Interior Designer: Kathleen DeParis, Ridgewood
Architect: Bill Petrone, Glen Rock
Builder: Rich DeLuccia, DeLuccia Construction Co., Wyckoff
Custom Woodwork: Gary Lutjens, Westwood
Interior Designer: Colleen Bashaw, Ridgewood
Landscape Architects: John Meeks and Dan Muller, Blue Meadow Farms, Franklin Lakes


If walls could talk, what a tale this house would tell. It was built as a small shingle-style cottage more than a century ago in Ridgewood and has been home to generations of one family. In the late 19th century, the family patriarch purchased a tract of land in the west end of town, setting down roots and establishing close community ties to the village. In 1906, his son built a cottage on the land for his expanding family. For the next 10 decades, the home would pass down from father to son, and in 2008, the fourth-generation son and his family took up residence. But time had taken its toll on the original cottage, and it faced an extensive renovation.

"My husband, like his father before him, grew up in this house and loved the feel and character of the shingle-style cottage," the homeowner, Lisa, says. "But it was timeworn, and we knew that we had to tackle a major home project literally from top to bottom. We wanted to preserve the original integrity of the home, but it was necessary for it to have all the conveniences of today's modern home."

Looking to pull together an expert team that could successfully renovate their home, the owners called on the professional expertise of local designers, artisans and craftsmen. "Every person who worked on our house possessed amazing talents and skills," she says. "And working together with all of them truly was a labor of love."

Family Room
Creating a comfortable feel for the family room was a top priority. With three teens, a mini Labradoodle named Buddy, and numerous gatherings with friends and neighbors, the family room sees its fair share of activity. "This room has to be forgiving in fabric and furniture choices," says Kathleen DeParis, an interior designer and close friend who worked collaboratively with the owners on the 10-month renovation. "Here is the hub of the home where on any given day there are teenagers hanging out or family members dropping in for a visit. It was important for my client to be able to seat large groups of people in a comfortable setting. The coffee table, custom designed and crafted, anchors the room and provides ample space whether it is used for a business meeting or for game night with the kids." Other design features of the family room include a custom-built TV and media unit on one wall, a fireplace at the back wall and a sitting area with French doors leading to the back porch. Many of the home accessories can be found at DeParis' boutique and office, KDP Home on East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood. A longtime supporter of local artists, the owner chose paintings for this room and throughout the home from the Ridgewood Art Institute.

Front Rooms
The foyer is wide and generous in dimension, offering a gracious entry to the home. The crystal ceiling-light fixture was found on a shopping trip to antique galleries in Stamford, Conn. (Top, right) Next is the wet bar area, strategically located between the family room and kitchen. A framed Chinese print purchased by the husband as a gift to his wife is displayed in a sitting nook. "She wanted the hallways and foyer area to be roomy so that when hosting large gatherings, there would be plenty of space to maneuver from room to room," DeParis says. "It was our mission that we find the right balance of traditional and contemporary when we were choosing colors and fabrics. We wanted to create a sense of timelessness for the interiors." Among the many fine artisans who worked on the home, the owner credits her builder, Rich DeLuccia, for tackling the project with great enthusiasm and organization. "Rich has an easygoing personality," Lisa says, "and any glitch we ran into was addressed by him with confidence and a smile. All his contractors were top-notch craftsmen who took great pride in their work. And best of all, Rich built our home in the 10 months as promised."

The owner's office, which was once the home's dining room, showcases the home's original glass windows, which provide abundant light. Decorated by friend and designer Colleen Bashaw, the office is warm, bright and feminine and is the perfect spot for the owner to catch up on her duties as the co-founder and president of a melanoma cancer awareness organization, The Promise Foundation.

Dining Room
A study in classic elegance is the dining room. Beautifully proportioned, the dining room is awash in subtle shimmer and shine. Recessed ceiling lights and a gorgeous antique crystal chandelier add sparkle to family celebration dinners. With all leaves in, the gleaming mahogany dining table comfortably seats 20. It was important for the owner, who comes from a large family, that the room be large enough to host family events. "We really wanted to create a stunning stage for this room," DeParis says. "The chandelier is a magnificent piece, and the accessories like the crystal lamps and silver pieces all add that special touch of pure elegance." A mirrored sideboard nestled under a trio of windows overlooking the landscaped grounds is a piece from Colleen Bashaw.

