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91Reflecting the couple who live there, the home is a happy marriage of distinct styles—a mix of traditional and
modern, daring and muted, form and function.by a dramatic dining room on one side and an
equally impressive library on the other.
“Since they’re the first things people
encounter, we wanted both to make ‘wow’
statements,” says Wolf. “We wanted them
to ‘talk’ to each other, so both rooms are a
complementary mix of classic design elements
given sleek, modern aesthetics.”
“We love to entertain, and this room lets
us do it in style,” the husband says of the
dining area. “It’s a fun and elegant space. We
particularly love the ceiling and the live edge
wood table.”
Wolf designed the millwork ceiling—
painted a semi-gloss black for maximum ef-
fect—to showcase the glittery brass and glass
Sputnik chandeliers. The ambience-setting
smoky glow enhances the luster of the
Jonathan Adler chairs, which were reuphol-
stered in a textured metallic vinyl that is as
visually arresting as it is easy to clean and
maintain. The two semi-custom end chairs
upholstered in black leather with brass nail
heads add to the air of polished posh. The
custom live edge wood table, supported by a
brass base, is topped with agate candlesticks
from John-Richard. On the floor, a custom
hide rug in a geometric pattern offers practical
elegance.
“I love using real hide,” Wolf says. “It’s
natural and durable, hides dirt and gives
warmth.”
A striking mixed-media portrait of Kate
Moss by the artist Mr. Brainwash enlivens
the white fireplace. And the walls—bedecked
in metallic grasscloth by Phillip Jeffries—do
“talk,” speaking volumes about the room’s
opulence.
That same air of contemporary elegance
permeates the stylish library, a study in dra-
matic contrasts. Underscoring the room’s tra-
ditional millwork and architectural features,
the backs of the pre-existing bookshelves were
given high-gloss coats of black paint while the
sides and shelves were left white. This black-
and-white color story was punctuated with
custom details, such as the furniture’s pat-
terned upholstery, the hide area rug and the
white sateen drapes with black velvet drops.
To keep these components from overpowering
the room, all other millwork was washed in
neutral white. Unifying elements carried from
room to room were evident in the metal coffee
table, the pair of Sputnik table lamps, the
sleek Regina Andrew light fixture, the Gabby
mirror, the Ambella sofa and the carefullycurated decorative shelf items, all personally
styled by Wolf.
“We brought in every single piece in this
room,” Wolf emphasizes. “The only excep-
tion was the bulldog in cast bronze metal.
That was theirs. At first glance it seems out of
place, but it works. It adds an unexpected, fun
element.”
In the great room, Wolf ensured visual
interest with pops of color. She handpicked
every object on the large gold metallic coffee
table with an eye for overall flow, symme-
try and color choices drawn from the large
abstract painting by French artist JM Robert
(a find of Wolf ’s, which the owners loved).
The fireplace—framed in rich Calcutta white
marble with black streaks—was painted an
almost-black navy blue, which was comple-
mented by the navy-and-white patterned
drapes on either side. The authentic rustic
wood floors were given new life with a custom
mix of warm brown shades. Joining form with
function, deep blue velvet sofas invite a visitor
to sink into luxurious comfort.
This sense of relaxed sophistication ex-
tends to the kitchen, which features the same
Calcutta marble used for the great room’s fire-
place and other unifying brass and leather ele-
ments, such as those used for the metal hood
and island stools. Custom touches include
the wood cabinetry and appliance-covering
surfaces painted in soft gray. The large wood
island, in an oil-based black stained with a
matte finish, imparts a warm, natural feel
while the shiplap ceiling and the X-shaped
designs on each side of the island reinforce
the home’s farmhouse roots.
Nearby, an intimate family room beckons.
It’s cozy and comfy, but far from conventional,
thanks to plush leather lounging chairs, a
custom-textured ottoman and a brick fireplace
totally revamped with metal sheet plates and
adorned with a classic masterpiece given a
graffiti-type twist.
Room by room, piece by piece, this livable
showplace became a home where its inhabit-
ants—young children included—can enjoy
and celebrate the art of life. Instead of a “do not
touch” museum quality, the vibe is of inviting
spaces imprinted with the family’s immersive
perspective of beauty, warmth and comfort.
“We love working with Karen,” says the
husband. “She captures a consistent flow in
a house with different tastes and unique ele-
ments to create a home that’s livable and has
our distinctive stamp.”NJ
Home|^
91GAL.s19.ASID_WOLF.indd 91 2/28/19 10:31 AM