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Ladue News Janelle Messel Ladue News Janelle Messel

Coastal Cottage Vibe Inspires LU Design Build Kitchen Renovation in Chesterfield

In Chesterfield, the nearest “beach” is the muddy shores of the Missouri River. Yet Jennifer Chapman’s client wanted her home there renovated with the aesthetic of a cozy coastal cottage.

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In Chesterfield, the nearest “beach” is the muddy shores of the Missouri River. Yet Jennifer Chapman’s client wanted her home there renovated with the aesthetic of a cozy coastal cottage.

“The client lived in North Carolina for several years,” explains Chapman, a senior interior designer for LU Design Build in St. Louis. “She was fearless – not afraid to be bold or different. She really wanted to make a statement, and that is always fun!”

The client embraced bold colors and patterns, starting with the kitchen island’s turquoise cabinets with quartz countertops. From there, they agreed to make a statement with an eye-catching tiled wall.

“Finding the tile was like hitting the jackpot because it pulled all of the pieces together so beautifully,” Chapman says.

Updating the 34-year-old home involved removing a wall that closed off the kitchen from the great room, as well as installing modern fixtures and finishes. Black stainless steel appliances gave the room’s necessary components a sleek and sophisticated appearance. Above the kitchen island hang bronze, cone-shaped lighting pendants by Independence, Ohio’s Kichler Lighting, which Chapman says she found on Amazon.

“I didn’t want anything too obtrusive,” she adds. “They are a very simple shape, but the bronze underneath adds warmth to the cool grays and blues.”

The project began in June 2019 and wrapped up a few months later, in October. To bring the client’s dream to life, Chapman collaborated with O’Fallon, Missouri’s Extreme Electrical Contractors, Maryland Heights’ Champion Floor Company and St. Louis’ Henry Kitchen and Bath, Stone Fabricators and Joshua Plumbing Co.

Chapman says the kitchen ceiling presented the greatest challenge of all. Her team created the illusion of a coffered ceiling – traditionally a series of sunken panels and crisscrossing beams that form a gridlike pattern – by designing a grid out of flat stock and doing a beadboard (a form of tongue-and-groove paneling) in between.

“We had to figure out how we could connect the grid to the cabinet crown molding so that it looked natural and purposeful,” Chapman says. “We even painted the beadboard a soft, robin’s-egg blue as a nod to Southern porches. Those little details really help to create a well-thought-out, designed, unique space.”

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Janelle Messel Janelle Messel

Local Interior Designers Offer Virtual Consultations

Their doors might be closed and they might not be able to meet face-to-face during this period of “social distancing,” but that’s not stopping top area designers and home décor purveyors across the metro area from working with clients to create fresh new interiors. Rochelle McAvin, a designer for LU Design Build, is using videoconferencing programs, such as GoToMeeting and FaceTime, to consult with clients

Their doors might be closed and they might not be able to meet face-to-face during this period of “social distancing,” but that’s not stopping top area designers and home décor purveyors across the metro area from working with clients to create fresh new interiors. Rochelle McAvin, a designer for LU Design Build, is using videoconferencing programs, such as GoToMeeting and FaceTime, to consult with clients.

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Ladue News Janelle Messel Ladue News Janelle Messel

Kitchen Remodel Brightens, Modernizes Space

Rochelle McAvin, an interior designer with LU Design Build in St. Louis, knew her clients’ kitchen would be a top priority when renovating their home in historic Webster Groves. For a young family that cooks often, a kitchen is to be lived in and enjoyed, so she aimed for a cozy atmosphere with natural light, colors and materials.

Rochelle McAvin, an interior designer with LU Design Build in St. Louis, knew her clients’ kitchen would be a top priority when renovating their home in historic Webster Groves. For a young family that cooks often, a kitchen is to be lived in and enjoyed, so she aimed for a cozy atmosphere with natural light, colors and materials.

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Houzz Jill Petracek Houzz Jill Petracek

Pro Spotlight: How to Make Your Home Work Better for You

“People often have ideas of how to make their homes better, but they’ve been in the same house for so long, they can’t see all the possible options. That’s where we come in.”

“People often have ideas of how to make their homes better, but they’ve been in the same house for so long, they can’t see all the possible options. That’s where we come in.”

If you’ve lived in your home for years, chances are, it doesn’t fully fit you anymore. Maybe you’ve accumulated many items that are now taking up counters and tabletops because there’s not enough storage. Perhaps you lack areas where you can entertain family and friends. Or maybe you’re starting to think about aging and don’t need all those spare bedrooms. Though form is important, function should lead the way in your remodel, says Lucas Bourgeois of LU Design Build in St. Louis. “Your home should meet the needs of your lifestyle,” he says. “You have to love where you live.”

