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Featuring WE PROUDLY PRESENT THE 2025 SPOTLIGHTS and SHOWCASES
We are excited to present our tenth 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.
The business was founded in 2019, and in just six short years it has established itself as a top regional outdoor contractor.
When a new client reaches out to Santangelo Contracting, things start with a conversation and project renderings offered in 2D and 3D format along with a virtual reality component. Clients can wear a VR headset that allows them to “walk around” the design!
Santangelo delivers uses state-of-the-art equipment and the best in materials and products, ensuring their projects shine. Techo-Bloc paving products and Kennedy Blue Mountain Stone concrete products are favorites for good reason:
“They offer a high-end product at great prices,” says Michael Santangelo.
landscape planning top products lighting
Santangelo Contracting can install any lighting project imaginable: recessed lights, deck lights, lights brightening up a pathway, lights built into hardscaping, bistro lighting, spotlights; the options are endless.
GUNITE POOL DESIGN/INSTALLATION
How many years have you been in business or in this industry?
I was hired at Ted’s Pools in January of 2004, so 21 years now.
What makes you the best in your industry while separating yourself from your competitors?
Being around aquatic environments my entire life, as well as working in the service profession, I have observed firsthand how poor quality really taints the consumer industry. We strive to set the bar on exceptional construction, restoration and maintenance services.
How does it feel to be recognized among House & Home’s Best of Winners?
We feel very privileged to be spotlighted in the publication. What keeps you motivated every day to do the work you do?
My motivation is and has always been our obligation to our client base.
What do you find most rewarding about this industry?
Responding to our clients’ correspondence by providing state-of-the-art custom design construction and restoration as well as dispatching our trained ambassadors to perform maintenance and repairs services.
Are there any new products or services you are offering that you’d like our readers to know about?
There are new, improved and upgraded products being released annually in our industry. We meet with our partners monthly to review these and how beneficial they would be to the families that we serve.
Ted’s Pools
Carol Perchetti (610) 359-1301| TedsPools.net
Staying Put Staying Put
Fewer people in the United States are moving from house to house these days. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of the country’s movers has been on a steady decline, from 16.8% in 2016 to 11.8% last year.
Additionally, more families aren’t just choosing to live in their homes longer: They’re spending more time there. This homebody trend began with the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown, and has not only persisted but also grown over the past five years. Consumer analytics platform CivicScience found that the proportion of adults with a decreased desire to leave their home hit 35% earlier this year, which is higher than the 29% reported in 2020.
Home improvement companies are ready to make what’s old new again for clients who want a refresh of their home.
The problem is, deciding a house is a forever home—or at least a forever-for-awhile home—does not automatically turn it into a dream home. In fact, spending more time in your space may highlight the things you want to change. Does the kitchen look tired? Is the bathroom too bland? Do these floors need restoring? Is it time to update the woodwork?
For those looking to stay in their current home long-term but are still eager for a refresh, House & Home spoke with local professionals to discuss the many ways you can spruce up your home’s interior and make it the perfect place to spend your time.
A SMART INVESTMENT
When staying long-term in a home, it makes sense to invest in quality craftsmanship.
“It adds value and personal character to the house,” explains Pavlo Danylchenko of Signature Woodcraft. The custom interior woodworking business brings beauty to a home, from adding wainscoting to a hallway, to building a mantle around a fireplace, to constructing a custom staircase in a foyer. The company fields a lot of requests for mudroom cabinetry, too, as well as custom shelving and bookcases throughout a home.
“We’ve been doing this for a very long time,” Danylchenko continues. “We know how to do it and it’s very easy for us.”
Adding charm with details is a great way to refresh a tired space, according to Rich Lauletta of Haddon Flooring. The company specializes in luxury hardwood, engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl plank flooring—the latter a popular choice because of its durability, Lauletta says—and also offers custom wainscoting and eye-catching accent walls, which have been growing in popularity.
