The idyllic, suburban site for this project included an existing house adjacent to a municipal park and cemetery. The owners, seeking a multi-generational house for her parents and their children, identified the assets of the lot and were prepared to demolish the house and build new.
An examination of the existing house revealed the ubiquitous 1970s ranch also possessed many assets, including its siting on an east/west axis and being partially buried in the sloping site. The stone veneer was discovered to be locally sourced from the nearby interstate expansion, and Douglas fir beams that clear-spanned the ground floor had been salvaged from a nearby elementary school.
Maintaining the existing stone plinth and building a new house around and atop it was explored through a variety of design iterations. We arrived at a scheme that prioritized the picturesque views to the north, south, and west, while retaining the vertical circulation core to connect the programatic elements. These elements included an autonomous, accessible living area at grade, and main-floor dwelling spaces above to serve the multi-generational family of six.
Authentic materials are employed throughout in keeping with the retained portions of the existing house. Shou Sugi Ban and thermally treated poplar wrap the exterior, with white oak floors, mahogany, and natural stone finishing the interior. Stormwater is managed through a pervious paver capped drywell that collects stormwater from the roof and slowly releases it to the rear yard where the clients garden, beekeep, and unwind.
Winner, House of the Year, St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2023)
Winner, Modern Kitchen (300+ sq/ft), St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2023)
General Contractor: Full Circle Design Works
Structural Engineer: Goser Structural Engineering
Photography: ©Alise O’Brien Photography
General Contractor: Barron Construction
Photography: ©Miranda Kimberlin
©Alise O’Brien Photography
©Alise O’Brien Photography
The primary objective for this extensive historic renovation and addition was to seamlessly integrate generous new living spaces into the existing 1920s-era Tudor style architecture. The front exterior facade remains primarily unchanged with only minor refreshes including paint, new house numbers, and landscaping. The exterior of the house, however, proudly expresses an expansive two-story addition enclosing cozy living spaces on the ground floor and spacious bath, laundry, and dressing areas on the second floor. The harmonious marriage of original architecture with new addition results in a completed restoration where the new respects and enhances the old.
While the residence’s exterior endeavors to remain faithful to the home’s original era, the interior of the residence expresses fresh, updated spaces flooded with natural light. New windows and doors with minimized divided lites provide ample visual connection between interior spaces and the beautiful surrounding landscape. Reconfigured ground floor areas encourage free-flowing spaces and allow for an open, gourmet kitchen for owners who enjoy cooking and entertaining. At the second floor addition the new primary bathroom suite is again filled with natural light and finished with a neutral palette of porcelain tile and natural stone.
Details throughout the residence include a rich, end-grain walnut countertop at the kitchen prep area that is echoed at the opposite end of the kitchen as a banquette tabletop. A timeless palette of natural materials is consistently deployed throughout the ground and second floors, including natural stone of Carrera and Calacatta appropriate to the era of the home. Low-profile lighting serves to avoid obstructing views of the landscape. Chevron and mosaic tile are utilized in smaller quantities at specialty areas including the powder room and wet bar area.
"Working with Studio Lark was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their expertise in historical preservation combined with their innovative approach to modern design truly set them apart. Their team not only embraced the challenges inherent in renovating a historic structure but also infused it with new life, seamlessly blending the old with the new. Their passion for preserving architectural heritage while incorporating modern functionality was evident in every aspect of their work. Throughout the project, StudioLark maintained open lines of communication, keeping us informed and involved every step of the way. Their professionalism, creativity, and dedication to our vision ensured that the end result exceeded our expectations." -Client testimonial
Finalist, Historic Residential Renovation/Restoration, St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2024)
General Contractor: Patrick Moore Construction Co.
Structural Engineering: Goser Structural Engineering
Photography: ©Alise O’Brien Photography
This Clayton penthouse condominium underwent an extensive interior renovation to bring continuity to the spaces and provide a serene and light-filled backdrop for the clients’ art collection. The condominium is laid out as a series of rooms along each side of a generously scaled hallway axis. Careful editing of the scale and alignments of the various thresholds into the rooms brought continuity and allowed for curated display of the artwork. A neutral palette of interior materials — high gloss white cabinetry, gray wood veneer, stained oak, and dark porcelain tiles — are contrasted with soft, textural furniture and rugs.
