Our Style Issue: "Everything Old is New Again"
I hope this letter finds you in high spirits and full of creative energy.
Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It is the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.
Style is deeply personal. And it evolves as we celebrate our quirks, our passions, and our desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.
As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this issue inspires you and ignites your creativity. We are going to do some antique shopping to find great vintage stand outs as well as discover some beautiful, must have classic estate jewelry. So, let's embrace the adage that indeed, "Everything Old Is New Again."
And no matter what your style passion is, what I’ve found is that the best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. That’s something no one on earth can duplicate.
Here’s to being uniquely you!
MONIQUE DOMINIQUE, PUBLISHER @WESTORANGE.CITYLIFESTYLE
September 2024
PUBLISHER
Monique Dominique monique.dominique@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sara Chwatt, Barb Forbes, Martta Kelly
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Barb Forbes, Martta Kelly, Casey Fachett
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
city scene
1: Besties had a great day at the Jazz and Food Truck festival in Orange. 2: The crowd took in the many perfomers and enjoyed the delicious food. 3: Rich and Newark Fire Chief Troy Harrison enjoyed catching up and listening to the music. 4: The festivities were winding down but the uplifting gospel and jazz music continued. 5: West Orange High School hosted Noche Latina/Latin Night celebrating community and the diverse Hispanic Heritage. 6: Fashionable jewelry was on display. 7: WOHS Female Step Team “Optimal Precision” gets the crowd going.
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Spotlight on: SBC Interiors in Short Hills Celebrates 15 years
Sara Chwatt, principal, owner and lead designer has enjoyed sharing her experience and knowledge of the current design scene while keeping her clients on budget and on schedule. From New York influences to local design resources, Sara has helped her clients reflect their personal style. Let Sara show you how you can enhance, create or transform any or all the space in your home. See how using a designer can save you money.
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West Orange Arts Council's 25th year Connecting Artists and Community
The West Orange Arts Council has served artists and their passionate pursuits for 25 years. This non-profit community-focused company has over 200 members and reveals the diverse artistic heartbeat of all artists from those who are new on the scene to seasoned pros. The West Orange Arts Center is the home for seasonal and thematic artistic displays as well as a gift shop that showcases unique creations crafted by local talent.
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Luigi Construction Excels for 20 years: Dumpsters are now available
Luigi General Construction has taken precise and personalized care of their clients for 20 years. They serve the West Orange Community and surrounding towns with great attention given to all paving, landscaping and general construction jobs. They are now excited to introduce their Dumpster Truck service which is available to respond to both residential and commercial requests. Local, fast, and on budget.
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to announce the incorporation of sports medicine services at our West Orange, NJ office, where we already offer a wide range of aesthetic treatments. Our aesthetics and sports medicine services will address all non-surgical sports medicine and musculoskeletal-related injuries for patients of all ages, accepting major insurances in New Jersey. This addition perfectly complements our existing aesthetic services, emphasizing both external beauty and internal fitness. Our mission is to keep you active and healthy while helping you achieve your aesthetic goals, enhancing your natural self and boosting your confidence.
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BEN GEORGIA GALLERY & STUDIO
Saturdays & Sundays, 11-5pm
200 Unique Paintings In 3,000 Sq Ft Space 56 Main St. 3rd Floor, West Orange www.bengeorgia.com 973-207-3717
Coaching
Cynthia Mach, LCSW, CLC EMDR Therapist &; Confidence Coach
Retro and Classic
Vintage finds in the Neighborhood: A peek inside Valley Vintage and Albert Joseph Gallery
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY BARB FORBES
Let’s shake it up….your home decor that is. This Fall Season simply step out into your own backyard. That’s right…..into “The Valley” of West Orange. Located at 168 South Valley Road there sits ValleyVintage. Home of 20 dealers of unique and hard to find items that’s like Home Goods on steroids.
