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March 2013 The Magazine of Maplewood and South Orange since 1990 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Philadelphia, PA 191 Permit # 6438

wHen You cHoose wiselY all THe pieces Fall inTo place NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award® 2011, 2012

caroline Gosselin

carolineinsoma

Gosselin Group

Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, Mover & Shaker of the Year 2011

Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®)

www.GosselinHomes.com

Member of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC)

Certified Negotiation Specialist

145 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood Office: 973-378-2191

(973) 985-6117 [email protected]

www.GosselinHomes.com

caroline Gosselin Sign of Associate a Smart Move Realtor lThe Sales

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Opening in Early April

77 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE SOUTH ORANGE

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Trent Wisehart’s Colonial Revival home in South Orange was built in 1896.The 19thcentury gilt mirror in the library was a gift from Wisehart’s parents, and the custom shelves hold 18th- and 19thcentury Wedgwood china. The 1920s opalescent chandelier was salvaged from a mansion subsequently turned into a West Orange restaurant, The Manor. Photos by Julia Verderosa; story begins on page 20.

ON THE COVER

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contents Sense & Sensibility Home is where the heart is

Molly Matters A move is on

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Get the Power 8 Generating a solution

Making it Work

A place for everything

5 Steps

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Paint It 30 Exterior options

18

Garden ready

The Hunt

Front to Back

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Vintage Vision

36

Landscaping thoughts

20

Trent Wisehart’s home

Reclaimed restoration

House Swap 30

40

Vacation exchanges

32 40

Common Ground

Digging some local dirt

Resource Guide Local sources

Final Matters House guests

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Featuring Local People, Places and Things that Matter to Maplewood and South Orange Since 1990

Fan us on Twitter at Facebook! mattersnj

Luxury Realized Current sales are on pace for a significant 2013 market. Now is the time to ready yourself for a sale and to make the move you’ve always dreamed of. Let me show you the way.

Cheryl Darmanin, SALES ASSOCIATE

CNE, CSMS

• 20 Years of Sales and Marketing Experience • Acts as a consultative Real Estate Partner • Affiliation with Exceptional Brokerage Brand providing a Full Service Real Estate Environment

555 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills, NJ 07078 mobile: 917-696-0802 office: 973-376-8188 e-mail: [email protected] Facebook:www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Darmanin Twitter: twitter.com/CherylDarmaninLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-darmanin/3/ab4/a81

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A CHI E V E E MP O W E R M E N T

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Karen Duncan

Desiree w at s on

MANAGING DIRECTOR Rene Conlon

Wellness Interactive, Inc. presents ®

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Featuring Local People, Places and Things that Matter Since 1990

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Wellness Lounge

®

A Step Further ®

Join wellness pioneer, Desiree Watson, president and CEO on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel (www. VoiceAmerica.com) on Mondays at 9 A.M. Eastern Time for commentary and interviews of professionals and celebrities from the sports, corporate management, government and health care fields. Desiree and guests explore the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (“CAM”) and how to empower one’s life through the practice of CAM and developing a commitment to a wellness lifestyle. The Wellness Lounge - A Step Further is broadcast live on the online radio show and all content is available on-demand and iPod cast download. ®

®

(www.VoiceAmerica.com.)

SUPERVISING EDITOR Joanne DiPasquale FEATURES EDITOR Tia Swanson ADVERTISING SALES Ellen Donker H. Leslie Gilman Mary Jo Malone Kathryn Wile GRAPHIC ARTISTS Lyman Dally Joy Markel COPY EDITOR Nick Humez CONTRIBUTORS Katie Bliss, Mary Jo Malone, Frank Raso, Julia Verderosa

The Wellness Lounge® flagship site is located at: 14 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ and offers:

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Lifestyle Classes (Pilates, PraiseMoves & Line Dancing), Hands on Therapies (Reflexology, Acupuncture, Ear Candling, Homeopathy & Thai Massage), Workshops and Seminars dedicated to mind, body, spirit

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Corporate Wellness Consultation Services

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Customized Special Events and Private Wellness Retreats

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“Green” Something Healthy® Products

Please address all correspondence to:

Visual Impact Advertising, Inc.© 9 Highland Place Maplewood, NJ 07040

973-763-4900

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Wellness Interactive, Inc.® 14 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1R South Orange, NJ 07079

® 973.275.3868 Ph. www.wellnessinteractive.com Copyright © 2013 Wellness Interactive, Inc®. All rights reserved.

Matters Magazine© is owned and published by Visual Impact Advertising, Inc., 9 Highland Place, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Published monthly, Matters Magazine is free, with editions directly mailed 6 times a year to the residents of Maplewood and South Orange and distributed to businesses and surrounding communities totaling 20,000. Subscriptions are available to non-residents for $30 (U.S.) $40 (Foreign) annually. No part of the publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Visual Impact Advertising, Inc. CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY U.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS. READ & RECYLE

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Sense & Sensibility Home is where the heart is

don’t really have a decorating style. I enjoy a little bit of this and that, appreciating the mix of solid tradition with a little whimsy, things that I love for themselves, and other things I love as much for sentimental reasons. It’s comforting to know my old side table has withstood the test of time, and six generations’ worth of family Thanksgivings. Perched next to my cookbooks is a battered, old seed bag from Pierson’s Mill (one of the original burlap bags with the Mill sketched on it); it may seem odd to many, and yet many longtime locals covet it. I look around my house, and there is a story, a person, connected to so much: andirons my husband won in a bet; crystal decanters lined up – each a wedding gift, each from a person I cherish. The antique suitcases piled on top of the armoire were a local estate sale score from my friend Kristen. The stunning and sturdy boxwood shrubs at our front door originated as cuttings from our editor Tia Swanson’s South Orange garden. One’s style should be exactly that – all about you and what you love to surround yourself with, what you love to look at. Your home is your refuge, your sanctuary; at the end of the day, each of us craves our lair. For the 23 years we’ve published Matters Magazine it’s been my dream to devote an entire issue to our homes and our gardens; in these two towns they are often places every bit as deserving of attention and highlighting as those in national magazines. While I hope you continue to enjoy the fantasy of other delicious decorating magazine pages showcasing the rooms and gardens of our dreams, here at Matters we’re taking you on a local tour, where dreams make good sense. Enjoy.

- Karen Duncan

Natalie knows: Pricing your home to sell

Price Price it Right! Right! High?

