Exposed brick, raw concrete walls, polyurethane subfloors and a steel door leading to nowhere – need we say more? It was the industrial look that drew Michael Henderson to his 3,000-square-foot home in an eight-story commercial-turned-residential building that opened as Sporting News back in 1923. 

There’s just one problem with the unrefined aesthetic: “My job,” explains Henderson, “is extremely stressful. I need warmth and serenity when I come home.”

It started the same way many renovation projects start… with a simple desire to switch up some accessories and freshen up the lower level. But this renovation story quickly took a different turn. “We started dreaming, and once we started dreaming it turned into a whole remodel,” says designer CJ Knapp, who recently formed her own interior design firm Yours By Design.

Today’s home design leans more towards the eclectic than ever before. Blending genres, periods, patterns and colors has become an art form, in and of itself. The objective is to create an art collection in which the individual pieces complement each other as opposed to fighting against each other. Though perhaps a bit more of a challenge, the result is a unique and sophisticated space and a collector who has broadened their knowledge and appreciation for various styles and periods. 

Add visual interest to any wall with a custom-created gallery wall. Gather your favorite prints or art pieces and group them together in a living room, dining room, stairway or any space to add a personal touch.

one: Bedroom, by Laura Weatherbee. Photography by Lisa Weatherbee.

two: Office, by Homepolish West Coast Creative Director Orlando Soria. Photography by Bethany Nauert.

True to its reputation, Blackberry Farm is a smart, polished big hitter with a surprisingly gentle soul.  The resort is a continually evolving jewel where the perfectly pitched nature-nurture approach is considered the gold standard. Designed with the utmost respect and appreciation for the Tennessee foothills and its natural bounty, Blackberry Farm is authentic in every way. Guests are pampered, yes, but also invited to participate in the process if they so choose.

Fusion Marketing, St. Louis, MO

Photography by Kim Dillon

Fusion Marketing moved into its current location on Locust in 2012. Once the Missouri Light & Power building, the space is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Paradowski Creative, the former occupants of the building, in conjunction with Nehring Design and HBD Contracting, took on the renovation ensuring special care was taken to follow historic rehabilitation and LEED guidelines.