Twenty years ago, Nachomama’s Tex Mex owners Nancy and John St. Eve wanted more room for their growing family. When they found a spacious Town & Country lot offering plenty of privacy, they jumped at the chance to build their dream home at 13456 Thornhill Drive. “We built the whole house,” Nancy St. Eve says. “The property had a home on it already, but we took that down to the studs.”
With more than 8,000 square feet on a 1.59-acre lot, the three-story colonial provided plenty of space for the family of six. Perched atop a lush green lawn, the gabled white home with black shutters looks like it’s always been there. “When we did all the construction, we tried to make it look like it was an original equestrian home in Town & Country,” St. Eve says. “Anyone who sees our house thinks it was built by the original landowners.” The home’s traditional look adds to its welcoming feel without making it seem oversized, she adds. “People say it’s big, but not ostentatious. It’s really homey and fabulous.”
The surrounding grounds echo the classic look of the home. “The grounds are spacious and the landscaping is traditional, with a lot of boxwoods and magnolias,” St. Eve says. “It’s just under 2 acres, which for St. Louis in Town & Country is sprawling.” The grounds also feature a pool, surrounded by patio and pool house with a full kitchen and half-bath.
The St. Eve children are all grown up now and have added five grandchildren to the family. The home’s ample size makes visits to see Mom and Dad anything but a headache. “All my kids live out of town, and on the third floor we’ve made a beautiful dormitory for the grandchildren,” St. Eve says. And visits home are frequent, especially around the holidays. “Every year, everyone knows Thanksgiving is here and they fly in from all over,” St. Eve says. “It’s a beautiful home for entertaining.” One particularly memorable event was their daughter’s wedding reception last year. “We had around 300 people for dinner,” St. Eve says. “Martha Stewart flew her team out to photograph the wedding, and we had lots of different bands and even flew in a country musician from Fort Worth.”
Now that their children have moved on with families of their own, it’s time for the couple to downsize, but they will remain in the St. Louis area, St. Eve says. “I’m anxious to get smaller,” she says.
listing price | $2,495,000
listing agent | stephanie oliver of dielmann sotheby’s international realty
By Stephanie Zeilenga
Photos by William C. Hutton Jr.
