Looking for high-quality design, remodeling, and maintenance services for your home? Check out our listings of preferred businesses to simplify your search.
Advantage Contracting
For 30 years, our goal has remained the same…to provide our customers with an exceptional product and service every time! We are committed to ensure our reputation as the best general contractors in New Jersey.
1016 Route 23 North, Wayne, NJ
973.696.0333 | advantagecontracting.com
Balitano
Balitano creates thoughtfully designed outdoor living spaces that elevate everyday moments, combining craftsmanship, creativity, and function to transform Bergen County backyards into places for gathering, relaxing, and entertaining.
201.944.5425 | Balitano.com @BalitanoXperience
Closets By Karen
Closets By Karen designs custom closets and storage solutions. Beautiful, functional spaces are tailored to your home, creating organization, simplicity, and style for everyday living.
140 Fifth Ave., Hawthorne, NJ
973.427.0510 | closetsbykaren.com
Exteriors by Global Home
Serving the greater Bergen County Area! Exteriors by Global Home transforms homes with award-winning service on the best products such as: Metal Roofing, Hardie siding, and Marvin windows—delivering lasting beauty, strength, and peace of mind.
Adam Parnes | 888.234.2929 www.globalhomeinc.com | IG @globalhomenjp
American Supreme Construction
Your dependable, client-centered construction partner in New Jersey. American Supreme Construction offers quality roofing, masonry, gutters, chimneys, siding, bathroom remodeling and step services—always reliable, always affordable.
NJ’s most awarded landscape design/build firm for 53+ years. Family-led team of licensed architects and craftsmen creating custom outdoor living, patios, pools, and timeless landscapes across Northern NJ.
973.839.6026 | clcdesign.com
Custom Closets & More
From design to installation, we deliver custom storage solutions that maximize space, simplify routines, and enhance the way you live. Tailored to your home and lifestyle with local craftsmanship.
718.477.1107 | Closets247.com New York & New Jersey showrooms
Louis & Sons Drywall, Inc.
Providing insulation and drywall services throughout the state of New Jersey for commercial and residential projects. For spray foam insulation, check out our sister company, Gemini Spray Foam Systems.
732.229.4500
lnsdrywall@gmail.com | louisandsonsdrywall.com
Magnolia Home Remodeling Group
Specializing in both interior and exterior renovations, Magnolia is a family-owned and operated business known for its expert craftsmanship and dedication to clear, steady communication from start to finish. magnoliahomeremodeling.com
855.624.6655 | @magnoliahrg
Royal Kitchens & Baths
Royal Kitchens & Baths will create a room concept and design theme with the finest products, materials, and accessories. Our diverse showroom presents designs that inspire the imagination and stimulate creative solutions.
866.966.4575 | royalkitchensandbathsnjny.com
Ulrich, Inc
Ulrich creates bespoke luxury kitchens, bathrooms, and home transformations, delivering a concierge-level, turnkey experience with elevated design, exceptional craftsmanship, and seamless project management –every detail is tailored to our discerning homeowners.
Outdoor Living is a full-service licensed company that can take on your project from the design phase to complete installation. Our talented team delivers the best in creativity and craftsmanship.
375 North St., Unit J, Teterboro NJ 201.880.8088 | outdoorlivingofnj.com
SJ Pools and Landscaping
THE NEW ERA OF OUTDOOR LIVING. Custom pools, elegant gunite, and carefully designed landscapes come together to create outdoor spaces that feel as luxurious and intentional as the homes they surround.
700 Kinderkamack Rd., Ste. 310, Oradell, NJ
201.265.9555 | sjpoolsandlandscaping.com
Unique Pools & Spas
Unique Pools & Spas designs breathtaking outdoor retreats tailored to your lifestyle. Our fully licensed and insured, award-winning team brings your dream pool to life with exceptional craftsmanship, quality, reliability, and outstanding service.
201.701.2965 | uniquepoolsnj.com
Curb Appeal That Tells a Story
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s personality.
