Meet DeirDre Krotz -- A St. Louis Favorite

Close-up shot of finish applied to what was once a white laminate cabinet. CRAZY!

My St. Louis favorites list is growing, this time with DeirDre Krotz, faux artist, who does the most amazing treatments with paint. Her company is called Crazy Walls.

I first became acquainted with her when I took one of her classes and she has since done work for my clients.

Her most recent work transformed a plain laminate cabinet to become a stunning old-world piece. Crazy!
Original white laminate cabinets (above)
AFTER (above) DeirDre does her "crazy" magic. Same cabinets, no joke. These are laminate, but you would never know.

I can't tell you how many clients ask me if they can paint laminate.

Yes Susie, you can! And DeirDre can help.

If you live in the St. Louis area and would like to learn how DeirDre and I can transform your furnishings, your walls and any paintable (not a word, I know, but I like it) surface, give me a call: 314-276-1129. If you live elsewhere, fly us out!

The Henken's Family Room -- featuring Ashley Furniture's Curved Sofa

It's been several months in the making, but yesterday we finally finished the Henken's family room and kitchen.
We started with one of my favorite sectionals: Ashley's curved sofa.
We teamed the curved sofa with Ashley's Jenna chairs which inspired the color scheme of red, green, yellow and tan. The walls are painted in Restoration Hardware's Bay Laurel. The area rug, about 11' by 14', was found at Rug Decor to complement the chairs. Notice the old window to the left side, it's an actual window from Joe's family home. The lamp and small table were made by Joe using reclaimed woods.
The window treatments and pillows are by Material Girl, Jeanette Longfellow. We banded the red treatments with a 12 inch block of tan fabric to mimic a valance. I love the graphic statement this makes.
Dining table (pictured above) was found at Three French Hens. The top is made of reclaimed wood -- the base was a pillar rescued from a Missou frat house. The chairs for the dining table are from Bassett. The ladder back chairs are upholstered in leather, practical dining for the children. The parents sit in the fabric chairs.
Tile back splash is subway tile laid in a brick pattern, the centerpiece surrounding the pot-filler is glass tile mosaic.
Accessories were found at Ashley Furniture and Pier One, but some of my favorite accessories were made by Joe, the reclaimed porch post lamp and small side table, seen with the Jenna chairs.
A fun find: whimsical side table that is a monkey holding a tray, found at Arhaus. Too cute! It's one of Joe's favorites.
Everyone feels at home, including the Henken's dog!

Thank you Henkens!...it's been fun. Let's do the living room now!

Want it: DOWNTOWN CHIC

I am starting something new. A running list of wish-books for my design reference library. This will be a handy list -- found on the side bar of my blog -- for friends and family who want to get me a gift!

DESIGN CHIC is reviewed by DESIGN MOM.

The cover of the book inspires me because I am getting ready to launch a design re-do of my master bedroom. I want to inject color, but I don't have the time or energy to paint my walls in the immediate future. Injecting color in the fabrics and finishes like I see on the cover of this book are likely the way I want to go.

Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis

Sitting area in lobby of the Moonrise Hotel.


Dan (husband) and I went with friends Don and Diane Wallace to check out the new Moonrise Hotel on the Delmar Loop.

The website says it "blends cool modern design and quirky sophistication to create a truly unique boutique hotel experience...The result: an unforgettable experience that combines Midwestern hospitality with urban chic and luxury boutique."

The lunar-themed decor is really out of this world. LOVE it!

It's so cool. We'll book guests here for sure.


Stairs light up and change colors. The Chihuly inspired chandelier is to die for.



The place was hopping. Great to see in this economy.

designHop Club Creates Home Office for Mom

Stephanie's husband, Mike, moves the bookcase.

Fellow designHop club member, Stephanie, is expecting a baby any day now. Baby #2 will get the office upstairs, so we helped Stephanie arrange her new office downstairs in the basement.


Office BEFORE -- see above photo


Office AFTER -- see above photo

The basement is one large space with no obvious divisions between three areas: play area, office and entertainment/TV. Our challenge was to not only make it look beautiful, but also to divide the area.

Stephanie had most all the pieces for her office, we just put it together. One piece missing was a chair. We spied a small wing back chair in her already crowded TV space and re-purposed it as an office chair. We think it adds a lot of comfort and class to the new office space.

