from the homeowners | Nathan and Natalie Swanson say this home has served as the perfect backdrop for their family’s early years. In need of additional space, they recently decided to move to another neighborhood, but Nathan says they will miss living in this lovely property. “We moved to the home from University City in 2016,” he notes. “We chose it mainly because it was close to my office, the schools are good, and we wanted a spacious backyard for our kids. We also love that the area is walkable, with parks, coffee shops and restaurants close by. It’s such a nice environment for a growing family.”

Where did you spend the most time in the house?
The kitchen was our family’s central gathering place. We have three young children, and we loved being able to cook dinner while they played nearby. We actually used the formal dining room as more of an informal one for our family meals, and we loved grilling on the patio. All of these spaces are well connected and have a comfortable flow.

Is it an inviting home for visitors?
This house makes it easy to welcome guests, and we held a lot of parties for family and friends. It has the most functional and thoughtfully designed bar area I’ve ever seen. There are refrigerators and a wine cooler, and it’s close to the kitchen, dining room and living room, so it’s easy for guests to get a drink and mingle.

What about overnight guests?
My family often comes in from out of town, and this home is well set up for people to stay. There is plenty of space on the lower level, with high ceilings so you don’t feel hemmed in. The comfortable guest quarters were among our main reasons for buying this house. The basement bathroom has a steam shower with a powerful rain head that our guests always commented on.

What else is practical about the house?
I do a fair amount of driving around the state for work, and commuting from this home is easy because the neighborhood is close to major highways. At the same time, it’s not right on top of them, so highway noise and traffic are not a concern. The home also has tons of storage throughout, including the basement and garage.

What has the home meant to you?
We’ve had so many great family moments here. We brought our third child home to this house, and it’s been the perfect place for milestones like first words, first steps, birthdays, getting ready for the first day of school and learning to ride bikes. We taught our children to do everything in the home, and it’s been a wonderful place to make all kinds of memories.

from the agent
“This home strikes that magical balance between elegant and sophisticated yet whimsical and fun”
—Mary Bloomstran

Listing price | $1,750,000
Listing agents | Mary Bloomstran & Matt Muren
Agency | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties
Phone | 636.394.2424 | 314.517.7117

Photos: Square One Photography