All posts by Unique Homes Staff

FEATURED AGENT: Victoria Fingelly Of Southport On the Harbor Brokerage

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Victoria Fingelly

Southport On the Harbor Brokerage

251 Main Street – Southport, Connecticut 06890

203.610.0647 | victoriafingelly@yahoo.com
Specializing in luxury and waterfront properties, Victoria Fingelly has established a very successful real estate career over many years. With expert local knowledge of Fairfield, Southport and Westport, Connecticut, along with excellent marketing and communication skills, Victoria delivers a tradition of personal attention and service throughout each transaction. With beautiful and compelling presentation, she has successfully listed and negotiated the record sales for Fairfield at $24,450,000 Southport at $16.250 million and Westport at $25 million. Victoria welcomes your call or inquiry, which is of course, always confidential.

Listing by Victoria Fingelly

MAGNIFICENT GOLD COAST ESTATE

One of the largest estates on the Westport shoreline, this magnificent 7.7-acre “Gold Coast” property offers an unparalleled aesthetic of grace and grandeur, featuring 365 feet of sweeping water-frontage and beach. Composed of three lots, this exceptional estate luxuriates in unrivaled views of Long Island Sound and the stunning Southport and Fairfield coastlines. Circa 1911, the Elizabethan Tudor Residence with pool and carriage house, recently renovated to perfection, retains the genteel ambience of the early 20th Century blending seamlessly with every sophisticated architectural and mechanical enhancement.

www.BeachsideAvenueWestport.com
Offered at $28,000,000

Victoria Fingelly ORIGINALLY APPEARED AS AN ULTIMATE AGENT IN THE UNIQUE HOMES ULTIMATE ’18 EDITION. SEE HER PAGE HERE.

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Luxury Developments Embrace Outdoor Dining

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Whether it’s reducing stress or improving concentration, eating outdoors has proven to have many health-related benefits.

Photo courtesy of DooArchitecture

Private terraces with al fresco eating spaces not only offer a unique setting for entertaining and barbecuing, but also a relaxing, peaceful environment. Dilip Barot, founder and CEO of Creative Choice Group — the developers behind Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences, understands the importance of designing a development with outdoor space in mind.
“Some of the benefits (of spending time outdoors) are improvement in the ability to focus, mood elevation and you get to exercise more,” he explains. “Being out of doors can help one return to a natural state of balance with a simple deep breath of fresh air to feel a sense of renewal.”
While enjoying a meal outdoors can provide a natural mood boost, it can also fight chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Barot also notes that spending time outdoors can lower the risk for seasonal affective disorder, which is attributed to a lack of sunlight creating feelings of sadness and depression.
“Amrit’s location and year-round warm, sunny climate contribute to a natural stress reducing mood enhancing experience,” he says. “With our South Florida sunshine producing melatonin, serotonin and Vitamin D in the body, stress is reduced and happiness naturally shines through.”
Keeping this information in mind, many developments are beginning to embrace outdoor dining. Here are just a few from the Sunshine State:

Photo courtesy of Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences

Located on the exclusive shores of Surprise Lake, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach offers a unique outdoor space with vast terraces and balconies to enjoy the outdoors at home. This waterfront property has a rooftop pool deck with spacious cabanas and poolside grille, lush meditation garden and deeded boat slips on a private waterway. This peaceful oasis also has a spa and state-of-the-art fitness center to enhance day-to-day living.

Photo courtesy of Prive at Island Estates

In Oceana Bal Harbour’s penthouse, the wrap-around terrace and rooftop deck boasts 9,950-square-feet of outdoor living space, including an elevated pool and sunset deck, a heated infinity pool, a summer kitchen and an elaborate dining area. The entire pool area is adorned with lush vertical gardens designed by famed landscape architect, Enzo Enea. Every one of Oceana Bal Harbour’s spacious homes and terraces are designed to offer al fresco dining experiences and breathtaking views; whether it’s the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Biscayne Bay and the Bal Harbour marina to the west, or Miami’s intoxicating city skyline to the south.

