Jennifer Lord knew before she even went inside that the home on Bellerive Country Club Grounds was the right one for her family. The trip up the circle drive of the estate nestled behind the 17th hole of Bellerive Country Club was all it took. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to live here,’” Lord says.
Before they moved into the four-bedroom home, St. Louis natives Jennifer and Jim Lord had lived in Ladue for 10 years after moving from Seattle. They increased their acreage and the move to Town and Country was a great change for their family, especially in regards to the scenery. “We went from less than an acre in Ladue to 3 acres that back up to an impressive golf course,” Lord says. “It was a no-brainer!”
The golf course is a beautiful setting year-round, but in 2018, it will be part of history as the PGA Championship Tour celebrates its centennial at Bellerive. “The people who live here will get to experience the excitement of its 100th year first-hand,” Lord says. Instead of watching the tour on TV, homeowners will be able to view it from their private terraces and patios.
The more than 7,000-square-foot home was move-in ready, but Lord says they did a few smaller renovations to make it their own, like painting, adding custom closets and customizing the garage, which is now heated. “You could live in the garage, it’s so nice,” Lord jokes.
The couple decided against removing the rare printed wall covering in the dining room, however. Although she originally thought it was a dated look, Lord says she wanted to keep it after learning its magnificent history. “The previous owner had saved all the paperwork for it,” Lord says. “She told us the wallpaper was printed in France and shipped to St. Louis.”
While it’s difficult for her to choose a favorite room in the home, she loves that everything is connected. “The energy, the flow of the house, everything is open,” Lord says. “From the moment you walk through the door, you can just wander throughout the home.” The open floor plan; large, inviting spaces; and lower level with theater, billiard room, batting cage and wine room make it great for entertaining—perfect for a PGA party!
