All posts by Jamie Yoos

$100 Million Masterpiece in Bel Air Luxury

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Nestled in exclusive Bel Air, the opulent, 29,683-square-foot Villa Elia Bel Air spans approximately 1.63 acres and exceeds all expectations of luxury.

This grand-scale sanctuary in California was carefully crafted over the span of a decade, with its design boasting a rich combination of earthy tones, imported travertine floors, Riviera Bronze steel windows and doors, and split-faced limestone exteriors against exquisite vistas of Bel Air luxury lush landscape, the Pacific Ocean, Palos Verdes and Catalina.

“Villa Elia Bel Air is an idyllic estate enveloped in serenity, unifying natural splendor with cutting-edge technology and modern functionality,” explain Plus Real Estate agents Andrew Hurley and Tyrone McKillen. “It truly feels like an escape to a luxury resort. [It is] vast in scale yet intimate in design, with diverse spaces for living, relaxing, and entertaining. The property brings to life a timeless grandeur and sophisticated simplicity, with the French Riviera and Mediterranean villas as its muse.”

The property’s countless water features evoke a sense of fluidity and softness, while the fire pits bring warmth and comfort. The main-level living spaces seamlessly integrate with the outdoors via expansive sliding glass doors. All of these elements graciously harmonize to create a welcoming and tranquil ambiance.

“…this is a home that captures the essence of what I’d define to be the quintessential ‘California lifestyle.’ The flow and connectivity of indoor and outdoor spaces, the warmth, texture and eclectic feel speaks to my heart and resonates with a quiet calm that defines ‘home’ to me.” — Dara Mir (owner)

“From the moment you pull up the gated drive, Villa Elia will leave you in awe. The scale on all fronts exudes luxury,” Hurley and McKillen say. “The waterfall greets you as you drive up the driveway to the motor court or to the right, straight into your 10-car garage. There you get a feeling of almost washing away the distractions from your day and reminding/allowing yourself to come home fresh to your family. And if that doesn’t do the trick, there is a hidden ‘man cave’ where one can decompress, finish emails, or perhaps make a cocktail prior to entering the home.”

The home is described as transitional in style — designed for fluidity, wellness, and easy living. On both the interior and exterior, warm tones, earthy colors, and a neutral palette were used to curate a cozy and welcoming environment. The floors are made from imported travertine from quarries outside Rome, along with 18-inch European Oak. Riviera Bronze steel was used for the windows and doors, collectively costing over $4M. White oak ceilings adorn the walls finished in imported natural clay. Everything in this home is what you want from Bel Air luxury

Interior designer Errol Dejager helped create a home designed for sophisticated living and top-notch entertaining in Villa Elia Bel Air. The palatial residence features a custom show kitchen with double islands clad in white oak and topped with Taj Mahal Quartzite countertops, a cook’s kitchen, a kitchenette for staff, a “Costco closet” on the lower level connected by a commercial elevator for easy grocery transport, 10 bedrooms, and a grand entertainer’s dream dining room with seating for 20.

The second level of the home boasts a massive primary suite that opens up to a private outdoor sanctuary, complete with a jacuzzi overlooking the city, seating areas, a fire pit, and stunning city and ocean views. The children’s/guest bedrooms open into a private walled garden and play area.

Other highlights include a dedicated children’s area, elevated $1M Dolby Atmos theater, infinity pool and spa, open half-court sports court, fitness center, wellness center, 19K square feet of exterior deck space, wine storage for over 2,400 bottles, 2 commercial-grade elevators, multiple safe rooms, and Hurley and McKillen’s personal favorite: the serene central courtyard flecked with lush olive trees.

“We often talk and hear about blended exterior and interior living in Los Angeles, and usually what that means is a home has a sliding glass door to the yard or pool. This remains true at Villa Elia; however, the courtyard and scale really embrace this concept where the courtyard feels as though it’s part of your living room, your dining room, your bar, and your entry,” says the representing agents. “It is rare that homeowners live with all the glass doors open, even though it’s possible; however, in this courtyard, I could envision them being open 75% of the year.”

