A BEAUTY REBORN
Dramatic renovation of Country Club home is the vision of Judy Kent Gervasini
By ELLEN GRAY
Photography LINDA HANSELMAN
The Country Club home of Judy Kent Gervasini is remarkable on a variety of levels. For starters, the home represents a head-totoe makeover that bears little resemblance to its original state. Then there’s the visionary behind the project, the woman who single-handedly managed to run a successful business, survive the loss of her husband, and still visualize and orchestrate this superlative renovation.
The finished product is nothing short of spectacular and serves as a wonderful tribute to the woman who, working in tandem with architect Richard Henry, created a masterpiece of beauty and flawless design. She saw beyond the structure’s dark interior, gloomy cavernous rooms and rudimentary electrical work, and, in her mind’s eye, created a space that would be filled with light, grace and charm.
When Gervasini purchased the home in 1990, it was essentially a jumble of dark rooms with no rhyme or reason. Nothing had been added, nor any work done to the home since the 1940s, and the lack of attention was apparent in countless instances. Undaunted, Gervasini took on the project, and two-and-one-half years later, successfully transformed the sevenbedroom house into a lovely home that contains four living suites, each with its own bath.
What makes the transformation even more noteworthy, perhaps even more than the finished product, is the fact that Gervasini had no help along the way. Working within the confines of a maledominated industry, she orchestrated the project from start to finish, overseeing contractors, designers, architects and craftsmen to achieve her dream. At the same time, she continued to run her own firm, J Kent Staffing, one of the city’s best known and most successful recruitment agencies. She’s also endured the loss of her husband,
survived breast cancer, and, as she proudly notes, she’s
done it all on her own.
Clearly, this home is more than a testament to Gervasini’s taste and style. It’s also a strong tribute to one woman’s unwavering commitment and strength and the realization of a dream. Like its owner, the home that stands today is strong, stately and bold in every sense of the word.
Gone are the dark woods that flanked many walls, along with small windows and foliage that literally blocked the sunlight. Gervasini knocked out the home’s entire north wall to create a wall of glass, using the original windows. Indeed, the only part of the home that bears resemblance to its original state is the facade; the entire interior was literally gutted to make way for a space that is a work of art in itself.
Surprisingly, one of the more unusual features is the basement, which blooms with details that are too numerous to list. Among them: a stunning black glass basin topped with Swarovski crystal-studded fixtures accentuates the powder room, and handmade wooden doors, with square cutouts, frame a wine rack, giving the illusion of art rather than function. The library and entertainment room are heavily accented with maple, offset by dramatic black granite. An arched Venetian plaster ceiling covers the room, an unusual feature in any basement. At the far end of this room, dubbed the University Room, a glass wall completes the visual drama.
Even the downstairs laundry room merits comment. Here, large maple and glass doors, accessorized with small Swarovski silver knobs, mask all the home’s mechanical systems. Black granite flooring with mother-of-pearl inlays proclaims to visitors that this is no mundane space.
But now comes the most amazing feature. Continue down the hall, and you enter Bijou Vault A, a room that would steal the breath away from any woman who encountered it. Think glamour, think sophistication, and you’ll begin to understand the effect this black lacquer-and-mirrored room has upon visitors. Functioning primarily as a dressing area, the room contains glass shelving that displays accessories of all types, including heart-stopping designer handbags, belts and more. Straight down a hallway, the eye is drawn to yet another room, Bijou Vault B, where a huge Frank Gallo work of art fills one wall.
Throughout, computerized lighting achieves dramatic effect, giving the rooms a warm and inviting glow. As you enter these rooms, the overall feeling is that you’ve somehow wandered into a private museum, where surprises and unexpected nuances await at every turn.
The remainder of the home is equally full of delight, with beautifully appointed antiques from London and Paris blending discreetly with the understated honey, maple and black tones that run throughout the rooms. Of note is a fabulous Louis XIV clock in the corner of the dining room. In both the living and dining rooms, custom rugs bordered with large flowers set off furnishings that are both interesting and welcoming.
The home’s walls are all textured white plaster and offer the perfect backdrop to dramatic works of art that hang throughout.
Upstairs, the bedroom suites are individually named for the style of furnishings they contain. For instance, the Italian room is named for a large reproduction of Ruth Orkin’s American Girl in Italy, 1951. The Twin Sister room has a picture of twin angels, along with an exquisite collection of couture evening bags, artfully arranged in a glass case.
The master bedroom is also a vision. Here, Gervasini combined three of the home’s original bedrooms and melded them into a single living space. Exotic wood from South America lines the walls of the bedroom and dressing room, and beautiful antique tables provide a quirky and slightly romantic aura. Flanking the bed are two pieces from the 1700s. These beautiful antiques once served as lingerie chests for wealthy women and are made of mother-of-pearl and wood on black lacquer. A table along the wall is inlaid with tortoise shell and brass, accented by gold detailing.
The outside of the home is a knockout as well. Dubbed “The Trocadero,” the deck resembles the old Trocadero at Elitch Gardens and was added during the renovation. Tall white brick columns and long white beams establish an atmosphere that literally begs an outdoor party. Separate areas of the landscape are designed to be adjuncts to the rooms indoors; step outside the library, for example, and an outdoor seating area creates an outdoor library, dining room and living room.
Massive planters, custom built and shipped from England, hold seasonal flowers. Huge pots on the terrace contain flowery hibiscus trees, and sophisticated groupings of outdoor furniture make this a true haven in the city.
