All posts by Kristen Ordonez

The $1 Billion L.A. Property

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Emerging from the exclusive realm of off-market listings, the recently listed The Mountain site is turning the heads of buyers, sellers and Realtors with its record-setting list price of $1 billion. Minutes from the Beverly Hills Hotel and Rodeo Drive, this 157-acre hilltop location has been transformed into the world’s most exclusive and private residential real estate compound.

The property, currently owned by Secured Capital Partners, was consolidated from 17 multiple parcels into “one large real estate diamond,” according to Ronald Richards, legal counsel and spokesperson for Secured Capital Partners. Aaron Kirman, president of Pacific Union International, Estates Division and the listing agent for The Mountain, affirms that no other property with these possibilities exists any place close to Beverly Hills. “This is the only opportunity to own your own mountain that looks down at all of Los Angeles. Our likely buyer for this property is an individual who wants to build his or her own compound,” says Kirman.

 

The compound is the size of a small city, with six parcels that are made ready to build and have unobstructed views that range from downtown Los Angeles to Catalina Island and Santa Monica. With the amount of space to fit the entirety of Disneyland, and 57 acres to spare, the buyer will be able to build three buildings up to 500,000 square feet and up to 53 feet high, with the nearest neighbor a half-mile away.

In order to perpetuate exclusivity, invaluable amounts of time and effort have been spent to make this one of the most private properties in the country. More than 500 trees and 5,000 smaller plants have been transplanted to the property, along with a massive 16-foot-tall custom security gate.

 

Other renovations made to the property were outfitted as preparations for development, but still leave the land open to suggestion. Stone aggregate roads lead to a hand-selected cobblestone drive, as well as a sculpture court accented by a full-length water feature. An in-depth landscape lighting design exists throughout the property, as well as a storm drain system, a booster system for fire hydrants and a backup generator.

 

“To be able to claim ownership of the largest property at the highest point in all Los Angeles, will make the buyer the most prestigious billionaire overnight,” says Richards.

This originally appeared in Unique Homes Fall 2018

 

Click here to view the digital edition.

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The World’s Smartest Wallet?

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Ekster, the world’s largest smart wallet brand, recently launched its third-generation product line with over $1 million gained from its crowd-funding campaign.

This time they have engineered both the slimmest and the first voice-activated  smart wallet to date. With a collection of smart products designed for an efficient and secure everyday carry, Ekster’s products help to safeguard your daily accessories in the most stylish manner.

 

The first voice-activated smart wallet, Ekster’s products are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This means you can now locate your wallet or phone using your smart speaker or even just use voice command on your phone using either of the two apps. “This is the first solar-charged smart wallet on the market, which means you won’t ever have to charge or replace your tracker batteries,” says Ekster co-founder Richard Canneman. This patented  solar-charging solution does not require direct sunlight to charge and only requires three hours of charge time to last two months with full worldwide tracking functionality.

 

Partnering with Chipolo, a creator of the world’s slimmest and loudest tracking devices, owners can ring their wallet, find it on a map or make use of the widespread community to help locate their missing belongings. Each tracker has a unique QR code that links it to your smartphone like a fingerprint. If your wallet is lost and someone finds it, by scanning this QR code a message will be sent to you, immediately letting you know where the wallet is. Seamlessly designed with luxury in mind, these wallets are made with handcrafted premium leather available around the globe, sourced from LWG gold-rated tanneries who serve only top-of-the-line luxury leather brands.

 

Ekster was first brought to life in Rotterdam by Canneman and two other Dutch founders who shared a frustration with the everyday carry products offered in the market. Today, the company finds itself as the largest smart wallet brand worldwide, with products available in hundreds of stores ranging from Macy’s to Selfridges. Though their reach extends across the globe, no expense is spared on even the smallest detail. Every product that makes it through the company’s detail-oriented design process adheres to five criteria that distinguishes these products from the others on the market: efficiency, safeguarding, innovation, quality craftsmanship and style.

