A Simple Twist of Fate

Megan and Chris Frank have a knack for reimagining spaces. So, when a mid-century marvel in Ladue was in need of an extensive update, a twist of fate united this innovative couple with their new home, setting in motion a 3 ½-year-long project.

First and foremost, the Franks admit that they thrive on chaos. Four years ago, on the day before they moved the office of their company, Cfx, into a historic church, Megan and Chris decided to go house hunting. It was on this day that they first set eyes on the sprawling ranch that would become their own — but they walked away. Months later, however, Chris awoke from sleep one night to realize that had been the house they were destined to own.

There wasn’t time to revisit the home, so, relying on nothing more than months-old memories, the Franks put in an offer. To their disappointment, the house went under contract without them and was eventually sold to another couple. Megan and Chris kept shopping but couldn’t find anything else that felt right; they knew that the home in Ladue was the one.

“We hadn’t given up on the house, even though it was sold to someone else,” says Megan, “so we left a note in the mailbox.”

The note detailed the Franks’ dilemma and offered the new owners a buyer in case they were looking to “flip” the house quickly. As it turns out, they weren’t, but they did believe in karma.

According to Chris, “The next day, we got a call from the new homeowner saying, ‘My wife’s in tears. She feels horrible that we stole your house.’”

Amazingly, the new owners offered to sell the house immediately; so, the very next night, Megan and Chris went over to sign the contract. While they were there, the conversation turned to the Franks’ beloved Kirkwood home that they would soon be selling, and their new friends sounded interested. After a visit that same night, they purchased it from Megan and Chris within a week and became a client of Cfx.

“It was meant to be,” says Megan of the remarkable swap. Since that fortunate week four years ago, the two couples have remained friends, each entirely happy with their “new” residence.

From day one in their new home, the Franks have been hard at work, facing the many challenges of updating a 50-year-old home while perpetually dreaming up ways to modernize the brilliant Bernoudy masterpiece. But the process was a lengthy and, at times, an arduous one. In the beginning, the family, including Megan and Chris’ two young daughters, lived with a ladder connecting the main and lower levels for nearly nine months.

“It needed everything,” says Chris, explaining that they replaced every window, door, hinge and handle in the house. He and Megan also completely reconfigured the flow, moving bedrooms downstairs to create one large, open family room space off of the expanded kitchen. However, with all the modifications taking place, it was important to the homeowners that they maintain the original footprint.

Commissioned by the Symington family in 1961, the house was designed by architect William Adair Bernoudy, whose apprenticeship with world-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright inspired its organic, Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, punctuated with archetypal hints of Japanese influence. Bernoudy's unique design is also evident in the lattice motif on the balcony railings, as well as in the detailed trim surrounding the home's windows and doors. 

“We really wanted to respect the architectural integrity," says Chris, adding that the home's historical significance is equally important to them, and for good reason. 

In addition to having been built by such a distinguished architect, the house was used as a retreat for former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during a trip to St. Louis.

 While staying true to its most extraordinary features, these talented owners revitalized the home as a whole, breathing new life into every room with a mix of classic style and contemporary edge.

“We like to reinvent spaces," explains Chris, and reinvent they did. “We didn’t want the red brick colonial," adds Megan. "Our houses are our life-size palettes for our design talents. We work for clients all day long; here, we’re allowed to express our own personalities.”

As with all of the Franks' creative endeavors, the end result is nothing shy of a splendid work of art. However, an artist's work is never quite complete.

“Even without a big project going on, we fine-tune what we’ve already created. It’s never set, never done,” says Chris.

In fact, there usually comes a point in time when their creativity can no longer be confined to the same space. “We've never lived in a house long enough to redo," admits Chris. "We end up moving when we’re ready for a change — or a challenge." 

RESOURCES:
Architect — MArK, Inc., Mark Herman, 314-771-8484, mh@MArK-inc.com

Kitchen cabinetry – Poliform USA, www.poliformusa.com; Appliances – Callier & Thompson, 14180 Manchester Rd., 636-256-8332, www.callierandthompson.com; 

Glass spiral staircase: Foreman Fabricators, Inc., 4605 McRee Ave., 314-771-1717, www.foremanfab.com; Specialty wall finishes: Rice Painting Co., Inc., 19 Moody Ave., 314-961-3988, www.ricepainting.com; Fireplace – Blazing Glass, www.blazingglass.com; Wood floors – Prestige Flooring, 636-717-0972, www.prestigeflooringstl.com; Tile – Sunderland Brothers, 49 Cassens Ct., 636-680-2250, www.sunderlands.com; Lighting – Metro Lighting, 929 Hanley Industrial Ct., 314-963-8330, www.metrolightingcenters.com; Custom closets – St. Louis Closet Co., 2626 S. Big Bend Blvd., 314-781-9000, www.stlouisclosetco.com; Elevator: Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators, LLC, 305-884-1091, www.vacuumelevators.com; Furniture – Neiman Marcus, 100 Plaza Frontenac, 314-567-9811, www.neimanmarcus.com; Centro, 4727 McPherson Ave., 314-454-0111, www.centro-inc.com; Design Within Reach, www.dwr.com; Appliances — Sub-Zero, www.subzero-wolf.com; Fisher & Paykel, www.fisherpaykel.com; Gaggenau, www.gaggenau.com; Kohler, www.kohler.com; Crestron, www.crestron.com