Home Edition

Low?

Just R ight!

Come on down (or up). Pricing your home can be a tricky game. My help and comparable sales can make sure you come out a winner!

Natalie Farrell [email protected]

Molly Matters

© Dally/Duncan 2013

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Off: 973 913-8002 Cel: 917 514-7541

www.nataliefarrell.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Old House, New Garden

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... erfect ogether!

“William Scerbo’s designs and built landscapes are like magic. He makes the most out of challenging conditions and conservative budgets and his innovative ideas result in the most beautiful and functional landscapes I know of.” -Karen B. (Garden Magazine, Author)

CHAPTER AWARD

AMERICAN SOCIETY of LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Get The Power

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Generating a solution by Frank Raso

hen Hurricane Sandy left a trail of devastation across the northeastern United States, the superstorm’s immediate aftermath left millions of Americans without the basic utilities necessary to survive and function comfortably in their everyday lives. From 5 p.m. on October 29, for up to 12 consecutive days, thousands of New Jersey’s residential streets were swallowed in darkness, and as temperatures dipped to as low as 30 degrees, Maplewood and

The designs, gardens & landscapes of

William Scerbo LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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William Scerbo LLA #122

South Orange citizens were forced to sleep between ice-cold sheets. No surprise, then, that backup generator sales in the U.S. have been boosted considerably over the past three and a half months, according to Businessweek. Approximately 29 of these units have been installed in Maplewood, and with three subsequent blackouts since Sandy, residents in the area are viewing the appliance less an extravagance, and more as a necessity. For local homeowners con-

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Direct: 973-275-3012

Cell: 973-489-3417

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[email protected]

Planning to buy and/or sell in the near future? Call Robert Northfield TODAY!

sidering purchasing a generator, some basic knowledge of the certification process is necessary. “It’s a very simple, cut-and-dried process,” says Anthony Grenci, director of the South Orange Department of Code Enforcement and Inspections. “You need the proper permits and then zoning approval of the proper permits.” Generators come in two basic forms. Standby generators run on natural gas or propane, and when installed they are permanently wired into a home’s electrical system. Portable generators run on gasoline or diesel fuel, and they are more compact. Grenci says South Orange installation of the former requires a household to obtain plumbing, electrical, building and fire permits. Separate officials make the necessary inspections before a final cumulative inspection is made. These requirements are similar for Maplewood residents, who need plumbing, building, fire and electrical permits for standby generators and electrical permits for portable generators, according to the Maplewood Building Department. Both areas are subject to zoning restrictions in their front, back and side yards. These restrictions require an additional inspection to ensure that generators are not placed too close to neighboring homes, streets, vehicles, or any objects that can produce a fire hazard. Maplewood resident Jack Speece, who has experienced 11 power outages over the last three years, explains that Sandy was the final straw in his decision to

purchase a standby generator. So he spent approximately $14,000, and a month’s time, on purchasing the generator, passing inspections, obtaining the necessary permits, and hiring a professional contractor to install the appliance behind his family’s home. The benefits seem obvious, but Speece adds that there are some drawbacks, one being noise. “You are basically setting up something that sounds like a small lawn mower when it’s up and running.” he says. The required maintenance may also put off potential buyers. While standby generators vary depending on the brand and model, according to the Maplewood Building Department, such machines generally require an oil change after the initial five hours they are run, and again after each additional 100 hours of operation. A further concern with portable generators, Speece says, is that that this type requires diesel or gasoline to run – and as New Jersey residents now know, extended power outages can coincide with fuel shortages. Still, Speece has no regrets. “It’s a lot of work and time you have to devote,” he concedes. “But immediately having it click on and knowing we don’t have to worry about a cold, dark house definitely makes it worth the while. Especially if you have kids.” Maplewood’s construction official, Robert Mittermaier, can be reached at 973-762-8120 (ext. 3700) or constructionofficial@twp. maplewood.nj.us. South Orange residents can call Anthony Grenci at 973-378-7715 (ext. 7700).

Over 15 years of sales experience and over 800 closed sales. Essex County #1 agent for closed # of sales in 2012,* NJAR Distingushed Sales Club, NJAR’s Circle of Excellence Platinum Award Winner (NJAR’s highest standard of agent performance), Named one of the top 250 agents for sales units by the Wall Street Journal** and Trends, Inc. 2012, Recognized as a Five Star Realtor in NJ Monthly in March 2012 & 2013, Certified Previews specialist for marketing luxury properties.

Listed

and

U n d e r Co n t r a C t i n J U s t a Fe w d a y s. . .

Maplewood Office 145 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07054 (973) 378-8300 ©2013 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.*Unit Sales-According to data collected from GSMLS which may not reflect all transactions.** Transaction volume for 2012 production.

HOME&GARDENMatters

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The trouble so often in Maplewood and South Orange is that people fall in love with their older houses and then realize they need some adapting to work well for modern families. So it was for a young family in Washington Park. They were happy with their 1920s house that had Arts and Crafts elements and a casual elegance, but the kitchen was tiny, especially for a couple who loves to entertain, and there was a single bath on the second floor. There also was an awkward family room addition that didn’t quite work; it was hard to get to and oddly shaped, serving as both office and TV room. They didn’t want to move; but they needed to do something. They didn’t necessarily want more room, but they wanted it to work better. After years of making do, and months of looking at other houses in the area, they turned to John James, a Maplewood architect well-known for working with older homes, of designing additions that feel like they belong to the house. There was lots of back-and-forth, but the family finally opted to tear off the single floor, slab-built family room and build a slightly larger two-story addition in its place. They got everything they wanted, plus a light-filled breakfast room and a cozy, private master bedroom.

Making it Work An old house gets a new look and a new life PHOTOS BY SCOT GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY

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They chose a builder who shared their aesthetic and appreciated their home’s charm, all the while understanding what needed to be done to make it ready for the 21st Century; and they found a cabinet-making company that was able to bridge the divides between the decades and give them cabinetry that looked right at home, even as it provided needed storage and satisfied the wife’s desire to have a little modern whimsy in the old house. Now they have an easy, open living area that nevertheless respects the room-like divisions and the design elements of their older home. On weekday afternoons, the kids gather around their mother as she cooks, doing their homework at the table in the breakfast room. The frequent guests still congregate in the kitchen, but now there is an expansive island to hold them. And there’s a large, screened door that opens to the outdoors; in summer the breakfast room becomes a sort-of screened-in porch, and the newly-done patio a living room.

