Photos: At Home in Fenton with Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank
The Fenton home of Robert 'Ferd' Frank and Sharon Frank features art and tiled flooring. It was featured on Zillow Gone Wild.
Ferd didn’t change the suburban character of the exterior, although he had considered painting the shutters in a rainbow of colors. The bland exterior doesn’t give a hint as to what’s inside this unusual home.
Sharon Frank says the artworks hanging on the wall change frequently, but the dining room table is a mainstay in their home. It belonged to Ferd’s grandparents, and Ferd has memories of celebrating holidays around the table all throughout his life.
A portrait Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank by Jeff Lockheed hangs on the wall of the home of Frank and his wife Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
The backyard garden and sitting areas act as an extension of the interior in color, pattern and art. Ferd is the garden planter and colorist; Sharon tucks her glass mushroom sculptures into the landscaping, and sculptures sometimes erupt, like this looming face by artist Jeff Lockheed.
A tiled fireplace sits in the living room at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
The backyard features a seating area and art at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
A team of friends and mosaic artists headed by Sharon Von Senden created the glass mosaic bathroom with undulating under-seascape of frisky fish, waving sea fronds and odd creatures.
A painting by John Mellencamp hangs on the wall of the dining room at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
A view of Ferd’s garage studio where all the messy art making takes place. It also showcases his painting chops for patterns and his spot-on color sense as seen on the cabinets on cabinets and walls.
The backyard garden and sitting areas act as an extension of the interior in color, pattern, and art. Ferd is the garden planter and colorist; Sharon tucks her glass mushroom sculptures into the landscaping, and sculptures sometimes erupt, like this looming face by artist Jeff Lockheed. 04 jpeg kitchen Ferd and friends laid the mosaic floors in the kitchen, dining room and bathroom first to begin to create the house he envisioned. The glossy atomic red walls and cabinets, bright modern and midcentury glass, asymmetric window surrounds and spirited art add to the high energy of this well-used kitchen.
A tiled flooring sits in a bathroom at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
Tiled art lines the wall of the bathroom at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
Art sits in the dining room of the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
An art studio sits off the living room at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
A vintage pool table anchors the game room, which leads into a sitting room for parties. The patterned commercial carpet adds to the kinetic energy in the room enlivened by art and rife with personal touches like the custom mosaic fireplace surround.
The sitting room, an extension of the kitchen, features a mosaic tile floor and swirled ceiling. Ferd’s parents bought the couch in 1960. A friend gave Ferd the zoomy midcentury tables. Three of Sharon’s glass mushroom sculptures sit on the coffee table.
Looking into the game room from the blue staircase, the Franks’ master of color and form shine, as do Ferd’s platinum and gold records on the wall to the left of the entryway from his time as bassist for John Cougar Mellencamp.
Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank, left, and Sharon Frank, right, are pictured in their home on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
A bedroom sits on the second floor at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
A bedroom sits on the second floor at the home of Robert ‘Ferd’ Frank and Sharon Frank on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fenton. Photo by Christine Tannous, ctannous@post-dispatch.com
Christine Tannous
Photographer
This spring the HGTV show "Zillow Gone Wild" came calling on Robert "Ferd" Frank and his wife, Sharon, at their 153-year old home in Fenton.
