Written by J. O’Brien / Photographed by Alise O’Brien

When these homeowners first made the move from Oklahoma to St. Louis, they had a big job ahead of them: “We came without any furniture because the buyers who purchased our home wanted basically everything,” says the homeowner.

She knew she’d need the help of a professional to start over from scratch. Luckily, she soon met – and instantly clicked – with Kelly Johnson of Kelly Johnson Design. “I fell in love with her style. Kelly did the whole home: the master bedroom, three kids’ bedrooms, the living room, and entertaining space. I trust her completely, so when we bought our new home, I knew she’d be able to coordinate our existing pieces with the new ones we’d need for this space.”

“We were looking for a house that fit our lifestyle better – something more open-concept that would allow us to entertain larger groups and had a better flow,” says the homeowner. “And it just so happened that this house popped up just two miles down the road from where we were staying. We love the area, so it was perfect.”

Built in 1914, their new house boasts all of the architectural details that make so many fall for century homes: generous millwork and molding, tall ceilings, clean lines, and large, original windows, now painted an eye-catching shade of black. And thanks to a well-done addition, the home was already fit for modern living. The icing on the cake? Beautiful grounds that could function as a gathering spot for their friends and family.

In fact, as soon as she saw them, Kelly knew that the grounds would be one of her biggest challenges as a designer. Her goal was to create an interior that fit the setting while being bold enough to balance out the home’s strong architectural details.

Another major challenge was the project’s timing. “We had only about 60 days from the time the home was purchased until closing and only one opportunity to walk through the home during the building inspection,” recalls Kelly. “It is challenging to move very quickly, in some cases, without the opportunity to field verify dimensions and details prior to executing a complete design.”

While the homeowners were eager to begin sourcing and ordering furnishings, the project fell right at the heart of the industry’s pandemic-induced supply chain issues when lead times could easily exceed a year. Before she could even place those orders, Kelly would need to help the homeowners determine how best to use the space itself. “My process generally begins by really listening to the client to truly understand their priorities: What is their lifestyle, how do they live, and how will they want to use the different spaces in their home?” says Kelly. “The next step is to assess the space and determine where there is untapped potential in different areas.”

In this case, the home had an unconventional floor plan, with extra rooms they weren’t sure what to do with – these would become the sun- and media rooms – and a long living room bisected by the front door.

“I had many discussions with the client determining how each room would be used before we ever discussed the furnishings,” says Kelly. “I’ve found that creative space planning can solve a lot of functional problems. We do our due diligence in exploring optimal room layouts before any consideration is given to the aesthetics of the room.”

Take the long living room. Kelly worked with the homeowners to create two conversational areas using a mix of existing upholstery and new additions, such as a daybed and a pair of pink chairs. Long gauzy curtains from Holly Hunt lighten the room, while artwork by New Orleans-based painter Mallory Page and Neo-Expressionist Donald Baechler add visual interest. “We kept most of the furniture neutral, but Kelly added in touches of color – pinks and lavender tones that give it a fun, youthful flare while softening the space,” says the homeowner.

The color story becomes bolder as you move through the house. “I discovered rather quickly that this home really came to life with the introduction of color. We began with a few pastel pillows on a cream sofa. From there, we just kept adding color,” says Kelly. “The more color we added, the more the house came to life. After we finished with the walls and fabrics, we brought more color in with a number of amazing paintings.”

In the dining room, an exuberant yet delicate lavender Gracie wallpaper has enough color and glimmer to stand next to the elaborate millwork on the ceiling. “I don’t know how Kelly came up with that wallpaper,” says the homeowner. “It’s not something I normally would have ever chosen. Once it was up on the wall, I absolutely fell in love with it. Everyone who walks into the room says, ‘Wow.’”

Similarly, Kelly suggested a plan for the sunroom that the homeowner couldn’t have imagined. “That space is one of my favorite rooms because of the architecture and the views of our backyard; in the springtime, you can look out on the most beautiful cherry blossoms,” says the homeowner. “When Kelly came to me with the idea, she said, ‘Trust me, I think you’ll love it.’ And, of course, it turned out amazing.”

Kelly painted the formerly white room all the way through the ceiling in a warm peachy tone, giving it a sun-drenched feel. She found a cut velvet fabric in coral for the chairs, which she circled around a print ottoman that pulled in the color of the dining room chairs.

“This home is an example of how amazing it is to work with a repeat client because there’s no selling involved,” says Kelly. “The client’s trust in their designer is essential to the overall success of every project, and earning that trust early on in each project is always my priority. Working with the homeowners was wonderful because they’re such genuinely nice people and because they began the project with complete trust in their designer.”

While most of the home is rendered in light shades, the media room is deliberately dark and moody, with charcoal walls, gray plaid seating, and herringbone carpet. A graphic Ted Collier painting and mustard cushions add an element of fun and play off of the nearby hearth room. Here, the color scheme is inverted: neutral furnishings and walls highlight the black casing. More mustard cushions and another graphic black-and-white painting – this one by artist Valerie Jaudon, round out the look.

“I feel like Kelly really knows me and what I love but is able to take it and make it even better,” says the homeowner. “Working with her has really taken the stress off of the project. On my own, I would have made mistakes I would have had to return or live with for a couple of years before replacing. I’ve never felt that way about anything I’ve done with Kelly. It’s been six years now, and I still absolutely love everything we’ve worked on.”

Looking back on the project, Johnson reflects that “when this project began, the breathtaking grounds of the home stole the show. After we added layers of color to the interior, I now feel that the home itself is worthy of its exquisite surroundings.”