INSIDE EXQUISITE NEW JERSEY ESTATES:CIDER HILL IN UPPER SADDLE RIVER, TUSCAN VILLA IN SUMMIT,

CARRIAGE HOUSE IN MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MAHWAH,

PALADIN ESTATES IN CHESTER TOWNSHIP

ALSO: OUR DINNER GUEST is TOM SZAKY of TERRACYCLE,

CHALLENGING TERRAINS, GREEN DEMOLITIONS, ASPIRE’S DESIRES,

NJASID 2010 AWARD WINNERS, REPURPOSING EXPERT EASE

A S P I R E N J . C O M M A R C H 2 0 1 1

REAL PEOPLE | REAL DESIGN | REAL ESTATE

NORTH JERSEY DESIGN STUDIO | 973.882.3800 | CaliforniaClosets.com/north-jersey

Custom storage solutions for every area of your home. Call us today for a free design consultation.

BEDROOM GARAGE ENTRYWAY WALL BED KIDS MEDIA CENTER OFFICE STORAGE CRAFT PANTRY

©20

11 C

alifo

rnia

Clo

set C

ompa

ny, I

nc. A

ll ri

ghts

rese

rved

. Fra

nchi

ses

inde

pend

entl

y ow

ned

and

oper

ated

.

NJ Fairfield 7x10.indd 1 1/19/11 2:22 PM

INSPIRED LIVING

Morristown, NJ • 103 Ridgedale Avenue • 973-539-3339

◆Kitchen Interiors

THE HUDSON

Your home is a special place where

everything is inspired by your unique

taste and lifestyle. Look to Canterbury

Design’s nationally recognized award

winning designers to create kitchen

perfection reflecting your every desire.

View our website portfolio of creative

ideas and visit our showroom to realize

the variety of inspiring possibilities.

Or call us to schedule an appointment.

C A N T E R B U R Y D E S I G N . C O M

Ph

oto

by

Pete

r R

ymw

id

Hudson Full Ad (8.25x11.125):Layout 1 1/26/11 12:33 PM Page 1

6 CONTRIBUTORS

NEW JERSEY ESTATES aninsider’slookatsomeofNewJersey’smostmagnificentfor-saleproperties

40 COVERSTORY CIDERHILLINUPPERSADDLERIVER

36 CARRIAGEHOUSEINMORRISTOWNSHIP

44 MANORHOUSEINMAHWAH

48 PALADINESTATESINCHESTERTOWNSHIP

50 TUSCANVILLAINSUMMIT

FEATURES12 NJASID2010AWARDSgrandefinales

22 CHALLENGINGTERRAINS mountains,mazes&poolsOh my!

26 ANEWBREEDOFLANDSCAPERpathwaystoagreeneducation

DEPARTMENTS20 DINNERGUESTwastenot–wantyes

30 ASPIRE’SDESIRES slumberparty

34 EXPERTEASEpurposefulwaystorepurpose

55 PAYITFORWARDecologicalcoup

54 SOCIALSEENKulaforKarmaFundraiser

ASIDHolidayCelebration TalkoftheTownMcIntoshAudioEvent

72 ASPIRESIDECHATBraenStoneIndustries,Inc.

arocksolidfamilytradition

48

44

36

50

40

2 MARCH 2011

Unique pools and spas

that fit your Extraordinary

Home and Lifestyle

BUILDING, SERVICING AND MAINTAINING THE FINEST POOLS FOR OVER 50 YEARS

Div. of V. Lehmann Construction Co. Inc.NJ Home Improvement Contractor Reg. # 13VH02492300

201 . 327 . 0428644 Wyckoff Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430

w w w . l e h m a n n p o o l s . c o m

LMPS1.indd 1 8/26/10 12:40 PM

SERVING NY | NJ | PA | CT

560 Central AvenueNew Providence NJ 07974

908-665-7997 creativewallcoverings.com

Monday thru Friday 10 am - 5pm Evenings and Saturdays

by appointment

WE hANdlE every dETAIl

PrOvIDING OUr CLIeNTS WITH

exTraOrDINary DeSIGN

exCePTIONaL QUaLITy

OUTSTaNDING ServICe

Photograph by Wing Wong

SERVING NY | NJ | PA | CT

560 Central AvenueNew Providence NJ 07974

908-665-7997 creativewallcoverings.com

Monday thru Friday 10 am - 5pm Evenings and Saturdays

by appointment

WE hANdlE every dETAIl

PrOvIDING OUr CLIeNTS WITH

exTraOrDINary DeSIGN

exCePTIONaL QUaLITy

OUTSTaNDING ServICe

Photograph by Wing Wong

aspirenj.com

Follow Aspire on Facebook: visithttp://www.facebook.com/ASP1RE.NJ

Follow Aspire on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AspireMagazine

ASP1REmagazineispublishedfivetimesayearby:ASPIRE One Communications, LLC271Rte46W,BuildingG,Suite109Fairfield,NJ07004(973)575-0885

Allrightsreserved©2011.ReproductionofthearticlesorphotoscontainedhereinwithouttheexpresswrittenconsentofASPIREOneCommunications,LLCisstrictlyprohibited.Notresponsiblefortypographicalerrors.

Foradvertisingrates,deadlinesandinformationemail:adinfo@aspirenj.com

E-mailcommentsandsuggestionsto:comments@aspirenj.com

Tosubmitnewproductinformation,articlesorahomeforconsideratione-mail:submissions@aspirenj.com

ForreprintsorcopiesofASP1RE e-mail:reprints@aspirenj.com

COVERPHOTO:CiderHill,UpperSaddleRiver,NJPhotographybyTonyKhoury,TDKhometours

MARCH2011VOL.3NO.1

StevenMandelPublisher

AmySneiderEditor In Chief

MichelleVilottiCopy Editor

LauraSolesCreative Director

AngeleneCoronelGraphic Designer

CharlesCordingGraphic Designer

AlbertoCoronelWeb Master

JenniferEspositoAdvertising Sales

AnneMarieSotoisbothafreelancewriterandapublicrelations/marketingconsultant.HerclientsinthedesignfieldincludetheNewJerseyChapteroftheAmericanSocietyofInteriorDesigners.

AfterproducingtelevisioncommercialsforYoung&RubicamandastintasRevlon’sCreativeDirector,HenryKurylawasafoundingPrincipleofRenning,Kuryla,Lieberman,FlynnInc.(RKLF),whichintroducedClairolHerbalEssencetotheworld.HethenstartedArcFilmsInc.,whereheproduced,wroteanddirectedcommercialsanddocumentaries.Hehasalsowrittenreal-estateadvertorialsforThe New York Times.

EileenCurtisistheauthorofthenovelSisters and Strangers,publishedbyHarperCollins.Heragentisshoppingaroundhernewone,Summer Sisters.Hershortstoriesandarticleshaveappearedinawidevarietyofpublications,includingFirst for Women, New Jersey Monthly, Orange Magazine,andtheTimes Herald-Record.AformerresidentofMontclair,NJ,CurtisisanadjunctprofessorofEnglishatSullivanCountyCommunityCollegeinNewYork.

AliceGarbariniHurleyisafreelancewriterwhoseworkappearsregularlyinGood Housekeepingmagazine,whereshewasonstafffor10yearsasSeniorLifestyleWriter.ShehasalsowrittenforIn Style, Country Living, The New York Times, Vogue Knitting, iVillage.comandGreenwichandWestportmagazinesinConnecticut.ShelivesinMontclair,NJwithherfamily.

BarbaraGrefisaformernewspaperpublisherandanaward-winningjournalistwhomostrecentlyhaswontophonorsfromtheAssociatedPressforhermagazinework.ShelivesintheCatskillMountainsofNewYork,wheresheandherfamilymakegreenpoweratamicro-hydroelectricplant.

EvanPritchardistheauthorofmanybooksincludingtheever-popularNative New Yorkers,andNo Word For Time,andisanoccasionalguestontheHistoryChannel.HehaswrittenandcollaboratedonarticlesforSpirituality and Health, Hudson Valley Museum Guide Magazine, Millennium Magazine, New York Spirit, Native Peoples, Wake Robin(inaffiliationwithSmithsonianMagazine),Tone Magazine(SpiritualFrontiers),NEARA, ResonanceMagazine,andmanyothers.HehasalsocoachedyoungwritersatMarist,PaceandtheOmegaInstitute.

Margaret(Peggy)LaRoseisthrilledtobeacontributortoASP1REmagazine.Sheisafreelancewriter.PreviouslyshewasawriterforIt’s A Wonderful Townmagazine.Priortothatinwhatseemslikeanotherlifetime,shewasanattorneyworkingfortheNewYorkCityDepartmentofHousingPreservationandDevelopment.ShelivesinCornwall,NYwithherfamily.

JaredFlesherisanaward-winningfreelancejournalist,writingoftenaboutenergy,agricultureandtheenvironment.HisworkhasbeenpublishedbyThe New York Times Online, The Wall Street Journal Online, Grist, The Christian Science Monitor,and New Jersey Monthly.Hisfirstdocumentaryfilm,The Farmer and the Horse(www.thefarmerandthehorse.com)wasreleasedinAugust2010.

6 MARCH 2011

973-402-7400 • 212-254-1844 • www.PoloMAinc.com

Homeyour prized possession... reflects your personality,

love of family and achievement.We understand.

Photographer: Denise Keegan for Polo M.A.

Photographer: Denise Keegan for Polo M.A.

Photographer: Peter Paige

Photographer: Peter Paige

Photographer: Phillip Ennis

Photographer: Eugene Parciasepe Jr.

Golden Bridge

D'Amore_AspireMag_GB1_Corum_Half1 1 10/27/10 1:12:50 PM

160 Broad Street Summit NJ 07901 908.273.6936 • 800.222.3163 • www.VIRTUETILE.com

Virtue Tile is very versatile LUXURY STONE PORCELAIN CERAMIC GLASS METAL ECO-GREEN TILE

At Virtue Tile we have gathered the works of extraordinary craftspeople from all over the world and housed their creativity to satisfy the most select taste. From Traditional to Contemporary design solutions, our vast array of environmentally friendly and handcrafted ceramic tile, natural stone, glass and metal tiles will be sure to transform any space in your home. Our experienced personnel are ready to assist you in your choice to bring Elegance and Beauty into your home.

Eastern Design Group

Marileee Schempp/Design 1 Interiors

Richard Barr/Plumberry Design, Inc.

8 MARCH 2011

Our design team creates interiors that reflectelegance and comfort. We believe an interior

is more than a beautiful space, and seek toprovide each client with a home that becomestheir own personal refuge. By understanding

the family’s taste and lifestyle we developrooms filled with details that make a home

or small, whether traditional or modern,comfortable and livable, no matter how

grand country casual or formal.

