Living Well: Douglas Properties

Buying a brand-new home can be an uplifting and invigorating experience when you work with a residential developer who sees each client as a partner, according to Doug and Esther Cohen, owners of Douglas Properties. They have built a successful business supplying St. Louisans with beautiful living spaces. Owning a company together gives them a family perspective that helps them cater to home buyers’ needs, according to Doug.

Douglas Properties develops a variety of home types, from multi-unit properties to single-family houses. “We build in the sought-after Ladue School District,” Doug explains. “Currently, we have new properties available in beautiful neighborhoods like Olivette, Creve Coeur, University City, Ladue and Richmond Heights.” The company is committed to using the finest materials to create homes of singular quality, generally 3,500 to 8,000 square feet and at price points of $1 million to $4 million. It also handles large-scale interior renovation and addition projects.

Doug says the company is uniquely positioned to navigate the ever-changing construction landscape, which has seen significant material price increases in recent months due to the pandemic, severe winter weather and other factors. “We have built more than 200 beautiful homes in this market over nearly three decades, so we know what we are doing,” he says. “We use finishes and fixtures that are second to none so clients can enjoy their living spaces for years to come.”

Once buyers have decided on a new home, the next challenge is deciding how to make it their own. Esther has an extensive background in interior design and can help clients customize each room to satisfy a variety of tastes. “When a home is being sold on spec, Esther will choose the interior finishes, or she can be hired by the client to furnish a pre-sold home,” Doug says. “She is very knowledgeable and stays on top of the latest design trends, so she is a great partner to our clients. She knows how to ensure that everything about a home interior ties together perfectly.”

Upcoming Douglas Properties projects include a new townhome development on Dielman Road in Olivette, scheduled to break ground in the next year or so. It will include 30 units of about 2,600 square feet each and price points in the mid-$600,000 range. “The property will feature attractive single-family aesthetics that we think buyers will find very pleasing,” Doug says. The company also owns and operates an 18-unit apartment building on North McKnight Road.

“Across the country, we are seeing one of the hottest real estate markets ever,” Doug says. “We are equipped to help buyers realize the home of their dreams. Our company offers the benefits of a family-oriented perspective, so clients can feel confident about working with us whether they are empty nesters, young families starting out, or single buyers looking for something new. We create beautiful homes that fit a variety of needs for fine living, and we have the history and expertise to inspire trust. Our motto is, ‘When you are ready to live well, call Douglas Properties.’”

Douglas Properties provides luxury residential building and remodeling services. Pictured on the cover: Owners Doug and Esther Cohen. For more information, 314.280.2041 or visit douglasproperties.com.

Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo courtesy of Douglas Properties

Pictured at the top: A new Douglas Properties home on Elkington Lane
Photo courtesy of Douglas Properties