A new, built-in banquette coupled with an airy chandelier anchors the new kitchen layout while a custom wine niche in the same veneered paneling provides a focal point for the media room. The light-filled master bath was enlarged with a new shower clad in milky glass tiles that reflect light and contrast the black tile floor. A tall, slender slab of back-lit leathered granite provides a contrasting backdrop to a smooth, white enameled sink and sculptural light fixture in the new powder room. And a dramatic, feathery pendant light surrounded by the owners’ colorful art collection provides a high-impact first impression at the foyer of the residence.
“We loved working with Jessica and Aaron. They delivered an amazing product by listening to what we wanted and creating a style to match the way we live. From detailed note taking at every meeting, to determining the exact angle of our banquette that would comfortably seat us, to helping us choose our textiles wisely, we could trust them to tackle each room as if it was the most important. In the end, our space flows seamlessly.” - Client testimonial
Winner, Remodel, St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2021)
General Contractor: Full Circle Design Works
Photography: ©Alise O’Brien Photography
Originally a fuel and service station in the mid-twentieth century, this building had experienced many lives over the decades and was in need of restoration. Over time, the building had been converted to a retail establishment and eventually a small office building and each layer of programmatic change brought layers of materials concealing the original architecture. The conceptual objective for this project aimed to uncover and celebrate the gritty character of the service station while simultaneously infusing the interior with fresh, updated spaces appropriate for creative collaboration.
Early analysis of the existing structure determined that a reductive strategy would be the best design approach for this project. Interior finishes including a low ceiling grid, carpeting, and gypsum board were completely removed, revealing high ceilings, masonry walls, and the original concrete slab. The original traces of the service station at both the floor and walls are embraced and preserved for the story they tell. Adjacent these elements, clean casework, panelling, and screen walls delineate spaces with a contemporary language. The result is a functional and open studio environment where various office functions are simultaneously distinct while visually connected to other spaces and the building as a whole.
New windows and doors throughout fill the interior with ample natural light and provide connection between interior spaces and the surrounding neighborhood. The restrained interior palette primarily consists of wood, including Baltic birch and Douglas fir species, adjacent white textured tile and painted white walls. The spaces are punctuated with high-contrasting black lighting, plumbing, and hardware fixtures, and finished with a collection of classic modern furniture.
Finalist, Commercial Space, St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2024)
General Contractor: Barron Construction
Photography: ©Miranda Kimberlin
This graceful guest house anchors the new exterior courtyard by occupying the south end of the site, on axis with the kitchen and living areas of the main house. A future landscape plan that includes a pool will occupy the courtyard and connect the two buildings. A cantilevered loggia runs along the north facade while a deck running along the rear of the house gives the clients opportunity to view games and gatherings at the rear of the lot. Large glass sliding doors serve as the main entrance, allowing homeowners and guests to flow freely in and out while entertaining.
Crisp, modern detailing and light filled spaces echo the main house. The exterior material palette consists of an open rainscreen of warm Ipe with anodized aluminum windows and trim. At the interior, porcelain tile flooring flows from the exterior to the interior. Bright whites, light maple floors, soft tonal grays, and vibrant aqua accents create a calm and serene atmosphere. Accent pendant lighting fixtures reflect a specular light like that of gently rippled water. A walnut live-edge dining table scribed to the marble waterfall-edge island is in dramatic contrast to the crisp, cool palette of the interior.
Winner, Modern Kitchen (300+ sq/ft), St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2022)
Finalist, New Build, St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Awards (2022)
General Contractor: Barron Construction
Structural Engineering: Goser Structural Engineering
Photography: ©Alise O’Brien Photography
“We embarked on remodeling our house with your team's expertise, and the result is beyond our expectations. You seamlessly integrated old and new elements, maximized lighting, and optimized the space while perfectly capturing our aesthetic. Your craftsmanship, attention to detail, and delightful collaborative approach made the experience truly enjoyable. Thank you for transforming our house into a place we love to call home.” - Client testimonial
General Contractor: Barron Construction
Photography: ©Miranda Kimberlin
This modest home, designed by Harris Armstrong in the 1950s, contained a small and outdated 80-square-foot galley kitchen that was isolated from the rest of the house. The aim of this renovation was to create a more open, functional kitchen and dining area that could better serve the owners and their two children while honoring the design legacy of the home’s original architecture.
