St. Louis residents Peggy and Tom Phillips naturally gravitated to a pristine Frontenac property when searching for their forever home. With Tom being a retired furniture industry professional, Peggy's natural eye for style and both having a passion for gardening, they were drawn to a home built in 1960 by the renowned local custom home builders at Higginbotham. The traditional structure had maintained its quaint architectural character, undergoing only a single renovation in 2006 by the previous owners that included adding a second story and a complete overhaul of the main floor.

"The homeowners were looking for a space that would allow them to comfortably host gatherings with their growing extended family, something they could enjoy for years to come," says Colleen Ertl, a designer formerly with Diane Breckenridge Interiors who recently launched her own company, Colleen Ertl Interiors. The homeowners were looking for an aesthetic that was elevated, but also comfortable and inviting."

After buying the home back in 2017, the couple made a few architectural improvements to the living room fireplace and added built-in bookcases to the family room with the help of Greg Terbrock Luxury Homes. "We converted the formal living room into a large dining room to accommodate our 14 children and grandchildren, all of whom live in St. Louis," says Peggy. "We also either painted or wallpapered every room in the house and changed the cabinet finishes in the kitchen, primary bathroom and guest bathroom."

Because their original exterior was traditional red brick, they opted to freshen the look by painting it in a putty-white hue, dramatically contrasted with black shutters. "We carried that traditional aesthetic throughout the home with touches of contemporary lighting and artwork, particularly in the dining room,” adds Tom. "Peggy loves color and texture, so she used soft maize, ivory, sage greens and corals to provide a happy, warm and inviting décor."

In the living room, the millwork in and around the large Palladium windows, looking out onto the gardens, frames and showcases the natural light the homeowners enjoy. They also especially love the three fireplaces on the main floor, which add architectural features to the living room, dining room and primary bedroom, providing a warm and cozy atmosphere in each space. 

"We always strive to design spaces that reflect the personality of our clients and the colors they love to surround themselves with, all while being durable and beautiful," Ertl notes. "I was involved in some of the architectural re-design for a few spaces. In the great room, the fireplace was originally brick and very dated, so we renovated that space to allow for a beautiful natural stone surround with an elegant custom-designed millwork mantel to complement an impressive art piece that hangs above." Ertl transformed the original dining room into a comfortable den, with custom-built-in bookcases on either side of a doorway to house books and special accessories, along with bespoke millwork throughout. She also converted the original living room into a spacious dining room that can seat the entire family for dinner. "I worked with the homeowners to draft furniture layouts for each space to maximize seating and best utilize the spaces for entertaining and everyday living," adds the designer. 

The color scheme for the main rooms on the first floor was inspired by the area rugs in the great room and the adjoining game room space. Based on dominant hues of sage greens, deep corals, golden yellows and soft maize, they crafted a cohesive palette of fabrics using pattern and texture that flows intentionally throughout the first-floor rooms. "The artwork is also essential in those spaces as it brings the color palette to the walls," says Ertl. "It was important to keep the wall color throughout the first floor soft and warm to showcase all the stunning architectural details without distracting from them. This approach also allowed the artwork's vibrant hues to shine and carry the color scheme throughout. 

With a trained eye for style gleaned from years in the family's furniture business, Peggy deftly selected all the furniture, rugs, lamps, light fixtures, mirrors, artwork and tabletop accessories via her multiple trips to the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina. She also pulled in friend and design consultant Patsy Bartels, co-owner of Partners In Design, for her expertise with textiles, including upholstery fabrics, trims, pillows and wallcoverings. "Peggy and I have worked together over the last 30 years on their three different houses," notes Patsy. "Since she was able to order furnishings, lighting, artwork and rugs directly from the markets, I was tasked with finding fabrics and trims for draperies, dust skirts, pillows and wallcoverings to finish off all the rooms. Peggy and I have very similar tastes, and she makes decisions easily. She loves to entertain their many friends and family, so we wanted the rooms to feel warm and inviting, which I think we certainly achieved throughout her lovely home."

After settling in and living in their new dwelling for nearly a decade, the couple has experienced firsthand just how remarkably livable, functional and welcoming their home has been over the years. "It's perfect for large family gatherings and parties—and we especially enjoy the open flow of the large kitchen, family room, dining room and living spaces," says Peggy. "We also love our spacious primary bedroom suite on the main level with a door leading out to the gardens and pool area."

Adds Ertl, "The result is a wonderful reflection of their style and personalities—warm and welcoming—just the result I hope for in every client’s home."

Resources: 

Doors and Windows: Pella

Cabinetry: Terbrock

Stone from Stone Fabricators