LIFESTYLE LETTER
March - Our Home issue
Home. Is there really any better place to go back to? I would say no. To me, it represents love, safety, comfort and acceptance. I hope yours makes you feel the same.
As a kid, I knew every nook throughout the house. The exact count of steps leading down to the basement and which ones creaked when you walked on them. I knew which rocks to turn over if I wanted to find a worm at any given time and I knew just where my mom would likely be if I came in after getting hurt. Our house was perfect..to me. It’s amazing how our perspectives can change once we are in charge of our own homes. Now I see the problems first. Which sink drains slower, which door hinge needs oil, which room is always a mess and the list goes on. I would like to get back to that mindset of appreciating my home for what it represents and what it is instead of what it isn’t.
Until that day arrives though, there are definitely changes that need to be made, so for our Home Issue, I am sharing with you some people and strategies that will help all of us get the house closer to what we’d like it to be.
Let’s start with our cover story about Rich Graniere, owner of Advantage Contracting (on Route 23 in Wayne). Rich took us down the road of discovering more available living space in our current homes by going over the idea of a 4-season porch. Not only can this be essentially any type of room you want, it can also be a room with a heck of a view. We also brought you Rich’s Guide to Inexpensive Kitchen Upgrades. Thank you so much, Rich!
A Special Kudos to Ayden Acebo, a student photographer from Wayne Hills Photo. Ayden became the first student photographer to shoot a cover photo for a featured article outside of our annual student photo contest. Way to go Ayden!
We threw in a story to help make your house more of a home using houseplants as well as ones on spring cleaning secrets, better ways to tidy the house, and some starter home follies (as supplied by some neighbors throughout our communities).
To top it off, we brought you the “Crown Jewel of Baked Goods” recipe from Gina Monego’s family: Aunt Agnes’s Banana Bread. You’re welcome.
Now Go Make That House Your Home. Speaking of home, thanks for letting us in yours every month!
March 2025
PUBLISHER
Phillip Barone | phillip.barone@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Don Seaman | don.seaman@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Officially Social | alison@officiallysocial.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Don Seaman, Rich Graniere, Gina Monego, Angi Hockett, Angela Broockerd, Haley Williams
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gina Monego, Ayden Acebo, Phillip Barone, Rich Graniere, Diana Filippi, Weronika Mysliwiec, Janie Jones, Cassandra Castaneda
PHILLIP BARONE, PUBLISHER @WAYNELIFESTYLEMAG
Corporate Team
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AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
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QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
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WERONIKA MYSLIWIEC
DIANA FILIPPI
PHILLIP BARONE
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PHILLIP BARONE
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PHILLIP BARONE
Outside Inside
Adding Extra Living Space To Your Home While Improving Your Curb Appeal
ARTICLE BY DON SEAMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AYDEN ACEBO, WAYNE HILLS PHOTO
Rich Graniere, photo by Ayden Acebo
Perhaps there is no image of American homesteading like a homefront porch, graced with a hanging swing. The openair evokes memories of a simpler time, a pitcher of lemonade at the ready, sitting watching the approaching sunset. Sounds beautiful, but after a few years of snow, steps are weatherbeaten and need replacing, and let’s face it, you’ve maybe used that swing that’s out there once...maybe.
Front porches are a romantic setting, but they’re unlikely to get much use anymore.
But if you had a porch that was both inside and outside, then you could have the best of both worlds. That’s rightmaybe having a four-season porch could transform both your house and your living experience at the same time.
“An all-season porch can be a great investment in your home,” says Rich Graniere, owner of Advantage Contracting. “Depending upon the size, in about six to eight weeks, you can have a new living space to enjoy; one that brings real impact to your resale value.”
“People can be creative with what they use the space for. It doesn’t have to be a traditional porch area. Some use it for entertaining, a playroom for the kids, a home office or gym, or even a music room or an extra bedroom. It really doesn’t have to simply be a sitting area - although there’s really no better place to enjoy your morning coffee if that’s what you’re going for.”
Transforming Lives By Transforming Living Spaces
Given that it’s an extension of your outdoor space, natural light and airiness are the keys. Large, removable windows with screens, skylights, and ceiling fans are obvious options that maximize the function and vibe.
