Hall’s understanding of formal symmetry gives his home great curb appeal and shows once again his command of color and balance. The lacquer red of the gabled portico over the front door adds a pop of color that repeats in the wood window trim throughout the façade. The green sweep of the front lawn meets up with antique urns and-old fashioned foundation plantings.
When Brandon Hall purchased his Craftsman 1908 brick home in the Central West End in 2022, he took the better part of two years to create a home that honors its history and preserves its architectural elements while expressing his personal style. He designed the quietly colorful interiors and curated a seamless blend of antique, modern and vintage furniture, blending historic and modern design throughout his three-story home.
He’s a native of Glen Falls in upstate New York who moved to St. Louis 10 years ago. “Life, work, and law school brought me to St. Louis,†he says. He was looking for a home in the Central West End in a period when real estate was red hot, but that didn’t deter Hall.
The house hadn’t been updated in a while, but he could see it had been well cared for, and he knew it would serve his needs perfectly. The 3,000 square foot home boasted six bedrooms, three baths, living room, kitchen, dining room, sunporch, back deck and finished basement.
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The small remodeled kitchen features an antique Waterford crystal chandelier, one of two Hall found for the house. The soothing blue-gray paint colors for the cabinets and wall plays off the bright white of the tile backsplash and picks up the veining in the countertops. Hall placed a white tile fleur de lis on the counter to the right of the stove where he also highlights some personal history – a sign from Glens Falls, New York, his hometown, sits below a John Pils map of St. Louis in the round.
He worked with Matija Bajer of MB Remodeling to update the kitchen, primary bath, laundry room, and sunroom before he moved in to redo the spaces. He also repainted the entire interior to reflect his love of all things blue. His keen eye for composition shows in each room in the contrasting trim and detail painting throughout the house, which highlights architectural details and accents.
The grandfather clock fits perfectly into a space on the staircase landing. Hall collected its counterpoint, a gilt framed portrait of a young man. He has several portraits from the late 1800s, which he refers to as his “relatives.â€
When it came to furnishing his new home, he wanted to reflect the time period of the house as well as his personal interests in art, music, books and history. He wanted to stay true to the period, so he needed to find furniture, lighting and art appropriate to its history.
St. Louis proved to be a fertile hunting ground for the teak, mahogany and cherry wood antique furniture and for the art and accessories he envisioned. Estate sales and auctions became his new pastimes. Selkirks Auction House and Davis Place Estate Sales and a plethora of auction sites became his guidebook. As he accumulated individual pieces, he mentally assembled each room.
The formal symmetry of the sunny living room reveals Hall’s detail attention to. Note how the chairs flanking the fireplace echo the fluted mantel legs and white moldings of the overmantle. He pulls the strong brown color of the fireplace header through the room via boxes and the basket on the coffee table. The scalloped pattern of the rug, the settee to the right and the serpentine coffee table add nice movement through the space. Hall’s dog, Lumi, lounges on the carpet.
“I know my look. It’s mostly old, but I try to weave in newer or more modern pieces to create a balance. I particularly like my living room, which is a very big balance of really old, kind of new and a little bit more modern,†he says.
“Putting this house together room by room, piece by piece, floor by floor was like working a puzzle, only there wasn’t a finished picture on the puzzle box,†he says. “Every piece in the house has a story that means something to me. There’s nothing grand about this house, but it’s warm, inviting and so full of stories. I love sharing it with others.â€
He may have had a little paranormal help with some of his decisions. “Sometimes I think the house told me where to put things,†he says. “I got 1900s grandfather clock at Selkirks with the opening bid because no one else bid. I believe the house told me to put that clock on the staircase landing because it would fit perfectly and it did,†he says.
The sunroom blends modern and antique elements with flair. The boldly patterned black and white floor carries through the striped patterns on chairs and furniture to unite and energize the enclosed sunporch. It’s perfectly suited for social gatherings.
Hall’s love for our city is on display throughout the house. He’s found a profusion of fleur-de lis-art, fabrics, pillows and accessories with the city’s symbol for each room. He selected a Jon Pils artwork, St. Louis in the round, for the kitchen. It sits companionably above a vintage sign of his hometown, Glens Falls.
