Peggy Deguire and Richard Supanich took the leap from single-family-home ownership to condo living and haven’t looked back since. They purchased their St. Louis Hills home right out of college and thought they’d spend the rest of their lives there; but as time went on their plans began to change. “As we’ve gotten older, we want to travel more,” says Peggy. With 2,500 square feet to upkeep as well as a yard, the thought of condo living was very appealing to the couple.

When you walk into Nicole and Craig Jobe’s polished two-story home in University City, it’s hard to imagine that it was once a space with dark walls and no design direction. After the city-loving couple moved in a year and a half ago, they quickly turned to their friend, designer Marie Curtis of M. Curtis Collection, for style inspiration and a much-needed makeover. “We wanted our home to be chic, bright and clutter-free, and we knew Marie would be able to give us just that,” explains Nicole. 

Condo living in Clayton had been thoroughly enjoyable for newlyweds Angela and Jonathan Ritchie, but it was time for these young professionals to start planning ahead. They envisioned a home in the woods – preferably mid-century modern – where youngsters could play and explore. And they loved the Town and Country area, which also offered an easy commute for Jonathan, marketing director with a major St. Louis-based event marketing firm.    

When the Bank of Springfield (IL) doubled the size of its flagship facility 12 years ago, the expansion came with a flowery flourish. Covering a three-acre site, it included 22,000 square feet of gardens meant to boldly accent the streetscape. To design those gardens, the bank selected Adam Woodruff, a young landscape designer with local, central Illinois roots.

With the holiday season in full swing, don’t show up to a festive gathering empty handed. A sweet surprise for the hostess is always appreciated. Sure, wine and chocolates are tasty, but why not bring your family member or friend a beautiful plant as a gift. SLHL asked local landscapers to share their favorite plants to give as hostess gifts. 

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden located in St. Louis County, opened to the public in 1998. It features an 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory where visitors mingle with more than 60 species of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in free flight. The conservatory is lushly planted with nearly 100 species of exotic flowering tropical plants and is sheathed in 646 pieces of glass, each measuring 4 by 6 feet and weighing approximately 200 pounds.