The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1285484
Up next is the sunroom. Accessible through an archway from the dining area, the sunroom functions as a secondary, more casual living space. More sparsely decorated than the living room area, but with much of the same earthy, comfortable augmented by an element of openness provided by the glass doors to the backyard and the skylights on the ceiling, the sunroom is ideal for both engaging in some good, old-fashioned R&R and for entertaining guests. "e big thing with that room was that it was supposed to be a very relaxing room," Colaneri said, "that if you just want to sit down, read a book, or just relax, it puts you in more of a zen mood. at's why it's so bright, why it has all of the white shiplap on the wall. It's supposed to put you at ease." ere are certain features of Colaneri's home that might challenge one's expectations of what the residence of a TV personality should look like. For example, if one were to look out of the sunroom's glass doors, one would see that Colaneri's verdant, fully re-landscaped backyard is lacking a swimming pool on any kind. is is by design: "No, no pools, I never wanted a pool," Colaneri said. "It's a waste of money and a lot of work." At the same time, the bedrooms, though brightly lit and elegantly decorated with dark wood furniture and warm, golden earth tones, are not as large nor extravagant as one would perhaps expect. is is also by design: "e rooms are meant to be minimalistic. We are in our rooms to go to sleep. e rooms are meant to be minimalistic in the sense that I want myself and my family to be hanging out in our main living spaces." But while perhaps a bit plainer than expected, the bedrooms are nonetheless furnished with all the quality and attention to detail that Colaneri is known for, from their lighting fixtures to their spacious walk-in closets built by Interior Motif, a New Jersey-based company specializing in high- end window fashions and custom closets. And truthfully, the same could be said about the bathrooms. eir walls are lined with porcelain tiles imitating the look of marble, because Colenari, as a real estate developer, knows better than to put actual marble in a bathroom. Regardless, they complement the Wrought Iron-colored faucets, the brass- accented mirror, and the custom-made, porcelain drainless sink quite well, creating a look that is simple but tasteful. John Colaneri's home is not a large but impersonal suburban McMansion. Instead, it is a home that prioritizes comfort over extravagance, quality over gimmicks, and intimacy over spectacle. It is a family home, first and foremost, and that consideration is quite clearly at the forefront of all the design decisions made by Colanerui and his family throughout the renovation process. "Having two young daughters, I wanted us to be together as a family, to interact," Colaneri said, "and having an open concept really allows you to do that." Having two young daughters, I wanted us to be together as a family, to interact," Colaneri said, "and having an open concept really allows you to do that. V U E N J . C O M 60