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designNJ
NEW JERSEY’S HOME & DESIGN MAGAZINE
DESIGN NJ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010
LEISURE PURSUITS
in moorestown
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 5
REVIVAL IN ASBURY PARK
WINTERIZE YOUR LANDSCAPE
PLUS
COMFORTABLE HOMES IN AVALON,
LITTLE SILVER, MANTOLOKING,
VOORHEES & MORE
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continental
INFLUENCES
Moorestown home reflects the lives of a well-traveled family
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WRITER: LISA RACKLEY
PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN MARTINELLI
INTERIOR DECORATOR: JACQUI CROFT
BUILDER: D.R. HORTON INC.
When you’ve traveled
the world and lived on
different continents,
you have a wide frame of reference in
designing your home. That was the case for
Jacqui Croft, who was born and raised in
London, moved to Brussels, crossed the
ocean to live in Minnesota, returned to
England for a home in Cambridge, and
eventually came back to settle in New Jersey.
Along the way, she met and married her
husband, Andy, while both were working in
England, and they had two children, Alex,
now 17, and Lauren, 15. After the birth of
their son, Croft started to work from home,
which led to adventures in painting, floristry,
and drapery-making. The latter piqued her
interest in interior decorating. She studied
and gained certification in the subject at
Penn Foster College in Scranton, Pennsylvania,
and became a member of Certified Interior
Decorators International Inc.
The Crofts decided to build a new home
when they moved to Moorestown to be
close to his job with Campbell Soup Co. They
found a housing development under construction near preserved wetlands. The location
offered serene backyard views of nature, and
The Crofts gather in the family room to watch
television after dinner, talk about events of the day,
or play games. Croft designed the built-in cabinetry.
The middle section houses the television, fabriccovered columns on each end hide speakers, and
pull-out drawers store movies, video games, and
additional electronic equipment. Lighted display
spaces showcase favorite pottery and the paintings
of Stuart Yankell, a native of Moorestown.
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purchasing before construction allowed them to choose a
floor plan with the spacious rooms and large, entertainment-friendly kitchen they had envisioned. Croft took her
time decorating each room, personalizing the spaces
with treasured art, antiques, and family photographs.
She mixed the style of furnishings for an eclectic look,
but kept things simple, comfortable, and functional.
Melding Cultures
European references abound throughout the Croft
home. In the living room, for instance, the formal
mood is a perfect setting for having tea with girlfriends and hosting relatives visiting from England.
Above: Banquette chairs circle the pedestal table in the dining
room, creating a comfortable place to talk and relax with guests
even after dinner plates have been cleared. Croft put her design
skills to work at the windows by having fabric added to the
bottom of favorite drapes from a previous home and layering
them over coordinating Roman shades. Right: Croft likes to
include a wow factor in each room. “I think the living room has
two with the animal hide chairs and collage of mirrors,” she says.
“I get lots of requests to do mirror collages in other homes.”
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Clockwise from upper left: Jacqui and Andy
Croft love to cook and entertain, so a large
kitchen was high on their list when searching
for a new home. Cabinetry in an Oyster
Vintage finish and stainless steel appliances
contrast with the dark chestnut island, which
provides storage and seating for four. • The
backsplash comprises Italian glass and
mosaic tiles with grout containing flecks of
glitter. • Opposite the island, cabinetry that
mixes painted and stained finishes displays
Croft’s favorite dishes and doubles as a
serving area. • Jacqui Croft takes a break
with the family’s Shih Tzus, Taz and Frankie.
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Ski trips to Austria and Switzerland
as well as Colorado inspired the
rustic design of the Crofts’ basement. Billiard and ping pong tables
stand ready for competition. The
bar top is crafted of solid hickory
and comes complete with bar stools
featuring arms reminiscent of winebarrel rims. A lounging area
provides a comfy spot to watch
movies by a fireplace on a
ledgestone wall. Nearby, a temperature-controlled wine room
continues the rustic theme with a
serving area made from a piece of
solid redwood, maple shelving, and
a stone tile floor.
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In the dining room, Croft found special places for
handmade wood and candle-like sconces, masks from
Venice, and artwork from Brussels and Vienna, not to
mention New York City.
Favorite dishes collected from travels around the world
earned display space in built-in kitchen cabinetry, serving
functional and decorative purposes.
The basement, meanwhile, features rustic references to
ski trips to Austria, Switzerland, and Colorado. They
include custom knotty alder doors, a solid hickory bar
top, and a ledgestone fireplace wall with a mantel made
of solid redwood (a theme repeated in the wine room). In
addition to billiard and ping pong tables, the basement
includes a lounging area, a gym, and an extra bathroom
with a walk-in shower to accommodate guests.
“England is very beautiful, but we loved the idea of settling in New Jersey,” Croft says. “The weather here is
more predictable, the beaches are great, and you can’t beat
the proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.
“There is so much culture in one area. We hope we’ll
be here for years to come.” DNJ
NOTE: See the Crofts’ home decorated for the holidays
in the December/January issue of Design NJ.
