Born and raised in the Saint Louis area, I have always been especially fond and appreciative of our rich collection of curated properties that exemplify the talents of many notable names in our design community. Whether strolling down picturesque Lindell Boulevard or UCity's iconic Westmoreland, I am reminded of how our Saint Louis communities are deeply enriched with architectural significance. As we get busy with our daily lives, we often forget to open our eyes to the exquisite details of the homes around us, and in our case here in the "small, big city" of Saint Lou, right out our doorsteps.
I've been privileged to be a part of many transactions that will be remembered as architecturally significant, but there are a hand full I my recent sales that in my opinion, stand-out above the rest.
42 Countryside Lane, Frontenac - Sold for $2,625,000
This 6,000 square foot Frontenac Estate was designed by Architect Bobby McAlpine of McAlpine House, a notable name in the design community. McAlpine is continually recognized as one of Architectural Digest‘s finest, most recently touted 2018 AD100 top architects and also designed Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s vacation home on their own private island in the Bahamas. Not a bad gig.
Creatively designed with 5 bedrooms and 5 baths in the main house, plus a 5-star guest house overlooking the prime acreage with a master suite and mini kitchen equipped to host your special guests in style. The charming covered breezeway with custom millwork and wood-burning fireplace adjoins the main house & guest house, just steps from the stellar outdoor amenities which include a pool, pool house, hot tub, pickle ball court and multiple patios. Tucked back in the coveted subdivision of Countryside Lane in the upper crust community of Frontenac , this 1.5 acre secluded and peaceful sanctuary is positioned adjacent to a massive park-like property, adding an element of privacy that can not be measured. 42 Countryside Lane is more than a custom home, it is the true testament to the McAlpine architectural design philosophy of seamlessly combining the elements of balance, symmetry and style. To learn more about houses for sale in Frontenac, MO contact Suzie Wells Realtor and Broker.
Learn more about McAlpine House
972 Masonridge Road, Town & Country - Sold for $2,300,000
This 8,200 square foot estate in Town & Country was designed by Dick Busch Architects located right here in Chesterfield, Missouri. Dick Busch has developed a reputation as being one of the best in the industry. Much like his notable reputation, this estate was designed and built to the very highest standards of luxury and is situated on one of the most desirable addresses adjacent to Longview Farm Park, a farm with historic nostalgia. This property was designed with soaring ceilings, arches, rich woods and textured stone. A Great Hall in the heart of the home was intentionally designed for large gatherings, adjacent to a richly paneled office and den with a memorable masculine fireplace and kitchen and hearth room that are flooded with old world charm. Master oasis on the main floor with 3 suites on the upper and flanked with lovey Juliet balcony overlooking the Great Hall. To top things off, Dick Busch incorporated a finished lower level with a game room, a boutique elevator, porte-cochere, 4 garage bays, a bonus wing above porte-cochere, extensive stamped driveway, and patios galore! Old world charm meets refined luxury at the 972 Masonridge Road Estate. To learn more about Town and Country MO real estate, connect with me today.
To connect with Dick Busch Architects:
16678 Old Chesterfield Road
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone: (636) 530-7787
12660 Post Oak Road, Town & Country - Sold for $2,335,000
Situated on one of the only long standing private roads still rich with the "Country" character in the heart of Town & Country. 12660 Post Oak Road is truly a custom tudor manse designed by Garrell Associates in Atlanta, Georgia and crafted after the Landsdowne Place. The home is remembered as a perfect balance of unassuming functionality, yet boasting a very transitional floor plan which in my opinion is unmatched by others. Exquisite kitchen equipped to the nines and open to a casual dining area, great room, pool and veranda. Tastefully appointed with soaring ceilings, the living room and dining room are joined with an entertainer's bar whether enjoying the wonderful outdoor entertaining spaces or curled up by the handsome masonry fireplace. Fabulous main floor master suite with an office plus 4 additional bedrooms and 4 baths on the upper. The massive 4th ensuite bedroom above the four car garage has a vaulted ceiling and lovely views of the property to the east and west. This space was designed to possibly serve as a media or recreation room or possible Au Pair quarters. This architect truly thought of it all! Rock surround saltwater pool, spa and extraordinary covered outdoor veranda w/ fireplace complete the lovely 3 acres. A slice of "Country" located minutes from all the city has to offer! Connect with Suzie to learn more about houses for sale in Town and Country MO.
