A lovely brick split-level from St. Louis.

This 1.700 square-feet lovely brick split-level from St. Louis, was designed for a family of 6 by architects Bill Field and Norm Stoecker. The entry focuses attention of the simple design of the exterior. Rectangles of colored glass surround the door on three sides. The house is 36 feet long, but the extension of the roof over the carport makes it seem even longer.

The compact, two-story design of the house conserves valuable lot space, in this case a good deal of natural timberland. The owners retained a large number of the existing trees, supplemented them with several young trees and added a hedge and some flower beds. Function, as well as beauty, determined the selection of the other landscaping materials. The railroad ties, for example, help define the courtyard and form a retaining wall. The gravel helps with the drainage and eliminates the irksome tasks of trimming grass next to the house. 


The deck reclaims a sharply sloping rear lot for play and outdoor living; the walkway at the far end connects it to the brick terrace and the stairs to the carport. 
Big, versatile and invitng, the deck handles everything from barbecues to bridge club, cocktail aprties to kiddie cars. The vertical wood siding blends with the decking, contrasts with the brickwork.


A massive fireplace dominates one wall of the living room and anchors the conversation area. If you were entertaining a large group of guests you could move furniture back to the walls, spread fire's glow throughout the room
The bricks of the fireplace match the bricks of the exterior; the long hearth holds fireside accessories, logs. When the fire's out, glass doors swing shut to keep ashes inside. 
Overhead, the beams continue over the wall, unifying the living room with the overhang of  the roof. Large, fixed-glass windows overlook deck and back of lot; smaller casement windows flank fireplace and open for ventilation.




Some entries just get you in adn out of the house; this one delights the eye with a rainbow of light - coming, going, or staying put. The section above the door enlivens a normally dull area and, in most split entries, a painfully visible one. Here, that area has been replaced by a dazzling mosaic of colored glass that not only transforms the entry, but also brightens up the living room (to the left) and dining room (to the right). The closet on the landing has bifold doors that stay out of the way. The stairs turn right to the lower level.







In the kitchen, ample work spaces flank both the sink and the stove; cabinets above and below keep food and utensils close to work areas. across the aisle, a sliding door conceals a king-size pantry. The refrigerator is on the other side.

During the day, one large window, aided by a clerestory and a skylight, makes artificial light almost unnecessary. The breakfast table is handy to preparation areas, but well out of the way.






On the upper level, the only enclosed area are the kitchen and the powder room. The living room and the dining room flow together in an open, sprawling L-shape that lets you enjoy the whole living area at once. From the kitchen, you can go directly to the living room, the dining room or outside to the carport. 

The bedrooms share the lower level with a large utility room and a full bath. Each of the smaller bedrooms sleeps to children. The master bedroom enjoys a measure of extra privacy at the opposite end of the hallway. A door in the utility room connects the lower level with the deck.

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