To provide a division between the play area and the office, we -- well, Mike -- moved a bookcase and faced it towards the play area. Because it now faces the play area, toys and books can be stored in it. On the back side of the bookcase -- now facing the office -- we suggested Stephanie put the peel and stick cork squares to provide a bulletin board convenient to her work space.

We also suggested she put up an extension rod and curtain to hide the storage in the play area -- illustrated in the photo below. And we discussed paint colors to pull all three spaces together. We'll provide up dated photos as the space continues to transform.


A view of the "proposed" curtain.

designHop club makes design happen!

If you live in the St. Louis area and would like to host, start or join a designHop club, call me at 314-276-1129.

At Home Magazine's Habitat for Humanity Project on Show Me St. Louis

The Habitat for Humanity project sponsored by AT HOME magazine was featured on Show Me St. Louis today.

I enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the design elements featured in the home. Homeowner JoAnn Barge was a delight to work with and I think you can see why in this clip.

Kudos to Christy Marshall, also interviewed, who gathered 30 area interior designers to design for five deserving families.

Click here to see the segment on Show Me St. Louis.

Habitat for Humanity Open House -- Mark Your Calendar

Click to enlarge:

Ashley Furniture as seen in Barclay House

An inviting and restful corner of the master bedroom.

I had a wonderful opportunity to design the condo at Barclay House -- in Clayton, Missouri -- for the Bethesda Health Group that develops assisted living communities. Pat Truit, fellow customer specialist at Ashley Furniture Homestore, worked with me.

Our challenge was to design a space that appeals to two generations -- the demographic that is buying the Barclay House condos. Children of the older generation, in many cases, are buying the condos for their parents. The children's tastes lean towards contemporary while their parents' tastes lean towards traditional.

We worked to bridge both generations by nodding to traditional design as seen in the new millennium. We did this with transitional style furniture set off by accents in both contemporary and traditional designs.

Our color palette is soothing. Throughout the condo we used my favorite Restoration Hardware paint color silver sage and accented it with velvet chocolate on the living room wall.

Here are photos by Katherine Bish.

The entry:

Welcome home! This partition wall is the first thing you see as you enter. It is made more interesting by an abstract painting hung vertically. A perfect fit. It's the first thing to draw your eye toward the view to come.

The living and dining rooms:








The master bedroom:










The office:




Katherine thought it would be fun to snap some portraits. I didn't plan on it, but luckily I wore a decent outfit. I love this key hole chair from Ashley Furniture Homestore.

Save the Pink Bathrooms -- embrace mid-century modern

Check out this week's LifeStyle section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Aisha Sultan writes about the Formenti home decorated in 1956 that is perfectly preserved, not a scratch on the furniture and the stove used only 28 times for Thanksgiving meals.

How, you ask?

The family lived for years in the basement and only entered the kitchen and living room on special occasions. Even at special times the furniture was covered in plastic.

The house, located on the Hill, was on tour for a while, but sadly I missed it. I would have jumped at the chance to see it.

I have had a number of clients who want to rip out or otherwise disguise their 1950's pink tiled bathroom.

Hold on folks!

Consider embracing the pink. There are a growing number of folks looking for mid-century styling and pink bathrooms. If the Formenti home is any indication, it sold for the list price before it was listed!

Hello, that's in a buyer's market!

Where are these mid-century enthusiasts? Check out savethepinkbathrooms.com and also check out retro renovation .

Locally you can find retro furnishings at a St. Louis favorite: T.F.A.

For helpful hints as listed in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, click here.

If you live in St. Louis and have a pink bathroom worth saving, I would love to help!

Photo above as seen on Retro Renovation.

10th Street Lofts Lobby Project Update -- introducing Laura Gunn and Paul Pagano

I am still working on the 10th Street Lofts lobby -- downtown St. Louis, Missouri. We are almost done. The photo (click on images to enlarge) does not show the floor as well as I'd like. It is a chameleon floor that changes from brilliant emerald green to steel gray depending on the light and where you stand. It's unlike anything I have seen in floor treatments. If you are downtown, give me a call and I'd be happy to show it to you.

We added the bright green wall that houses the mailbox units. It's covered in Valtex commercial-grade vinyl wallcovering.

The over sized lamp in the corner is so fun and unexpected. It really lights up the corner and splashes light clear up to the two story ceiling. It has only three light bulbs, but looks like so much more. It will look even better when our furniture is in. It's from Ashley Furniture Homestore in Kirkwood, where I work.

The major large abstract artwork hung on the brick wall is by Laura Gunn -- see her work and blog entry about the piece: click here.


