When homeowners Hilary Hoover and Darren Vengroff contacted interior designer Sarah Storms of Maplewood to reimagine their home in the heart of South Orange’s fast-paced Academy Heights, they were ready to embark on a first-floor, open-concept renovation. The couple and their daughter had previously lived in a rustic loft in Tribeca and an Art Deco home in a nearby South Orange residential area. After experiencing both urban buzz and suburban serenity, they chose their new digs on a bustling street because they missed city conveniences like walking out for coffee and hopping on a train.
Their 2,300-square-foot, five-bedroom and 3 1/2-bath dwelling, built in 1905, had been gutted by a flipper who stripped out the original charm and replaced it with a builder-grade substitute. “My job was to take the home back to its historic roots while modernizing its function and giving it that lofty vibe the client craved,” Storms says. The designer, known for her soulful, layered spaces, teamed up with architect Jung Lee Masters and contractor United Carpentry.
The hallway is clean and gallery-like in Benjamin Moore White Dove, punctuated by a dramatic black door. Large-scale original art by Hayley Mitchell is the only splash of color needed. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
The goal was to meld the homeowners’ personalities and reimagine the residence, zone by zone, without adding square footage. The wife enjoys hosting dinner parties and board meetings. The husband is a serious at-home chef. She adores color, pattern and maximalism, while he prefers a sleek, industrial vibe.
“In loft spaces, raw brick walls are commonplace,” says the designer. “To echo this sensibility, we resurfaced the kitchen backsplash in brick to give the illusion that the wall had been discovered during demolition.” Hoover, who works as an attorney, adds, “We added brick from the kitchen counter to the ceiling, so it’s evocative of our former Tribeca loft. It adds warmth and vitality and feels very Manhattan.”
The kitchen came alive after custom cabinetry by Omega was painted in Sherwin Williams Bunglehouse Blue. “My dreams have been met, because all I really wanted was some rustic brick and a blue kitchen,” says Vengroff, who is a computer scientist by day.
Next came the stainless appliances, an oversized quartz island with wraparound seating, and a rustic butcher-block prep table created from reclaimed American black walnut. Because the couple have family in France, the prep table and sculptural pendants by Visual Comfort echo their love of Parisian cafés and flea markets.
Showstopping tile and sleek finishes infuse the wet-bar area with uptown vibes. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
Nearby is a wet bar with an exuberant Artistic Tile backsplash. The kaleidoscopic palette became the color muse for the entire first floor. “The wet-bar area is an independent space, but definitely a friend to the kitchen,” Storms says.
The contemporary dining area, intended as a visual break from the kitchen, is anything but stark. Strong Scandinavian vibes are achieved with no-fuss, Danish-designed furniture by Ethnicraft of the Netherlands.
An inherited piano and re-built staircase add a bit of formality to the open-concept living area. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
A not-too-serious living room is a thoughtful mash-up of color and style, punctuated by a verdant-green Bernhardt sofa in custom mohair fabric, as well as comfy swivel chairs. The focal point of the room is a 40-inch, black-and-white marble coffee table by Made Goods. A feel-good ’70s vibe is further achieved with an arc floor lamp by Regina Andrews. “I find the graphicness of the living room so interesting,” Storms says. On the other end of the room is a 1951 baby grand piano, inherited from Hoover’s mother, juxtaposed with an abstract artwork from Wendover. “I love the scale, and it feels Soho gallery-ish,” Storms says.
Graphic decor packs a punch with a striped Made Goods coffee table, custom Bernhardt sofa, citron ottomans, Wendover abstract art, and Kelly Wearstler lamps, pulled together with Serena Dugan grasscloth wallpaper. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
Adjacent to the kitchen is a cheery mudroom with an unexpected palette. Custom cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Firefly Yellow makes the room feel sunny every day. Bold blue Scalamandré Zebras wall covering delivers an unexpected counterpoint, complemented by a bespoke floor-tile design.
The mudroom wows with attention-getting yellow cabinetry, graphic wallpaper and a bespoke, Parisian-style tile floor. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
Beyond the communal space is an eye-popping powder room in which the highly graphic Scalamandré wallpaper is reprised, layered with Hudson Valley lighting and a how-cute-is-that mini sink.
A tiny but bold powder room is decked out in Scalamandré Zebras wallcovering and graphic accoutrements. Photo by Brittany Ambridge; styled by Martin Bourne
Hoover says, “This was our third remodel, but my first time working with an interior designer. The difference was night and day. Sarah infused our project with joy, wit and wisdom, and it was enormously fun. She melded our personalities, and the finished product is even better than we could have imagined.”
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