Open House Journal
WELCOME
Lifestyles Thrive in the Somerset Hills, Generation After Generation
The legends are true. Grand country estates established the Somerset Hills as a distinctive region in central New Jersey, hosting fox hunts, midnight balls and visiting royalty from distant lands.
Today, tiaras are not required. Home buyers span a range of price points and styles, from classic to modern or a blend of the two.
Open House Journal previews homes on the market, interviews top agents, and explores the Somerset Hills. Contact the listing agents for private showings.
COVER STORY Find homes, townhouses and condos for sale in Available Properties.
River Road West: Unique Home, Rare Location
Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here.
Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here.
Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here.
Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here.
Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here. Cover story goes here.
Bedminster Townhouse Boasts Four Season Views
Townhomes on Dorset Lane are coveted for their spectacular views. This one commands a prime location at the entrance to the neighborhood.
Situated on one of the highest peaks on the Bedminster side of The Hills, it is an end unit with views more generous than in most townhome communities.
Every room sparkles. On the main level, ample natural light flows from the east, north and west, filing the two-story volume ceiling in the living room. Throughout the home, meticulous attention was given to assure the many upgrades were of the highest quality.
The layout flows freely, beginning with the center foyer and extending to the right to the dining room and kitchen with a breakfast nook. To the left, , formal dining, etc.
Both master bedrooms--one on the first level, the other on the second--boast ample closets and en suite baths. A third bedroom, originally a loft overlooking the foyer, was enclosed and could easily be used as a home office, nursery or guest quarters. Read more...
More homes in a range of price points are featured in Available Properties
SOMERSET HILLS Become familiar with the unique places in the area
King of Moracco Owned Natirar, Now a Somerset County Park
Natirar is a 404-acre property located in the scenic hills of Somerset County within the municipalities of Peapack/Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster. There are 247 acres located in Peapack/Gladstone, 124 acres in Far Hills, and 40 acres in Bedminster. Formerly the estate of Kate Macy Ladd and Walter Graeme Ladd, the property is rich in culture and history. The property features extensive areas of lawn and woodland, river access and scenic views and contains historic farm buildings and various other residential structures and out-buildings dating from the mid-18th through mid-19th centuries. The North Branch of the Raritan River and the Peapack Brook traverse the property. Natirar presents a unique opportunity for a single property to preserve, showcase and interpret many aspects of the area’s rich architectural, cultural, historic and archaeological heritage...
Read more in Somerset Hills
Showcase House: Panaramic Views, 5 Entrances and 33,000 Visitors
Last year, 33,000 visitors trampled through Blairsden, a Showcase House in the heart of the Somerset Hills.
Upon first sight of the view from the terrace, one of them was overheard saying:
"For a view like that, I'd live in a tent."
Fortunately, the original owners had a grander vision and deep pockets. Toss in a few coins found underneath a sofa cushion, and the ___ family managed to built a palatial country estate
Read about more intriguing places in Somerset Hills
AGENT PROFILES Find your next real estate agent to list your home or buy a new one in Agent Profiles
Russell Crater, Top Realtor and Smokehouse Aficionado
Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one.
Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one.
Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Rusty likes his fish fresh. He could not find a suitable home on a lake, so he bought two acres of land and built one. Read more Agent Profiles
Katherine Barcelona, Born for Real Estate
Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine
Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here. Katherine Barcelona agent profile goes here.
Discover your best-fit real estate agent for buying your next home or listing your current one in Agent Profiles.
BLOG For more insight and irreverent views about the Somerset Hills, read our Blog and follow @openhousescribe on Twitter
Plural Marriage Homes: Is there a shortage in the Somerset Hills?
The concept of plural marriage homes is nothing new. Multiple spousal arrangements are biblical. As early as the book of Genesis, the infamous Cain, after slaying his brother Able, begged God for mercy and then went on to live an eventful life--sharing it with more than one wife and several children in tow.
Centuries later, home buyers direct real estate agents to dive into the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and not come up for air until finding homes that fit their specified criteria.
Choices seems endless, but where is the box for plural homes?
That settles it. I have no choice. I must have a home custom built. After all, my five husbands and I deserve a suitable quarters. Read more Blogs
Is the "Sleeping Porch" Gone with the Wind?
Rhett Butler should have made his presence known in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey. If he had, he might have stumbled upon an open house in Bernards Township that boasts a sleeping porch off the master bedroom.
A porch? For sleeping? On a hot summer night in New Jersey, long before air conditioning was invented, Scarlet herself would have swooned when when the humidity was more oppressive than Mr. O'Hara's overseer.
