Organization is a beautiful thing.
Free in-home consultation • Computer generated designs • Finest in closet systems • Custom wall units and built-ins • Available in wood, painted finishes and laminates
4th
year in a row!
• Guaranteed and fully insured
20th Anniversary
732.792.0088
Editor’s LETTER
Home wishes I HAVE SOMETHING OF A LOVE-HATE RELATship with the homes we publish in Middlesex Health & Life. On the one hand, I find these photos lovely and inspiring—a testament to the endless possibilities of interior design. On the other hand ... they make me a bit wistful about the less-than-ideal corners of my own home. Take the sweeping garden we profile on page 20: Just a peek at the lush landscape of this Colonia home makes me want to pull up a chair to while away a lazy summer evening with a book and an icy beverage. It’s a shame I don’t have the patience for that watering and weeding. Likewise, the fun and splashy offerings in “Tiles that beguile” on page 18 make me want to reenvision a backsplash or bathroom. At least the vibrant rooms in “The Color Spectrum,” page 22, are proof positive that I’m not alone in my quest to add bright hues to almost any space. See for yourself what a difference it can make. Luckily, the rest of our pages feature indulgences we can all try whenever the whim strikes. In “Iberian Escape,” for example, we dish on the Portuguese delights served up at Ria-Mar in South River. Is it worth the excursion? Find out for yourself on page 46. Learn about more tasty treats in Glorious Food on page 44, in which we give the scoop on our favorite grillable grain: polenta. Find out tips and tricks for preparing this cornmeal concoction—recipe included! Finally, for the ultimate in Jersey summer delights, we present “A Shore Thing” on page 12. There we profile our seven favorite seaside destinations in a 2010 beach guide, complete with all the info you need— from parking to fees to food availability and more. If you find yourself heading to the same slice of sand each summer, it might be time to expand to new horizons. Just grab a towel, some sunscreen and this issue to peruse in your beach chair—then hit the road! Perhaps we’ll see you there.
www.closettecnj.com Family owned and operated since 1989
289 Rt 33 East, Manalapan, NJ Showroom Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm, Sat. By Appointment
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RITA GUARNA Editor in Chief
6/7/10 2:52:15 PM