“Next to excellence, comes the appreciation of it.” (William Makepeace Thackeray, 19th-century English novelist). Although written in another time and place, this sentiment is echoed in the magnificent Ladue home of Tom and Ruth Brouster and the couple’s admiration for its welcoming grace.

Reflecting their affinity for Old English countryside homes, the newly completed residence embraces a refined sensibility found in discerning homes with appreciable history.

A repertoire of the couple’s restorations includes a home in Kirkwood, the historic Harriet Bakewell Portland Place residence and an 85-year old, historic house in Webster Groves, where the Brousters lived for 16 years. Embarking on another ambitious venture, the couple decided to build a new home with the feel of a home with history. The 8-year process originally began with plans to build a home in Huntleigh, working with architect Patrick Nolan of PNM Ltd. Architects, before the couple found the perfect site – a splendid, tree-lined 4.8-acre setting in nearby Ladue.

With a penchant for perfection, the Brousters continued to work with Nolan to design a residence with dignified spaces and unequivocal architectural style. The home’s multi-level expanse is punctuated with generously sized rooms that flow one to another and lead outdoors to brilliantly planned spaces that beckon year-round use.

Tom, a St. Louis banking entrepreneur, and Ruth, a busy mother and volunteer, set their hearts on a spacious, yet welcoming, family-focused home with inviting warmth. Researching every aspect of the enormous undertaking and working in tandem with the team, the hands-on couple was instrumental in all of the interior and exterior design decisions, and they could not be more proud of the fabulous outcome.

The primary body of the home is symmetrically arranged in a traditional “center hall” manner with three basic volumes on each floor. The main level features a central entry foyer, grand staircase and living room, with formal dining and parlor spaces adjacent to either side.

The north wing includes a carriage house, gated auto court and garage. A family entry area is in close proximity to the kitchen, breakfast room and sunroom, with a billiard room and conservatory to the south. A hearth room, powder room and library are located between the north and south wings.

The south wing is an intentional style departure, with Tudor Revival/Gothic features and a Victorian English conservatory, which achieves textural variety and conveys the impression that this was at some point an “addition” to the original home. Its design concept is intended to belie the “newness” of the home and reinforce the perception of an established estate.

The second floor houses all of the bedrooms, with the master suite occupying the entire south third. The high-tech lower level is dedicated to entertainment and family-oriented spaces, such as a game room and theater, which can accommodate large gatherings. A spacious, state-of-the-art fitness room is a precisely planned space in the lower level, as well.

In whole, the setting provides a backdrop for “an album of wonderful memories” with the couple’s daughter, grown children, seven grandchildren, and community of friends.

“We feel we’ve been very blessed, and we try to give back to the community through various organizations that are dear to our hearts,” say the couple.

The Brousters’ goal – to create a new, generously capacious home with a turn-of-the-century aesthetic – was achieved with pinpoint attention to detail. They worked closely with Patrick Nolan, builder Jim Minton  and interior designer Carter Noel throughout the long-term process. “Just the way older homes are built appeals to our taste,” remark Tom and Ruth. “We spent a lot of time looking at older homes to pick up ideas about traditional design,” Tom explains.

Desiring the authenticity of a period home with a strong English influence, Tom was inspired by the historic Westbury House on Long Island, a Georgian Revival-style mansion and a superb example of an English country manor home. Surrounded by one of the finest English gardens in the U.S., the Charles II-style mansion was designed in the early 1900s by English architect George A. Crawley, in conjunction with American architect Grosvenor Atterbury. The landmark estate embodies the style and image Tom wanted, and it became the inspiration – the starting point – for the basic composition and many of the period-appropriate details for the Brousters’ new home.

Builder Jim Minton explains, “Selecting materials that were consistent with the Westbury House and its architectural style – such as the limestone carvings that are part of Westbury and were masterfully replicated by Leonard Masonry – provided authenticity to the overall appearance and feel of the Brousters’ home.”

The exterior, especially the west and east façades, include many ornamental features reinterpreted from Westbury, with design elements as rich and diverse as those from the Charles II, Beaux Arts and Adam style.  

According to Nolan, “The home was designed to have a firm stance and a grand presence – but most importantly, to display an attentive respect to detail.”

Commanding rooms were designed as a consistent reflection of the form and composition principles of the home, primarily symmetry and order, but with features that uniquely characterize each space.  

“From a design standpoint,” says Nolan, “the large scale of the home reinforced the need for ‘depth’ in the details – mere surface appliqué would not be successful.” Working closely with Tom, the design team wanted the home to showcase a rich variety of well-executed details that, when woven together, express a high level of refinement. Nolan continues, “We projected the keystones, quoins, and carved limestone details to create shadow lines and enhance the three-dimensional qualities of the house.”

