FEATURED
Victoria Carter
Weichert Realtors, Short Hills
973-220-3050
victoriacarter.com
Victoria Carter loves her family room.
I am on the go 24/7 and spend
a lot of my working hours in the office. When I'm home, though, my family room is the place I like to be. It's filled with light, and I have a fabulous view of Brooklyn and Manhattan, which energizes me. It reminds me that with all of the busyness and pizzazz of the city, I have a retreat here amid the beauty of nature with my garden and pond.
I start my day with a cup of coffee in the morning while I catch up on my emails. And when I work at home, I'll sit in the family room with my phone and laptop. At the end of the day, being here lets me regroup and gather my thoughts. It calms me, and it's a great way to end a hectic day.
Jen McManus
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Maplewood
917-837-2192
jennifermcmanushomes.com
Jen McManus loves her screened-in porch.
I have so many great memories from my childhood of being on my aunt's old-fashioned screened-in porch in the Adirondacks, playing cards and sleeping out there. I've always wanted one at my own house to listen to the cicadas and watch the kids play outside. Last year, my dream came true when we built this space.
The porch is really my (and my rescue dog Lucy's,) refuge and I love to start the day here. At night after a hectic day I sit here, put my feet up and any stress starts to melt away. Now, the whole family hangs out on the porch and we play board games, listen to music, talk and just watch the world go by. It's definitely our place to relax.
Robert Northfield
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty Maplewood
973-489-3417
robertnorthfield.com
Robert Northfield loves his living room.
When my day is over – sometimes later than I'd like to admit – I go to my living room to just sit and decompress. The room gives me good views of the front and back yard with all the beautiful greenery and it's just a nice, peaceful place for reflecting.
My family knows that the living room is my place to be quiet for a bit and they give me my space. It's here that I evaluate the day, reflecting on what went well, what could've gone better and how I'll be spending the next day. I guess it's my preparation for winding down so I can get the rest and strength I need for the pressures and busyness I'll be facing the next day.
PJ DeCicco
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty
Maplewood
973-420-4401
pjdecicco.yourkwagent.com
PJ DeCicco loves his son's bedroom.
We moved into our house before we had Rowan and it's crazy how much this little guy has changed our lives. He's very spirited and loves playing baseball and soccer and trains and trucks. They're not things I necessarily gravitated towards growing up, so it's fun.
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We love hanging out in his room whether it's on a rainy day or at bedtime. He has the space I would've loved as a kid. It's big and has a full-size bed (I had a twin bed up to college!) so the two of us can just go up there to play with whatever happens to be on the floor. When it's time to go to sleep, there's room in the bed for both of us and I read him one of his many favorite books. I know my hours as a realtor can be unpredictable, but I will always be home for bedtime.
Allison Ziefert & Sarah "Ginge" Calhoun
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty
Maplewood 917-751-0448 allison@azhomesnj.com
azhomesnj.com
Allison and Ginge love Kim's Nails.
In this roller coaster life as realtors, Kim's Nails is our place to relax. We come here when we've gotten good news and want to treat ourselves to a well-deserved manicure. And for the times when the bad news hits, it's a place to go to make us feel better because it's always a good day at Kim's.
Depending on the day, we sit in the massage chair and can either bury ourselves in the pages of Cosmo, work on the laptop while getting a pedicure or chat with other people who come in...because you always see someone you know. We like to say that Kim's Nails is like Cheers without the booze. Everyody knows your name here. And they're always glad you came. It's our happy place.
Mark Slade
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty Maplewood
917-797-5059
sladehomes@gmail.com goodhomesforgoodpeople.com
Mark Slade loves his basement.
My basement exemplifies some of my passions, most notably Boston sports teams and some Olympic athletes. I bought my first signed piece of memorabilia in the early '90s after a Red Sox game and that started an avalanche of opportunities to buy more, much of it online.
I found that becoming an expert in online collectibles was transferable to my business and it's key to how I built my success as a realtor.
This room brings me back to my childhood in Massachussetts as well as my time as a brand manager for Swatch when I got to spend time with athletes like Nadia Comaneci, Mark Spitz and Katarina Witt. The floor is covered with astroturf, a warning track around the perimeter and a billiards table in the middle so it's just a fun space. It's like a sports bar without the beer and alcohol.
Amy Paternite
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Maplewood
917-442-5130
amy@amypaternite.com
amypaternite.com
Amy Paternite loves her living room.
As a realtor, a wife, and a mom, my days are busy. But when I drive home and turn into Newstead, I start relaxing. My house, across the street from South Mountain Reservation, is a mid-century modern ranch with spacious rooms and my favorite is the living room. It has the nicest furniture in the house and it's the only room that is always perfectly clean.
I spend time here most mornings on Headspace trying to figure out if I'm meditating or not. Let's just say
I try my best! I also enjoy playing my piano, especially when I can help my kids prepare for musical auditions. Although we’re not quite the Partridge Family, it’s fun when my husband joins in on ukulele or guitar.
I’ve hosted parties where I’ve had a live band in my living room, and I can only imagine this room was also the scene of many swanky 1950s Newstead parties!
Douglas Huebner
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty Maplewood
917-676-2000
thehabitatilist.com
Doug Huebner loves his kitchen.
As a realtor who also renovates houses, I help clients see the hidden potential in prospective homes. When it came to my own place, it took us a while to get around to renovating and bringing out its beauty. It was a huge undertaking, but when we finally overhauled our kitchen it was life-changing.
It's now a fabulous place to hang out and my family thinks so, too. For one thing, I cook more – that's what happens when your kitchen is super functional. And I've noticed that dinner with my wife and high school age boys lasts longer. We also host a monthly gathering, Second Sunday Supper, for friends, neighbors and clients. The open concept kitchen flows into the rest of the house making it an awesome space for entertaining.
Cathy Knapp
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Short Hills
201-259-7102
cathyknapphomes.com
Cathy Knapp loves the Maple Leaf Diner.
I've been coming to the Maple Leaf Diner since I was a kid and it was located on the corner of Maplewood Avenue and Inwood Place. My grandmother would bring my sisters and me here. Years later, I'd treat my nieces for hot dogs and milkshakes every Saturday.
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These days, I'm at the Maple Leaf every Sunday morning with my husband. It's the only time we can get each other's undivided attention to discuss our week. I also meet clients, colleagues and friends here. I don't think I ever walk in when I don't see someone I know. The wait staff is great – they never rush you. Everyone is treated the same. It's kind of like being at home. It's just comfortable.
Maggie Axelrod-Calister
Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty
Maplewood
973-913-8020
njrealestatemama.com
Maggie Axelrod-Calister loves her library.
I have so many great memories from my childhood of being on my aunt's old-fashioned screened-in porch in the Adirondacks, playing cards and sleeping out there. I've always wanted one at my own house to listen to the cicadas and watch the kids play outside. Last year, my dream came true when we built this space.
The porch is really my (and my rescue dog Lucy's,) refuge and I love to start the day here. At night after a hectic day I sit here, put my feet up and any stress starts to melt away. Now, the whole family hangs out on the porch and we play board games, listen to music, talk and just watch the world go by. It's definitely our place to relax.