First introduced in Austria in 1983, natural swimming ponds have grown in popularity over the past couple of decades. Now taking off in the U.S., these cool pools are safe and sustainable using no chemicals.
 

SLHL: What is a natural swimming pond?

Your garden doesn’t have to consist of just plants. Create a unique outdoor space with eclectic

accents that reflect your personality and style. 

one: Dragonfly metal art, from F.O.B.

two:  Twist fountain, available at Savvy Surrounding Style.

three: Bluetooth Frog from Seasonal Concepts.

four: Red/multi spotted fountain, from Garden Heights Nursery.

“It was Jean Baptiste Carpeaux who pushed me over the edge,” says Abraham Mohler, about his decision long ago to become a sculptor. Mohler attended Arizona State University where he was a walk-on on the baseball team. While there, he took an art history class. When studying Carpeaux, a mid-nineteenth century French sculptor, along with Michelangelo, Bernini and other notable sculptors, he began to love sculptures, especially those made of stone.

With seating for only 34 diners, I Fratellini is an oh-so-tiny slice of Italy in Clayton. “I try to make it as authentic as possible,” says owner Zoë Robinson. “It’s not an Italian-American restaurant. True Italian food is simple, and it’s based on ingredients.”

Purchased three years ago, the 12,000-plus-square-foot multi-level was built in 1996 and is surrounded by magnificent grounds that the new owners describe as “like a park, incredibly peaceful and quiet.”  The original home, however, was decidedly formal in style, and the couple hoped to create an environment that was “less traditional, more comfortable and livable.”  What they envisioned was a relaxing retreat for their soon-to-be-blended families and a great place for entertaining.

Since 1908, I have made my home in the cultural hub of the city in the Central West End, minutes from shops, restaurants and the famed Forest Park. While my inhabitants have come and gone, my core and structure have remained intact. Sure, owners have nipped and tucked me over the years, but isn’t everyone always in need of a little paint and personality? And sure, I’ve grown in size, but who doesn’t add on a few extra rooms in 105 years. What matters is that my bones are intact, and each of my owners has taken great care to preserve me as best as possible.