HOME&GARDENMatters

A spring-green colored desk (left) brightens the darkest corner of the kitchen and provides storage for cookbooks, bills, schoolwork and the like. The walnut top is the same wood as used for the island cabinets, the open shelves, the breakfast room countertop and the family room game table. The wife loved the open shelving used in European kitchens but wanted it to fit with the feel of the house. A single-tier walnut floating shelf under the traditional, inset cabinets (above, top) provides plenty of easy access to plates, glasses and cooking supplies, while melding with the kitchen’s vibe. The large island is topped with honed Calacatta marble (above, bottom). The perimeter countertop is Pietra Cardosa sandstone.

Debbie is spectacular. She has an exceptional work ethic, knowledge of multiple areas, and excellent relationships with agents across multiple regions. I would trust her as a buyer’s or seller’s agent over and over -- she is the best we’ve ever encountered in the 14 years we’ve owned homes. - Anne Harris

The best testament to a realtor’s success is the repeat business she garners through referrals from satisfied clients. Since 1982 Debbie’s business has been built on trust, knowledge, the ability to get the job done and making her clients the number one priority.

Debbie Rybka-Howard CALL DEBBIE FOR THE RESULTS YOU DESERVE.

(908) 591- 4886 Circle of Excellence 2011 GOLD Level Award

973 376-4545 [email protected]

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HOME&GARDENMatters In the breakfast room (left), the family painted the woodwork and built-in cabinets, as those in the kitchen are, but the wall color is the same as that used in the family room, which it adjoins. The oak trim in the family room was stained to match the woodwork in the rest of the house, and the casement windows echo those in the original living room. The wife wanted a little bit of modernity, and so decided on low-slung oak cabinets (below) running the length of one wall, matching the oldstyle woodwork, and a walnut game table and chairs with a decidedly modern sensibility.

Breakfast room and family room: Benjamin Moore Monroe Bisque: HC-26

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Neither the new master bathroom nor the new walk-in closet is gargantuan, but all the space is used expertly. The marble top on the bathroom sinks is from the same slab used in the kitchen, and the floor is a light limestone. The subway tile throughout also repeats the theme started downstairs with the kitchen backsplash.

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter: HC-172

HOME&GARDENMatters

resources

Architect: John James, 11 Inwood Place, Maplewood; johnjamesarchitect.com Builder: Rich Curran of Richcraft Construction; 78 E Rolling Hills Court., Toms River, NJ 08755 732-505-8577 All cabinetry and game table: Hinge Cabinetry; hingeworks.com 804-873-0953 Hanging pendants: Rejuvenation Lighting; rejuvenation.com

ktichen space

HOME&GARDENMatters

Although many of us want a gorgeous kitchen, for most of us a kitchen is a highly practical place, a room that must work harder and better than any other on a daily basis. One of the things that so pleases the Washington Park family about their new kitchen is the way it functions: the cutting board at the end of the island is near a small sink, so vegetables can be washed, diced and the scraps thrown away without a single step. “She’s a great cook,’’ Elisa Gordon, the cabinet maker and kitchen designer who worked to personalize the space for the homeowners, says of the wife, “and she needed her oils and spices nearby.” Although the wife at first wanted the oils right next to the stove, Gordon talked her into putting them in a cabinet on the island, right behind the range, so she can turn quickly, find what she needs and get back to what she’s doing. Gordon also put a large cupboard with plenty of space for large pans nearby, as well as a drawer for her spices. The layout also includes an appliance garage, a pull down cabinet that sits on top of

the countertop and hides the blender, the mixer, the food processor. The one in this kitchen has an electrical outlet and is large enough that the appliances never even need to come out of the space. They just get pulled to the front when used. A kitchen designer may seem like a luxury. But if you’re a cook or have a busy family life, then experts agree that a good kitchen designer is a great place to spend your money. Often cabinet companies have a designer on staff, and include a design as part of their package. And big box retailers like Lowe’s and Ikea employ people to help you plan. If you decide to go it yourself, Gordon recommends that you give a great deal of thought to how you will use your space, and plan where everything will go before you install the new cabinets.

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5 Steps

to get your garden ready for spring splendor BY KATIE BLISS

With the arrival of the vernal equinox (this year, it’s March 20 at 7:02 am), Mother Nature is telling us it’s time for warmer, longer days, but our plants and trees are well on their way out of dormancy and poised for their spring fling. And what can you, homeowner, do to help them along? Here are five steps to get your gardens and grounds ready for the season. Just following these simple steps will get you well on your way to months of outdoor enjoyment in a healthy and happy garden.

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Trim your Tree  Late winter/early spring is the perfect

time to shape small ornamental trees. Without the distraction of leaves or blossoms, all dead, damaged or diseased branches are readily apparent. If a limb has any of the 3-Ds remove the branch; do the same for crossed branches, which can cause scarring and become entry points for pests and diseases. Finally, assess the tree’s silhouette. If it’s to your liking, stop there.

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Spring Clean

 Spring Clean – Once the soil has lost its sogginess and the newspaper has disintegrated, rake the beds and remove debris to clear the way for your bulbs and perennials (plants that come back each year). If you didn’t do it in the fall, cut down ornamental grasses before the new growth emerges as well as the dead foliage on emerging plants and groundcovers such as hellebores, hosta, liriope and daylilies.

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Divide and Conquer

 As your perennials start to develop, see what plants are outgrowing their spots and divide them. The best way is to dig up the entire plant, separate the clump using two opposing spading forks or a knife, and then simply replant the pieces where you choose and water well. It’s an inexpensive way to multiply plants in your garden.

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Weed and Feed

 Last year’s weeds most likely left a few seeds in the garden. Before they can germinate, cover your garden with newspaper and place compost or manure on top. Within weeks, the newspaper will disintegrate, the weeds will be suppressed and your beds will be ready for planting. And while you’re at it, consider testing your soil. Call the Essex County Master Gardener’s Hotline at 973-228-2210, M-F, 10 - 3 p.m. or stop by their offices and get a soil kit. For $20 plus postage, the professionals at Rutgers will send you a comprehensive evaluation of your soil, including fertility, nutrient data and recommendations for fertilization.

