MORRIS & ESSEX HOME FALL 2026
THE COUNTIES’ PREMIER HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE DESIGN
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REMODELING
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MAINTENANCE
FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME Refresh Your Space Inside and Out
SJ POOLS & LANDSCAPING Outdoor Living, Reimagined
Create the backyard oasis of your dreams with our award-winning design and build experts. 1 MSX_HomeGuide_Fall26_v1.indd 1
201-265-9555
Sjpoolsandlandscaping.com | @sjpoolsnj 9/18/26 9:27 AM
ARCHADECK OF MORRISTOWN IS NOW
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HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY Looking for high-quality design, remodeling, and maintenance services for your home? Check out our listings of preferred businesses to simplify your search.
Advantage Contracting
CLC Landscape Design
Majestic Outdoor
973.696.0333 | advantagecontracting.com
973.839.6026 | clcdesign.com
732.248.0991 | majesticoutdoor.com
American Professionals
Custom Closets
For 30 years, our goal has remained the same… to provide our customers with an exceptional product and service every time! We are committed to ensure our reputation as the best general contractors in New Jersey.
American Professionals Home Improvement is a family-owned, licensed and insured New Jersey contractor with 15 years of experience specializing in roofing, masonry, chimneys, gutters, steps, repairs, installations and exterior improvements. 973.650.9671 | americanprosnj.com
Archadeck
Build the outdoor space of your dreams with Archadeck, a 44-year-old national brand known for its “Built Better” promise, creating custom decks, pergolas, patios, porches, and hardscapes with exceptional craftsmanship and everlasting beauty. 833.LUX.OUTDOOR archadeck.com/greatermorristown
California Closets
For over 40 years in northern New Jersey, we have created custom closets and storage solutions for every room in the home. Start today with a free design consultation.
NJ’s most awarded landscape design/build firm for 53+ years. Family-led team of licensed architects and craftsmen creating custom outdoor living, patios, pools, and timeless landscapes across Northern NJ.
From design to installation, we deliver custom storage solutions that maximize space, simplify routines, and enhance the way you live. Tailored to your home and lifestyle with local craftsmanship. 718.477.1107 | Closets247.com New York & New Jersey showrooms.
Specializing in custom louvered pergolas, motorized screens, retractable awnings, and more. Expertly designed and built to last, bringing year-round comfort and style to any residential or commercial space.
SJ Pools and Landscaping
THE NEW ERA OF OUTDOOR LIVING Custom pools, elegant gunite, and carefully designed landscapes come together to create outdoor spaces that feel as luxurious and intentional as the homes they surround. 201.265.9555 | sjpoolsandlandscaping.com
Magnolia Home Remodeling Group
Special Additions
855.624.6655 | @magnoliahrg magnoliahomeremodeling.com
973.627.6300 | kitchenbathdesigns.com
Specializing in both interior and exterior renovations, Magnolia is a family-owned and operated business known for its expert craftsmanship and dedication to clear, steady communication from start to finish.
Special Additions provides quality cabinetry for kitchens, baths, and commercial projects. From design through delivery, our experienced team offers personalized service, exceptional value, and cabinetry solutions for every project.
Join us for the next edition of Morris & Essex Home next Spring For advertising information, contact Publisher Thomas Flannery at 201-571-2252 or thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com
973.882.3800 | californiaclosets.com
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Fall In Love With Your Home
Now is the time to plan updates, inside and out, that make your space work for you. FALL IS UPON US, and as the days grow colder and shorter, perhaps you’re spending more time at home, reflecting on how your space functions for you. Now is the perfect time to begin brainstorming if you’re planning renovations. Inside, updates to the kitchen and bathrooms have the power to transform your home. The kitchen – the heart of the home—can truly reflect your lifestyle and personality, while functioning better than ever. And bathrooms are no longer just utilitarian—updates help create a spa-like experience without leaving the house. Outdoor living as an extension of the home has become a priority for homeowners in recent years. Whether you’re looking to make a big splash and add a pool or create an outdoor kitchen and living area with a covered patio, experts say the possibilities are endless if planned properly. Read on to gain some inspiration.