 

“We named our company Ekster after the Dutch word for ‘magpie,’ a bird who often hides its high intelligence, and has a taste for finding and protecting shiny objects,” says the brand. “Just like this bird, we wanted to create classically attractive leather products jam-packed with hidden technology to easily access and protect important everyday valuables.”

Photos courtesy Ekster.

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Styling the Perfect Scandinavian Kitchen

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The Scandinavian design aesthetic continues to take the world by storm, from the cozy comfort of hygge to the inspiring minimalism of the trend itself. Design experts at Modern Dining Tables, as well as Niki Brantmark, blogger at My Scandinavian Home and author of “Lagom, The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life,” understand this aesthetic well, and how it plays into improves a room’s design and decor, particularly dining areas. With minimal furniture, soft color palettes and harmonious shapes and materials, the Scandinavian style is an excellent choice to soothe your dining room.

BACK TO BASICS

 

Wooden furniture and surfaces are the most common among the style, portraying a sense of simple elegance that is nature-based. Some of these surfaces and finishes include light grey marble or wood counters and kitchen equipment like wooden chopping boards, says Brantmark. This choice brings warmth into the home, as well as any other plant life added to the room that naturally revives the space.

 

To complement the natural wood touches, a soft color palette is also needed in order to create a “sleek, clean, organized look,” according to Brantmark. Designers at Modern Dining Tables also suggest more refined colors, such as mixing natural wood or darker metallics with white or rose gold. Alternatively, also suggested are black accent pieces, in order to give life to the room by making a modern contrast and letting the natural wood shine.

MINIMALISM AND ORGANIZATION

 

In order to fully commit to this style in your dining space, the layout of a Scandinavian kitchen often portrays a sense of minimalism, both in style and organization. To keep the look clean and streamlined, Brantmark suggests both open and closed storage options in the form of kitchen cabinets and drawers. “You need to be able to hide the clutter but ensure items you need regularly are at hand,” she adds.

 

 

Other ways to convey this sense of sophisticated simplicity can be shown in the furniture and lighting pieces displayed. Suggested by Modern Dining Tables, industrial-style lighting fixtures are highlighted examples, as “metal is never out of fashion” and gracefully complements other aspects of the aesthetic. In regards to furniture, large tables with simplistic, matching chairs work well in these spaces, as they are warm and inviting and further allow for a informal place for people to gather and socialize.

 

 

“I love that this look is calm and fresh yet has a balanced, warm and inviting feel about it too,” Brantmark remarks. “Kitchens are known as the ‘engine room’ of the house. It’s where people gather socially so it’s important people are drawn to the area and feel comfortable.

Photography by Niki Brantmark
Design by Tina Lekeberg

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DESIGN FIRM CREATES LEADING CHINESE RECORDING STUDIO

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FROM JIMI HENDRIX’S ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS IN NEW YORK CITY TO GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER PAUL EPSWORTH’S THE CHURCH STUDIOS IN LONDON, THE ARTIST-DRIVEN RECORDING STUDIO IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF POPULAR MUSIC.

 

Vibrant spaces designed with the artist in mind, studios like these have become commonplace in North America and Europe where the shared appetite for popular music has created something of an arm’s race, as each studio tries to pack in the latest technology and attract the best artistic talent.

 

A name that may soon be added to this list is Beijing’s 55TEC, a brand new studio that is currently dominating the Chinese pop charts with a string of chart-topping hits, and is turning China’s recording industry into a global competitor.

 

55TEC, designed by the world renowned acoustic design firm Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG), is answering China’s appetite for pop, an appetite that has been pushed into overdrive by its growing young population and recent economic strides into cosmopolitan status.

 

A New York-based firm, WSDG has built its reputation on sterling room design in recording studios and live performances spaces across the world. “WSDG knows how to make a world class studio,” explains Li You, head engineer and owner of 55TEC.

 

“Our clients have been very pleased with the look, sound quality, and vibe of our live and control rooms. This is all due to WSDG’s design work.”

