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Everything You Need to Know About Margaret Josephs’ Stunning New Jersey House
The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Margaret Josephs redecorated her home, and the result is fabulous.
Margaret Josephs is proud of her New Jersey home. And why shouldn’t she be? The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member lives in an impressive Englewood abode, which underwent a massive, years-long renovation and redecoration.
Over multiple seasons, the ongoing renovation was a huge pain point for The Marge. The long delays were partially because her contractor husband, Joe Benigno, wouldn't allow her to hire an outside contractor, since he was once her contractor on a project (and she ended up leaving her first husband for Joe!).
"When you’re sleeping with the contractor and you’re the girlfriend, you get a lot done,” Margaret joked to BravoTV.com in 2018. "When you’re married to the contractor you get s--- done."
Still, the end result was worth the wait. While Margaret kept the home’s Tudor-style façade, inside the vibe is more of “a rock and roll hotel,” she told Melissa Gorga in a February 2021 RHONJ episode. Highlights include a ballroom with a wild custom mural, an office that resembles a pink “tropical paradise,” a glamorous gray and gold kitchen, and a heavenly pool, which was just added last November.
Below, read on for everything you need to know about Margaret’s home pre- and post-renovation.
Margaret Josephs' House Pre-Renovation
“Welcome to Pigtail Palace-Mustache Manor,” Margaret quipped in the above video tour of her pre-renovation abode, referencing her famous signature hairstyle and her husband Joe Benigno’s facial hair.
In the video, it’s immediately clear that Margaret’s home décor taste is bold and fearless as the camera pans across a lime green couch which sits next to a hide-style zebra rug. “You can see I’m into skulls, fur pieces,” she notes. At the top of the grand spiral staircase sits a taxidermied bear. “It scares off the robbers,” Marge figures.
Oh, and there’s a gold stripper pole for good measure. “It’s actually holding up the stairs,” Margaret explains.
At the time, Margaret was just starting to work on her house. “This is our living room, but I like to refer to it as our ballroom because I like to throw a lot of parties,” she says, while walking through the under-construction space.
Being married to a contractor has its perks. In her dining room, Marge’s favorite piece is a custom-built table that Joe made her. She mentions she’s “obsessed” with the table, which sits above a shag rug and next to an orange rug, giving the space an overall ‘70s-inspired vibe that Marge loves.
Margaret Josephs' Renovation Woes
The process of revamping Margaret and Joe’s home was long and arduous. "Ask me if it’s done — it’s not," Margaret told BravoTV.com in 2018. "It’s not even close to done, I’m still living in my closet.
In 2020, Margaret and Joe were still deep in the throes of the makeover. In a September 2020 Instagram Story, Margaret document a worker standing on a ladder while applying dark marble to a wall. "Things are happening," Margaret wrote.
During the Season 10 reunion, Margaret Margaret offered a big house update that hinted at finally picking up the pace. “You’ll be glad to know our house is underway, there’s workmen there now, and Joe has let other contractors into the house!”
When Andy inquired if the work was almost finished, Margaret retorted, “Let’s not exaggerate.”
Margaret Josephs' House Renovation Makes Steady Progress
In November 2020, Margaret returned to Instagram with another exciting update on the status of her construction. This time, the ballroom progress was on display as her video depicted Joe adding a black-and-white mural to the walls. "If these walls could talk... they’d say kiss the contractor," she gushed in her caption. "Now this is wallpaper to dance about!"
The following month, Margaret was thankful to be able to whip up a holiday meal in her newly finished kitchen. A December 2020 Instagram post showed her standing behind a warm-hued marble countertop while slicing a ham.
In the background, fans got a first peek at the gray cabinets with gold hardware and an intricately patterned wallpaper.
Margaret Josephs' House Renovation 2021 Update
In May 2021, Margaret proudly showed off her finished kitchen, outdoor kitchen, and ballroom renovation exclusively to BravoTV.com. "A renovation like this is not for the faint of heart," she quipped. "This is a restoration, as opposed to a renovation"
Still, she and her husband “absolutely achieved” their goal of creating a rock-and-roll-inspired haven. "It transports you to a different time and place," Margaret said of the final product. "It’s high Hollywood vintage glamour."
However, there was still more work to be done, including the bedroom and bathroom. "I’m definitely gonna die in this house," Margaret joked of the extensive process. "It’s my forever home."
A dramatic kitchen transformation
"I’m not a basic bitch," Margaret explained to BravoTV.com of her décor style. This is certainly true of her kitchen, which is rich in colors and patterns. "Normal people would not put wallpaper in the kitchen with a theme so busy, but it really works,” she said, describing the vibe as “soothing.”
In addition to "sleek and modern" JennAir Noir appliances, "my refrigerator doors are magnificent," Margaret said. "I had them custom-made on top and they just look like big cabinets."
Luxurious outdoor entertaining
Indoor-outdoor living isn’t often associated with New Jersey homes, but for Margaret, it was a paramount part of designing her perfect space. "It was important for me to bring the inside out... I wanted it to look almost like a living room," Margaret said. "I want people to feel comfortable and sit outside. That’s really why I wanted the outdoor kitchen right outside the dining room and my kitchen."
The result includes a decked-out grill area, a chic dining area with mismatched chairs, and sculptural elements including seating made to look like hands. "Everything has to be very inviting that you don’t want to leave, and very comfortable. I like natural, modern elements,” she said.
Uniquely elegant ballroom
"I bought this house specifically for [the ballroom]" Margaret explained. "As beautiful as it is, it’s just as useful." When re-designing the room with new and modern touches, Margaret and Joe "wanted to keep a lot of the original elements" of the home. They updated existing fixtures such as the fireplace wall, which they "lacquered in black and just made it look great." The mahogany flooring was stained black.
Some of the couple’s favorite features include a bar area that’s “so great” and a large teal sofa. "I’d lay on the sofa all day and watch TV,” noted Margaret. "I picked up elements off of the sofa and tied it back to the rest of the room."
And, of course, there’s the custom mural, which Joe installed himself. “He put up all that wallpaper, he’s a saint,” Margaret said of her husband. Joe even "hand-drew all of the light covers to match the wallpaper," Margaret shared. "It’s meticulous. You think it’s wallpaper."
Pink paradise home office
The Macbeth Collection founder’s home office perfectly matches her vibrant personality. “It's pink, and fabulous,” Margaret says of the space, which features bright pink banana leaf wallpaper, in the video tour above. "I'm so happy because I have great light, great windows; I feel like I'm in a tropical paradise."
Other touches include velvet office chairs, a bar cart stocked with rose-colored glasses and pink-hued drinks, and a custom Barbie wreath.
Further Renovations in 2022
It’s a known fact that Margaret loves a pool, so of course her backyard had to have a fabulous one. In October of 2022, Margaret announced that she was adding an in-ground pool to her property. “Doing the splits… cause my pool is officially getting put in this spot next week,” she shared at the time.
In November, she shared an update in her Instagram Story. “The pool [is] going in today… let the construction begin,” she said, tagging The Pool Boss NJ for their handiwork. (She started her holiday decorating at the same time.)
She's yet to reveal the final product!
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