Hello to our Faithful Followers as well as Newcomers to our blog alike!

I hope you are all sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions this 3rd week into the New Year!  One of ours here at GreenRose Fine Homes was to increase our Speed and Resourcefulness with regard to our creative process. As those of you who have followed our blog well-know, we at GreenRose Fine Homes and GreenRose Staging and Interiors feel strongly that, if you are in the business of home renovation or simply looking to add some zest into your own Home, you should be focused on creating a really strong design, based in traditional elements.  I’m not saying that every home needs to have  a traditional design, but I am saying that the changes and renovations that you come up with should enhance those traditional elements while making it more convenient for modern living.  Nothing makes me crazier than seeing what was once a beautiful home bastardized over years of “modernization”  to finally be left being simply a shell of it’s former self and transformed into something it’s not, something that’s plain ol’ ugly.  True greatness in design takes what was once there, and enhances and modernizes, while maintaining a consistency with it’s intrinsic root element.

As you’ve all probably heard us say it time and time again, when marketing a home, the “Devil is in the Details.”  In order to achieve that level of greatness, the key is to effectively communicate with one’s architect and, more importantly, with one’s contractor exactly what one’s expectations are.  To that end, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” and leaves little room for mis-understanding.

At our latest rehabbing project, we wanted to create a Family Room/Den from what had been transformed into a bedroom for an aged parent no longer capable of climbing stairs.  previous to that, this room was a back porch.  To do so, we looked around this wonderful space that was flooded with full sun-light from a wall of windows stretched across the entire back wall of this house which looks out over the finely manicured gardens in the backyard and asked ourselves, “What does this space cry out for?”  We all came to the same conclusion – that it was critical to bring a warm, yet elegant, fireplace to this wonderfully large, yet not quite “homey” enough space.

My time as a Real Estate Agent has taught me that the most important question on the mind of every single buyer, regardless of their budget, race, color, creed, ethnicity, financial circumstances, etc. is simply, “Where will I put my TV?”

To accommodate the needs of the modern family while also addressing the basic limitation of the space, I designed a Fireplace that enhances some of the historical aspects of the house (built circa 1902) and includes an space above the Mantel to which a large, flat-screen TV may be mounted.  In addition, custom designed bookshelves flanking either side of the Fireplace serve as display shelves for the family’s collectibles and books above with deeper, door-fronted cabinets below to store the electronic equipment for the TV.

No, I’m not fishing for compliments, but I do want to hear your thoughts and feedback.  So shoot us a comment, even if it is just flattery:)  All feedback is welcome!  Happy Designing!!!

It’s been a long hiatus, but we haven’t been sitting idle after the sale of our first property. We’re on to the next! Take a look…

Front entrance to 512 Belleville Avenue, Glen Ridge NJ

Our fantastic general contractor, Extreme Homebuilders of New Jersey, is now more than half way through the interior demolition and we’ve already filled one big dumpster! This week, exterior demolition will start with removal of all the old vinyl siding…to be replaced with “hardy board”,  a cement composite material made in the configuration of wood clapboard.  More on that soon…

Entry Foyer

This gracious foyer will be completely transformed by new lighting, refinished floors and painting the original  stair woodwork a clean, crisp white.

Living room

Note the beautiful french doors which we’ll paint the same crisp white. The floors will be refinished and the walls will get one of our favorite (and most versatile) paint colors,  Cloud White, by Benjamin Moore.

Dining Room

The Dining Room is really of grand size and scale with an original gas fireplace  that we’ll restore. And we’re very excited to discover  the original framing of a stained glass window (located between the two other windows).  That original piece of stained glass is now long gone, but glass artist Joseph Pappa, of Premium Glass in Asbury Park, NJ., will be creating a new piece for us.  You may remember the piece Joseph did for us on our last project (below).  We’ve decided that we’d like to add a stained glass piece to each of our projects whenever possible.

The stained glass window at 6 Adams Place in Glen Ridge, NJ

Bedroom with orange shag carpeting

Bedroom #3 out of a total of six had lots of design elements going on at the same time; paneling, wallpaper, shag carpeting. It happens. But by the time you read this, the carpeting will be gone, the walls skim coated and ready for paint.

3rd Floor Bathroom

This is a full bath on the 3rd floor of the house  (one of 5.5 baths).  We are keeping the original floor tiling, sink and claw foot tub. All faucets, lighting, mirrors,  etc.  will be brand spanking new!

