When it comes to basements, no vision is unattainable
PUBLISHER
Edward P. McCartney
EDITOR
Peter Proko
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Matt Cosentino, Madeleine Maccar, Carly Murray
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kristen Jorgensen, Chelsea Valcourt
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Hank Alspach
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Brian Mikulski
DESIGNERS
Alex Bianco, Jay Urbaniak, Lisa Zollinger
ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR
Darlene Versak
SALES DIRECTOR
Lindsay Gonzalez
SALES MANAGER
Jim Romano
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPER
Chuck McKane
MARKETING CONSULTANTS
Kristine Di Nardo, Rochelle Dodge, Frank Liantonio, Darren Slaughter, Lori Vorgang, Amy B. Weiss
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Max Haggerty
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Karmal Pritchett
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Leigh Stuart
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Bob Doran
EXECUTIVE PARTNERS
Gerry Haggerty, Edward P. McCartney
HOUSE & HOME
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A Matter of Trust
When you need work done on your home—expected or not—you want to know that you can trust the contractor you’ve hired to get the job done well. After all, you’re not an expert on what’s involved in services like roofing, siding or windows, and you don’t want to get taken advantage of as a result. Because of that, it’s important to choose a company that you can feel confident is reputable.
But how exactly do you know a company can be trusted?
One important factor in choosing the best contractor is longevity. Only a company that performs great work is going to be able to stick around for the long haul. That’s exactly the case with Emmons Remodeling, a company that has been offering expert care for South Jersey and the Jersey Shore area since 1996. They are a wellknown name in the region—and for good reason. Their success was built upon a reputation of honesty, integrity and good work.
“It’s a title that backs up our already strong reputation,” says Stephanee Kelly, coowner of the company along with her husband Matthew. “Only the most reputable companies are able to earn that designation.”
Besides being able to feel confident that you’ve hired a contractor you can trust, this designation benefits homeowners in a more tangible way as well. That’s because Platinum Preferred Contractors are able to offer 50-year warranties on their work— much longer than other companies can offer. According to Owens Corning’s website, “because we stand behind these warranties, we need to make sure that we are backing up the best roofers in the business.”
Emmons Remodeling has been providing interior remodeling service throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. The company has built its solid reputation on craftsmanship and exceptional customer service.
As the family-owned company grows, it has expanded the team that is available to help design and build your projects. Several talented remodeling industry professionals have recently joined Emmons to serve its over 6,000 existing customers and help expand the growing number of satisfied customers throughout South Jersey.
They make it easy using a proprietary curated design concept, which is an industry first. It’s an easy, affordable way to quickly get a custom designed project without the heavy cost of a design-build process.
You can always trust Emmons to provide exceptional value and design with quality project outcomes. Now with Krista (lead designer/project planning manager), Rebecca (project design consultant), Frank (construction project manager) and Pete (director of operations) teaming up with seasoned vice president of construction Chris Kelly, key project manager Eric Gilham and 20 trade professionals, you can rest assured that your project is designed and built right. A fiveyear warranty and a lifetime service guarantee back up the claim of quality and craftsmanship, while providing you with peace of mind that you made the right decision.
The experts at Emmons are always ready to help you with kitchen, bathroom, additions and deck solutions. They make remodeling your home easy and affordable with exceptional financing programs and realistic pricing. Trust Emmons with your next project.
After all, the Emmons’ mission statement is: “Our customer’s experience builds our business and defines our reputation, which is one of trust, reliability, integrity and value for every customer we serve.”
Choosing Wisely
At the end of the day, your choice in roofing, siding and window contractors can be the difference between good, quality work—and a big headache. Stephanee says that the last thing Emmons wants to see is people in their local community get taken advantage of by unscrupulous roofing, siding and window contractors.
In fact, the company is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. That’s not a designation that any old company can have. Platinum Preferred Contractors are in the top tier of a premiernetwork of roofing professionals. In order to achieve this title, they must have passed a workmanship inspection, been professionally screened for financial stability and customer service, and continue to adhere to stringent guidelines set forth by Owens Corning. Fewer than 1% of roofing contractors in the United States are Owens Corning Platinum Preferred.
