The house was originally a ranch hand and foreman's quarters. It is now California ranch in style with hand-carved woodwork reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. A wine cellar was built in what was the root cellar, and a 200-year-old church door was added.
The 1928 Spanish-style home was renovated during his ownership while maintaining its period details. The 3,365 square feet of living space includes a study/office, a den, a breakfast room, four bedrooms and four bathrooms. There's a guesthouse, a basement and indoor and outdoor fireplaces.
It's important to work with an interior designer who understands the meaningfulness behind a home. That's why clients asked Hill Rondero, a designer who founded Charlotte-based Ro House Studio, to assist in the total renovation of their 1938 cabin. The home was gifted to the clients by their neighbor, who passed away, and Hill admits that it had "immense sentimental value." However, Ro House Studio specializes in working with homes with a story.
Don't pretend you've never had an Eloise-ian fantasy-living in a Plaza-like hotel, surrounded by the finest amenities, basking in a life of effortless luxury. (Minus, of course, the bathtub overflows and staff harassment.) That's more or less what global event planner Michelle Rago had in mind when decamping from her Manhattan apartment of 30 years to her dream home in Lambertville, New Jersey. Rago, who's constantly on the move for work-London, Cabo, and Brazil are next on her itinerary-says, "I've grown up in luxury hotels."