GPS Living Spring 2024

multiple generations of family members. No wonder Abma’s is such a kid-friendly destination—not to mention a fun place to throw a birthday party or enroll your favorite future farmer in summer camp. abmasfarm.com Trade crops for culture and head to the Clifton Arts Cen- ter & Sculpture Park. The center regularly rolls out new pro- gram announcements about exhibitions, readings, lectures, pop-up shops, and more. There is always art on display and a bustling schedule of classes—some for kids, others for adults—focusing on different types of drawing and painting as well as other media. cliftonartscenter.org Not to be outdone, the Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House featured over a dozen exhibitions last year—from Everything’s Fine (a series about struggling with anxiety, depression and PTSD) to The Myth Purged , which- explored the perception of women informed by history and myth. PCAC also hosts a robust schedule of classes with award-winning, working artists from fields including creative writing, fashion, and a variety of visual arts. Learn more on their website. pcartscenter.org And the Folklife Center of Northern NJ builds awareness and appreciation of cultural traditions, celebrating practices passed down through generations and creating a platform for folk artists to share their work. folklifennj.com ■ MEET THE DESIGNERS

Abma’s is a place where future farmers find their green thumbs.

The Clifton Arts Center has space to host classes and events.

If you were a color, what color would you be—and why? Black. It is a color that complements almost every style and color scheme. Is there a kind of project you’d like to work on more often? I do a lot of renovation projects, but I would enjoy doing some more new construction projects as well. How do you unwind when you’re feeling stressed out? Gaming— World of Warcraft and Dia- blo IV mostly; reading a good book or writing. Is there a design upgrade you’d love to make in your own home? I would love to gut the entire house and start from scratch. Can you share a trend or something you’ve seen in the world of design that fascinates you? Split finishes and mixing metals with wood or glass. For example: matte black with a polished chrome, or brushed nickel with teak wood. Is there an iconic building or space where you’d like to try living?

How would you describe your per- sonal design style? Eclectic-Industrial—original designs reimagined with a unique twist. Who inspires you? I love the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright. He always found a way to bring nature into each home he designed. Describe a memorable project. One would have to be the dog shower area I helped one of my clients design for a laundry room. We had to figure out good placement for each fixture that was needed and what would work best in the space as well. Is there a TV show with design that you love? What do you love about it? Anything regarding tiny homes. I love seeing how they figure out how to make the most of the small space. Can you share a problem you ran into and how you made it work? Installing a ceiling-mounted rain show- er on an angled ceiling. I recommend- ed they create a niche in the ceiling to give them a flat surface for the shower arm escutcheon to lay on.

CHERYL BASILE HAWTHORNE

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright. I love the way he brought nature into the design and made it part of the house. What do you hope clients have thought about ahead of time? The color scheme: this helps a lot when picking out tile, paint, vanities, countertops, and fixtures. What project should homeowners add to their spring to-do lists? Warmer weather is the perfect time to start thinking about freshening up a space. Whether it is updating cabi- net and door hardware or opening up some walls to create a whole new space, spring is all about renewal.

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