DesignNJ_JuneJuly2023_Digital Issue

She also knew the home would have to be suitable for the couple
when they were alone as well as when their children and grandchildren
visit. “They’re a very close family,” she says. “I had to make it kidfriendly
and practical, but also elegant for when they entertain.”
That elegance begins in the entry. “The foyer feels inviting and
interesting,” Karp says. “When you open the door and walk inside,
a console catches your eye with its blue-gray lacquer finish and legs
that face different directions, one made of satin brass. It’s more modern
against the traditional staircase.” The staircase itself, which Paragano
designed, is a work of art, Karp says. “I’m obsessed with that handrail,”
she says. Along with the console, a modern chandelier balances the
traditional style of the staircase. “You see the chandelier on three floors
The living room is a good spot for quiet contemplation or to enjoy an impromptu
concert when the owners’ daughter stops by to play the piano.
so it had to be long and yet had to feel open and light because the
stairwell isn’t that big.”
In the often-used family room, two ottoman tables break up the space
in front of a long sectional, allowing people to move around more freely
than if there had been one long ottoman. The upholstered edges of the
ottomans provide a comfortable place to rest feet, while metal inserts in
the center double as game tables for a family that enjoys board games,
Karp says. “Faux crocodile upholstery on the ottoman tables and a cutvelvet
zigzag pillow add a fun vibe,” she adds.
When anyone prefers a quiet chat rather than watching television
or playing games, the living room is just a few steps across a hallway,
offering places to sit on a comfortable silk mohair sofa or modern
swivel chairs covered in wool sateen. The rooms aren’t oversize, but the
10-foot-high ceilings on the main level create a spacious feeling. Karp
took advantage of the high ceiling and chose a dramatic chandelier with
dark glass shades to add a moody note. “It’s modern but elegant,” she
68 June/July 2023