One of the unique benefits of a year-round porch space is that it allows you to enjoy some “light therapy” that you might not otherwise have in other parts of your home. During colder months, the extra natural light provides a source of vitamin D that sunlight offers without exposing yourself to the cold. Morning sunlight also helps to regulate circadian rhythms for better sleep patterns. And regular exposure to sunlight also helps to alleviate seasonal affective disorder. Simply put, sunlight is good for you, and getting that while comfortably inside counts.
It’s an opportunity to explore many new lifestyle upgrades to your home life, but it’s still a massive undertaking that takes investment in time, resources, and planning.
Don’t overlook the fact that even if you’re simply updating an existing porch that this really is putting a new addition on your home. Keep in mind that you’re actually adding to the square footage of your home. In addition to getting all the permits and zoning variances taken care of with your town, you’ll need to do some planning to make sure it has all that you need - proper insulation, easily
accessible and sufficient electrical outlets, heat, ventilation, wifi… Will you want a fireplace inside? A bar for entertaining? Hanging a TV? Gaming station? Surround sound? Maybe noise-proofing isn’t a bad idea. Future proof while you can.
Whether you desire a well-appointed entertainment zone or simply a transitional mud room, having an outside-in room adds charm and potential to your home. You can even keep that front porch swing if you want. But this way, you’ll never have to clear snow off of it to finally use it.
If you want to consider investing in an all-season porch for your home, conferring with someone like Rich would be a wise step to take. You can contact him at 973-8320077 or you can visit advantagecontracting.com
Ross Aquino Owner
Drain
Handmade Soap
Add a spa-like feel to your home with this refreshing soap recipe that's simple to make at home.
ARTICLE BY ANGI HOCKETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
The art of soap making has come a long way since our grandmothers’ day. All the nourishing oils, beautiful colors, scents and exfoliants would have been a dream to her. Today, it is easy to custom make soap for any skin type. Adding oils such as avocado, olive, jojoba, and argon are just a few ingredients to make a rich smooth bar.
Not only do handmade soaps get super-fatted oils to add moisture, they can also include some amazing exfoliants, additives and scents. A few of my favorites are honey, aloe juice, goat’s milk, activated charcoal and clays.
If you want to get started making soap try this simple pour and mold recipe.
lavender honey lemon soap
ingredients
•2 lb. goat’s milk melt-and-pour soap
•1 lemon rind, zested
•3 tablespoons of dried lavender buds
• 2 tablespoons of honey
•15 drops of lavender essential oil
•6 drops of lemon essential oil
• Jar or bowl for melting soap base
• Silicone mold
directions
Chop soap into smaller pieces. It will melt faster this way. Place in bowl and microwave (or double boil). Be careful to watch soap and not let it burn. If you are using microwave, heat in 30 second increments, stirring frequently. Once soap is melted add your essential oils first. Once essential oils have been added and mixed thoroughly, add the lavender buds, lemon zest and honey. Have your mold ready to go, on a flat, even surface. You’ll want to move quickly before the soap cools too much. Mix everything thoroughly again, and pour mixture into mold. Let the soap cool for 2-3 hours until bars are completely solid. Wrap or package however you like.
Recipe from Sisoo.com
300thTotal JointCase
LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT
Successfully Completed
Rich's Guide To Inexpensive Kitchen Upgrades
Understated Ways To Update The Most Used Room In Your House Without Breaking The Bank
ARTICLE BY RICH GRANIERE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AYDEN ACEBO, WAYNE HILLS PHOTO
You spend more time in your kitchen than most other rooms in your home. It’s not just for eating and meal prep. It’s usually the place where you organize, strategize, communicate, or simply caffeinate.
When you spend that much time in one place, you tend to see how stale the look has become. But a refresh doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Well, unless you’re really looking for a total overhaul, that is.
We spoke to Rich Gradiere from Advantage Contracting for a few low hanging fruit ideas to get you started on giving your old kitchen a little more pizzazz. Let’s start with the one that tends to come to mind first.
UPDATING YOUR CABINETS.
Painting cabinets and adding new hardware can instantly breathe new life into your kitchen. A high-quality paint job and some new handles and knobs creates a high-impact upgrade.
