For 15 years, Danielle Kalish worked as a shoe designer at Caleres, an experience that she says sharpened her eye for style and taught her the intricacies of craft and materiality. A creative with a sharp mind for business, Danielle has always harbored a passion for the home, too, and a few years ago made the decision to leave her job in fashion and turn full time to interior design. In this episode of House of Lou, Veronica talks to Danielle about her design practice, Abode by Parklyn Interiors, as well as her charming home decor shop Abode. Between design clients and the retail shop, Danielle’s life is go-go-go, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. With a recent sourcing trip to the U.K., and the opening last month of Atelier, a furniture gallery space located in the DeMun neighborhood, Danielle has recently embarked on a new, exciting facet of the business, one that we’ll hear all about in my interview with her. Those of us who love interior design appreciate all that she brings to the local design scene, including a fresh look at following one’s dreams no matter where they may lead. Listen and follow House of Lou on YouTube, Spotify,  Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Saint Louis Art Museum. Don’t miss Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea, a monumental exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum. As the artist’s first American retrospective in more than 20 years, the exhibit features iconic pieces from Kiefer’s storied career alongside new, massive, site-specific installations. The exhibition is free and on display through January 25. Learn more.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Abode by Parklyn Interiors
• Caleres
• Link Auction Galleries
• Soul on Fire
• Chase Park Plaza Cinema 
• Face & Body
• KDR Designer Showrooms
• Romo x Temperley London
• Landmarks Association
• Limitless Planet
• Your Friend’s Apartment Vintage
• Cool Stuff Period
• Homeworthy
• Tribute Fashion Show
• Jewish Book Festival

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• In University City, a renovated 1920s house is designed with family and history in mind
• Clayton welcomes a new place to shop for home decor
• More episodes of House of Lou

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of House of Lou, Veronica welcomes Kate Pollmann and Jessica Conway, owners of Sugarcoat Home, to talk about shopping estates sales, finding treasures where (and when!) you least expect them, and how we can all create beautiful, unique spaces when we follow our heart’s desire. Kate and Jessica also share Sugarcoat’s origin story, insights about working together, and their hopes and dreams for the future of their business. Hint: There’s more travel ahead for them—and, possibly, the chance for us to join them on one of their adventures! These women are passionate about the home, antiques, and living life to the fullest. So, get ready for a lively conversation with two of St. Louis’ most exciting retail owners.

This episode is sponsored by NCJWSTL The Resale Shop and supported by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Don’t miss Couturier, October 22–25 at The Resale Shop. For over 60 years, this premier resale event has featured high-quality designer clothing and accessories for women, men, and children, plus unique home décor—all at a fraction of the cost. Proceeds support programs that improve the lives of women, children, and families.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sugarcoat Home 
• Ambacht
• Marci Marsh 
• Abode by Parklyn Interiors 
• Candice Wideman 
• Miriam Switching Post 
• St. Louis Magazine‘s Dream Kitchens
• Architect & Designer Awards
• ModernSTL: Ridgewood Home Tour
• Landmarks Association: Cathedral Basilica: An Illustrated Timeline
• Persimmon Festival & Tree Giveaway

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• The inventory at Sugarcoat Home in St. Louis is curated by two friends
• Where to shop for vintage, resale, and consignment fashion in St. Louis
• A guide to vintage shopping in St. Louis
• More episodes of House of Lou

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melinda Klinghammer is the owner of designer showroom Design & Detail, a company she helped found 20 years ago in St. Louis. On the eve of the showroom’s special 20th anniversary, Melinda joins host Veronica Theodoro to talk about her work life in the field of design. Melinda, whose background is in finance and accounting, has helped steer the company’s growth, including the opening of a second showroom location in Kansas City, a new line of natural stone veneers, and the expansion of the company’s headquarters in Maplewood. What’s it like to run a designer showroom? What are Melinda’s biggest accomplishments? Challenges? And what does the company’s next chapter hold? We’re excited to hear about all of this and more firsthand from the woman behind the showroom.

This episode is sponsored by Cardinals Nation. Looking to kick off game day in style? Join the ultimate pre-game party at Cardinals Nation before every home game! It’s a high-energy, DJ-hosted celebration packed with a full buffet and an all-inclusive bar. Grab tickets now.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Design & Detail 
• Forest ReLeaf
• Arbolope Studio
• Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park 
• Casadenza
• Shaw Nature Reserve
• Urban Buds
• The Studio at Bowood Farms 

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• Design & Detail is expanding, doubling its size to 20,000 square feet
• Enter work for St. Louis Magazine’s Architect & Designer Awards

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the tornado on May 16, 2025, Ali Rand was a self-described wife and stay-at-home mom of 5, living in the Central West End. Today, she’s the guiding force behind a grassroots volunteer movement born of devastation but motivated by a love for her adopted hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Mere days after the storm, Ali sprung into action, inspiring volunteers from across St. Louis to join her in helping the victims of an F3-category storm. The “Street Angels,” as Ali and her crew are known, have done all sorts of work, including sorting and stacking brick, boarding-up windows, tarping roofs, and fundraising—all the while sharing their experiences on social media. Almost 3 months after the tornado, the work continues. In this episode of House of Lou, host Veronica Theodoro interviews Ali to learn more about her important work and the woman behind the powerful social media messages.

