A shift has occurred in the Teaneck housing market, with young, growing families looking for top of the line properties, according to Nechama Polak, owner of Vera and Nechama Realty. «People who wanted to live in a high-end, luxury home in prior years would buy a Manhattan duplex or country estate,” Polak said. “But we are seeing families who want to be part of a community, not on a secluded estate where you can’t see your neighbors.»
One home that fits into that category, 532 Winthrop Road, will be featured on the program NBC Open House, this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. The show can also be viewed after the broadcast at www.facebook.com/veranechamarealty.com. An open house will follow on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. This home, and another offered for sale at 552 Winthrop, sit on a combined 1.5 acres and can be viewed as a family compound, which was the original vision of the owners.
The sheer size of the rooms gives children plenty of space in which to run around. The double-height ballroom in one of the homes, which in previous decades might have attracted a buyer who wanted to host Gatsby-like cocktail parties, today would be perfect for an involved couple hosting fundraising events.
Polak faced an unusual challenge in presenting the homes: They are stunning but expansive, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass staircase and an elevator servicing four floors. «It’s breathtaking, but people walked in and were shocked,» Polak said. “The house was so spectacular, prospective buyers were awed by the vast space. They were not quite sure how they were going to live in it.»
The sellers contacted Cheryl Eisen, a former realtor who has developed a concept called «interior marketing.» She has a team of craftsmen and a contact list of artists who can create home furnishings to her specifications. After assessing a property’s location and personality, she goes to work outfitting it so prospective buyers can picture themselves living there.
Polak recalled that Cheryl walked in and was struck by the wall space as well as the museum-quality lighting. “She said, ‘What a backdrop to display a family’s artwork or collection of portraits.’” Her team of six to eight people worked full time for a month and created a complete new look with wallpaper, paint, custom furniture, lighting fixtures and lots of art on the walls and on pedestals. The art is contemporary, to match the interior of the home, but the front exterior and entrance to both homes retain their more traditional character, Polak noted.
Viewers of the NBC Open House program will enjoy the glimpse inside a spectacular property, as well as gain insight into principles of decorating they can apply to their own homes, Polak said. “Cheryl tours the house with cameras following her and explains the use of rooms and placement of paintings—how to place art on walls and over fireplaces, without necessarily centering the pieces. She focuses on the Litelab museum lighting inside the home and the stunning natural light streaming in through the glass walls.”
Families with children moving into spacious properties are attracting another demographic—parents and grandparents who want to live close by, or even together. «Many families are buying large homes so their parents can stay with them in comfort and share weekends in a marvelous setting,» Polak said. «These two homes reflect some of the values that people come to Teaneck for.»
By Bracha Schwartz
