JK Design unveils updated John R. Staats house
By:Audrey Levine
Two sycamore trees, wedding gifts from the 1800s, stand out front, separating the building from the bustle of Amwell Road. The outside brick is preserved on a building overlooking the Royce Brook Pond in the back. Nearby, stands an old white carriage house, and next to that, is a smokehouse dating back to the nineteenth century.
The only indication of the modernization of this home the John R. Staats House on Amwell Road that was built in the 1860s is the high-tech equipment inside used by members of JK Design, an advertising and media company that took up residence there in October.
"This place is .. . unique," said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of the company. "It would be an ideal place to make a new history. We have modern technology with a mix of the old ambiance."
Mr. Kaulius and his wife, Barbara, purchased the Staats House in 2005, ending their search for a new location for their thriving business. Mr. Kaulius said they had been working out of an office building on Executive Drive in Somerset, but wanted a location that would better feed their creative needs.
"We felt stagnated in the bland office environment," he said. "We were looking for a place more conducive to creativity."
The Staats house stands on land originally purchased by Jan Staats in 1740 and then passed on to his son, John, in 1770. His son, John Rynier Staats, built the current structure in the 1860s. Although the property has not belonged exclusively to the Staats family in the close to 150 years since then, the house itself has remained near Amwell Road, despite not always being visible to passersby.
According to Mr. Kaulius, many trees grew up around the house, covering it from view.
"When we cut some of the trees, people were wondering where the house came from," he said, sitting at his glass desk in what used to be one of the house’s many bedrooms. "I lived in Hillsborough for 17 years and didn’t know there was a house here."
When they took ownership of the property just before New Year’s Eve 2005, Ms. Kaulius said they set about renovating the old home by making it fit their needs while still preserving much of the original architecture and design.
"We had to restore the outside to 1850s standards," she said.
Mr. Kaulius said they began to alter the inside rooms, changing them to fit the needs of a company that relies almost solely on technology. He said the different bedrooms became offices, as did the living room downstairs and the attic. In addition, the former study became a new conference room for meetings with clients.
"The township was very excited that we were going to renovate this iconic place," he said. "But we had to keep the outside within the historical look and we had to maintain its historical integrity."
To do that, they kept much of the old inside architecture, including wood paneling in the attic and a rounded brown banister on the stairs.
Ms. Kaulius said the new location feels like home and there is enough room for the ever-growing staff of 30 people.
In addition to making repairs to allow for electrical equipment, fix holes in the walls and take care of other wear and tear problems, Mr. Kaulius said they removed a few of the smaller walls to make entranceways to the different rooms. Other than this, he said, the architecture remains the same.
"The walls are 18 inches thick," he said. "It is a real fortress."
JK Design held a grand opening and open house ceremony on June 9 to mark the renovation of the building. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Hillsborough Township Committee members, including Mayor Anthony Ferrera, guests were invited to tour the building before a reception on the back patio that overlooks the Royce Brook Pond, or Adam’s Pond, after the immediate former owner’s husband.
Mr. Kaulius said his business, which he has operated for 21 years, designs Web sites, produces videos and creates print-related items for companies. He said he is excited about moving forward in their new location, as are many of his co-workers.
"It is like being at home and coming home to family," said Andrea Wolkofsky, vice-president for new business development. "It gives our clients a sense of comfort when they come to our office."
Mr. Kaulius said his company is also very community-minded and would love to figure out a way to give back. He said that since the office is located across from Hillsborough High School, he would like to bring a group of students, either from the art or communications department, over to the Staats House to observe the work that is done in a design company.
"We can have the students come and see firsthand the work involved," he said.
Overall, Mr. Kaulius said he is proud of the new office and the sense of home it delivers to its workers.
"When clients come here, we have a high close rate when they see the place," he said. "This is more of a family environment. We are in a good mood everyday."
To share information about the history of the Staats home or pictures of the original architecture, call JK Design at 428-4700.