Old World charm meets New World craft. That’s how Ron Nathan describes his interior design vision for this Saddle River estate, which embraces a principle of timeless elegance. Set in stone on three acres, the expansive home and grounds caught the eye of Nathan’s clients, a couple with young children who were looking for a new house with “good bones” to transform into their dream home.
“The house was custom built and had beautiful architectural details both inside and out,” the award-winning designer says. “We approached the interior design of each room as if a blank slate, especially the lower level, which is an amazing space that houses a home theater, library, billiards room and wine cellar, children’s play room and guest suite.
“My clients wanted a home where their family and friends could come together and enjoy all that it has to offer,” Nathan, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, says. “This house certainly delivers that and more.”
AROUND THE HOUSE
The great room, (opposite page) is the heart of the home. A gas fireplace featuring a masterfully carved limestone mantel anchors the space. Flanking the fireplace are floor-to-ceiling windows inset with custom trim and molding. They provide an abundance of natural light and a bird’s eye view of the stunning grounds, including the pool, cabana, tennis courts and gardens. “The colors of raspberry, apple green, gold and black were chosen for the furnishings and window treatments and the needlepoint rug,” Nathan says. “It is a very warm and inviting room – a spot where the homeowners can gather with their large extended family.”
A sweeping double staircase anchors the spacious formal foyer (top), which leads to the main living spaces of the home, including the great room. Flooring is marble, and a custom granite medallion centered in the foyer entry lends an air of playful sophistication. “In this area, I used color hues of camel and burgundy with a touch of soft blue and black,” Nathan says, “which sets the tone for the overall interior design scheme of the home.” For three decades, Nathan has set the bar high with his unwavering eye on design details and his commitment to client service and satisfaction. A long-time Bergen resident, Nathan founded his design firm, Ron Nathan Interiors, in 1974 and just recently opened a new office and showroom in Wyckoff. Following in her father’s creative footsteps is Paige Nathan-Sadaka, who collaborates on projects both great and small, near and far. “Although we have our own clients and projects,” Nathan says, “we share ideas. It’s a great learning experience.”
The dining room (above, right) dressed in blue, cream and a hint of black, is gracious in feel and classic in look. “The large mahogany dining table and sideboard came from my client’s previous home,” Nathan says, “and fit perfectly in the room.” At right is the spectacular Saddle River seven-bedroom estate, which sits on three acres of lush grounds and gardens.
BILLIARDS AND WINE ROOM AND LIBRARY
In addition to the home movie theater, the lower level houses a billiards and wine room and a library. At left is the main hallway, which connects to the theater and beyond. It is crafted in mahogany with period lighting, and the ceiling is trimmed in tin. Above is the billiards room and wine cellar. Here, Nathan says, the homeowners can enjoy a game of pool or sample a new vintage in their 18-foot-wide circular wine room. An automated wine-scanning program makes bottle storage and retrieval user-friendly. “My clients love the warm earth-tone colors you might find in Italy, so we chose colors and fabrics with burgundy, gold and green to flow throughout the entire lower level,” Nathan says. At near right is the library, trimmed in cherry wood with built-in bookcases that display family artifacts and collectibles, a gas fireplace, casual seating and a game table area. But the piece de resistance and one of Nathan’s favorite tech details in the room is a flat-screen TV mounted behind the landscape picture above the fireplace. “With just a touch, the screen rolls up and the TV turns on,” he says.
HOME THEATER
The home’s original basement level was 4,200 square feet of cement walls and floors. After undergoing a major renovation, it houses a state-of-the-art home movie theater. Designed by Miami-based First Impressions Theme Theaters with the interior fashioned by Nathan, the movie theater is nothing short of a spectacular Hollywood dream. A marble, mahogany and onyx lobby lined with vintage Hollywood movie posters opens to the theater and features an intimate seating area. Need a sweet treat? Step to the marble-topped refreshments counter lined with glass drawers, which are always filled with the family’s favorite candies. The magnificent soundproof theater, where movies and games are all stored electronically, comfortably seats 10. “The homeowners are beyond thrilled,” Nathan says of the special space. “They have their own slice of Hollywood right here at their fingertips.”
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