Whether a home was a formidable cotton plantation or a more every day abode, the sleeping porch was a common feature throughout the deep south. Traditionally, ceilings and overhangs were painted blue, the color believed to be the same as in heaven.
As with many traditions, beliefs come and go. And so have the modern take on the need for the sleeping porch.
Still, I cannot help wondering if the sound of crickets whistling through a sleeping porch screen would be more soothing than air conditioning whooshing through a squeaky air vent.
Our Open House Scribe keeps you posted on real estate, design and living in the Somerset Hills. Follow @openhousescribe.
DESIGN VIGNETTES Spark your inner designer. Our fanciful, thought-provoking Design Vignettes will unleash your creativity
The Statement Bed
When the clock strikes midnight the only furniture that matters is the bed. Make it a statement.
The bed is the one defining element that magnanimously lends its name to the room itself and promises to serve as a safe carriage for drifting into dreamland.
Hours later, when the moon gives way to the sun and morning breaks, it is the bed that endures.
It remains while we move on to face challenges of yet another day, feeling secure in knowing that unlike other aspects of life, the bed waits. And waits. For you, snuggled warm and close to your cherished loved one. Read more Design Vignettes
Blue Front Door
"Why did you paint your front door blue?" I asked. He only smiled, shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen.
I was woozy. Maybe it was the martini. A blue front door?
Brown, black, and occasionally a red one. Plenty of beige front doors, too, with and without glass. But blue? What does it mean? Is it symbolic? Could I be off-trend?
He returned from the kitchen carrying a tray of crab puffs. Hot out of the oven, they were steaming. So was I.
"Why blue?" I asked. "Why not blue?" he said.
He offered me a crab puff. I didn't flinched. I sipped my martini. I stared him down. I wanted answers.
"I just like blue," he said. He handed me a small plate and cocktail napkin, still pushing those crab puffs. I ignored them. I refused to break my gaze. His eyes were blue. They seemed to be laughing. At me?
I chugged my martini and slammed the glass down, not on its coaster. I needed to leave. The hardware store was about to close. I wanted paint. If I rushed, I could have a blue door before nightfall. Perhaps the store carried doorknockers. Brass. A lion's head. No, a ram's. Or maybe... I'll see what they have on display. I'll install it in the morning. Paint needs time to dry.
For inspiration, ponder our fanciful takes on design picks in Design Vignettes.
NEW YORK CITY TRANSPORTATION
Easy Access to NYC for Daily Commuting or Night on the Town
By night, Somerset Hills residents are drawn to the bright lights of New York City, a mere 45 miles away by car. Head east on Route 78 and in about one hour you can take in a Broadway show, a concert at Carnegie Hall or maybe shop at world class shops along Fifth Avenue.
By day, commuters may opt to board direct trains on the Gladstone line (late trains require a changeover in Summit) or hop a Lakeland bus. However, most direct trains and buses are only available during on-peak hours. The choice of destinations include:
Hoboken Station: (Trains)
This historic and exquisitely restored station connects to the PATH train with stops from Christopher Street all the way up to 33rd Street. For downtown destinations, take the New York Waterways ferry across the Hudson River. Depending upon which side of the Wall Street District you're headed for, you'll have a choice of two piers: World Trade on the west side or Pier One on the east.
New York Penn Station: (Trains)
This station is also historic, but more of a madhouse than Hoboken. If you've ever seen it in an old movie from the 40's or 50's, it should be clear that chaotic crowds must be in the building's DNA. However, the relatively new addition of the New Jersey waiting area is not a bad waiting place, and includes restrooms, chairs, an assistance desk, ticket machines and counter, and numerous electronic boards for gate announcements. To go from the station to your New York destination, either head downstairs to a subway or outside for a bus or taxi. (Note: When purchasing your ticket, indicate New York Penn Station, not Newark Penn Station, or you will need to change trains to arrive in New York.)
Port Authority Terminal: (Buses)
Bus stops are numerous throughout the Somerset Hills area. Most stop at the train stations along the Gladstone line, but there are many others in between those regular stops. The largest one is located in Lyons, where there is ample parking, but you will need a permit or ticket to leave your car in the lot all day. (Note: Parking charges are subject to change; many lots offer free parking after 9:00 am on weekdays and all day on weekends.)
Read more in Unique Places
ABOUT
Open House Journal is for readers who seek a tour of hand-selected residential properties in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey. It features the most desirable homes in a wide variety of price points and styles, profiles the real estate agents who list them--and offers an insider's view of living in a unique area where early American history blends beautifully with contemporary sensibilities.
For Real Estate Buyers: Please contact the listing broker or agents directly to arrange for private showings of Available Properties. Or choose an agent by reviewing Agent Profiles.