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Contain Your Excitement

 Containers bursting with spring flowers will add color and brighten any spot in the yard. Start with a container with drainage holes, fill ¾ with potting soil – do not use garden soil – and add your favorite spring bloomers. Be aware of the plants’ sun/shade tolerance when selecting varieties. For a mixed container, there’s the adage of thriller (a tall, interesting plant), spiller (trailing, such as ivy) and filler (bushy) to complete any sized pot. Once all the plants are in, add soil, a bit of fertilizer, water well and admire!

Katie Bliss lives in Maplewood with her family and cranky chocolate lab. She and her husband are the owners of Bliss-Full Gardening Services, www.blissfulgardening. com or on Facebook which offers tips and advice for the home gardener.

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GETTY PHOTOS

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COVER STORYHOME&GARDENMatters

The Thrill of the Hunt A South Orange home showcases its owner’s lifetime passion for collecting STORY BY MARY JO MALONE

PHOTOS BY JULIA VERDEROSA

TOP: Trent Wisehart with Tommy Hilfiger at the Tommy Hilfiger Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan. ABOVE: Wisehart’s South Orange living room is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note, while the fireplace and cabinets are lacquered in a glossy black that gives them substance and helps them to blend with a sofa of soft blue-gray cotton velvet. The room is a sophisticated setting for Wisehart’s global treasures.

The secret is out...Greenwood Gardens

a historic garden in Short Hills, New Jersey opens to the public!

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reated in a gilded age and restored in light of today’s best practices, Greenwood Gardens is an enclave

of historic ornamental gardens less than an hour’s drive from New York City. Beginning April 28, 2013, Greenwood will open its grounds to the public as a new cultural resource devoted to the appreciation of horticulture, preservation, and conservation. Photos: ©Ken Druse

274 Old Short Hills Road Short Hills, New Jersey 07078

973-258-4026 greenwoodgardens.org

Hours: Beginning April 28, 2013 Sunday 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Monday 10 A.M. - 3 P.M. Tuesday 10 A.M. - 3 P.M.

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The home is a palette of deep rich navy, white and black. “My favorites,” Wisehart says. “It might

As a thirteen-year-old, Trent Wisehart officially began collecting antiques in earnest. His first purchase after diligently saving his pennies was a barbershop pole circa 1890, which is still displayed in his beautiful Colonial Revival home in South Orange. His collections have since taken on global proportions: As creative director of Tommy Hilfiger Global Creative Services, he’s in charge of all the visual and store design. Tokyo, Amsterdam, Germany, Mexico and Peru are regular stops for him as he searches for the right pieces to perpetuate the Tommy brand in stores throughout North America. However, the collecting comes easily to Wisehart. “My passion for antiques comes from my parents, who are great collectors in their own right,” says Wisehart. Soon antiques turned into vintage clothing, to mid-century pottery even exquisite taxidermy pieces.

Trent Wisehart, shown here at home with Deacon, one of his four dogs, splits his time between South Orange and an apartment in Amsterdam, his employer’s European headquarters.

seem dark to others, but I realize that I’m truly comfortable in warm, rich tones.”

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Just like Tommy Hilfiger stores, his home is ever-evolving but always retaining the original imprint. “Almost everything in my home holds a wonderful memory or has an unusual story to tell,” he says. In fact, except for two chairs, and a sectional in the den, every item is a found treasure that is re-imagined, reinvented. And the collecting never stops. Graduating with dual majors in business and art history from the University of Iowa, Wisehart landed his first job at Ralph Lauren, the start of a creative trek combining his love of fashion and the business of merchandising for retail stores. More importantly, it allowed him to stay true to his roots in collecting and interior design. This came full circle at Tommy Hilfiger, where his love of fashion and collecting and travel coalesced into his very demanding dream job. In 1998 Wisehart was looking to put down roots. As a mid-westerner from a small town, he was charmed by South Orange, its myriad parks and trees and its small town feel. It was also close to a variety of airports, of paramount importance for a man who often spends more time in the air than on the ground. He bought his first house here, a small Dutch Colonial, where he lived until 2005. In an unusual twist, the house next door, built in 1896, became available at the same time he had been considering a move to a bigger house. The deal was soon signed and in collaboration with Michael Hoeft, whose expertise is in space planning and bath and kitchen design, Wisehart began to reinvent this larger space. It took four years to complete the project. “The first and perhaps the most important decision,” said Hoeft, “was that the house flow properly, so we changed the original dining room off the kitchen into a comfortable family room and the library now doubles as a dining space when needed.” Trent chose to display an edited version of his grand Wedgwood collection in the library, making a dramatic statement as the pieces are displayed on multiple shelves on the largest wall in the room. KITCHEN: A midcentury chandelier hangs above an antique table in the kitchen; the sink fittings and wall tiles are by Waterworks.

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March More Matters 2013

Exceptional Dentistry

Our “whole health” approach can take your dental health to another level. We’ll have you sleeping better, easing headaches and looking better than ever. See how we do it! www.KevinMuench.com

Wisehart hunts for items to decorate the Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide. In Brimfield, Massachusetts, the site of the largest outdoor antique show in New England, Wisehart comes prepared with a 36-foot trailer, five people to carry items from booth to truck, twoway radios so they can fan out and relay finds, custom “Tommy” tags to mark their merchandise, and cash. 2129-20 glossy Soot on the staircase

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Chair Repairs and Seat Replacements Free Gift Wrap • Open Tues. – Sat. 10 am – 5:30 pm or by appointment Eileen and John Dilley • 89 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ 973-763-3166 www.beeandthistlegifts.com

“May your thirst for life never run dry” Experience the best of Ireland’s Pub traditions Family Friendly • Good Cheer Raw Bar on Fridays 4–7 p.m.

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NEW YORK TIMES

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Some of the gorgeous paint choices of Trent Wisehart; all are by Benjamin Moore NC- 154 Hale Navy in the Living Room

2129-30 Blue Note in the family room

2128-60 Beacon Gray (for some ceilings)

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THE

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HOME&GARDENMatters A four-year renovation transformed a porch into a sunroom, mudroom, and powder room. Wisehart collects antique taxidermy and animal statuary. This bear greets guests in the foyer.

