Rommi and Craig Antonucci claim to have four kids living under their roof. Frankly, that's a little hard to believe. Their house in Mays Landing is nearly 10 years old yet the gleaming hardwood floors show no signs of wear, the walls are unmarked, and the house is virtually devoid of clutter. Curiously, there aren't even any piles of discarded clothing in the bedrooms supposedly occupied by the couple's sons, ages 13 and 15, and 12-year-old twin daughters.
Craig attributes it all to science. "The laws of physics predicate teenagers having clean rooms all the time," he deadpans. But Rommi admits there's some work involved. "We really try to stay on top of it," she says. "And we have a rule: You have to put your laundry away."
Craig and Rommi were living in West Deptford before a family crisis prompted the move to Mays Landing. Rommi's brother, Darren Drozdov, a well-known WWF wrestler, suffered a neck injury in the ring that left him partially paralyzed. Darren had been a track and football star at Oakcrest High School and also played in the NFL.
"After the accident we needed to move closer to my brother and family," Rommi says.
Craig and Rommi's house in Mays Landing was custom built in 2003 by Rommi's father, Butch Drozdov, a contractor. "My dad owned the property and built it exactly to our specifications," Rommi says.
The house stands on three wooded acres at the end of a blacktop drive off Clarkstown Road. With 6 bedrooms, 5½ baths and nearly 7,000 square feet of living space (including the finished basement), there's plenty of room for a family of six. In fact, there's plenty of room for an extended family that often includes their children's friends and teammates.
Rommi and Craig love to entertain and are known to invite entire soccer and baseball teams for sleepovers and pool parties.
"We've had many, many parties here," says Rommi. "I coach soccer and lacrosse and we have kids here all the time. We've had 100 people here for a pool party."
Craig and Rommi made some changes to the Cape Cod style design to open up the floor plan.
"We redesigned the upstairs and opened up the downstairs so we'd have more open space," says Craig. "With four kids it's easier to chase them around."
A spacious two-story foyer has a tray ceiling and a solid oak circular staircase. Wide plank hardwood floors are found everywhere in the house except the basement, which is carpeted. The raised panel doors are solid wood and have glass knobs.
The living room and family room have oversized windows that wrap around the staircase to a large kitchen with a center island, granite counters, two ovens and a huge walk-in pantry. A gas fireplace in the family room has a fieldstone surround.
A first-floor bedroom has a walk-in closet and is across the hall from a full bathroom that can be accessed from the back yard.
The second floor includes a master suite and four large bedrooms with walk-in closets, two Jack and Jill bathrooms and a laundry nook. Pull down steps lead to an enormous storage attic. The master has one big walk-in closet and an office area. Double doors open to a bathroom with a vaulted ceiling, separate sinks and a whirlpool tub.
The walk-out basement has a full bathroom with shower, a den area and room for a ping pong table, a set of drums and a foosball table. There's also a separate billiards room, exercise room and Craig's office. Doors open directly to the pool.
The exterior features a covered front porch and vinyl siding. A three-car garage is entered from the side of the house and has enough room to easily accommodate Rommi's 9-passenger van. A rear deck made of low maintenance Trex is 75 feet long and has stairs down to a fenced 25-by-60-foot heated swimming pool surrounded by beautiful mature landscaping,
"I planted everything here myself," Rommi says.
Despite its seemingly remote location, the house has natural gas service and city water. Septic, however, is private.
When they sell the house Rommi and Craig plan to move the family down the road to Rommi's parent's house on the Great Egg Harbor River.
"My dad's going to be 70 and they're going to downsize to a house a few doors down," Rommi says. "Their old house is right on the river but it doesn't have as much property. But we're still going to try to put in a pool."
An open house at this property, which is listed for $589,000, will be held Saturday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. For more information or directions call Kelly Gatto of RE/MAX Community. 609-909-1111 or direct at 609-377-4129.
Fast Facts:
Where: Mays Landing
Built: 2002
Living space: 7,000 square feet (including finished basement)
Taxes (2011): $13,757
Price: $589,000
Contact David Enscoe: 609-272-7087 · DEnscoe@pressofac.com