Favorite rooms for Hall include the sunporch, the dining room, the music room and his presidential library. “One of my favorite antique pieces, a secretary from the 1700s, came from a castle once owned by a Welsh Prince’s family. It became a nice accent piece for the presidential reading room,†he says. “I also have a nice writing desk in the corner where I keep my marble bust of James Madison.â€
Hall has collected presidential material for many years — signatures of 15 presidents, some presidential papers, books, magazines and ephemera. Each night before bed he reads in that space, usually nonfiction history books, but he’s also prone to crack open a best seller by John Grisham, courtesy of his mother to her lawyer son. “She orders the latest book for me on Amazon the day it becomes available and ships it to me overnight,†he says.
He’s also enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of neighbors of all ages in this close-knit neighborhood. They gather together often for potluck suppers and spend time in front porch visiting on a regular basis to sip wine, listen to music and talk.
The strong geometrics at play in the built-in hall bench, the newel post and the balusters on the landing play off the geometric patterns of the kilim in the hall. The warmth of the wood contrasts beautifully with the cool gray of the walls in this dramatic entry.
Most people his age aren’t interested in the brown furniture Hall loves, but it turns out he’s on the cusp of a design moment. Elle Home Magazine named vintage pieces as one of the five top design trends of 2025, citing Gen Z’s desire for the authenticity, history and genuine patina that comes with antique brown furniture. Hall believes that to be true. “Sometimes I think I’m 39 going on 78,†he says, “but give me 20 minutes showing someone my home and I’ll have them believing they love antiques, if only for a hot minute.â€
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. He is pictured with one of his dogs, Lakota.
The new primary bath follows the clean bright aesthetic Hall established throughout the house.
Hall plays off the deep blues in the primary bedroom against bright whites in the cove moldings, the bedspread, the settee and the white mat framing the painting above the bed.
At home with Brandon Hall in the Central West End
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. He is pictured with one of his dogs, Lakota.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bedroom.
Hall plays off the deep blues in the primary bedroom against bright whites in the cove moldings, the bedspread, the settee and the white mat framing the painting above the bed.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bedroom.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bedroom.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bedroom.
The new primary bath follows the clean bright aesthetic Hall established throughout the house.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his dining room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bathroom.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his dining room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his dining room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his master bathroom.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his dining room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is the view from a guest bedroom.
The strong geometrics at play in the built-in hall bench, the newel post and the balusters on the landing play off the geometric patterns of the kilim in the hall. The warmth of the wood contrasts beautifully with the cool gray of the walls in this dramatic entry.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his front foyer.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his front foyer.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his living room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his living room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his living room.
The small remodeled kitchen features an antique Waterford crystal chandelier, one of two Hall found for the house. The soothing blue-gray paint colors for the cabinets and wall plays off the bright white of the tile backsplash and picks up the veining in the countertops. Hall placed a white tile fleur de lis on the counter to the right of the stove where he also highlights some personal history – a sign from Glens Falls, New York, his hometown, sits below a John Pils map of St. Louis in the round.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his kitchen.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his presidential room.
Hall’s third floor music room houses his guitars and music memorabilia. He played in bands during his teen years and even played in a Dave Matthews cover band for many years. He plans to take piano lessons soon to play the baby grand that graces his living room.
The formal symmetry of the sunny living room reveals Hall’s detail attention to. Note how the chairs flanking the fireplace echo the fluted mantel legs and white moldings of the overmantle. He pulls the strong brown color of the fireplace header through the room via boxes and the basket on the coffee table. The scalloped pattern of the rug, the settee to the right and the serpentine coffee table add nice movement through the space. Hall’s dog, Lumi, lounges on the carpet.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his presidential room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his presidential room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his presidential room.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is some of his wall art.
The grandfather clock fits perfectly into a space on the staircase landing. Hall collected its counterpoint, a gilt framed portrait of a young man. He has several portraits from the late 1800s, which he refers to as his “relatives.â€
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is some of his wall art.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. Pictured is his sunroom.
The sunroom blends modern and antique elements with flair. The boldly patterned black and white floor carries through the striped patterns on chairs and furniture to unite and energize the enclosed sunporch. It’s perfectly suited for social gatherings.
Brandon Hall uses his love of U.S. history to drive the decorative approach of his home, photographed on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. He is pictured with one of his dogs, Lakota.
Hall’s understanding of formal symmetry gives his home great curb appeal and shows once again his command of color and balance. The lacquer red of the gabled portico over the front door adds a pop of color that repeats in the wood window trim throughout the façade. The green sweep of the front lawn meets up with antique urns and-old fashioned foundation plantings.
