It’s been two decades sinceDr. Mehmet Ozand his wife, Lisa, began their search for that perfect home in which to raise their growingfamily. “We kept on finding houses that weren’t right for us,” the host ofThe Dr. Oz Show, 59, tells PEOPLE. “We realized we needed a place where we could build what we wanted.”
Frédéric Lagrange
The only stumbling block was an existing house on the site that had been deemed unsafe. “You literally couldn’t even walk on the property,” Mehmet recalls. “But I got an aerial photo of the land, and I just knew it was what we needed. We bought it that day.”
Oz in his grand New Jersey living room.Frédéric Lagrange
“It’s Jersey— I gotta have animal print!” says Lisa of the rug under the grand piano, a family heirloom on which their four kids learned to play.Frédéric Lagrange
It’s also been the venue for countless birthdays and milestones, and will continue to be for years to come, says the couple. This June, Mehmet and Lisa will celebrate 35 years of marriage. In the same month, Mehmet will turn the big 6-0. “That trumps the anniversary,” teases Lisa.
“It doesn’t trump the anniversary!” says Mehmet. “The best thing I ever did was marrying Lisa. Best thing I ever did.”
“We’re going to go far away,” he adds of their plans. “The birthday party we’ll do here and then we’ll go away for the anniversary.”
The couple’s study houses all of Lisa’s favorite mythology books.Frédéric Lagrange
Nearly every surface is covered in framed pictures of the couple’s TurkishAmerican family. “They remind you of those brilliant times,” says Mehmet.Frédéric Lagrange
Recently the house also welcomed back Daphne, who will cohostThe Good Dish(a cooking show spin-off of her dad’s series, launching this fall), and her husband, John, to the pool house as they search for a new place with their own four children.
The arrangement turned their empty nest into a family home once more. The main living area, with its endless bins of toys and comfortable leather couch, has become a fun-filled place for the Ozes to bond with their grandchildren: Philomena, 5, Jovan Jr., 4, Domenica, 2, and Giovanna, 6 months.
“I like it when the kids run into the house and they can’t wait to get in here,” says Mehmet of the welcoming space. “It becomes like a beehive.”
The health expert, who recently launched his new System 20 diet, has his own playroom in the basement: a game lover’s dream equipped with pool and foosball tables, and a basketball half-court.
While the estate also boasts a movie theater, wine cellar and gym, it’s the couple’s memories in the home that matter most. “What’s your favorite thing in this house?” Mehmet asks Lisa. She smiles at him and doesn’t hesitate: “You.”
source: people.com
