ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Physicians Meredith and Derek Byers met in medical school and got married during their residency in Dallas. They moved to St. Louis in 2005, purchasing a house in Kirkwood and starting a family. The Byerses loved the neighborhood that was within walking distance to the local elementary school, but over the years, as their street became a busier thoroughfare and their kids grew, they began seeking a larger home on a larger and more private lot.

“We wanted to find a place that had more space for our three kids. I grew up on 10 acres in the country, and I wanted a larger outdoor space,� Derek says.

When a large house on a two-acre wooded lot popped up on an online real estate site in 2014, they were immediately intrigued and went to look at it. Being just minutes away from their previous home within the same zone as their kids’ school made it ideal.

“She fell in love with the inside, and deer were running through the back yard, so I fell in love with the outside,� says Derek.

Custom built in 1994, the house had great bones and was structurally sound but required some creative vision.

“The house was very eccentric,� remembers Meredith. “Every room was a different bright color. The living room was lime green and the kitchen had lime green countertops. I told Derek, if we can make it feel peaceful in here, it will be great.�

The first thing the Byerses did was paint every room in softer tones to calm the space down. The kitchen underwent a complete remodel to bring it up to date and make the space work better for their busy family lifestyle. Two awkward original islands were removed to install one larger, two-tier island, reoriented to face the large windows overlooking the backyard. They also removed a double oven to open up more counter space and added a butler’s pantry and a built-in desk. The original Sub-Zero appliances were repurposed in the new space.

“It’s the center of our activity,� says Derek. “Everyone congregates here.�

The Byerses worked with Thompson Price on the kitchen and bathroom remodels and other interior spaces.

The home’s formal dining room had been painted purple with white shag carpet when the Byerses moved in. They repainted it a deep slate blue that highlights the room’s architectural features, including white wainscoting and a recessed ceiling with crown molding. The carpet was removed to reveal the hardwood floors beneath, which the Byerses refinished, adding an inlaid border of darker wood that matches that of the sweeping staircase across the foyer.

The living room unveils itself through a columned archway off the foyer, creating a dramatic statement with vaulted ceilings, enormous windows and an angled fireplace.

“The geometry and architecture of the room is really unique,� says Derek. “It’s a great space in the fall with the family watching TV, and at Christmastime.�

In 2023, the Byerses engaged Lakeside Renovation and Design for a full exterior renovation, including the addition of a covered outdoor living/dining space across the back of the house with a stone fireplace, outdoor TV and a grill pad for Derek’s collection of grills and smokers. Located just off the kitchen, the space is ideal for year-round entertaining.

“It’s great for parties. I love the inside/outside flow and being able to move between both spaces,� says Meredith.

The outdoor renovation was completed just in time to host son Wyatt’s high school graduation party. Most recently, they entertained Wyatt and his suitemates from Washington University in the space.

“It now functions as another room, and it’s one of my favorite spots, especially in the evening to watch baseball games or football games on the weekends. It’s really a great spot,� Derek says.