 

The studio has boasted almost 30 charting singles in its first 18 months of operation and is showing no sign of slowing down. Its latest triumph is a song by action movie superstar Jackie Chan, which has currently spent 18-weeks at #1 on the Chinese pop charts. Chan’s hit song, “Nothing Is The Same As Before,” has become a compelling calling card that is drawing new talent to 55TEC.

 

“For the artist, the choice of recording studio is crucial,” Li You notes. “They need a place that inspires their performances and makes them feel like they can do their best work.”

 

 

Photos courtesy WSDG.

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DESIGN FIRM CREATES LEADING CHINESE RECORDING STUDIO

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FROM JIMI HENDRIX’S ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS IN NEW YORK CITY TO GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER PAUL EPSWORTH’S THE CHURCH STUDIOS IN LONDON, THE ARTIST-DRIVEN RECORDING STUDIO IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF POPULAR MUSIC.

 

Vibrant spaces designed with the artist in mind, studios like these have become commonplace in North America and Europe where the shared appetite for popular music has created something of an arm’s race, as each studio tries to pack in the latest technology and attract the best artistic talent.

 

A name that may soon be added to this list is Beijing’s 55TEC, a brand new studio that is currently dominating the Chinese pop charts with a string of chart-topping hits, and is turning China’s recording industry into a global competitor. 55TEC, designed by the world renowned acoustic design firm Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG), is answering China’s appetite for pop, an appetite that has been pushed into overdrive by its growing young population and recent economic strides into cosmopolitan status.

 

A New York-based firm, WSDG has built its reputation on sterling room design in recording studios and live performances spaces across the world. “WSDG knows how to make a world class studio,” explains Li You, head engineer and owner of 55TEC.

 

“Our clients have been very pleased with the look, sound quality, and vibe of our live and control rooms. This is all due to WSDG’s design work.”

 

The studio has boasted almost 30 charting singles in its first 18 months of operation and is showing no sign of slowing down. Its latest triumph is a song by action movie superstar Jackie Chan, which has currently spent 18-weeks at #1 on the Chinese pop charts. Chan’s hit song, “Nothing Is The Same As Before,” has become a compelling calling card that is drawing new talent to 55TEC.

 

“For the artist, the choice of recording studio is crucial,” Li You notes. “They need a place that inspires their performances and makes them feel like they can do their best work.”

 

Photos courtesy WSDG.

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From Schools to Shining Seas

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Massachusetts continues to attract settlement, centuries after drawing its first dwellers.

 

By Kristen Ordonez

 

Much like the early pilgrims who ventured across the ocean to towns like Plymouth, Massachusetts, homebuyers can find the journey to settle in a new home to be an arduous one. From the historic, scholarly cities of Boston and Wellesley to the island region of Nantucket, luxury agents are helping buyers discover the growing real estate prospects within Massachusetts.

 

Within the metropolitan areas of the state, including towns like Wellesley, Weston, Dover and Needham, businesses are the main attractions bringing people to the Metrowest section of Boston.

 

“This region has the largest amount of biotechnology companies in the country, in addition to superior healthcare, highly ranked hospitals, colleges and university,” according to Joni Shore and Jon Shore of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Wellesley.

 

Plus, colleges like Wellesley offer cultural events, lectures and opportunities, as well as the acclaimed Davis Museum. The Shore team notes that its clients come from all around the world looking for this type of access to culture. “The highly ranked schools and universities are a draw to the area,” says the duo. “Often families who send their children to school in the area prefer to invest in real estate.” These investments tend to be in new or updated homes with technological and sustainable living qualities. Homes like these at the top of the market are usually priced much higher than other suburban areas, with the highest listing at $18.5 million.

Sold for $4,000,000

Sold for $4,150,000

Sold for $5,770,700

Apart from the collegiate neighborhoods, the coastal regions of Massachusetts have their own enticing attributes that attract homebuyers, specifically outdoor living and recreation. Whether buyers prefer sailing around the bay or fishing in the ocean or lake, real estate along the water perpetuates both luxurious comfort and relaxed entertainment.