You might also consider removing the cabinet doors from any upper cabinets as well and painting the interiors, giving the space a modernized look.
A FRESH PAINT JOB CAN TRANSFORM THE ENTIRE SPACE.
Painting the entire room might seem like a large undertaking, but it can dramatically change the feel of the space, especially if you use a contrasting color on one wall to increase visual interest. Make sure that you use washable, kitchen-friendly paint for easy cleaning.
RETHINK YOUR STORAGE.
Installing a ceiling pot rack frees up cabinet space (assuming you have enough head space), or you can choose to wall mount them as well. Adding a magnetic strip on a wall for storing your knife set is the preferred option for most chefs to keep knives sharp between uses. And adding roll-out shelves in lower cabinets can make otherwise inaccessible storage more useful and organized.
UPDATING SMALL APPLIANCES AND ACCESSORIES.
Coordinating colors and themes of your appliances and things like canisters and other decorative items can give a boost to your cooking serotonin. Colorcoordinated mixing bowls, food processors, and cookware can instantly make you feel as though you’re cooking somewhere in the south of France. And maybe it’s time to treat yourself to something a little bit better than that old stained Mr. Coffee that you’ve had since your first apartment after college.
REPLACE TIRED OLD LIGHTING.
Face it, most people think that the lighting in their kitchen leaves something to be desired. Updating fixtures to something more modern can improve the look of the room while adding visibility in places you always struggle with. Upgrading the under-cabinet lighting can give a boost to the look and help while you try to follow those old recipes your grandmother handed down. Even updating to basic flush-mounted fixtures with contemporary styling can change the ambiance.
CHANGE UP YOUR BACKSPLASH.
You don’t have to go overboard. You can opt for peeland-stick or backsplash panels instead of high-end tiling to give a refresh to your sink area.
A NEW FAUCET ISN’T MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN.
Changing out the old faucet in your sink isn’t a complicated job, and most have pull-down sprayers and touchless options that can boost function as well as form.
CLEANING UP GROUT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
For under $50, you can get supplies to clean and reseal your old grout, which will give a dramatically refreshed feel without a big retiling job. You can even paint old grout to give it an updated look with a fresh new color.
ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
INDOOR PLANT GUIDE
Investing in indoor plants can not only spruce up your living space, but also bring numerous health and well-being benefits
Bringing the outdoors in with the use of house plants is a great way to add color and dimension to your space. We sat down with Jesse Nelson at Family Tree Nursery, based in Kansas, and discussed the benefits of incorporating plant life into your home. “There are plenty of studies on the health benefits of plants, and the evidence suggests that being around plants and caring for plant life increases overall wellness,” explains Nelson. “Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of purifying the air.” There are a wide variety of indoor plants that work for any space and light situation that you may have. Regardless if you have a green thumb or a black thumb, there are plant varieties that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite indoor plants to incorporate into your home.
ANTHURIUM:
Anthurium has gorgeous, colorful flowers and is the easiest indoor flowering plant to care for. It comes in a variety of colors including red, white, orange and purple. Anthurium likes to be dry, so let it go bone dry before watering. Fertilize every so often, especially when blooming. These plants do not like direct sunlight and can be repotted every three to five years.
HOPE PEPEROMIA:
This cascading plant is gaining popularity due to its succulent-like leaves and also because it is fairly easy to care for. The Hope Peperomia likes medium to bright direct sunlight. It does well as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant. Watering is only needed one time a month regardless of plant size.
“Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of purifying the air.”
This is a slow-growing variety that is architectural and compact. This plant is a great statement piece and looks great in an entryway or by a chair. There are a lot of varieties and colors of the Dracaena. They are very resilient in low light and are great for an office space with little or no light. They like to stay on the dry side, so they like to be watered when they are about ½ to ¾ of the way dry. When watering, give it a good soak. Pro tip: A moisture meter can be purchased and used to determine how dry your plant is to help determine when it is time to water again.
DRACAENA JANET-CRAIG COMPACTA:
STARTER HOME Follies
First Time Homeowners Learn Some Cautionary Tales
ARTICLE BY DON SEAMAN
“We’d moved into our first home with a small backyard that was a disaster. Overgrown, ignored, a real wasteland. But our daughter’s third birthday was coming up and I had it in my head that we needed the yard ready for her party. My poor husband had gone through the ringer to clear it - but there was still no grass.