French doors open to levels of outdoor patios and terraces, extending the home’s entertaining venues. Interior designer Carter Noel explains, “While the house is extremely formal, I wanted to make it very family-friendly and inviting without taking away from the classical details.” Tom adds, “Carter has incredible taste and vision and understood what we were about, with our fondness for English traditional style.”

The home’s well-orchestrated flow encourages guests to experience the variety of spaces and move from interior to exterior with ease. The first-floor terrace at the east flows gracefully with symmetrical curving limestone stairs that lead to the pool and pool house setting – a striking focal point for the axial organization of the outdoor living areas.

From the beginning of the project, Tom and Ruth were determined to give their new residence the same link to the land as the historic English country manors they admire.

Blending the home into the hillside began with Tom walking the land to personally inventory the existing trees, selecting approximately 90 that would be spared during the building process. As early as 2006, Meyer Landscaping brought in and planted a screen of 18-foot-tall Norway spruce, Colorado blue spruce and southern magnolias to shield the nearest neighbors from the sights and sounds of construction.

To further bond the home to the land, landscape architect Matt Moynihan balanced the formal drive leading to the home’s grand entrance with a series of less formal terraces off the side and back of the residence to “provide an architectural layer between the house and natural landscape beyond the home.” He notes that a progression of increasingly less formal levels, bridging the space between the home and the countryside beyond, is one of the hallmarks of English landscape gardening.

As with selections for the interior of the home, Tom had a hand in choosing most of the 250 ornamental and shade trees and hundreds of perennials and shrubs that provide year-round color and interest to the landscape, making it a breathtaking setting for sharing special occasions with others.

And in that spirit, Tom and Ruth are always in motion – preparing for their next special gathering. Last summer, the Brousters hosted a family reunion and a traditional Fourth of July celebration at their newly completed home, each for nearly 100 guests. These were the first of many occasions that will enliven the halls of the Brouster residence in the coming years. “Our family gatherings typically include as many as 45 to 50 people. We are together a lot,” the couple remarks, happily. “We built this home to share with family.”

For picture, resources and credits, check out the link below:

http://www.stlouishomesmag.com/article/masterful-presentation

The City Council rejected earlier this month new restrictions on the minimum size of homes in partly completed subdivisions after builders warned that the measure could hinder a turnaround in their industry. The vote was 7-3.

The bill was pushed by Councilman Bob Kneemiller, who said some constituents were worried that their home values would drop when significantly smaller residences were built nearby.

“These residents have invested substantial amounts of money, and they want their investments protected,” Kneemiller said.

Officials with the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri argued that size alone didn’t determine values.

They said size restrictions actually could hurt the worth of current homes if the limits resulted in a neighborhood with large gaps for years and years.

“It’s going to cause a lot more harm than any potential good,” said one councilman who agreed with the builders, Richard Veit. He also questioned if government should limit “the free market-place.”

The controversy was centered on newer areas of the city south of Interstate 70. It was amoung several in St. Charles County in which builders’ efforts to respond to a recession-spurred demand for smaller homes have clashed with current residents’ desire to protect property values.

The council in O’Fallon, Mo., rejected a similar bill in February. But in Wentzville, neighborhood opposition spurred aldermen last month to turn down one builder’s request to significantly lower the square-footage minimum for homes in a particular subdivision.

Under the St. Charles proposal defeated, size restrictions would have increased as a subdivision moved closer to completion.

The touchest standard was for projects at least 60 percent finished. In those areas, a new home could be no more than 10 percent smaller than the smallest current residence.

City officials say St. Charles already sets minimums for the size of lots, but in many cases current ordinances don’t bar builders from reducing the size of the homes it sells for those lots.

Councilwoman Laurie Feldman, one of the bill’s supporters, said the chances of passage were hurt by the low turnout for a public meeting called by the council Monday night with area builders.

About 40 people attended, but officials said only about a third expressed concerns about the size of new homes. The rest were there on other issues.

“That sent a message, ” Feldman said.

Kneemiller had a different view. “You always have people that are really passionate about something who will come out” to a meeting and other supporters who don’t, he said.

By: Mark Schlinkman * mschlinkmann@post-dispatch.com * 636-255-7203

The historic Westbury House, with its lovely, though one-dimensional entry portico, was the vessel that led Tom and Ruth Brouster to the vision of a richly layered structure that both welcomes their guests and provides a striking canopy with its majestic presence.

With detailed planning by architect Patrick L. Nolan, AIA, of Pansing, Nolan, Matlock, Ltd., the entry portico at the Brousters’ history-inspired residence makes a monumental declaration with its classic Georgian style. One of the most significant of its influences is Neoclassicism, popularized during the reign of King George III of England.

The style - and the portico - embody European and American styling inspired by Classical Greek and Roman architecture and encompass both Palladian and Adamesque Neoclassical style elements.

