Dear Future Homeowner,

Some homes are simply lived in.

Others are carefully shaped, layer by layer, into something deeply personal.

This home became that for us.

From the beginning, we were drawn to its timeless architecture, warmth, and original character. But over time, we lovingly reimagined it with the intention of creating a home that felt both elevated and deeply livable: a place that carried beauty, comfort, creativity, and connection into everyday life.

What we will miss most is the feeling here.

Morning light pouring across the floors. Candlelit evenings by the fire. Music playing softly while dinner lingers a little longer than planned. French doors opening to the backyard on warm evenings as friends gather around the firepit long after sunset. The home has a way of making ordinary moments feel meaningful.

We spent two years thoughtfully designing and refining every space. The wall treatments, lighting, window coverings, textures, and tonal palettes were all carefully chosen to create rooms that feel calm, layered, and emotionally warm. We wanted every space to feel intentional without ever losing the soul of the original home.

The living room became one of our favorite places in the house, with our custom Calcatta Viola Marble fireplace as the first of hundreds of design choices we made in this home. It’s what we feel is the heart of the home, and it captivates you the moment you walk through the front door.

The Maplewood room filled so many roles over time: reading retreat, creative studio, work-from-home sanctuary, and simply a quiet place to pause.

Upstairs, the bedrooms became peaceful retreats from the pace of everyday life, while the finished third floor offered incredible flexibility for guests, work, or simply space to breathe.

And then there’s the outdoors.

The gardens and landscaping were designed to feel immersive and private, almost like a boutique retreat tucked into one of Maplewood’s most beloved streets. We added layers of landscaping, bluestone hardscaping, entertaining spaces, fencing, privacy details, and the custom firepit area to create a backyard that truly feels like an extension of the home itself. Some of our favorite evenings have been spent there with friends, wine, music, and conversation under the trees.

At the same time, behind all the beauty, we invested deeply in the systems and functionality of the home. Central air, Mitsubishi systems, upgraded electrical, refinished flooring, security systems, lighting, a new boiler, and countless thoughtful improvements were all completed so the home would not only feel beautiful, but function beautifully too.

And of course, there’s Kendal Avenue itself.

We’ve loved living on this street and being part of the Kendal Valley community. When we first moved here — still learning the town and only a few weeks into this new chapter — we kept hearing the same thing over and over again: “You are so lucky to live on Kendal.”

We smiled and agreed, not fully understanding what made this street so special. But it didn’t take long to find out.

Shortly after moving in, nearly every neighbor on the block knocked on our door to introduce themselves. They arrived with flowers, homemade treats, bottles of wine, phone numbers, and genuine offers to help in any way they could to make our transition feel easier and more welcoming.

From there came the annual kid-friendly block party, followed by the annual adults-only block party - truly one of the most fun nights of the year! We were introduced to the famous Kendal Valley Trick-or-Treating, where the street closes down, and children roam freely from house to house in costume, turning the entire neighborhood into something that feels almost magical.

What makes this street so special isn’t just the homes - it’s the people. There is a rare sense of community here that is hard to put into words until you experience it yourself.

It’s a street we have loved, and we can’t wait for you to experience the same feeling.

Leaving is bittersweet, because this home has held such an important chapter of our lives. We moved in only a few weeks pregnant, and it has watched our family grow - from the day we brought our son home from the hospital, to his first words and first steps.

This home has seen our hearts expand, and we truly believe that love is reflected in every room. But there is comfort in knowing someone new will walk through these spaces, feel the same warmth we did, and begin creating memories of their own here.

And thankfully, we aren’t going far.

Our hope is that this home inspires you, comforts you, gathers people around you, and becomes a place where life feels deeply and beautifully lived.

With warmth,

The Current Homeowners of 39 Kendal Avenue

Reel Estate

Video Walkthrough of 39 Kendal Avenue, Maplewood NJ

ARRIVING HOME

Visit this home in person for a free copy of the 39 Kendal Avenue edition of our magazine Arriving Home

For the design-forward buyer craving soul, substance & story. Thoughtfully reimagined with a refined editorial eye, this 4-bedroom, 2.1-bath Colonial balances timeless architecture with deeply intentional, bespoke interiors that feel both elevated & entirely livable. Set on one of Maplewood’s most admired streets, this home unfolds in layers of warmth, texture & light. Original character remains beautifully intact, while curated wall coverings, custom window treatments, sculptural lighting, and rich tonal palettes create spaces that feel quietly luxurious and emotionally resonant.

The living room invites slow mornings & candlelit evenings alike, anchored by a newly converted gas fireplace and French doors opening to lush outdoor spaces. A sun-drenched Maplewood room becomes the perfect creative studio, reading retreat, or sophisticated work from home sanctuary.

Upstairs, serene bedrooms feel pulled from the pages of a design magazine, while the finished third floor offers a private escape equally suited for guests, office, or primary suite.

Outside, professionally redesigned fully fenced grounds feature decking, bluestone patio, layered landscaping, custom firepit seating and the kind of atmosphere that makes dinner parties linger long after sunset.

Behind the beauty is substance: central air & Mitsubishi systems, new boiler, upgraded electrical, integrated security, refinished flooring, custom millwork details and extensive system improvements throughout.

Intimate, refined and impossible to replicate.

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