“There is a significant difference between collecting pieces and carefully, thoughtfully editing out the good from the bad within a collection,” Wisehart explains. “It’s about creating an eclectic but curated environment. Throughout the house I’ve used a Greek key pattern; there are abbreviated collections of white porcelain in the living room, and the Wedgwood is in the library.” There are sculptural pieces introduced in each room, too, such as the startling anatomical torso from France whose chest, when removed, reveals models of human viscera. (It was used in the teaching of medical students during the 1900s.) The rooms are elegant, yet playful. Their rich dark color palette, all in Benjamin Moore paints, ranges from the deep glossy Hale Navy (living room) – his favorite color – to Soot (a glossy black) on doors, shelving and the staircase. He used soft plum tones in a striped wallpaper in the library. Another favorite piece that hangs in the library is a 19th-century gilt convex mirror with an eagle perched atop, given to Wisehart by his parents. In the foyer there is subtle ivory tone-on-tone chinoiserie wallpaper. The ceiling is a striking mahogany bead board combined with crisp white beams. A print of his favorite John Singer Sargent painting, of a young Vincent Astor as a naval ensign in 1919, rests on a restored mid-century modern console beside a pair of more contemporary lamps. Each room has an added surprise element. As you enter the foyer, you’ll meet the newest addition to his family: a small bear (not living!) placed comfortably between two restored chairs covered in navy velvet. The accent pieces are a multi-colored custom rug in square sections and a custom-made opaque white circular glass ball 25 inches in diameter. It all works. The look between the rooms is seamless, inviting and extraordinary. All the walls are painted in a high gloss candy-coated finish in a deep navy, including the crown-molding. “What you might think is that it takes away from the molding when, in fact, it enhances it,” says Wisehart. “My choices for ceiling colors are soft blues to gray white – never bright white, as it actually stops your eye, making the room seem smaller.” Throughout the house crown molding was painstakingly recreated when efforts to save some remaining sections of millwork and the cove ceiling in the library were ruined by a water pipe break. Each lighting fixture in every room is spectacular and exceptional. The classically-inspired renovated kitchen combines old and new aesthetics – an interpretation of old world feeling with a modern sensibility. The color range is a mix of subtle hues in grays, whites and blacks. A mid-century black and brass crystal chandelier hangs over the farm table that doubles as an island. The cabinets are black with antique brass pulls. All of this is juxtaposed with countertops in statuary marble and a contemporary fireplace with a modern gas flame that burns in a straight line. “We had found a beautifully preserved fireplace in the original subway tile,” Hoeft recalls. “However, through a mistake it was partially demolished, and we had to rethink what to do. So we used a smaller subway tile in statuary marble, which is very white with some gray and gold marbling to give it a sleeker look.” All of these pieces are reclaimed, renewed and reinvented. True to Trent Wisehart’s distinctive style, there is always a new treasure to be found on his exotic travels; but all roads eventually lead back home to South Orange, where the treasure also finds a new home and perhaps a new form.

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“I know how to make smart moves!”

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HOME&GARDENMatters

Paint it Exterior painting concepts

F

or many of us, painting the outside of our house is not only a major investment, it’s completely anxiety-ridden. Who among us has not made numerous trips to the paint store for swatches or tiny pots of trial colors; engaged in endless discussions and consultations with spouses, neighbors and friends; agonized over two shades of yellow, beige or green? We are not simply painting our house: we are presenting our face to the world, giving all who pass by a brief, revelatory glimpse of the souls within: bold, sedate, classic, modern, sensible, not. The paint sometimes says it all, or at least we think it might. But fear not. There are plenty of places to turn for help when the time comes to give your house’s skin a new coat. House painters themselves are wonderful resources. They often have suggestions for your house, or even addresses where you might go to take a peek at different shades. We asked several of our area’s best to provide some of their favorite color combinations. You’ll find them below. And paint stores and paint manufacturers have plenty of good ideas and tools to help. Some websites allow you to “paint” your house,

29 salter place maplewood

2129-40- Normandy

CC-10 - Ultra White

(Composed RLVM248 by Ralph Lauren)

2131-10-Black Satin

house painted by Olger Fallas Painting 973-885-1461 www.olgerfallaspainting.com

126 maplewood avenue maplewood

HC-12 Concord Ivory

OC-17 White dove

PM - 9 - Black house painted by George Mera/INDEPENDENT Painters 973-444-1956 www.independentpainters.com

330 richmond avenue south orange

2085-10- Arroyo Red

2130-30 - Almost black

2148-60 Timid White house painted by George Mera/INDEPENDENT Painters 973-444-1956 www.independentpainters.com

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or one like it, with your chosen colors. They also contain pallets of colors for your style of house. And stores sell small, trial size paints that allow you to slap a few different colors on your siding, to see what might work best for you. Additionally, both painters and paint professionals can point to things you might never have thought of. For example, • The roof, driveway and chimney are existing elements that won’t be painted but that should play a role in determining your color choices. For a façade that’s partially stone, for example, using a similar color will add visual harmony. If the fixed colors are intense, like a terracotta tile roof, a neutral color will bring balance. • Select colors that fit in with the surrounding palette. If you have brilliant-colored spring

blooming trees or a sea of green foundation plantings, choose colors that will complement them. • Don’t clash with the neighbors! Choose a color scheme that is compatible with the other houses on your street. • Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. While everyone likes to feel they’ve made their own choice, often tweaking classic color combinations is easier and safer. • Doors and shutters are the best places to utilize an accent color. Bold colors that contrast with the body of the house add personality and pizzazz to your home. Benjamin Moore, the 129-year-old American paint company, tracks color trends to help guide homeowners. Here is some local inspiration. Then take the plunge, and beautify and protect your home for years to come.

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3 Great Agents 1 Great Team

Susan Blodgett, ABR

Regula Ehrlich, ABR

Broker/Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Cell: 973-214-4636

Cell: 973-715-0039

[email protected]

Angela Cockman, CNE Sales Associate

Cell: 973-951-5451

[email protected] [email protected]

With total sales over $105,000,000. Strategic Consulting for Sellers and Buyers. Specializing in Fine Homes in Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn, West Orange, Summit and surrounding towns. 145 Maplewood Avenue • Maplewood, NJ 07040 • 973-378-8300 ColdwellBankerMoves.com ©2012 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.

9 everitt place maplewood

HC-154 - Hale Navy

103 Baker Street Maplewood Village

40 salter place maplewood

HC-116 Guilford Green

543 - Woodland Hills Green

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HC-159 Philipsburg Blue

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HOME&GARDENMatters

Curb appeal makes a great first impression!