And the expertise is not limited kitchens and bathrooms. Emmons provides fullservice remodeling and construction services for additions, interior renovations, porches, decks, windows, doors and basement finishing. The design team acts as your trusted advisor to help you make the right decisions on products, materials, colors and selections.
“You should be able to feel confident that you’ve chosen a contractor that you can trust— not one that is going to leave you with problems to fix after they’ve gone,” she says. “At Emmons, you are not only investing in a new roof, new siding or new windows— you’re investing in peace of mind.”
Featuring WE PROUDLY PRESENT THE 2024 SPOTLIGHTS and SHOWCASES
We are excited to present our ninth annual Best of House
& Home.
As voted by our readers, the following companies and professionals are being recognized for their quality products, expertise, top-notch customer service and reliability. We're also featuring a closer look at these companies in informative spotlights and showcases that shed some light on their dedication. For your next home project, there is no one better than these winners.
ADDITIONS
Amiano and Son
609-268-5923
AmianoAndSon.com
Cipriani Remodeling Solutions
856-853-8398
CiprianiRemodelingSolutions .com
Magnolia Home Remodeling Group
855-624-6655
MagnoliaHomeRemodeling.c om
APPLIANCES
H & H Designer Appliance Center
609-426-1111
HHAppliance.com
Mrs. G TV & Appliances
609-882-1444
MrsGs.com
Roger’s Appliances
908-782-1962
RogersAppliances.com
ARCHITECTURE
Knight Architect
609-252-0474
KnightArch.com
ARTIFICIAL
GRASS/TURF
Artificial Grass Turf Warehouse 201-971-2323
ArtificialGrassTurfWarehouse .com
GardenMark
201-736-1926
Garden-Mark.com
AWNINGS
Awning Design
732-462-1131
AwningDesign.net
Marygrove Awnings
1-800-AWNINGS Marygrove.com
Window Works 973-535-5860
WindowWorks-NJ.com
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
Affordable Waterproofing 856-461-1500
AffordableWaterproofingLLC .com
Basement Waterproofing Specialists 800-700-9171
BasementWaterproofing Specialists.com
Quality 1st Basement Systems 866-440-8073
Quality1stBasementSystems .com
BATH DESIGN
Emmons Remodeling 856-556-3229 EmmonsRoofing.com
Home Smart Industries 610-459-5808 HomeSmartInd.com
Magnolia Home Remodeling Group
855-624-6655 MagnoliaHomeRemodeling .com
One Day Bath 570-402-2337 RenewYourBath.com
BRICK & STUCCO
Riverside Supply 732-257-3434 RSC-NJ.com
CABINETRY
Cranbury Design Center
609-448-5600 CranburyDesignCenter.com
Kitchen Magic 800-510-4710 KitchenMagic.com
CHRISTMAS LIGHTING
Christmas Lighting by Outdoor Décor 908-751-9400 OutdoorDecorServices.com
East Coast Christmas Lights
844-705-XMAS
EastCoastChristmasLights .com
Midas Holiday Lighting 732-440-8060
MidasLighting.com
CLOSET
ORGANIZATION
California Closets
973-882-3800
CaliforniaClosets.com/NJ/ Northern-New-Jersey
Closets By Design
888-500-9215
ClosetsByDesign.com
Closet Factory
908-322-8270
ClosetFactory.com
DECK BUILDER
Amazing Decks 215-654-1886
AnotherAmazingDeck.com
Deck Guardian
908-332-8616
DeckGuardian.com
My Deck
908-713-1000
MyDeck.com
DECK RESTORATION
Deck Guardian
908-332-8616
DeckGuardian.com
DECKING SUPPLIES
Royal Building Products 855-ROYAL-8
RoyalBuildingProducts.com
Sequoia Out Back 215-368-7245
215-918-3325
DeckSupplies.com
DECORATIVE
STAMPED CONCRETE
Architectural Concrete Design
866-956-2818
ACDConcrete.com
Supreme Deck Store
732-742-6364
SupremeDeckStore.com
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Power Solutions
732-356-7668
PowerSolutionsNJ.com
ELEVATORS
Total Access
610-738-1214
TotalAccessCo.com
FAUX/FINISHING/ WALL MURALS/ VENEER
Riverside Supply 732-257-3434
RSC-NJ.com
FENCING
