The town of Ladue in St. Louis County is known as one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. Many of the homes are more than 10,000 square feet and sit on beautifully manicured properties. But one in particular stands out for its size and beauty. It’s 1705 North Woodlawn Avenue, not far from Old Warson County Club. To many, it’s known at the Furminator House because the couple that built the home, Angela and David Porter, were the inventors of the pet grooming device, The Furminator.
The Missouri couple that invented the Furminator pet grooming devices made a fortune off of their company twice. With those riches, they built a home that is the largest in St. Louis County. The “Furminator” Mansion comes in at nearly 28,000 square feet spread out on 7.5-acres. It was built in 2014, then listed for $15-million in October of 2022 and sold for $13-million to an undisclosed buyer in 2023, making it one of the highest amounts ever paid for a single family home in Missouri history.
This is more than just a house. It’s a combination of all the things you could ever want… all rolled into one mega mansion. The French-inspired home was designed by Dick Busch Architects and built by CIC Construction Group in 2014. It has game rooms, a conservatory, a theater, a pool house, and a luxury car showroom. And that’s in addition to all the normal things mansion this large has like 7 bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms.
When you build a home this extravagant, it has to have some outstanding signature elements. In this home, you have the massive stone fireplaces, sweeping staircases, vaulted ceilings, and an office with a rotating desk. And if you like to entertain guests, then you have enough room for all the wine you could ever accumulate.
One of the most striking features of his home is the luxury car showroom right in the middle of the house. It holds at least 9 cars, which you can see from some of the entertainment areas. When you add in the outdoor garages, there is room for 17 cars. There is even a car wash that comes with the home to make sure the cars are constantly clean.
The outdoor amenities are spread out across the massive property. There is a lake, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, tennis and basketball courts, and a paved path that winds all across the estate. The amazing thing about the property is it’s right in the middle of everything with two malls just a short drive away, golf courses nearby, yet you can spend all day on the property and never see another person.
Here are the specs on the Furminator House from realtor Jeff Lottman of Compass St. Louis:
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I thought the Dennis & Judy Jones House in Twin Springs Lane checked in at 34,450 sq ft Living Space...I grew up not far away...and there were some nice Estates around, but I think Horton Watkins did it best with 500 acres which now is a privare lane and most of the properrty is now Ladue Horton Watkins High School. The Furminator couple I believe got a divorce. Too much Fur and not enough "minator" ...the land sits on the old Rose Hill Estate of James H. Woods...27 acres. His brother, Woodson K. Woods lived on S Warson Rd 35 acres w 2 ponds and extensive gardens...The Grants Farm Big House is indeed impressive. I don't think anyone today would build a French Chateau style in the vein of the Biltmore Estate...once 180,000 acres with a 147,500 sq ft home that is now a beautiful tourist attraction...too nice to tear down, but TAXES, the bane on the ultra wealthy just could not support that kind of upkeep. The "Summer Homes" of Newport, R.I. are indeed worthy of glamor, but just a very few are still private resdences. Taxes, death, and TAXES...in that order are the great dig on the accumulated wealth that put everthing luxurious but scaled down to the times we live in.
According to official county records, the Jones Mansion comes in at 20,620. The 30,000 may come from out-buildings or other spaces not normally included (according to the assessor.) So I had to use numbers from the tax filings because different cities calculate home size differently. But after being at both homes, the Furminator seems much bigger. I did use the 30,172 when I did the story for FOX 2.
https://www.facebook.com/FOX2Now/videos/10154633037884228/