Northwest Bergen, NJ March 2024

Home and Design

REAL ESTATE

FOX AND STOKES

REAL ESTATE TEAM

HOME + DESIGN

MICHELLE PAULINE INTERIORS

HOME SERVICES

VISIONSCAPE DESIGN

”… I never expected my case to settle for $1.5 million …

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There's No Place Like Home

We’ve been saying that there's "no place like home" for decades for a good reason: because there's a lot of truth to the statement! "Home is where the heart is" "making a house a home"– the multitude of phrases we use to talk about home says it all. However, it's safe to say that a lot of us didn't fully realize how important our homes could be to us until about four years ago!

Being stuck in the house changed the conversation around what "home" means for a lot of people. Some loved it, embracing their spaces and the peacefulness of time spent alone. Others struggled with having no place to get away from their families and no change of scenery. Whatever reaction you might've had, 2020 probably changed the way you look at your home quite a bit, but one thing's for sure; it didn't lose any of its importance. Even with the changes that the past few years have brought for us all, both individually and as a society, there's still "no place like home."

Home is where some of the biggest moments in our lives happen, and it deserves not to be an afterthought! For us here at Northwest Bergen, it's important enough to dedicate an entire issue to. This March, we'll introduce you to Megan Fox of Fox and Stokes Real Estate Team, a team that's taking advantage of the current real estate market and changing the way they work with their clients for the better. We'll also show you the beautiful work of Visionscape Design and talk to you about building your outdoor space with intention, and Michelle Gomberg of Michelle Pauline Interiors will give us a look at some of the interior design trends you can expect to see in 2024!

We hope that you find some ideas in these pages that help you to transform your home into a sanctuary that you'll love spending time in. After all, no matter what the day and the outside world might bring you, your home and the people you share it with are always waiting for you at the end of the day. That's something that's worth looking forward to, and it's the real reason that there's no place like home!

March 2024

PUBLISHER

Marc Schwartz | marc.schwartz@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Meghan McGowan meghan.mcgowan@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Natalie Greenberg

STAFF WRITERS

Liza Fonti, Jennifer. K Murray

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Nancy Motto | nancy.motto@citylifestyle.com, Perry Quaranta

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

AD DESIGNER Laura Williams

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

city scene

Want to be seen in the magazine?

1-7: The Spring Lake Hope Foundation held its eighth annual Gala Luncheon this past October, attended by more than 300 guests! Attendees at the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes enjoyed 50/50 raffles, prizes, and a celebration of the amazing things the Foundation accomplished over the course of the year.

Graze Brunch Kitchen Comes to Ho-Ho-Kus

Get ready for the brunch of a lifetime, because Graze Brunch Kitchen is coming to Ho-Ho-Kus! Serving up farm-to-table breakfast and lunch specialities, this hot spot will be the first of two locations planned by the business's owners, who have history working at Cafe Amici in Wyckoff. You can expect to see Graze opening on North Maple Avenue this spring!

Wyckoff Dad Celebrates Painting Exhibition

It's never too late to discover your own talents, and no one proves it better than Mike Rohner, a Wyckoff resident and River Edge native who took up oil painting well into his adulthood. This year, Rohner celebrated his first solo exhibition at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center, entitled The Streets of New York and featuring his beautiful and realistic cityscapes!

Coding Program Opens in Ridgewood

If you've got a youngster with a mind for technology, they'll find their niche at the CoderSchool, a recently opened after school program in Ridgewood! Coding is an art, a science, and an invaluable skill for a child's later life, and they can learn it with the help of a hands-on mentor at this tech teaching center located on West Ridgewood Ave.

Photography by Mike Rohner, An Ode to Pearl Paint

Over the past few years, the real estate market in Bergen County has undergone significant transformations, a reflection of broader shifts in the national housing landscape. One considerable change is the impact of rising mortgage rates, which has prompted a shift in the reasons people move. During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the focus was more on moving for superficial reasons, like wanting a pool; it has shifted to relocating due to major life events, such as the need for additional space for growing families.

To delve deeper into these changes, we spoke with a prominent local real estate team, Fox and Stokes, that has been closely observing and actively participating in the evolving market. Megan Fox and Max Stokes, both platinum level agents for Compass, started their partnership three years ago, and have been a top team in Bergen County over the past few years.