Carl’s Fencing,Decking & Exteriors
855-BY-CARLS ByCarls.com
Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing
732-873-6780
RockBottomLandscaping.net
FIREPLACES & INSERTS
Alber’s Fireplaces
732-629-7444
AlbersFireplaces.com
Wood Heat
267-347-5300
WoodHeat.com
FLOORING
Aroma’z Flooring and Design
856-314-8397
AromazHome.com
Best Tile and Wood 908-782-6707
BestTileAndWood.com
Flemington Department Store
866-393-6016
FlemingtonDepartmentStore .com
FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES
B& L Woodworking 609-316-4145 BLWoodwork.com
The Buxton Complex 609-771-0274
TheBuxtonComplex.com
Flemington Department Store 866-393-6016 FlemingtonDepartmentStore .com
FURNITURE/VINYL & LEATHER REPAIR Fibrenew West Central Jersey 908-797-5420 Fibrenew.com/WCJ
GARAGE DOORS
KJK Door Systems 908-996-5000 KJKDoors.com
New Jersey Door Works 908-624-1234 NJDoorWorks.com
Precision Garage Doors of Central & South Jersey 732-836-9090 PrecisionGarageDoorsNJ.com
WINDOW TREATMENTS/ BLINDS/SHUTTERS 3 Day Blinds 855-999-8689 3DayBlinds.com
Lawrenceville Home Improvement Center 609-882-6709 LawrencevilleHomeImp.com
Window Works 973-535-5860 WindowWorks-NJ.com
WINDOWS & DOORS Ardmor Windows & Doors 267-515-2903 Ardmor.com
Global Home Improvement 866-735-1121 GlobalHomeInc.com
Lawrenceville Home Improvement Center 609-882-6709 LawrencevilleHomeImp.com
WOOD MOLDING/ TRIMWORK
H.J. Opdyke Lumber Co. Inc. 908-996-2241 Opdyke.com
Home Trimwork 215-613-4100 HomeTrimwork.com
Put some tropical escape back into your suburban sprawl. This perfect oasis is no mirage but the ideal transformation of your yard to the spot where everyone gathers to enjoy.
Swim-Mor Pools & Spas is a familyowned and -operated business started in 1967 that proudly carries on a tradition of quality in our products. We have an experienced staff that utilizes some of the latest technology to bring to you. Visit or contact one of our three convenient locations for a consultation about building your ideal pool.
stylish spas renovations
Stun your neighbors and attain a level of sophistication that you have always dreamed of. Your yard is now ready for everything from cocktail parties to barbecues and birthdays.
Give your old pool a new look with the latest features, functions and materials. Add the hydrotherapy spa that you always wanted or simply replace the worn plaster, tile and coping, a full range of options is available.
significant changes in the industry,” McCool says, “other than the increased popularity of adding more bells and whistles to the pool.”
Natural stone is popular for the coping along the pool’s edge, McCool says, as well as darker finishes in the pool. A majority of Swim-Mor Pools & Spa customers are using a salt sanitation system and automated controls in their new pools, as well as choosing to add water features— waterfalls, fountains, deck jets and plenty more.
Swim-Mor Pools & Spas partner and general manager Mike McCool recognizes that there is a lot more that goes into a new pool than there used to be.
“The backyard has transformed over the last 10 years or so away from being just ‘your yard’ and into another room of your home with the same care and detail put into it,” McCool says. “Because of this the design of your pool has become more than just a pool but the focus of the outdoor living room. There is a lot of coordination with creating what a customer’s backyard haven is going to be.”
Fortunately, the family-owned South Jersey business is more than up to the challenge of bringing a customer’s backyard pool vision to life. In its 55 years of business, Swim-Mor Pools & Spas has helped to create thousands of backyard paradises throughout the region.
