Outside In and Inside Out
Interior Designer Joan and her husband Yoav Levy spent years wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and Manhattan. So they found a house in an area far away from the smog, and Joan decided to redesign it. The contractors have left, and with them, the noise of the cities. They finally live embraced by nature's beauty.
The 2-story single-family house with a footprint of about 2,300 square footage is conveniently situated in a secluded, elevated clearance surrounded by acres of woods. Wildlife, vegetation and fresh air are abundant. Downtown Sparta, which was once a popular vacationing spot in Northern New Jersey, is only 1.5 miles away.
Designer Joan gutted the entire house in order to create an open space to let ample natural light pours in. Inspired by the tranquility and beauty of nature, she invited key elements of earth, wood, stone, waterfall, river and ocean color into the house. With sleek, clean and geometric patterns in contemporary style she has created exciting experiences throughout the space.
The openness of the foyer welcomes family and friends with a focal point where a "Niagara" light fixture resembles waterfall coming down to nourish the "earth", which is contained in a custom geometric sculpture with hidden light source, that in turn springs into a "river" floored by natural river rocks. The river, a casual spot for having good foot massage, with wood-square inserts to carry out the idea of a bridge one would find in a rural village, leads to an elevated spa area behind a saltwater aquarium, and further on to the master bedroom addition, which juts out from the original footprint and onto a rock garden.
The spa houses a top of the line whirlpool tub and its deck provides seating to read and relax. Its enclosure is entirely clad by Brazilian walnut planks for durability, natural beauty, warmth and ease of maintenance. Custom LED backlit graphics of scattered rings and circles resembles bathing bubbles and brings out the spa atmosphere vividly. A frameless frosted glass door leads to a shower stall to allow a cold shower after a hot spa, or vice versa. The spa opens onto an attached balcony in a rocky, grassy backyard surrounded by woods and hills.
The excitement doesn't stop here. There are many things to take in; including the dining room facing gallery display of artistic Yixing clay teapots, a special collection of the designer to honor her father who taught her the art of tea drinking, sitting inside 1' squared white cubes with backlit fixture installation. These white cubes project out of the contrasting body in ebony with cheery veneer, that opens up onto kitchen with a bench in between for additional seating where a piece of Apple Martini by CaesarStone is topped. The dining room and kitchen join together visually as one open big unit yet different layers and intriguing viewpoints are created. Bright white, ebony and fresh green have adorned these spaces to create a clean and contemporary look. Frosted glass panels address kitchen walls for ease of maintenance.
One of the designer's favorite spots is a huge custom green box sitting in front of the dining room window facing north-west, which provides casual seating where the glory of sunset can be fully appreciated. To correspond with the geometry pattern of those white cubes, green box, and foyer sculpture the designer has custom designed a dining table with perfect square base topped with a piece of 4'x8' CaesarStone in eggshell white.
Another favorite is the dramatic 9' long landscape window framed in fuschia color in the exterior wall of the master bedroom addition, to allow homeowners a glorious 4-season view of nature each morning when they wake up.
Follow through the "Outside In and Inside Out" design concept is the calming and subtle changing hues of glittery ocean water introduced throughout living and working space. Verticality, depth and layers of the space is emphasized by sculpting a 2-floor height solid wall into four identical panels with 4" wide gaps in between where LED accent uplights are installed, and custom designing an open-riser staircase with solid oak in ebony stain. Pattern of the oak grains visually mimics ocean waves. Continue the theme of water movements is the application of Treefrog lapiswood straight grain veneer lamination on the 4 vertical panels facing living room, in bluish and purplish shades; other side of the panels (joining the stairwell) is painted in bold blue green, which transits to the golden hues in the rest of the working space seamlessly.
The fireplace is custom made and painted in purple with suede texture, becomes a focal point in the living room. There is a Feng Shui placement in the east corner of the space, that opens up on to the aviary addition built out on the original deck portion, with a small opening allowing Buddha, a handsome cat, jumping back and forth visiting Maui, the pet cockatoo friend. The bird house is walled with windows, making it part of nature.
Artwork are plentiful. Among them, a watercolor painting "Wish" by the designer is hung on a custom built structure in the master bedroom, which visually divides the sleeping chamber from dressing area. In the sitting room on the 2nd floor is a collection of b/w prints photographed by Yoav Levy over the years.
To respect nature, the designer has employed numerous green products throughout. Significant projects include installation of solar panels, low voltage electric radiant heat system, instant tankless water heater, low-E windows filled with argon gas, LEDs and CFLs, dual flush toilet, Energy Star skylights and appliances, induction cooking, recycled glass mosaic tile and bamboo flooring.
Luxury, comfort, and efficacy are not spared. The designer has chosen top of the line materials and designer products like Siena Lighting from Italy, Kohler Consonance whirlpool (with color therapy) and vessel sinks, Hansgrohe Axor brushed nickel fixtures, Duravit toilets, CaesarStone, Omega Kitchen, Calligaris leather furniture, Italian porcelain tile, Valli & Valli hardware and luxurious bedding to name a few. The house is fully wired with hi-speed cable internet, wireless connection, and VOIP technology. Sleek custom built-ins and furniture clad by cheery veneer in a combination of ebony and glossy white are integral parts of this contemporary interiors.
A friend who recently visited the house has concluded this way: "It's a fully functioned, artfully achieved modern home full of personality and positive energy. On top of that, one can savor the best of what nature has to offer while enjoying the process of one's spiritual cleansing."
TEXT BY: JOAN LI, OF ORIGINAL INTERIORS LLC
PHOTO BY: JEFF KWAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND YOAV LEVY STUDIO
ALL PUBLISHING RIGHTS ARE RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 2011 ORIGINAL INTERIORS LLC
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