What sets the Fox and Stokes team apart from other local realtors is their hyper-focus on Northwest Bergen County train line towns. All seven team members live in Ho-Ho-Kus, bringing deep local roots and a unique perspective to their roles. They don’t just see themselves as realtors, but as real estate advisors, offering a valuable blend of expertise in interior design, staging, real estate development, construction, property management, finance, marketing and sales. “We are not only agents but

we are advisors and advocates. We assist our clients for years before the transaction and years after the transaction. We really help our clients every step of the way from the listing presentation right through to post-closing.” The team is in the top 1% of Realtors in New Jersey.

When asked about any specific trends or developments in the area, the team highlighted the persistent issue of low inventory. Many homeowners, enticed by low-interest rates, chose to refinance and stay in their homes, contributing to the scarcity of available properties in Bergen County. Looking ahead, their outlook on the local real estate market in the coming months is optimistic. The recent decrease in mortgage rates coupled with a persistently low inventory has created a bullish market. Their most recent listings have exceeded expectations in terms of pricing, with a pool of eager buyers ready to make purchases.

For first-time homebuyers in the area, their advice is to be patient, and to carefully select a realtor. “Read online reviews, ask to speak with a previous client and find out how many transactions they have done recently in that market. In this super-competitive real estate market, make sure you are working with a top local realtor that has access to listing inventory with a strong pulse of the market, but also has excellent relationships and a good reputation with the overall realtor community,” Megan and Max state.

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Sellers are advised to collaborate with experienced and high-performing listing agents. The team emphasizes the importance of staging, organizing, decluttering, and making strategic recommendations to enhance a property’s appeal. Even in a seller’s market, standing out from the competition is key to attracting the most buyers.

The team’s involvement in the local community goes beyond real estate transactions. They serve as co-presidents of the Ho-Ho-Kus Chamber of Commerce and actively participate in the Northern Highlands Community sports programs. Their commitment to

community engagement extends to support for the Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation, and they are members of the Ho-Ho-Kus Beautification Committee.

Navigating the local real estate market requires an understanding of the current landscape. With rising mortgage rates, a competitive market, and evolving buyer and seller dynamics, having a knowledgeable and community-focused real estate team by your side becomes paramount for achieving your real estate goals, whether it’s buying or selling.

To learn more about the Fox and Stokes team and to view listings, visit their website: FoxandStokes.com.

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We really help our clients every step of the way from the listing presentation right through to post-closing.

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ARTICLE BY MEGHAN MCGOWAN PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY MICHELLE PAULINE INTERIORS

New Looks

2024’s Interior Design Trends with Michelle Gomberg

2024 is now well underway, and with it, some new interior design trends are coming into play! We spoke to Michelle Gomberg of Michelle Pauline Interiors to hear about what the new year is bringing in terms of home design. “This year is a unique year in the sense that so many different styles have come into play,” she said. “It seems to be a more flexible year.”

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ROUND FORMS

“Some of the things that we’re leaning towards are round forms. The space you have and the layout of the room affect how round you can go. If we can do it really big, it’s a fantastic look! If we can’t, we play with the round form with a round arm, a round cocktail table. We can even do a round rug to complement all of the other elements within the space. There are so many different things that you can do with a round form!”

NATURAL MATERIALS

“Natural materials and texture are big trends this year. It’s an artisan’s dream to have the terracotta, the natural stone, the travertine. You feel the roughness and the texture. It feels very warm, and it really brings the room in. People really are loving things like the wow factor of the veining within marble. A lot of the stone now has a lot of high contrast and it’s absolutely stunning. It’s been popular for over a year now, but it’s still in and people are still loving it.“

BOLD COLORS AND PATTERNS

“2024 also lends itself to color, pattern, and boldness. Things used to be very light and neutral. Now we’re seeing the other end of the spectrum, which is a little more bold and wild. When you blend the two together, you can create something truly special. Some of my clients have requested murals! Many of the wallpaper companies now are creating mural-like wall coverings. A lot of these bold choices are making for stunning appearances.”

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With so many trends to play with, 2024 is sure to be a great year for interior design! You can see more of Michelle Gomberg’s work by visiting her website, michellepaulineinteriors.com

Embracing THE VISION

LANDSCAPING AND OUTDOOR LIVING WITH GREG IMHOFF OF VISIONSCAPE DESIGN

ARTICLE

BY MEGHAN

MCGOWAN

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY VISIONSCAPE DESIGN

Even if you live inside of your home, what your outdoor space looks like can often make or break your house’s value, your entertaining experience, and your daily activities living in a place! Having a strong plan for what your landscaping and outdoor setup is going to look like can be the difference between a good yard and a great one, and that’s where landscape design companies like Visionscape Design come in! We got the chance to speak to Greg Imhoff, founder of Visionscape Design, about what he offers to homeowners in the Northwest Bergen area.

