110 Loraine Ave Estate_01_07_2016_015

This sweeping 10,000-Square-foot Spring Lake home is, in part, a tip of the hat to the owner’s favorite movie

by JENNIFER VIKSE • Photos By Robert Nuzzie

On a quiet street in picturesque Spring Lake, sits a home overflowing with charm.

An abundance of French doors spilling onto the front porch are reminiscent of a Southern mansion, while the pale blue clapboard finish is a nod to the Hamptons estate beach houses of Long Island. The house’s red cedar roof peaks and arches and includes a unique turret to allow light in.

Stately column sadornthe 10,000-square-foot home’s exterior, just steps from the ocean.

A custom build, completed just a few months ago, the residence is one of the many places Mario Monello and his new bride, Denise, call home.

“I designed the home with an architect and decorator,” noted Mr. Monello. “I wanted it to mirror the home in the movie Something’s Gotta Give. I loved that house. We attempted to mimic the theme and spirit of that construction.”

Nicole Spread

The center-hall home has six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, and took a year and a half to complete. It has three floors, an elevator, and radiant heat throughout. “That is a blessing,” Monello said. “There are no baseboards, no noise, but everything stays nice and toasty.”

Temperature control is just part of what is managed by a fully-integrated system that links music, interior and exterior security, TV, and HVAC.

The oversized front door is in classic wood finish, with arched windows above and complementing panels on either side. Decorative urns grace the front porch, elegant in their simplicity.

Once inside, the foyer is warm and welcoming. A staircase in wood with wrought iron adornments encircles the entry as a unique chandelier in copper, made in Italy, hangs from the ceiling. Simple, white paneled walls line the area while the custom colored chandelier hangs gracefully adjacent to a set of four windows.

To the side, an arched paneled opening welcomes visitors into a formal dining room. Done in neutral tones, the room mixes traditional accents like a half-paneled wall, sconces, and a grand gold leaf chandelier with modern furniture. The deco-inspired wood dining table seats 10, accented by an understated patterned beige area rug. On the buffet, classic candle holders with oversized blown glass domes bedeck a unique bronze centerpiece.

To achieve all of the desired looks in the residence, Monello called on interior designer Ruth Millman of the Millman Design Group (based in both New York City and Red Bank), with whom he had previously worked. “I call Ruth my muse,” he quipped.

“The light fixtures in this home were carefully selected. Some are custom made…forged. They come from different showrooms in New York City…small showrooms like Foundry Decorative Lighting,” explained Millman. “They were individually selected and done to the color we wanted.”

The chandelier in the dining room is from England,” Millman said. “It is custom- colored golf leaf.”

The kitchen is open and bright, with a mixture of styles blending for an ideal gathering place. The wood floors throughout—ten-inch walnut plank—are counterpointed by traditional white cabinetry with modern nickel finished pulls. A whitewashed stone backsplash keeps the room bright, while a large island seats seven in high-top chairs, under rustic inspired lanterns hanging from chains from the ceiling. The island is finished in honed granite, which alters both its texture and color. A round table with seating for seven sits in front of a trio of windows, under yet another chandelier.

The family room, with its tray ceiling, is done in neutral tones, but with pops of color. Designed with two seating areas, the room’s focal point is a fireplace finished in white paneling. Modern furniture fills the space in tone-on-tone colo ring, with three mid-backed conversation chairs on one side of the room and a sectional on the other side. Another unique light fixture, also suspended from a chain, employs dark metal and brass, for a funky look.

Just off the family room a solarium waits…with an entire wall of windows. A conversation table with chairs in glass and wicker mark the room, along with a casual sofa and chairs. Done in soft greys and beiges under a high blue ceiling, the room is quiet and comfortable. A unique lantern finished in dark metal hangs from the ceiling.

The library, inspired by a traditional hunting room, is finished in wood, with leather sofa and mohair covered armchairs. Cowhide coverings rest on the wood floor, while animal print pillows accent the chairs. Sun streams in through the windows, forming a curvature at the room’s corner which looks out onto the ocean. A wood finished tray ceiling keeps the space light, while a heavy desk (an 18th century reproduction of an English desk) waits at the ready.

One guest bedroom is gilded in glamour. There, gold panels hang from curtain rods above each window, while a tufted beige headboard and footboard give affairs a rich look. Golds, beiges, white, and even a hint of sea foam blend for an elegant style. (“The pale shades are very feminine,” noted Millman.) A chaise lounge rests between two windows, and a secretary desk stands quietly just off the area rug. One of the home’s signature light fixtures hangs over the four-post bed, this time with a glass globe at its base.

The guest bathroom is traditionally inspired, with coastal hues. A glass shower stall finished in subway tile stands at the far side of the space, while a wall unit in sea foam rests against the wall, complete with romantic glass knobs, oval sink, and marble countertop. An inverted glass dome light fixture hangs from the ceiling… dramatically highlighted by dangling crystals.
A wine cellar, done in brick and marble and complete with custom sconces and ceiling fixture, is another unexpected gem.
“All of the bathrooms are done in interesting tiles, some from Italy, some from France,” Millman added.

Upstairs, the master bedroom makes the most of a water view, with a series of windows and a door to the second floor deck. With walnut floors, blue/gray walls, and a dome ceiling with crystal chandelier, the space has a posh elegance not experienced in other parts of the house— its dome finished completely in silver leaf for a stunning look.

Complete with custom drapery, the room also boasts a round window with views of the beach, and includes a coffee station with coffee maker and refrigerator, so there’s no rush to get downstairs in the morning.

The master en suite is a treat. There, marble tile flooring conjures a Victorian sensibility, while a stand-up shower behind a glass door offers modern convenience. White built-in cabinetry with two vanities ensures plenty of space for the man and woman of the house. A free standing tub sits under a window, while chrome fixtures add shine. A sweet dome light fixture—evocative of white hibiscus—allows light to stream out beyond its artificial petals.

The home’s lowest level offers a surprise: an oversized entertaining space. In addition to a flat-screen media system, the area is finished in shiny upholstered chairs and sofas in gold and fuchsia. Globe light fixtures hang over an understated bar, while a large sectional sofa with fuchsia pillows invites guests to curl up for good conversation or a game. “The recreation room has interesting wood front panels that denote an Art Deco look,” added Millman.

A wine cellar, done in brick and marble and complete with custom sconces and ceiling fixture, is just down the hall, and is another unexpected gem of this traditional home. A home gym, outfitted with free weights, machines, and mirrors is reminiscent of a health club.

A self-professed movie buff, Monello had to have a home theater with a huge screen and oversized seats, so a striking space fit for a premiere was also part of the plan. “The theater, too, is Art Deco. Purples and blacks convey the feeling of the ’30s and ’40s,” Millman noted.

“It’s a great little escape,” said Monello.

And escape he will. While the family has homes in Rumson, Boca Raton, and Manhattan, the owner looks forward to his newly larger family spending time here (he has two adult daughters and his wife has twin six-year-old boys). “We sort of divide our time based on our social calendar,” he said with a smile.

For Millman, the project was a joy. “It was a pleasure working with Denise and Mario,” she said. “They are wonderfully fun to work with, made the creative process dynamic, and have great taste.

Millman Design Group
9 Bowtell Court, Middletown
732.671.5477