Leading Lady of Design

home spotlight
Leading Lady
of
O
Design
ur feature home sits on a 17,000 square foot
parcel of wooded hillside property within a
private cul-de-sac. The three story front façade
is a combination of stucco and cultured ledge
stone with majestic 25-foot columns defining the front
entry. Lush landscaping consists of islands scattered
throughout the property to enhance the park-like effect.
The house soars five levels in the back with breath taking
“window walls” and three separate terraces to further
appreciate a spectacular hilltop view of bridges and
by Lisa Noce
cityscapes. Annmarie Ruta of Elegant Interior Designs,
Inc. is both the owner and interior designer/decorator of
this residence. Stylishly chic with a warm and effervescent
personality, Annmarie left her Wall Street position nine
years ago to pursue her dream of interior decorating and
design.
Hence, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has
recognized her work every year since 2002 with numerous
building awards for her many projects. Her residence
proved no exception, scooping up awards for natural
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home spotlight
beauty, exterior, craftsmanship and interior decorating.
Private showings of this 10,000 square foot Todt Hill
home to her client base allow the residence to be used as a
“model” of sorts for both design and decorating. “Touring
my home affords my clients
clear visuals and enables
them to see various design
aspects and decorating
themes. A portfolio is a
wonderful resource, but you
can not always appreciate
the entire genre of the
room and all its nuances
in a photograph,” states
Annmarie.
The grand entryway of the
residence features a double
circular staircase, which
connects to a Juliet balcony.
Fabric settees and a foyer table sit beneath a glamorous
wrought iron and crystal chandelier. The walls are handpainted and muraled in warm ginger tones and adorned
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with sconces. Porcelain and glass mosaic floors throughout
the kitchen, grand foyer, dining room, library and powder
room in conjunction with 12 foot ceiling heights further
enhance the formal ambiance of the home. However, the
open floor plan perfect for
entertaining large groups
of family and friends keep
the rooms welcoming and
comfortable.
Kitchen aficionados need
look no further than this
finely appointed space.
Gourmet in every way, the
light and dark toned wood
cabinetry is exquisitely
displayed with form and
function at the forefront.
Commercial appliances of
every kind can be found
amidst the beautiful cabinetry. An intricately carved
oversized hearth is indeed a focal point but there are other
eye-catching details, which warrant a double take as well
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home spotlight
such as the multi-colored crystal chandeliers by Shonebeck,
large crown moldings and tumbled stone, and glass mosaic
backsplash highlighting a 14-foot island. “The kitchen is
the central point for most families and the space where
everyone seems to gather.
With that in mind, I wanted to
create an island large enough
to be both multi-functional and
accommodate a large family.
Double stacked granite and
seating for seven along with
a vegetable sink, pot drawers,
service drawers and microwave
completed the island and table
area.”
A banquet sized dining room
with an embellished coffered
ceiling layered with glazed
crown molding and hand-painted striping on the walls
add to the sumptuous feel of this elegant room. Mahogany
furnishings, rich dramatic draperies and crystal chandeliers
complete the atmosphere of this luxurious room. A formal
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living room was purposely omitted in exchange for a
sophisticatedly designed sitting area situated across from
the kitchen. Outfitted in rich russet and gold tones on both
seating and draperies, the octagonal niche compliments
both the foyer and the adjoining
library. A powder room with
distressed vintage vanity and
armoire pieces and russet glazing
on walls and ceiling serve to
further tie in the color palette
selected for the first floor. The
sunken great room off the main
level boasts a 15-foot ceiling and
two full walls of unobstructed
windows. “I love natural
light and really wanted to take
advantage of the mesmerizing
views from this room” states
Annmarie. “I used fabric to frame the windows but not
cover them in any way; obscuring the view even slightly
would have been a travesty.” Leather and chenille
were used on the sofas and seating arrangements and a
custom bar area and bistro set offer endless entertaining
possibilities.
A recreation level is located one floor below and is
accessible by a handsome staircase in the center of the
great room. The space includes an indoor basketball court,
theater room, fully equipped gym, wine cellar, computer
room, summer kitchen, and laundry room and ½ bathroom.
Slate pattern floors, deep-toned granites and dark
mahogany cabinetry set a comfortable and casual aura for
this entertainment mecca. The theater room serves not only
as a mini cinema with three plasma screens, but also as a
humidor smoking room. Equipped with special ventilation
and custom humidor cabinetry, the room showcases an
extensive cigar collection. The indoor basketball court
can be viewed through all-glass walls and has become the
children’s favorite area of the home. With something for
everyone to enjoy and terraces leading to the outdoor area,
the recreation level provides a peek into the lifestyle of this
busy and fun-loving family.
The upstairs portion of the residence has five bedroom
suites and a loft, which overlooks the master bedroom
suite with its gracious sitting area and fireplace. Serene
blue walls and buttery tans compliment the large burl
wood furnishings and silk fabrics. The luxurious marble
master bath is graced with old world furniture and rich
fabrics in addition to a steam room and Jacuzzi to create a
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spa like setting and a perfect retreat for relaxation. Again,
windows abound with enticing views of the lights below.
The children’s rooms were specifically designed with
each personality in mind. The young daughter’s room
fancifully mimics a “shoe boutique” with gorgeous hand
painted one-of-a-kind designer
shoes adorning the walls. Beneath
the crystal chandelier sits a petite
table and chair grouping set for tea
and scones. “We love glamorous
shoes and thought it would be
fun to create our own boutique.”
The boy’s room is a handsomely
done in red and navy and the logo
“Just Do It” clearly expresses his
passion and talent for various
sports. The bathrooms compliment
each bedroom in color and theme
and complete the en-suite atmosphere. Two beautifully
decorated guest bedrooms offer comfort and hospitality for
out of town friends and family.
Whether working in designer heels or construction
boots Annmarie Ruta’s talent and skill abounds, much
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like her zest and passion for her profession. Most recently,
Annmarie has begun to coordinate her own jobsites
where design and planning can be approached from
the inception. Climbing ladders to walk the frame of a
house, changing layouts and windows before getting to
the decorating stage has offered
clients a hands-on approach
to their building or renovation
experience. Her projects vary
from working closely with
clients on a one to one basis to
working alongside builders and
contractors in creating model
homes for presentation and sale.
“Each day brings something new
and challenging to my field” says
Annmarie. It is exciting to help
people create their dream home as
well as being afforded the opportunity to express my ideas
to homeowners and businesses.” Elegant Interiors Designs,
Inc. offers consultation services for interior and exterior
design, interior decorating, space planning and layouts.