Thick, intersecting beams form a dramatic front view for a unique Tenafly contemporary amid weeping evergreens and serene rock gardens.

Giant cedar horizontal and vertical columns converge under a stucco overhang into a striking, two-story portico for the six-bedroom East Hill home.

When the home was built in the 1970s, architect James McConnell of Hackensack said he repeated that design around the home’s exterior so every view would be intriguing.

And it is. The portico’s simple design reappears smaller as an attached portico on one side and as a trellis over a backyard patio

Although a few contemporaries dot the surrounding neighborhood, this one is unique, said Marlyn Friedberg of Friedberg Properties & Associates in Tenafly, the listing office of the home.

“This is an unusual house for this town because it’s been a town of traditional homes,” said Friedberg.

Past the graceful arms of a monkey pine and other exotic trees, brown and white marble floors and grass-paper walls create a subdued entry foyer with an Asian feel.

McConnell said the home was ahead of its time with elements common in newer homes, such as large windows, high ceilings and an open floor plan.

Two-story windows bathe the sunken living room in natural light. Light-gray diagonal hardwood floors and a floor-to-ceiling marble-and-teak fireplace give the room a timeless look.

Travertine stone on the other side of the dual fireplace offsets teak paneling in the family room. Sleek, built-in teak cabinets on the adjacent wall contain a wet bar and lots of storage.

Striations in a pecky cypress wood breakfront built into the dining room add to the home’s Asian flair. The nearly wall-sized piece hides numerous shelves and drawers.

Equally unique are the room’s custom blinds — razor-thin metal sheets with swirled cutouts. They will stay with the home, said listing agent Negest Araya of Friedberg Properties.

Outside, the forested and landscaped hillside forms a picturesque and private setting for entertaining around the built-in pool and separate patios, each with its own special features.

A courtyard off the kitchen contains convenient elements, including a grill built into the surrounding concrete wall and a drain for rinsing, with access to a hidden storage area in the garage.

A few steppingstones away is the cabana within an enclosed slate patio and another grill. The cabana contains a changing room, half bath, storage area, full kitchen and access to the master bedroom.

The kitchen has a large pass-through window for serving food and a counter area tucked under a vine-wrapped trellis. Another concrete patio area and formal plantings surround the built-in pool.

Even the family dog has its own outside area — a fenced-in dog run along the hill’s ridge line.

“You could call it a dog lover’s paradise,” said Friedberg.

The master bedroom suite is on its own level with scenic views of the front and back yards and a private changing area with access to the outdoor pool.

The lower level has a family room, sizable brick fireplace, a half bath and a walk-in cedar closet. Although the kitchen and some of the bathrooms haven’t been updated recently, they do have modern elements, including skylights.

In addition to the multicar carport and long driveway, there is a two-car attached garage. The asking price is $2,150,000.

E-mail: fletcher@northjersey.com

This entry was posted on Monday, June 11th, 2007 at 4:36 am and is filed under Building Construction, General News. Tags: Asia, Asian, Bath, Bed, Design, East Hill, Evergreen, food, Friedberg Properties & Associates, James McConnell, Marlyn Friedberg, metal, Modern, razor-thin metal sheets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.