Artist, painter and occasional illustrator, Terri Shay isn’t afraid to herald in dramatic color. In fact, her artwork revels in it. Her paintings feature radiant swirls of colors bent to form exquisite odes to nature’s beauty. “I see patterns and rhythm in nature,” she explains of her muses. But not content to simply paint exactly what she sees, Shay will take a tree or flower and modify them, playing with their size, hue and shapes. “I like to rearrange what I see and heighten the color—I like the freedom of experimenting and using my imagination,” she says.

“We love old homes with all the qualities that make them unique,” says the owner of this 1913 beauty. The owners already lived in a beloved older home nearby, but they wanted a larger kitchen and other upgrades in that house that would require an addition, a project that wasn’t feasible. They also wanted a pool and to stay within the Clayton neighborhood they adored.

Sometimes, it's all in the mix. For a St. Louis couple with distinct tastes, their ability to strike a perfect design balance within their whimsical Ladue home seemed to evolve organically. Over the past decade, the homeowners—both PhDs with demanding professions and two boys—have successfully blended the wife's self-proclaimed "impulsive" purchases and mid-century-modern style with her husband's more traditional preferences. Showcasing a diverse array of art and collections, their 1970s colonial home emanates a palatable, free-spirited vibe to all who enter.

When Patrick Barrett built his striking, hilltop home in Des Peres 15 years ago, he loved everything about it. The gorgeous stone architecture had a timeless European appeal. The views of the surrounding countryside were spectacular. There was one thing, however, he hated. The ugly 15-to-20-foot retaining wall that was designed to re-enforce the hillside to install a swimming pool just outside the home’s walkout lower level. Not only was it unattractive, as the father of five active children, he viewed the drop off as dangerous.

It is hard for Brian Davies to remember a time when he wasn’t tending a garden. Growing up in north St. Louis County, he happily took over his parent’s garden. When he bought a home in University City, most of the yard became a garden. Six years ago, he and his wife, Jennifer, moved to the Central West End, where he is again making gardening magic.

Dragonflies are thought to symbolize a change of perspective, a deeper meaning of life and a sense of hope. Typically seen in the heat of the day during the summer months, they’re a colorful and welcome addition to any home garden.

Bountiful Benefits