For those who would enjoy seeing the inside of a wonderfully restored Arts and Crafts St. Louis Home,  join owners, Frank and Linda Rosario, in a bit of holiday cheer in their warm and lovingly preserved Arts and Crafts home in the Bevo Mill neighborhood.  Their 1920′s home is a rare example of a wood frame Craftsman.  One of the most endangered styles in St. Louis.

December 18, 2011   2:00-4:00 PM
4333 Taft Avenue

For more information, contact Patrice at stlbungalow@charter.net

St. Louis Arts and Crafts Society House Tour

My clients are going to be the proud new owners of this magnificent home on Washington Terrace.  If you have never driven down this street, it is a real pleasure.  Lined on both sides with grand mansions, this is one of the best areas of the Central West End.  As a Real Estate Agent and a fan of architecture, it is a real pleasure to sell this sort of home.   Just wandering around the home you see one great detail after another.  I hope the buyers are very happy for years to come!

15 Washington Terrace

Living Room Fireplace

What is a Real Estate Short Sale?

Basically, when someone needs to sell a home and they owe more than it is worth AND they are not able to pay the difference, this is called a Short Sale.  I have been working with buyers and sellers on short sales for many years and wanted to get more information out there to explain the process.

I am pleased to announce my new book: “The Homeowners Guild to Real Estate Short Sales”
Great for anyone struggling with a tough housing situation.

Click Here to visit www.SaintLouisShortSale.com and get your FREE copy!

7109 Lindell Blvd., University City, MO
3 Bedrooms – 2 Baths
$265,900!

My office has this home listed and it is a steal of a deal!  You can’t beat this price and location.  It sits right between the Wash U. campus and downtown Clayton on a great street.  Here are the agent comments:

“Another Exceptional University City Property in a Fantastic Location! Wonderful lifestyle where you can walk to Washington University, the Metro Link, coffee shops, fine dining or casual and shopping of all kinds! Charming home with generous living room/great room with gas fireplace, spacious dining room, newer kitchen and baths. With three bedrooms including master with very large closet and very nice newer bath with stainless steel vessel sink, marble floor, large tub. The newer kitchen includes gas cooking, built-in microwave, white cabinets, some with glass fronts, dishwasher, white subway tile, hardwood floor. The large deck descends to the rear yard and two car garage. Don’t miss your opportunity to be in the heart of University City and the University!”

Front of 7109 Lindell

Updated, Bright Kitchen

7200 Greenway Avenue, University City, MO
5 Bedrooms – 4.5 Bathrooms
$749,900

This home sits in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in University City.  Fully renovated and not to be missed!

Sophisticated and charming traditional English style home in sought after University Hills. Current owner has reworked this house from beam to rafter to create a stunning renovation with an all new kitchen and master bath from the studs out and so much more! Designer/owner has touched every room and every detail from floor to ceiling. Spacious rooms with arched entries, built-in bookshelves in most main level rooms, all new kitchen with custom cabinetry, honed limestone counters, farmhouse sink, 6 burner Dacor range. The master bath is all new with custom vanity, over-sized shower, soaking tub and beautiful antique light fixtures. Completing the second floor are three more bedrooms, one with new bath en-suite, new hall bath and abundant storage. Third floor contains the 5th bedroom, 4th full bath, two bedroom closets (one cedar), and an additional large storage closet with work surface. The charming rear yard has attractive fencing, spacious deck, fresh landscaping throughout!

7200 Greenway, University City

Living Room

Reception Hall

Kitchen

Continuing our Arts and Crafts Tour of St. Louis, the pictures below come from two great bungalow courts in St. Louis.  One is Country Club Court in Clayton and the other is Gurney Court next to Tower Grove Park.  These home all appear to be built by the same builder and are loaded with great Arts and Crafts details.  One of the best features of these homes is that most have very impressive tile fireplaces by Ernest Batchelder.   He was a tile maker out of Pasadena, CA and homes with his work are highly coveted in California and the West Coast.  You see them occasionally here in St. Louis but most real estate agents are not aware of what they are.

