¦ The Design Source Ltd. ¦

The Benefits of Working with a Designer

We provide personal service by listening to you. Your interior design wants, needs, and desires become our sole focus and enable us to create custom design solutions for you and your family.
Our attention to detail, follow-through and accountability is unmatched.
We have a strong, 22-year history of performance and in-depth personal client stories and testimonials to share.
Our master design plans take all the guesswork out of all of the aspects of your project. This comprehensive approach to your interior design project enables you to see, touch and visualize your design and décor while giving detailed investments for all aspects of each element. The Design Source then presents to you --- your Personal Portfolio®.
Our resources are based on long-term, personal relationships with firms that have the same philosophies that The Design Source does … "Deliver the highest quality products and services for your home within your timeframe and budget, and exceed your expectations."
We create design solutions for your unusual spaces that enhance the function and beauty of your home and living environment.
Our long-term vendor relationships give you access to an incredible variety of décor including accessories, wall coverings, area rugs, flooring, furnishings, original artwork, and oil paintings.
We employ some of the most talented and skilled "color experts" in the area.
Our "team approach" is unique in that it provides you an in-depth full-service resource of renovation contractors and professionals at your fingertips.
We deliver the complete customer service that you want and need and the personalized attention that you deserve throughout the entire interior design process of your project whether it is a custom/design build, residential interior design, color consultation, or interior decorating project.
We know how to "make things happen" and also make your project "fun".

Click and visit our client stories:

Home Renovation & Design
This home was featured on the cover of St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles Magazine in the Fall 1996 issue.

Front Exterior Elevation

The Challenge: "My client wanted to facelift the front elevation of her home to create a more distinguished look. A "focal point" entry would showcase the entire home renovation project."

The Solution: "The "50's Shoebox" look of the brick ranch is "refreshed" by creating a new, asymmetrically located front door and large angled exterior pavilion. The new eggplant painted, custom designed front door, flanked by columns and shutters, magically disguise the original front door location while adding architectural savvy to the newly refined front elevation." As an added bonus: Notice the newly designed curving entry walkway of poured aggregate and textured porcelain tile covers the pavilion.

Master Bedroom

The Challenge: "My client envisioned a new master bedroom where she could read and relax, watch television or enjoy the heavily treed backyard by simply opening doors that did not yet exist."
		The Solution: "This was our only space addition in this whole house renovation project. We actually doubled the original size and square footage of the master bedroom, which enabled us to create a master suite --- a wonderful retreat featuring French doors that open onto an outdoor living space complete with a hot tub nestled among the trees. Our client can relax on her cherub fabric covered chaise lounge, surrounded by the soothing sage green and French cream color palette of this master suite." Custom feature: Check out the one-of-a-kind upholstered bed and "mini-me" puppy bed for the owner's favorite furry friend.

Living Room

Challenge: As part of an entire home renovation, my client wanted us to open up this small boxy living room area, creating a contemporized living room well suited for entertaining, relaxing or reading by the fire. An additional challenge: totally revamp this dated 50's style fireplace.
	Solution: We drywalled the original brick fireplace wall enabling us to create a clean look that included a porcelain tile surround. The addition of recessed lighting keeps this room open and airy. A neutral color palette and sectional seating establishes a much larger feel in the living room.

Interior Design

Kitchen
Winner "Best Kitchen" Honorable Mention,
2000 St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

The Challenge: "My clients wanted to re-create a kitchen in harmony with the nearly 100-year old English estate home that they share with their two young sons. Our new design would occupy the exact same square footage as the existing kitchen --- no additional space could be allocated. The existing kitchen, an 80's remodel, was short on functional space and lacked a personality that reflected the current homeowners.
The old kitchen also had no working triangle, which created an awkward flow and the upper cabinets were so tall (9' ceilings) that the top shelves were rendered frustrating and unusable by the petite homeowner."

