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The building went through multiple owners and uses over the years, with various stints of vacancy. A firefighter who purchased it around 2000 did some initial renovations to make it livable as a residence, including adding bedrooms to the second floor. Another couple purchased it in 2013 (their journey was captured on HGTV’s “House Hunters”) and did further renovations, which they documented on a blog.

This is how the Rogiers discovered the property. ������Ƶ were living in a historic home in McKinley Heights at the time, which they loved, but were ready for a change and more usable space.

“We like repurposed and unconventional spaces; so, when we realized we wanted to get a different home, we started looking at warehouses, storefronts, etc.,” says Ben. “As we were looking, one of our friends told us they followed the blog of a couple who owned a firehouse in North St. Louis and they were getting ready to sell.”

The Rogiers purchased the firehouse in 2017 as a project and a home in which to raise their two young sons, Charlie and Henry.

“One of the big selling points is that it has a huge yard. We loved the potential of it,” Ben says.

When they purchased the firehouse, it was livable, but basic, painted all neutral shades of gray and white. The front half, which once served as the truck bay, is one large, open space that houses a large play area for the boys, a home office, bar area and a cozy, book-filled library corner that Ben created with stacked shelves from IKEA.

The main living area, including an open living room, dining room and kitchen, is located in the back half of the building, separated by a set of double doors. The bedrooms are on the second floor, which features another spacious living area that is currently under renovation.

“When we moved in, we waited about a year and a half to get familiar with the space,” says Kaytlin. “We redid the kitchen first. It was closed off and very dark. We opened it up and redesigned and reorganized it.”

������Ƶ worked with J.T. McDermott Remodeling Contractors to help design the new kitchen area and purchased new cabinetry from Hoods Home Center. Ben created open shelves out of some salvaged wood floor joists that came out of an old house nearby, as well as a unique chandelier made from various sized wire pendant lights hung from a distressed wood base suspended from the ceiling.

The next step was to inject some personality into the space, which felt boxy and plain with its 14-foot ceilings and white cinder block walls.

“The last couple of months have been putting color back in and making the space more us,” says Kaytlin. “We had a small gallery display on one white wall, and it just wasn’t doing justice to what it could be. I wanted to make it pop.”

She started by painting some colorful stripes that followed the cinder block lines in the stairwell, then carried them into the living room and across into the dining room, using her iPad to sketch out and map the design. A color specialist at the Sherwin-Williams paint store in Clayton helped her hone in on the perfect hues. The stripes lead to more organic shapes, as well as painted “frames” for some of the couple’s favorite pieces of artwork.

“I’ve done art my whole life and just have an appreciation for it. I didn’t really have a vision for this space until recently,” says Kaytlin. “Most of the art on these walls is by local artists or is of local places. It’s a lovely way to be able to celebrate local artists.”

Some of those local artists include JoAnn Houle, Jackie Scharenberg, Christine McCoy, Tim Kent Moore, Courtney Sellers, Brady Kesner, Florelle Rodenberg, Natalie Avondet and Alison Bozarth.

“When I walk into the house, I get a jolt of dopamine from the color and the joy of that,” Kaytlin says of her handiwork.

With the main living areas feeling homier, the Rogiers continue to focus on renovating the second floor, which still includes a multi-stall, multi-shower bathroom that the resident firefighters once used. Projects can take much longer than in a traditional residence due to the building’s steel structure, commercial-grade plumbing, cinder block walls and oversized doors. Despite these challenges, the firehouse offers a wealth of possibilities.

“We’re getting to the point where it is a space that we can grow with and change over time” Kaytlin says. “There’s very little that is off limits.”