Staying Put
“They really brighten up a room,” Lauletta says. “It’s a ‘wow’ factor. One couple told us they couldn’t help but smile when they walk past it. Someone else told us the accent wall made the room their happy place. We love doing them and hope we can spread joy through them.”
They’re also practical and long-lasting, Lauletta adds, with the wood and high gloss paint used being much more durable than a regular painted wall.
Durability is a key reason to use professionals when refreshing your space: They know how to make things not only look great, but also last for years to come.
AN UPGRADED LIFESTYLE
“Many homeowners love their homes but feel their kitchen or bath no longer reflects their lifestyle or taste,” says Steven Livingston of Kitchen Tune-Up Bloomfield. “Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in breathing new life into existing spaces—without the disruption or cost of a full-gut remodel.”
There are a range of tailored solutions from Kitchen Tune-Up, including the cabinet refacing that gives a brand-new look to existing solid cabinet boxes, new custom cabinetry, and upgrades such as countertops,
tile, hardware and smart storage solutions.
“These options allow homeowners to modernize their space and increase value while staying comfortably in the home they love,” Livingston says.
Kitchen Tune-Up Greater Bergen’s Todd Finkenstadt adds that the company offers options at every investment level.
“If you plan to stay in your home longterm and want a meaningful refresh, Kitchen Tune-Up offers a range of services, from quick updates to complete kitchen transformations to help you love your kitchen again,” he notes.
Another way to upgrade a space without overhauling the entire room is by replacing shower doors and mirrors—accents that should, quite literally, shine.
“Primarily, we’re going to be working in the bathroom,” says Scott Kingsland of Glass Castle. “Shower doors are more modern, heavier glass, less metal. We also offer different mirror options—beveled, custom cut.”
The safety of full-glass shower doors shouldn’t be a concern, according to Kingsland, as it’s tempered safety glass ranging in thickness between three-eighths of an inch to a half-inch.
“You could literally hit them with a hammer and they wouldn’t break. They’re that strong, and definitely very durable,”
he affirms.
From a longevity standpoint, coatings applied to the glass during the manufacturing process, such as Showerguard, not only come with a lifetime warranty but also seal the inside portion of the shower “so every time you clean it, everything comes off and it looks brand new. You can have a shower door that’s 15 years old and it’s still going to be as clear as the day installed,” Kingsland says.
Although most of Glass Castle’s offerings are focused on the bathroom, they have also been adding mirrored walls to basement gyms and, for higher-end customers, glass fronts for wine rooms to showcase the space.
ON TOP OF TRENDS
When it comes to trends in the homespace, a lot of the shift is on finishes, whether it’s the front of a cabinet or the hardware of a shower door.
According to Finkelstadt, homeowners are asking for warm, natural finishes and slim shaker cabinets, which “blend natural warmth, modern simplicity and low-maintenance practicality.”
“We’re seeing homeowners lean into warmth and texture—natural woods, matte finishes, and soft whites balanced with statement hardware or bold islands,” agrees Livingston, adding that storage efficiency is an-
other major focus. “Hidden charging drawers, pull-out pantries and built-in organizers are topping most wish lists.”
The biggest industry trend that Kingsland has seen in recent years has been thicker glass and less metal on shower doors, with a wider option of finishes.
“Twenty years ago it was chrome and brass. Then brushed nickel was introduced,” he says. “Today, matte black is popular. Satin brass, satin gold finishes are all pretty popular, too.”
Finishes have changed in woodworking, too, as Danylchenko says, “Paint is trendier right now. It’s rare we do stained jobs.”
STARTING THE PROCESS
When it comes to booking a job for a home facelift, a simple phone call typically begins the process. Most companies offer free in-home consultations to get the ball rolling, too.
“We can show them a bunch of options, different samples where they can put it right in the space to really get the feel of what it would look like when it’s done. We also do visualization tools where we can take a picture of their space and show them a rendering of what it would look like with a custom accent wall or new floors,” Lauletta says.