Feature photo by Marisa Pelegrinni.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 9

1. JIMI HENDRIX SIGNED GUITAR 2. GRATEFUL DEAD SIGNED GUITAR 3. ROLLING STONES SIGNED GUITAR . 4. LYNYRD SKYNYRD SIGNED GUITAR 5. N.Y YANKEES 1978 WORLD SERIES TROPHY 6. BABE RUTH & LOU GEHRIG DUAL SIGNED BALL

7. N.Y YANKEE STADIUM INSURANCE POLICY (1927) 8. N.Y YANKEE PLAYER INSURANCE POLICY (1924) 9. N.Y YANKEE ACCIDENT INSURANCE POLICY (1923) 10. N.Y YANKEE WORLD SERIES RING (1977)

11. N.Y YANKEE WORLD SERIES CUFFLINGS (1998) 12. SID BERNSTEIN AUTOGRPAHED BEATLES PROMO POSTER (1965)13. HANK GREENBERG AUTOGRAPHED BAT 14. (1971)1600 BMW CONVERTIBLE 15. (1950) ORIGINAL PEDAL CAR

16. 16. ORIGINAL TRAVELING SIDE SHOW HAND PAINTED PROMO PANELS 17. ORIGINAL 1933 ANHEUSER-BUSCH BEER CASE

10 MARCH 2011

Sophisticated technology. One-touch simplicity.

319 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ 07401 201-236-1006 www.talkofthetownvideo.com

3-D HiDef Smart Home Computer Music Stealth AV

Given the multitude of today’s technologies, your electronics needs can’t be satisfied with product alone. Enjoying the full potential of today’s Digital Lifestyles requires a vast palette of talents. From Architecture and Design through Programming, Installation, Acoustics and System Optimization, your Audio/Video dealer needs expertise in diverse disciplines. And in northern New Jersey, affluent homeowners consistently turn to a single source: Talk of the Town. Our sumptuous facility features eight purpose-built showrooms outfitted with the most prestigious brands in audio, video and system control. More importantly, our team of experts

have engineered each environment to bring out the full capabilities of every product we display, coupled with intuitive ease of use.

Whether you’re contemplating a media room, dedicated home theater or audiophile sound room, you’ll see and hear State of the Art components performing at their best. Interested in Whole-House Automation or the latest in “Green” technology? From lighting and draperies to HVAC, security and sprinklers, Talk of the Town can place every system in your house under fingertip control.

Interested in enjoying the Digital Lifestyle? Visit Talk of the Town and see what you’ve been missing.

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winners12 MARCH 2011

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winners

Meryl Stern

SILVER AWARD

Residential Several Spaces / Under 5,000 sq. ft.

Theclientisasophisticatedworldtravelerandwantedtointegratehercollectionsfromvaryingcontinents.Theinteriorspaceforthefirstfloorprojectencompasses925 square feet of loft-like open spacewithvariedceilingheights.

It includes an entry, living room, dining room and library/music/game room. The client’s objectives were to create a dramatic multi-use space for dining and entertaining, and to provide an intimate area for watching television and movies. She wanted the ability to easily reconfigure the space for large or small gatherings and control the aesthetic environment with carefully edited art and furniture, lighting and color. Using mostly simple geometric forms of squares and circles, and a subtle palette of neutral tones, like oatmeal, and contrasting deep rich espresso browns mixed with a pop of color and the unexpected touch of glam – the space has a feeling of symmetry, balance, organization and clean lines. It is the forms and color that hold the entire design together, allowing pieces from different decades and provenances to dance under the same roof lyrically.

Sensory experiences prevail here. Antiqued wide plank ebony-stained wood floors and beams, rough brick walls glazed with antique finish, mohair covered upholstery and silky origami pleated drapery juxtapose with glamorous pale blue glass bead wall covering, a white plastic modern table based on Moorish design, glossy painted ceilings that reflect light, and carefully edited collections of finials, antique books, and boxes all set in a quiet gallery-like order that allows breathing room and calmness to permeate through the drama and richness of fabrics, grand scaled accessories, and architecture.

The library is also used as a music/game room, with an antique harp and piano anchoring the space.

Mid century buffets and chests share space with 19th century tables, 20th century accessories and 21st century modern art, while Europe meets Indonesia and Modern America.

The custom wool tufted rug was based on a modern version of a David Hicks design, and inspired by the Greek key handles on the pair of mahogany chests.

Lighting is varied and layered, using a combination of recessed halogens; chandeliers track pin point lighting, and candles, all adjustable depending on the mood.

www.merylsterninteriors.com

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 13

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winners

SILVER AWARD

Residential Bathroom

Theproject132sq.ft.involvedamansion,leftemptyformanyyearsandpurchasedbyaconstructioncompanyforrenovationandre-sale.Untouchedsincea1950’sadditionthemasterbathroomwasindireneedofanupdateforbuyerappeal.Althoughthebathwasn’tlarge,theownersrequestedadramatic‘spalike’environmenttoenhancethebedroomsuiteasanadditionalsellingfeatureofthehome.The space had a tub, a private toilet room, a small vanity with a sink and a large linen closet but a big drawback was the lack of a shower. During programming, I discovered a hall closet behind the bathroom tub that could be reversed into the bathroom and therefore creating a 4x4 luxury shower solving the problem. The new shower features a rain forest shower as well as a hand shower and bench seating. The sink plumbing was moved to the linen closet space as a vanity alcove for a beautiful double sink washstand. The view from the entry is now the arched mirrored double sink, which creates an illusion of depth in the room. Second, it provided an area along another wall for linen storage in a mirrored chest. The mirror above this chest concealed a television. Walls are a soft blue-green strié with randomly painted silver leaf raindrops suggesting that a warm summer shower had just occurred.

For an added amenity, radiant heated floors were installed under the marble floor as a secondary heating source and for an appealing comfort feature.

A freestanding, silver-leafed Waterworks soaking tub with chrome tub filler sits on the platform over a marble inlaid border.

www.interiordecisons.com

Karla Trincanello

14 MARCH 2011

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winnerswww.design1interiorsnj.com

BRONZE AWARD Residential Bathroom Aspartofatotalrenovationofa5686squarefootShortHillshome,Iwashiredtoworkcloselywiththearchitectonallphasesoftheproject.Myresponsibilitiesincludedthedesign,lighting,cabinetry,hardwareandallfinishes.Thehousewasacirca1970’scontemporary,inneedofmajorupdating.Theclientaskedmetomaintainacontemporaryfeelwithluxuriousamenities,andcolorsandmaterialsthatwere“innature.”

Themasterbathwasacriticallyimportantcomponent.The221squarefootspacewithacathedralceilingprovidedanopportunityforafunctionalanddramaticlayout,featuringalargemassagetubanddeckandseparatewaterclosetwithetchedglasspanels.Hisandhersvanities,adressingtable,tubface,doorsandtrimwereallconstructedincherry.Continuingthe‘natural’feel,Ichoselargeporcelaintileswitha‘burnishedcopper’finish.Asinglebrass‘medallion’wasusedasafocalaccentwhichemphasizedthesymmetryofthespace.

The‘stateoftheart’steamshoweristiledwithpolishedandetchedglasstiles.Theshowerflooristhemosaicversionoftheoutsidefloortile.Alightednichecontainsa‘fog-free’shavingmirror.

MarileeSchempp

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 15

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winners

Environmental attributes specified to complete this project include:

Greenguard and Green Seal Certified products for various wallcoverings, paints, textiles and laminates

Natural Fiber content in various textiles

Anti-microbial and humidity resistant ceiling tiles to aid the indoor air-quality of the space

Low or no VOC’s and Green Label Plus certifications for most finishes

Urea-Formaldehyde free materials in various ceiling laminate and solid surfacing finishes

Office partitions allowing for daylight penetration into the open office work area

Majority of lighting fixtures specified use compact fluorescent lamps and all fixtures are controlled by occupancy and/or light sensors

Inclusionofproductsthataremanufacturedanddistributedlocally(within500milesofproject)

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN RECOGNITION

TheEnvironmentalDesignRecognitionisawardedtoaspacethatprotectsoccupantsfromunhealthyenvironmentalcomponentsandhasalowimpactontheenvironment,whilebeingenergyefficientthroughenergyconservationandutilizingrenewableand/orsustainableresources.

Our client is fully committed to doing business the right way; this corporation is taking a number of steps to minimize the impact of its business activities on the environment. From their recycling, Green IT, and printing programs to their investments in wind power to their socially responsible investment funds, they are working to reduce greenhouse gas emission and helping ensure environmental sustainability both in the US and abroad. They are also members of a broad range of environmentally focused organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate leader Program, and committed to the disclosure of their domestic environmental footprint through the Carbon Disclosure Project.

www.santiagodesigngroup.com

Wendy Cruz-Gonzalez

Suzan Lucas Santiago

16 MARCH 2011

NJ • American Society of Interior Designers 2010 award winnersGOLD AWARD Residential Bathroom Aspartoftherenovationtoprovidealarger160SFmasterbathroomforthistraditionalhome,theclientwantedaspacethatembracedthebathingexperience,providinganenvironmenttounwindandrechargewithouttheday’sfamilyinterruptionsandaspacethatprovidedamplestorageforlessslightlybathproductsandtoiletries.

The cathedral space added drama while the addition of a more “human scale” wall paneling, painted pale gray, provides intimacy that linked the painted bench-made cabinets with Calcutta stone countertops. A protective decorative stone cap wraps the upper cabinet that rests on the countertop to provide a water barrier. A bathroom “breakfront” provides linen and bath toiletry storage and a space for easy television viewing from the tub. A towel warmer adds a touch of luxury and a heated floor system adds comfort to the pentagon shaped Calcutta stone flooring. Tile detail was kept simple and understated with an inset mosaic stone rug and decorative border so that no surface was overlooked. White café curtains with hand sewn pinch pleats, accent banding and hand-forged pewter hardware add softness to this space while also providing privacy. A Chippendale-like style foot detail, seedy glass panels and nickel polished faucets and bath appliances complete this pristine and charming environment. This space provided the calming environment for the ultimate bathing experience.

Meryl SternCastelTileDonaldKaufmanCollectionatEaglePaintErikaCompton/FauxPaintArtistforBrickWallJunior’sPaintingPETElectricPlainandFancyCustomCabinetrySPKrest/MillworkTonyLinardic/WallpaperContractorWildflower’s/FloralArrangements

Marilee SchemppBenjaminMoorePaintsCMIInteriors,Inc.HardwareDesigns,Inc.PhotographerPeterRymwidVirtueTile

Wendy Gonzalez & Suzan SantiagoArmstrongCeilingsBenjaminMoorePaintsFlexcoWallBaseFormicaSolidSurfaceInterfaceCarpetTileMaharamUpholsteryPratt&LambertPaintsShawCarpetVirtueTileWilsonartSolidSurfaceWolfGordonWallcoveringPhotographerArchanaBelur,AssocAIA,LEEDAP

Kingsley KnaussBolArchitectureLundy’sDraperyHardwareMaryCalaleWindowTreatmentsMediterraneanTileandMarbleR&GConstructionCabinetandMillworkTotoWaterworks

Karla TrincanelloPhotographerPeterRymwid

Foracompletelistof2010NJASIDAWARDWINNERS&IP’sgotowww.aspirenj.com

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

www.kbkinteriordesign.com

Kingsley Knauss

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 17

25 E. Main Street, Ramsey NJ • 201.785.1313National Kitchen & Bath Association MemberBuilders Association MemberLicense #13VH05031400

18 MARCH 2011

110A Valley Street, South Orange, NJ 07079 | 973-762-9500 | www.stclairkitchenandhome.com

Combining the best of the past with today’s

innovations, that’s the St. Clair difference.