Kitchen
When planning the design and dimension of the kitchen, it was imperative to the homeowner that the room be spacious but warm and cozy. "She is a wonderful cook, and entertaining is second nature to her," DeParis says. "Unlike most new home renovations, she wanted the state-of-the-art kitchen to be separate from the other living spaces. She wanted the kitchen to be timeless and simple and to give it more of a traditional setting." Cabinetry is in soft cream and finished in a chocolate glaze. Lighting by KDP Home of Ridgewood lends an air of classical sensibility. Home flooring is in a stain-resistant and low-maintenance porcelain tile in a large brown and white checked pattern. Countertops are in Calcutta gold marble, backsplashes are of a taupe-hued subway tile and the oversized eat-in island features base cabinets in distressed black. "I had the pleasure of working with a true craftsman, Gary Lutjens, who crafted many of the wood pieces in the home," Lisa says, "including those in the kitchen, wet bar and master bath. I would show him a picture of what I was looking for and he would create it. My black distressed island and my chocolate brown entertainment unit in the family room are probably my favorite pieces." Bright, cheery and user-friendly is how DeParis describes the kitchen dining area. Roomy bench seating with seats and backs in a soft orange laminate seagrass and a large table custom crafted by Lutjens and finished in distressed black anchor the spot DeParis says is the heart of the home. "The family makes a point of having dinner together as often as they can," she says. "We went with bench seating because it affords the ability to add a few more at the table. It creates a fun and relaxed setting."

Master Bedroom Suite
Comfortable but chic is the design scheme for the master bedroom and bath. "She wanted the master suite to be a private sanctuary. A room that offered peace and quiet," DeParis says of the warm blue, brown and cream hues chosen for fabrics and wall treatments. "We found most of the room's furniture, including the nightstands, from shopping trips to Stamford, and the brown linen headboard with nail heads was a terrific find at Restoration Hardware." Making the room cozy is a raised marble surround gas fireplace and built-in reading nook overlooking the park-like grounds. The master bath is wrapped in warm shades of taupe and cream. Serene and spa-like, the bath offers a double sink vanity, a steam shower, a whirlpool tub, a separate water closet and a makeup area. "To add a little more natural light to the room, we designed a transom window for the top of the door of the water closet," DeParis says. When crafting plans for the renovation of the home, architect Bill Petrone suggested adding a sleeping porch off the master suite. A door opens out onto an expansive porch that offers a birds-eye view of the acre of property. "It is a wonderful place to escape to relax," Lisa says. "We were so incredibly lucky to have worked with Bill Petrone on this project. He understood our needs and executed them to perfection. He is a tremendous talent and a great visionary. He truly understands the details of the shingle-style home." Petrone adds, "The homeowner grew up on the property, and we were inspired by his love of the original small cottage-style house. The forms, materials and details were selected to render a seamless transition between the old and new. In many ways we tried to pay homage not only to the family's past but also to its future."

The Children's Rooms
Fun, fresh and modern is the teen girl's bedroom suite with its color palette of turquoise, chartreuse green and creamy white. "I worked closely with my client's daughter on picking colors and fabrics for her room," DeParis says. "She wanted a look that was classic but chic and that could transition with little changes as she grew up." The chair and ottoman were the homeowner's from childhood, and both were recovered in new fabric and trim. To accommodate overnight friends, a trundle was created for the antique iron bed. "We had such a great time together pulling together the room," DeParis says. Sports are a top priority for the boys, and their rooms reflect their passion for their local teams. One of the boys' rooms, which is original to the home, features a built-in window seat that overlooks the front of the property.

The Outdoors
Off the kitchen is the covered bluestone porch and patio complete with outdoor fireplace and sitting and dining areas. At the time of renovation, the heavily wooded property was overgrown and in much need of creative architectural landscaping. John Meeks of Blue Meadow Farm in Franklin Lakes created a stunning backyard oasis where the family gathers during the summer months. A pool, an ample bluestone sun patio, lush garden beds, and a large side-to-side "playing" field where the teens and their friends can host pick-up soccer or lacrosse games complete this picture-perfect oasis. "John and his assistant, Dan Muller, really understood what we were looking for when designing and developing the backyard property," Lisa says. "I wanted the outdoor space to be just as comfortable as the indoor, and they delivered an amazing vision." The outdoor furniture is from Backyard Living in Ridgewood.