From the cornice to the stepped plinth, the elements that comprise the smooth buff limestone portico follow the ordering of a Greek temple, without the pediment. In sequence from top down are the cornice, frieze, entablature, architrave, and columns, comprised of capital, a smooth shaft, and a base. All rest on three steps that create the plinth.

The portico serves as the landing or a walk-out balcony, framed by a wrought-iron balustrade with polished brass finials on the home’s second floor. Wide limestone crown molding and soffit detailing create the cornice element; the size mimics the soffit overhang at the center of the home.

A 4-foot-wide by 8-foot-tall six panel front door is a focal point with a striking leaded glass transom. The substantial size is a reflection of the need to proportion the design elements with the scale of the home.

“As with all of the design elements in the Brousters’ home, Tom was a tireless advocate for doing it the right way - he never compromised his vision or expectations of excellence,” says Nolan.

For picture, resources and credits, check out the link below: See June/July digital edition - page 70

www.stlouishomesmag.com

A Town & Country courtyard is an architectural beauty.

With the design expertise of architect Dick Busch of Dick Busch Architects, a simple open space on the front of a beautiful Town & Country home was transformed into the magnificent European-style front courtyard that it is today, and it was a creation that evolved naturally. According to Dick, the front courtyard space “created itself” with its uniquely ideal location for a one-of-a-kind addition to the home for entertaining and enjoying evenings outdoors.

Distinguished by a free-form, W-shaped row of stone caps, the courtyard entrance is set adjacent to the home’s main entry. Featured within the 14- by 20-foot enclosure, a brick wall with an iron gated stone arch gives an instant element of interest and appeal to the Old World-inspired architectural design.

A stone fireplace provides a warm highlight and was added without a raised hearth, allowing more floor space to be utilized for a dining table and fountains-including a pre-cast lion head fountain-giving the “room” just the right ambience for leisure or dining al fresco.

Highly durable masonry-oversized tumbled Tulsa brick and a tumbled Harvest Mix stone combination-contributes to the feeling of an Old World setting. The courtyard’s most prominent and artistically unique feature is the curvilinear top of the brick entryway wall. A charming wood burning fireplace, Eden flagstone pavement and lush plantings add to the coziness and allure of the architecturally rich space.

Frequently enjoyed by the homeowners, the open-air courtyard is described as an architecturally and aesthetically pleasing space and further enhanced by the peaceful sound of cascading water and wonderful nighttime views. The timeless architecture wraps the space in character and warmth, offering limitless opportunities for gathering and relaxation.

For picture,resources and credits, check out the link below:

http://www.stlouishomesmag.com/St-Louis-Homes-and-Lifestyles/April-2010/Old-World-Charm/

Low interest rates, a federal tax credit and nice weather led to a surge in new house construction in the St. Louis region in March.

Permits to build single-family houses hit their highest one-month total in more than two years, according to the Home Builders Association of St. Louis.

There were 465 permits issued in seven Missouri counties, the most since Feb. 2008 and a 142 percent increase from the same month last year. Through the first three months of 2010, permits are up 58 percent from last year.

Much of the growth in single-family construction came in St. Charles, Warren and Franklin counties. Permits for multifamily rehabs in the city of St. Louis, which are counted separately, have more than tripled from last year’s pace.

It is unclear how long this building boomlet will last, however. The government’s $8,000 tax credit is set to expire at the end of April and many economists think interest rates will rise, prompting some concern about a second dip in the housing market.

Source: Tim Logan: tlogan@post-dispatch.com - April 21, 2010 Post Dispatch

A new home in one of Clayton’s National Register Historic Districts features a unique “twisted spiral” chimney designed by architect Lauren Strutman, president of Lauren Strutman Architects, P.C. The very distinctive detailing of the spiral chimney mirrors the character of the neighboring historic homes.

Texture and pattern contrast were achieved by combining brick, tumbled limestone and a smooth clay chimney pot. (Tumbling is a mechanical process that makes the stone surfaces irregular, subtly creating a worn, charming appearance.)  The extraordinary corkscrew shape of the chimney draws the eye to its unique design.

“It was important for the home to be compatible with its historic surroundings,” says Lauren. The owners wanted a new home with Old World Charm, suitable for the neighborhood. Original homes in the district, c. 1910-1930, are period homes, and their design suggests earlier styles, including Medieval, Tudor, Regency, Georgian and Colonial Revival.

Sturdy construction, high-quality craftsmanship, diverse textures and handsome details are among the character-defining elements that this architecturally noval chimney shares with the area’s original, meticulously designed and elegantly proportioned residences.

“The chimney shows beautiful materials and the outstanding craftsmanship of our local masons,” states Lauren.

For picture and resources, check out the link below:

http://www.stlouishomesmag.com/St-Louis-Homes-and-Lifestyles/March-2010/A-Twist-on-the-Traditional/

A trusted leader in the St. Louis new home industry for 65 years, Fischer & Frichtel is recognized for its unique ability to analyze local market conditions and anticipate housing trends.

