1 of 65
Courtesy of Exp Realty, Llc
2 of 65
Courtesy of Exp Realty, Llc
3 of 65
4 of 65
5 of 65
6 of 65
7 of 65
8 of 65
9 of 65
10 of 65
11 of 65
12 of 65
13 of 65
14 of 65
15 of 65
16 of 65
17 of 65
18 of 65
19 of 65
20 of 65
21 of 65
22 of 65
23 of 65
24 of 65
25 of 65
26 of 65
27 of 65
28 of 65
29 of 65
30 of 65
31 of 65
32 of 65
33 of 65
34 of 65
35 of 65
36 of 65
37 of 65
38 of 65
39 of 65
40 of 65
41 of 65
42 of 65
43 of 65
44 of 65
45 of 65
46 of 65
47 of 65
48 of 65
49 of 65
50 of 65
51 of 65
52 of 65
53 of 65
54 of 65
55 of 65
56 of 65
57 of 65
58 of 65
59 of 65
60 of 65
61 of 65
62 of 65
63 of 65
64 of 65
65 of 65
This 8,376-square-foot Mediterranean villa is stunning. The open floor plan creates an inviting space for household members to enjoy the company of their family and friends and can fit more than 100 guests. Externally, the 1913-built home’s architecture and Mediterranean style make it a standout in the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood.
The historical nature of the district was one of the factors that piqued current homeowners Bruce and Denise Grode’s interest. “It has a canopy of trees that’s a half-mile long,” says Bruce. “It’s a private street, so these big oak trees canopy the whole street all the way down, and they’re all evenly planted by design. It gives it a really warm feel.”
The home, which has five bedrooms and four bathrooms, was designed by 19th- and 20th-century architect William Levy for Thomas May, director of The May Department Stores Company, a former St. Louis–based holding company of notable department brands that merged with Macy’s (formerly Federated Department Stores) in 2006. Traces of Levy's signature style are found in the house today, including the original black-and-white marble floor and intricate dental moldings. (Learn more about Levy’s influence on St. Louis architecture here.) The home also has its original alabaster chandeliers made from marble stone and barrel vault ceiling tunneling off the grand foyer. The formal living room contains original hardwood floors, complementing the wood-paneled wall against the plastered mantelpiece and dental molding.
The home's list of notable residents doesn't end with May. John W. Barriger III—an engineer raised in St. Louis and known for his contributions to the nation’s six railroad lines—collected books, important documents, and more than 50,000 photographs, which were all stored in the property's basement. The collection of Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad memorabilia was so large that the home needed to be reinforced with steel framing. The collection is now housed at the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, known as North America’s largest collection of railroad history.
The Grodes were also drawn to the property's beautiful restoration. Among their favorite details are the claw tubs and French pocket doors, which lead to a sunroom with beautifully arched windows that span the perimeter of the room. The powder room on the first floor was originally used for what was known as an ice room. The room would store ice in it to cool the rest of the house. A modern HVAC system was later installed with the addition of modernized plumbing and new electrical work.
“It's got all the old-world charm but all the conveniences of the New World,” Grode says.
The newly designed kitchen blends that old and new, from the butler’s pantry to the upscale stainless-steel appliances, glaze-tiled backsplash, and shining marble counters. The floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinetry enlarges the room and further tidies up the space.
The upper level includes four of the home's bedrooms and a converted home office. The house also has an additional half-story on the third floor, which can be seen from the back of the property. This floor has one room that served as a ballroom but can easily be converted to a game room to fit today’s modern family.
Outside you'll find a charming brick terrace, a large backyard, and a three-car garage with an updated roof.
“Hosting parties were our fondest memories for sure. And being a part of the street,” says Bruce. “The whole street is under the historical district so most people have the same pride of ownership in having a historic home and being part of that kind of a family.”
Address: 15 Washington Terrace
Price: $1,750,000
Realtor: Cathy O’Neill, EXP Realty LLC, 314–369–2536
Design STL's On the Market posts are editorial. Featured properties are selected by editors.