Front to Back Sensible planning works beautifully in the long run

GRAND ENTRANCE When you assess your lot and how to use it, don’t overlook your front yard. A front yard – even a small one – can be the source of a great deal of beauty, pride and curb appeal. Bill Scerbo, host of the popular radio program Our Towns, Our Streets, Our Gardens and a professor of landscape architecture at Rutgers University, suggests using your front yard as a garden welcome mat. The Maplewood property pictured above is, like so many locally, on a hill. Scerbo says its location “made for an intimidating climb” to the front door. “By reconfiguring the steps in a more meandering way – sweeping the property rather than straight up,” he says, “visitors now take two steps, then there is a bit of break where they can admire the landscape, take a breath and continue to enjoy the view on the way up.” In making the yard pleasant viewing in all seasons, Scerbo chose plants that do well in the sun and bloom at different times of the year, as well as those things that provide a nearly constant source of green; included are grasses, ground cover, carpet roses, nepeta (catmint) and some hardy annuals. Shadier front yards are a bit more difficult, but a mix of hostas is a good place to start. Also don’t forget to add visual interest by picking plants of different heights; foundation evergreen plants like rhododendron and azaleas, along with hydrangeas, make lovely back drops for long-blooming perennials like salvia and Russian sage, along with showier, more transitory blooms like peonies, day lilies and carnations.

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MAPLEWOOD STATIONERS

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Use your space wisely.

To create a little flower is the labor of ages. - William Blake

Take Note:

William Scerbo Landscape Architect, 973-763-5830 Blissful Gardens, 201-306-1607 www.blisfullgardening.com

STYLE MATTERS Look carefully at your site, ask yourself plenty of questions, and note any problems. For instance, is the yard overshadowed by a neighboring house or a tall tree? Which areas, if any, get the sun? Are there any eyesores you would like to disguise? Then ask yourself how you want to use the space. Do you enjoy gardening and want to devote most of the space to plants? Or do you want an area that requires minimal maintenance? Would you like to be able to use the space for parties, or do you need a play area for children? “Do something interesting,” Scerbo advises. “But make it appropriate to your home.” This thoughtful backyard plan, designed by Scerbo, features several levels of terrace that lead to the yard and a play area. A well-conceived master plan can find spaces for all the different desires of the homeowners: play set, an area for dining and for grilling and cooking, even for basketball. The spaces can all be integrated, even in a small footprint.

HOME&GARDENMatters

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dream kitchen for sale

butlers pantry

Furniture quality Plain & Fancy cabinets are topped with granite counters and a tumbled marble backsplash in this designer kitchen. The fixtures are Grohe and the appliances include a GE Monogram refrigerator, Miele dishwasher, warming drawer, beverage/wine coolor, Viking gas cooktop and wall ovens. The center island breakfast bar is perfect for a quick meal and there is plenty of space for an eating area.

28 Euclid Avenue in Maplewood is a spacious Dutch colonial artfully combining classic charm with modern amenities. Architectural detailing defines the lovely gracious rooms. Outside, the patios and fenced backyard add to the living enjoyment of this home. Listed by Robert Northfield, Maplewood top realtor. To view a professionally produced video, floor plan and full brochure tour visit www.28EuclidAve.com.

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HOME&GARDENMatters

Vintage Vision

This South Orange restoration features reclaimed materials - some from the original 1870 property

A

n old house is charming, but it can also come with a great deal of work. Such was the case with the South Orange Victorian Bob Barnett purchased in 2009. Luckily, Barnett, who’d just swapped his corporate coat and tie for his dream job of design-and-build, was more than up to the task, and invigorated by the prospects and possibilities. And so, over the last three years, he has completed a ground-up restoration of his Milligan Place home. He started with the kitchen, which housed an original pot-belly stove, vented through a brick chimney. He took a sledgehammer to much of the room, removed the stove and tore out the chimney, though he held on to the bricks, repurposing them as the surround for the new stainless steel oven and hood. He used more of the bricks as the base of the kitchen’s island. The island is topped with a stunning piece of reclaimed wood from the property’s barn. “It was most likely used as a carriage house for the horse and carriage,” Barnett explains. But the falling-down structure had little appeal, except for the doors and wood, which he managed to reuse in many ways. And it opened up the back yard. On a strict budget, Barnett opted for cabinets from Ikea, but skillfully reworked them to make them custom-fit. “I was going for a bit of an industrial look,” he says, explaining that this works beautifully with a period house if the colors flow and the scale is correct. For the counter tops he chose Caesarstone – a ground-up quartz composite that allows for the consistent color he wanted. The backsplash is glass

Brick from the old chimney was used as the base for the island and around the new stove and hood.

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Zakiya’s Way

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Floral Designs

ZW

Zakiya Munnerlyn

973-391-3429 973-996-2396 1921 Springfield Avenue Maplewood, NJ zakiyaswayfloraldesigns.webs.com Specializing in all your floral needs

new collections

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The walls are painted Behr 790D-5 Squirrel

The island is topped with wood from the property’s old barn. (above)

mattersmagazine.com

$75off tile, while the floor’s porcelain tile has the look and feel of slate. The barstools are the Stella model from CORT furniture. All products were sourced locally from home supply stores. The beautiful casement window over the sink was a score from ReStore, the Morris County Habitat for Humanity warehouse which sells donated building supplies and furnishings, some new, some salvaged. “This store has amazing finds,” Barnetts says. “The room of just windows was overwhelming.” Barnett’s entire home is a transformation, preserving the best of this vintage Victorian and yet giving it all it needs to function beautifully for the next century.

HOME&GARDENMatters

resources The ReStore

Open Wednesday through Sunday, located at the corner of Route 10 West and Salem Street 274 South Salem St., Randolph, NJ 973-366-3358 www.morrishabitat.org/restore Save 50-90 percent off retail costs selling donated building supplies and furnishings, both new and gently used. The money raised by the ReStore finances Morris Habitat’s mission of building decent affordable housing in partnership with volunteers and families in need.

