2433 Town and Country Lane

Michael and Vicki Liesmann spent nearly 30 years in the Sunset Hills area before Michael accepted positions in London and New Jersey for his job as a partner with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. When he was approaching retirement, the couple knew it was time to head back home. They found a private house on 1 acre in Town & Country that met their needs perfectly.

“We wanted to live in this area to be close to all our friends; we had a lot of connections here,” Michael Liesmann says. As members of Bellerive Country Club, the couple found the location especially convenient. They moved into the one-and-a-half-story house in 2009, two years after it had been built on a teardown lot, and say the quiet, single-street neighborhood provides both privacy and convenience to all the area has to offer.

Liesmann also applauds the easy access to the pedestrian walkway along Clayton Road that runs the length of the city, built after they moved in. “It’s very popular among residents,” he says. Vicki says they often walk the trail, and it’s a great way to get to Straub’s for a cup of coffee. “Our daughter and son-in-law, who live in Des Peres, even use it,” she says. “They just park at our house.”

One of the main attractions of the six-bedroom house is its open floor plan. “In our previous homes, my wife never liked being ‘closed off’ from everyone else if she was in the kitchen,” Liesmann says. “This house is totally open, creating a sense of togetherness.” The large kitchen with double islands, two sinks and top-of-the-line appliances opens to the hearth room, the couple’s favorite place to relax. “We love its barrel ceiling and stone fireplace,” he says. Vicki adds that it’s a popular space for everyone who visits. “Whenever we entertain, no matter how many people are here, they always stay in the hearth/kitchen area,” she says. “We have all this room to spread out, but everyone congregates in the same place.”

At more than 7,000 square feet, there is ample space for entertaining, and the Liesmanns took advantage of the first-floor great room and basement for that purpose. “We hosted a lot of large family gatherings, especially around the holidays,” Liesmann says. During his 60th birthday party, the great room made a perfect venue for a group of blues musicians to entertain guests.

The couple wanted a main-floor master suite and were impressed with the amenities of this home’s master bath. Liesmann says the high ceilings and travertine tile create an attractive space, but the real bonus is the gas fireplace near the Whirlpool bath. “It was great in the winter to wake up in the morning and just hit the switch,” he says.

Liesmann admits they are ready for a smaller place but have no desire to leave Town & Country. “We absolutely love it here,” he says.

listing price | $1,675,000
listing agent | melinda johnson of gladys manion real estate

Photos: Tom Chlebowski