MOST CURB APPEAL
advice focuses on tidy lawns and fresh mulch, but the homes that truly stand out feel intentional. Think of your home’s exterior as an experiential welcome mat—it interactively introduces the family who lives within.
Spring is an ideal time to rethink the elements that frame your entry: the path leading to the front door, lighting that guides visitors in the evening, and architectural details that may have faded into the background over time. Even subtle upgrades, like replacing a dated mailbox, updating porch railings, or introducing layered lighting
The Spring Reset
’Tis the season to refresh your home inside and out.
BY KRIS PEPPER
Spring is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your indoor and outdoor living spaces. Spending months inside makes small frustrations and inconveniences stand out: a tired kitchen, a too-muddy mudroom, or the drafty windows looking out on a yard that bore the brunt of a brutal winter. But never fear: The warmer weather offers the perfect opportunity to tackle a few satisfying home improvements and make your place more functional, beautiful, and welcoming.
Think differently about the space you use every day and remember that even small changes can have a lasting impact.
along a walkway, can shift a property’s overall tone.
A front door facelift with a new color scheme can make a bigger improvement than many homeowners realize. While classic white and black remain timeless, many designers say warmer neutrals and muted greens are increasingly popular for doors and trim because they blend with landscaping rather than competing with it.
When accessorizing outside, remember to keep everything in proportion. Don’t overwhelm small front porches with oversized fixtures and planters that monopolize space. However,
if your home has a generous front façade, statement planters, lantern-style lighting, and larger house numbers create visual balance.
The most successful updates craft a sense of hospitality and arrival. After all, what’s more welcoming than an entryway that embraces guests even before the front door opens?
COURTESY OF THOMAS FLINT LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CUSTOM POOLS
COURTESY OF EXTERIORS BY GLOBAL HOME
Siding That Refreshes the Entire Home
A new exterior can dramatically change both appearance and performance.
FEW HOME improvements have the power to transform a property as dramatically as new siding. While many homeowners initially consider siding as a cosmetic upgrade, it also plays an important role in protecting a house from the elements and improving energy efficiency.
After years of exposure to sun, wind, and winter weather, older siding can fade, crack, or warp, leaving a home looking tired and potentially allowing moisture to penetrate beneath the surface. Replacing it offers an opportunity to update the home’s style while strengthening its protective layer.
“We see a lot of homeowners gravitating toward fiber cement siding, like James Hardie, because it gives you that wood-look aesthetic without the maintenance
issues,” says Adam Parnes of Exteriors by Global Home serving New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. “It’s durable, holds color really well, and just looks sharp long-term.”
As far as trends go, darker colors are huge right now— charcoals, deep blues, even black. Warm neutrals like greige and taupe are popular, too.
“Homeowners are exploring the mixing of styles, like combining lap siding with board and batten accents to add depth and character. It’s a big shift from the flat, one-dimensional look you used to see,” Parnes says. “Since siding is the largest surface area of your home, changing it not only protects your home from the elements, it also gives it an entirely new identity.”
OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES THAT FEEL LIKE REAL ROOMS
Designing backyards people actually use.
OUTDOOR LIVING used to mean a table and grill on the patio. Today, homeowners want the outdoors to be an extension of their home, creating living space for dining, relaxing, working, or even watching a movie under the stars.
A simple layout shift, such as positioning seating around a fire feature rather than at the edge of a patio, can make a backyard feel more inviting. Defined areas also help larger yards feel cohesive rather than expansive and bare.
Comfort is key, so weather-resistant sectionals, outdoor rugs, and coffee tables are replacing the rigid patio sets of years past. Lighting is another transformative upgrade that brings comfort and functionality to the space. Soft overhead string lights, subtle path lighting, and uplighting on trees can dramatically change the atmosphere after sunset.
The goal is simple: Outdoor spaces should feel just as inviting as a living room. But it’s critical to have a plan before you build.