Our designs feature a refined use of mate-

rials and sophisticated finishes that result

in a perfect fit for your life and style. When you

choose St. Clair Kitchen & Home you will be

assured the reward of an expertly planned and

beautifully appointed kitchen like no other.

Modern GlaMour

Diane Durocher InteriorsSophisticated • Elegant • Timeless

Diane Durocher, ASID, CID • Ramsey, New Jersey • 201-825-3832 • www.dianedurocherinteriors.com • dmd1211@aol.com

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 19

D I N N E R G U E S T

By Jared Flesher

TERRACYCLE/ter•ra/n.beingLatinforearth/cy•cle/n. meaningtoreuse.Thenamewascoinedwhenwewerejustafertilizercompany,turningorganicwastetowormpoop,butworksjustaswellnowthatweareanalternativefornon-recyclablewaste.www.terracycle.net

D I N N E R G U E S T

What do you do in your spare time?“I’m learning how to fly a glider plane. Hopefully I’ll get a plane once I get my license and can fly around here.”

Age: 28

Righty or Lefty? Righty

Cocktail of Choice? Vodka Tonic

Favorite Food?Uni (sea urchin sushi)

Favorite Dinner Music? Jazz

Preferred Dinner Companionship: “A group of really interesting people having really good conversation.”

If He Could Have Dinner With Anyone Living:Mick Jagger

CEO Tom Szaky’s office, the tables are made of recycled doors, the walls are built of empty soda bottles, and an arsenal of Nerf weapons is kept close at hand. Shooting wars break out from time to

time between the boss and a militia of fresh-faced TerraCyclers.Szaky calls himself an “eco-capitalist.” He wants TerraCycle — the company he started out of a

Princeton University dorm room in 2002 — to do at least three things: make a lot of money, do something good for the Earth, and have fun.

“What type of company are we? We’re a new-age waste management company,” he says. But figuring out exactly what that means has required some trial and error.

TerraCycle’s original business model was based on worm poop. Szaky dropped out of Princeton on the calculation that there was money to be made from feeding food waste to worms, bottling their excrement in empty soda bottles, and then selling it as plant fertilizer. The idea was novel — TerraCycle’s entire product was made from and packaged in garbage — and it earned the company an avalanche of media attention. Inc. Magazine named TerraCycle “The Coolest Little Start-Up in America” and Szaky “The #1 CEO Under 30.”

All this good press, however, didn’t translate into profitability. TerraCycle needed to expand, and Szaky soon realized his fledgling company could collect a lot more than food scraps and empty soda bottles. He moved TerraCycle to an abandoned factory in Trenton (the rent was cheap) and started collecting non-recyclable garbage — including empty juice pouches, chip bags, and yogurt cups—garbage, with the brand names and logos of giant food companies plastered all over it.

What Szaky discovered was the earnings potential of “sponsored waste.” Companies such as Kraft Foods agreed to pay TerraCycle to organize brand-focused recycling programs. School children started earning their school two cents for every Capri Sun juice pouch they diverted from the garbage and mailed to TerraCycle. TerraCycle then transformed the juice pouches into consumer products, such as Capri Sun pencil cases and lunch bags, and started selling them at big box retailers like Target and Walmart.

“The environment wins,” says Szaky, “because millions of pieces of unrecyclable garbage are now being diverted from landfills.” This year Terracycle will collect 1.5 percent of all American juice pouches. Their goal next year is 3 percent, and that is just the beginning, says the ambitious 28-year-old CEO.

“TerraCycle’s singular purpose is to, at the end, eliminate the idea of waste,” remarked Szaky. He’s thinking big — he wants “terracycle” to become its own verb, just like “google.” And he wouldn’t mind making billions of dollars in the process.

TERRACYCLE REFOCUSESFar from the streets of Trenton, TerraCycle now collects 32 different waste streams in 11 countries. And those numbers continue to increase every quarter.

The latest evolution in TerraCycle’s business model is that it no longer actually makes anything to sell. Rather, it manages recycling programs, licenses the TerraCycle brand to manufacturing companies, and lets them do the work of transforming the garbage into consumer goods — all in exchange for a share of the profits. Szaky’s new office sits where the worm poop used to be bottled.

“That was a big lesson: Focus on what you do uniquely well, and have everything else partnered or licensed or outsourced or somehow not your problem,” commented Szaky.

TerraCycle’s shift away from manufacturing worked wonders for the bottom line. After years of not making money, the company turned profitable a year - and - a - half ago.

Szaky’s well aware of some criticisms of TerraCycle. Friends sometimes question him for doing things that seem more about “capitalism” and less about “eco,” such as encouraging kids to collect Oreo wrappers at school, then turning the wrappers into kites for kids thus promoting the purchase of even more Oreo cookies. Szaky’s the first to admit that marketing for food companies is an important part of his business.

“Does TerraCycle promote the companies that it partners with? One hundred percent,” he says. “They look for our system to bring them sales lifts, because people like their products more.”

But Szaky’s unapologetic for collecting branded garbage — therefore keeping it out of a landfill — and stamping it with the TerraCycle label.

“The concept of recycling doesn’t comment on the product,” Szaky says. “You could put a recycling logo on a nuclear warhead as long as it’s recyclable. The logo just says this material that this product is made from is recyclable. That’s sort of what we do for anything non-recyclable. When Oreo puts a TerraCycle logo on their package, we’re not commenting on whether we think Oreo is a good or bad product.”

Szaky lays the responsibility for what Americans consume squarely at the feet of the American consumer.

“People complain about all these issues with consumer products,” he says. “I don’t think people understand that the most powerful vote they cast everyday is what they buy. If you’re going to vote for a Big Mac, then America will serve more Big Macs. What the consumer needs to understand is that their vote is very, very important and they shouldn’t make it in a passive way. Or, f#*@ it, if they make it in a passive way, they shouldn’t complain about it.”

The responsibility Szaky has appointed himself and his company is single-minded, though still wildly complex. “What I’ve seen many environmental companies do is take on too many battles at once,” he says. “I think for a company to be successful, it has to focus on a specific battle. Ours is garbage.”

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 21

C H A L L E N G I N G T E R R A I N S

Keith Buesing, Coral Acres Landscape Design, Gardiner, NYYou might find it tough to keep shrubs shapely—but for Buesing, trimming topiaries is a passion. The Hudson Valley native is known for his green whimsy. “The nice thing about this art form is that it’s constantly changing and growing,” he says. He uses smaller evergreen plants for appendages and bigger ones for the body. His favorite picks: boxwood, Taxus, arborvitae and juniper. And he almost always trims them by hand. “Sheers are better for articulate work like this,” he notes. His parents started the Coral Acres Nursery in New City in the 1950s, and his first inspiration was coaxing a rooster shape from a hemlock tree. You may have caught his green car at the car wash in Maybrook, NY, the lizard in front of The Bakery in New Paltz or the whale’s tail that was on the corner of Routes 299 and 44/55. Now that’s what we call cutting-edge art. (845) 255-6634

Keith BuesingTopiary Artist

Meet the Wizards Behind the Challenging Terrains

72 man hours: Time to map out maze after corn is planted Hundreds and hundreds: Miles of old stone walls in Sullivan County 54: Weeks it took to build a pool and patio suspended 30 ft in the air 4 feet: Height of topiary snail in New Paltz About 50 years: Age of locust tree roots to landscape around

By Alice Garbarini Hurley

Lehmann PoolsDigging Deep

Vic Lehmann, Lehmann Pools & Spas, Mahwah, NJThis family business was started in 1918 by Lehmann’s grandfather, a general contractor. They did their first pool in 1955 and that winter, Lehmann’s dad went to a swimming pool convention in New York City, which would prove to be pivotal. “He got expert advice and by the early sixties, all we did was pools,” says the third Lehmann, who runs the company today. By now, the company has put pools in the trickiest terrains, including a 25-foot-deep peat bog on a property adjoining the Celery Farm in Allendale, a farm from the 1800s preserved as a freshwater wetland. “It was very difficult,” says Lehmann. “Our truck sank the first day. We had to bring in a big crane to pull it out, and then put down timber mats, to disperse the weight of the vehicles.” They also built a vanishing-edge pool at Hawks Nest in Mahwah, a private residence and horse farm—where the backyard had a 45-degree slope. Mission accomplished.(201) 327-0428 www.lehmannpools.com

22 MARCH 2011

Bagin Brothers, B&B Pool and Spa Center, Chestnut Ridge, NY This company is run by the three Bagin brothers—Bruce, Craig and Drew. And Craig is proud to say they had one of the first in-ground pools ever installed in Old Tappan, NJ—in 1957 by their Dad, a mason contractor. Now fast forward. B&B’s portfolio includes other amazing firsts, such as a pool 30 feet above ground (with an automatic safety cover) in Demarest, NJ that had a dramatic slope; a condo pool engineered precisely because of tidal water problems; and tricky construction in winding Nyack, NY, which overlooks the Tappan Zee Bridge and Hudson River. “It was determined that one pool in Nyack would have slid down the mountain, so we designed a concrete structure to hold it in place,” says Bagin. “All of these hilltop sites require a lot of engineering and soil testing. You can’t take shortcuts. I look at these projects as a personal challenge." And that pool perched high in the air in Demarest was not just a blue-ribbon win for the customer. It also earned B&B an award from the New Jersey Concrete Association for the best use of concrete that year. (888) 476-2829 www.bbpoolandspa.com

Davis Family, Stony Hill Farm Market, Chester, NJLast year, the Davis Family’s beloved corn maze was a Jersey Fresh attraction for the 10th running year. “We’re part of a company called Maize Quest. So an artist designs what we want—we try to go with what’s going on in the country—and then we plow the field and plant the corn,” says Brandt Davis, who works the farm with his parents and siblings. In 2008, the maze design was VOTE 08. “A corn maze is agricultural entertainment,” he says. “It helps keep small family farms in business.” But starting in June has its challenges: After planting, it takes 72 man hours to map the mazes out, and the work must go on even if it’s drizzling or baking hot. “It’s something we have to do,” Davis says. “It’s got to be done.” The farm also has rope, tile and kid-friendly mazes. (908) 879-2696 www.stonyhillgardens.com

