Home: A Place for the Heart— and Art
Art may imitate life, but it also may say something about your personality. From years of travel with her late husband John, Joan Emerick acquired artwork – namely paintings and sculptures – from places near and far. Those memories remain, and the exquisite pieces now adorn her two-bedroom apartment home at Pennswood Village.
“When we traveled, we always visited museums and local art studios,” Joan shared. “We found that art is really an expression of where you are.” John, a skilled photographer, grew up in a family surrounded by art. His father was a part-time artist, his grandparents collected art and the couple’s middle child, whose wife is also an artist, works for Sotheby’s in New York City.
Function and beauty
Joan knew she had to downsize when she decided to move to Pennswood in 2015. She sold her Princeton, New Jersey, home and gave much of her furnishings to her three children. “When moving, it’s important to understand that you’re not giving up your life, you’re just making your life easier,” Joan explained.
Joan selected the two-bedroom apartment home at Pennswood Village for its “amazing size,” large walk-in closets, well-proportioned kitchen and open-concept dining/living room space. She also knew she wanted the second bedroom to function as a den/guest room.
With a keen eye for design, space and functionality, Joan personalized her new home with a few unique touches:
- Installed custom cabinetry in the den/guest room and walk-in closet
- Repurposed the guest room’s walk-in closet as a photography studio featuring John’s work
- Enlarged the living room by using oriental rugs to define the dining and living spaces
To make the most of her home’s layout, Joan selected several key pieces of furniture: a large cabinet serves as a storage unit in her den/guest room; a drop-leaf dining room table saves space, but expands for extra dinner guests; and smaller bedroom sets from the Princeton home complement – but do not crowd – her apartment home’s bedrooms.
As a result, Joan’s home looks as though it was custom-built for her taste and needs. With more than 50 works of art in the main living spaces, her home showcases a mosaic of acrylics, oils and watercolors—and John’s photography. “I feel close to John in that room [photography studio],” Joan shared.
On-the-go lifestyle
A road warrior, Joan frequently visits her children in Seattle, Minneapolis and Jersey City and also maintains a home in Vermont. Because of her active travel schedule, Joan chose sculptures, not plants, for her outside patio. “I can travel without the worry of tending to a garden,” she said.
When Joan returns to Pennswood Village after traveling she says, “It always feels like I’m coming home.” She loves to entertain her neighbors and appreciates the open floor plan of her apartment home where guests can flow between the dining/living room, patio and den, where there is a makeshift bar.
“I came here with an open mind and a happy heart,” said Joan. “Pennswood never lets you down.”
How would you customize your Pennswood home? We have 10 flexible floor plans to choose from and make your own, just like Joan has done. Contact us at 215-504-1118, or simply click here to learn how easily your lifestyle fits into our friendly community.