Barnett Design Build

Bob Barnett, AIA 108 Milligan Place, South Orange 973-735-3027 www.barnettdesignbuild.com photos by Mike Cuttitta, Barnett Design Build

COMPLETE FRAMING PACKAGE EXPIRES 6/15/2013

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HOME&GARDENMatters

House Swap Exchanging residences is an economical, comfortable and fascinating way to vacation far from home

A

BY TIA SWANSON

few years ago, Amy and Tim McGlinn traveled to Pamplona, Spain with their three very young daughters. It took them nearly a full day to get there and, exhausted and jet-lagged, Amy immediately appreciated that they were staying in a house, not a hotel. “You need to chill out,” she says. “We shut the doors, shut the windows and some of us slept for 19 hours. Housekeeping didn’t knock on the door. There was stuff to eat in the fridge.” The catch is, of course, that while the McGlinns were living like natives in Pamplona, the folks from Pamplona were living the same way in the McGlinns’ Maplewood home: driving their car, sleeping in their beds, rooting through their refrigerator. It’s called house swapping, and, long popular in Europe, is gaining traction here. Although house exchange may not be for everyone, there’s a group of enthusiastic locals who look upon it as the best, if not the only, way to travel. And free accommodations seem to be only the starting point. “You go (first) because you want to save money,” says Patty BrownChristenson, who has swapped homes with Spaniards and Italians and opened her doors to families from Namibia and South Africa. “You return because you want to experience that cultural exchange again.” Indeed, Brown-Christenson has remained in contact with all of the families who have temporarily lived in her spectacular South Orange home. It’s not hard to imagine while folks from all over the world would want to come to Brown-Christenson’s house, a grand 1930s Tudor that sits

The McGlinns had the charming cottage (below) in Stockhom and a pretty porch for their children (bottom right) while in Spain.

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The Brown-Christenson family in Pisa, Italy.

+

+ YOU = AWESOMENESS

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atop South Mountain and has sweeping views of Manhattan, as well as a pool. But Brown-Christenson said the house is not the selling point, the location is: Families in these two towns seem to have no trouble lining up exchanges, and no complaints from those who come. While Manhattan is the draw, the towns’ easy access to other major cities and the coast is a huge asset, as are the villages themselves. Europeans who have stayed in Brian Kelly’s typical Maplewood home near the country club tell him, “We feel like we’re in an American movie.” They enjoy venturing down to our quaint village, and shopping locally. “They all love King’s grocery store,” he reports. Kelly is married to Trent Oliver and they have two young children. The family has traveled to Germany, Paris and Spain

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March More Matters 2013

A speciAl plAce for your child…And you

The Brown-Christenson family in Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain, 2008 and in Sienna, Italy in 2011.

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HOME&GARDENMatters

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43

Spring Series for

The Kelly-Oliver family stayed (below) in a lovely Paris apartment, and later shared their Maplewood house with their Spanish exchange family (left).

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over the last several summers, and this year is planning a trip to Italy. Kelly says his chosen house-exchange website has many robustly middle-class Europeans – doctors, lawyers, teachers, architects, graphic artists and the like – with young families like his. Like so many who choose this route, Kelly and Oliver are inveterate travelers. Indeed, the program seems to draw flexible, easygoing types who want more than anything to see the world. And because many exchanges include the use of each other’s vehicles, often the only major expense is the airfare – and many get around that with frequent-flier miles.

Kelly says they couldn’t take a vacation if they had to fork over money for hotels, rental cars and taxis. As it is, they get to see the world. Of course, it doesn’t always go without a few glitches. The Spaniards with whom they traded homes last summer didn’t get flights that quite matched with theirs and so were still in the Kellys’ house when they got back. No matter. The family has a spare bedroom, and they enjoyed meeting the folks whose house they’d just vacated. The houses are sometimes less than what they seem onscreen. But BrownChristenson insists that the houses don’t really matter. Like those who come to her home,

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March More Matters 2013

The Figdor family traveled to Finikounda, Greece.

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she says location is everything. “It’s not about the house,” she insists. It’s about being there. She recalls gathering for communal dinners in the back yard her Spanish hosts shared with their neighbors and longtime friends. No one really spoke each other’s language, but that didn’t seem to matter in the least. There were long, laughter-filled dinners that started at 10 or 11 at night and went into the wee hours of the next morning. Her boys are now 22, 20 and 18 and she thinks the experiences they’ve had traveling to Europe and living like locals have given them the same passion for the great world that she’s always had, and even shaped their identities. She tells the story of living in a small coastal town in Italy, frequented by the Italians themselves. There were no other Americans around. “The boys were totally infused in the life of the town,” she says, so much so that they got invited to a neighborhood party, caught the small bus down to the center of town on their own and, when they’d missed the last one home,

hoofed it over the mountain back to the house. And Amy McGlinn remembers that her daughter had to go to the local hospital not long after they’d arrived in Spain. The McGlinns don’t speak Spanish, but their au pairs had always been native Spanish speakers. And her 5-year-old understood everything the doctor said to her. As awful as that experience was, McGlinn remembers how astonishing it was to feel that her daughter could get along somewhere else in the world, even at age 5. Of course, the houses also can be spectacular. Last year, the McGlinns stayed in a Stockholm suburb. It was like being at a summer vacation house, McGlinn says – the town was on an island with great access to the beach and also had a beautiful lake in the center of it. The house fronted that water. “And we were 20 minutes by light rail from Stockholm,” she says. Meanwhile, Bill Figdor and his family spent several weeks in a red clay tile roof

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village in the middle of the Bordeaux region in France and another fortnight in a small fishing village in the Peloponnese Islands in Greece “right across the street from the Mediterranean.” In the evening they’d dine on fresh fish at one of the little eateries on the beach. Some doubters worry about sharing their home and possessions with strangers. Christenson is sanguine about this, both because she connects with those who are coming, and also because she believes the only really irreplaceable things in the house are the people in it. Others, she says, can’t get past the fact that a stranger will be sleeping in their beds or, worse, they’ll be sleeping in a stranger’s bed. “I sleep in someone else’s bed every time I go to a hotel,”

she says with a shrug. I n e v i t a bl y, t h o u gh , Brown-Christenson, like others who exchange, ends up feeling like those who come to her house are not strangers, but kindred spirits. She recites all of these interesting similarities: the family that, like her, had three boys; the American woman living in South Africa, who had grown up in the same small upstate New York town she did; the house that had the same light fixture as they do. She says that traveling the world with her children, living like natives abroad, is only the second best thing she has done for her boys. The best was raising them in South Orange/Maplewood. She loves the towns; she loves her house; and the fact that she is sharing it with folks from all over the world makes her happiest of all.

HOME&GARDENMatters

how to house swap?

