A SECOND CENTURY

Completed in 1927, this stately Tudor manor, located in St. Louis’ storied Fair Oaks neighborhood, was owned and preserved by a single family until the property’s sale in 2020.  It’s soaring ceiling beams, curved main hall staircase, and dramatic balcony on the second-floor landing served to steal the collective breath of everyone entering the front door for nearly a century. This presented the new owner with the ultimate preservation project – a dream-come-true for this design and architecture-loving family.

Thoughtfully restoring hallmark Tudor design elements, such as the mahogany doors, trim work, stone fireplaces and iron windows, they also breathed new life into the property by adding touches of Scandinavian design, a tribute to their family’s Dutch heritage. Natural materials, elegant clean lines and a delicate color scheme created an airy European feel.

The kitchen is the equivalent of bread baking in the oven – exuding warmth with its natural color palette of antique whites and amber wood tones. The ivory Lacanche stove features antiqued brass detailing, which is repeated in the island pendants from Urban Electric. Reflective elements, like the mother of pearl and marble mosaic back splash tile and the polished nickel hardware, showcases the room’s natural light. Personal artifacts, such as the family’s Dutch delftware, add to the kitchen’s intimate aesthetic.

In the laundry room, the soft green custom cabinetry, with its vintage fretwork detail and polished nickel latches, becomes a striking focal point. Classic materials, such as the spare bath’s Caribbean green marble floors and handmade ceramic tile—complete with cove base and pencil trim pieces—feel original to the home. A family heirloom, the Murano glass chandelier, provides a dressy addition to an otherwise utilitarian space.

Reinvigorated as it prepares to enter its second century, this home’s design confirms that staying true to its legacy can also mean an exceptional modern living experience.