IMAGES COURTESY OF SJ POOLS/JIMI SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
OUTDOOR LANDSCAPING & POOLS
Plan Your Outdoor Paradise
The days may be getting cooler, but fall is the perfect time to reimagine how your backyard can be transformed into an oasis that your family can make the most of year-round. GONE ARE THE DAYS of an occasional summer backyard barbeque or a simple a grassy patch for the kids to run around during warmer months. Homeowners are now viewing their outdoor space as an extension of their home, where comfort and beauty meet functionality. Itthe midst of a global pandemic, licensed landscape architect Rich Cording Sr. found business was booming. The founder of CLC Landscape Design says the company’s jobs literally doubled during the COVID-19 outbreak, when there was a shift in how homeowners view their backyards. “COVID had everybody come home and people realized the potential they were missing out on in their
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outdoor spaces,” Cording says. “People want their yards to be a peaceful, inviting space and they want to look at things that are beautiful. Everyone has a different vision and is different in the details they choose, but they want the same result: to love their yard and take pride in it.” The addition of swimming pools, covered patios or cabanas and fire features are among the most requested components during redesigns, according to Welington Gomes, president and designer with SJ Pools and Landscaping. If you’re considering overhauling your backyard and don’t know where to start, Gomes and Cording agree: The first step is to bring in the experts.
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IMAGES COURTESY OF CLC LANDSCAPE DESIGN
‘Getting the Juices Flowing’ Taking on a large-scale outdoor project can feel intimidating—you may know you want a pool and a cabana that includes a kitchen, but how do those elements fit into your space? With more than 50 years of experience in the field, Cording says CLC’s job is to make the design process fun, streamlined and exciting. “We’re guides—we guide you through the entire process, from coming up with ideas to synthesizing those into phenomenal plans and marrying them to a budget,” he says. “We help you through the insane pre-construction process and have incredible people in the field who can build and coordinate with contractors. Then we have a maintenance program when it’s done, we don’t just kick you to the curb.” With today’s technology, bringing a vision to life has become more accessible to clients, Cording says. AI allows homeowners to play around with ideas, embellish them and “get the juices flowing,” which the landscape architect says is the most important phase of a project. But he cautions, don’t get locked into
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one vision; experts might offer variations that work better for your property. “Maybe you want a swimming pool in a certain location. We might suggest another spot or angle so you’re not looking at a covered pool all winter,” Cording says. “We think of every detail. Great landscapes start with great design ideas.” Gomes says, as an experienced designer with 30 years of experience, he understands the complexity of combing all elements of a project and working with clients through each phase. “You want someone that understands how a space should be used and is good at listening to people’s needs and wants,” he says. “We can guide you and translate your thoughts into a design, allowing you to build your paradise.” Homeowners should think about how they plan to use their space—some people like to have 50 people over every weekend, Gomes says. Others want an intimate backyard for mostly just their family to enjoy. Learning about the client’s lifestyle is essential to creating a plan that works for them, experts say.
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MORE ROOM FOR WHAT MATTERS
©2026 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each California Closets® franchised location is independently owned and operated. Local contractor licenses available at californiaclosets.com.
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Fairfield 4 Gardner Rd
Bernardsville 9 Olcott Sq
LOCAL, FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS FOR 40+ YEARS
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SC H E D UL E YO UR C O M P L I M E N TA RY D ESI G N C O N SULTAT I O N 973.882.3800 | CA L I FO RNI AC LO SE TS.C OM
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Take the Plunge The addition of a swimming pool to your backyard is an investment, but one that pays dividends, transforming your backyard into a resort-like retreat, offering opportunities for social gatherings, exercise, and relaxation. It’s the number one request that CLC gets, Cording says. In recent years, rectangular-shaped pools have “unbelievably outpaced” irregular or organic/freeform-shaped pools, Cording says. Twenty years ago, he says he did twice as many freeform pools. Now CLC does about eight rectangular pools for every two freeform. Younger parents enjoy the convenience of an automatic cover for safety purposes (automatic covers can’t be used on freeform pools, Cording says). Rectangular pools are also better suited for swimming laps. A “Hamptons” look is also in vogue right now. “The rectangular pool lends itself to that design theme—it’s elegant,” Cording says. SJ Pools, which specializes in elite swimming pool IMAGE COURTESY OF CLC LANDSCAPE DESIGN construction, offers a wide variety of options for pools, including features like slides, waterfalls, colored lighting that don’t have either a firepit or a fireplace,” Cording says. and mosaics to add ambiance and inviting aesthetics. The fire features add not only warmth on chilly evenings, but ambiance. Gomes says sun shelves—a flat, shallow part of the pool for lounging – along with underwater benches are also incredibly popular right now. Last But Not Least “I love