears only a flurry of Murano glass leaves.

In contrast to the fairy-tale quality of the master bedroom, just across the hall is a stately and classic yet current and suave study. Paneled in a rich chocolaty knotty alder, this space sports handsome flannels, commanding stripes and classic prints, giving it dapper style. 

“All of our interiors are artistic endeavors,” says Kris. Blessed with clients who were willing to think “outside the box,” Kris and her team were able to create a sophisticated yet fun atmosphere for this young family — an atmosphere that, like fine jewelry, is timeless and understated, but with  just enough punch to make you sit up and take notice.

To learn more about the high-performance, eco-friendly home aspects of this home, click here.

RESOURCES:
Interior design, custom area rugs, furnishings, custom window treatment design, custom kitchen island design, custom desk design in study, lower level curved benches and circular cocktail table, Kris Keller, interior designer, The Design Source Limited, www.thedesignsourceltd.com, 636-391-7640; Dining room buffet, breakfast table and chairs, Lee Weitzman, designer and owner, Lee Weitzman Furniture,  www.leeweitzmanfurniture.com; Custom home builder, Jeff Bogard, LEED Green Associate, CGP, www.reahomesllc.com, 314-574-5695; Architect, Dick Busch Architects, www.dickbuscharchitects.com, 636-530-7787; Home Green Home, www.homegreenhome.us/, 644-1570; Whole house automation and sound system, David Young, The Sound Room, www.thesoundroom.com, 636-537-0404; Hardwood floors, Champion Flooring, www.championfloor.com, 314-739-2555; Window treatments manufactured by Brewer Quilt and Design, 636-225-2100; Plantation shutters, Hilson, Inc., www.hilson.com, 314-773-8883; Custom grand staircase, casework in hearth room and study, Kirkwood Stair & Millwork, kirkwoodhomegallery.com, 314-781-5151; Custom wrought iron railings on staircase, exterior gates, Eureka Forge, www.eurekaforge.com, 636-271-3200; Exterior stone work and hearth fireplace, Kirkwood Masonry, www.kirkwoodmasonry.com, 314-394-1300; RSI Kitchens and Baths, www.rsikb.com, 314-961-2000; K & B Woodworking, k-bwoodworking.com, 314-739-7888; Pool, Pool Specialists, www.pspools.com, 314-731-0055; Landscaping, Rivers West Landscaping, www.riverswestlandscape.com, 636-462-3507; Custom wine cellar, Lamp Wine Cellars,  HYPERLINK "http://www.lampwinecellars.com" www.lampwinecellars.com, 314-495-3383; Lower level gym mirrors, St. Charles Glass & Glazing, www.stcharlesglass.com, 636-332-5339; Painting contractor: Complete Drywall & Painting, 314-686-1949; Paint Imagry (faux finish work only), Susan Greene, 314-968-9130; Wallcoverings installation, Darla Accord, D.J. Accord Painting, LLC, 636-575-3117; Tile work: R & F Tile & Marble Co., 314-423-1765; Countertops: Stone Fabricators, Inc., www.sfistone.com, 314-776-7776