The Tudor Hillside Manor by Principal DesignerJesse Sahlani is a 9,500 square foot home, designed for a lot overlooking the New Jersey skyline and the lush foliage that surrounds it. His intention when developing this private residence was to capture the grand, formal character of some of his favorite manors throughout the English countryside. It is one of the grandest renditions of his period-specific work to date for this reason, reflecting his love for both classical Tudor and Jacobean architecture. Though his intention was to ensure that every compositional element met the functional needs of a young family and a successful businessman.
The proportions speak to the design intention without taking into consideration any of the masonry detailing or unique compositional elements such as the masonry archway leading to the garage courtyard, the traditional Tudor chimneys, or the elaborate gardens that surround the home. What I’m talking about is the massing, and it evoked the same character early in the sketching phase as it does now. When paired with the period-specific design elements that Jesse painstakingly reinterpreted, you realize just how timeless this body of work is.
The facades feature classical detailing in the form of unique masonry designs, railing profiles, and roof material textures that span across the sprawling width of the structure. The density of these design elements and their symmetrical order are what add to the grand impression a viewer would have when arriving for the first time. The footprint was similarly designed with this notion in mind, where the sprawling format was used to create multiple courtyards that feel enveloped by the desired architectural character Jesse sought to capture. It prompts you to take a walk around the home to continue experiencing the level of detail and conformity across the facade.
This level of period-specific design intention is what makes a body of work like this so unique. Jesse intended for it to echo the character of the grand manors that he loves to visit so much. However, he wanted to ensure it also reflected his classically restrained design signature. The result is that every single detail was redesigned or modified to reflect the likeness of some of his favourite detailing from across Europe, in an updated format. This sentiment was also applied to the gardens, which he developed as an extension of the home’s artistic presence. The shot on the right really puts into perspective just how grand a structure feels upon approach of the front door.
Jesse designed a unique garage and office courtyard that feels private, easily accessible, and surrounded by the architectural character of the unique facades he designed for this area. To access this courtyard, you have to drive through a traditional Tudor archway, setting the tone for the architectural experience that is to come. Once in this space, stable-style garage doors, single-storey structures clad in limestone, and gardens surround you. The level of design intention and environment you experience in a space like this was designed to truly inspire the best work of anyone who experiences it.
There’s always a car for the compound as Jesse always says, and in this case he chose the 1959 Mercedes 300 SL along with a 1995 Porsche 993 911 Turbo.
The interior of this grand private residence was meant to be an updated rendition of a classical Tudor Manor, though interpreted through a mildly contemporary lens. Breathing new life into a historic and timeless design style like this by adapting it to modern-day living standards is something we take great pride in, as we hope others look at our work in the future with the same endearment.
The finishes throughout the home focus on a palette consisting of white oak, rich natural marbles, and lighting design that is meant to highlight the full-height ceilings while creating a beautiful ambience for entertaining during the evening hours. Contemporary renditions of Tudor-style “half-timber” beams have been included, along with several “nods” to the manors of the past with grand limestone fireplaces.
However, if you ask Jesse what the most luxurious part of the interior is, he would say it’s the scale of each space that is the truest signal of luxury surroundings. This proportional and compositional intention underscores every setting within the home. Understanding that he curated this base to work from, his intention was to create a unique environment within each space that feels distinct in its own right using the finishes, without losing the organic feel of the natural materials and commitment to the Tudor design style.
This environment is made possible by the floor plan that is absolutely sprawling, a function of the footprint and the proportions of each room. This impressive result is a function of Jesse’s control over the composition of the home. The footprint itself is what informs the proportions of each space to an extent that every decision he makes through the creative process has to be looked at from every angle.
The gardens were designed to offer the same level of classical elgance as the rest of the home. When developing the design for this sprawling lot, Jesse’s intention was for the environment to be extended to every corner of the grounds. To achieve this, he used structured hedges, masonry installations, sculptures, water features, and accent trees to create a layered and complex layout that both frames, highlights, and draws the eye away depending on the features Jesse is trying to highlight. Landscape design in this context is just as important as interior design and architecture, as this body of work would feel entirely different if it were any less lush and manicured.
Unionville Historic Restoration
Unionville Historic Restoration