these features—if you have a 30-foot long bench, 15 people can be sitting Plantings anchor and create the space, according to Cording, whether that’s adding in the pool socializing. Little ones can walk up and down along the shelf,” he says. focal points or allowing for privacy. “There are a lot of great uses to it.” “Plantings create true outdoor living spaces,” he says. “They’re unbelievably essenCording added that another trend in pools is putting synthetic turf around it tial from a design point of view.” instead of real grass, pavers or concrete. Gomes says one of his favorite plants to incorporate into designs are white hydran“There’s very little maintenance, it’s soft, you don’t have grass getting into the geas—bubbly hydrangeas for smaller spaces and lime hydrangeas for areas with more pool,” he says. “It looks realistic, it’s not the old garbage—it’s gorgeous.” room to grow. He also loves hydrangea trees. Have a smaller backyard but want all the benefits of a pool? No problem, says Catmint, lavender, grasses, boxwoods, skip laurel, green giants and spruces are Cording. “One of our specialties that we cut our teeth on decades ago was taking these small- other go-tos. The “Hamptons” looks expands to plantings as well, Cording says—it’s a layered er backyards that are common in certain Bergen County towns, and accommodating approach that typically uses hydrangeas along the back, then boxwoods and perenniall the homeowner’s requests,” he says. “If you brainstorm, think it through and get a als. synthesis of ideas, almost anything is possible.” “It gives the property a very inviting look and the boxwoods stay green throughout Plunge pools are popular for smaller yards, allowing people to take a dip, cool the winter, providing color year-round,” he says. “At CLC, we have three plant experts down and socialize near the water while taking up far less space than a traditional pool. Certain kinds of plunge pools can also be used as hot tubs during colder months, who source plants and even choose the best cultivar for the area.” Lighting is the final touch to consider and makes a big impact. really expanding use of the outdoor space. “It really sets the mood at night,” Gomes says. “During the day, we’re all at work, so when we’re home, we want our yard to feel its best.” An Extension of Your Home Cording says lighting is vital for safety and to make space usable in the evening. Whether you’re planning for a pool or not, covered patios or other shade structures, Low voltage, LED lights are cost efficient and really last indefinitely, he says. like a pergola or cabana, are hugely popular elements of outdoor living. “Even in the winter, when it’s dark at 4:30 p.m., seeing the snow illuminated and Combined with outdoor kitchens, these structures help create usable space in your trees silhouetted by lights is beautiful,” he says. “It’s really become an art form.” backyard, truly blurring the line between indoors and outdoors and adding square footage in terms of comfortable living and entertaining spaces. How Far Out Should I Plan? They are practical in terms of creating shaded areas and a fully covered patio will Experts say that reaching out to designers and landscape architects about a year before also allow you to enjoy the space during rainy days. The addition of vented screens you hope to break ground on a project is ideal. helps keep bugs out and the option to put heaters in the ceiling will add even more Finalizing a design, pricing it out, hiring an architect and/or engineer and seeking usability when temperatures dip, Gomes says. permits from the town are all steps that take time. The structures really create outdoor “rooms” for dining, lounging or entertaining Projects typically take between 6 to 12 months, Gomes says. and help build a sense of transition between your home and pool or backyard. This timeline can feel intimidating, Cording says, but he hopes that homeowners A key element to outdoor living that experts say has been and continues to be can overlook the potential hurdles and find joy in the process. incredibly popular is fire features, whether it’s a firepit, fireplace or fire table. “It’s so much fun going through the design process, it really is,” he says. “I don’t think I’ve done more than a half dozen designs in the last three months
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IMAGES COURTESY OF ULRICH INC.
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS
Where Beauty and Practicality Meet
Today’s kitchens and bathrooms highlight a homeowner’s style and often anchor a home, while prioritizing functionality more than ever. FEWER HOME RENOVATIONS make more of an impact than kitchen and bathroom updates and redesigns. Perhaps that’s because these are the spaces that homeowners truly need to operate at peak functionality. And yet, due to the sheer amount of time they’re spending in these rooms, why sacrifice style and comfort? “Our goal is for our clients to fall in love with their newly renovated space each time they walk into the room, and to love it even more when they use it,” says Linda Alvino, showroom and marketing manager with
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Ulrich Inc., a design and home renovation firm based in Ridgewood. “Good design is curated for the way you live.”
Setting Expectations The first step of a kitchen or bathroom renovation is inviting designers into your home and having an in-depth conversation about needs and expectations, helping you understand what is possible, what it will cost and what decisions matter most. “It’s almost like an interview,” says Julianna Welker, marketing director for Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork. “We talk about their aesthetic—how simple or how ornate would they like the details to be? Tell us about your family. How do
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Designed for peaceful mornings
Specializing in custom closets and storage solutions tailored to your home and lifestyle.