B&B Pool and Spa Center39 Years in the Water

Davis FamilyAmazing Mazes

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 23

Beth Pellegrini, Cording Landscape Design, Towaco, NJAward-winning designer Pellegrini has met with every landscaping thorn, from big locust tree roots she had to plant around for her space at a fundraising showhouse last year to the all-seasons flowering garden she orchestrated at a home on Upper Mountain Avenue in Montclair. “Talk about challenging terrain,” she says. “We had to build a ramp to get everything up the hill. But mountains are much more interesting than flat land. Any time you’re working on a slope, it offers a lot of opportunities.” She added a skyline patio overlooking New York City at the very top, replacing an old horseshoe pit, and decided to tune up the color for all seasons, with Japanese maples, red winter berries, purple spring bulbs, summer hydrangeas and Russian sage. “It’s like a carpet of purple on the slope,” she says. She once did a series of waterfalls at another hilly Montclair address. (973) 263-5003 www.cordinglandscape.com

Bob Drucker, All Island Group, Farmingdale, NYBob Drucker gave his word, so he can’t reveal which celebrity enlisted him to do her New York City pool. Suffice it to say that you would be impressed. He and his team are city pros, used to working in brownstones with booms and cranes, due to limited access for machinery. Now they’re adding an indoor pool and spa at a home near Central Park. “I invented a system of water hydraulics that allows a floor to move to different levels. It can be at the same level as the rest of the patio, or the platform can be lowered to become a seating area or sun deck. Or it can be a lap pool. Within one minute, it goes from a patio to a full pool,” says Drucker. “We do unusual high-end projects. Even if we have to do it by hand, or up on a skyscraper, we never say no.” (631) 753-0004 www.all-island.com

Cording Landscape DesignUpper Echelon

All Island GroupCityscape Master

Photography by Alan and Linda Detrick ©

24 MARCH 2011

Perennial GardensUpstate Farm Country

Borst Landscape & DesignBackyard Magician

C H A L L E N G I N G T E R R A I N S

Gay Donofrio, Perennial Gardens, Bethel, NY Most of Donofrio’s work is at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County, a big second-home community for city dwellers. “People have taken note of the beautiful geography,” she says. “It’s prettier than the Hamptons.” She works within miles of miles of sturdy stone walls—originally built to mark farm boundaries—and plants hillsides with big sweeps of ornamental grasses. And when clients spruce up abandoned dairy farms, they ask her to spruce up the land. “We’ve got every terrain challenge you can imagine up here,” she says, noting that rocky soil often has to be excavated to make room for a rich organic substitute. Donofrio even transformed her own farmstead, from 1885, adding a couple of small ponds to attract ducks, geese and barn swallows. No stone left unturned in her quest for beauty. (845) 583-5760 www.perennialgardenslandscape.com

Borst Landscape & Design, Allendale, NJ Tuttle tells the story of a client who grew up in Ridgewood, NJ and loved its charm. He and his wife, after much searching, found the perfect location and style of home but with a very small, extremely sloping backyard. The previous owner had made a significant portion of the yard unusable. The couple absolutely wanted a private yard big enough for a freeform pool with retractable cover, outdoor kitchen and space for entertaining. After creative design work, Borst Landscape overcame the challenging topography with a series of terraces, creating a dream backyard that exceeded the family’s expectations. (201) 785-9400 www.borstlandscape.com

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 25

By Barbara Gref

Second Career: A New Breed of Landscaper

In North America, there are more than 70 plant species that are categorized as invasive. Purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed, garlic mustard and Rosa multiform.

W A L K I N G P A T H S

Charles Birnbaum Cultural Landscape Foundation, Washington, D.C.Birnbaum is president and founder of the CLF, a not-for-profit that honors cultural landscapes, which provide a sense of place and regional identity; map our relationship with the land over time; and are part of our national heritage. “My message in general is to always work with the land—the design grows out of the nature of a place,” he says, whether woodlands or steep terrain. Cultural landscapes range from thousands of rural acres to historic homesteads and can be grand estates, farmland, public gardens and parks, scenic highways, even cemeteries. CLF is co-sponsoring the Every Tree Tells a Story Exhibition of photos, which opened in Newark (and celebrated the 4,000 Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees at Essex County’s Branch Brook Park) and will travel to the Philadelphia Flower Show in March. (202) 483-0553 www.tclf.org

Charles BirnbaumNatural Resources

PhotographbyCharlesBirnbaum

Spend an afternoon with Deb Adamsons and you’ll never look at the outdoors in quite the same way. No vine will seem the same. No cheery red berry. No wild rose. To say that you will become suspicious is an overstatement. Let’s just say you’ll become aware that Mother Nature is not always what she appears to be.

When she earns her certificate from the New York Botanical Garden, Deb will be specializing in plants that are unwelcome in most settings. These invasive species can be defined as species that cause harm to the environment by loss of biodiversity, to human health or to the economy.

While we call such plants “invasive,” they are really part of a long and storied history of human inventiveness gone awry. Adamson explains: “It isn’t that these plants are bad. It’s not their fault.”

Some of these foreign plants began their stay here with the greatest of innocence. The invasive Japanese stilt grass, for instance, was introduced in the U.S. in 1919 when it was used as packaging material for porcelain shipped to the States. Bittersweet, which leads Adamsons’ invasive plant hit parade, was imported from Asia as far back as 1860 as that lovely crimson berry found often in our Christmas wreaths, it looks pretty but wreaks havoc on its horticultural surroundings. In almost all these instances of plants gone wild, it’s a case of good intentions with bad results.

Even as she takes this new path in her life, Adamsons is aware of the controversy simmering below the surface. Certainly, she says there are those who feel these plants are just following their biological calling and that nature is “taking its course.” And yes, she has seen new patches of sunlight opened onto a landscape or new views opened to human enjoyment because trees have been downed by invading vines or killed off by an unyielding foreign newcomer. “Sometimes it’s a good thing,” she admits.

But too much of this is too fast, too furious and too suddenly damaging to be taken for granted.

Ultimately, Adamsons says, we can all take one step at a time when it comes to restoring, preserving and learning to appreciate the art of nature, as nature intended. For Adamsons, the best clients are those who want to learn about which plants to keep, which to get rid of and about the best ways of maintaining the natural beauty of the land.

“It’s the whole idea of stewardship,” she says. “It’s thinking about the next generation.”

One of the newsiest of negative impacts has been seen in the western wildfires; these are fueled in many cases by brush that is non-native and has reproduced beyond human control. Economists estimate that the ecological damage caused by invasive species and the resulting erosion of property values adds up to a loss of $138 Billion annually in the United States.

Adamsons says some scientists’ think the proliferation of these plants is an effect of global warming, others say it has to do with our loss of connection to the natural world: (They) think the American public just doesn’t have the same kind of intimacy we once had with our landscapes. She goes on to say, “There in it lies the cruel irony; conversely a lot of invasive species are carried into new habitats on the soles of our hiking boots,” Adamsons explains. Some trail managers ask hikers to wash their boots before setting foot on new terrain. In an even more direct response, certain states have developed Do Not Plant lists and those who break from the list are actually breaking the law.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 27

www.talkofthetownvideo.com

www.duxiana.com

Slumber

healthy

comfort

Quiet

Exer-Rest is listed with the FDA for home use to increase local circulation, relieve aches and pains, reduce morning stiffness and provide muscle relaxation. Designed for people of all physical capabilities and ideal for those who have difficulty exercising. Backed by over 30 scientific studies supporting its effectiveness and safety. For more information, contact NIMS at 305-575-4200. www.nims-inc.com

Vi-SpringIn endless ways, life depends on how well you sleep, and how your bed makes you feel. A Vi-Spring bed is entirely handcrafted from luxurious certified natural materials, without chemicals, polyesters or foam that can be harmful to you. A Vi-Spring is designed to be perfectly supportive, but yet sumptuously comfortable. A Vi-Spring is designed to breath and control body temperature, so you are balanced and comfortable in all ways, all night. www.vispring.com 877-484-7774 Also available at ABC Carpet & Home www.abchome.com

California ClosetsYou can transform any space into a guest room or simply maximize space in a bedroom with a stylish, sturdy and comfortable wall bed from California Closets. Our wall beds are designed to integrate into our systems, hiding a comfortable bed behind a face and finish that fits your style. For more information on California Closet’s wall beds, go to www.CaliforniaClosets.com/northjersey 973-882-3800.

Hästens The Hästens Luxuria represents an entirely new bed design for the company. The basis of this bed is Hästens’ patented spring system, which is then padded by layers of horsehair and other carefully selected natural fibers to give the Luxuria greater softness. All beds carry a 25-year guarantee; and all are available at Hästens stores and authorized dealers nationwide. Store locations and additional information can be found at www.hastens.com.

A S P I R E S D E S I R E S

30 MARCH 2011

A S P I R E S D E S I R E S

relaxingKeetsa Offers premium sleep products using eco-friendly materials that are durable,affordable and comfortable. You can experience Keetsa at their beautiful showroom at 69 Mercer St in SOHO, or learn more about them at Keetsa.com. See what other consumers are saying about them at Yelp.com. You don’t have to spend a lot of green to go green. www.Keetsa.com

OrganicPedic by OMI OMI is the Standard for Certified Purity. The 81 mattress can be reconfigured in 81 different ways to create a custom-tailored fit. Made from 100% natural latex (no synthetic blends), certified organic cotton and Eco-wool, it can be customized as a consumers body and sleep needs change. OMI mattresses are GREENGUARD certified and EPAs LEED indoor air-quality program. OMI factory is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. www.omimattress.com. Also available at ABC Carpet & Home www.abchome.com

Floating BedScientifically designed, the Floating Bed provides gentle “floating motion” for better sleep, or relaxing with friends. For your bedroom, living room (as a sofa/guest bed), deck or yard (more living space, new bedroom). $3,995 w/Memory Foam. “Like being rocked to sleep in the arms of God” – A.L., hotel guest. www.floatingbed.com 888-528-6031

luxuryDuxiana In addition to the DUX Bed, Duxiana specializes in fine European bed linen and the finest quality down with a variety of vendors ranging from contemporary to traditional. Our staff provides expertise in designing, coordinating and customizing any of your bedding needs. Sold exclusively at DUXIANA® store locations worldwide. www.duxiana.com In New Jersey the store locations are Ridgewood 201-670-4488, Summit 980-522-8200, Red Bank 732-450-9011

coz y

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 31

2011REAL PEOPLE | REAL DESIGN | REAL ESTATE

www.AspireNJ.com

MAYOUR COMMUNITY

REAL ESTATEInsideExquisiteNJEstates

Designers Working AbroadConnectingCommunities

Building Homes For HeroesCommunitySupportforSeverelyWounded&DisabledVeterans

Guest ListRealtor/MysteryWriterJessicaDeeRohm

Pay It ForwardZoe’sCupcakeCafé

ASPIRE’s DesiresPergolas/Arbors/Gazebos

JULY OCTOBER DECEMBERCUSTOMIZATION

REAL ESTATEInsideExquisiteNJEstates

Closets/Athletes/Collections/GearKitchens/Cabinets/Spices/PansHowitallFits

Gates & PillarsEntryways

Design Sense PersonalizingaSummerRental

Guest List33rpmDevotee

Expert EaseSoundproofingRooms

THE ARTS

REAL ESTATEInsideExquisiteNJEstates

Outdoor SculptureTheLawnisYourCanvas

Guest List EventPlannerExtraordinaireCraigNeier

Mayo Center of the Performing ArtsCivicPride&ElbowGrease

Expert EaseAuthenticatingArt&Antiques

Travel

FAMILY

REAL ESTATEInsideExquisiteNJEstates

Heirs to the Estate

Ascent of a WomanHistoryinOwnership

Market MakersInheritanceLaw

Pay It ForwardHavingtheConversationwithYourChildren

Expert EaseHomeTheatresSharingtheExperience

and more

32 MARCH 2011

260 West Crescent Ave., Suite 1, Allendale, NJ • 201-785-9400www.borstlandscape.com

Borst makesdreams

come true.