Click Here for more info on Batchelder

Homes on Gurney Ct.

Batchelder Scene Tile

Arts and Crafts Details

Batchelder Fireplace

Home on Country Club Ct.

I held an open house this past Sunday and had a great conversation with a nice couple who just moved to St. Louis from North Carolina.  While they loved all the architecture here, they commented that they had not seen many Craftsman or Arts & Crafts style homes.  I explained how there is actually a great abundance of the style here but sometimes it is hidden behind the traditional brick exterior that is so popular in the area.  This week I thought I’d share some of the current offerings on the market.

616 Bellerive is a fantastic Arts and Crafts style home.  $349,000.00 – 5 bedrooms – 2.5 baths

Agent description: Once in a lifetime opportunity to live in a true craftsman style home. Very large elegant home. Grand Entry hall w/ beautiful oak staircase. New wood floors are throughout the main floor. Leaded/stain glass windows surround the first floor. The dining room has beamed ceilings & window benches. Art glass pocket doors off of the dining room lead to a plant room. Kitchen has separate dining area. 1/2 bath complete the first floor. 2nd floor consists of 4 large bedrooms all with pocket doors. 3rd floor consists of a large family room & bedroom with full bathroom. This floor has separate entrance great for in-laws or renters. Basement has full state of the art bathroom a must see. Many updates have been done by the current owners. Newer copper coming into house. Endless hot water heaters. Newer Zoned HVAC. Over sized landscaped yard, huge decks & a brick carriage house. (Listing Courtesy of Craig Burfield, Prudential Alliance)

616 Bellerive

Dining Room

Stunning Stained Glass

Arts & Crafts Fireplace

Beautiful Woodwork

Built in Cabinets

Check out these recent links, several on national websites.  Great coverage of what is happening in St. Louis.  If you are moving to St. Louis and were wondering what was going on here, this may help.  Good info for our locals as well.

St. Louis Brewers Think Small (New York Times Travel Section)  Great article about the craft beer movement in St. Louis

The Pageant Has The Fourth Most Ticket Sales Of Any Club In The World So Far This Year (Riverfront Times) The Pageant concert venue in the University City Loop has impressive ticket sales and competes on a world wide basis.

Best New Barbecue Restaurants (Food and Wine Magazine) Nod to Bogart’s in Soulard as one of the best new places for barbecue on a national level.

At the Intersection of Opposites (Wall Street Journal, Arts and Entertainment) Coverage of the new exhibit at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts through March10.

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts in St. Louis

15 Washington Terrace in the Central West End just wrapped up it’s debut as the Ladue News Decorator Show house.  In case you missed it, I will be holding the home open on Sunday from 1-3.  Stop by and see this wonderful home.  The home was originally designed for Thomas May of the May Department Store Company.  It is a grand Italianate Mediterranean style home that is not to be missed.  With over 8000 square feet it may be one of the best values on the market at $825,000.00

Click Here for a link to the listing information

Washington Terrace is located right off Union, just North of Lindell.

If you are heading to the Ladue News Decorator Showhouse, you will drive past another spectacular home at 10 Washington Terrace that is For Sale.  Here is the write up from the MLS…

“Built in 1896, this remarkable home has been lovingly restored and preserved by the current owners to its original magnificent glory. Designed by Henry Roach, it is a fine example reflective of H. H. Richardson’s Romanesque Revival architectural style. You will be amazed at the hand crafted details in this masterpiece created by true artists of the time. The fine craftsmanship is evident the moment you enter this grand home. Upon entering the vestibule you will find breathtaking onyx covered walls and Italian marble statues. From the exquisite main hall, paneled in exotic Satinwood, to the nine ornately carved fireplace mantels; from the massive staircase with double spindle banisters to the stained glass windows in the landing, this home will amaze you. The kitchen, while maintaining the original feel, has been updated with the addition of a French Lacanche range and Fisher/Paykel dishwasher. If you appreciate history, elegance and craftsmanship this could be your next home. ”

Click here for more details

10 Washington Terrace