Simply put, the loss of a home is a tragedy. Along with beloved material items, people lose a safe space where they created treasured memories. But for one couple, a devastating event became an exciting opportunity to begin a new chapter. After losing their home to a fire, they seized the opportunity to trade their suburban lifestyle for the hustle and bustle of city life. The two gave T&S a peek inside the Clayton condo that has become their perfect piece of urban living.
Q | Are you from St. Louis?
A | Not originally, but my husband and I lived in Chesterfield for 37 years before moving to Clayton in 2017.
Q | What brought you to Clayton?
A | Our house in Chesterfield caught fire, and while it didn’t burn completely, it had to be demolished. Thankfully, we weren’t at home, but it was quite the shock to get the call. That was in March 2017; it happened on Ash Wednesday, of all days. The fire was a big impetus for the move, but we’d been thinking about buying a condo for a while. My husband and I travel a lot and have spent most of our time in large cities, including living in Paris for a year, so we’re attracted to more urban environments. We wanted to be closer to all of the things St. Louis has to offer—the liveliness and the people. We were looking forward to something different.
Q | What initially attracted you to the condo?
A | We liked the size; it’s about 3,000 square feet. It’s also really open with a lot of windows, so there is plenty of nice, natural light. I especially think the wide entryway makes it feel spacious and welcoming. It also feels more like a house than a condo, which is a big positive. It’s two stories, and we have a very large deck, so we can enjoy outdoor activities. We just liked so many things about it.
Q | The property is a unique praire style. Was that one of the draws?
A | Actually, it wasn’t because I have traditional taste. As a person who likes antiques and Colonials, the exterior wasn’t my favorite in the beginning. I liked the inside because it is more traditional, but I’ve grown to appreciate the outside. Now, I think it’s quite handsome.
Q | Have you done any renovations?
A | Yes. We didn’t move walls or anything too drastic, but quite a bit has been updated. Most of the kitchen has been retrofitted, along with two bathrooms. There’s new flooring and carpeting throughout. We put in molding, and a lot of carpentry work was done. We’re very, very happy with the results.
Q | I see you brought your traditional style to the interior.
A | That was our intention. We may not have been able to change the outside, but the inside could be what we made it. So it’s traditional while still being open, airy and light, which I love. It’s very uncluttered, with classic furnishings and paintings; that’s always been our style. We lost a lot of things in the fire, but we were able to save some. With new items, we kept the style we like. It’s a little antique while also being fresh.
Q | Any stories behind the antiques?
A | We have a grandfather clock that we brought back from Paris. We discovered it at a flea market during our first few months there and found a spot for it in our apartment. We had it sent over when we came back to the U.S. After the fire, it had to be restored. We really wanted to save it, and the people who worked on it did a wonderful job. We’re just delighted that it has a place in our new home.
Q | What is your favorite room in the condo?
A | I believe it’s the study off the living room. It’s very cozy, and we spend a lot of our time there. The walls are lined with books, which are one of my husband’s passions. We lost a lot of our book collection in the fire, but he’s replaced nearly all of it. We really enjoy the space.