Check Ali’s Instagram to follow along with all the work being done and how you can help.

This episode is sponsored by Kranzberg Art Foundation’s MATI. MATI returns September 12–14. Enjoy live music, art exhibits, food trucks, vendors, and good vibes, all in the streets of the Grand Center Arts District. Grab your passes.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Ali Rand (@alirand)
• Forsyth School 
• Villa Dushesne 
• JCR Design Group 
• Alex Thornhill 
• Chase Park Plaza Cinema
• Britt Design 
• World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries 
• Forest Park 
• Half & Half
• COCA
• Modern Masonry and Restoration (Wes Klaus) 
• PLNK Fitness 
• Washington University Occupational Therapy

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• More episodes of House of Lou
• Tornado updates and resources

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of House of Lou, Veronica digs into the topic of gardening for beginners. Joining her this month are Lee Cagle and Megan Clinton, two women with varied and extensive experience in the garden. Cagle is a manager of the Central West End Farm, and Clinton, a master gardener, is the owner of Garden Edit. Together, they talk us through the basics of home gardening, share their personal processes, and the inspiring stories about how they turned their passion into full-time endeavors. Find your garden style. Get the latest on containers and raised-beds. Discover why, more than anything else, patience, education, and a can-do spirit lead to success in the garden. Listen and follow House of Lou on YouTube, Spotify,  Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis ReStores and supported by STAGES St. Louis. Shop and donate new and used building materials, furniture, and home improvement supplies at Habitat ReStores while also supporting affordable housing right here in St. Louis.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Mentioned in this episode:

Central West End Farm 
Garden Edit 
Master Gardener Program 
St. Louis Community College, Horticulture Programs 
Flanagan Paint & Supply
Farrow & Ball
Design & Detail 
Elitis 
Zoffany 
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder 
Shaw Nature Reserve
Pinterest
Bowood Farms 
Soil Testing | MU Extension
Garden Heights Nursery 
Greenscape Gardens
Sue Leahy
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery 
Forrest Keeling Nursery
Urban Buds 
Seed St. Louis 
Frisella Nursery 

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• More episodes of House of Lou
• How to grow a beautiful garden in St. Louis
• A gardener’s guide to plants that can thrive in St. Louis
• For a Central West End resident, memories of home abound in the garden
• At the Central West End Farm, neighbors help neighbors one fresh veggie at a time
• Megan and Brian Clinton throw a party at their Wright City property

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration? Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of House of Lou, Veronica explores the topic of home renovations, a subject that has become even more relevant as St. Louisans grapple with repairs to their homes in the aftermath of the tornado on May 16. Guests Kristin Moomey, an architect with HKW Architects, and Maria Hogrefe, principal and co-founder of C&M Interiors, take us inside their personal renovation stories, offering their experiences as guidance on how to start a project, plan a budget, and manage the stress and overwhelm inherent to all renovations.

Their stories, in tandem with their professional expertise, give listeners the confidence they need to tackle repairs, both big and small. What important lessons can we learn from them? In hindsight, what might Moomey and Hogrefe have done differently, and how can we all benefit from the vision behind a historic house restoration in Benton Park (Moomey) and a fixer-upper family home project in South County (Hogrefe). Tune in to hear their inspiring stories. Listen and follow House of Lou on YouTube, Spotify,  Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Opera Theatre of St. Louis and supported by The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ annual festival season is back, with four new productions and hundreds of artists hand-picked from all over the country. Get tickets today.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration? Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

• Forsyth 
• Field House Museum 
• Patterns of Luxury: Islamic Textiles 11th – 17th Centuries 
• Smelling the Bouquet: Plants & Scents in the Garden
• Pickled Pink Pickleball Tournament 
• Thirdstoryies.com / Instagram: @thirdstoryies
• Pebble Garden 
• HKW Architects
• C&M Interiors / Instagram: @candminteriors

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• Tornado 2025 Home Resources Guide: Where to get things fixed
• More episodes of House of Lou