First time homeowners can find themselves in over their heads on the simplest of circumstances. Here are a couple of lessons learned from some locals.
The week before the party, he was away on a business trip. I panic-bought about 40 rolls of sod the day he came home. Around 10:00 that night, he went to my SUV for something and as soon as he opened the car door, he said it was like stepping into a tropical rain forest inside. The air was thick with humidity and smelled like a farm.
Turns out, sod is a living, breathing thing - and should not be stored in cars.
I’ll never forget the sight of him outside, headlamp on, sweating up a storm, tamping down roll after roll of sod at midnight. It’s no wonder why our next-door neighbor was such a “homeowner coach” after that night.”
Jen S., Montville
“Our house had a wide, odd-shaped driveway that needed sealing. I picked a nice, clear weekend to get it done - sealant has to dry. After a few hours and over 25 buckets later, I was nearly done, but went inside to take a break for water. Just in time to look out the window to see a sudden rainstorm coming down.
I lost some trust of local meteorologists that day, and Home Depot sold a lot more buckets of sealant.”
D.S., Wayne
“We had an older home with some exposed pipes in the basement. When one of them had a problem, we called our plumber to come take a look. After his quick fix, he mentioned that he thought that they might be wrapped with asbestos, but he wasn’t sure. If we had him remove it, he would have to report it as a possible environmental issue, so he suggested we do it ourselves.
While it turned out to be harmless, we had a new respect for people who work with hazardous materials. Wearing hazmat gear and high-end breathing equipment in your own basement is pretty nerve-wracking. We’ve certainly had better date nights.”
Ann L., Upper Montclair
AUNT AGNES’S
BREAD BANANA
ARTICLE BY GINA MONEGO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GINA MONEGO & PHILLIP BARONE
Gina Monego shares her family's prized recipe...lucky us!
This is our prized family recipe that I am happily sharing with all of you.
My Great Aunt Agnes was the first member of our family to be born in America after the previous generation immigrated from Italy. Through the years, she perfected her recipe, which came to be thought of as her “Crown Jewel of Baked Goods”. She later (reluctantly?) shared it with her sister, my Nonna. Eventually, my Nonna deemed me worthy to possess it and, thus, passed it down to me.
I love it, my son loves it and I know you will too.
Welcome to my family!
BANANA BREAD
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix all the dry ingredients, and then add in the wet ingredients.
2. Grease the pan with butter
3. Preheat the oven to 325 and cook for approximately 55 minutes.
4. The recipe strategically makes two loaves, one for you and one for everyone else!
INGREDIENTS:
• Two sticks of butter (softened)
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• Two eggs
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• A dash of cinnamon
• Three bananas
• Optional chopped walnuts
• 2 big helpings of love
ELEVATE YOUR CLOSET
4 WAYS TO ORGANIZE AND INJECT STYLE INTO YOUR SPACE
Every woman dreams of an organized and beautiful closet space, but it often comes last on the list of places that get their time and attention. Follow our four tips for transforming and elevating your closet. How you organize your closet will of course differ based on the size of your space, the size of your wardrobe, and the kind of life you lead. But applying these guidelines will result in a much more organized and aesthetically pleasing space.
MAKE A STATEMENT ORGANIZE BY KIND AND COLOR
Why use an armchair when you have room for a sofa? Slide up a stool and colorful area rug to complete the look. If you have excessive wall space, consider a mini gallery wall or a statement wall with wallpaper to polish things off.
01 02 04
Group clothes first by kind and color second. Group like with like and decide the best place to store each item as a group (e.g., hang pants in the closet, fold and stack sweaters in a bureau). Working with groupings will help you figure out how much space you need and the best way to store each type of item.
UPGRADED HANGERS 03
The simplest and fastest way to make a BIG difference in your closet organization is to get matching hangers that go beyond the traditional plastic or wire hangers. And for sure ditch any with paper from the dry cleaner!
FACE CLOTHES THE SAME DIRECTION
It may seem silly, but when dealing with a small space, little things count. Hanging all clothes the same direction is a no-brainer for continuity in your closet.
ARTICLE BY HALEY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSANDRA CASTANEDA
