Located in the lush suburban neighborhood of Englewood, New Jersey, this 1957 ranch house originally offered three bedrooms and two and a half baths on its steeply sloping site of .42acres with a terraced backyard and a pool. When the 4,000 square foot house, with its humdrum exterior and neglected interior, was bought by two accountants with ties to the arts - he produces music events on the side while she picked up a strong sense of design working in the office of Pei Architects - it lacked the space and style the couple desired.
The first order of business was to make the entrance and staircase into a showstopper. Visible through a glass front from the street, the open-riser oak stair is central to the entrance sequence. On arriving, you pass under a glass-railed bridge connecting the upper-level spaces and into the main living space, where the open layout and architectural elements can be appreciated.
The two-story foyer offers expansive views of the interior as well as the exterior. The space is flooded with natural light from the tall windows and skylights, and the owner chose a Modo chandelier by Jason Miller to complement the straight lines of the architecture. A double-height oak screen on one side of the stair filters the view and the light into the dining room and the study above.
The three-story house now offers6,200 square feet of living space, with large windows and skylights throughout to usher in light and expansive views of the lush surroundings. On the main level are the living room, dining room, kitchen, and a half bath, as well as three bedrooms and a full bath. The homeowners anchored the living room furnishings with a beautiful blue rug discovered on a recent trip to Turkey - a stunning backdrop for the iconic Noguchi coffee table.
The lower level has areas for entertaining and access to the backyard and pool, while the upper level is more private, with the master bedroom suite - including a pristine master bath swathed in marble and glass - and a study with a private rooftop terrace over the garage. The house has three central fireplaces, one per floor.
