MEMORABLE MEETINGS
home
Epic Estate On land where director Cecil B . DeMille grew up , ahome ’ s décor shares inspirational themes
WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
Though Mark and Terry Charnet moved into 3Sunny Knolls Court 24 years ago , it was acouple years later on atrip to Rome when Mark had atransformative experience that would be reflected in the home ’ s interior design . So moved was he by a visit to St . Peter ’ s Basilica that he vowed to recreate the majesty of its Old Testament storytelling scenes in his family ’ s Wayne estate . To ensure asufficiently large canvas , he and his wife had aroughly 3,400-square-foot office addition built that allowed them to be close to their kids while operating their retirement and estateplanning company . It took three artists more than four years to complete the project , which the couple fondly refers to as “ The Basilica .”
“ I ’ ve never seen sellers who didn ’ t want to leave so much ,” says Jason Pierce , sales associate at Prominent Properties Sotheby ’ sInternational Real Estate in Tenafly . Nevertheless , heiscurrently marketing the property for them .
MEMORABLE MEETINGS
The one-of-a-kind setting of the office addition features a Maggiolini conference table with inlaid mother of pearl and wood of different colors that is protected by thick bevel-edged glass ; 16 chairscan fit around it . Opposite the table , there is room for 36 custom chairs that may be stacked and stored in a large electronics closet at the back of the room . A kitchenette includes a refrigerator , sink with instant hot water dispenser , marble countertops and wooden cabinetry , all of which may be discretely tucked away behind folding doors .
@ waynemagazine WAYNE MAGAZINE MAY 2023
25