The significance of the courtyard goes beyond the impeccable opportunities for indoor-outdoor living. “[The courtyard] is an homage to Persia, symbolizing peace, wisdom, and prosperity. The olive tree also symbolizes spirituality, renewal, and divine presence,” Hurley and McKillen explain. “All materials used throughout Villa Elia are meant to evoke a sense of peace, sanctuary, and serenity, re-awakening the grandeur of the past.”

 

ANDREW HURLEY

andrew@plusrealestate.com | 310.569.7975

TYRONE MCKILLEN

tyrone@plusrealestate.com | 949.212.8721

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Innovation from the Ground Up

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Toyota Woven City will expand mobility, enhance humanity, and engage society by exploring new inventions in a test-course community.

In 2018, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the Woven City concept, aiming to transform an automobile company into a comprehensive mobility provider. This expanded vision will be redefined by integrating healthcare, food and agriculture, energy, finance, and education to enhance daily life with ease and joy, amplifying human potential. This innovative city will be driven by the pursuit of well-being for all. Phase 1 of construction is slated for completion in the summer of 2024. Preparations for initial trials are set to commence in 2025.

Here, we dive into all things Woven City and the captivating details of its future development. Creativity lies at the center of this ambitious endeavor. At its core, the Woven City will be composed of Toyota group developers, partner corporations, startups, entrepreneurs, and residents of all generations. This diverse collective will collaborate to develop inventions designed to enrich day-to-day life.

The city will offer four distinct pathways<br /> to enhance the way people, goods, and<br /> information move through the city with<br /> safety and efficiency in mind.

Everyone in Woven City is an inventor, united in their shared commitment to turning visionary ideas into practical innovations that serve the greater good. Together with surrounding communities, Toyota will demonstrate what mobility can do for people. After thorough testing, the inventions from Woven City will be shared with the world.

“As a global society, we need to come together to heal, grow, learn, and create new possibilities for a collective future,” states Akio Toyoda, the chairman of the board of Toyota Motor Corporation. “It is only through partnership and collaboration that we will realize the dream of not just mobility for all, but a better quality of life for all.” The concept of the city emphasizes that people have different needs and preferences, which is why the focus is on achieving well-being, not uniform happiness.

In Woven City, mobility will be cutting-edge, with above-ground and underground routes for human-centered travel. Dedicated paths will serve specific functions, including commercial deliveries and public transportation, ensuring safety and efficiency. The community will feature three surface pathways: one for automated mobility, another for pedestrians, and a third for a mix of pedestrians and personal mobility. Below ground, a fourth pathway will exclusively handle goods transport.

Lush landscaping will be a large part<br /> of the overall design.

For Toyota, Woven City isn’t just an exciting new venture — it’s a tribute to the company’s rich history. The city will be built on a manufacturing site that previously accommodated the Toyota Motor East Japan, the Higashi-Fuji plant. Here, Toyota led Japan’s motorization and manufactured many iconic cars from the late 1960s to 2020.

This is an opportunity for Toyota to continue building on its astounding legacy. Spanning across 175 acres, Woven City will begin with an initial population of 360 residents, which is projected to expand to 2,000. Driven by three primary concepts: human-centered, a living laboratory, and ever-evolving, Woven City will continue to advance for years to come.

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Unique Discoveries: Jewelry

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The everlasting allure of gold jewelry is indisputable — but it takes a true gem of a jeweler to produce a perfect balance of elegance and extravagance. Lauren Harwell Godfrey’s collections debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 2018. Unique Homes spoke with her about her inspirations and the grasp that gold has on fashion.

Godfrey’s 18-karat gold pieces were crafted with intention and significant cultural appreciation. “The aesthetic of ancient African textiles and patterns appealed to me because of my heritage as an African American, and because those are motifs that I personally love,” says Godfrey.

Before designing with fine materials, Godfrey used leather and crystals. Captivated by the energies ascribed to various crystals, she learned that the concept also applies to finer gems. Healing energy is a prominent focus in her designs, along with the ethical sourcing of materials.

Godfrey’s personal jewelry staple is the classic, yet versatile gold bangle. “I love that they can be worn alone, or as an individualized statement. They can be dressed up or down — they look equally as good with jeans and a t-shirt as they do with a gown,” she says.