Closets247.com | 718.477.1107 Showrooms located in New York & New Jersey
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3D Design
Flawless Install
Built to Last
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you use your kitchen now and how do you want to use it?” Alvino says the three most important factors at the beginning of a conversation are a client’s goals and priorities, their budget and scope and their home, timeline and constraints. First, it’s important to understand what isn’t working in their current kitchen, how they use the space, what they want to improve and what matters most—function, aesthetics, storage, entertaining, accessibility, resale, etc. “In a kitchen it could be a matter of considering the number of cooks in the kitchen, whether they are tall or short, right-handed or left-handed and whether they cook in any specific style, like Indian, kosher, etc.,” Alvino says. Next, it’s important to establish a realistic investment range and explain what can be accomplished within that budget. “This prevents designing a dream project that later has to be dramatically scaled back,” Alvino says. Lastly, designers aim to understand the home itself—structural/plumbing/electrical limitations, and allowing appropriate time for permitting. They also consider the desired completion date and how the clients plan to live through the renovation. “Our goal is the translate these three things into a clear roadmap—recommended scope, priorities, approximate investment, design direction and next steps, so the client feels informed and we go forward on the basis of a strong partnership,” Alvino says. Welker says understanding these factors is key in helping a client bring their vision to life.
What’s Trending In today’s kitchens, homeowners are prioritizing clean, uncluttered lines, Alvino says, while the overall trend is moving away from the monochromatic all-white look, toward warmer woods, earthy colors, mixed materials and different textures that add character and individualization. “Our homeowners want to make their spaces ‘feel like home, but work better’,” Alvino says. An emphasis on function, including large islands, better or separate pantry/ storage systems, appliance garages to hide those less attractive necessities and
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IMAGE COURTESY OF ULRICH INC.
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MORRIS AND ESSEX MAGAZINE’S BRAND NEW MUST-READ MONTHLY NEWSLETTER! Morris & Essex Buzz is Morris & Essex magazine’s exclusive monthly peek into the people who shape our communties, the places that generate excitement and buzz (including restaurants, shops and other hangouts) and the can’t-miss events residents will want to attend.
Sign up now for your free subscription at morrisandessexmag.com! For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Tom Flannery at 201.571.2252 or thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com.
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their wires, hidden organization and distinct zones for cooking, entertaining and cleanup are also desired. Beverage stations are also increasingly popular, experts say. “The kitchen is really the heart of the home,” Welker says. “It’s a gathering place, where your family comes together for meals and holidays. It’s a communal space where more than cooking happens—homework, mail and bills sorting—it’s used in such a variety of ways for so many different tasks. We want it to be as productive as possible, but also beautiful, comfortable and personal.” Alvino agrees. “Today’s kitchens are more than ever the place where everything happens—and often all at once,” she says. “They are the visual focal point of the home, a reflection of personal style and increasingly sophisticated spaces filled with high-tech appliances to bring all these elements together seamlessly.” Woodhaven designers say one classic that will likely never go out of style is marble in white, beige and gray shades. “It’s timeless,” Welker says. “The good news is, we have porcelain tile that mimics marble, so we are very versatile in all of our selections.” In terms of bathrooms, they have evolved from purely functional spaces into spa-like retreats, according to Alvino. Features to consider that make this possible include larger, multi-function showers, soaking tubs, statement tile, layered
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lighting, natural stone/stone-look materials, easy maintenance porcelains and warmer, more calming palettes. Layered lighting in both kitchens and bathrooms is an important consideration when it comes to the ambiance of designs and really refers to well-designed lighting, Alvino says. “Whether ambient, task or accent, lighting can help bring a room alive stylistically and visually and it can make it function better all-around,” she says. “With today’s advancements in lighting, temperature and color flexibility can also help set a mood from relaxing to energizing.”
Timeline Alvino and Welker say it’s best to plan for a project to take about six months. Alvino says every project is unique and timelines vary based on the size and complexity of the renovation and there are factors outside of the designer’s control, such as weather, product availability, inspections or the schedules of builders and other third parties. “Bottom line: We recommend allowing at least six months for a basic kitchen or bathroom renovation to accommodate planning and revisions, selections, permitting, manufacturing and scheduling,” Alvino says. “If you prefer to take your time making decisions—or anticipate changing your mind—build in additional time so the process doesn’t feel rushed.”
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