Photo courtesy of Brickell City Centre

Amrit Ocean Resort and Residences will introduce a new way of mindful living in Palm Beach, Florida with its enhanced lifestyle experiences and customized programs that will be focused around the “Five Pillars of Wellness,” which are nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, sleep and relaxation.
Upon entering the grounds through a private ramp, guests and residents will be brought to an elevated level where they will find a captivating water wall and seven acres of beautiful terrain.
With countless features, the property will be comprised of two towers, each offering indoor and outdoor living with modern cabinetry, state-of-the-art appliances, designer fixtures and large sliding glass doors that open to covered terraces with spectacular water views.

Photo courtesy of DooArchitecture

Prive at Island Estates feature expansive terraces ranging from 760 square-feet to 1,800 square-feet in size with outdoor summer kitchens and elaborate views of the azure intracoastal, Sunny Isles’ dotted skyline and beyond. Its penthouse terraces also include rooftop infinity pools, dining greenery spaces and full outdoor summer kitchens.

Photo courtesy of Ocean Bal Harbour

RISE, one of the two sleek, 43-story premier luxury condominium tower that sits atop of Brickell City Centre, allows residents to enjoy the fresh outdoors and tropical Miami weather with an expansive half-acre amenity deck including tropical gardens, barbecue grills, heated lap and social pools, outdoor fitness areas and children’s play area.

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Real Estate Company to be Acquired by Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc.

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Crescent Communities’ acquired businesses will remain headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, under its existing management team.

Crescent Communities, LLC, a residential and commercial real estate company, and Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc., a comprehensive housing and wood products corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Crescent Communities’ three key businesses will be acquired by Sumitomo. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June.
“We are excited to partner with Sumitomo as their investment will continue Crescent Communities’ growth strategy and enhance our capital structure,” says Todd Mansfield, the chief executive officer of Crescent Communities. “This acquisition is evidence of Sumitomo’s favorable view of our multi-product platform and geographic footprint in high growth markets. We look forward to leveraging their extensive real estate expertise, financial strength and global network to support our ongoing commitment to unleash value for all stakeholders.”
 

Masons Bend’s Amenity Center

“We have been pursuing further expansion of our U.S. real estate business and the acquisition of Crescent Communities is a perfect fit with our investment philosophy,” says Atsushi Iwasaki, the president of Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc. “With favorable demographics, including outsized employment growth, Crescent Communities’ markets are well positioned to support healthy long-term real estate fundamentals.
The acquired business will take the Crescent Communities’ name and remain headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, under the existing management team led by Todd Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer. Palmetto Bluff, the acclaimed 20,000-acre resort community with a Montage branded hotel located in Bluffton, South Carolina, will be retained by Crescent Communities’ existing owners, with the local management team continuing in their roles and David O’Donoghue continuing to serve as president.

The new light rail by NOVEL NoDa and NOVEL at Providence Farm

Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc. will acquire Crescent Communities’ multifamily, single family and commercial and mixed use businesses. Crescent Communities’ multifamily business, operating under the “NOVEL by Crescent Communities” brand, includes 20 communities in development and/or operations, totaling approximately 6,400 units. The company’s Fielding Homes single family home building business includes over 1,700 single family lots across 6 communities in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
The commercial and mixed use business development portfolio includes nearly 1.5 million square feet of assets, including the recently announced 742,000 square foot Ally Charlotte Center project in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition, Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc. is also acquiring Crescent Communities’ development pipeline of nearly $2 billion of real estate projects, including 5,500 multifamily units, 2,200 single family units and 2.5 million square feet of office and industrial assets.

Masons Bend

Photos courtesy of Crescent Communities

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Real Estate Agent Named Guinness World Record Holder

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The first ever real estate record holder to be recognized for home sales has sold 3,556 homes in a single year.

