NORTHJERSEY . COM | THURSDAY , NOVEMBER 5 , 2020 | 7LF
ASPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE RECORD
Homescape
INTERIOR DESIGN ❚ HOME IMPROVEMENT
Think winter readiness now , not later
Put heating , chimney and snowblower on to-do list
By FRAN J . DONEGAN SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER MEYER
Createdby Akiko Ida and Pierre Javell in an edition of 5 , Slice is aChromogenic c-print mounted on plexiglass . Interior designer Jennifer B . Meyer , ofShort Hills , ‘ framed ’ the art in a unique niche behind abanquette in akitchen redesign .
Artwork and objects artfully framed and displayed
By KATHIE ROBITZ SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE
Design pros say it all the time ,
the most interesting homes have lots of personality . And one of the best ways to give your home personality-plus is with art that not only speaks toyou , but about you . While not everyone can afford an original piece of fine art , there are alternative ways to decorate walls artfully and make an impactful design statement .
Alternative , or non-traditional art , is not anew idea . However , itistrending now , both in contemporary and traditional interiors .
EXAMPLESOF NON-TRADITIONAL WALL ART AccordingtoMichaelFitzsimmons , owner of Westwood Gallery in downtown Westwood , people traveling for business orpleasure often pick up interestingitems they want todisplay when they get home .
“ Back in the day you might buy asouvenir from astreet painter in Paris , for example . Now you might be traveling to amore far-off or exotic destination , Thailand for example , and you don ’ t necessarily find street painters there .” Instead , people are
PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTWOOD GALLERY
This original Bruce Springsteen concert poster , circa 1973 , was preserved by Westwood Gallery . Thebottom portion is a high-resolution scan of the poster ’ s reverse side , authentically recreated by Westwood , as well .
more likely to bring back interesting objects and artifacts to showcase in their homes .
“ I have aclient who has one whole wall , displaying different jewelry pieces , relics , and antique pieces she ’ s acquired from Tibet and places from around the world ,” he adds . “ In another case , we have a client who brought home a rug made of horsehair that had beendyed in different , very contemporary colors so it looks like an abstract painting . Ibelievethe rug was made in India , but it came from the Congo . “
Alternative art can come in many formats , and not necessarily such unusual ones . It may be objects from nature , such as fossils , feathers or shells .“ Or it can be a sentimental thing ,” says the gallery owner . “ We do alot of Hermes scarves . They are just beautiful . The dyes on silk are so rich .” FROM JUST-FOR-FUN TO FABULOUS
Then there are other types of objects that may qualify as art , or “ pop art ,” Fitzsimmons explains . “ One example is the Campbell soup dress , called the ‘ Souper Dress .’ It was made of cellulose , paper really , back in the 70s , after Andy Warhol .”
This was a novelty you could wear . “ Campbell sold that dress for $ 1 and two soup can labels . The ones that survive today make a great conversation piece partly as an example of ’ 70s fashion in away , but also as pop art .” In fact , Fitzsimmons framed one
See ART & OBJECTS , Page 8LF
The change in seasons usually means a change in the to-do list around the house . We are moving from mowing and weeding into leaf-raking season . And the approach of the cold months ahead means anew set of chores to get our homes ready for winter .
There ’ salot to get done this time of year . But among the most important tasks are having the heating system serviced , having the fireplace chimney inspected and cleaned , and making sure the snowblower is ready to tackle the first big storm of the season .
Of course , this is no “ normal ” year . The professionals contacted for this article made a point of stressing the precautions they are takingwhen dealingwith theircustomers . Contractors and technicians who visit their customers wear masks and gloves , maintain social distancing and , in general , limit close contact . It ’ s reasonable for you to ask about such precautions when scheduling appointments with contractors . HEATING SYSTEM TUNE-UP
There is nothing worse than having your heating system conk out on awinter ’ snight . But you can help avoid that by having a professional inspect and tune up the system before the cold weather sets in .
“ Even with newer systems , it is critical that the system be cleaned ,” said Mike DeJoseph of Bloomfield Cooling , Heating and Electric in Little Falls . “ In newer systems everything is electronic . When dust sits on the components they can overheat and fail .”
