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from a lighted ledge that spans the wine storage, along with a panel that features an underwater scene, gives the feeling of being inside an underwater cave. Designing new staircases and bridge, and the dining room were her next projects. Two dining room walls were opened up and arches removed, leaving simple columns to open up the space. The room was given more modern touches in colors, materials, and furniture. Custom made cabinets finish the look. With the living, dining and wine rooms complete, Mannarino took on her biggest challenges, the kitchen and the outdoors. The main focus for the outdoor space was to put in a garage to add to the 2-car garage under the house. In the rocky setting that Lincoln Park is known for, breaking ground for a garage was no easy feat. "I remember lying in bed one night and having an idea. The next morning, we walked to the bottom of the steep driveway and looking up I'm thinking we cut into the rock and build a freestanding garage right into the rock," Mannarino explained. It took weeks to chip away at the rock and haul it away, but the end result is a garage that's brick faced to match the house with broken rock along the sides to have it appear to be just part of the mountains. The garage construction led to an entertaining area on top of the garage, with glass railings flanking the stairs that lead to a patio with an outdoor fireplace and kitchen. Mannarino said it's the ideal area to take in the spectacular views. Perhaps the most dramatic transformation for the entire house was the kitchen that needed to be multifunctional for day-to-day use V U E N J .C O M 52

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