After stints living in Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York City, Julie and Tom Nelson moved to St. Louis, Julie’s hometown. They lived in an apartment here for nearly a decade, enjoying the sense of freedom that comes from maintenance-free living. 

But they wanted a little more space, so when the opportunity came to purchase a home in a villa community in Creve Coeur, they jumped at the chance. “My lifetime best friend’s parents decided to make a big downsizing move, and we ended up purchasing their house, and it just felt really good to have things happen that way,” Julie says. 

St. Louis residents Peggy and Tom Phillips naturally gravitated to a pristine Frontenac property when searching for their forever home. With Tom being a retired furniture industry professional, Peggy's natural eye for style and both having a passion for gardening, they were drawn to a home built in 1960 by the renowned local custom home builders at Higginbotham. The traditional structure had maintained its quaint architectural character, undergoing only a single renovation in 2006 by the previous owners that included adding a second story and a complete overhaul of the main floor.

I like surprises!” declares Celeste Baxter as she strolls through her and her husband, Brent's, Frontenac garden. 

  She is surrounded by the rich sunset hues of hundreds of daylilies, mounds of purple and gold created by plantings of different coneflower varieties and scarlet-centered, blush-colored hibiscus blossoms the size of giant saucers. All those vibrant, jewel colors are offset by the sparkling emerald green of approximately 350 lush-leafed hostas. 

Hosta Lilies are a Missouri proof perennial that come in all sorts of sizes and range from variegated white and green to a silvery blue. Thriving in partial shade, these plants are easy to take care of and even produce purple or white flowers at the peak of the season. These shrubs make a great statement, even in just green and white, due to the size of the leaves and fullness of the plant.

Starting April 10, visitors of the Missouri Botanical Garden can witness the geometric and glowing art of HYBYCOZO, a unique artistic duo highlighting the intricate patterns of nature through awe-inspiring, intricately designed sculptures. Throughout the spring and summer, the Garden offers both daytime viewing and special illuminated evening hours to explore its newest art exhibition–"Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO."

When the homeowner purchased this Clayton residence in 2016, she partnered with designer Liz McGovern of June Rosselein Interiors to refresh the interiors with new paint and furnishings while preserving the home’s original architectural character. As her lifestyle evolved, she returned nearly a decade later for a more extensive renovation. This time, the goal was to modernize the home while maintaining its original structure, creating spaces that felt updated yet still true to its history.