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Menikheim: Homespun Elegance
10/26/2008 - By by Michael Berman
Photography By Al Kruper
Homespun Elegance
A Spacious Contemporary Colonial- A Perfect Fit
Christina Menikheim had a unique experience when she and her family left her native Canton, China, for San Francisco, California. The year was 1954, and Christina’s mother was 8-months pregnant at the time of their flight; unfortunately, the plane never made it to the mainland, and went down in the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, however, Christina and family all survived, and they went on to New York, where her father owned a restaurant. Christina’s husband, Doug Menikheim, had a slightly easier time, coming to the New York area – from Syracuse, by car – to enter the pre-med program at Wagner College in Staten Island.
Christina was studying accounting, and met Doug while both worked in a bank in New York City. She had complained that Doug was allowed to work irregular hours and “come and go as he pleased.” The management told Doug of the complaint and he asked to be seated next to Christina (when their shifts overlapped ) so he could smooth things over with her. Well, smoothing things over turned into more than 30 years of marriage, children, and a happy life in Holmdel for over 22 years.
Doug completed his residency at St. Vincent’s, with a specialty in gastroenterology. He partnered with three other doctors to open a four-man group office in which Christina was the office manager for 15 years. The couple moved to Holmdel in 1986 since it was hard to find the right home in Staten Island, and many of his colleagues were moving to New Jersey where prices were more inviting and land was much more plentiful. They purchased a home in 1986, and lived there for 10 years with their two children, Denise and Douglas Jr.
Over the years, the Menikheims had both liked a particular home that was less than 1/4 mile from the house they were living in. As fate would have it, in 1996 they noticed a “For Sale” sign in front of the property, and they moved quickly to purchase the 6,500-square-foot home that sat on 4.8 acres of country-setting Holmdel land.
Their new house included a stable, as well as enough land for training horses (which Doug ownedfor a time). Their daughter, Denise, also learned to ride during this time. The house required a total renovation at the time of purchase, so Doug and Christina moved forward to create a much more open floor plan than previously existed, and created additional architectural interest through the use of mouldings and interior columns. The family home, inside and out, has been a source of pride and joy for the family ever since.
The great room is filled with light streaming in through the vertical wall of windows. The light comes in handy; Christina has quite the green thumb, and her jade plants and numerous orchids add incredible color and organic architecture to their home. The outside landscape also offers a veritable smorgasbord of ornamental and floral species, including more than 100 types of lilies.
The beautiful, heavily carved double doorway on this home is as much art as it is an entry. Christina keeps up with the maintenance of the ornately carved door by cleaning and treating its carved surfaces with a wood preservation sealer.
The columns and arched entry inside the Menikheims’ home were part of the 1996 extensive renovation. Doug and Christina remember the renovation as a reconfiguring of the interior space. The goal was to take out walls to create an open visual flow to the space. The renovation took 8 months to complete, and totally transformed the interior.
Many decorative ceramic pots and planters are placed throughout the Manikheim home. The Asian-inspired designs are a natural, considering Christina’s Chinese roots.
The traditionally inspired dining room is flooded with light and has been used frequently over the years to host family gatherings.
Doug is an avid chess player who now plays mostly online. Whenguests come over, however, this relaxed game room, with chess board front and center, allows for a comfortable social gathering place to play and talk. Doug plays a version of chess known as Blitz chess that can be completed in as little as 5 minutes. He became hooked on the electronic version when his son came home with a Nintendo game in the early 1980’s. The internet allows him to play people all over the world from the comfort of his own home.
Douglas Jr. has been painting since he was a child, and this portrait of his wife is proudly displayed upstairs.
The master bedroom was recently renovated. The large windows allow light to stream in, while offering Doug and Christina a lovely view of their beautifully landscaped backyard.
The Manikheims’ beloved Chow Chow, Arnold, relaxes on the hardwood floor, as much an owner of his space as Doug and Christina could ever hope to be.
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