®

Follow us

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 33

Diane Lederman, the owner of Decorator Depot has been working as a set decorator for 18 years. She decided that she wanted to save the set pieces that were generally discarded once a movie was completed. So three years ago she started her company Decorator Depot. Now she collects materials from estate sales, auctions and garage sales as well as movie sets. Decorator Depot specializes in renting and selling these items for production and staging needs. The goal is to provide personalized service for whatever their clients might need. Whether you are looking for a unique or hard to find piece to be used for still photography, furniture for film or television, or to stage your home to facilitate the sale of your home, this is the company that can help you. www.thedecoratordepot.com (914) 771-7720

Marci Kessler recycles clothing through her company, DoubleTake, a consignment boutique. However, this is no ordinary boutique. DoubleTake gives women who have designer clothing that is too valuable to throw or give away the opportunity to have these items sold on consignment to women who appreciate them. With four stores and over 20,000 items the company provides a large selection of previously owned apparel as well as footwear and accessories at savings well below wholesale. Such a large selection provides the quality and fashion-conscious customer the opportunity to have a designer wardrobe at a fraction of the cost. DoubleTake

has an excellent reputation; it has been featured on both the Martha Stewart show as well as the Nate Berkus show. www.edoubletake.com Short Hills: (973) 564-6464, Red Bank: (866) 678-6464, Englewood: (201) 569-1112, Ridgewood: (201) 445-2525

By Margaret LaRose

We asked 4 recycling experts: “How can one re purpose materials in a meaningful and creative way?”

E X P E R T E A S E

34 MARCH 2011

E X P E R T E A S E

In terms of recycling, Chakaia Booker takes it to an entirely different level. Ms. Booker is one of America’s foremost contemporary sculptors. She primarily uses recycled rubber tires to create her powerful abstract sculptures. In a 2003 interview with the author Jan Garden Castro for Sculpture magazine, she stated, “I’m excited to be using a material that has been a foundation for this country and the world. I’ve used tires to translate ideas of universal importance into visual works. Now viewers can appreciate the potential of tires in new and different ways.” Her sculptures are so much more than her use of the tires. Manipulating this material she often invokes imagery of the feminine, as well as the physical and emotional struggle in race, class and gender. www.chakaiabooker.com

Photos: © Chakaia Booker courtesy Marlborough Gallery, New York

Charles DiBella, the founder of “recycles.org” believes you bring people together so they can share resources. The organization, which was started in 1994, is a nonprofit network that connects people who have computers they wish to donate with nonprofit organizations that need that equipment. As Mr. DiBella states on their website “This nonprofit network is focused on the productive transfer and reuse of office and school supplies. We make it easy to keep good, used technology out of the waste stream while putting it back into service where it can help most. Posting used equipment through our exchange network for direct donation to participating non-profit organizations is a quick, simple and confidential process.” www.recycles.org

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 35

C A R R I A G E H O U S E M O R R I S T O W N S H I P

THE ENGLISHCOUNTRYSIDEThis storybook parcel of property in Convent Station, NJ offers contemporary comforts in a traditional setting

IN SEARCH OF

By Alice Garbarini HurleyPhotography by David Gruol

et back for a moment to the Morristown of the early 1900s. The town fathers boasted that within a mile of its Green lived more millionaires than in any other spot like it in the world. And tucked into that desired address is tree-lined Convent Station, a place as picturesque as it sounds—an enclave that is home to rich and textured history.

In 1912, after traveling in England, yachtsman and empire builder George Marshall Allen set his sights on creating a Tudor country estate on 10 tranquil acres in this pocket of Morris Township. Historians say he had fallen in love with the beautiful English manors he had seen—especially Compton Wynyates in Warwickshire, the inspiration for his dream mansion. He hired noted New York architect Charles I. Berg, who traveled abroad to study the estate, but before the manor came the buildings that would house the gardeners and servants, and a garage (with stable) for the Allen carriages and cars. While the main residence, which Allen named Glynallyn, was being erected, the Allens moved into the gardeners’ cottage. That way, Allen would be right on site and able to supervise every step until the doors of The Castle officially opened in 1917.

The Castle still stands, a gracious private residence that is beautiful to behold. And next-door, at 16 Canfield Road, the estate’s original buildings have colorful tales to tell of days gone by. The residence includes the four-bedroom converted Carriage House; a classic greenhouse (the Allen estate had sweeping vegetable and flower gardens, lovingly tended for years); the gardeners’ cottage, with two small apartments that can be rented or converted for a mother-daughter annex; and even the original kennel. Among the snug, storybook features: the rare wood-shingled roof modeled after the thatch roofs Allen admired in the English countryside and the original casement windows he requested.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 37

THE SEASONS GO ROUND & ROUNDHistory is everywhere, starting with the plaque by the front door that reads, THIS HOUSE IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES to the curved antique brick wall in the spacious newly renovated kitchen. The hearth of the home has a sitting area, breakfast room and pantry.

The lovely brick wall follows the curve in the garage, where drivers turned the Allens’ carriages around. The original stable—with sliding barn doors—is now a wood-paneled study, but you can still see the timeworn feeder where the horses got their grain. A spiral staircase that led up to the hay loft now connects to the master bedroom and office.

Upstairs, you’ll find cozy old-fashioned details, like exposed beams, an old-school transom window and built-in cupboards and drawers. Outside, a bluestone terrace overlooks the pool.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOODThe home is within walking distance of a bike path/walkway, and the Convent Station train station. Built during the 1870s to serve the 200-acre complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, which was the first secondary school for young women in the state, it is now a stop on New Jersey Transit’s commuter train to New York Penn Station.

Shopping is convenient at the high-end Short Hills Mall. And award-winning dining is on the menu at The Madison Hotel where Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille put down roots in Morristown more than 75 years ago. Rod’s takes reservations for intimate meals served in its authentic railroad dining car.

Here at 16 Canfield, everything old is new again.

38 MARCH 2011

COUNTER CULTUREThe modern elements of the Carriage House dream kitchen:•Fisher & Paykel DishDrawers•Custom maple cabinetry•Soapstone countertops•Two center islands•Built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator,

freezer drawers and wine cooler•Wolf gas range with two ovens,

grill and griddle•Antique copper range hood•Wolf warming drawer•Stone floor with radiant heat•Original casement windows•Breakfast room with built-in

L-shaped bench and leaded windows with woodland views

•High ceiling

SOURCES:Roof: E.J. PETERS CUSTOM BUILDERS • 973-402-8881 • www.ejpetersconstruction.com

Contractor: CATANIA CONSTRUCTION • 610-260-6084 • www.cataniaconstructionllc.com

The Very Special Wood Roof: E.J. PETERS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC. • PO Box 284 Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

Appliances: KARL’S APPLIANCE • 973-227-1777 • www.karlsappliance.com

Kitchen Designer: RIBBON & REED CABINETRY, INC. 201-664-7059 • www.ribbonandreed.com

ROD’S STEAK & SEAFOOD GRILL • The Madison Hotel • One Convent Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

For additional photos and information on this and other ASP1RE featured homes, go to: www.aspirenj.com

C A R R I A G E H O U S E M O R R I S T O W N S H I P

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 39

By Eileen CurtisPhotography by Tony Khoury, TDKhometours

C I D E R H I L L U P P E R S A D D L E R I V E R N J

40 MARCH 2011

How huge an international soccer star is Juan Pablo Angel of Upper Saddle River? He’s so big that when Angel, 35, played for River Plate in Argentina back in the late 1990s, fans donned angel wings to sing his heavenly praises. In 2001, when the star moved from Argentina to the premier Aston Villa club in Birmingham, England, his 9.6 million pound sale was a team record. Fans like Prince William and Tom Hanks were cheering him on.

In England, Angel, his wife Maria Paula Gutierrez , and their two boys, now 9 and 7, lived in an exclusive enclave outside Birmingham called Four Oaks, home to many Aston Villa megastars. It’s where sports cars crunch long gravel driveways, but also where Angel’s family came first. “It was a great place for the kids,” says Angel. “It was warm and friendly.”

Still, when Angel got an offer to play for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer in 2007, he and his family decided to go stateside. They had vacationed in New York and around the country—“we loved it,” says Angel—so they went searching for an American twist on the Anglophile Four Oaks.

They found it—a place sure to make the angels sing.

“As soon as we saw Upper Saddle River, we knew that was it,” says Angel, who hails from Columbia but speaks English fluently. “The schools here are excellent, and it was just 35 minutes from the Red Bulls’ new stadium in Harrison.”

When they drove past a 9,000 sq. ft colonial on a quiet cul de sac in the prestigious Cider Hill section of town, they knew they’d struck gold. The 5-bedroom, 8-bath home was built on spec in 2006, but it fits them like a glove.

Angel and his wife are partial to a mix of the contemporary and the traditional, and this light-filled home with mellow brick exterior fits the bill. It boasts plenty of

By Eileen CurtisPhotography by Tony Khoury, TDKhometours

C I D E R H I L L U P P E R S A D D L E R I V E R N J

As soon as we saw Upper Saddle River, we knew that was it,” says Angel, who hails from Columbia but speaks English fluently. “The schools here are excellent, and it was just 35 minutes from the Red Bulls’ new stadium in Harrison.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 41

SOURCES:

Interior design: BoConcept Hedsy L. Reyes 201-967-5300 • www.boconceptnj.com

Custom Cabinetry: PETER SALERNO INC. 201-251-6608 • www.petersalernoinc.com

For additional photos and information on this and other ASP1RE

featured homes, go to: www.aspirenj.com

windows, clean lines, high ceilings, and an open floor plan—perfect for parties and a modern lifestyle. The family spends most of its time in the large and airy kitchen, warmed by a high-end Wolf stove and elegant Salerno custom cabinetry.

