We asked three top designers in New Jersey to share their advice on how to make your home look dreamy.
MAKING IT WORK
DESIGNER | Jennifer Pacca, ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff
PHOTOGRAPHER | Marco Ricca
The designer’s challenge with this home office in Woodcliff Lake was to work with the room’s existing architecture to achieve a sophisticated professional space. Rather than try to minimize the room’s predominant feature—the bookcase built-ins—Pacca went big and bold, designing the entire space around it. Keeping the walls neutral, she revitalized the built-ins by painting them a commanding shade of blue.
From there, she chose a modern, multi-hued Jaipur area rug and added complementary pops of color on the window seat and pillows. She sealed the deal with power players like the oversized gold chandelier from Currey & Company, desk from Mr. Brown Home, Moe’s desk chair and two Bernhardt chairs to achieve a room that projects both personal and professional polish.
Pro Tip: Start with one key piece, such as artwork, fabric or an area rug, and design the room around it. Don’t be afraid of paint or oversized pieces such as furniture and light fixtures.

SUSTAINABLY STYLISH KITCHEN
DESIGNER | Tracey Stephens, ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair
PHOTOGRAPHER | Wing Wong / Memories TTL
While large enough, this South Orange kitchen was so poorly organized that the homeowners were constantly bumping into each other. In addition to daily family meals, they enjoy making kombucha, yogurt and beer, as well as growing vegetables in their garden. Their wish list: an ultra-functional, efficient space personalized to their sustainable lifestyle.
Stephens’ key structural changes—closing off the unused back stairs, relocating the half bath and reconfiguring windows—enhanced flow and function by carving out two separate work zones, a two-seat peninsula and a small rear-door mudroom area. Gray Shaker cabinets, black crackle glaze tile backsplash, whimsical star-patterned porcelain floor tiles, walnut countertops and apron-front sink enhance the cozy culinary haven.
Custom details—a Julia Child-inspired pegboard displaying the homeowners’ cooking gadgetry and a hand-crafted walnut countertop spice rack—avoid cookie-cutter conformity. The result: a warm, welcoming space with a modern farmhouse vibe.
Pro Tip: Pre-plan where you’ll store essentials, create separate prep, cleaning and cooking zones as well as specially designated areas like a drop-off section or a pet feeding spot.
MULTI-LAYERED OUTDOOR LIVING
DESIGNER | Anna Maria Mannarino, ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel
PHOTOGRAPHER | Memories TTL
The Lincoln Park homeowners wanted an off-premise, temperature-controlled site to store their third car, as well as additional outdoor living and entertaining space. Mannarino’s novel solution: chip away the mountain of granite at the top of the driveway and build the third garage directly into the bedrock using the same red brick employed for the main house and existing garages.
Taking advantage of the property’s sweeping views, she designed a rooftop deck atop the new garage and a tiered space off the back leading down to a new island-style kitchen with a refrigerator, icemaker, storage and grill. She kept the natural cuts of the bedrock alongside the newly formed stone-faced and bluestone-topped steps. For the rooftop deck, she opted for low-maintenance decking installed above the fiberglass garage roof and added a glass/stainless steel railing.
Placed along the property’s perimeter and stairs, black iron gates and railings blend in with rocks and landscaping. For added convenience and safety, the redesigned paved driveway and walkway now feature a snowmelt system.
Pro Tip: Before completely bulldozing or removing all trees, plantings and natural hardscapes, try incorporating some into the new design. At a minimum, consider replanting or repurposing some of the existing natural elements.
— Nayda Rondon is a lifestyle, wellness and parenting writer, a children’s book author and a Hillsdale mom.