Directions in Design, Inc.
Architect: John Peckham, AIA

Directions In Design, Inc. turned this ordinary fireplace in to an extraordinary piece of art. The contemporary stair-stepped white marble fireplace was designed with a large recessed area featuring hand-blown colorful plates. Lit two ways, one with halogen art lights from the slanted coffered ceiling and the other around the perimeter of a raised panel holding the plates in the recessed area, the pieces of art shine as the focal point of the space. 

The Hill. Rich in history, it is as iconic as the Arch, Forest Park and Busch Stadium. Savory aromas waft from the popular restaurants and bakeries on nearly every corner. Pole banners, canopies, even fire hydrants are emblazoned with the red, white and green of the Italian flag, proclaiming the tight-knit neighborhood’s heritage. For David Grassi Construction Co., however, “green” has an equally meaningful interpretation; it’s the responsible way to build.

Outstanding design deserves recognition, and five sensational St. Louis design projects have been singled out for our third annual Architectural Finesse Awards. Evaluated by a distinguished panel of Kansas City architects, Scott Bickford, Ron Stallbaumer and Wolfgang Trost, the winning entries include a unique variety of newly built and remodeled living spaces, honored for their architectural ingenuity and integrity and overall aesthetic appeal.

If it weren't for the patch of blue overhead, you might not realize you were sitting in Mary Tramelli’s garden and not her home. Colors, textures and ambience flow so perfectly from the inside to the outside, it’s hard to tell the difference.

It was the stucco walls, tile roof and Mediterranean feeling of the residence that drew Mary and her husband, Dan, to their Richmond Heights home 30 years ago.  Through the years they’ve added on and raised three sons within the walls, all the while keeping the rustic, Italian ambience of the home intact.

“The tomato nicknamed 'love-apple' becomes reality with the heartbreaker tomato, a cherry tomato with heart-shaped fruit. Heartbreaker has excellent vigor and produces rich-tasting hearts. The skin is soft, plus the fruit is juicy with the perfect sweet/sour content. Heartbreaker can be used as a snack, for cooking and salads or to decorate your dish for a fun and unique look.” ~ Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens.
 

Many of us are likely already mulching our gardens and landscaping with wood chips, grass clippings and leaves, spreading them on top of the soil for insulation and to save water, reduce weeds and prevent erosion. While a huge help above ground, mulching doesn’t address the nutritional needs of the soil underneath the surface.