Thomas Flint of Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Custom Pools in Waldwick says, “One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is starting an outdoor project without a comprehensive design plan. Outdoor living spaces should feel like a natural extension of the home, which requires thoughtful consideration of sunlight, privacy, views, circulation, and how the space will be used. Too often, people add a patio or pool first and try to figure out the rest later. When everything is planned together—from hardscaping and plantings to lighting and seating areas—you create a cohesive outdoor environment that functions beautifully and adds real longterm value to the property.”
COURTESY OF EXTERIORS BY GLOBAL HOME
COURTESY OF THOMAS FLINT
LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CUSTOM POOLS
LANDSCAPING WITH PURPOSE
A yard should work as hard as it looks good.
SPRING PLANTING is about more than color. Many landscapers recommend focusing first on structure: trees, shrubs, and foundational plantings that anchor the yard year-round. Perennials and seasonal flowers can then provide bursts of color throughout the year. Keep drainage, privacy, and seasonal balance top of mind
throughout the design process.
Native plants are gaining popularity because they tend to thrive in local soil conditions and support pollinators like bees and butterflies. “Native plants are a great way to add seasonal color while keeping maintenance manageable because they’re naturally adapted to our climate,” says
Mudrooms That Keep Chaos at the Door
Design a space that works for real life.
MUDROOMS ARE often the hardest-working spaces in a home. They collect shoes, backpacks, sports gear, and coats—all the items that accompany busy family life.
Yet many homes treat them as an afterthought.
A well-designed mudroom starts with clear zones. Hooks for coats, cubbies for bags, and dedicated shoe storage help keep clutter—and footprints—from infiltrating the rest of the house. Durable materials are essential. Flooring should withstand wet boots and muddy cleats, while wall finishes should be easy to wipe clean.
Bench seating is another practical addition. It provides a comfortable place to put on shoes while also concealing storage beneath. Think about how the space will reflect your unique household. Families with athletes might prioritize equipment storage, while others may want charging stations or a message board for schedules.
Thomas Flint of Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Custom Pools in Waldwick.
“We use a mix of native trees, shrubs, and perennials to create a cohesive look. Some of my go-to choices in New Jersey include flowering dogwoods, Eastern red buds, inkberry holly, bottlebrush buckeye, purple coneflower, and coreopsis. These plants
provide great texture and color through the seasons, support local pollinators, and generally require less watering and upkeep than non-native varieties.”
When thoughtfully integrated into a landscape design, native plants create a garden that looks beautiful while also being practical and sustainable for homeowners.
Another trend is layered planting. Instead of single rows of shrubs, designers are creating depth by mixing heights and textures—taller plantings in the back with ornamental grasses, flowering perennials, and groundcovers in the front.
The result is a landscape that evolves throughout the year, offering interest and color long after spring blooms fade and creating a stunning backdrop for every outdoor activity.
The Spring Home Checkup
Inspect and maintain your home systems to prevent expensive surprises.
SPRING MAINTENANCE is one of the smartest investments homeowners can make. This past season’s diabolical winter weather took its toll on all our homes. Ice, snow, and fluctuating temperatures may loosen roof shingles, clog gutters, and create small cracks in masonry that can worsen over time. Take a walk around your home and property to inspect for any troublesome issues before they escalate. Ensuring that gutters and downspouts are clear and that water drains away from the foundation can prevent moisture-related problems that lead to costly repairs. If you have trees around your home, consider gutter guards. “They won’t make your gutters completely maintenancefree, but they drastically cut down on the buildup of debris,” says Adam Parnes of Exteriors by Global Home. “Clogged gutters cause overflows that can damage your foundation, landscaping, and even your siding. We usually recommend a micro-mesh gutter guard system. With proper installation, it is a top performer and can save you a lot of headaches over time.”
