By Jessen O’Brien / Photos by Alise O’Brien

Laura and Paul Miller had always planned to one day move from their Portland Place century home to a condo in the Chase Park Plaza with their dog, a 140-pound Leonberger named Cricket. But one day became today during the pandemic, when rising home prices convinced them that this would be an opportune time to downsize.

“We didn't even put our house on the market, but we had an unsolicited offer and thought we better sell it,” says homeowner, designer, and entrepreneur Laura Miller. Nearly 20 years ago, Laura co-founded 20 Minutes to Fitness, which specializes in a once-a-week routine designed to build muscle mass through slow-motion weight lifting.

A few years before starting the business, the Millers moved into the house, which was built in 1891. It was designed by architect Theodore Link, whose most famous local project is Union Station. “The house was around 11,000 square feet, with 13 bedrooms. This is a two-bedroom 3,400-square-foot condo, so it’s a significant change,” says Laura. “But downsizing is only part of the story.”

The true heart of the story becomes apparent the moment you step into the entryway of the Millers’ new home and are surrounded by a selection from Laura’s art collection that reflects the natural world. Among the more than one dozen pieces is a large-scale elephant’s ear photographed by local artist Madeline Longstreet done in the Van Dyke style. Thoughtfully arranged with the help of lifetime friends and fellow Chase residents Marianne Murphy and Chris Chadwick along a corridor that leads from the entryway to the condo’s open-plan living spaces, the effect is more like walking through a gallery versus a typical hallway. That’s by design.

“Every part of this place was built to showcase the previous owner’s art, which included pieces by Rembrandt, Dürer, and Matisse that were donated to the St. Louis Art Museum when he passed away,” says Paul, who heads The Omega Group at UBS Wealth Management. “He created this museum, and we brought in the content of Laura’s collections.”

This made the condo an ideal pick for the couple to display their collections of botanical prints, naturalist paintings and photographs, mounted specimens, European pottery, antique garden statues, and a medley of furnishings that span four centuries which they have thoughtfully been amassing for decades. The overall effect is a strong connection to nature. About 180 recessed lights illuminate the 35 feet of gallery space, tall ceilings – which soar to 13.5 feet in the dual living spaces that flank the condo’s dining room – and remote-controlled built-in window shades all serve to highlight and protect the artwork within.

“And [its museum-like qualities] aren’t even the most breathtaking thing about it. It’s really this 180-degree view of Forest Park,” says Laura, gesturing to the windows that encircle the main living spaces. “There are times when I can see large birds go swooping by; in many ways, I feel more in touch with nature here than in our previous home.”

“We basically moved across the street,” says Paul. “But it’s totally different being up 15 stories. The sunsets are spectacular. And in the morning, the coloration of the Centene buildings in Clayton as the sun hits them is sensational – and something we could never see when we were below the tree line.”