During a pre-season tune-up the technician will make sure the system is running smoothly . In addition to cleaning the system , he or she will check the overall operation , the wiring and all connections . They also make sure the thermostat is calibrated correctly . Furnace filters will be changed , and any accessories , such as air purifiers or humidifiers , will also be serviced .
Many homeowners receive annual maintenance as part of a service contract with a heating contractor . There are a number of different types of contracts . Some cover mostly all costs if the system breaks down , but others cover a specific list of problems . But practically all contractors “ give priority to contract customers ,” said DeJoseph . “ If our contract customers have a problem , they go to the head of the line for repairs .”
Furnaces and boilers tend to be long-lasting appliances , but sooner or later they will need to be replaced . Asystem approaching 15 or 20 years of operation can be losing its efficiency , especially if it has not been maintained . According to DeJoseph , some signs it may be time to consider a new system include “ heating bills that are going up , and the system is making strange noises .”
CHIMNEY SWEEP TIME
Few things are more cheery or warming than a crackling fire in the fireplace . But to keep the fire burning safely , it is important to have the chimney inspected and , if necessary , cleaned annually .
Wood-burning fires produce , among things , creosote that attaches itself to the insides of the chimney . Creosote is corrosive and can damage the chimney liner , and in a worst-case scenario it can cause a chimney fire . The only way to remove the creosoteand soot is to have aprofessional chimney sweep clean the flue .
See WINTER READINESS , Page 8LF
Designed for Living
Accommodating special needs
The Designer : DianeBoyer , ASID , certified , Diane Boyer Interiors , Verona , NJ , dianeboyerinteriors . com The Challenge : Creatingaluxurious personal haven for awheelchair-bound older gentleman with special needs .
Diane Boyer
TheSolution :
My client is asuccessful , dynamic gentleman who has been wheelchair-bound for more than three decades . As aresult of severe spinal injuries incurred in an automobile accident , he is on oxygen 24 hours aday and requires round-the-clock nursing care , as well as intensive in-home physical therapy .
Despite this , he has maintained his position as amajor playerinthe investment community , is an avid antique collector and is renowned for his stellar Burgundy wine collection , factors that played key roles in the transformation of his traditional 20,000-square-foot home . With acomplete staff to attend to his needs , we could create his own personal senior citizen facility . Doorways and halls were widened where necessary and floors was adjusted to remove any saddles raised between flooring . Carpets were secured with avery thin
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAKE LITCHMAN
Awide hallway includes storage for part of the owner ’ s vast collection ofBurgundy wines , which he can easily access fromhis wheelchair . The antique Chinese carpet , like all the carpets in the home , is secured with athin non-slip padding . The ormolu and blue glass lantern are Northern European fromthe late 19 th -century. non-slip padding . Since he spends most of his time in the master bedroom suite and the adjacent office , itwas designed so that everything he needs is there to make him comfortable and keep him engaged with the world . There are multiple television screens , access to the office from both the bedroom and the bathroom , and a luxurious commode room which , at times in his health journey , is in use for long stretches .
Furniture , carpets , chandeliers
The spacious master bathroom was faux-painted by Darin Olsen in awave-like blue to mirror the pond and waterfall outside . The space is dressed to the nines with Kravet fabric valances that echo the pond theme , walnut flooring edged in stone , afine Peking carpet , a custom inlaid stone mirror , a Queen Anne-style chandelier with coordinating sconces and an antique cabinet with silvered bronze mounts . The massage table and exercise equipment were positioned to take advantage of the views . The sink area allows for wheelchair access .
and wall sconces all came from the owner ’ s vast collection of antiques , which were cataloged online . Designated pieces were brought into the home for evaluation . The final choices were repaired and restored .
The furniture plan , including the positioning of the massage tables and exercise equipment in the master bath , was designed to take advantage of the views .
The strong color schemes are based on marble , onyx and granite tones that the client developed a passion for . The palette highlights the colors and textures of the elegant furnishings , from bronze doors and period furniture to rare carpets and antique light fixtures .
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers ( ASID ) offers a resource for consumers interested in obtaining the services of aqualified professional interior designer . For more information visit Find a Pro section at www . nj . asid . org .