There will be more progress photos as we move along so stay tuned!

Our Latest Acquisition - 512 Belleville

2 pairs of Custom French Doors - 512 Belleville

Our latest project, a turn-of-the-century 6 bedroom, 5 1/2 bath home right here in Glen Ridge, NJ, will, we believe, definitely prove to be our greatest Rehabbing undertaking yet.  In order to transform this grand lady of a home back into it’s former glory while incorporating the conveniences of modern living, we knew that it would require the vision and talent of an architect who would understand what we had in mind during our conceptualization process.  As such, we chose to work with the architect with whom we’ve entrusted our own home.  In order to give it the makeover it most desperately craves, we’ve hired our good friend and brilliant architect Jonathan Perlstein, Oasis Architecture, to realize the dream and vision we have for this magnificent home while adding his own personal touch and experience to the design process.

In an effort to gain more insights about what makes this creative genius “tick”, GreenRose Enterprises’ Steve Moran interviewed Jonathan:

Steve:  Jonathan, tell us about yourself and your firm and of whom is it comprised… do you have additional architects/apprentices with whom you work?

 Oasis: Oasis Architecture was founded in 1999 by Jonathan Perlstein, after working 20years in NYC offices on a wide range of building types. 

 Jonathan always has one or two assistants helping him out, but is in his heart  a hands-on architect who enjoys seeing designs flow from his head, onto paper and into reality.

Steve: What style of architecture is your favorite/do you find most exciting with which to work?

Oasis:  I believe “style” is the character actor – the sidekick to “design” —   which is the lead actor, the hero.  Design is the innate understanding and execution of excellent proportion, detailing, and handling of materials.  Other facets of design include the inspired introduction of natural light and views, an integration of the building into the landscape or streetscape, and a feeling of openness and space balanced by warmth and habitability.  These principles will be found in successful examples of every “style”, from every era.

Wayside "Before" picture compliments of OasisArchitecture.com

 Steve:  What current trends in family living style which influences architectural design do you find most appealing?  Least appealing?

Oasis:  I am a firm believer that oversized, awkward,  and poorly detailed structures of all kinds are detrimental to society and destroy the human spirit. 

Wayside "After" photo compliments of OasisArchitecture.com

 

 Steve:  Which of your firm’s projects are you most proud and reflect your own personal taste/style above all others?

 Oasis:  I still enjoy walking by 349 Park Street in Upper Montclair. It looks like it’s been there since the 1910′s but was built in 2001. 

Steve:  Who do you consider to be the great “masters” in architecture that you call upon for inspiration?
Oasis:  The great masters must include Frank Lloyd Wright.  Nothing  is like walking through his work  -  no photo does justice to his contributions.  Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute is magnificent as well, a work equally of spirit and material.  I also deeply enjoy simple farm buildings.

Steve:  What classic features used by the “masters” do you utilize most often in your designs?

Oasis:  I always look to balance proportions and scale throughout the project, and set up inviting vistas and light wherever possible. 

Steve:   What do you feel would be the primary reason that a real estate investor/rehabber should use an architect?

Oasis:  A fine architect understands the timeless qualities of excellent design, and can skillfully apply these qualities to the bottom line goals of the client.

We at GreenRose Enterprises are excited about our upcoming project with Jonathan and look forward to seeing our combined vision come to life!  For additional information regarding Oasis Architecture, please feel free to visit their website at http://www.oasisarchitecture.com/.  Happy Designing!

Yesterday we were discussing tile, specifically the Serenity Series from Olympia Tile below.

photo from olympiatile.com

“Art Deco followed in Art Nouveau’s footsteps in that it also paid homage to beauty, but it was a more ‘modern’ interpretation. The Machine Age was well underway at this time and function became an important requirement again. The rounded, scroll, naturalistic motifs of Nouveau were replaced with geometric, angular and streamlined motifs like zigzags and chevrons (notice the difference in designs in the two lamp pictures above). Function was important, but not at the expense of beauty and decoration.”  from www.art-deco-style.com

 

Art Nouveau Lamp photo courtesy of art-deco-style.com

 

Art Deco Lamp photo courtesy of art-deco-style.com

 

Art Deco is found everywhere; architecture, jewelry design, furniture, interior design, apparel. For all you Art Deco enthusiasts, check out today’s NYTimes Home Section here.

photo courtesy of espasso.com