Even when the customer knows what they want, Dan-
ylchenko says it’s important for the professionals to bring in their own knowledge to make the space as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible.
“We always provide our own drawings of the projects of how exactly it’s going to look,” he says.
Kitchen Tune-Up uses its own proprietary design quiz to help uncover each client’s style and preferences, according to Livingston.
“It all begins with an inhome consultation, where we collaborate with homeowners to craft a design they’ll love for years to come,” he says. “During the visit, we review the space, discuss functionality and layout, and then translate that into a detailed design plan. From there, we guide clients step-by-step through every component of the remodel—incorporating 3D renderings where applicable for custom kitchens to help them visualize the finished space with complete confidence.”
When a client starts the home upgrade process, they may know exactly what they want, or they might know that they need a refresh but aren’t quite sure how to go about it. In either case, local businesses are ready to work with customers to find their perfect solution.
“We help make it a happy place to spend their time,” Lauletta says.
RESOURCES
Glass Castle
Lawrenceville, NJ: (609) 312-5619
Neshanic Station, NJ: (908) 402-1057
GlassCastle.com
Haddon Flooring
Serving South Jersey (856) 654-0005
HaddonFlooring.com
Kitchen Tune Up
North Jersey
Steven & Takia Livingston (Bloomfield, NJ)
Todd & Ruth Finkenstadt (Glen Rock, NJ) (201) 474-3112
KitchenTuneUp.com
Signature Woodcraft
Serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware (267) 736-9740
SignatureWCraft.com
Making Space for In-Laws
s home prices rise and families look for smarter, more connected ways to live, many homeowners are creating dedicated living spaces for aging parents or adult children. Locally, Gehman Design Remodeling has helped countless families navigate these transitions utilizing thoughtful design to make multigenerational living not only practical, but truly rewarding.
One of the first questions homeowners ask is: Where should the in-law suite go? Every home is different, but one option consistently stands out as the best long-term solution—the first floor.
The First Floor: The Ideal Space for Aging in Place
When creating an in-law suite for parents who may have mobility concerns now or in the future, the main level is almost always the safest and most accessible choice. A first-floor suite eliminates the need for stairs and allows loved ones to age comfortably in place for years to come. These spaces can be customized with aging-in-place features such as wider doorways, curbless showers, lever-style handles, comfort-height fixtures, improved lighting and non-slip flooring.
Whether you convert an existing room or build a first-floor addition, this approach ensures that parents or relatives can move freely, safely and independently. It also keeps them close to shared living areas without requiring them to navigate steps or isolated levels of the home.
Basement Suites: Privacy and Independence
While the first floor is the ideal long-term solu-
tion for accessibility, a finished basement—especially one with a walkout— can also work well for loved ones who value extra privacy and don’t have mobility limitations. Basements often provide generous space for a bedroom, private bath, sitting area and even a small kitchenette. This setup offers a sense of independence while still keeping family close by for support.
Transforming Underused Spaces
ADUs and Guesthouses
Many homes contain underutilized areas that can be reimagined as comfortable in-law suites. Spare bedrooms, attics, lofts, enclosed porches and garages can often be converted into warm, welcoming living spaces with the right design approach. New floor plan layout, structural updates and thoughtful finish selections ensure these areas feel like a natural extension of the home rather than an afterthought.
For families who want the perfect blend of separation and connection, a guesthouse or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be an option—depending on local zoning codes. ADUs provide loved ones with their own entrance, living space and amenities while keeping them just steps away. They’re ideal for long-term arrangements and can significantly enhance property value.
More Than an Investment
spaces can double as guest rooms, future home offices or—where permitted—rentals that help offset mortgage costs.
But the true value goes far beyond the financial. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing your parents or loved ones can age safely, comfortably and with dignity— right at home, surrounded by family.
No matter which solution fits your home, adding an in-law suite is one of the most versatile improvements you can make. These
