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Beth and Matt Sorrell took a big step when they decided to remake the Richmond Heights house Beth bought as a single woman in 1993.

“At first, I moved here to be close to my job. Then I got to know the area, and Matt (whom she married in 2000) and I both absolutely love living here. It’s a 10-minute walk to all the shops in Maplewood on Manchester,” Beth says. “We have great neighbors, and we don’t want to live anywhere else. In fact, a lot of our neighbors have remodeled their houses because they also want to stay in the area.”

The house had served them well, but a visit with Matt’s parents in 2024 sparked a conversation about aging in place. They both realized after the talk they would need major modifications if they were to remain in their 98-year-old home as they aged. They decided to go forward and make the changes now rather than wait. “Once we made the decision it all happened really quickly,” Beth says.

Together with contractor Sam Coffey of the Coffey Shop and architect Randall Comfort they planned an extensive addition, a remodel that will carry them into old age in comfort, safety and style.

“We both have a tendency to like things for a long time. We drive our cars until they fall apart. I’ve only had two full-time lab jobs since I graduated from college,” Beth says.

They wanted the primary bedroom, an accessible primary bath, and a laundry room all on one floor. Beth wanted more closet space. Coffey and Comfort proposed and elegant solution to build an addition to the second story onto the back of the house above the existing sunporch.

The extensive build-out of the 19-foot-by-20-foot primary bedroom addition required the Sorrells to leave their home for six months. They found a furnished place in South City that would accommodate Max, their dog, and Joey Ramone, their cat.

The project from the planning stages, to construction, to moving back into their renovated home took less than a year. “Randall came up with a beautiful design that includes a big bay window for my plants and lots of light throughout the room,” Beth says.

They transitioned from a small bath to a large full bath with a walk-in shower with no threshold entry, and a shower seat in place. Even the walk-in closet they added has windows, which Beth loves. The closet even accommodates their washer and dryer.

Moving back into the house went smoothly, too. “We no longer need to go up and down the basement stairs to do laundry,” Beth says. They still have steps to the second floor, but when the time comes they’ll install a chair lift in the wide stairwell.

Since they moved back into the house, they’ve been doing the fun stuff. Both Matt and Beth are big fans of buying local from the freshest locally grown foods, brews, and liquor as well as furnishings and art. They believe spending money in neighborhoods builds community.

“Matt and I are fortunate to know some great local artists including my friend Deanna Chafin. I met her when we both worked in health care, but she discovered she has this amazing artistic ability. She started painting. We ran into her at Art Outside in Maplewood and now we have her art hanging throughout our house,” Beth says. “We also have a paintings by Jeremy Rabus and a painting by Julie Malone hanging in our kitchen.”

Matt’s office in one of the small bedrooms in the original second story holds a drafting table where he creates watercolors and charcoal drawings for his own pleasure. His electric guitar and amp stand ready for him to play music. Vinyl records they both find at Planet Score Records in Maplewood also contribute to the sound track of home.

Beth shops locally for home goods as well, adding a signature rug to the primary bedroom from Lucky Bargains Rugs and Décor in Affton. “I love their place. I ordered a custom wool rug for our new bedroom and it really sets off the room.”

Matt’s allegiance to the local culinary scene includes two books. He wrote a well-loved book 10 years ago about shopping local for food and provisions with co-author Clara Moore. “Shop Like a Chef: A Food Lover’s Guide to 51���� Neighborhoods” is available on . In September, Reedy Press will launch his next book, “Matt’s STL Food Story,” a paean to the wealth of good food and drink throughout 51���� based on knowledge he’s gleaned from 25-plus years reporting on the hospitality industry here for local and national publications.

They’re both glad to be back at home in Richmond Heights. Beth loves the new suite, the closet and laundry, and the sunporch full of her plants. She’s glad to have her morning coffee on the front porch with Max again. Matt enjoys the new bedroom suite as well, and the large, well-planned primary bath. They’ll be able to stay in the house they love in safety and comfort for a good long time.