Do a Google search for home exchange and any number of web addresses appear. You can afford to be picky. Look around for the one that seems to suit you best. All of the families we talked to seemed happy with their companies, and the four of them were working with three different providers. There is a fee associated with membership – usually around $100 annually, although the second year is often free if you don’t find a match the first. Some of the services also offer monthly memberships. The three home exchange companies in our story inlcude:

www.homelink.org www. intervac.com www.homeexchange.com It’s easy to browse the homes and get a sense of what houses are available, and where. Good luck!

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March More Matters 2013

HOME&GARDENMatters

Common Ground Digging some local dirt

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The South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden is located on the front lawn at 220 Prospect Street, South Orange.

The Hilton Rain Garden is located next to the Hilton Library, on Springfield Avenue between Tuscan Street and Tuscan Road.

year ago, Chris Dickson, the founder of Rent Party, was a neophyte gardener with a grand dream. This year, he says, he is “still not a gardener,” yet thanks to his vision and the help of many others, he is the point man for a latter day Victory Garden, officially named the South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden: a marvelous vegetable patch that sits on the front lawn of the South Orange Elks Club and feeds some of our neediest neighbors. Last summer, the garden’s first, estimates are that the patch produced a half ton of tomatoes, lettuces, peppers, eggplants, squash and herbs. Most of it went to local food banks and senior centers, providing fresh, healthy food to folks who too often go without. Jespy House, the South Orange organization that helps developmentally disabled adults live full, independent lives, also took several beds. Two or three times a week, Stephanie Cohen took a small, rotating group of Jespy House regulars up to water and weed and harvest their beds. They would bring their produce back and the cook would use it in their lunch. They even had a salsa-making demonstration on the steps of the Elks Club. And they also donated some of their excess food to the food pantry. “It was a great cycle for them to see and be part of,” says Cohen, adding that the salsa-making and lunch demonstrations were particularly helpful. “I think it’s great for us to talk about a healthier lifestyle, but when they saw it being done, it meant so much more.” Dickson says that planning is already underway for this year’s garden. The group is hoping to track what veggies were the most popular so they can target their produce better, and they plan to add a few more beds. They are always looking for volunteers, gardeners or not, to help with the watering, weeding and grunt work. If you’d like to be a part of it all, you can send an e-mail to [email protected]. Meanwhile in Maplewood, the Maplewood Garden Club continues to build on the results of an environmental grant awarded them in 2011 by the New Jersey American Water Company to build a rain garden as a community project intended to help protect our watershed. A rain garden is a landscaped, shallow depression that collects rainwater as it runs off impervious surfaces, and apart from its aesthetic appeal it serves the very practical function of capturing and filtering storm water runoff at its source, before it can enter storm drains and waterways. The project is in a 1,300 sq. ft. area of excavated lawn next to the Hilton library. The garden collects runoff from the library’s roof and its 6,000-square-foot parking lot, and recharges about 150,000 gallons of water each year. The steep sides of the pit had to be reshaped to a more gentle slope, and edging was installed to prevent the surrounding lawn from invading the garden. The club is in the planning stages of building a “Monet-like” bridge over the swale end of the garden so folks can cross over without having to walk through or all the way around the garden to reach the lawn from the library. For more information on how to share in the beauty of the garden and learn how rain gardens benefit the local water supplies and enrich the environment contact www. maplewoodgardenclub.org.

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March 2013 The Magazine of Maplewood and South Orange since 1990

On your laptop, Android, iPhone or iPad. On Facebook and Twitter. All issues, online, all the time.

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GARDENS

GUIDE

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March More Matters 2013

tWelcome a guest with fresh flowers, such as these charming lilac roses, $25. Zakiya’s Way Floral Designs, 1921 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood. 973-391-3429, 973-996-2396 www.zakiyaswayfloraldesigns.webs.com

z Custom

framing can complete a room, such as these lovely ideas from Mona Lisa Framing. From about $100 you can transform a favorite piece or add something new to the walls (see coupon on page 39). Visit their new location at 7 Highland Place, Maplewood. 973-762-2777 www.monalisaframing.com

zAspen Bay silver tin candle would be ideal on a bedside table. Orchid scent, $14.Perch Home, 9 Highland Place, Maplewood. 973- 821-4852 www.Perchhome.com

yYour guests will appreciate a luscious bar of herbal soap, handmade with locally grown and all-natural ingredients, $8. Bee & Thistle Antiques, 89 Baker Street, Maplewood. 973-763-3166 www.beeandthistlegifts.com

uOne piece can jump-start the inspiration for a guest room (or any

BeGuest Our

room) as with this stunning “Bella” lamp. Handmade locally with blown glass and copper on the base topped with an embroidered silk shade and distinctive finial, $680. The Tenth Muse Gallery, 170 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood. 973-313-2722 www.thetenthmusegallery.com

tCoffee in bed is a lovely way to greet overnight

guests. Serve it hot in Le Creuset’s cassis-colored gem, $11.95 Kitchen a La Mode, 19 South Orange Avenue, South Orange. 973-821-5145 www.facebook.com/kitchen-a-la-mode

qBe seated royally in this almond-stained distressed

solid mahogany chair with antiqued toffee-crackle paint finish and soft linen-cotton covering, $599. Far Fetched Imports, 245 Rt. 10, East Hanover 973-887-4144 www.farfetchedimports.info

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your room in the finest fabrics for bedding, upholstery or accents. Duralee tribal prints in violet and azalea; lavender flocked geometric. Peruse through thousands of beautiful samples from $29 per yard. The Decorating Store, 980 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union. 908-688–9416 www.thedecoratingstore-tme.com

q Dress

up a nightstand or dresser with some vintage inspired cut glass knobs, $9 $12. Kimaya Kama, 108 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange. 973-762-2385 www.kimaya.com

tWalk on velvet with this

hand tied wool heirloom quality rug from Nepal in vegetable dyes of plum and rose, 9’4”x7’4” $3700. Michaelian and Kohlberg, 315B Springfield Avenue, Summit. 908-522-1004 www.michaelian.com

Our Team is Growing! 

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Thinking of Making a Move? Come Visit Us in the Village

Interested In a Real Estate Career? Join the Most Successful Office in Town

145 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07040 Office # 973-378-8300 www.CBMoves.com

Call Michael Pennisi Branch Vice President Cell Phone # 908-656-3858 [email protected]

All Information Taken from the Garden State MLS. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed ©2013 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. Subject to errors and omissions. Please disregard if your property is currently listed.