The two-story English Tudor tucked away in a private, quaint neighborhood in Belleville tortured her every time she drove by it. She had fawned over the home for two years, but finally, in 2013, the house was for sale, and this design-savvy homeowner was able to purchase it and make it her own. The charm of the architectural elements combined with the open layout and large room sizes were what Kelly, the homeowner, and her partner Steve pined for.

As the leaves begin to change from greens to vibrant reds and oranges, so change the shades of our backyard plantings. Blooming fall perennials keep the autumnal color show going. We asked local landscapers to share their favorite fall perennials.

Often small things can spark major transformations. It was a series of what were thought to be small concerns and simple ideas that lead to the creation of one of the most spectacular gardens in the St. Louis area; one that was a highlight of the recent Missouri Botanical Garden Garden Tour and is the St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles’ Garden of the Year.

Remodeling is on the rise in 2014 as more and more homeowners are taking the steps to improve one, if not several, spaces in their homes. Careful planning, sticking to a budget and enlisting the help of an architect and/or remodeling professional will ensure a successful end result. If you are considering embarking on a remodeling project, we want you to be inspired. This special before-and-after section highlights innovation and clever design at its finest, from kitchens and bathrooms to living spaces and an exterior.

After creating dream kitchens for countless clients, Sheri Finkelstein, owner of REDECORIZE LLC, decided it was time to have one of her own. Her husband was set on staying in their St. Louis home, but the cramped kitchen space wasn’t going to cut it for their growing family of children and grandchildren. Last September, Sheri set out to construct her tailor-made kitchen.

After years of living in their Ladue home with three young children, this vivacious couple decided a main-floor overhaul was necessary to better accommodate their active family. They called in experienced husband-and-wife builder/designer duo Randy and Davey Mayer, who have been in the business for more than three decades and partner together at RJ Mayer Development Corporation and Davette J. Mayer Design, to tackle the project.