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DESIGN by Z+ ARCHITECTS AND Z+ INTERIORS WITH LIMOR AND BOB REGULAR
PHOTOGRAPHY by MIKE AGHACHI
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
When Bob and Limor Regular went house hunting, they found a great location in Franklin Lakes. They were drawn to its secluded setting between two cul-de-sacs, which promised privacy while also being part of a wonderful neighborhood for them and their three young girls. The property’s views of forested hills and protected wetlands were also big draws. However, the house itself—a flat-roof, 1990s “Miami Vice-style” structure—wasn’t them. Another couple might have moved on. Not Limor and Bob. Undaunted, they purchased the property, demolished the original structure leaving only the elevated pool and tennis court, and set about creating their dream home from scratch.
The couple knew precisely what they wanted, and they weren’t going to settle for less. “My husband and I were determined to create a Hamptons-style home, but were surprised to find that this aesthetic was not common in New Jersey,” says Limor. “We faced the challenge of finding the right materials and had to get creative to find innovative solutions.” The process took three years from design to the July 2023 move-in.
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To bring their vision to life, they turned to Allendale-based Z+ Interiors and Z+ Architects, Jonathan Cantor and his construction team at Englewood Cliffs-based Signature Home Builders and custom craftspeople at Hawthorne-based MDM Woodworking, Cinnaminson-based Cottingham Ltd. and Ridgefield-based Evelin’s Creations.
The spectacular result: a 12,500-square-foot, Hamptons-style home featuring five bedrooms, six full baths, three half baths and a four-car garage on 2.5 acres graced with terraced gardens and beachlike vistas of tall reeds swaying in the breeze.
The couple was enthusiastically hands-on every step of the way. “We spent countless hours researching and preparing for meetings, describing what we liked and wanted, then providing hundreds of visual examples to reinforce the ideas,” says Limor. “The Z+ team would provide feedback reflecting the opportunities versus limitations of those ideas, then put them into 3D-digital images and walk-throughs so we could adjust and finalize a physical plan.”
Every detail—from a seemingly impracticable “floating” staircase to hidden gutters—bore the couple’s imprint. “They clearly expressed their priorities and preferences,” says Mary FitzPatrick Scro of Z+ Interiors and Z+ Architects. “Some favorite features included the open plan allowing for sweeping exterior views and the visually integrated interiors. Bob and Limor felt strongly about the staircase and main vaulted ceiling; these became the anchors supporting other spaces.” Scro, along with husband and business partner Michael Scro and colleague James Lischick, worked in close synergy with the homeowners.
“We didn’t want the kind of ornate, massive central staircases you usually see in homes of this size,” Bob explains. “We wanted something that ‘fit in’ with the home’s airy, warm spaces.” After much collaborative back-and-forth, the impossible became possible: At the entrance, coming off the left wall, visitors are greeted by a staircase, ingeniously constructed by removing a massive header beam and blowing out part of the floor, then using recessed lighting to silhouette the staircase so that it appears suspended in air, allowing for unobstructed views.
“The house provides a rare combination,” Michael Scro says. “Living large, and entertaining in a big way, while still maintaining an intimacy and warmth to support a quiet family night at home.”
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The light-filled open spaces celebrate the fusion of indoor and outdoor beauty. Front and back glass walls showcase gorgeous entranceway-to-backyard perspectives of nature in all her multi-seasonal splendor. Textural elements such as linen drapes and cotton upholstery harmonize with natural materials like wood and stone on furniture, flooring and decorative accents to create rooms that flow into one another like soothing coastal currents. Peaceful colors—crisp whites, soft blues and light grays—subtly reference seaside sophistication. The flooring—European white oak in a light finish— complements the neutral palette while imparting warmth. The minimalist furnishings, chosen for their clean lines and comfort, proclaim understated elegance.
The home’s architectural center, the soaring great room, is a majestic two stories tall and is crowned with a vaulted ceiling adorned with white oak beams. Framed by 20-footlong mechanical linen drapes custom-crafted by Evelin’s Creations, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and doors adds to the grandeur and panoramic spectacle. Equally impressive is the rectangular fireplace, encased in a 27-foot-high wall of Italian porcelain slabs from Porcelain Source in Roseland. A Restoration Hardware sectional and side chairs extend a cozy invitation to chill. Helping to enclose the vast space, a custom piece runs along the side and back of the sofa, its dark wood finish richly contrasting with the sectional’s white fabric.
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Seamlessly connected to the great room, a modern library offers a sunny spot to read and relax. A Restoration Hardware chandelier shines as a sophisticated focal point, while built-in bookshelves provide artful functionality. Adjacent to the library is a powder room and kids’ art room. Balancing openness and privacy, this design choice underscores the thoughtful planning that went into ensuring that the family’s various activities and needs are catered to within close proximity, yet with a separation.
A central gathering spot, the kitchen gleams with white porcelain countertops and a backsplash embellished with subtle gray veining; the informal kitchen dining area’s porcelain floor continues the cohesive aesthetics. The island provides both a functional workspace and an additional eating area. Pendant lights accentuate the high ceilings and complement the natural light streaming through windows.
The dining room exemplifies livable luxury. The magnificent table—a piece of natural wood with distinctive live edges and black metal starburst legs—complements the room’s other sensational piece, a custom-built black iron/ glass wine wall. Off to one side, French doors open to a patio, allowing diners to savor outdoor views while sitting indoors immersed in soft ambient lighting and Sonos surround music, part of a sophisticated interior/outdoor-wide home automated system planned by Bob in concert with Ridgewood-based Saddle River Sound & Smart Home.
High-end custom touches were lavished in every room. “Working closely with Z+ and Dave Larstanna of MDM Woodworking, we created unique wood furnishings that complemented the overall aesthetic,” Limor notes. “The kitchen was definitely the highlight, as we spent a great deal of time perfecting every detail, from the porcelain finishes to the white oak accents. In the library, we incorporated custom oak shelves with white frames that blended seamlessly with the room’s décor . The office featured a shared large desk surrounded by shelving and functional pullout doors, all finished off with large black wood sliding doors. We carried this same style and feel into the kids’ study and art room.”
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Other highlights in a home full of resort-worthy amenities: a home theater, yoga room, a full kitchen and bar in the basement; spa-like bathrooms; and outdoor kitchen/bar/dining entertainment zones.
“We’re so happy and pleased with the results; everyone involved in the project is,” says Limor. “In many instances, we were asking people to do things they’d never done before, or never done on such a scale. They were proud of what they’d done and kept bringing people to see their work.” She adds that as a thank-you tribute, two months after moving in, the couple hosted a cocktail party for anyone who’d played a part. “We had 60+ people—everyone from the Realtor to the tile installer—and their guests.”
“We’re not formal people, and our home reflects that,” says Bob. “It’s not cold; it’s lovable and inviting. When you’re here, you feel comfortable, cozy and very much at home.”
Want to see more amazing home designs? Flip through our new June/July issue of NJ HOME.