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Home for the Holidays
At Christmastime, this extended family wouldn’t be anywhere else
WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MARKSBURY
W
hen the owners of this
spacious Kinnelon home
moved in 2005, their three
children were 15, 12 and
5. Even though the kids are
now grown, they wouldn’t
miss the rituals and traditions that come with being
with family for the holidays — and the gatherings
aren’t limited to the siblings and their parents. On
Christmas day, the house usually accommodates
more than 40 celebrants, including 13 nieces and
nephews and their own families.
24
HOLIDAY 2017 WAYNE MAGAZINE
A SEASONAL WELCOME
The wreaths and topiaries that greet guests at the door are permanent fixtures
that are highlighted to suit the season. (Opposite) When guests enter the foyer,
they see the living room immediately in front of them. The staircase, which has
been decorated by Joanna Policastro of Seasonal Surroundings in Waldwick,
plays a key role in family lore. Every Christmas, the owners’ three grown
children gamely descend the spiral staircase while their parents take videos of
them. The high ceiling, an estimated 20 feet above the entryway floor, adds
to the sense of grandeur. On the foyer tabletop, the topiary is surrounded by
a Llardo nativity set that the husband bought for his wife 29 years ago, when
they were first married.
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