When Kathy and Bryan Nicholson were ready to renovate the 1950s Colonial in Ladue they had lived in for five years, Kathy knew that the dated, dark- floral wallpaper in the dining room had to go—she just wasn’t sure what she’d put in its place. An art history major, Kathy has always loved painted, architectural wallpapers, but she thought she could achieve a similar, but singular, look with a mural. Searching for inspiration, she discovered artist Peter Engelsmann’s website, and was captivated by his elegant mural of Forest Park, filled with pretty pastoral scenes. In that moment, Kathy knew that Engelsmann could fulfill her vision of a mural depicting the St. Louis 1904 World’s Fair in her own home.
“Bryan and I were both raised here and have wonderful memories of Bryan’s mom telling us stories about her great-grandmother sneaking out at night to meet friends at the Fair,” Kathy says.
The Nicholsons and Engelsmann planned to show specific scenes from the Fair, and the family approved the artist’s initial sketch on paper. But as Engelsmann delved further into research—poring over reference materials, vintage images, and maps—he decided that he wanted to paint the scene with historical accuracy, placing each building precisely where it would have been in 1904.
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Cut from the Same Cloth
“Turkey Tracks” is a 19th-century quiltmaking pattern that has the appearance of little wandering feet. Patterns like the tracks, and their traditions and myths, have been passed down through the generations, from their frontier beginnings to today, where a generation of makers has embraced the material as a means of creating something new. Olivia Jondle is one such designer. Here, she’s taken an early turkey track-pattern quilt, cut it into various shapes, and stitched the pieces together, adding calico and other fabric remnants as needed. The result is a trench coat she calls the Pale Calico Coat. Her designs are for sale at The Rusty Bolt, Jondle’s small-batch fashion company based in St. Louis. —SAMANTHA STEVENSON
Color Block
A background in sculpture trained artist Aly Ytterberg to see objects more fully.
A Modern Story
How a little log cabin went from being a home to a guest house
IN GOOD TIME
With the help of interior designer Robert Idol, a Kirkwood couple creates a home that pays homage to the past, yet feels just right for their modern young family.
Let's Dish
"Food Raconteur” Ashok Nageshwaran wants to tell you a story.
The Right Move
New shops and showrooms bring exciting opportunities for local designers, makers, and arts organizations to sell their wares to home enthusiasts here and everywhere.
Green Dreams
Painter and gardener Lauren Knight branches out.
Cultivating Kokedama
Chris Mower of White Stable Farms discovered the Japanese style of gardening in Italy. Now, he’s bringing it to St. Louis.
Graphic Mood
Letters, icons, and illustrations that speak in a hand-drawn language
AUDRA's New Digs
Audra Noyes, of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund Incubator’s first class, opens an atelier in Ladue.
