Design

Elegant, showy orchids have some of the most detailed flowers ever seen. The stunning blossoms last for weeks, even as cut stems. Despite their reputation for being finicky, they can make great houseplants.

Happily settled in a beautiful home she and her husband had just built on a lake in Minnesota, this unsuspecting homeowner had no inkling of what was ahead when her husband announced he had accepted a two-year contract that would require a move to St. Louis. “I told David that was fine, I could take my business down there for a few years,” she explains. “And my contribution to our adventure would be finding a house that needed a little fixing up. The operative words, of course, turned out to be a little!” After scouring the city (“I almost wore out the real estate agent.”), she kept returning to Lafayette Square. “I was so drawn to this area, to this house. First of all, you don’t see fireplaces and newel posts like this in Minnesota. And a carriage house? Are you kidding me?” The couple made an offer on the home, and after some back and forth, the elegant but neglected 1878 town home was theirs.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin when planning a home renovation. Careful consideration of design elements and lifestyle needs will help create a plan that will add value to a house, whether you’re getting ready to sell or stay for years to come.

Spectacular renovations aren’t just for the inside of the home. A well planned landscape design with proper plants and outdoor living elements can transform your yard into the envy of the block.