Montclair Magazine Back-to-School 2018 | Page 53

INSIDE, LOOKING OUT (Above) The open back half of the first floor features a breath- taking cantilevered wood- burning fireplace, reinforced with steel, that’s visible from the dinette and kitchen; in this photo, decorative geodes are displayed on its floor. The homeowners selected the paint color, stain of the wide scraped maple planks and furnishings. “The room has a ‘lodgy’ feel, with the fireplace and old wood floors,” says Perlstein. “You can be together in the big room, or go off to more traditional semi-private areas like the living room and dining room at the front of the house. There are options.” The ceiling in the family room area (at right) is higher, reinforcing the sense of a separate area for relaxation. > MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE BACK TO SCHOOL 2018 51