The Hideaway

Located in Sparta, NJ this lakeside Tudor is the personal home of our co-founder, Virginia. Drawn to the area for its sense of remoteness and easy lake life, she saw immediate potential in the house’s architecture, but also recognized that its 1980s sensibility needed a thoughtful rework.

While the home had Tudor bones, it lacked the depth and character typically associated with the style. The goal became clear: infuse architectural richness, subtract the dated elements, and create a layered, welcoming home designed first and foremost around the experience of her guests, many of whom travel far to visit her in Northwest New Jersey. Now known as Hernandez Hideaway, named for Virginia’s married surname and the home’s secluded wooded setting, the residence was conceived as a true retreat - a place for friends and family to escape the everyday and feel completely at home. It reflects a deeply personal vision executed with the same disciplined design approach that defines the Toledo Geller portfolio.

Reimagine a newer Tudor home as a character-rich, hospitality-driven retreat balancing Spanish architectural influences with the warmth of the English countryside, while prioritizing flow, function, and memorable guest experience.

From the moment of entry, the design sets an intentional tone. The foyer was conceived as a true wow moment, anchored by mixed-size marble checkerboard flooring, dramatic architectural paneling, and the strategic removal of walls to allow natural light to filter deeper into the home. The result is both grand and inviting a hallmark of the Toledo Geller approach.

Throughout the home, Virginia blended her love of Spanish architectural detail with the cozy familiarity of the English countryside. Nowhere is this more evident than in the former library, which was fully transformed into a statement bar known as The Gus. Anchored by a curved, leather-upholstered bar, the space channels the mood of a boutique hotel lobby with a subtle nod to Southern hospitality. Guests are welcomed with custom napkins bearing the bar’s namesake — a detail that reinforces the home’s spirit of warmth, wit, and intentional hosting. It is designed not just to impress, but to gather.

In the dining room, a sense of whimsical escape takes center stage, creating a transportive backdrop for entertaining. The kitchen, however, was the most surgical transformation: a full gut renovation driven by serious spatial planning and interior architectural intervention. An avid cook, Virginia approached the kitchen from a function-first mindset, carefully calibrating layout, storage, and workflow to support how the space is truly used—without sacrificing beauty.

The result is a home that feels historic, built around the art of hosting - elevated, inviting, and deeply attuned to how guests truly experience a home.