Before it was a fun vintage store it was an a/c service store. Elyse Alfandre had seen a For Sale Sign outside of the store in 2016. She eventually jumped at the opportunity to secure this wonderful space to be the
20 - 40 year old age group. They shop here for top quality pieces as well as retro items. Alf and Smurf stuffed dolls, Star Trek trays as well as vintage blue glass are some of the unique items you might spot while perusing the stocked aisles. There is another Valley Vintage store that has recently opened in Maplewood. On the hunt for rare retro finds? Be sure to stop in.
valleyvintage168.com . Instagram valleyvintage168. new home for all of her acquired vintage items. Elyse and most of the dealers from her Somerville COOP moved in and have been in The Valley ever since. They painted the walls, put up peg boards and the rest is history. Elyse likes to think of her store as having “essential items at a good buy.” Biggest sellers are vintage clothing, glass, pottery, unique holiday decor, books and vinyl records. The demographic of shoppers fluctuates regularly but,tends to draw from the
“ ...I TRY TO FIND THEM HOMES WITH A DISCERN ING EYE AND TRULY EDITED PA
Speaking of Maplewood….let’s shop at Albert Joseph Gallery for a classic touch. When we purchase older furniture to be part of our homes we are breathing life into our homes. Every home has at least one fantastic antique and Albert Joseph Gallery might have exactly what you seek.
“I work directly with interior designers all over. I have a showroom in the New York Design Center (NYDC)located at 200 Lexington Avenue 10th Floor, which is a noted market place for designers.”
As for now Albert Joseph Gallery does not have any West Orange pieces but, he is fascinated with the history of West Orange, with Thomas Edison and all that was happening in the industrial age. West Orange has many of the local homes had incredible craftsmanship and furniture made specifically for them. The original homes remaining in Llewelyn Park are testaments to this fine building style.
Albert Joseph grew up in this area. He and his wife had a chance to buy the building at 1988 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood. They have kept the integrity of the building since its purchase. They even had the old tin ceiling restored.
He was directly importing Asian Antiques then shifted to offer design oriented pieces from Europe and America in the Mid Century Modern style back in 2007.
He liked the idea of antiques and the hunt to find incredible pieces that were mostly handmade and passing them on through time to continue to be “useful, used and loved”.
Albert Joseph says “The one thing that keeps me going is the continued feeling I get every time I see a truly special or well made piece of old furniture that needs to find a home. It just seems like the right thing to do when you know how, if you can, so I try to find them homes with a discerning eye and truly edited palette”.
He has had many customers in West Orange and works with several interior designers who reside in town.
One special story comes to mind to Mr Joseph when I was asking him these questions. A client, that he had worked with for over 20 years was moving from South Orange to West Orange. They had purchased this special piece while in South Orange of a large antique Buddhist Scroll painting with a custom mounting that was complicated to install. The couple asked me to orchestrate the entire move and placement of this unique hard to find piece. After many years, when they were downsizing, they reached out again for my assistance with the move of this marvelous painting.
Mr. Joseph certainly has unique relationships with all his clients. Many of them are over 20 years. He tells me how grateful he is for having all these shared experiences of all these families that have invited him into their homes.
Helping families, individuals and couples find just the right item, for just that spot in your home will breathe new life into your home. Every time you pass by the acquisition, you will recall the terrific people who found these prodigious items just for you.
www.albertjosephgallery.com
PALETTE. ”
Walter Bauman Jewelers: Estate Jewelry Experts
ARTICLE BY MARTTA KELLY
A “Gem” in the Community for nearly 60 Years
For many people, the phrase “estate jewelry” will conjure up visions of opulent diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires worn by wealthy socialites or celebrities. While that is certainly a segment of people associated with estate jewelry, there is much more to the story, according to Walter Bauman, grandson of founder Walter O. Bauman, and owner of Walter Bauman Jewelers with his brother, Russell.
“We buy our estate jewelry from the public,” he says, “pieces clients no longer want, jewelry that once belonged to beloved relatives who are now deceased, or from people simply seeking to make money from the sale.” While there is no age range that defines estate jewelry, the pieces for sale tend to be older or vintage, going back to the early 1800s, Bauman notes, adding that they sell many newer pieces as well.
A family-owned business for 154 years, through five generations, the store began as a wholesale jewelry and watch business in Pittsburgh. A fixture on Eagle Rock Avenue for around 60 years, Walter Bauman Jewelers also own stores in Fairfield and Boonton. The West Orange store houses a keepsake grandfather clock with intricate detail that dates back to the 19th century. “When he was a boy, my father liked to hide inside the clock,” Bauman says.
Over the years, the store has developed an enviable reputation in the jewelry industry. It was named the best jewelry store in Essex County from 2009 through 2023 by Suburban Essex Magazine readers and the best jewelry store in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly
Today, Walter Bauman Jewelers boasts estate jewelry clients from all over the world. “Right now, top quality pieces from France and Italy are popular, as well as names such as Cartier and Tiffany,” Bauman says.
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“It takes experts in the field of jewelry art and history to truly identify or recognize a valuable estate piece.”
