A Modern Twist

Taking a Kingsbury Place home built in 1915 and giving new life to its generous spaces, two Central West End residents weave their affection for modern art and modern design to create a home where the unexpected is wondrously welcoming. The home, with the characteristic symmetry found in Georgian-style architecture, was designed by notable St. Louis architect George Hellmuth. Most recently, its handsomely redesigned spaces made their  gracious debut to the community when the home was featured on the 2008 Central West End House & Garden Tour.

Homeowners David and Mike, who share their home with their soft-haired Wheaten Terriers, Charlie and Baxter, consider themselves caretakers of the turn-of-the-century house, and they always have an eye on its future. David, the showroom manager for Niche (he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in design and industry) and Mike, a consultant, have taken the past five years to make significant improvements to the spacious home not only for themselves, but also for the next generation of owners. David believes that although they initiated a design vision with a modern twist, they could also remain committed to staying with the home’s natural lines, pay tribute to the house, and respect its history.

Updating the outdated products in the home’s kitchen and bathrooms was part of the restoration of the house’s infrastructure that involved the basics – removing old wallpaper and painting, and more essential, reconfiguring spaces for modern-day living – while respecting the home’s original integrity. The transformation included opening the bath off the second-floor day room and using materials in keeping with the historic aesthetic of the house, for example, reusing portions of the hardwood floor from the day room for the second-level landing. To enhance the home’s initial design concept and evolving transformation, the owners asked Claudia Ochoa, the Lawrence Group Senior Creative Director and Trend Director for Niche, to use her design expertise to add finishing touches to the tasteful, tailored spaces. “The home showcases a love for art and minimal design,” explains Claudia. She strategically layered accessories, art and other items of essence to create living spaces within rooms – and display niches with interest. Working within the principles of modern design, Claudia’s belief that form follows function allows her to achieve well-designed, functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

 The home's energized spaces lead to the outdoors with a terrace off the second-floor day room – David's favorite room in the home. “The room is a retreat.  It is literally a breath of fresh air,” he says. By using washable ultrasuede on the room's sofa, the dogs can join their owners in the comfortable space.  “The neighborhood has embraced our dogs,” says David. We are part of the neighborhood ‘Dog Walking Group.' On weekends, we walk the parkway to Forest Park with our neighbor Carolyn and her dog, Hobart.”

“The Kingsbury neighbors have made it wonderful to live here,” says Mike. “I've not felt a sense of community like I feel here since my childhood days in Bend, Oregon.”  David continues, “It's a Midwest community with a cosmopolitan feel and a sense of worldliness. I thoroughly enjoy working within and being a part of the renaissance in the city. St. Louis is a best kept secret.”

Claudia and David collaborate on the home's interior design. Redefined Design Claudia Ochoa, Lawrence Group Senior Creative Director and Trend Director for Niche, has lived all over the world and has worked in the field of design for 17 years. With a background in fine art, architecture and product design, Claudia contributes her passion for modern design to the featured urban home. Claudia's Thoughts: • Everything will tie together within the evolution of your home's interior design if you are true to yourself. Be true to what you like. • The richness of any piece is not attached to price, but rather to its value to the owner based upon its craftsmanship and the creative and artistic interpretation of the piece. • Each piece is so important in simple, modern design. Begin with a blank slate and add layers (of items) to the space, considering the attributes of each piece, including use, beauty, scale and the essence of the pieces within the space. • Today's furniture design may be inspired by both modern and classical styles and also be process-conscious and related to the era's current issues (they may be repurposed or renewed and could become future heirlooms). • In modern classic design, form follows function, and well-designed objects are like pieces of art. Beauty comes because something works beautifully,” says Claudia.

Niche, owned by the Lawrence Group, nichestl.com, thelawrencegroup.com.