After 43 years in a Los Angeles studio dwelling, the thought of spreading out in a traditional St. Louis home sounded blissfully appealing to this California transplant. A graduate of Mizzou, she moved out to L.A. after college in 1976, where her father had been transferred. After working at CBS network for 15 years, she blossomed into a former co-producer for the game show The Price Is Right, where she worked for 28 years. Admittedly, after more than four decades, the L.A. traffic did her in—and eventually drove her back home. 

Early in the summer Michelle and Dean Millonas knew they had succeeded. It was the day one of their daughters had 15 friends over to swim in their recently installed pool. With the pool filled with his sister’s friends, their son and his friends decided they would head for the pickleball court. 

Since 1977, the Garden has proudly hosted the Japanese Festival, which now attracts around 50,000 people each Labor Day Weekend. It is widely considered one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States.

    The festival results from prolific collaboration between the Missouri Botanical Garden and several Japanese-American organizations in St. Louis. This fruitful partnership provides an authentic experience highlighting Japanese music, art, dance, food and entertainment throughout the Garden.

Glendale residents Kalie and Tom Baucom’s 2018 home addition created a family room, powder room and primary suite. “But our sitting room became forgotten,” explains Kalie. “However, it was where my husband and I gravitated to for peace, and we wanted to elevate that experience.”

    Consequently, the couple sought advice from interior designer Megan Temple, owner of Kirkwood-based Megan Temple Design. She agreed the 12x17 foot room was underutilized as a "holding space for leftover furniture,” but recalls immediately seeing its potential to be uniquely lively. 

Krista Howard, KH Interiors, LLC

Seasoned designer Krista Howard is the owner and founder of KH Interiors, LLC, a well-renowned boutique design-build firm in St. Louis. She jump-started her career with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and a Bachelor's in Marketing from Illinois State. She is additionally a past president of the 2024 ASID Missouri East Chapter.

Keith Gegg, Gegg Design & Cabinetry