16 Outer Ladue Drive, Frontenac - Listed at $1,995,000 - Currently Pending
Cape Cod living in the heart of Frontenac, designed by Larry P. Graham of Camarillo, CA and built by the reputable Berkley Construction Company, a family owned business since 1920. Berkley Construction Company was recently touted as "Home of the Year" by St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles. No amenity overlooked, offering today's discerning buyer the best of indoor & outdoor living. The home was intentionally designed to access the pool and extensive outdoor entertaining areas from every room on the main level. Extraordinary millwork, custom cabinetry, 9-10' ceilings and whole-house generator speak to the integrity throughout. Five bedroom suites including a primary suite on main, three on the upper and one in the lower plus a laundry room on both the first and second floors. Fully finished lower level with egress windows, office, family room, bedroom, billiards and bar. Private outdoor covered veranda flowing seamlessly from main floor complete with pool & fireplace offering exclusive privacy. 3 car rear entry garage plus extra parking for visitors. Experience the best of Cape Cod living, delivering exquisite spaces both indoors and out. A quality home indeed.
Berkley Construction Co.
Office Phone: 314 968 1980
Bob Jr: 314 623 2421 [email protected]
7308 Westmoreland Drive, University City - Sold for $720,000
7308 Westmoreland Drive is nestled on one of the prettiest tree-lined streets in University City and just a short walk to the business district of Clayton and all that this hip area has to offer. This home is an architectural treasure and was designed by Maritz & Young, otherwise known as Raymond E. Maritz and W. Ridgley Young. Together, they built more than 160 homes and commercial spaces for some of our city’s most prominent citizens and located in some of the most affluent neighborhoods. 7308 Westmoreland Drive is an iconic masterpiece in their collection, and truly understanding the duo's background brings one to appreciate the lavish details and opulent materials chosen during the design phase of this home, reflecting a time of prosperity.
Raymond E. Maritz was born in St. Louis in 1893, of French ancestry and a descendent to a carpenter. His father, a New Orleans native, founded a jewelry manufacturing firm in St. Louis around the time of Raymond’s birth. At age 11, Maritz decided to study architecture after attending a meeting with his father, engineers, and architects who were designing the 1904 World’s Fair French Pavilion.
Studying architecture at Washington University, Raymond furthered his education at the Ecole des Beauz Arts in Paris. Maritz formed an architectural partnership with Gale Henderson, another Washington University student, in 1915. Upon his return from a WWI deployment, together they built several quality suburban homes until Henderson’s departure from the firm in 1920.
Maritz formed a new partnership with W. Ridgley Young that went on to span two decades. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1893, Young was also a fellow graduate of Washington University. Together, their first design was 7314 Maryland Avenue, built for Raymond’s brother, James. Residential clients in the next decade included some of the most prominent and prosperous people in the St. Louis area.
Their architectural ideas were new and inspirational during the 1920’s – a prime time for period homes, or houses that were expected to look like a picture postcard from Europe yet being up to date in plan and function alike. Maritz & Young soon became the leading residential architects, designing more homes than any other firm in the most stylish of neighborhoods. The duo were both proficient in all types of period architecture, otherwise known as Colonial Revival, Georgian, Spanish Eclectic and Tudor. In particular, the homes built on Lindell and Forsyth Boulevards, as well as in Brentmoor Park, Carrswold, and Wydown Terrace were most notable for their composition.
The largest of the homes designed by Maritz & Young were in Brentmoor, built in the 1920s and ’30s, with other magnificently designed estates constructed in neighborhoods like Carrswold, Bridlespur, Southmoor, and Hillcrest. A common feature of these neighborhoods was an ornamental wrought-iron gate fashioned at the entrance with the larger of the luxurious homes sitting up front in view of passers-by. These gates are still present in Fair Oaks on Lay Road, Aberdeen Place in Clayton, Southmoor on Big Bend, Wydown Terrace, and Squires Lane in Huntleigh. Maritz & Young continually gave credit to builders and suppliers that they worked with, and were seen by others in the community as instrumental in the growth of Saint Louis.
