A Piece Of Paradise

A Colts Neck estate fit for king and queen

By Jennifer Vikse

Just an hour from Manhattan, Colts Neck boasts extravagant homes in the middle of sweeping horse country. One such residence is Bella Vista, a $5.75 million neo-classical estate situated on almost six acres, equipped with a three-par golf course, bocce court, Grecian pool, and pool house—not to mention what is inside the home.

The 10,000-square-foot residence—which was custom built and took just over a year to complete—sits on manicured lawns and behind an iron gate. A Cinderella-style staircase greets visitors inside its foyer and the home opens from there to a series of improvisational expressions…the finishing touches for which were courtesy of a seasoned decorator.

“My passion is crystal chandeliers,” admitted the lady of the house. “We have Shoenbeck chandeliers in the foyer and dining room. The others are antiques from Portugal. I think this could be a showroom,” she joked. “I had to find a place to put each one. Every room has a crystal chandelier.”

In addition to the lighting, she noted that, “Every nook is done” in the home. Accents, including brass sconces, regal columns, moldings, gilded accents, and porcelain floors complete the neoclassical look. The style, she noted, is reminiscent of her favorite place in the world: Paris. “I love the city,” she said. “I just love that whole scene…that elegance. [The house] just kept progressing in that style as we were designing it.”

In addition, a love for old movies also came into play.

“I am so into the old romantic [ones]. That’s how the whole movie theater came about,” she explained. As a result, the lush home theater boasts velvet seating for 15, marble and carpet flooring, and custom-lit floors.

“It gets the kids and the dads involved. Everybody gets creative. It’s a lot of fun.” The home also has an arcade. “The kids have a hard time getting on a machine when the guys are there,” she laughed.

And then there are the home’s bedrooms. The main house has five, while the pool house has one. The master suite, measuring 41 x 21, has a fireplace, decorative columns, and a dressing room. Both bedroom and master bath there have crystal chandeliers, completing an almost Gatsby-esque look. Its master bath is spacious as well, with a Jacuzzi tub and additional crystal chandelier.

“The master bedroom is total bliss for me,” noted the owner. “It’s my sanctuary. It’s calming, I feel relaxed. Blessed. I have angels all around me.”

She continued, “It’s a great little paradise. It’s so tranquil. This house has a little bit of everything that you could need or want.”