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At Home in Oakwood
A fabulous home filled with faith, friendship — and seven children
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By Jane Schreier Jones
11:19 AM Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The stately Oakwood home of Teri and Dan German and their seven children is most often a gathering place.
There are gatherings of assorted drop-in friends of the kids, who find a warm welcome at the Germans. “I’ve been voted the best snack buyer in Oakwood,” Teri laughs. “Our children’s friends know we like having them here.”
Parties, celebrations, political fundraisers, sleepovers for the field hockey team, benefits for the Lipid Clinic and other worthy causes, graduation parties, pre-prom parties, Jewish community events, galas, a Muse Machine recognition night and other get-togethers have all happened here.
Not only can the house comfortably accommodate large groups, but also there are almost four acres of outside space featuring an in-ground heated pool, grass tennis court, pond, pool house, hot tub and more. The Germans (the name is pronounced with a hard G) even let a summer camp be conducted in their beautiful outdoors.
One of the most memorable gatherings happened in 2000, when Teri and Dan were married right on the grounds of the home, in a traditional Orthodox Jewish ceremony. Dan had two daughters; Teri had two sons. Since then, three more children have been added to the family.
“Our wedding day started as a miserably rainy day but the minute I stepped on the glass (part of the Jewish ceremony), the sun broke through the clouds,” Dan remembers. “It was a perfect afternoon and evening after that.”
Important gatherings also happen every day at the German home. “I cook every evening and who’s ever here comes to the kitchen table and eats,” says Teri. “Plus we have the Sabbath dinner every Friday night, in the dining room.”
Dan and Teri thoroughly enjoy parenthood, and are passionate about the importance of family. Their children — Julia, Laura, Ethan, Aaron, Edin, Meira, Ezra — range in age from 20 years to age three.
“We’re blessed and grateful to be able to raise children here,” Dan says quietly. “We use our house for family, of course, and to strengthen our community. There is no gate in our home.”
Even though the house was built in 1920, the Germans are only the third family to reside here. The last residents were the Bill and Barbara Weprin family; Barbara is the daughter of the late Arthur Beerman. Dan German bought the home in 1999.
With 9,500 square feet of living space, there are three stories to the Tudor-style home, plus a partially finished lower level that the family unpretentiously calls “the basement.”
There are eight bedrooms, nine full or partial bathrooms, three staircases and an elevator (mainly used to transport large items). There’s a living room, family room, dining room, butler’s pantry, mammoth eat-in kitchen, bar area, home gym, steam room, sauna, wine cellar, an office for Teri, a library for Dan, a study, an oversized playroom, a basement playroom, a loft.
And that’s just the main house.
The pool house, used for entertaining, has a spacious great room with high ceilings, a full kitchen, two bathrooms and changing rooms, as well as more living areas upstairs.
Step inside
The house has “good bones” with splendid architectural features throughout. The Germans have added their own distinct style to the home.
Dan did some remodeling before he and Teri married, but is pleased that his wife’s remarkable design and decorating abilities allowed her to take over the job. “Dan had everything pretty masculine, and I softened it up a bit,” Teri says.
The Germans credit Tim Bradley, who serves as property manager, for the remodeling projects that have taken place. “Tim is incredibly talented, and can make any project happen,” Teri says.
Teri’s decorating is part posh, part practical, all style. “I splurge on some items, but I want this to be a house the kids can be comfortable in,” she says, as daughter Meira tumbles over the back of a sofa. “We got many pieces from Morris (Home Furnishings) that work well for an active family.
“One day, some rooms will become more adult,” she adds. “But for now, we want livable.”
On the first floor with one room flowing into another, Teri’s decorating scheme travels well. “I took everything to white, and then built from there,” she says.
“Soft contemporary” would be an ideal way of describing Teri’s style. Her background as a residential real estate agent for Kamela & Company has helped her develop a keen eye for what works. Clean lines create a simple glamour for the German home.
It’s definitely a “no clutter” look. “I’m not into a lot of accessories here,” she admits. “I like things simple, easy.”
Teri says her decorating is a work in progress, adding, “I’m nowhere close to where I want to be.”
Teri has clever ideas for decorating to accommodate a big family. For instance, the same Crate and Barrel chairs are used in the kitchen and in the dining room. “That way, I can move chairs from room to room and it always works,” she says.
Upstairs and down
The home’s entry area starts the circular floor plan, and introduces the ocean of oak flooring that flows through many areas of the first floor, occasionally accented with area rugs. The stained woodwork in the entry, more than seven feet high, looks at times like an ebony color; another time, espresso.
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1:34 PM, 7/23/2009
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