 

“When living on the South Shore you experience life as if you are on vacation 12 months a year but without vacation traffic,” says Liz Bone of MacDonald & Wood Sotheby’s International Realty, who works primarily within cities like Duxbury, Marshfield and Pembrok. This staycation-style of living is ideal for the market, Bone says, as it has brought a more diverse demographic of buyers to the region. “I find that we are being discovered every day and when someone drives through our quaint communities, each community offers a different experience and appeal,” she notes.

 

In terms of pricing, Bone adds that though each community differs, generally homes below $500,000 are bought by first-time buyers, while properties sold at $900,000 are bought by people moving west from the city areas. “[They] find that you can purchase more for your money the further south you travel away from the bustle of Boston,” says Bone.

 

Outdoor amenities and resort-style living dominate Nantucket Island, a premier resort area of New England, which attracts a wide international market, according to Gary Winn of Maury People Sotheby’s International Realty. “Each area on Nantucket has its own distinct and different market and price points,” says Winn, who notes the market offers a variety of properties within a larger spectrum of price points. For example, a beautiful house with a guest cottage, pool and cabana in the highly sought-after Cliff area can be available for about $8 million, which is quite low compared to other top Nantucket properties priced at around $30 million.

 

Photos courtesy of Gary Winn

This originally appeared in Unique Homes Summer 2018: The Waterfront Lifestyle

Click here to view the digital edition.

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Dining Trends at Luxury Hotels

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Photo courtesy Jack Oughton.

DUE TO THE EVER-CHANGING MOOD OF HIGH-END DINERS, HOTEL MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO ADAPT TO NEW AND EXCITING CHALLENGES WITHIN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SECTOR OF LUXURY TRAVEL. IN A RECENT POST BY TEXAS MEETINGS + EVENTS, EXECUTIVE CHEFS AND MANAGEMENT MEMBERS DISCUSS TRENDS WITHIN THE WESTERN REGION OF US THAT ARE BECOMING UNIVERSALLY SEEN IN HOTELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LOCAL SOURCING & AUTHENTICITY

 

“Traveling is all about experiencing a new culture, and that includes fare from the region guests are visiting,” says James Morin, executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa located in San Antonio.

 

“We see a lot of guests enthralled by the culture of our Lone Star State, and they want to experience that unique Texas flavor in authentic cuisine.”

 

Showcasing the sourcing of ingredients and partnerships with local suppliers is a shift from previous priorities. The George R. Brown Convention Center also works to showcase its local partners by prominently featuring their branding in restaurant and café experiences, according to Chris Bupp, general manager of Levy, the exclusive food and beverage provider for the convention center.

Photo by Jack Oughton.

One example of this is the convention center’s relationship with local company Java Pura as a coffee vendor. “In telling people about it, it’s roasted down the street and it’s available across Texas,” Bupp says. “What a great story to tell, and consumers love hearing about it.”

Photo by Vishnuvardan.

HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

 

Chefs at multiple hotels and resorts spoke about an increased desire to develop menus with healthy options for attendees. For breakfast, often groups are looking for healthy options and “light action stations,” as they “want to see how the food is prepared,” says Christof Syré, executive chef at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.

 

In regards to particular ingredients, grains such as quinoa, farro and sorghum have gained a new spotlight, as well as cold oatmeal and avocado toast topped with smoked salmon or a poached egg. Salmon has been a strong ingredient for Ruffy Sulaiman, executive chef at Hilton Americas-Houston.

“When we do a lot of tastings, each time we have salmon in the tasting, salmon always wins,” Sulaiman says. He credits the interest in salmon because it’s loaded with Omega 3 and appeals to most health-conscious eaters.

 

Coinciding healthy options are dietary restrictions, a complicated but rewarding challenge that the hotel industry finds itself constantly working toward accommodating, says Sulaiman. “It allows us to be as creative as possible to make sure that we take care of those folks.”

