This Georgian Revival house on Delmar Boulevard is an iconic part of University City’s architectural history. Since it was constructed in 1911, the home has hosted multiple presidents and attracted national attention for its striking appearance. The current homeowner is dedicated to preserving the historical character of the property as well as ensuring the entire community can enjoy the landmark.
What do you enjoy about U. City?
I love the beauty of U. City. I’m within walking distance to the Delmar Loop, and there’s a park right across the street. During the pandemic, it was great to get to walk my dogs through so many incredible neighborhood streets. Plus, you can’t beat the location. I travel a lot, and it’s around 15 minutes to the airport or 15 minutes to downtown.
What initially attracted you to the home?
I’ve lived in U. City for almost 30 years, and this is one of the most iconic homes in the area. I drove by it almost every day. I love history, so I always wanted to see inside. It was on the market for around two years. One day, there was an open house, so I decided to pull over and walk through it. I fell even more in love.
Do you know a lot about the home’s history?
It was designed by Theodore Link, the architect behind Union Station. He created three houses for the families involved with the International Shoe Company: a Georgian Revival, a Tudor and a French Colonial. This is the Georgian Revival, which was built for Frank C. Rand and his family. Woodrow Wilson spent the night in the home in 1916, Teddy Roosevelt came for cocktails, and Life magazine featured it in 1963.
Have you made any major changes?
The biggest was rebuilding the front of the house due to wood rot. We had to tear everything off and rebuild the six columns and the portico. It was a huge project that took around nine months. We also put a pool in the back. Georgian Revival homes were built on symmetry, so we wanted the pool to fit into that design.
Does the age of the house impact how you approach design?
Definitely. The decor is a blend of antiques with contemporary pieces, and we want to ensure that every decision we make with the interior looks historically accurate for the home. We actually have an item on display that likely belonged to the Rands. We were redoing the closets, and our contractor came across a pair of ballroom gloves that had probably been sitting in the bottom of a storage area for 80 years. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places, and I think that’s pretty cool.
How would you describe your interior design style?
I hired good interior designers! They spent time in the house, saw my artwork and then went on buying trips. Most of the antiques have some connection to myself or my family.
Do you have any favorite pieces in your art collection?
There are a few that have interesting stories. I used to work for Edward Jones, and I traveled nonstop. I never brought back chachkies or souvenirs. Instead, I would always make sure I scheduled time to visit art galleries. When Obama opened up diplomatic relations with Cuba, I was sent on a trade mission. While there, I saw a piece in the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Havana that I loved. I learned that it had been donated from a gallery in New York, so I contacted it to find out if they had more pieces from the artist.
What is your favorite room?
I love to entertain, so the dining room is my favorite. It’s a big enough space to host plenty of people for dinner and cocktails. The house was built in 1911, but the first floor has an open feel thanks to pocket doors throughout. We always leave them open, so it’s like a modern floor plan. It’s a cool old house that can host 150 guests for a cocktail party.
Do you entertain often?
I love to have parties where everyone is invited. For the homeowners before me, the house was not their primary residence. They never really lived here, so the home was truly dark for the past 13 years. My goal has been to have the people of U. City visit the house. I also like to have it lit up at night, so people can drive by and see it. It means a great deal to me that the community gets to experience this house. So many residents have spent years looking at it but never believed they would ever get the opportunity to step inside.