SOURCES Overall: interior decorator, Jacqui Croft Design LLC in
Moorestown; builder, D.R. Horton Inc. in Mount Laurel; front yard
landscape design, Jacqui Croft with installation by Il Contandino Inc.
in Voorhees; backyard landscape design, Jacqui Croft with assistance
and installation by Father Nature Landscaping in Mount Holly. Family
Room: built-in wall unit, designed by Jacqui Croft, manufactured and
installed by William Baron Cabinetry in Claymont, Delaware; leather
sofa, Macy’s in Cherry Hill, leather club chair, rugs, and ottoman,
Pottery Barn; upholstered sofa and coffee table, Retrospect in
Minneapolis, Minnesota; lamps near fireplace, Uttermost Co. in Rocky
Mount, Virginia, through Jo Skymer Lighting in Pennsauken; paintings, Stuart Yankell of Yankell Fine Arts in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania;
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A post-and-beam ceiling offers shade in the summer and the double-sided
stone fireplace provides warmth and a good place to roast marshmallows on
crisp fall evenings. Fun accents include whimsical iron bar stools, reclaimed
rustic doors, and rectangular copper plates that hang above eating areas.
A Brazilian wood deck just off the bar includes a table for family dinners.
copper charger, jug, pail, and bell, Material
Culture in Philadelphia. Dining Room: molding on
tray ceiling, Home Trimwork in Schwenksville,
Pennsylvania; pedestal table and banquette
chairs, Kincaid Furniture through Horchow;
antique rug, purchased at auction in Brussels,
Belgium; Victorian English chair, purchased at
auction and reupholstered by Window Concepts in
Sewell; sideboard, Stanley Furniture in Stanleytown, Virginia, and refinished by William Baron
Cabinetry; lamps on sideboard, Home Goods in
Delran; chandelier, Kichler Lighting through Jo
Skymer Lighting; wood and candle-like sconces,
Schonbek through Jo Skymer Lighting with wood
bases designed by Jacqui Croft and made by
William Baron Cabinetry; draperies, designed by
Jacqui Croft with Window Concepts; Capella pecan
hardwood floors, installed through D.R. Horton
Inc.; antique masks, shop in Venice, Italy. Living
Room: mirrors, Home Goods in Delran and Marlton;
animal hide chairs, wrought iron stools, glass side
tables, sofa, and seashell lamps, Design Spree in
Lawrenceville; silk lambrequin and poly-cotton
drapes at window, designed by Jacqui Croft with
fabric through Michael’s Textiles in Petersburg,
Virginia, and Window Concepts; shag rug, Pottery
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Top: The Crofts can lounge on sofas, swing in wicker egg chairs, or enjoy
beverages at a bar made of Tennessee sandstone and cedar on their covered
patio. Above: The Moorestown property includes views of natural wetlands and
surprise visits from native wildlife. Left: The dining area is close to the grill and bar
so the family can mingle with guests while preparing meals.
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Barn. Kitchen and Breakfast Room: maple cabinets in Oyster Vintage finish and chestnut
island, Medallion Cabinetry in Waconia,
Minnesota, supplied and installed by D.R.
Horton Inc.; chocolate leather island stools,
Mr. Barstool.com in Philadelphia; pendant
lights, Sea Gull Lighting through Jo Sykmer
Lighting; uba tuba black granite countertops,
through D.R. Horton Inc.; backsplash, Mirage
Glass Crystile Series in tan, Sant Agostino
Elegance series glass liner in Moka Lucilla,
Iridescent Oval Series by Ideal Tile, and
StarQuartz grout in translucent citrine, all
supplied and installed by Ideal Tile in Mount
Laurel; refrigerator and stove, Jenn-Air;
faucet, Price Pfister; sink, Kohler; woven
wood blinds, Worldwide Window Fabrication
in Philadelphia installed by Jen-N-Josh Blind
Co. in West Berlin; built-in wood bench,
designed by Jacqui Croft, made and installed
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by
Friendswood
Cabinetmakers
in
Moorestown; table, Pottery Barn; wicker
chairs, Pier 1. Basement: general contractor,
woodwork, tray ceiling, and lighting,
Consumer Home Service in Cherry Hill;
Mercier hickory floor, installed by AB
Interiors in Burlington; Black Pearl countertop behind the bar, American Stone Marble
and Granite in Stafford, Virginia; bar stools,
Mr. Barstool.com; Recreation Depot pool
table, Dicks Sporting Goods in Mount
Laurel; fireplace ledgestone surround,
Environmental Stoneworks in Orwigsburg,
Pennsylvania, with installation by Robert
Buniak Masonry Specialist in Mount Laurel;
redwood mantel, Redwood Burl.com in
Eureka, California; sconces, Minka through Jo
Skymer Lighting. Wine room: stone flooring,
Flooringstore.com in Cherry Hill; Buckeye
stone wall, supplied by Chick’s Block Co. in
Gibbsboro and installed by Robert
Buniak Masonry; maple storage shelves,
Consumer Home Services; redwood countertop, RedwoodBurl.com; framed artwork, Design Spree. Outdoors: porch and
deck design, Jacqui Croft; construction and
installation of Brazilian ipe deck, bluestone
patio, post-and-beam ceiling, cedar roofing,
and fireplace with black walnut mantels,
Father Nature Landscaping; stained finish on deck, Windsor Woodcare in Plainsboro; Tennessee sandstone and cedar
wood bar, G.W. Lippincott’s in Mount
Holly, installed by Father Nature
Landscaping; outdoor sofas, pillows, and
cushions, Restoration Hardware; egg
chairs, Pottery Barn; wicker table and
chairs and fireplace screens, Patio World
Home and Hearth in Moorestown, ceiling
fans, Horchow.
As Featured in the October/November 2010 of