John Rattenbury designed home in Maplewood, NJ

[Paul Ringstrom]

https://jerseydigs.com/john-rattenbury- ... maplewood/

The property, located at 15 Tower Drive #19, is asking $2,999,000.
At 7,000 square feet, the home boasts seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms � each bedroom includes its own ensuite bathroom.

$428/sf

[Roderick Grant]

For such a grand place, 1.8 acres seems a bit tight. Google shows it at the center of a large piece of land that may originally belonged to the house, but subsequently subdivided for 10 to 12 houses of modest dimension encircling it... like Coonley.

[Paul Ringstrom]

Realtor.com listing: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandho ... 84&view=qv

23 photos

[DavidC]

Maplewood - South Orange NJ Homes For Sale - 15 Tower Drive - Stunning Mid-Century Home - (3:34)


David

[Roderick Grant]

Instead of that ominous 'music' in the background that sounds like one is about to encounter Jack Nicholson wielding an ax, the realtor should have used the classic, "There's a small hotel / with a wishing well...." ]

The design of the house is good, but the scale is over the top. The quality of the interiors seems more commercial than residential. With 7 bedroom/baths, it could easily be converted to an elegant B&B with amenities.

[DavidC]

This Maplewood Mid-century Is Now $1M Cheaper (and Comes With the Mint-Green Couch)


David

[Matt2]

Hmm. That first image of the living room with the canted upper perimeter of plywood is rather off putting. And that tiles floor is rather busy. I'm amazed at how little things can jump out if you are particular sensitive to them.

[wjsaia]

I believe the photographer's use of a wide angle lens has stretched out the perimeters of the images, and the resulting distortion has contributed both to Matt2's stated disenchantment with the canted upper wall perimeters in several rooms and to Roderick's perception of the interior spaces as having an overly commercial quality. Personally, I don't entirely disagree with Roderick, particularly with respect to the two-story tall entrance foyer, but the distortion on account of the photography and lighting used for it is again to a degree misleading. The over-illumination of the high ceiling areas itself also serves to accentuate inaccurately the apparent ponderousness of the canted wall frieze elements. The original level of illumination was way far below what is portrayed in the real estate marketing photography in the link DavidC has posted for us.

Many of the room interiors, built-in elements and furniture pieces were designed by John deKoven Hill, assisted by Cornelia Brierly, and Mrs. Wright participated in the selection of fabrics and colors. The grand entrance foyer is entirely John Rattenbury's design.

The hardwood floor tiles were not part of the original interior design. All areas that we now see finished that way were originally carpeted.

WJS

[SDR]

The canted (mansard ?) ceiling treatment is reflected on the exterior of the house, though this doesn't seem to show well in the ground-level photos. I've played with some interior photos to address the over-lit condition Bill alludes to.

[Roderick Grant]

SDR, a significant improvement.

Considering the scale of the house, the 'mansard' treatment looks to be the best solution to those high ceilings, better than lining every room with a plate. The fireplace, with the large slabs of stone, is one of the best details in the house, also in an appropriate scale.