Photos: Living in full color with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing moved into Kelselhorst house along the Forest Park Parkway in the Central West End last Fall. Their house serves as a living scrapbook of milestones in their lives. They embrace life and love to host home activations including glo-light activated grafitti wall in the bathroom and ongoing hippo hunt. The home was built in 1893 by the Kielselhorst family, the same family that owned Kieselhorst Piano Company in the late 19h and early 20th centuries.Â
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A friend they connected with on Facebook, shared a historic photograph of his great-great aunt alongside family members standing on the front porch — early residents of the Kieselhorst home. Nicole affectionately refers to the aunt as the home’s “spirit lady.â€
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole Ewing shows a chart of the previous owners of their home built in 1893 by the Kielselhorst family, the same family that owned Kieselhorst Piano Company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End home.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing pose for portrait in the living room on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in their Central West End home.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing pose for portrait in the living room on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in their Central West End home.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing pose for portrait in the living room on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in their Central West End home.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The home was built in 1893 by John Kieselhorst for $11,000 and remained in the family for much of its history, adding to its enduring legacy.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A Bromeliad in a vase sits in the entrance flower inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End. Gerad bought the flower as a present to his wife.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A decorative border frames the wooden floors in the entrance foyer inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Leftover flower decorations from their New Orleans wedding the wall above the fireplace in the entrance foyer of the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
“The goal is to bring energy into the home, not take it away,†Gerad says. He credits Nicole with thoughtfully blending meaningful heirlooms with whimsical modern touches.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A neon sign spelling Ted’s Place memorializes Nicole Ewing’s former dog in the living room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End. Nicole Ewing said her pet inspired her to meet new friends, including her husband, as well as to create the Benton Park dog park.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Velvet garlands created by Nicole Ewing drape the doorway of the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Gerad Ewing and his daughter made a Dog vs Cat chess set with the family’s 3D printer the sits in the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The first piece of art the couple purchased together adorns a wall in the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Vinyl records sit on top found-object resin sculpture by Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist Rosalie Smith in the living room of the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The first piece of art the couple purchased together adorns a wall in the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
One of 24 resin hippos that are part of the Hippo Hunts sits on the sofa in the living room of the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
In the Ewing home, chess comes with a creative twist. While the board, sourced from MoModerne and tied to the Chess Hall of Fame, grounds the game in tradition, Gerad and Kaylor broke in their 3D printer by designing custom pieces titled “Dogs vs. Cats.†As Gerad puts it, he lives in a world of design.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A photograph of Nicole Ewing and her stepdaughter Kaylor,9, adorns a chair in the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A small bird adds a pop of color and sense of wonder in a plant in the living room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A small face is glued inside a plant in the living to create a fun environment at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Natural light floods the living room inside the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The couple embraces the unusual. “Everything has a story in every room,†Nicole explains. “When we’re shopping, the weirder it is, the better.â€
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Modern plastic chairs add to the open air feeling of the dining room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The chandelier and decorative ceiling medallion in the dining room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
An oversized decorative fork adorns the table in the dining room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The dining room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad encourage guests to sign their floral wallpaper in the downstairs bathroom with a special marker that only a glow light will reveal.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad encourage guests to sign their floral wallpaper in the downstairs bathroom with a special marker that in a the dark only a glow light will reveal the hidden wall of graffiti message wall at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Gerad shares that one of the home’s greatest draws was its seamless blend of old and new — an architectural dialogue that continues to inspire how they live in the space.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing created a poster to hang in their kitchen appreciating the history of their home that was built in 1893 by the Kielselhorst family that owned the Kieselhorst Piano Company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that hangs in their kitchen on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End home.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Large stain glass windows tower above the stairs leading to the second floor at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A collection of family caricatures from various tripes and events adorn the upstairs hallway at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A wall-sized print from the Nicole and Gerad Ewing’s New Orleans wedding was recently installed on a wall in the primary bedroom.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A miniature resin hippo waits to be discovered inside a record player in the master bedroom at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The decorative detail of the fireplace screen and flooring the master bedroom at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Gerad Ewing's love for sneaker art is evident by his impressive sneaker collection in his upstairs closet.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Photos of family and friends adorn Nicole Ewing’s vanity in the auntie room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Gerad Ewing love for sneaker art is evident by his impressive sneaker collection in his upstairs closet at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Nicole and Gerad Ewing leave messages for one another in the master bathroom room at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
A pillow rests in the tub in the master bathroom at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Gerald Ewing hangs his art and creates projects in the basement at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
260325 LS EWING AT HOME 44.JPG
Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
The third floor doubles as a guest suite and play area.Â
At home with Nicole and Gerad Ewing in the Central West End
Toys and a desk belonging to their daughter are tidied in the corner of the third floor playroom at the home of Nicole and Gerad Ewing on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Central West End.
Laurie Skrivan | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
In the heart of St. Louis’ historic Central West End, stands the Kieselhorst House, a distinguished five-bedroom, five-bathroom residence built in 1893.