And what’s more, they make the process as easy as possible for their customers.
“We’re a start-to-finish gunite custom pool company—the design, the build and the service afterward,” McCool says. “We have our own crews that handle the work which helps us control quality and makes the process go smoother.”
There are six designers at Swim-Mor Pools & Spas who can help guide customers on a new pool design. The company’s countless photos and 3D drawings can provide inspiration, and the final design is what best suits the backyard, according to McCool.
“Size, setbacks, elevations. We’re here to help you work through that,” he says.
Finding the right pool
“The first step is to give us a call. From there we’ll set up an appointment to come out to your home,” McCool says. “That way we can see all the aspects of the property. What the contours of the yard are. What the access is like. Even the best location based on where the sun rises and sets.”
The timeline to get started is largely based on the homeowner and how decisive they are, McCool adds. Once everything is confirmed, things move to contract and Swim-Mor Pools & Spas starts working on permits.
“Time is of the essence. Permits can take from two weeks to several months, all depending on the municipality,” McCool says.
Pool popularity
Prior to March 2020, business was strong for Swim-Mor Pools & Spa. That was only boosted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region.
“The pool business was never busier than it was in COVID,” McCool says. “The lockdowns forced people to stay at home and they immediately focused on the backyard.”
Although that business boom has settled down a bit, things are still busy. But pool trends, according to McCool, have held fairly steady.
Hampton-style pools have long been a customer favorite, but equally popular are the freeform designs, which can be customized to fit into any backyard environment.
“Through COVID there have not been many
The company also offers many in- pool fixtures for lounging—bar stools and benches that can tie into your outdoor kitchen or can run inside the pool, along with table areas, sundecks for your lounge chairs and custom fire features. Color LED lighting packages come with every pool, too.
The majority of customers also choose elements to lengthen their pool-enjoying season, as heaters and spas. “It will extend your season by a few months,” McCool says.
Why Swim-Mor Pools & Spas?
Being a local family-owned independent business makes Swim-Mor Pools & Spas a smart choice for customers, according to McCool.
“We’re not national. We’re not a franchise. And we do not try to sell everything. Our expertise has been building custom gunite pools for 55 years and that’s what we focus on,” he says. Save for a few aspects that are legally required to be outsourced to independent licensed contractors, Swim-Mor Pools & Spas uses all of their own crews for the pool construction, which McCool says is unique for the pool business.
In addition to building new pools, Swim-Mor Pools & Spas also specializes in renovating gunite pools. The experienced team can handle everything from your standard renovation of replacing your coping, tile and plaster finish, to adding features such as raised water features, sun decks, and even spas that were not originally built with the pool. McCool says, “Even though your pool may not have originally been built with the more current popular features doesn’t mean that SwimMor cannot add them now.”
The 2023 pool season is already underway for the business, which thanks to the mild winter meant they were able to start construction early. Pool openings and service will ramp up from mid-April to Memorial Day.
But, for those looking to add a pool to their backyard this summer, it’s not too late. “We’re still building for this year. We’re still selling for this summer,” McCool says. “But don’t waste time. Get in!”
Swim-Mor Pools & Spas
Mount Ephraim | Northfield | Millstone Township (800) 794-6667
SwimMor.com
MAXIMIZING CREATIVE POTENTIAL
BY CARLY MURRAY
Gone are the days of rarely-traversed basements, used solely as a storage space and visited seasonally to obtain holiday decorations. Basements are now viewed more commonly as a first floor, with an open-concept style akin to a blank canvas. When considering a dream home, one might envision a home theater, a customized arcade with a personal bar, a sports-themed hangout for game day, an extensive library filled wall-towall with books, a fitness room, a collector’s haven—a combination, or something else entirely.
“Most people don’t just say, ‘We have this space, we ought to finish it.’ They’re probably thinking: it’s space for the kids to play, it’s a game room for adults, it’s an exercise area, it’s a home theater, it’s another family room. If they think through it in that way, that’s a big help for us,” says Dennis Gehman, pres-
When it comes to basements nowadays, there is no vision that is unattainable—and there’s no better way to express ideas than with a large, open space.
