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Outside the clamor of the nation's cities, countless Americans have searched for a different rhythm of living. e last few years have brought a transformation of home and public life, the advent of remote working, and other countless reasons leading Americans to depart the bustle of the metropolis and pursue life in the nation's small towns and countrysides. Among the green rolling hills of northern New Jersey, the town of Montville maintains enough natural beauty and greenery to make life a little quieter, the air a little sweeter. Among the trees, there remain a few hidden gems in the world of real estate, not to mention a few rough stones patiently awaiting discovery. On 1.5 wooded acres, at the end of a cul-de-sac, in Montville, New Jersey, a small two-level country gem, showed hope for rebirth. It's a diamond in the rough that designer Karen Arakelian lives for. Owner/founder of White House Designs For Life, a multi-faceted interior design and furniture business in New Jersey that has been decades in the making, Karen Arakelian, was hired as lead designer in the renovation of this quaint country home. "ey bought this home for the great fireplace and planned on doing a small renovation," says Arakelian. "ey started working on it and realized that things were not done right, the house was cantilevered three feet out in the back and the walls were rotted." It was at that point, Arakelien says, the client rightfully chose to, "tear out the walls, raise the ceilings to nine feet, and go for broke." She said the client decided to provide "little or no input" in the renovation, allowing Arakelian to be the driving artistic force in the project. e results are anything but ordinary. e quaint two-level country house now packs a wealth of characteristics and features that create a comforting melange of minimalism and curated splendor. By Gordon Wilson VUE ON | DESIGN 38 VUENJ.COM

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