No longer a fashion faux pas, Godfrey predicts that mixing metals will be the next big thing, along with heavy gold statement chains. “It’s a chic, classic piece that belongs in every collection.”

Lauren Harwell Godfrey

Harwell Godfrey Designs

The Snake Bangle is set with vibrant emerald hearts and green turquoise triangle scales. $54,000

The striking blue sapphire in the Petunia Ring pairs with sparkling tanzanite, exuding pure lavishness. $10,500

A classic gold bangle with a twist, The Double Baguette Stud Bangle has 3 variations: diamond, rainbow, or emerald baguette gemstone details. $18,995

The Princess Pearl’s Aqua Cocktail Earrings boast diamonds, aquamarine, tourmaline, pearl, and mother of pearl — a ravishing combination of radiant gemstones and geometric placements. $12,150

 

 

 

Unique Discoveries: Jewelry

originally appeared in

Unique Homes Spring 2024.

 

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Elite Agent: Casey Margenau

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Meet Casey Margenau

Elite Agent

 

703.827.5777

www.caseymargenau.com

1907 Bargo Court McLean, VA

Featured Property

This unique new home, located in Franklin Park on a half-acre corner lot within a cul-de-sac, is remarkable. Crafted with the utmost attention to detail and the finest materials. The home features an inviting open floor plan with 10-foot ceilings and white oak hardwood floors. The family room boasts a beautiful marble wall with a fireplace and a glass wall opening to the rear covered veranda. The kitchen is a showstopper, featuring a large black center island, distressed cabinetry, quartz countertops, and high-end appliances. The home offers generously sized secondary bedrooms, each with unique designer tiles and walk-in closets. The owner’s suite offers its own foyer, a morning kitchen, and a bath exuding luxury with separate vanities, custom cabinetry, a freestanding tub, water closet, and an exquisite shower with custom tiling. The owner’s closet provides ample space for 2, along with storage for shoes, purses, and sweaters. A back door leads to an upstairs bonus room, suitable for additional closet space or an office. In the lower level are an exercise room, media room, and a rec room with built-in bookshelves and cabinetry, all crafted from black walnut. A stone fireplace and matching bar enhance the space, complete with designer features, an ice machine, wine chiller, and refrigerator as well as a full bedroom and bath.

6 Bedrooms

6.5 Baths

$4,749,675

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Crafting a Legacy

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For 115 years, Hacker-Craft’s luxurious wooden boats have been iconic. Today, the brand remains at the forefront of its industry.

Nestled in Silver Bay, New York, the illustrious Hacker-Craft Boat company, renowned for meticulous craftsmanship and for being the world’s oldest manufacturer of wooden motorboats, produces masterpieces that exude elegance and time-honored charm. The High End recently spoke with Erin Badcock, the Chief Operating Officer of Hacker-Craft, delving into the cherished 115-year legacy and unraveling the qualities that set this company apart.

Naval architect John Hacker established Hacker-Craft in 1908 outside of Detroit. Hacker’s journey began when he was just 14 years old and built his first boat — a humble rowboat. This ignited a passionate pursuit into courses on naval architecture and the art and science of boat design, and the rest is history. According to the Detroit Historical Society, Hacker created the revolutionary “V”-hull design and designed Au Revoir, the fastest boat of its class worldwide in 1903. “He was credited with what we know as the modern displacement hull,” says Badcock. Badcock and family became involved in 2008, eventually solidifying their complete ownership of the company in 2011.

 

Hailed as one of “America’s Top 50 Products” by Forbes Magazine, Hacker-Craft’s Legacy Collection of classics showcases the company’s most esteemed models, including the Sport Boat, Runabout, Sportabout, Sterling, one-of-a-kind yacht tenders, and Racers. Hacker created more race-winning designs than all other builders combined during his decades-long career.

 

The values Hacker-Craft holds today are correlative to those Hacker held in the 1900s. “We’re committed to quality and craftsmanship.” Badcock explains. “We’re stewards of the brand. It’s an iconic brand. We are committed to giving our customers this unique, exclusive, timeless experience, and to preserve the legacy that is Hacker-Craft.”

