This story features Saranne Rothberg, an East Coast client of Pamela's who founded ComedyCures and who has been named to Oprah's "100 Most Inspirational" list. Pamela recently redesigned the new ComedyCures office in New Jersey. She's also taken on a number of projects in Saranne's home, including the master bedroom, media room, stage area, office, window treatments, lighting, accessories, wallcoverings, paint specs and area rugs.

Real People Real Kitchens: Bergen County, NJ

By Jane Dagmi (Subscribe to Jane Dagmi's posts)
Oct 2nd 2009 9:40AM

Despite a busy life, Saranne listens patiently, speaks articulately and loves completely.
Photo: Laura Moss for AOL

Saranne Rothberg's life is like a sitcom and the majority of the action takes place in her large kosher kitchen. The basic premise for this show is that there's this petite 40-something single Jewish mother, who's all about the food and none of the guilt, and one of her ambitions is, as she puts it, "to help as many people as I can and love as many people as I can." (Down boys!).

The protagonist is a breast cancer survivor who became a charity founder, activist, and comedian. She is as spiritual as she is down-to-earth. She sleeps very little claiming, "I live on cancer time!" She has three land lines and three cell phones and usually talks one into retirement before noon. Though she leads an extraordinarily busy life, she listens patiently, speaks articulately and loves completely.

Her best friend and sidekick is her beautiful and talented daughter, Lauriel, who is on the verge of breaking into the entertainment biz. Lauriel is constantly making light fun of her mom's crazy busy life. They live in a lovely house in New Jersey, sophisticated but not stuffy, with 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a movie theater and a fabulous always-open kitchen.

There is a diverse cast of supporting characters. There are the weekly regulars, of course, such as the interior designer, the home concierge and the make-up artist. But on any given day the cast could include a couple of entertainment producers, school friends, cancer patients, repairmen and religious leaders. Cast members are from all faiths, observant Jews, non-practicing Jews and non-Jews. All are welcomed with open arms and lots of food. "When people are relaxed and nurtured," Saranne believes, "anything is possible."

The show is educational. Each episode begins with a kitchen tour where Saranne dispels kosher myths and talks about what it means to her. "We make Kosher fun!" she says, opening doors and drawers, showing off her color coded containers and plates, and passing food around to taste. Everyone is made to feel comfortable and empowered in the key room in the house.

The show sometimes uses flashback for dramatic effect. We see Saranne as a young girl eating a TV dinner with her single dad. We see her delivering a speech to the United Nations, visiting an orphanage in Myanmar and at a town hall meeting in Atlantic City planning a new playground in a former derelict lot. These segments are inspirational.

Mixed in with all the laughter is the element of surprise. Akin to the Rachel and Ross saga, the audience is always left wondering if Saranne may have a pink satin cape with a big "S" on it somewhere in her closet.

Here are select images from the AOL photo shoot. These are screen shots, so the yellow and blue buttons won't work, and two of the longer captions got cut off, but we wanted you to see these particular pics. View all photos from this story.