MB home reflects owner's passions
By Elaine Gaston
The Sun News
"Unique Homes" is an occasional feature highlighting houses along the Grand Strand that are exceptional, extreme or unusual in their design. If you know of a home that would qualify or if you'd like to see one featured, drop us an e-mail at
egaston@thesunnews.com or call Elaine Gaston at 626-0299. Houses must be occupied, and must NOT be for sale.
If you can tell a lot about people by the way they decorate their homes, then you can surmise that Joe Arditi has a great sense of humor, enjoys fine living, loves the outdoors and is proud of his Italian heritage.
Hints of Arditi's passions abound in his custom-built house in Plantation Point he shares with his son Tony, from the mosaic family coat of arms inlay in the foyer to the vegetable garden in the back yard.
"I know everybody thinks their house is the best, but everybody that sees my house is super impressed," Arditi said. "I had a good time doing this house."
Arditi's family coat of arms, named "Forte Ma Gentile" (meaning strong but gentle), features a lion and a lamb. The insignia is depicted in Arditi's master bathroom - etched on the shower door - and inlaid in the floor in the foyer.
"We used remnants of all the tile in the house to make the mosaic coat of arms," Arditi said. "An artist from Nicaragua did the mosaic."
Arditi was concerned placing the mosaic inlay would be overwhelming at the front door, but the finished piece - a work of art - blends nicely with the surrounding tile and makes for a grand entrance.
Another of Arditi's treasured details is the mural in the dining room. Painted by local artist Tommy Simpson, the mural features Arditi's favorite actor/singer, Frank Sinatra, dipping his hat while standing in the street next to an outdoor cafe, where Arditi, accompanied by a lady friend, is in the scene sipping spirits.
"I'm a big Sinatra fan," Arditi said.
Sinatra memorabilia, including magazines, books and 45 rpm records, are displayed on a curio in the room, which also features bamboo flooring and an octagonal tray ceiling painted to resemble the midnight sky.
More exquisite flooring is displayed in the master bathroom, one of Arditi's favorite rooms in the house because of its painted murals and elaborate tiling. The flooring is Italian Alabstrino
marble, accented with a swirl of darker hues, and diamond-cut tile insets.
Other remarkable features are the murals, again painted by Simpson, that reflect scenes of Venice, Italy. Several Roman gold coins were glued on the wall to appear as though they're resting on a stone ledge in the mural. And the Old World faux finish on the walls with its intended cracks and blemishes fooled at least one family member. "My mother pointed out that I had a crack on the wall in my bathroom," Arditi said, laughing.
Arditi's favorite part of the house lies beyond the back doors, where the hub of his outdoor activity is defined by a screened exercise room, a courtyard featuring a soothing water fountain, a built-in barbecue area, a hot tub and a vegetable garden.
"I love being outdoors," Arditi said.
The space also is a favorite among visitors, especially during Arditi's weekly Sunday dinner parties where spaghetti and homemade meatballs are served to nearly two dozen family members and friends.
"It's a tradition I look forward to every week," he said.
The other popular gathering spot in Arditi's home is his fun and festive chili pepper-themed kitchen and adjoining great room, where a custom-built martini bar featuring Tennessee stone and martini-themed accessories beckon guests.
Arditi, who owns a mail-order hot pepper business called Pepper Joe's and also runs the Fashion Bugs in the Southeast, made most of the decorating decisions, including the chili pepper theme for the kitchen.
The bright red counter appliances, chili pepper-themed canisters and backsplash tiles emblazoned with chili peppers provide eye-catching contrast to the bright white cabinetry and black granite countertops.
"This was a lot of fun, hunting for things," Arditi said. "It's custom stuff you wouldn't find locally."
Arditi, a native Pennsylvanian, has found his little piece of paradise he aptly named "Villa Al Mare" (meaning house by the sea). The 52-year-old said he's looking forward to years of entertaining family and friends from his comfortable abode that symbolizes all things dear to him.
"I love my house because it is so much me. Every touch in every room has my name on it, and I feel so comfortable here."
Joe Arditi
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 | | Marble | MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS
This standard includes general information on the characteristics
and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems
associated with the material.
INTRODUCTION
Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite
(CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of
limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic
processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone
with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite
porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high
polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and
sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially
polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects
of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed,
is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is
readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the
actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the
acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds
react differently with marble and produce various by-products,
which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability
of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine
the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration.
Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the
other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid
attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the
brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red,
yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition.
TYPICAL USES
Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for
outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture
it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative
features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is
used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of
exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the
feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not
the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage
to which marble is susceptible. | |  |
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Linear Mode