GOODBYE BUFFETS, HELLO POP-UP EXPERIENCES

 

Long buffet lines are going by the wayside, according to Sulaiman, as event planners are now sticking with smaller plates to continue the “less is more” trend. Sulaiman has developed different pop-up food experiences that highlight various cultures represented in Houston, including an Indian station with chicken Marsala and lamb shashlik and a pho station to represent Vietnamese culture.

 

To learn more from these inspired experts from the Lone Star state, visit Texas Meeting + Events’ post!

Photo courtesy Swastiverma.

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Simple Comforts

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SOMETIMES THE MOST CREATIVE IDEAS ARE BORN FROM A CHALLENGE. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CASE FOR ELNAZ NAMAKI OF ELNAZ NAMAKI STUDIO. NAMAKI AND HER DESIGNERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO SOURCE ORIGINAL DESIGN PIECES THAT WERE ALSO COMFORTABLE AND HIGH QUALITY.

Sensing this niche in the market, Namaki created the “Luuna Collection,” an assortment of bespoken furniture that “distinguished itself in that people would feel and connect with it and therefore always remember it.”

 

“Luuna” takes its name and design philosophy from the moon, a universal constant with a symbolic connection to time and place, according to Namaki. The style and sculpted shapes of the collection are further inspired by mid-century designs and hygge, the heart of Danish culture.

 

Namaki notes that she wanted to create furniture that embodied this concept and pieces that are designed to evoke an ambience. The core of the collection is the textured shearling, or sheepskin, on each of the pieces that creates a feeling of coziness and warmth. The shearling also proved to be another challenge, Namaki says, as it took a lot of experimenting to find the right consistency to work with.

 

“[Shearling] is a unique and very special material to use for upholstery that requires precision and skill to create straight joints by hand,” she says. The designers also worked with specialized English craftsmen throughout the process when shaping and crafting the wood frames, combining traditional and modern techniques to create detailed furniture pieces. Just as soft are the colors on each of the seven furniture pieces and five cushions from the collection, classic shades that fit with most interior spaces while also remaining subtly bold.

 

“I think the “Luuna” collection can fit in every home as the style, colors and shapes are timeless and constant,” Namaki remarks. “[These] pieces make iconic and playful centerpieces in every home. They are designed for anyone who believes their home tells the story of who they are.”

All photos courtesy www.elnaznamaki.com.

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Son and Moon

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With an upbringing immersed in creativity, designer, maker, crafter and artist Jesse Ede has been surrounded by design and art for as long as he can remember.

 

Drawn to more natural materials, Ede focuses on being completely unique and not fit into any particular aesthetic. This sense of originality is prevalent in his numerous collections of lunar-themed art and fixtures, particularly the “Orbit” collection.

 

An evolution from his first light piece called “Eclipse,” “Orbit” is inspired by the “beautiful movement of the galaxy’s moons around their planets,” according to Ede. The piece features elegant metals like bronze and brass that add a dimension of color and texture to the moon-like piece.  

 

Ede prefers to “capture the rough nature of organic surfaces,” he says. He does this by manipulating them to expose the contrast between the material itself and the man-made processes that form them into sculptures. Ultimately, he looks to celebrate the rawness of uncontrollable outcomes, from processes that are uncommonly used.

 

Much of his life has been spent in workshops and studios, allowing him to naturally acquire a vast range of skills. “My father was an artist and carpenter, so I grew up in and around his studio from a very young age,” says Ede. “I often feel as though I was born to do this, as though it was entirely predetermined for me.”

 

Though he spent eight years traveling and working, even working as a carpenter for an Antiguan boat-building, much of Ede’s main inspiration comes from space and the universe, as well as looking to nature itself.

 

“It’s so tempting to draw your inspiration from other artists’ work, but I discovered at a young age, the natural world itself provides all the inspiration you could ever need, and you never run the risk of looking like one-of-many,” he says.