With details like raised wood panels, crown moldings, marble fireplaces, French doors, and European white oak floors with decorative borders and inlays, this home also honors the traditional. Angel also praises the home’s solid construction, like its steel beams.

He adds, in the American vernacular: “This place was a no brainer.” In fact, they are the first family to call the home, well, home.

It comes with perks.

A domed ceiling, perfect for all manner of angels, rises above the second floor master suite, which also features an elegant sitting room, along with a balcony overlooking spectacular grounds. The couple can gaze out at manicured gardens and the heated, in-ground kidney shaped swimming pool, which boasts an attached cabana. The pool area is bordered by a sparkling limestone patio.

Inside, off the master suite, the heavenly library with coffered ceiling--which serves as Angel’s office—is fully clad in cherry wood. When the snow flies, he can read beside the granite and marble fireplace.

On the 2,330 sq. ft lower level, the family can watch movies together in the media room. Or the kids can put on a play in the little theatre.

Angel has spent a lot of time on the road as a footballer, so home is where his heart is. “I can’t wait to get back and see the family,” he says, and you can hear the happiness in his voice. “The house is perfect for relaxing.”

The life of a sports star and his family can be hectic, which may be why Angel and his wife crave simplicity. The walls were originally painted in bold colors, but the couple revised with soft white, cream, and in the great room, which boasts a second floor balcony, a light gray hue. The soft palette makes nature’s own delights shine even brighter.

“It was a full moon the other day,” Angel says. “We were sitting in the great room and we could see the beautiful moonlight coming through the high windows.”

But the home is more than just tranquil. It’s a great place to entertain. This past Halloween when the neighborhood kids knocked on the door, they weren’t as interested in the candy as in kicking the soccer through the goal on the front lawn.

Who could blame them? The place is a real treat.

C I D E R H I L L U P P E R S A D D L E R I V E R N J

42 MARCH 2011

INTERIOR DESIGN . CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS . BLINDS . FURNITURE . ACCESSORIES . FINE CABINETRY

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING . CROWN MOLDINGS . FIREPLACE MANTLES . BUILT-INS . WINE CELLARS

Crown Plaza Shopping Center, 461 Rt. 46 West . Fairfield, NJ . 973-244-2144 . tandchome.comhours: m-t-w-f: 9 :30am–5pm, th: 9 :30am–7pm, sat: 10am–4pm, sun: 12pm–4pm

Dazzling window treatments.Breathtaking woodwork.

Inspiring designers.(And you thought we were just a furniture store.)

C I D E R H I L L U P P E R S A D D L E R I V E R N J

M A N O R H O U S E M A H W A H N J

44 MARCH 2011

Roughing it in Style

“It’s almost surreal. Living with nature and wildlife and the seasons, surrounded by mountains with a river running through, is like living in rural Maine or Vermont, but you’re just 30 miles from Manhattan!” Bob Myers Mahwah, New Jersey

A Lavish Country Retreat Salutes the Great Outdoors

By Henry KurylaPhotography by David Gruol

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 45

ITtook over ten years for Bob Myers, a prominent local builder and avid hunter and fisherman to find the perfect spot to build a secluded, country retreat for his family and friends. He finally found and fell in love with the spectacular, five-and-a-half acre site of the former Patterson Rod & Gun Club in Mahwah. Located on the Ramapo River, framed by the Ramapo Mountains, this rustic encampment built in the 1940s for wealthy gentlemen to hunt and fish on the weekends, is directly adjacent to thousands of acres of pristine parkland. Here, it is said one can ride on trails for eight straight hours without ever having to cross a single paved road. On the property were two structures, a small cabin on the river, and a larger near-by cabin. Both were badly in need of repair. Myers restored and updated the cabin on the river. He knocked down the other, and in its place built a grand, 11,000 sq.ft., 18 room, five and a half bath manor house with five fireplaces and seven bedrooms. This luxurious country manor with a formal living room, dining room and a two-and-a-half story entry foyer featuring a stunning bridal staircase, reflects Myer’s love of the Old West. “When I lived in New Mexico, I became fascinated with its culture, its architecture and its lore. I’m sure it’s related to my passion for the great outdoors,” he said. In the soaring great room, with a nod to America’s original, rough-hewn outdoorsman Buffalo Bill Cody, Myers built a replica of the massive, triple-story, stone fireplace in Cody’s historic Colorado home.

He recalled, “Browsing in a flea market in Pasadena, we came upon a photo album of a family’s trip through the Southwest in 1930. In it was a picture of a man standing in front of a gigantic, stone fireplace, labeled Buffalo Bill Cody’s Colorado Lodge.” In the billiard room, he built an authentic, turn-of-the-century Wild West saloon with a vintage, 100-year old, black-walnut bar. “I had that bar in storage for over a decade, just waiting for the right opportunity to give it a proper home,” he said proudly. The living room, great room and gourmet kitchen with a built-in barbeque, all open out to an expansive walled garden with spectacular mountain views and another massive stone fireplace. Upstairs is a sumptuous, grand master suite and three bedrooms. Downstairs are the turn-of-the-century saloon, billiard room, a home theatre, a full gym, a second guest suite and a security safe room. The restored cabin on the river with its great room, fireplace, full bath and kitchen is a perfect home base for hiking, hunting, canoeing, kayaking or fly fishing on the trout-stocked river out front. With beautiful sunrise and sunset views of the Ramapo Mountains, in a wonderful, pastoral setting on the banks of the Ramapo River, this luxurious country retreat just 30 miles from midtown Manhattan, perpetuates and keeps alive the rustic tradition of its original occupants. Myers has truly taken the concept of roughing it, to a whole new level.

M A N O R H O U S E M A H W A H N J

46 MARCH 2011

SOURCES:

Plumbing & HVAC: VAN NATTA MECHANICAL201-391-3700 • www.vannattamechanical.com

Windows and doors: KOLBE MILLWORK CO., INC. 732-842-5666 • www.kolbe-kolbe.com

Appliances: SILVER CITY APPLIANCES 845-356-1809 • www.silvercityinc.com

Tile: PORCELANOSA 201-995-1310 • www.porcelanosa-usa.com

For additional photos and information on this and other ASP1RE featured homes, go to: www.aspirenj.com

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 47

The Future is Now

ArchitecturalRenderingbyKarlTanner

“The methods, materials, attention to design and the stringent standards of LEED certification provide our homeowners with energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly homes that will perform for generations to come.” Chris Dover President, Paladin Homes, Inc.

P A L A D I N E S T A T E S C H E S T E R T O W N S H I P N J

48 MARCH 2011

Paladin Estates, an exclusive enclave of luxury estate residences has the honor and distinction of being one of the first and largest communities of its kind in the United States. Each luxurious, energy-efficient home will achieve Gold/Platinum certification. LEED – “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” – is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and sustainability of high-performance green buildings. The families in Paladin Estates will be among the first in the country to enjoy this new standard of living. “The LEED standard requires a higher quality of construction and closer teamwork from design through delivery.” Mr. Dover said. “And by incorporating the best materials and avoiding the temptation to cut corners, we achieve long-term durability and sustainability. Our homes will perform for generations to come.” Surrounded by rolling countryside and picturesque family farms in the New Jersey Highlands, it is quite fitting that Paladin Estates is located in Chester Township, which is well known for its long-standing commitment to green stewardship by preserving its land through public investment in open spaces. This affluent community in Morris County, 40 miles west of New York City, retains much of its original charm and rural character, offering an upscale country lifestyle with excellent schools and services. The beautiful parcel of land comprising Paladin Estates was once the grounds of an historic country estate. This legacy of luxury is reflected in the first showcase residence, set on 2.6 acres and built to the highest standards of LEED certification (Gold/Platinum), including spray-foam insulation and geo-thermal heating/cooling. With five bedrooms and five baths, the home offers gracious estate living with every modern-day amenity and convenience. Premium custom features include a Vermont slate roof, a granite block and stucco exterior, and arch-top, triple-pane windows. This sprawling, 5,300 sq. ft. home with an open floor plan, features a grand two-story entry foyer, a formal living and dining room, great room, family room, library, gourmet kitchen and a three-car garage. Each Gold/Platinum certified Paladin Estates’ residence exceeds industry standards with premium, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art heating, cooling and ventilation technology making these luxury homes 50% more energy efficient than the current standard for home-energy efficiency. The residences are built with materials that do not have harmful chemicals, called VOCs (volatile organic compounds), often found in construction materials such as paints and adhesives. “A Gold/Platinum certification means you have a low-maintenance, non-toxic home with clean air and water, and that significantly reduces energy consumption and costs for its residents.” Mr. Dover added, “Our customers are those looking for the very best in quality, technology and performance, understanding that the long-term value of their investment will be enhanced.”

The Future is NowP A L A D I N E S T A T E S C H E S T E R T O W N S H I P N J

At a Glance:LEED Green Building Certification The “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” or LEED green building certification, provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built for long-term durability and sustainability by recognizing superior performance of green design in five key areas: sustainable site development, water and energy efficiency, stewardship and sensitivity to the impact of materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in the design process. Administered by the United States Green Building Council, the LEED rating system has four certification levels for new construction in which points are awarded for green building techniques and practices. The minimum number of points required for a LEED certification is 40. There are also higher levels that can result in higher rewards: Silver Certification (50-59 points), Gold Certification (60-79 points) and Platinum Certification (80 -110 points). Homes built to the highest Gold/Platinum standard, use less energy, water and natural resources making them the most environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost effective. At Paladin Estates every residence will meet Gold/Platinum certification standards.

