Tucked away on a quiet street in Festus is a shop whose unassuming owner is the last person one would expect to be hobnobbing with Hollywood royalty and automotive kingpins.

How to describe the Caramel Room, the lusciously appointed event space atop Bissinger’s new headquarters?

The scent of chocolate is in the air, but Director of Events Amanda Bradham-Little answers the question by invoking another indulgence. “It’s whiskey chic,” she says. “It’s a take on modern and contemporary, yet warm and inviting.”

The real challenge when marrying traditional and contemporary design is incorporating new furnishings in a way that won’t make older pieces look dated. Principal designer Teddy Karl of The Great Cover-Up achieved true transitional - we’re talking simple, clean and utterly timeless - by striking a flawless balance between past and present in this 25th floor urban high-rise.        

Avid art collectors, world travelers and prominent St. Louis civic leaders, the owners of this unique residence in Clayton demonstrate that ingenuity, skillful design and a team of talented professionals can meet virtually any challenge – in this case, a multitude of challenges!

St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles has enjoyed a valued 19-year partnership with the Missouri Botanical Garden. Opened in 1859 by Henry Shaw as a place for the city’s residents to love, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been a landmark in St. Louis for more than 150 years. Each issue, we will share a small slice of the garden with you in Shaw’s Vision. Discover the beauty and knowledge this St. Louis gem has to offer.

Italy reigns as “il numero uno” among wines imported to the United States. But in Italy, grappa is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages. You might say that grappa is the cool, younger, indie cousin to its older, more worldly and established wine relative, as both have their roots in Italian vineyards and, since 1989, only grappa produced in Italy can be labeled grappa. Being deep into a St. Louis winter, it’s the perfect time to curl up in front of a roaring fire with a tall flute filled with an artisanal grappa while you get the scoop about this native Italian spirit.