Finally, spring is the right time to schedule HVAC servicing before summer heat arrives. Technicians can clean coils, check refrigerant levels, and ensure systems are operating efficiently. Be sure your systems are in proper working order—no one wants an AC breakdown during the hot, humid summer season!
KITCHEN REFRESH WITHOUT RENOVATION
Reimagine the
heart of the home.
A FULL KITCHEN renovation isn’t always necessary to create a dramatic transformation; in fact, small upgrades can make a significant difference, since kitchen space is defined by its finishes and details. Cabinets take up a large portion of the visual space, so even a subtle color change or new modern pulls can completely upgrade your kitchen’s look.
Richard Graniere of Advantage Contracting in Wayne says, “One of the most impactful improvements is refreshing the cabinetry, whether that means professionally painting it, refinishing the existing wood, or simply updating the hardware.”
Graniere notes that a new backsplash can also be a beautiful way to update the space. “Even a simple tile choice can add texture and personality without requiring major work,” he says. “Lighting
can also dramatically elevate a kitchen. Replacing dated fixtures or adding under-cabinet lighting can make the space feel brighter, more modern, and more functional at the same time.”
Some of the easiest updates focus on the details homeowners see and touch daily. “Replacing faucets, hardware, or a sink can make the kitchen feel refreshed without a large investment,” says Graniere.
When thoughtful details come together, even a modest kitchen begins to feel like a new space.
Bathroom Updates That Feel Like a Spa
Turn everyday routines into small luxuries.
BATHROOMS ARE among the smallest rooms in a home, yet thoughtful updates can dramatically improve how they feel. Focus on the elements with the greatest visual presence in the room. Often, that’s the vanity. Installing a new, updated vanity, upgrading the countertop, or even just replacing the hardware and mirror can make the space feel much more current.
Set the mood by replacing harsh overhead fixtures with layered lighting, such as wall sconces or dimmable LED mirrors, which create a softer, more flattering glow. “Replacing fixtures can completely change a room’s atmosphere,” says Richard Graniere of Advantage Contracting. “Better lighting makes the space feel brighter and more welcoming.”
Glass shower enclosures visually expand the room and highlight tile details that get hidden by the ubiquitous (and sometimes moldy) shower curtain. “Updating the tile, installing a frameless glass shower door, or replacing outdated plumbing fixtures can instantly modernize the space,” notes Graniere. “I often find that even something as simple as changing the finish on the fixtures—whether it’s brushed nickel, matte black, or another contemporary finish—can tie the entire room together.”
Even subtle changes can elevate the everyday experience of getting ready in the morning or unwinding at night without moving walls or reconfiguring the layout.
BY DOVE
PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL S. BARTHOLOMEW
WINDOWS THAT FRAME THE VIEW
Modern window upgrades bring light, efficiency, and architectural character.
WINDOWS DO far more than let light inside. They create atmosphere in the home, frame views of the outdoors, and play a major role in energy efficiency. Yet because they’re such a familiar part of the house, many homeowners overlook them until drafts become noticeable or frames begin to show their age.
Spring is an ideal time to evaluate window performance. Condensation between panes, difficulty opening or closing, and drafts are often signs that older windows are no longer performing as they should.
“From an energy standpoint, newer windows are just built better than the old ones,” says Adam Parnes of Exteriors by Global Home. “You’re getting
things like Low-E glass, better insulation, and tighter seals, so you’re not losing heat in the winter or letting it pour in during the summer. That alone can make the home feel more comfortable and take some pressure off your HVAC system.”
New windows can completely clean up the look of a house. Larger panes can bring in more natural light, while grids and trim details can reinforce traditional design styles common in many older neighborhoods. “Thinner frames, larger glass, modern colors like black or bronze give the home an updated, high-end appearance,” says Parnes. “New windows are one of the upgrades that gets noticed right away.”
Decks That Transform Backyard Living
The outdoor feature many homeowners overlook.
DECKS ARE often the centerpiece of backyard living, yet many go years without updates.