“We are solely a landscape design company,” Imhoff said, “so we provide 3D images

and construction plans for homeowners, contractors and pool builders. I’ve had over 15 years of experience working for landscapers, pool builders, and garden centers in the area, so I kind of culminated all of the skills before I started my design company, which was five years ago now.”

“I grew up in the landscape industry,” he continued. “I worked at a big garden center since eighth grade, riding my bike down to the center, working there, and dealing with landscapers, so I had a good network that I’ve kept up over the years. I ended up just cold calling landscapers that I knew, trying to reach out to them and telling them that I was opening up my own business and that I’d be happy to start designing for them. That happened pretty fast, and then my name kind of got around, so we hit the ground running. I’d say we’re

one of the more popular landscape design companies in northern New Jersey, especially as far as pool designs go.”

When asked what sets Visionscape Design apart from other landscapers and design companies, Imhoff said, “We always try to design within our client budgets, and since we are solely a design company, we’re not trying to upsell someone on more expensive things, like a pool or patio. We solely look out for our clients’ interest, keeping budget in mind, and we pay attention to details like the dynamic of their family, how they entertain, and of course, the layout of their yard and what design is going to work out the best with that yard.”

As to what trends are popping up a lot right now? Greg Imhoff is a man with his finger on the pulse of what people want in their landscaping, and he says that he sees

the same things staying consistent over time. “The main four elements that we design over and over again are water, fire, food, and shade,” he said, “with water being some sort of pool or spa feature, and fire features being fire pits, fireplaces, fire bowls, and things like that. Food features include outdoor kitchens, refrigerators, and spaces for food and drinks, and shade features can be pool houses, cabanas, pergolas, and that sort of thing. They almost form a checklist of elements that clients always tend to want. Many clients these days are asking for low maintenance and deer resistant plants, so that’s a must that we do over and over again. Some of the younger generations, like Millennials, are getting into gardening now, so we do a lot of nice vegetable or herb garden designs for them, and that’s been fun to do. Then, of course, the finishing piece that ties it all together is light. Half the time, people are probably using their backyards at night, so we always include a landscape lighting plan as well to illuminate certain things, like patio spaces or pools. It just brings it all to life at night.”

Greg Imhoff and Visionscape Design are certainly lighting up people’s outdoor living spaces with beautiful results! You can find out more by visiting them online at visionscapedesign.com.

MARCH 2024

events

MARCH 2ND

Cherish the Ladies

Sharp Theater, Ramapo College | 8:00 PM

Cherish the Ladies has been one of America’s most beloved Irish music ensembles for over 38 years, performing their blend of traditional music and spirited step dancing. The Grammy-nominated super group will be performing at Ramapo College this March, so break out your St. Patrick's Day cheer and get ready to celebrate with the music of the Emerald Isle!

MARCH 4TH

Lights, Camera, Trivia!

Ramsey Free Public Library | 7:00 PM

Get ready to show off your knowledge of Hollywood trivia at this virtual event run by the Ramsey Library! Covering film biographies, famous character actors, classic movie quotes, montages, movie soundtracks, and more, it's the perfect event for you or your favorite film buff to flex their fun facts.

MARCH 23RD

Joey Fatone & AJ McLean at NJPAC

NPAC, Prudential Hall, Newark | 8:00 PM

Get ready to witness an epic performance with iconic multi-platinum artists joining forces to create a legendary night featuring *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, bringing fan-favorite hits with their sensational seven-piece live band for an unforgettable concert at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

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Intimate in Scale

Grand in Lifestyle

Only a limited number of fortunate people can call The Vista home. Nestled within Christian Health’s 78-acre campus, The Vista’s intimate size provides many advantages. Your individuality is respected and encouraged. Personalized service is a given. And the spirit of community is upbeat and uplifting. Intimate scale aside, The Vista’s amenities rival those found in many country clubs. Why wait? Explore the rewards of Bergen County’s only life plan community today.

For more information, or to arrange a tour and receive event invitations, visit TheVista.org/contact, scan the QR code, or call (201) 684-9775.