Many of the Maritz & Young homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places within Saint Louis, as they are deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. To learn more about today's opportunities to own a Maritz & Young home of your own, connect with me at Suzie Wells Real Estate.
201 North Brentwood Boulevard, Clayton - Sold for $825,000
Gracefully appointed, thoughtfully designed & renovated by the owner who happens to be an innovative Architects with Mackey Mitchell Architects located right here in our sweet Saint Louis. 201 N. Brentwood Boulevard is an architectural treasure, designed with intentional angles and sources of natural light which were instrumental in the design & renovation process, bringing an organic and artful vibe to the many special spaces within this home. Multiple outdoor spaces accessed by every room on the main, setting this urban home apart from any other in contention - quaint veranda off living room, terrace garden/patio off family room plus a lush & fenced green space and meandering stone path connecting the lovely spaces. Primary suite with updated and light-filled bath plus 2 additional bedrooms and updated full bath on the upper. Main floor laundry, two car garage addition and a walk-out lower level that adds elements of simple living to this urban and extraordinarily private setting. Trust me, there are few spaces more pleasing!
Two Builder-Inspired Designs
7 Georgian Acres, Frontenac - Sold for $2,175,000
Welcome to 7 Georgian Acres, a custom fortress perched atop a secluded 1.16 acre lot in the heart of Frontenac. This home was designed and built by Roger and Terry Johnson of Johnson Development. This dynamic duo has been building homes for over 43 years and have notably constructed over 1,000 homes to date. Johnson Development is characterized by many as a quality builder of luxury homes with a high level of attention to detail, and were recently touted as Saint Louis Hall of Fame Designer for 2018.
7 Georgian Acres is an unassuming estate that was designed, crafted and perfectly positioned for optimal outdoor privacy around the pool, pool house, covered outdoor kitchen & bar, outdoor stone fireplace, in-ground spa and sports court. The lavish outdoor spaces were intentionally designed for extraordinary entertaining, flowing beautifully into the hearth room and kitchen for ease. The Great Room takes center stage in this manse, with show-stopping floor to ceiling windows and french doors opening to the pool area - you'll love this video. A master wing was designed to include a wood embellished office/den fit for a king, and a suite that flows so smoothly out to the pool deck and spa. Three additional suites on the upper floor and an open concept study area for the children. And oh my, a fabulously appointed lower level that would not disappoint even the most discerning buyer, including a family room with fireplace, fully equipped bar, half bath, a craft room and office, dramatic theater, tempered wine cellar and a fitness room with steam shower. Can it get any better than that? Hats off to Johnson Development for masterminding a family oasis unlike any other!
49 Manderleigh Estates - Sold for $1,830,000
49 Manderleigh Estates is nestled on a prized lot in a gated community in the heart of Frontenac. This classic colonial was also designed by Mr. Johnson of Johnson Construction and his interior designer wife, Kelly Johnson of Kelly Johnson Design. Together, they are the masterminds behind this reverse-two story home that was once a popular design in the south. With their large family in mind, this home was creatively crafted to suit their every need and was nothing short of delivering an elegant yet understated vibe! This home lives and feels like a ranch, yet is comprised of fabulous living spaces on two tastefully renovated levels w over 3,700 square feet on the main floor. Do not be fooled, this reverse 2-story has a lower level that lives as does a second level in a traditional two-story home and all in, boasts over 7,200 square feet of total living area. The architecturally significant area of the home that does not go forgotten is the vautled ceiling hearth room. This space defines the heart of the home and is truly unlike any other in contention. A main floor master wing includes a cozy office/den fit for a king & queen, an additional sitting area, oversized suite with his and hers walk-in closets and a tranquil and timeless bath with all the amenities. An unexpected lower level embellished with every amenity imaginable, plus four additional bedrooms, 2 full baths, fully stocked bar & kitchen, pool, outdoor covered family rm and an oversized 3-car garage with extra space for the sportsmen or artisan. A stunning home with architectural, southern charm.