America’s number one ranked real estate agent, Ben Caballero of Addison, Texas, just became the number one real estate agent in the world, according to Guinness World Records (GWR). At the REAL Trends “Gathering of Eagles” conference in Denver, Caballero was named the first real estate agent ever to be recognized by GWR for home sales.
“Being named a Guinness World Record holder is truly the highlight of my professional career,” says Caballero, who continues year-after-year to exceed his own record-setting home sales performance.
REAL Trends ranks the top sales professionals in the United States by transaction sides and sales volume. In 2016, the most recent year all transaction data was available from REAL Trends, Caballero sold 3,556 homes, which was seven times more homes than his closest competitor who had reached up to 467 homes. His home sales that year totaled a new individual real estate agent sales record of $1.444 billion, breaking his  previous record of $1.022 billion.
In 2007, Caballero invented the HomesUSA.com platform, an innovative online technology for builders, that allowed him to achieve these remarkable numbers. His company specializes in new homes sales for 65 builders in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
From 2010 to 2016, Caballero’s total home sales volume totaled $7.2 billion. To put his 2016 new home sales numbers in perspective, Caballero sold an average of more than 68 homes per week — nearly 10 homes per day, every day of the week or more than one-and-a-half sales every business hour.
“For years, our rankings have recognized the accomplishments of thousands of real estate professionals, but no one came close to achieving what Ben has,” says Steve Murray, president of REAL Trends. “Recognition of Ben’s achievements by Guinness World Records is truly amazing.”
Caballero has also appeared at the top of both REAL Trends “The Thousand” lists for both Individuals by Transaction Sides and Individuals by Sales Volume since 2013. This ranking is published midyear, annually in The Wall Street Journal and requires independent third-party verification.

Photo courtesy of HomesUSA.com

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Lobbies with Larger-than-Life Artwork

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Residential developments are increasingly incorporating oversized art, and it’s bigger and better than ever.
These powerful and room-defining pieces each have a huge impact on the spaces they inhabit, drawing the eye in new directions. Here are four examples of NYC luxury developments spearheading this trend in a major way, commissioning local artists to create unique, oversized artwork.

525 West 52nd Street
Upon walking through the grand, double-height entrance, residents pass under Rachel Mica Weiss’ “Inverted Arches.” Commissioned by Art Assets, the 20-foot entrance piece made of nylon rope creates striking silhouettes and intricate, dramatic shadows that change throughout the day. Rachel’s use of industrial materials and hand-crafted techniques seamlessly integrate art and architecture, while simultaneously highlighting the history of the industrial neighborhood and reflecting the daily lives of residents.

Photo courtesy of Danielle Gottesman

The Jackson
This lobby was designed with a stunning double-height, floor-to-ceiling glass art installation that was inspired by the building’s neighbor, MoMa PS1. The Long Island City condominium’s developer commissioned artist Tom Fruin to curate a one-of-a-kind mosaic glass-art wall in the building’s entryway, giving the space a unique gallery feel.

Photo courtesy of Qualls Benson

Photo courtesy of Art Assets

90 Morton
This boutique condominium features an entire gallery exhibition of eye-level floor sculptures curated by artist Danielle Gottesman.
Gottesman was inspired by the architectural floor plans of the property, and when adding light behind these pieces, one can actually see the shadows of the floor plans.

Photo courtesy of Modern Spaces

50 West
A glass-walled exhibition space in the lobby of 50 West is hosting a rotating display of art. The first piece on view is a 10-foot-tall twister sculpture of white powder-coated aluminum by the artist Alice Aycock.
Alice’s work can be found in numerous collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum and the National Gallery of Art.

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New Furniture Collection Exudes Disarming Comfort and Natural Beauty

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Handcrafted using ancient techniques, Noble Souls is the first sofa range ever made using 100 percent natural vegetable dyes, feathers and natural linens.

The Noble Souls sofa collection is based on a simple idea that today’s real luxuries are those moments of blissful reconnection, when we feel ourselves truly alive and can deeply reconnect with one another.

In today’s globalized, virtualized world, those moments are too rare. We live in our heads, on our phones and in our screens, and we risk becoming more disconnected than ever from real life. 

British furniture and interior designer Timothy Oulton wanted to figure out how to create more of these joyful moments where we feel closely connected to our surroundings and the world around us.

With a passion for materials and craft, Oulton unearthed answers on a journey that crisscrossed the globe, rediscovering ancient craftsmen, their techniques and the pure, natural materials they have used for thousands of years.

Timothy Oulton designs the Noble Souls collection to help people reconnect.

  “We wanted to go beyond the sofa, to think about the space in someone’s home, and the context of their life,” Oulton says. “It’s not just furniture. Noble Souls gives you permission to relax and truly let go. In a home, these sofas become a hearth, a place where you can reconnect with each other more deeply, or even just with yourself.”