The nationwide economic downturn as produced a significant shift in consumers’ approach to purchasing a new home, and Fischer & Frichtel has responded with introduction of a companywide program to address these changing issues.

“Faced with financial uncertainty and increasingly strict mortgage qualifications, pricing has become the homebuyer’s paramount concern, “CEO John Fischer stated. “Families are reevaluating how much square footage they really need, and many of the desirable ‘frills’ seem less important. In every price range, today’s buyers are paying much more attention to how much home they can actually afford. They want comfortable, manageably-sized living space that suits their lifestyle and budget. But they still expect value and aren’t willing to settle for inferior quality.”

Although many area builders have lowered their prices by substituting less expensive materials and products, the challenge for Fischer & Frichtel was to achieve more affordable price points in its 16 established communities, while still maintaining the firm’s enduring reputation for top-quality homes.

Months of intensive research, design effort, and collaboration with subcontractors and suppliers has resulted in a program that, in Fischer’s words, “opens our neighborhoods to a whole new market.” He added, “We want people who thought they could never afford a Fischer & Frichtel home to realize that they now have that opportunity.”

In early January, all-new 2010 design portfolios were unveiled in the firm’s various “prestige”communities, where starting prices have been reduced by as much as $164,600.

Structurally, the new product lines are designed with virtually all of the same high-quality components previously included, but customers now have almost unlimited freedom to select their preferred amenities.

“Base prices on these new plans have been pared down to rock bottom, “Fischer explained, “and we’re giving cost-conscious buyers far more latitude in choosing their interior features, which translates to greater control over the final contract price.”

For added economy, buyers can opt for special packages that have been assembled at substantial discounts and vary by community. Examples include appliance, interior finish, kitchen, energy-saving, and finished entertainment and outdoor living area packages.

To kick off 2010, $10,000 to $20,000 in free options of choice are also being offered to the first five purchasers in select communities.

“The ability and willingness to customize have always been a Fischer & Frichtel hallmark, “noted Linda Linden, Director of Sales, “and that’s not something you’ll find with other volumne builders especially in today’s market. We’re taking customization to a whole new level - basically, giving our customers the freedom to make even more choices and personalize the affordability of their new homes.”

Tremendous savings are also available to purchasers in the company’s entry-level communities, where pricing was reduced last fall in conjunction with the federal first-time-buyer stimulus program. Some of these neighborhoods offer additional incentives, and the remaining inventory homes in various close-out communities have been dramatically reduced for quick sale.

Fischer predicts that the impetus to invest in a Fischer & Frichtel home will be at its height over the next few weeks. “it’s the ‘perfect storm’ for smart homebuyers,” he observed. “Prices and interest rates are at historic lows and have nowhere to go but up. The federal stimulus plan expires this spring, and Missouri tax credit funds are limited. So, now is definitely the time to maximize the value of your investment.”

For complete details on the 2010 design collection, Fischer & Frichtel communities metrowide, current pricing and promotions, visit www.FandFHomes.com

Congratulations to Leonard Masonry for their award winning work on St. Louis’ new Citygarden.  Masonry Construction Magazine (www.masonryconstruction.com), a national publication, recognized Leonard’s outstanding hardscape work with the Best Community Project Award for 2009.  According to the magazine, Leonard installed “90,000 square feet of blue stone and and granite pavers….and polished green granite on 1100 linear feet of the riverine, a serpentine 16- to 24- inch wall that borders the northern edge of the gardens.”

If you didn’t make it downtown to visit Citygarden before the cold weather hit, be sure to plan a stroll there as spring approaches.  For more information and photos of downtown’s latest gem, visit http://www.citygardenstl.org/.  To see more of Leonard Masonry’s award winning craftsmanship, visit http://www.leonardmasonry.com/.

A couple facts on the history of Christmas lights from www.oldchristmaslights.com

• In 1882, Edward Johnson, a business associate of Thomas Edison. electrically lit a Christmas tree for the first time.
• Christmas Lights meant for the outdoors weren’t sold across the United States until 1927, and they were nearly as dangerous as the candles they were advertised to replace.
• Many of the earliest bulbs were shaped like fruits and animals, and also doubled as Christmas tree ornaments.

Outdoor Christmas lighting has defintely come a long way since its inception.  Some ambitious homeowners are even lighting their homes to the beat of music.  Enjoy this video clip from the home of a Christmas enthusiast in Texas, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e7T2ELXE_M and Happy Holidays from the Masonry Institute of St. Louis!

In this article from Masonry Design Magazine, Shahnaz Jaffari lays out the facts on why masonry buildings rank superior in sustainability.  To read it, click on the link below.

www.masonrydesignmagazine.com/content/view/284/34/