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A Family Affair
03/14/2008 - By Michael Berman
Good Times, Good Design, Good Fortune
Roseann and Rick Autovino have been together since childhood. They met as children (when Roseann was 11) in Goshen, New York, where both their families had summer vacation homes. Roseann was 16 when she started dating Rick, and they were married in 1977. Rick worked with his father in the family’s door and window business in Brooklyn before deciding to go out on his own and creating Artistic Doors and Windows, a company specializing in design, fabrication, and custom restoration work. They started their search for a special place to call home with the desire for a better environment in which to raise their two children, John, now 28, and Gina Marie, now 24; they honed in on Monmouth County after doing lots of research. Rick and Roseann purchased their new home in 1991. They were looking for a fine school system, an open country environment, and a house that they could put their own vision into. Their search ultimately led them to Holmdel.
The Autovino home is a 7,000-square-foot center hall classic on 11/2 acres of beautifully landscaped property. Roseann recalls Rick negotiating with the builder to allow him to design and install all the doors and windows for their new house. The builder agreed and the Autovinos were off and running, decorating and making their new house a place to call home, which has been a work in progress from the very beginning. Roseann enjoys searching far and wide for just the right decorator items and also enjoys working with local craft and trades professionals to achieve her vision. The Autovino home features a variety of custom tile and natural stone applications created by Ideal Tile, which have become as much a design element in their home as the painted walls. Roseann feels that a home should reflect the taste of those who live there and not the vision of a designer or industry trend. Rick and Roseann share a vision in life and in their home that is classic and undeniably elegant.
The custom-designed front doors are made of solid oak and were designed and fabricated by Rick’s company, as were all the interior doors and the custom windows installed in the interior of their home. Rick also designed a number of mahogany built-ins and furniture pieces, as well as all the kitchen and master bath cabinetry, giving new meaning to the old phrase “it pays to have a relative in the business.” The expansive foyer in the Autovino home bears little resemblance to the original decorative style they incorporated when their home was new. Roseann and Rick make their design choices together as a team; she is quick to point out that Rick sees all the current design trends in his line of work; they take what they like and tweak it to make it their own. The foyer walls have been given an Italian plaster-like finish, and warm, rich colors were chosen to bring out the textural wall treatment. The travertine floor, which encompasses the foyer into the dining room and includes the kitchen, was supplied and installed by Ideal Tile, as was the decorative floor medallion.
The Autovinos’ kitchen was completely renovated in 2002, just before their daughter’s high school graduation. Rick and Roseann decided to transform the space into a Tuscan-inspired gathering place for friends and family. The glazed maple kitchen and island cabinetry – which were all designed and built at Rick’s shop – reflect his talent for detail and ornamentation. The total project was completed in 2 months…in time for Gina Marie’s blowout graduation party.
The dining room features a credenza and crystal chandelier that belonged to Rick’s mother and came from Sicily. The flame mahogany table comfortably seats a large gathering of friends and family. Roseann found many of her home’s furnishings in various New York City stores and design studios.
The living room was designed by Roseann and Rick. The Lladro mahogany display cabinet (Roseann has been collecting Lladros for years) was another of Rick’s creations. The bold gold and deep blue fabric design on the sofas play off the soft tones of the carpet and wall color, creating a dramatic contrast. The vaulted ceiling and display niches add to the overall design of this comfortable and inviting living space.
The master bath, a project Roseann resisted at first, was a transformational experience. The project was undertaken about a year ago and was completed in 2 months. The use of marble, mosaics, and granite combine to create a visual dance of natural materials and an intimate space to enjoy and wash away the day’s anxieties. The painted and antiqued white cabinetry keeps the space open and inviting.
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