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Houzz Jill Petracek Houzz Jill Petracek

Featured in Houzz "Bathroom of the Week: A Serene Master Bath for Aging in Place"

Sad at the prospect of having to move out of the home they’d lived in for 40 years, this retired St. Louis couple hoped to find a renovation option that would allow them to age in place.

Sad at the prospect of having to move out of the home they’d lived in for 40 years, this retired St. Louis couple hoped to find a renovation option that would allow them to age in place. Using universal-design principles, interior designer Jennifer Chapman came up with a smart plan to transform two bedrooms, a small bathroom and a hallway on the first floor of the two-story home into one accessible master suite. LU Design Build was the contractor on the renovation.

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: St. Louis
Size: 92 square feet (8.5 square meters); 8½ by 10⅘feet
Designer: Jennifer Chapman Designs

An Accessible Bathroom Layout
Wheelchair and walker accessibility dictated the bathroom layout, including the measurements of the door, the entry to the shower and the shower stall, as well as the area around the toilet, the area underneath the vanity and the area between these spaces.

Key measurement
The opening to the bathroom is 36 inches wide to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs.

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Houzz Jill Petracek Houzz Jill Petracek

Our Project Featured on Houzz's "32 Home Design Trends That Will Rule in 2019"

Darker, moodier colors seem to be catching on. Mattison sees a lot of emerald and deep teal being used in kitchens, especially for islands, like the Deep Sea Dive by Sherwin-Williams on the island in this St. Louis kitchen by Jennifer Chapman Designs. 

“The perimeter cabinetry can be a neutral from white to gray and the island can bring a pop of color to the space,” Mattison says. “By doing only the island a color, people can see the color without it being overwhelming.”

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Houzz Jill Petracek Houzz Jill Petracek

10 Times to Hire a Design-Build Firm

Wondering if it’s time to hire a design-build firm? Unlike the more traditional path (known as “design, bid, build"), which involves hiring a designer and a builder separately, hiring a design-build firm gives you design and construction services under the same umbrella.

Wondering if it’s time to hire a design-build firm? Unlike the more traditional path (known as “design, bid, build"), which involves hiring a designer and a builder separately, hiring a design-build firm gives you design and construction services under the same umbrella. Whether led by an architect or a builder, all true design-build firms include both designers and builders at their core. 

If you are thinking of remodeling, adding on or building from scratch and want the ease of working with a single firm from start to finish, a design-build firm may be the right choice for you. (If you want to learn about other home pros, go to the bottom of this story for links to earlier stories in our “10 Times to Hire” series.) Here are 10 times it makes sense to work with a design-build firm to bring your project to life.

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Jill Petracek Jill Petracek

How Real-Life Remodeling Differs from TV Shows

That happy, young couple on TV just got their dream kitchen in less than a week, and it only cost $10,000. You’re sold!

That is, until reality hits you square in the face once the actual quotes start rolling in from contractors. What gives? The time and cost aren’t even close to what you’ve seen on those “reality” shows.

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Jill Petracek Jill Petracek

DESIGNER INFLUENCED REMODEL

Designers are able to hone in on your taste and create a cohesive design plan, saving you money. Working with an interior designer gives you an immediate plan of action for your space.

DESIGNER INFLUENCED REMODEL

Many clients ask us about the benefit of having an interior designer on our team. Specifically, what the value is of having a designer work with them on their remodeling project.

Most people think of interior designers they picture someone who assists with aesthetics or “decorating”. Interior designers are professionally trained in space planning for all types of buildings including hotels, homes, office spaces, hospitals, etc. Working as a project planner from concept to completion allows for a seamless transition between designer and builder.

Designers are able to hone in on your taste and create a cohesive design plan, saving you money. Working with an interior designer gives you an immediate plan of action for your space. We start by creating renderings/drawings of the space that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. These drawings will allow the client to understand exactly how the space will function.

Designers can avoid costly mistakes. You’re going to have a qualified liaison. A good designer will know how to speak the language when it comes to subcontractors, vendors, and the construction team. Strong communication with all of these are key. For example, proper outlet placement is going to depend on how you want your furniture placed and how you use the space. These types of issues should be addressed before any construction, and an interior designer will know exactly which issues need to be brought up.

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like.
Design is how it works.”
— Steve Jobs
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