The downtown loft reflects the owner’s passion for art and design | Home & Garden

Lacy had lived in another, smaller loft downtown and was considering moving to Houston before she found the place. When he decided to stay in St. Louis, he searched online for a new permanent home, but his search ended the moment he entered the loft.

“I didn’t even go to the door and have the application filled out,” he laughs. “When I saw it, I knew my name was written all over it. I never had enough space to display my art.”

The large living space allowed Lacy to create multiple seating areas for lounging and entertaining, and even having an actual dining room in addition to the kitchen island. This, he says, is a departure from many of the newer one-bedroom lofts, which tend to be much smaller.

“You could hardly get a couch and a chair and a couple of bar stools there,” he says of other rooms he’s seen. “I have a lot of space to display my furniture, a lot of space to move. I also like to entertain so everyone can sit and relax.”

Huge windows fill the opposite wall of the living room overlooking Washington Avenue, flooding the space with natural light. High beamed ceilings with exposed channels and polished concrete floors are hallmarks of loft living.

Lacy has filled the space with a mix of contemporary furniture and accessories purchased from a variety of popular retailers including Restoration Hardware, Arhaus, Wayfair, Etsy and Amazon.

“I like a modern look with an eclectic feel,” he says. “The couch is kind of traditional, but then I like to combine something odd with it – whatever reflects me. I just move her around until I like how she looks.”

Lacy, who describes herself as “obsessed with coffee table books,” has a massive collection displayed on almost every surface, mostly focusing on art and design themes.

A long wall stretching from the end of the living room across the hallway to the sleeping area is the perfect gallery for Lacy’s most popular framed prints, canvases and posters that he has collected over the years – mostly of black artists or representing black culture reflect. A favorite is an intricately framed black-and-white photograph by American photographer Gordon Parks of three women protesting against racial segregation.

Across the hall is Lacy’s collection of framed movie posters of some of his favorite films, as well as framed playbills from productions of Dreamgirls and The Color Purple in which he took part.

The bedroom suite is tucked away at the back of the loft, separate from the main living area, making it quiet and tranquil. With a walk-in closet and large bathroom, it offers a relaxing retreat. A tall glass case houses another of Lacy’s obsessions – eau de cologne – with numerous collectible bottles of his favorite fragrances carefully arranged on their shelves.

In addition to its convenient location, the building offers a small gym and two shared rooftop areas with grills and seating for city-style al fresco entertaining. Now that he’s fully settled, Lacy couldn’t be happier about the move and has enjoyed meeting some of his neighbors.

“I like the space and I was able to put together my own style and had enough space,” he says. “I’ve lived in a lot of places downtown, and this is where I finally feel comfortable.”

profession • Salon owner and stylist at Christopher Stevens the Salon

home • Banker’s Lofts, downtown St. Louis