The word “sophistication” doesn’t immediately come to mind when referring to San Antonio.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s quite a bit of elegance going around The Alamo City.  However, the words “culture”, “food”, “friendly”, and “Spurs madness” are more often used to describe the home of more than a million residents.

So, when face to face with complete elegance, charm, and sophistication, a local resident can easily feel overwhelmed.  Here’s where Leland Stone and The Roosevelt Library come in.

I had the pleasure of attending the local American Society of Interior Designers of San Antonio meeting this past month.  Jennifer Morgan, a local interior designer and vendor, so graciously invited me to the event.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I had been bogged down with photography work and didn’t do my homework before attending….bad me!  So before we go on, let me give you the brief history lesson I should have known before attending.

The Roosevelt Library was built in 1929 as one of the first public libraries in San Antonio.  At some point, the library was converted to a municipal building for the San Antonio Police and Fire Department.  Then in September of 2015, Leland Stone bought the property to renovate for his personal residence and base of his business, Stone Standard.

History lesson over, now on to the meeting.

Walking into the Roosevelt Library, I was immediately surprised and impressed!  I was greeted by a staff serving wine, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres. Not finger foods, HOR D’OEUVRES!  The design and decor held onto a Roosevelt vibe, but with high levels of sophistication surrounded throughout.

What impressed me even more was the presence Mr Stone had as he introduced himself and had small conversations throughout the building.  Walking around with a tailored suit, bow tie, premium shoes, and high end prescription glasses, I felt like I was on an episode of Project Runway and about to be judged by Tim Gunn himself.  (Full disclosure:  I’ve never seen a full episode of the show, but its what immediately came to mind).  If you don’t catch him at the library, you might see him being driven around San Antonio by his full time chauffeur.


Serving as his residence and base of business, the entire Roosevelt Library screams sophistication.  Stone says that he’s been repeatedly told by his vendors that his showroom is the best in the world.  Stone Standard provides high end residential hardware, but you won’t find anything from Home Depot here.  Everything is upscale and first-class.  Did I mention the work “sophistication” yet?

Catering to his own lifestyle, the building also has a men’s barber, shoe shiner, custom tailored suit shop, and a world star chef’s kitchen!  Great chefs from around the state visit him on a regular basis just to cook in that kitchen.

Not only does Leland Stone convey sophistication, he knows how to bring it to your project through his design.  At one of his consultations, he’ll get a feel for your vision and be able to recommend the perfect design elements to fit your needs.  

I’m happy that I was able to attend this event.  If you ever get a chance to visit Leland and the Roosevelt Library, please jump at it!  Until then, enjoy some of the photos I took at the event.