4H ❚ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
P
HOMESCAPE / ADVERTISING SECTION
Vintage Living:
A sentimental journey
nuity to our homes
and our daily lives,” says
decorating style of four of
Richter, explaining his three
Richter’s close friends. Each
C’s of Vintage Living. To that
home is an example of what
end, his home is far more
the designer calls “living his-
than family furnishings; it is
tory.” Beautifully preserved
filled with cherished photos,
architectural elements
old greeting cards, and hand-
like original plank flooring,
written notes tucked about
pocket doors, and leaded
to create that all-important
glass windows serve as a
sense of place and define
rich, authentic backdrop for
his home with texture and
each homeowner’s unique
meaning.
collections, including antique Bob Richter’s Vintage
“I’m proudly sentimental.
books, garden statuary, and Living: Creating a Beautiful In fact, a visit to my home is
Home with Treasured Objects a bit of a sentimental journey
Quimper china.
“All sentimentally valuable from the Past.
for my friends and relatives
items bring comfort, connection, and conti-
as it’s full of art, furniture and objects that
have personal history for
us,” he explains. “Financial
value may have its place, but
it’s the emotional value of
objects that make a house a
home.”
Because he has “too
many collections to count,”
Richter lives by a few basic
design principles. “When you
have a lot of stuff, symmetry
and color can harmonize
it. Anything arranged by
color is more pleasing to the
eye, as is a collection that is
assembled in a way that looks
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL YUND AND BLAKE DRUMMOND orderly and unified. I also rec-
A vintage Christmas tree nightlight sits atop the stove.
ommend considering lighting
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1H
A large mirror over the buffet opens up the dining room. Found art objects, colored glass
and pottery, a dining table chair and a vintage pedestal table complement the space.
to create importance around a collection
or to showcase a prized piece.”
Among his hard-to-resist collecting
categories is “kitchenalia.”
“My favorite vintage kitchen pieces
are typically from the 1920s to 40s,” says
Richter, “and include a mid-century pixie,
a Parisian taxi sign, my Nana’s coffee can-
ister, and a grilled cheese sign from an old
Woolworth’s store.”
Although he never misses an opportu-
nity to mark a holiday with keepsakes he’s
collected over the years (or newfound trea-
sures from area flea markets and estate
sales), no holiday surpasses Christmas.
In addition to 20 uniquely themed
Christmas trees, his home is a seasonal
stage for family heirlooms like his grand-
mother’s choirboy candles. “My Nana
bought them at Woolworth’s one year,
the only decorations she could afford then,
and they sat on her buffet every Christmas
for decades. Now they’re on a table in my
living room.”
Even if your own vintage ornaments or
other decorations have been lost or broken
over the years, Richter is quick to point out
that yard sales, flea markets, and antiques
stores are a can’t-miss source for vintage
collectibles. “You’ll likely find decorations
that are virtually identical to ones you
knew and loved.”
Whether you start this holiday season
or resolve to make 2020 your year of
vintage, there’s no better place to find
ideas and inspiration than Vintage Living:
Creating a Beautiful Home with Treasured
Objects from the Past.
Home Inspection: Fix-its!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2H
But any signs of buckling or bulging is a red
flag that there is a structural issue.
Concrete block foundations are sensi-
tive to pressure. “Step cracks, where there
is deflection from one course to another
indicate a problem,” said Lesh. “Horizontal
bulging of blocks is another serious sign.”
To correct foundation problems a struc-
tural engineer may recommend buttressing
the walls or pouring additional footings. The
source of the problem also needs to be cor-
rected. In most cases, the source is water
affecting the foundation. “Sometimes some-
thing as simple as redirecting downspouts
or re-grading the area around the foundation
can correct the problem,” said DiClerico.
The average cost to correct foundation
damage is $4,000 to $10,000.
Other potential big-ticket repairs include:
n Buried fuel oil tanks. They should be
removed, even ones that were decommis-
sioned and filled with gravel. “Insurance
companies will not insure a house that has a
buried tank on the property,” said Barthold.
n Termite damage. It costs about
$2,500 for heat treatment to get rid of the
termites, but then any structural damage
has to be repaired.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
The foundation of a home should always be checked for cracks and structural damage.
WINDOWSSIDINGDOORS
Another Job Made Simple.
GUTTER & LEADERS
WINDOWS
SIDING
ENTRY DOORS
$1,000 OFF
any Window Project.
Call For Your Appointment
This is a ONE Time offer
* Cannot be combined other offers Only valid on initial purchase.
5 window minimum. Limit one per customer. Expires 12/31/19.
201-518-2405
NJ HIC #13VH09633200
NR-GCI0320367-07
FINANCING
AVAILABLE
No Interest and No Money
Down for 24 Months