John Colaneri's Expertly Designed Home

Alongside his cousin Anthony Carrino, the designer and contractor has hosted four HGTV series, in which he’s done everything from overhaul exteriors to construct kitchens from scratch. All that experience sure came in handy when John and his wife, Jennifer, a teacher, decided to upgrade to more spacious digs in anticipation of growing their family (they had their first child, Lilyan Belle, last year). 

Working with Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, John built a 4,000-square-foot modern farmhouse in Ramsey, NJ, that’s equally inspired by his love of contemporary architecture and Jennifer’s fondness for old barns. “We wanted people to look at our home and wonder, Was this always there? ” he says. The exterior features a mix of corrugated steel and ipe wood to look like a barn that’s been updated over time. Inside, the house showcases all the design ideas John champions on his shows, like an open living area, lacquered kitchen cabinets, and reclaimed-wood accents. “I’ve used a piece of every episode I’ve done in this house,” he says. “No wonder I love it so much!” 

“On TV I usually go with colored or custom appliances instead of stainless steel—and I did that here, too,” says John, who covered the fridge with panels that match the lacquered slab-front cabinets. Obsidian-like backsplash tiles from Artistic Tile, an ebony Dekton countertop, and futuristic pendants from Barn Light Electric add to the kitchen’s sleek look. The low-back red barstools are from allmodern.com. 

An unexpected mix of seating—including mid-century-modern armchairs from allmodern.com, upholstered wingbacks from Lulu & Georgia, and an oak bench from Restoration Hardware—give the dining area an informal vibe. “We’ve done mismatched chairs a lot on TV, and I love how it warms up a space,” says John, who built the table from beams salvaged from a brownstone reno. 

With its minimalist sofa and weathered wood tables, this space epitomizes the Colaneris’ rustic-meets-polished aesthetic. To keep the focus on the barn-wood accent wall, which features a fireplace trimmed in Carrara marble, John painted the adjacent built-in black. “A TV should never be a room’s focal point,” he says. “This downplays it.”  

Even with his jam-packed filming and construction schedules, John clocks serious hours in his home office, so he wanted it to feel as much like an escape as a place to work. Leather chairs from allmodern.com offer a comfy place to perch, while the aluminum-plated desk from Restoration Hardware is “the coolest,” he says. On the wall is an autographed Mariano Rivera New York Yankees jersey.

To boost the cozy factor in the couple’s bedroom, John piled on different textures. First he covered the walls in a silvery Thibaut paper, then he added a custom barn-wood panel, and finally he chose a tufted Restoration Hardware headboard. “I wanted to layer the walls like you would layer rugs on the floor,” John says. A fuchsia rug from ABC Carpet & Home is the room’s only jolt of bright color. 

Although it’s surrounded by warm wood, the oversize Duravit sink takes center stage. “If you want a sink to make a statement, get it in black,” says John. Wall-mounted Kohler faucets don’t interfere with the basin’s clean lines, and, better yet, “Jenn says they remind her of being at a spa.” What looks like stacked stone on the wall is actually porcelain tile from Italy.