May 21, 2019 — By Marirose Krall  

4 Fun Facts About Fair Haven First Floors

After weeks of seemingly endless rain, the house tour gods smiled down upon all the folks who worked tirelessly to bring the Fair Haven First Floors house tour to fruition.

Last Thursday was perfect—not too hot, not too cold—for staffer Jill Ciccone and I to enjoy the eight homes on the tour.

Look, blue skies! (Beverages provided by Seed To Sprout.) (Outdoor kitchen by J&W Outdoor Living.)

It was such a gorgeous day, attendees were biking from house to house.

Fair Haven is such a scenic little town, I felt like a tourist vacationing in my own backyard.

Still, a bit of protective gear was in order.

Shoe covers are de rigueur at any house tour, but were particularly helpful that day since the ground was still sodden from all the rain.

We grabbed our goody bags and got to touring.

This year’s bags contained, among other things, a guidebook, water, lip balm, an apron, lots of other fun things and, of course, Design NJ magazine.

If you haven’t yet been on this tour, here are some reasons to mark your calendar for next year.

1. The homes were divine (and diverse):

There were modern manses and and historical homes.

  • A cool, industrial stair rail projects into the room without interrupting sight lines.

     

  • This home was built in 1903. (Table arrangement, Rachel Stellar Interiors.)

     

There were beautiful water views and gorgeous patios and pools.

  • This looks like a comfy place to sit and watch the river go by.

     

  • This looks like a comfy place to sit and gaze at the placid pool water.

     

The kitchens were fantastic.

My next kitchen is going to have black cabinets. (Interior design, Hudson Baker Interiors.)

…and the bathrooms were dreamy.

I know, but don’t worry; there were tinted windows and shades.

2. The tablescapes were stylishly seasonal.

Grapefruit is so photogenic. Lemons and oranges bring a seasonal look to the table.

Left: The coordinating beverage was a nice touch. (Table setting by Spruce Interiors.) | Right: The citrus colors work well against the different shades of blue. (Tablescape, Opal Home Staging.) (Flowers, Craig Kiely Designs)

Coordinating the chargers to the rest of the room is a nice touch.

The room is sleek and sophisticated; so is the table setting. (Table setting, West Elm.)

For an outdoor, springtime event, bright florals and tree-slice chargers create a rustic mood.

The croissants look great too. (Table setting, Rachel Stellar Interiors. Flowers, Guaranteed Plants & Florist)

3. There was organizational inspiration around every corner.

Uncluttered, color-coordinated shelves are striking.

I have got to sort through my books and tchotchkes at home. (Interior design, Hudson Baker Interiors.)

Individual baskets keep morning mayhem to a minimum.

Everyone can take responsibility for their own stuff!

Staying organized means you know what you have at a glance. (In this case, an abundance of beans!)

This is my dream pantry! (Organization system by Orderleigh Home.)

Glass doors let you to keep an eye on your wine.

Floor-to-ceiling spirits really set a mood.

4. You won’t go hungry.

The Asiago chicken bites and caprese skewers were fan favorites.

There’s something so appealing about bite-sized apps. (Appetizers by DK Grill Catering)

The raw platter: just one of the benefits of living near the sea.

I may have had three clams. Okay, four; that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. (Catering by Lusty Lobster.)

There’s something so civilized—yet so playful—about artisanal ice cream served poolside.

Jill had the pistachio. I had the lemon blueberry. (Ice cream provided by Nicholas Creamery.)