The majority of his clients—from celebrities to everyday people—are incredibly knowledgeable about jewelry, in a large part due to doing their own research on the Internet, especially via YouTube videos. However, there are people who are new to selling estate jewelry who cannot discern the value of a piece of jewelry or a collectible. “It takes experts in the field of jewelry art and history to truly identify or recognize a valuable estate piece,” according to a blog found on the Walter Bauman website. Diamonds, the blog states, are one of the most long-standing trends in gemstones, although there are also other precious stones with rare values. Some popular gemstones are worth more on their own, relative to the settings they are in at the time of the sale. These gemstones include diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and alexandrite.
Estate jewelry pieces are “not always antique designs, but often consist of family heirlooms and intricate pieces, according to the blog. “A gemologist can analyze the artistic carvings and design for unique value within the fashion and art industry. If a piece of jewelry happens to be oneof-a-kind or a rare remnant of a deceased designer, it can certainly be worth more as a whole piece than melted down for its gold value.”
Bauman, who graduated from the Gemology Institute of America, and his associates are experts in appraising estate jewelry to determine its value, learning where and when it was made, and how collectible it is. Estate jewelry is sold directly to the client, not through an auction, Bauman adds. To best serve customers, Walter Bauman Jewelers has at least one
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“Right now, top quality pieces from France and Italy are popular, as well as names such as Cartier and Tiffany.”
diamond flower brooch, a Tiffany & Co. gold ruby and diamond elephant pin, and a David Yurman 18K gold diamond Chatelaine bracelet. In addition to fine jewelry, the website also features items that may pique the interest of particular collectors, such as a 14K gold diamond 1998 issue Don Mattingly career ring that features the number 23, which he wore when he played for the New York Yankees.
In addition to its website, the store publicizes offerings of estate jewelry via a weekly email that is sent out every Tuesday and lists all the new pieces. “We also hold special events and parties throughout the year,” Bauman says.
trained gemologist or diamond expert, as well as a jewelry craftsperson, at each of its locations.
When asked the most expensive item he has ever sold, Bauman recalls a diamond and platinum necklace “for a big wedding” that sold for more than $700,000. However, he is quick to add that he is not looking exclusively for expensive pieces. “If we sell a piece for $500, we’re happy.”
Estate jewelry currently listed on their website includes a Henry Dunay 18K gold tiger’s eye and
www.walterbaumanjewelers.com instagram: Walter Bauman Jewlers
His main goal, he says, “is to become someone’s personal jeweler and to nurture a long-term relationship. Some clients may come in once a year, others every two years. Regardless of how often they visit, we want them to feel comfortable with us.”
ANTIQUES IN MODERN LIVING
ARTICLE BY SARA CHWATT, SBC INTERIORS
INTEGRATING VINTAGE STYLES IN TODAY’S INTERIOR DESIGN
In the world of interior design, where trends often come and go, the integration of antiques into contemporary spaces provides a unique opportunity to infuse history, character, and a sense of timelessness. While contemporary design typically embraces sleek lines, minimalism, and the latest innovations, the juxtaposition of antique pieces can create a captivating visual dialogue that elevates the entire ambiance of a room.
One of the most compelling aspects of incorporating antiques into contemporary interiors is their ability to serve as focal points that tell stories of bygone eras. Whether it's a vintage armchair, a centuries-old wooden chest, or a gilded mirror, these pieces bring a depth and richness that modern furnishings often lack. They add a layer of authenticity and craftsmanship that is increasingly rare in mass-produced items of today.
Antiques can also provide a striking contrast to the clean lines and simplicity of contemporary design. A carefully curated antique piece can serve as a statement element, drawing attention and anchoring the space with its history and artisanal details. For instance, a rustic farmhouse table paired with modern acrylic chairs creates an intriguing blend of old and new, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation.
In terms of functionality, antiques are often built to last, crafted from quality materials and designed with enduring practicality in mind. Incorporating these pieces into a contemporary setting not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also brings a sense of sustainability and longevity to the space. It's a departure from the disposable nature of much modern furniture, promoting a more mindful approach to consumption and design.
When integrating antiques into a contemporary interior, balance and harmony are key. Mixing different eras and styles requires a thoughtful approach to ensure cohesion rather than chaos. Consider the scale, color palette, and overall aesthetic of the room to create a cohesive blend that honors both the antique pieces and the contemporary setting.