To create a more generous kitchen area, the bearing wall that separated the kitchen from the living room was removed and replaced with roof framing hidden in the ceiling. A sunken section of floor at the adjacent family room was raised to the level of the ground floor and a long island was inserted that ties the living, dining, and kitchen together. The island acts as a central functional work surface that supports cooking, cleaning, dining, working or relaxing. Tall storage at the rear of the kitchen contains an integrated refrigerator and pantry storage. A custom designed gate marries into a slat wall at the stairs.
A simple palette of materials consisting of walnut, white quartz, and custom-milled black Richlite panels (made from recycled paper) works cohesively with the existing architecture while updating the interior for modern living. The existing wood floors were refinished with a water based clear finish. White paint offers a neutral and light backdrop for artwork.
General Contractor: Full Circle Design Works
Photography: ©Miranda Kimberlin
This project merged two residences into one at a Central West End condominium building. The design goals for this renovation focused on maximizing natural light and celebrating the residence’s stunning views of St. Louis to the east and south. Removing walls at the perimeter of the units allowed for an unobstructed vista towards the Cathedral Basilica and the Gateway Arch beyond. New oak parquet flooring runs throughout the entire space to stitch the spaces together. Exposing the concrete structure at selected areas brings a contrasting texture to the new custom cherry cabinetry and polished vein cut stone at the kitchen. A locally sourced and fabricated white oak tongue and groove ceiling with integrated lighting conceals mechanical systems and provides an opportunity to illuminate the concrete structure above.
The reconfigured entry focuses visitors towards the stunning grandeur of the Basilica dome, with long views down a gallery that displays an eclectic mix of objects collected during the owner’s travels. Finally, the primary bathroom includes a materials palette of light, airy finishes that animate natural light filtered through the frosted glass door. Quarter sawn white oak cabinetry is fitted along one wall to provide storage and conceal mechanical systems. A floating vanity and polished Carrara marble top completes the clean and serene space.
“Jessica and Aaron really listened. Then they went about creating a design of my two condos that I purchased to make into one. I think it was tricky, but they did it. I now have an unbelievably gorgeous condo. Studio Lark also knew so many excellent contractors and workmen. And whenever I needed something, they were there, or referred me to someone immediately. I love my incredible condo and would definitely recommend Studio Lark for anyone.” - Client testimonial
General Contractor: Patrick Moore Construction Co.
Photography: ©Alise O’Brien Photography
The conceptual basis for this kitchen design was to provide a contextually-appropriate addition to the existing, Colonial-styled home while simultaneously offering an open and light-filled interior for cooking and entertaining. Floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors are employed at the southern facade to flood interior spaces with natural light, while deep overhangs offer appropriate shading during the warmer months. A large island grounds the kitchen and provides ample storage and countertop surface for cooking and serving. The space is punctuated with a cozy sitting area that includes additional media and storage area as well as a contemporary gas fire stove.
Aesthetically, the interior space is inspired by the owner’s existing collection of contemporary and Danish Mid-Century Modern furniture. A pared-down palette consisting of natural materials is deployed throughout the kitchen area. White oak is utilized as both the flooring and cabinetry, Carrera marble is installed at the tall backsplash, and light green slate tile grounds the gas stove. These authentic materials work in harmony to contribute to the airy, etherial interior aesthetic and details including a textured white oak shroud at the kitchen’s exhaust hood further emphasize the contemporary interior.
General Contractor: Pernikoff Construction Company
Photography: ©Miranda Kimberlin
This exterior renovation to an existing, Ralph Fournier-designed Mid-Century Modern ranch in Kirkwood, Missouri, aimed to freshen up the home’s tired and dated appearance, while preserving the architectural character. The concept, illustrated with the included axonometric drawing, took the approach of celebrating the original Fournier-designed volume by rendering the facade white, which emphasizes the original board and batten cladding.