Paul Pagano, local artist, designer and craftsman extraordinaire, has joined me in the project to design a bench and table (see drawings above).

I can hardly wait to see the end result, but the process is the most fun. I love my work that allows me the opportunity to connect with inspiring artists like Laura and Paul.

Shopping Party at Target with AT HOME Magazine and Habitat for Humanity

Dr. Sandra Mims and her Oakville Elementary art classes (grades 3, 4 and 5)are painting old chairs and skateboards for AT HOME magazine's Habitat for Humanity community project.

I am participating in an amazing community project to decorate five Habitat for Humanity Homes. Christy Marshall, Editor-in-Chief, AT HOME St. Louis Magazine, has organized teams of designers to work on each home. I am working on Home #5 with six other designers.

It's been a blast and I want to invite YOU to participate!

If you live in the St. Louis area, join us for a shopping party at Target -- at Brentwood Promenade -- to purchase a few remaining items for the homes. Many retailers in the area have been hugely generous in their contributions, but a few odds and ends, like shower rods, linens, throw pillows, light bulbs and picture frames are still needed. So we thought it would be fun to throw a party to acquire the remaining items.

Come join us Thursday, March 12 -- anytime between 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. -- and you will get to meet the designers who will share their experiences in designing the homes.

Can't make the shopping party? Find out how you can still participate. Read Christy Marshall's blog to learn more: click here.

As a thank-you, Christy will send you a coupon for an AT HOME subscription and a donation form from Habitat for Humanity.

Matt and Pattye's bathroom -- part 2

I showed you Matt and Pattye's bedroom inspired by their garden. Here are highlights from their bathroom.

Ashley Furniture Homestore -- St. Louis -- Grocery Give-away! It's happening again! Plus, my FREE in-store design advice

Here we go again, FREE groceries! The deal of the century. OK, maybe not, but it IS definitely the deal of the month for home furnishings in St. Louis!

Ashley Furniture Homestores -- St. Louis, where I work, is offering $500 in FREE grocery rebates with a $500 purchase.

This is NO gimmick! Everyone is eligible with a $500 purchase. I blogged about it last month -- learn details, click here.

Several friends of mine benefited by this FREE give-away last month. It's a no brainer, especially if you you've been holding off on that furniture purchase.

We have several sofas for under $500 so your budget-decorating dollar can go a long way. For example, a sofa, a lamp and end table may total $500. It is possible, in fact, to complete your room with Ashley furniture for the price of just one sofa at many retailers.

And if low prices weren't enough, we have more, much more. We offer style -- great style! -- selection and friendly service!

Don't be left behind! This offer lasts until March 2nd.

And if FREE groceries weren't enough, I will sweeten the deal by offering you my FREE in-store design advice. Bring photos or dimensions of your space and we can dream of your new room together. An appointment is recommended. Call the store to book Dana King, 314-966-0047.

Come visit me at the Kirkwood location on Manchester near Lindbergh Rd, next to Lou Fuhz Toyota. I am there: Mondays 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Matt and Pattye's Bedroom

Photos are courtesy of Katherine Bish.
Click on photos to enlarge.
It has been fun working with Matt and Pattye to design their master bedroom and bathroom. Matt and Pattye are award-winning gardeners who open up their front and back yards each Spring to bus loads of people and the mayor of Creve Coeur. We picked up on their passion and created a garden inspired bedroom.



Art does not have to be on the wall. We have art in the pillows. Look at these beautiful botanical prints in fabric!



We created the color scheme around their existing rug.


My favorite element in the room is the dried pressed ferns under glass. Pattye cut ferns from her garden and pressed them. With a little feedback from me, Pattye found mat boards to coordinate with our color scheme and painted an existing white frame black. Matt arranged the ferns inside the frame. A real team effort!



We hung our window treatments on a large 3 inch rod. Most people might choose a smaller one, but we love how this rod balances with the other strong black furnishings in the room and really stands up to the strong graphic checked print window panels. The dresser in the above photo is a cherished family antique.


Matt Phillips is one of the owners of Ashley Furniture in St. Louis Missouri, so it was only fitting we use Ashley furniture! We used an armoire and chest from the Martini collection. I think the espresso finish against the golden walls looks striking. The lamps on the nightstands were also finds at Ashley Furniture.

Marianne Phillips, Matt's mother, painted the flower paintings hung above the chest.


Views in the bathroom also include a collection of meaningful items including found shells from a family trip and another painting by Marianne.



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