The Solution: "Our goal was to design a charming European country kitchen that would incorporate abundant and highly customized storage accommodate our client's 'wish list' for organization and function. Our most important objective, however, was to create a work triangle that actually worked. We decided that handmade cabinetry featuring furniture embellishments and an unusual combination of wood tones would be our starting point. All cabinetry was designed by The Design Source Ltd. and then built by Taylor Made Designs. Cabinet interiors were highly customized to handle every storage need the client could dream. The kitchen was gutted, removing all wallboard, down to the original lathe and plaster structure of the walls. To give the small space a big feel, arched soffits visually lowered the 9' ceilings and created instant architecture."

"Private Retreat" Reading Room off Master Bedroom Area

The Challenge: "My clients wanted a "private retreat" that would become their own space, a place to escape the daily routine. A top priority with the owners was to maintain the "old world" charm of the home."

The Solution: "We were able to create a reading room off the master bedroom that is our client's favorite room in the home. The colors, fabrics, and furnishings capture the spirit of this lovely 1930's home in Clayton."

"In addition to flexibility, creativity, and in-depth design knowledge, Kris loves to also work with a client's existing furnishings or collections. Other designers I have worked with tend to trash everything and start over. Kris recognizes the importance of using existing classic or much loved items within her new designs. Kris and her entire staff of designers are both professionally and personally a joy to work with."

Tere & Gary (Clients)
The Design Source

Dining Room

The residents of this 1-year-old home in Chesterfield wanted to complete the décor of their brand new home. The dining room, an English manor motif, is part of this whole house decorating project. The clients' master design plan included original design of all top treatments, wall covering specifications, floral arrangements, hard window coverings, and space planning.

"Kris' design creativity shines through in every aspect of her work … She and her team of designers and contractors are professional in every aspect of the project … Kris leaves absolutely no room for surprises including her entire process of communication, follow-up, and timely delivery of all products and services --- just as she promised us."

Jim & Diane (Clients)
The Design Source

Custom Home Design

This handsome ranch French country home in Fenton is a custom design/build project built by Custom Langeneckert Homes and interior design by The Design Source Ltd … The owner had spent the prior year gathering photos, sketches, and ideas for building this French country style home on his personally selected one-acre homesite … He was later delightfully introduced to The Design Source through the custom home builder and very quickly all three teamed together on this project … As the client looks back he says, "Kris and my builder teamed well together and produced my custom home virtually in harmony with my original hopes and plans." The Design Source presented a master plan which included integrating some existing furniture with all-new fabrics, wall coverings, artwork, furniture, window treatments, flooring and accessories … "And the whole package was based on Kris' intuition and careful listening to my preferences --- it was totally on target," he said.
"Most of the original master plan is in my home today … Kris and her enthusiastic, talented team, as well as her numerous contractors and suppliers, made it all happen," he said.

Larry (Client)
The Design Source

Custom Furnishings

Here's a sampling from our extensive library of client's custom furnishings projects ...

Etagere -

Challenge - My client wanted us to design an étagère to showcase their expanding collection of unusual crystal and blown glass pieces.

Solution - Our étagère design, an unusual mix of white oak with granite and marble accents on the base and columns, richly frames our clients' collection in a clean, contemporary structure infused with soft lights hidden in columns and under the frosted glass base of the cabinet.

Design Considerations - Our goal was two-fold … First, to integrate the curio spatially and visually within its environment (a two-story great room with contemporary oak stairs spiraling to a balcony above) … And Second, to accomplish our goal we selected white oak, a strong building entity, and designed an over-scaled piece featuring a decorative arched open bonnet top that supports an elliptical glass shelf, uplit for dramatic display of a favorite object 'd art and visually attractive from the balcony.

Kris Keller's comments - "Our custom furniture design capability ensures us a winning advantage in fulfilling our client's dreams."

Custom Designed Upholstered Bed -

Challenge - The client wanted a master suite that has plenty of masculine appeal, but also one that a woman can love.

Solution - Our upholstered bed design, incorporates over scale clean lines and an urban contemporary look that is comfortable and livable for both the husband and the wife.

Design Considerations - Our custom-designed beds are all one-of-a-kind designs created to enhance the personality of each individual bedroom.

Kris Keller's comments - "An upholstered bed keeps a bedroom from feeling too "matchy" and lends an eclectic touch to a room normally heavy with case pieces. In addition, it is a great balancing piece for any bedroom as well as an immediate focal point."