The home’s master suite addition and entryway “subtraction” (entrance area carved into the original volume), both completed in the late 1980’s, were articulated with a contrasting charred wood, known as Shou Sugi Ban. Custom, operable shutters fabricated of rich, thermally treated poplar, were added to the master suite, which serve to modulate natural light on the home’s western-facing facade. The same linear pattern is echoed at the home’s deep overhangs and soffits, resulting in a cohesive, updated aesthetic that both celebrates and pays homage to this St. Louis mid-century gem.
General Contractor: Patrick Moore Construction Co.
Photography: ©Matt Marcinkowski
©studiolark
©studiolark
©studiolark
This radical renovation to an existing Mid-Century Modern ranch, located in Kirkwood on an approximately 1.5-acre lot, required a gut renovation of the home’s ground floor main spaces. Specifically, the transformation reconfigured the kitchen and existing entryway, adjacent living area, small adjacent bathroom, and adjacent bedroom. The existing kitchen was completely redesigned to maximize storage and provide function-driven efficiencies for the owners, who love to cook and entertain.
The renovated kitchen proposed removing an existing wall separating the kitchen and living area, reworking the rear windows with 16-linear feet of new glazing that allows for continuous counter workspace at the eastern edge of the kitchen, and installing a new corner window. The completed renovation reframes the view of the residence’s large, heavily-wooded back yard, and provides a kitchen and adjacent areas that are both functional and expressive of the home’s modern aesthetic. The custom, continuous-grain walnut cabinetry are set in high contrast again newly-bleached floors, and the rich walnut with white quartz countertops and a George Nelson light fixture complete the highly-detailed, modern design.
“Can’t say enough great things about working with Studio Lark. This was our first time taking on an extensive remodel and we had so many questions and were nervous about the process. Aaron and Jessica immediately eased our concerns and took the time to really understand us, our goals for the space, our preferences, our tastes, and budget. The thoughtfulness and time they spent understanding us as clients helped make the design and construction process go incredibly smooth. It didn’t hurt that they have great design taste too. We had lots of contact during the design phase, then regularly scheduled touch points, and any meeting we felt needed to happen in between.
We felt the enthusiasm and passion they have for their work, and always felt they were there to answer any questions, talk through any concerns, and have us feel comfortable throughout the construction process. They’d send over lots of options or visuals whenever I had trouble visualizing elements of the design. We really couldn’t have asked for a better remodel experience. Looking forward to future phases with them.” - Client testimonial
General Contractor: Full Circle Design Works
Photography: Alise O’Brien Photography
©studiolark
©studiolark
This new outdoor living area activated and refreshed the pool area to an existing Mid-Century Modern ranch residence designed by the office of William Bernoudy. The renovation aimed to replace the deteriorating, small rear stairway with an upgraded stair integrated with tiered decks and landings.
The concept for this project focused on creating varied and intimate outdoor zones for cooking, eating, and entertaining. The resulting outdoor areas include a deck adjacent to the home’s existing kitchen, with a built-in grill, area for dining, and appropriately-scaled outdoor living area. Each of these areas are designed around expansive views of the home’s swimming pool and nearby forest. Additionally, the design proposed a deck slightly elevated above grade at the pool level, which serves as an elegant transition between the stair and stone patio, while providing additional space for lounging poolside.
Natural materials and cantilevered beams rhyme with the palette and structure of the existing house. Environmentally sustainable materials were very important to both homeowners — one of whom is a landscape designer — and therefore the material palette included thermally modified poplar and Japanese charred wood known as Shou Sugi Ban. A glass handrail finishes the edge of the highest deck, in an effort to fortify the connections between the interior spaces and exterior landscape through unobstructed views.
“Jessica and Aaron Senne were excellent to work with on our MCM deck plans. They were careful to blend in modern functionality with the 1963 architecture we have. They kept it interesting by selecting Shou Sugi Ban wood (a Japanese cypress), glass and Douglas fir. It's a beautiful addition we will enjoy for many years!” - Client testimonial
General Contractor: Barron Construction
Photography: ©studiolark
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