MAXIMIZING CREATIVE POTENTIAL
ident of Gehman Design Remodeling. These ideas and more are possible with the vision, commitment and professional resources. The extent of one’s imagination can be replicated with a transformation that is uniquely theirs, and that fits the character of the home and its members.
Joe Magolon, owner of Stonebridge Renovations, points out that basement en-
tertainment areas have increasingly become a space for the entire family to create memories while enjoying their individualized attributes. One of the many creative ideas he’s seen lately are chalkboard walls for the family to customize and to play with.
“I feel like the whole family’s getting involved downstairs; there isn’t just a kid area or an adult area anymore,” he explains. “We’ve recently just done [a project] that had a home gym with a big, glass door and panels, so it still feels open with a lot of natural light. It had a kitchenette, plenty of space for entertaining and counter space. It hit on everything: It had that family living space to hang out, it had the pool table area, it had an area for the kids and their games.”
Refurbishing a full-sized arcade machine with new buttons and controllers, which come in several colors and styles, is a great idea for a passionate collector—and can be a show-stopping focal point for a game room. However, if quantity is the goal, there is a large range of smaller, portable arcade machines that can transform a basement into a game-lined retro arcade. Of course, this would not be complete without
one or more table games to provide that classic warmth.
“Eighty percent of what we sell is extremely customizable; you can completely do whatever. You could really change the look, you could change the wood and there are multiple finishes available,” says Audra DelConte, owner of Royal Billiard & Recreation. “The bar that is often down in that lower-level space will also be coordinated with the game tables … but our specialty is doing a whole package for people to complete their room. All of our products—whether bar, card table, pool table—can be coordinated.”
Basement bars can be found in trendy lower-level areas in households both with and without children. In entertainment spaces designated for all ages, liquor can be concealed and stored in safe, locked cabinets. And for homes with adults only, it can be displayed in a variety of inventive ways. DelConte comments that a lot of people are embracing a speakeasy aesthetic lately—with dark, moody colors, classic and cozy designs and hidden features. Popularly utilized smart home automation harmonizes modern and vintage by allowing convenience
MAXIMIZING CREATIVE POTENTIAL
and easily-altered atmospheric conditions like colored lights, music and more.
“People are doing some really cool, hidden built-in storage for [table game accessories]. A lot of the pool tables we sell have a hidden storage door built into them. So, that kind of goes along the lines of that [speakeasy] theme. Reclaimed wood products are still going strong— we see a lot of that and the rustic look, but we are seeing more of the traditional Queen Anne style,” DelConte says.
Fitting into this trend perfectly are Murphy Doors, which are designed to open to hidden spaces. This incorporates a feeling of magic as well as provides extra security for valuables. They also function as an easy way to divide the space into different designated areas. Ultimately, there is still a major storage element to consider in the basement though it is no longer the main purpose.
“We like to get creative with storage areas … like little nooks under the stairs, we’ve done drink rails in the entertainment area. A lot of people lately have been loving the Murphy Doors,” says Magolon. “It looks like a bookshelf, and it brings you back to, like, a wine cellar or different areas like that. The Murphy Doors have definitely been up and coming, [as are] custom built-ins for more storage.”
Finishing a basement is not only fun and games— even though the finished product will be. A consideration of utilities is key to obtaining a successful final result. A professional can help place appliances and demonstrate ways to conceal or blend in unsightly elements like electrical panels. Keeping this in mind extends beyond ap-
pearances, as it also may affect comfort within and enjoyability of the area.
“One of the things that people are often surprised about is, when they want to finish the basement, typically it’s going to involve HVAC, because they want that space to be comfortable. Most of the time, the existing heating and air conditioning systems in the home are not large enough for that additional square footage,” explains Gehman.
He adds that planning for this in advance helps people budget properly, and that he is required to insulate basement walls—which helps conserve energy. A good contractor can assist clients in considering all of these necessary factors with time estimates and what local regulations may be relevant to each home. Then, one can focus on the most important part: allowing imagination, personalization and artistry to take flight.