By Henry Kuryla

SOURCES:

Architect: MAX PARANGI ARCHITECTS, P.C. Max Parangi, Carolina Fajardo • (914) 686-3359 • info@maxparangi.com

Design: BELLA STANZA INTERIORS Nadia Filadelfo • 201-313-3828 • bellastanza@verizon.net

Green Consultant: ALPINE GREEN SOLUTIONS Robert Orfino LEED AP, CSDP, CIAQM, CEA • 732.275.1056 • www.alpinegreensolutions.com

For additional photos and information on this and other ASP1RE featured homes, go to: www.aspirenj.com

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 49

Tuscan Style

50 MARCH 2011

By Henry KurylaPhotography courtesy of Lois Schneider Realtor

SOURCES:

Architect: ROSEN GROUP Jack Kelly • 908-273-6565 • jkelly@rosengroup.net

Construction: R. KELLER CONSTRUCTION CO. Rob Keller • 973-989-4004 • info@rkellerconstruction.com

Interior Design: OAKLEIGH INTERIORS Patricia McBride • 973-984-5600 • patricia@oakleighinteriors.com

For additional photos and information on this and other ASP1RE featured homes, go to: www.aspirenj.com

T U S C A N V I L L A S U M M I T N J

A growing family, with two young children and a third on the way,

were looking for a bigger house on a larger piece of property in

Summit. They loved the community but were not interested in the

more prevalent architectural styles in the area, a classic Colonial or an

English Tudor. Theywerethrilledwhentheyfounda4,000sq.ft.,Tuscan-stylevillaonSummit’sNorthside.This20thcenturyAmericaninterpretationofclassicItalianatestyle,lookedlargeandimpressivefromthefront,butintruthwasonly16feetwidefromfronttoback.Builtin1922,theroomsweresmall,andthelayoutwascramped.Itwasnotlargeenoughfortheirgrowingfamily,anditsconfigurationwasnotconducivetofamilylifetoday,buthavingrenovatedtheirtwoprevioushomes,theydidn’tseemtomindanewchallenge.TheydecidedtobuythispropertyThehomeownerexplained,“Everyonethoughtwewerecrazy,outofourminds.Theywereconvincedwehadtotallylostit.Whattheydidn’tknowwasthatwehadbecomeaddicts–renovationjunkies.Wegothookedrenovatingourtwoprevioushomes.It’slikeahigh.Firstbeingabletoseewhatotherscan’t,andthentakingonthechallengetomakeitintoareality.CanIdothis?Howwillitturnout?CanIactuallypullthisoff?ButIhavetosay,whenitfinallyallcomestogether,itisbeyondthrilling!”Thefamilylivedinthehouseforayearwhilefiguringouthowtoadaptandexpandthisold-worldjewelintobothanelegantresidenceforentertainingandamodern-dayhomefortheirfamily.Afterremovingtheovergrownwisteriafromthefrontfaçadeandreturningittoitsoriginalcolor,whichahistorianfromRutgersfoundunderseveralcoatsofoldpaint,thefrontelevationwasrestoredandleftexactlyasitwasoriginallybuilt.Nearlyeverythingelseisnew–fromthemechanicals,totheroof,thewindowsandfineoakflooring,tothemajoradditionwhichmorethandoubledthesizeofthehometoover11,000sq.ft.Thespacewasre-configuredandopeneduptoreflecthowwelivetoday.Itsspacious,free-flowingroomsareaccentedwithelaboratemillworkandgorgeouscabinetrybyEuropeanmastercraftsmen.Itisnowanelegant,palatialresidencewithfourfireplaces,sevenbedrooms,ninefullandtwohalfbaths.Ithasbeenupdatedwithmodern-dayamenitieswhichincludeafour-storyelevator,radiant-heatedfloorsand11flatscreentelevisions.Theformalroomsonthefirstfloorweredesignedforentertainingonalargescale.

Thegrandreceptionhallwithitssweepingstaircaseisflankedbythelivingroom,diningroomandtheadjacentgreatroomwithitsspectacularbeamedceiling.AtcharityeventsandtheirannualChristmasparty,150guestswereeasilyaccommodated.Inadditiontorenovating,theladyofthehousealsolovedtocook.Thegourmetkitchen,withprofessionalgradeapplianceswasdesignedwiththeideathatonedayshewouldopenacateringbusiness.Thatdidn’thappen.Sherolledhereyes,“WhatwasIthinking?Takingcareofmyfamilyismorethanafulltimejob.Butitisadreamkitchentocookin.”Thebedrooms,includingagrandmastersuiteareupstairs.Downstairsthereisarecreationroomandagameroomforthechildrenandtheirfriends.Thegroundswereascarefullydesignedandthoughtoutastheinteriors.AwallofCaliforniafold-awaydoorsopenouttoacolumned,centercourtyardwithanalfrescodiningpatioanditsownoutdoorkitchen.Thebeautifullylandscaped,multi-tieredpropertyalsoincludesanexpansivelawn.Twoyearsafterthehousewasfinishedandtheyhadswornoffanymorerenovations,herhusband’sworktookthefamilytoCalifornia.WhiletheywouldhavelikedmoretimeinSummittoenjoythefruitsoftheirlabors,itwasmitigatedbythefactthattheirnewhouseinLaJollaneedsanawfullotofwork.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 51

Steve Feldman has found an original way to be thankful for his recovery and pay it forward. As President of Green Demolitions, his chain of retail outlets, Feldman discovers discarded luxury kitchens, bathrooms, and fixtures from demolished or renovated houses before they impact a landfill. He then sells them for 50-80% off their real value and donates a portion of the proceeds to an organization that helps recover lives seemingly lost to alcoholism and addiction. In other words, he figured out how to raise money for a really important cause that wasn’t attracting donors, by reselling items people couldn’t give away, to people who really needed them. Talk about your win-win scenario.

In 2008, The New York Times referred to Green Demolitions as “recycled luxury” at discount prices. People looking to renovate a simple kitchen can save thousands of dollars, $58,000 in one recent sale, to be exact. Until Green Demolitions, it cost thousands of dollars just to have one’s old kitchen hauled away into a landfill. The dumpster rental alone could be as much as $700.00. With Green Demolitions, hauling is free. In addition, these “luxury bargain hunters” are reducing the demand for new lumber and stone, thus lessening the stress on the environment.

The ever resourceful Feldman says the Green part is not just in reference to the earth, it refers to the greening of lives once withered by drugs.

P A Y I T F O R W A R D

By Evan Pritchard

Green Demolitions currently handles over 1,500 demolition donations a year, including on the average, 400 kitchens. Salvage items including priceless architectural and lighting fixtures, and in some cases beautiful antiques, stock a growing number of Green Demolitions store outlets, (including one in Riverdale, NJ) serving the Northeast Region of the US.

greendemolitions

Feldman does not forget to mention the greenback dollars many people save or earn every time a kitchen is redirected. Here is a brief breakdown of what happens every time a homeowner donates their kitchen (or entire home) to Green Demolitions. Green Demolitions reduces the burden on landfills by two million pounds a year, saving homeowners thousands of dollars, and helping to create a better future for our children. According to author Robin Wilson, demolition of a single 2,500 square foot home creates approximately two tons of construction waste that ends up clogging a landfill.

52 MARCH 2011

Boost Your Eco-IQ with Smart Little HouseIs your house making you sick?Cutting corners on materials can cause not only structural weakness, but on-going allergic/toxic reactions and in some cases harm to the environment. If we do our homework, we can find new, innovative “smarter” products that were not available ten years ago, products that

don’t harm us or the earth. Chris Murphy, the founder of the Smart Little House store is happy to do your homework for you. He has done the research and rounded up the products that you need to buy and install to make your house truly safe to live in. These are the same products top architects specify for LEED certified houses. These include non-toxic Mythic Paint, VT Natural Coatings semi-gloss floor finishes, Duravit wall-hung toilets that use half the water, American Clay plaster, and Forbo Marmoleum Flooring tiles to name a few. His group also provides consumer education, building design and LEED project design assistance. You can have these LEED certified products shipped to your door just by logging onto www.smartlittlehouse.com. Then start building your Eco-IQ.

Donors may call 888-887-5211 x102 www.greendemolitions.org

Consumers can find product and store information www.greendemolitions.com

P A Y I T F O R W A R D

greendemolitions

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 53

Masonry, Landscape and Hardware BuiLding suppLies

1434 ringwood ave. HaskeLL, nJ 07420convenientLy Located off exit 55 on 287 p: 973.835.1419 w: www.braensupply.com

visit our 12,000 sq.ft. indoor/outdoor design

showroom featuring weber®

and lynx® grill displays and

an extensive true value®

hardware department

while your project

is still on paper,experience it

set in stone.

Dry-laid stonewall

Flagstone patio

Bluestone treads and caps

Proposed PatioRendering 1 of 4

Phot

o by

: ww

w.ul

timat

eExp

ress

ions

.com

Building Relationships Always Exceeding Needs

S O C I A L S E E N

ASID NJ CHAPTER HOLIDAY PARTYOn December 7, 2010 members of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers gathered at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park to celebrate the holiday season and honor its Industry Partner members. Attendees also brought toys for Strengthen Our Sisters, an organization that provides safe, supportive shelter for homeless and battered women and children in northern New Jersey. ASID NJ Chapter has been supporting Strengthen Our Sisters at the holiday season for more than a dozen years.

ChapterPresidentDianeEvans,ASID,JimO’Brien,IP,JimO’BrienArchitects

GwenNagorsky,ASID,RiaGulian,ASID

MaryBrennan,ASID,MaureenFiori,AlliedMemberASID,MichaelFrodella,ParkAvenueClub,MarleneWangenheim,AlliedMemberASID

Dave&NicoleGrech,IP,TrueformConcrete

MarieDonnelly,ASID,NancyMcNeilly,ASID KarenTopjian,ASID,DianaRattazzi,IP,BenjaminMoore,TariqQari,IP,TheRugImporter

RonaSpiegel,ASID,DaneRohmann,IP&ValerieDodds,IP,J&SDesignerFlooring

54 MARCH 2011

S O C I A L S E E N

KULA FOR KARMA 3RD ANNUAL FUNDRAISEROn November 11, 2010 at the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, Kula For Karma had close to 300 guests attend their 3rd Annual Fundraiser!!Kula for Karma is a 501(C)3 Bergen County based non-profit that offers therapeutic yoga, meditation instruction and stress management support services – at no charge – to those who have been challenged by difficult circumstances including illness, addiction, abuse and post traumatic stress disorder. Kula’s goal of selfless service, is to enhance the lives of Children, Teens and Adults with Cancer, Children and Teens with Autism, and Special Needs, Teens At-Risk, and returning Combat War Veterans. With a team of over 270 volunteer teachers, President and Founder Geri Topfer and Executive Director, Penni Feiner have grown the organization from 2 programs in 2007 to over 40 programs today! For more information please visit their website: www.kulaforkarma.org

Event Committee: Front row from left:JeannePlacier,DoreenMerkowsky,ChristinaFrancisco,GeriTopfer,PenniFeiner,BarbaraInfeld,PamSmith2nd row from left:AlexaThomas,HeidiFrancus,LyndaFerrara,DonnaWuhl,StaciZampa,GloriaMaturo,MarlaSacksTop row from left:AnnCranston,MichelleProscia,MarieZaporoshan,FeliciaSieradzky,MariaRuggerio

TeenKula: Bottom left:Amanda,Annabelle,Ashley,Sydney,JenniferMiddle left: Christine,Amanda,Gabrielle,Jocelyn,RachelTop left:Julia,Jacob,Greg,Jeremy

LisaOz,HeidiFrancus,Dr.JenniferAshton,CraigNeier

HeidiFrancus,DonnaWuhlco-chairsoftheevent

HeidiFrancus,MaureenKeating,Dr.MarkSchlesinger,PenniFeiner,GeriTopfer,Dr.StevenTopfer,LynnHoffman,Dr.MichealHarris,DonnaWuhl,Dr.Maz

ArtZucker,Dr.MarkSchlessinger,RoccoLabella,GeriTopfer,PenniFeiner

RobertWuhl,ComedianGeriTopferandLynnHoffman

BobbyDodge(Purchasing),LindaPassaro(GlobalVPMcIntosh),CharlieRandall(PresidentMcIntosh),BobDodge(DirectorofOperations)

CrowdenjoystheMcIntoshHomeTheaterCraigDiNapoli&HelenaLomanlearnfromMcIntoshExpertMarcLambandTalkoftheTown’sMarkBoeckerabouthometheatersystems

TalkoftheTown’sCathyHenkel(Accounting),MarkBoecker(Sales),BobbyDodge(Purchas-ing),SergioRodrigues(StrategicMarketing),andAlbertChua(Sales)

SusieRichards,SophiaMeneve,LindaPassaro,PuraKahn,WilliamLanchantin,JenBoyer

MichaelBusacca,DavidBaker,SophiaMeneve,JoanneBusacca

SusanPash,AnitaHamrah,LindaPassaro,MariaRoberts,MaureenMcElwain

Rob&WrenDiGisilearningfromTalkoftheTown’sKenQuartaroneAbouttheMcIntoshSohoIIhomeaudiosystemwithturntable

TALK OF THE TOWN & McINTOSH CELEBRATIONTalk of the Town hosted a special “Friends and Family” home entertainment and music celebration on November 18th at their Allendale location. The event provided a first-hand look at some of McIntosh’s legendary audio gear and allowed people to experience the intense emotional impact made possible by true no-compromise music reproduction. Guests enjoyed high fidelity demonstrations and three informative discussions including; Advantages of Digital Audio and High Power in Amplifiers.