 

With an assortment of other moon-themed pieces, including a new cantilevered bronze and stone coffee table entitled “Venus,” Ede continues to work and display his strength in creativity.

All photos courtesy Jesse Ede.

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Expert Q&A: Lifestyle Sensibilities

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From screenwriter to actress and model, Meridith Baer never imagined becoming a businessperson, let alone the founder of a leading home staging company at age 50. Now, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Miami, Meridith Baer Home has flourished into a lifestyle brand that does more than just increase a home’s value.

Photo courtesy of Meridith Baer Home.

What brought you to design?

As a kid I loved rearranging furniture and my mom let me. She bought and flipped mansions in the Midwest and she would take my advice on what to buy or how to arrange. My apartments always looked great with inexpensive finds and friends often asked me to help them pull their places together, which I did gladly.

 

 

 

How does design make you happy?

When I wrote scripts, it was hard to feel realized. So many people get their fingerprints all over what you’re doing and a project can go on for years and may still never get made … or not get made in a way I saw it. But I can stage a home in a matter of days and have a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

 

 

What is your favorite room or type of home to stage, if there is one, and why?

All homes present a unique challenge. Making older homes fresh and young is very satisfying. Personally, I love doing modern homes with a mix of styles, even throwing in a bit of neoclassical here and there.

 

 

Are there any activities outside of work that help inspire your work? Any that help you escape?

Travel is a great inspiration. I always come home with new ideas. I read every home magazine I can get my hands on. The only way I get away from work is Sudoku. It doesn’t inspire me, but it is all about bringing order … which, in part, is what design does.

 

 

What influence, if any, do you get from where you live?

Living in Los Angeles, I spent a lot of time outside and it is very important to me to bring the outside in and the inside out. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at the family ranch, so I like to include rustic elements in my designs.

 

 

Is there a specific style that you use when staging a home, or is it more particular to what the owner/seller has in mind?

What differentiates us from every other staging company is that we do enjoy doing all styles and have the inventory to do it. Before we begin, it is important that we get a clear understanding of what the broker and homeowner want, as we want to accommodate their ideas.

 

 

What is the most important element to remember to keep in any space you stage?

Everything has to look natural, easy and comfortable. Our job is to show the lifestyle one can have when they buy this home.

 

 

What colors, styles, and/or themes do you like to play with the most? The least?

I like backgrounds that are white or black … then I bring in color with rugs, art and accessories. I hate when a room has only one look … like everything came from one showroom. However I like groupings of objects … either the same color, but different sizes or shapes, or a small collection arranged in an interesting way, or a single simple item. I like to tell stories with things.

 

 

Do you tend to “bring work home with you?”

I’ll ignore my home for a month or two, just live in it, then I’ll be walking by the living room, take it in with a long look, and start rearranging. Furnishings don’t need to be permanent.

 

 

What kind of design trends do you want to see in the future?

Interior design, like fashion, is always changing. For a number of years now modern has been trending. Unfortunately it has gotten fairly cookie cutter.  So I would like to see more of a mix in homes … modern mixed with different periods and sensibilities.

 

 

Any projects you’re working on now, or any in mind for the future?

We’re always coming up with new designs and have begun manufacturing much of our furniture. We’re also in talks about a new television series about e-commerce and hotel design.

 

 

What advice would you give to someone going into interior design or starting his or her own firm?

Go for it! 

This soothing master bedroom suite highlights striking water views with a cool, relaxing color palette and clean, transitional furnishings.

Photo by Wanderlust Photography, thewanderlustphotography.com.

Comfortable upholstered lounge seating brings the indoors outside, complementing the infinity pool.

Photograph by Simon Berlyn, berlyn.net

An inviting step-down library features a muted palette and sophisticated textures.

Photo by Rebecca Duke, instagram.com/rebeccamduke

This modern, double-height living area with elegant contemporary furnishings opens out to an inviting patio featuring a stunning pool and cabana.

Photograph by Bernard André, bernardandre.com

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