The personal connection and storytelling aspect of antiques cannot be overlooked. Each piece has a history, a provenance, and perhaps a cultural or familial significance that adds depth and meaning to the space. Whether inherited, discovered in a flea market, or acquired through a reputable antique dealer, these pieces often become cherished focal points that spark conversation and imbue the home with a sense of heritage.
The integration of antiques into contemporary interior design offers a compelling opportunity to create spaces that are both visually captivating and emotionally resonant. By carefully selecting and thoughtfully placing these timeless pieces, homeowners and designers alike can achieve a harmonious balance between the past and the present, resulting in interiors that are as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing.
In a Living Room, imagine a contemporary living room with a neutral color palette of whites and grays. Against one wall, there's a beautifully restored Victorian-era wooden console table with intricate carvings and a furniture, creating a focal point that adds warmth and history to the room.
For a Dining Room: In a sleek, modern dining room with a glass dining table and mid-century inspired chairs, picture a large, ornate antique chandelier hanging above. A baroque-style chandelier, with its intricate metalwork and crystal accents would add drama and a touch of old-world glamour to any contemporary setting, creating a stunning juxtaposition of styles.
Consider the Bedroom and visualize a minimalist room with a platform bed and clean-lined furniture. Positioned near a window is an antique French armoire, its weathered wood and handcarved details offering a rustic contrast to the room's otherwise modern aesthetic. The armoire serves both as a functional storage piece and a statement of timeless craftsmanship.
In your Home Office: Picture a home office furnished with a sleek, modern desk and ergonomic chair. Adjacent to the desk is a vintage banker's lamp with a brass base and green glass shade, evoking a sense of nostalgia and classic design. This antique lamp not only provides task lighting but also adds character and a hint of history to the contemporary workspace.
Also in a Kitchen with clean lines and stainless steel appliances, envision a rustic farmhouse dining table surrounded by a mix of modern chairs. Above the table hangs a collection of vintage porcelain plates displayed on an industrial-style shelving unit. These antique plates bring color, texture, and a sense of tradition to the otherwise minimalist kitchen design.
These examples illustrate how antiques can be seamlessly integrated into contemporary interiors, creating spaces that are visually dynamic, rich in history, and reflective of personal style. Each piece tells a story and contributes to a layered, curated aesthetic that celebrates both past and present design influences.
“THE PERSONAL CONNECTION AND STORYTELLING ASPECT OF ANTIQUES CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.”
ARTICLE BY MEGAN HOBAN
The Art of Collecting
As consumers, we are constantly being enticed to buy. Whether it’s the jewelry we can’t live without, concert tickets to a show we don’t want to miss, or that favorite pair of shoes calling our name, we buy what we love, and art should be no different.
If you are new to acquiring original art, you may find it daunting, but it shouldn’t be. It is a special purchase that forces you to dig deep and discover a bit more about yourself. At first, many people shy away from buying original art because of the commitment. It’s a big decision after all, and how do you really know when it’s the “perfect” piece? Because art is subjective, part of the process is learning what style of art is the best fit for you. Is it colorful and energetic abstracts, or soothing landscapes that catch your eye? Maybe you are drawn to local photography, or even figurative works. There is no wrong answer, and maybe it’s a mix of several styles that creates your unique collection. The best way to find out your “art personality” is to get out and visit your local galleries. Consider making it a tradition to visit galleries while traveling or buy a piece of art as a gift on special occasions. In the gallery setting you can explore various art styles, mediums, and even learn more about the talented artists who create those works.
With the purchase of original art comes other considerations. Often, we have clients who need direction figuring out what size of art they need and its placement in the design of their space. If you find a piece of art you love, you will always find a spot for it. Ask the gallery if they offer in-home art consultation services to see the piece in your setting. Great custom framing is key, and well-designed framing is the jewelry to a great piece of art. Quality archival framing protects your art from UV rays that can damage a piece over time. Original art should last generations.
I’m often asked, should I buy art for investment? There is a place for investment art, but I don’t believe in buying art with the pretense that it will go up in value. There is no guarantee it will and to me, good investment art brings different riches to your life. Art that brings you joy, adds personality to your space, and makes your home original is an investment in you. The best art investment should be the feeling you experience gazing into an oil painting that perfectly captures a warm sunset over the prairie, or the texture created by a palette knife on the abstract that seems to pop off the canvas. That is what makes investing in original art priceless.
Art that brings you joy, adds personality to your space, and makes your home original is an investment in you.
Your Home, Your Personality
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