WWW.ASPIRENJ.COM 55

NJ H

IC#13

VH03

1574

00 P

hotos by

Alan

& Linda

Detric

k

Dedicated to landscapes of inspiring beauty, fine design & intimate outdoor spaces.

CORDINGlandscape design

973-263-5003www.CordingLandscape.com

NJ HIC#13VH03157400

NJ H

IC#13

VH03

1574

00 P

hotos by

Alan

& Linda

Detric

k

Dedicated to landscapes of inspiring beauty, fine design & intimate outdoor spaces.

CORDINGlandscape design

973-263-5003www.CordingLandscape.com

NJ HIC#13VH03157400

www.glorianilson.com

www.glorianilson.com

www.glorianilson.com

www.glorianilson.com

www.glorianilson.com

www.glorianilson.com

www.rlsrealtors.com

Unsurpassed planning and exquisite choices join together to create a rich tapestry of finery in this

unique Saddle River haven. Softly colored marble sprawls across the kitchen which offers gourmet

appliances, triple pantries, versatile storage, and oversized breakfast nook with access to backyard

where regal meets Zen. 4 en suite bedrooms plus master retreat on the second floor. Fully finished

basement boasts 12’ ceilings, pub, fireplace, and guest wing with private kitchen.

ColdwellBankerPreviews.com

800.575.0952

©2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.

We Bring the World To Your Front Door.Coldwell Banker

Previews International®

is the real estate powerhouse

with offices in 50 countries

around the world to match

premium properties

to premium clients.

Dedicated to luxury real estate.™

Honolulu, HIListed at $14,200,000 USD

Listed by: Anne Hogan Perry

Gold Coast, AustraliaListed at $5,495,000 AUD

Listed by: Pru Hux and Tory Hirst

Chester Township, NJListed at $4,500,000 USD

Listed by: Flor de Maria Thomas

MICHELLEKOLSKY _CBwaiting for ad

www.tocr.com

E L E G A N C E T U S CA N - S T Y L E Summit, New Jersey

Exceptional craftsmanship and top amenities in this exquisite 11,000+ sq. ft. Northside Tuscan-style estate were built into this residence with unsurpassed quality and 21st-century vision. Noteworthy features include a four-story elevator, four fireplaces, 11 flat screen TV’s (one is a 70” computer screen), 800 amp electrical system, seven-zone heating/air conditioning system, Crestron automated system with surround sound, lighting, music and camera video surveillance,

two laundry centers, five ensuite bedrooms, and so much more.

Offered at $5,000,000

N O RT H S I D E B E AU T YSummit, New Jersey

This stunning Northside Colonial has been totally renovated and expanded with sophistication and elegance. Features include four fireplaces, a dramatic two-story entry foyer, a gourmet kitchen and separate breakfast sunroom with vaulted ceiling, along with an adjacent family room and first-floor home office. The master bedroom suite is dramatic, with a vaulted ceilinged sitting room, while an expansive lower level offers a guest suite, kitchenette and

family room. Elaborate mechanical systems also include gas-powered generator.

Offered at $2,985,000

U P S CA L E L I V I N G Summit, New JerseyWell-proportioned, generously-sized rooms create an atmosphere of easy, upscale living in this classic Colonial charmer, set in a picturesque neighborhood setting. At the heart of the home is a open great room that encompasses the kitchen, breakfast area and media room, with abundant windows, property views and deck. Lovely custom cabinetry, high-end stainless appliances and center breakfast island with granite countertop adorn the kitchen.

Spacious private guest quarters add versatility and appeal.

Offered at $1,499,000

R E G A L V I C TO R I A N Summit, New JerseyThis elegant turn-of-the-century Victorian is grand and gracious, with a wraparound porch that harkens back to a bygone era. Features include 12 ft. high 1st-floor ceilings, elaborate moldings, rotunda reception hall, first-floor library, formal dining room with fireplace, two-story family room addition, high-ceilinged summer porch, state-of-the-art kitchen, master suite with decorative fireplace, walk-out lower level recreation room, exercise room,

game room with bar area, and more. Just a few blocks from town and New York City trains. Offered at $3,480,000

U P S CA L E L I V I N G Summit, New JerseyWell-proportioned, generously-sized rooms create an atmosphere of easy, upscale living in this classic Colonial charmer, set in a picturesque neighborhood setting. At the heart of the home is a open great room that encompasses the kitchen, breakfast area and media room, with abundant windows, property views and deck. Lovely custom cabinetry, high-end stainless appliances and center breakfast island with granite countertop adorn the kitchen.

Spacious private guest quarters add versatility and appeal.

Offered at $1,499,000

R E G A L V I C TO R I A N Summit, New JerseyThis elegant turn-of-the-century Victorian is grand and gracious, with a wraparound porch that harkens back to a bygone era. Features include 12 ft. high 1st-floor ceilings, elaborate moldings, rotunda reception hall, first-floor library, formal dining room with fireplace, two-story family room addition, high-ceilinged summer porch, state-of-the-art kitchen, master suite with decorative fireplace, walk-out lower level recreation room, exercise room,

game room with bar area, and more. Just a few blocks from town and New York City trains. Offered at $3,480,000

Rock On By Eileen Curtis

What was your vision for the new retail showroom in Haskell?Scott: We already operate a wholesale location for experienced contractors in Haledon, but we also wanted to offer regular homeowners a one-stop shop for their masonry, landscape, and hardware building supplies. It’s intimidating to walk into a building supply store when you’re not a pro.

That’s for sure. Half the time I don’t even know what I’m looking for.Janet: It can get complicated, and that’s why we offer our customers a lot of help. We train our employees to be patient. Our motto is ‘building relationships, always exceeding needs.’ It’s what our family business is all about, and it’s what sets us apart from huge multinational companies.

Scott: You have to respect and value the customer. It’s simple: no customer, no paycheck. The people who look to you for help are the same people who are putting food on your table. When the economy tightens up, it’s especially important.

How do you account for the company’s success in good times and bad? It’s been more than a century!Scott: We don’t get hung up on what we’ve done in the past. If a business or market didn’t work out, we didn’t stay in it. We’re a relatively small ship, so we can turn around pretty quickly. We can react. We started in the quarry business and then we expanded into the supply business, and now we’re in the retail business, offering customers everything from retraining walls and pavers to True Value hardware.

What did Samuel Jr. teach you about the business?Scott: The main thing is hard work.

Janet: That’s it. Hard work.

Scott: He also taught us that you don’t start at the top. You work your way up. I started out sweeping the floors. (chuckles) I wasn’t so happy about that 30 years ago, but it paid off.

How has the Braen family managed to get along for so long?Janet: They were weaned on the business. The Braen men—they just have the love of the quarry in their blood. I really believe that. Scott’s brother Samuel Braen III is our production supervisor. Samantha Braen is our Human Resources director. Dirk Braen is the production foreman, and Joshua Braen is assistant manager of the new showroom.

That’s a lot of Braens!Janet: What I would really love to see is the 6th and 7th generation of Braens in the business.

And beyond?Janet: Oh, yes, absolutely!

Braen Stone Industries, Inc.Masonry, Landscape and Hardware Building Supplieswww.braensupply.com

1434 Ringwood AvenueHaskell, NJ 07420973-835-1419

Offering a wide variety of pavers, bluestone, fieldstone, limestone, Kearney stone, sandstone, Quartzite, flagstone, stone veneer, thin stone veneer, brick, Travertine, tumbled marble, retaining walls, decorative stone, custom stone fabrication, Weber and Lynx grills, and complete True Value Hardware department.

The Braen Family

You might say the Braen family has brought the Stone Age to the 21st century—and that’s a compliment. For five generations and over a century of business, the Braens have operated quarries and sand pits, produced asphalt and concrete, and left no stone unturned when it comes to, well, stone.

Since 2000, they’ve also operated Braen Supply, Inc., a subsidiary of Stone Industries, New Jersey’s hottest masonry and building supply business. Now you can experience the stone age for yourself by visiting their new retail and wholesale store in Haskell, NJ. It’s the Taj Mahal of design showrooms—6,500 sq. ft. of stone cold wonder. Walls of natural stone rise in splendor, fountains bubble, verdant plants bloom in borders (inside, mind you), while roaring fireplaces warm the spirit. Sure, it’s palatial, but it’s never intimidating. “The whole idea is to make things easy for the customer,” says Scott Braen, president and chief operating officer of Braen Supply.

That’s been the Braen family credo since the late 19th century, when Samuel Braen took the helm of a quarry business in the Valley of the Rocks, near the Paterson/Totowa border. The story goes that he won the quarry in a gambling bet.

The gamble sure paid off. By 1977, the late Samuel Jr. had established Braen Stone Industries, which operates quarries, two hot mix asphalt plants and has its pulse on every rock that rolls.

Janet R. Braen–CEO & Chairwoman Scott A. Braen–President & COO Samuel Braen III–Production Supervisor Samantha L. Braen–Director of Human Resources/EEO Officer Dirk A. Braen–Production Assistant Joshua R. Braen–Assistant Manager

We recently sat down with Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer Janet Braen, the wife of the late Samuel Jr., and son Scott Braen, to chat about the business.

72 MARCH 2011

HQ 101 Washington Street Paterson, NJ 973-279-3000 | 1105 Mt. Kemble Ave. Rt. 202 Morristown, NJ 973-425-5500

greenbauminteriors.com

B&B POOLS waiting for ad