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of House of Lou, host Veronica Theodoro chats with interior designer Caryn Boultinghouse about her exciting win at the 2025 Architect & Designer Awards. Boultinghouse talks about being a first-time winner in the Best of Outdoor Living category, why outdoor spaces should mirror interior rooms, and how to make the most of a backyard, patio, or terrace. What are Veronica’s tips for making an impression on the judges’ panel? She reveals this and more in an exclusive episode that both designers and homeowners won’t want to miss. Listen and follow House of Lou on YouTube, Spotify,  Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Saint Louis Art Museum and supported by Kranzberg Art Foundation’s MATI. Rev up your engines for an exhibition where style meets speed with SLAM’s latest exhibition, Roaring: Art, Fashion, and the Automobile in France, 1918 to 1939. Get tickets.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration? Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

• Caryn Boultinghouse
• Contemporary Art Museum
• Butler’s Pantry 
• Brittany Bromley Interiors 
• Joy Christensen
• Thibaut 
• Schumacher
• Lane Furniture (Celerie Kemble)  

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• See the winning projects of the 2025 Architect and Designer Awards
• Tips for submitting projects to the Architect & Designer Awards competition 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second episode of a two-part series (Part 1: How to Work with an Interior Designer), Veronica goes deep with interior designers Karen Korn and April Jensen about their careers, working with clients, and designing rooms from start to finish. Get the inside story from the point of view of the pros, as Karen and April pull back the curtain on the client-designer relationship. This is an open, fun conversation with two of St. Louis’ most exciting designers working today. “I promise you won’t want to miss it,” exclaims Veronica. Listen and follow House of Lou on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. Seeds: Containers of a World to Come, on display February 21–July 28, brings together work by ten contemporary artists who explore issues of fragility, preservation, and possibility through the lens of the seed. From sculpture and film, to installation and painting, the exhibition reflects on our current environmental challenges and our connection to the natural world. Visit kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu for more information.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration? Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

• Karen Korn Interiors
• ADJ Interiors
• St. Louis Community College, Meramec
• Tidyology STL
• Peace of Mind Organizing 
• KDR Designer Showrooms
• Crescent Plumbing Supply 
• Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
• 100 Years of Art Decor: Deco Fortress Open House 
• Member Speaker Series, Shaw Nature Reserve: Wildlife in Focus

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• House of Lou: How to Work with a STL Designer
• Interior designer April Jensen’s Glendale farmhouse melds everything she loves
• A new studio space offers a local designer more room to grow her business
• A remodel by Karen Dubinsky Korn interprets midcentury modern design in a kitchen for today’s homeowner
• More episodes of House of Lou
• Ask Veronica: How to work with an interior designer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, host Veronica Theodoro interviews two local homeowners about what it’s really like to work with an interior designer. Forget about all the myths you’ve heard and join Pia Koster and Sydney Loughran Wolf as they welcome us inside their homes, revealing both the ups and downs of navigating a design project. Plus, find out which areas of the house our guests have their eyes set on next. This is a fun, lively, and informative episode you won’t want to miss.

Listen and follow House of Lou on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Cardinals Nation. Get game-day ready with the Cardinals Nation pre-game party! Before every home game, enjoy a DJ-hosted, pep-rally style party featuring a full buffet and an all-inclusive bar. It’s the best way to get excited before the first pitch! Get your tickets today.

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? 

We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration?

Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor?

Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

• Veronica’s secretary-turned-bar
• Design & Detail
• Schumacher
• Lauren Sweet-Schuler
• A Legacy of Design: Celebrating the Applied Arts at Meramac 
• Frisella Nursery: Meet the Designers Night
• St. Louis Magazine’s Architect & Designers Awards

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• More episodes of House of Lou

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interior designer Brett Clark of Design Collective STL and his client, Jennifer Duncan, share the details of a recent kitchen remodel set in a historic house designed by Gale Henderson. Through their shared experience, we get an inside look at what it's like to transform an outdated 90s-era kitchen into a functional, elegant space for both cooking and gathering.

Why is knowing the client so important to design success? How can we all manage unexpected renovation surprises?  And what's a clever workaround for a "Mom Command Center?" Our guests answer these questions and more, so if you love historic homes—or a kitchen remodel is in your future—this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Listen and follow House of Lou on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

Seeds: Containers of a World to Come, on display February 21–July 28, brings together work by ten contemporary artists who explore issues of fragility, preservation, and possibility through the lens of the seed. From sculpture and film, to installation and painting, the exhibition reflects on our current environmental challenges and our connection to the natural world. Visit kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu for more information.

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? 

We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at [email protected] or to [email protected]. We can't wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration?

Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor?

Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

• Design Collective STL
• Gale Henderson 
• Art in Bloom 
• Missouri Historical Society, Saturday Speakers Series
• Living in Ste. Genevieve House Tour 
• Veronica's Kitchen, view 1
• Veronica's Kitchen, view 2

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:

• More episodes of House of Lou
• St. Louis experts share tips on kitchen design and renovation
• This brand-new bath in a century-old house called for style and practicality
• 2025 Architect & Designer Awards finalists

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.