Spring is the ideal moment to inspect boards, railings, and support structures after winter weather. Loose boards, fading stain, and worn railings not only detract from appearance but can create safety concerns—and splinters!
Beyond maintenance, decks offer an opportunity for creativity. Built-in seating, planter boxes, and integrated lighting can dramatically
elevate the space. Take note of a new emerging trend—mixed materials use. Combining wood with metal railings or composite boards can create a modern look while reducing long-term maintenance. Shade structures such as pergolas and retractable awnings also make decks more comfortable during peak summer heat.
With thoughtful upgrades, a deck becomes more than a platform—it becomes the gathering place for summer dinners, celebrations, and quiet evenings outdoors.
Creating fully custom organizational systems tailored to your lifestyle
At Closets by Karen, Karen and her team will work with you to create the closet of your dreams. With custom cabinetry, storage solutions, lighting design, and so much more, there is no one better to ensure your closet is perfectly crafted to store all of your favorite pieces. Karen McWilliams | 140 Fifth Ave., Hawthorne, NJ 07506 | 973.427.0510 www.closetsbykaren.com | Follow Us @closetsbykaren
CLOSET SYSTEMS THAT SIMPLIFY EVERYDAY LIFE
Storage that works with your routine.
CLOSETS ARE often underestimated, yet they shape the way mornings begin and evenings wind down.
Modern closet systems are designed to maximize every inch of space. Adjustable shelving, double hanging rods, and pull-out drawers help homeowners organize clothing, shoes, and accessories more efficiently.
Walk-in closets are evolving into luxurious spaces, with integrated lighting, mirrors, and seating areas that create a boutique-like experience. However, smaller closets can benefit from customization as well. Vertical storage, sliding racks, and specialized compartments can dramatically increase capacity without expanding the closet’s footprint.
Professional organizers often say the key is designing around habits. A closet
Fences That Do More Than
Define a Boundary Privacy, safety, and design come together in one important outdoor feature.
that reflects how someone actually dresses and stores clothing will stay organized far longer than one based purely on aesthetics. “The single biggest difference-maker is designing for how the client actually uses the space daily,” says Eugene Romanov, co-owner and CEO of Custom Closets & More in Paramus.
“When every item has a clearly defined, easy-to-access ‘home’ (especially with the right mix of drawers, double hang, and adjustable shelving), the system naturally stays organized long-term.”
In the end, a well-designed closet saves time, reduces clutter, and makes daily routines feel more seamless.
A FENCE MAY begin as a practical decision—keeping pets safe, creating privacy, or defining property lines—but the right fence can also play a major role in a yard’s look and feel.
A well-designed fence can create a sense of enclosure, making outdoor spaces feel more like an extension of the home. Today’s fencing options go far beyond the traditional white picket. Natural wood remains popular for its warmth and character, while vinyl and composite materials offer durability with minimal maintenance. “Choosing an option that can withstand New Jersey’s seasonal temperature swings, humidity, and coastal exposure helps ensure the fence maintains its appearance and structural integrity,” says Alyson Steigerwalt of Jan Fence in Wayne.
Horizontal slat designs and darker finishes are increasingly common, giving fences a more modern architectural look. “The right height, spacing, and finish should align with the home’s architecture and surrounding landscape to create a cohesive look,” says Steigerwalt.
Many people opt for a combination, using privacy fencing in the backyard and more open styles in visible areas. “Privacy should guide the style choice,” says Steigerwalt. “Solid panel fences are ideal for full seclusion, while more open styles such as aluminum or decorative designs enhance curb appeal, especially in front yards.”
When planned thoughtfully, a fence does more than mark property lines—it shapes the atmosphere of the entire yard.
AS HOMEOWNERS begin to tackle spring projects—large or small—it’s worth remembering that the expertise to bring those ideas to life is close to home. Throughout this issue, you’ll find trusted contractors, landscapers, designers, and home specialists who help create the homes and outdoor spaces that make your house a home you’ll love for years.