115 years of consistent excellence doesn’t just happen. Badcock credits the company’s ability to assure consistently high-quality products to the efforts of the Hacker Boat team. “Some of our builders have been with us for upwards of 15, almost 20 years. They have very specific skills and talents. Our newer, younger boat builders are learning the Hacker- Craft build process through these veterans. We’re selective about the craftsmen that we bring on our team. We work with them to fit into the Hacker-Craft way.”

Keeping the astounding legacy alive is high priority, but so is evolving with the ever- changing industry. “We continue to be unique because we walk this line of marrying the legacy of Hacker-Craft and its timelessness with the inclusion of innovation using modern technologies to make the boats — to create a convenient experience for our owners without losing the feeling of timelessness,” Badcock explains. Committed to innovation, Hacker- Craft recently released the company’s first electric performance boat at the end of 2022. “We are looking toward innovation, in any way, however we can incorporate that without sacrificing our mission.”

The Hacker-Craft team operates with a strong belief in the power of collaboration, recognizing it as the cornerstone for delivering exceptional products. “From the moment the customer starts looking at a boat or discussing building and designing a boat with the company’s naval architect, it’s a one-on- one experience.” Badcock explains. “Often, they interact with almost every member of our team. They’re seeing the boat builders who are actually working on their boat.” This open line of communication fosters a strong, ongoing relationship with valued clients.

“We are continuing to evolve our design of new boats, of new models,” says Badcock of future company goals and plans. “We look to realize different ideas and designs over the next couple of years that will be specific to the saltwater market, like the South Florida market.” In Badcock’s opinion, the future of the boating industry is electric. “I think overall, the market is going to head that direction, not in entirety, but I think we’re going to see more electric boats. I think electric boating will become more normalized in the next five years, similar to the way EVs have grown their sector of the automotive market. Several boat companies either have released an electric boat or are in the process of releasing and designing electric boats. I think that that’s definitely a telltale sign of the market kind of testing this out and offering an alternative for boat buyers.”

 

With 115 years under its belt, the Hacker- Craft company’s values and practices have kept it at the forefront of the boating industry. And the team’s intention is that its commitment to the legacy, improving their products and evolving as a brand will keep it there for years to come.

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Ultimate Location: The Cave at Dunlap Hollow

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Unique Homes takes you to Hocking Hills, Ohio for an architectural marvel.

In the luxury realm, it takes a truly unique property to leave visitors feeling awe-struck — and The Cave does just that. This ultimate home was constructed in a natural recess cave surrounded by idyllic woods and eco-friendly materials.

Bryant and Amy Gingerich, the owners and builders of Dunlap Hollow, credit their shared love for nature and exploring as the inspiration behind The Cave.

“After we bought the land, we stumbled upon this cave and immediately saw the potential,” says Gingerich. “We were eager to see if we could build a real-life fort in one of the coolest spots we had ever seen.” The Cave was simply, “too cool to not share.”

The 1,500-square-foot home features two bedrooms, a full-service kitchen, a large outdoor patio, a pool table, and easy access to private hiking trails. “There are trailheads leading off the patio that invite guests through the Ohio woods to a beautiful overlook,” says Gingerich.

The Cave stands out as both a unique architectural wonder and an ultra-luxurious getaway outfitted with one-of-a-kind amenities, including vintage chandeliers, an expansive collection of books, antique furniture, fossils on the walls, luxury bedding, high-end appliances, and more. “We want guests to feel like they are having an out-of-this-world experience. We hope The Cave gives our visitors a unique perspective on nature and keeps the spirit of wonder alive,” the team says.

Perhaps the most astonishing features of the home are the walls and ceilings, which were left mostly untouched during construction, adding an unmatched earthy feel. “It’s amazing to be inside the cave and see the real rock up close,” says Gingerich.“Guests catch their breath when they first walk in.”

Visitors can expect ultimate relaxation during their stay at The Cave. Guests are often surprised by how warm and inviting it is, the builders/owners note. “It doesn’t feel damp or cold as you might imagine.” The sense of luxury is complemented beautifully by the home’s ultimate natural setting.

 

Unique Location: The Cave
originally appeared in
Unique Homes Ultimate 2024.

Click here to read more!

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