Written by Jessen O’Brien / Photographed by CH Studios

When this St. Louis couple started looking for a new home, they had no trouble finding the perfect neighborhood: one with nearly two-acre lots, plenty of mature trees, and close to their friends. The problem was finding the perfect house – so they decided to build it.

The couple gravitated towards a traditional French Country look for the exterior but paired with a more modern take on the style for the interior that affords many of the perks you don’t often find in older homes, such as a first-floor master suite, open-plan living space, walk-in pantry, mudroom, and separate walk-in closets with an attached laundry room. Architect Robert Srote of Srote & Co. helped bring that dream to life.

“He was so helpful, and he was really able to pull out of us exactly what we wanted. When he showed us his first draft, we couldn’t believe how many things he was able to incorporate that we had been looking for,” says the homeowner. For example, the couple “had wanted a 25-yard lap pool in the back.” The final design – realized by Terbrock Luxury Homebuilders – takes advantage of the pool’s length to offer up view after view of the water feature, turning what could have been a tricky architectural element into one of the home’s loveliest features.

The next step was to find the right interior design team. A friend recommended Channing Krichevsky and Maria Hogrefe of C&M Interiors. “We immediately hit it off,” says Channing. “Like we do with every project, we went through a visioning process so that we could get to know more about the homeowners, how they wanted to live in their new home, and the things that speak to and inspire them.”

Once Channing and Maria had a firm grasp of what the homeowners were looking for, they began to sketch by hand, develop scaled drawings in CAD, and pull in various materials to help share their design with the clients.

“The best case scenario is when clients trust us completely and have very minor tweaks. It keeps the original vision vibrant, which can often get watered down when we begin mixing and matching option after option,” says Maria. “This process unfolded seamlessly because the homeowners trusted us to take them along the journey and bring their project to fruition.”

“Channing and Maria did such an amazing job. They spent a ton of time with us going through different scenarios and finding out what we did and didn’t like,” says the homeowner. “When you’re not in that field, it’s really hard to picture what individual pieces will look like once they are all together. But Channing and Maria have the experience to know exactly what’s going to look good and how to incorporate unique features.”

Take the plastered wall treatment in the home’s open-plan kitchen, dining room, and living area. At first, the homeowners weren’t sure about the idea – it wasn’t something they had ever considered. But they love the results, which provides a nod to old French Country homes without feeling dated or out of place. Similarly, the couple appreciates the arches the designers added throughout the home – from the modern fireplace rendered in black marble to the custom uppers by Wilson’s Cabinetry of Arthur, IL, in the wet bar. That last feature ended up being one of the home’s biggest design challenges. 

“Tons of engineering, tweaking and on-site coordination went into getting these cabinets just right,” says Channing. “We played with curves consistently throughout this project. Curved arches in the openings, barrel vaults in the hallways, softened and rounded corners on the kitchen island, round posts at the stairs and kitchen island. The list could go on! These elements help soften the house and give it a relaxed flair.”

In the kitchen, a coffered ceiling with wooden beams provides a touch of French Country. From it hang statement pendants from Urban Electric, which hover over a large, custom island featuring quartzite countertops, an integrated cutting board, and a footrest. A large cabinet door conceals a walk-in pantry with walnut countertops and a light blue, tiled backsplash.

Shades of blue appear throughout the home. “Channing and Maria helped us come up with a palette that would carry throughout the home,” says the homeowner. “We landed on colors that are comforting and homey, but still modern and bright.” 

“One of our favorite pieces of furniture in the home are the blue dining room chairs sourced through Centro. The pop of color adds a layer of fun to a more sophisticated surrounding,” says Maria. “Hands down our favorite room in the house in the office. We played with a bold color, Stone Blue, and tons of texture, from the jute rug to the rattan desk. The homeowner was truly fearless with this space.”

The first-floor master suite boasts another standout feature: a focal wall behind the modern four-poster bed featuring a floral wallpaper in neutral tones. A sitting area overlooks the pool and a terrace area, which the homeowners can access directly from their suite. 

Channing and Maria suggested the geometric floor tile for the serene master bathroom. Here, a double vanity with Waterworks fixtures, dedicated makeup area, large soaker tub, and spacious, double-headed shower provide a spa-like space for the homeowners to begin and end their days in. A glassed archway between the shower and bathtub increases the flow of natural light while providing a touch of drama.

One of the homeowner’s favorite parts of the master suite is the laundry room, which connects directly to one of the walk-in closets. “It might be the best part of the whole house! I love having it right by the closets, and I also love having separate closets. It’s worked out really well for our marriage,” says the homeowner, laughing. “We thoroughly enjoy having the master on the main level.”

The other homeowner points to the pool and screened-in lanai as his favorite parts of the home. A fireplace and two ceiling fans ensures the lanai stays comfortable in three seasons. With the outdoor kitchen, TV, and built-in speakers, it doubles as both a living and entertaining area – and thanks to a pair of sliding pocket doors, it connects seamlessly to the main living space.

“We were so fortunate in that we had a really excellent team. This project could have been very overwhelming, but everyone came together – the architect, the builder, designers – and did a terrific job throughout the project,” says the homeowner. “They were always there to help, and that made it an enjoyable process.”

Channing and Maria also noted the teamwork that went into the project, including the strength of the relationship they built with the homeowners, as being critical to the home’s success.

“Looking back on the project, our relationship with the homeowners and the builder stand out the most. They were all so collaborative, respectful and so much fun to work with,” says Channing.

Maria continues: “Working with the homeowners was a joy. They allowed us the freedom to propose interesting design elements. We bounced ideas off of each other, and they always felt comfortable to ask our opinion when they had a design feature they wanted to incorporate.”