McConnell fell in love on a Russian icebreaker transiting the Arctic. It’s not your usual how-we-met story, but then, Stone Soup Cottage is no ordinary restaurant.

The cottage is a pre-Civil War home in Cottleville, about 30 miles west of St. Louis. The McConnells’ offer one seating, Wednesday through Saturday, serving a six-course tasting menu that changes every three weeks. Reservations usually must be snagged six months in advance, longer for Saturday nights.

Sarah Theiss, manager at Locks & Pulls Design Elements, shares the how-to of hardware

SLHL: How do you determine the correct size a knob or pull should be?

Take your kitchen from dull to dashing with a new hood. Decorative and artsy or sleek and stainless steel, a hood will make a statement in your kitchen.

one: Gold 30” convertible wall mount with glass canopy top, by Whirlpool, available through Authorized Builder Sales.

two: ZTH Contemporary series, by Vent-A-Hood, available through AUTCOhome.

three: Outdoor ventilation hood, by Viking, available through AUTCOhome.

Instantly update your kitchen's look with new cabinetry hardware. The options are unlimited and meant to reflect your personality and style. 

one: Crystal round in bronze, by Alno, Inc., available through Marc Christian Fine Cabinetry.

two: Modern metro Z pull in Tuscan bronze from the Sanctuary II collection, by Top Knobs, available through Beck/Allen Cabinetry.

three: Acanthus long pull, by Carpe Diem, from Marc Christian Fine Cabinetry.