The collection features three sofas: Realm, Nest and Oasis. Each one offers a different seating contour, from extremely laid-back to more supportive profiles, ensuring there is a sofa perfectly suited to complement any lifestyle. The modular design ensures each sofa is endlessly configurable, to suit any space.  

The Noble Souls collection is of disarming softness and epic comfort, made using natural materials and ancient craft. Each sofa is filled with goose down feathers, the simplest form of all feathers, creating thousands of tiny pockets of air within the sofa. Seat covers are all natural linen, using only 100 percent natural vegetable dyes.

Noble Souls linens are colored using only 100 percent natural vegetable dyes, applied the same way it has been done for thousands of years, which is using only dye stuffs and water. Blue hues are achieved using indigo, and grays using gallnut. Color fastness is achieved with a gentle stone washing treatment.

Accompanying the sofa collection, a select range of furniture and lighting is available. The collection also supports the three key “realms of reconnection” in any home — the sofa living area, the dining space and the bedroom.

AGORA LIVE EGDE DINING TABLE

ANCHOR PENDANT

FAMILY RUG — BLUE

ENGLISH BEAM COFFEE TABLE

OASIS SOFA IN LINEN WHITE

SAHARA CARAVAN RUG — BAMBOO

SALVE CUSHION — OLD WOVEN STRIPE

SANCTUM DINING CHAIR

Photos courtesy of www.timothyoulton.com

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Featured Agent: Kathie Robidou of Coldwell Banker Advantage One Properties

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Kathie Robidou

Coldwell Banker Advantage One Properties

1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 370, Eugene, OR 97401
541.484.2625 | kathie@kathiesells.com | www.advantageoneproperties.com | www.kathiesells.com

Kathie’s high energy level and her enthusiasm for helping people have propelled her to the top of her field in the real estate industry! A Coldwell Banker franchise owner and a top agent specializing in upper end and luxury homes, her expert marketing and promotional techniques are second to none and her knowledge in all aspects of real estate sales have made her one of the most successful and respected agents in Eugene-Springfield. Kathie has consistently been the  #1 Listing Agent  and Production Agent on a Team and is in the top 4% of agents globally. Kathie is affectionately known throughout Lane County as “KathieSells” and her team sales have well exceeded $200 million in just the past decade!

Featured Listing by Kathie Robidou

FLORENCE, OREGON

Enjoy spectacular 180-degree ocean views from this furnished, custom-built home with an expansive cedar deck, patio area and an abundance of windows to enjoy the unobstructed ocean and terrain views! The kitchen offers an island, eating bar, double ovens, corian counters and nook. The spacious master suite boasts 2 walk-in closets, a jetted tub, shower and door to the deck! Other features include a great room, formal dining, bonus room with surround sound and exercise area. The private, gated 1.61-acre lot offers area for RV! MLS#17334500

Price upon request.

Kathie Robidou originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See her page here.

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Featured Agents: John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks of The Fairbanks Group

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John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

The Fairbanks Group

388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA

626.398.9000 | 626.390.1000 | Est8homes@aol.com | www.TheFairbanksGroup.com

CalBRE  #00972895 | CalBRE #01009669

With combined Real Estate experience of more than 60 years, The Fairbanks Group share a passion for their profession. John Fairbanks and Marion Fairbanks continue to bring international recognition for their people-centered, results driven professionalism. Having earned membership in the Society of Excellence and the International President’s Elite, they represent the top 1% of the company’s sales force, both domestic and international. Much of their business is repeat and referral from satisfied individuals. Always able to provide exceptional service, John and Marion are available to exceed your needs with their aggressive marketing and astute negotiating skills, coupled with a personal interest in their clients’ real estate concerns, mean results for their clients. These strengths continue to maintain John and Marion as top performing agents in the San Gabriel Valley for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for more than 30 years.

Featured Listings by John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

1955 Brigden Road

A mountain backdrop, exquisite facade with brick accent, stately front porch and elegant curb appeal is only the beginning of this newly redesigned and renovated residence located in Pasadena’s prestigious Brigden Ranch! Offering more than 3,000 square feet of living space including 4 bedrooms (2 master suites), 4 baths, a formal living room with fireplace, a family room with Napoleon fireplace, an office, breakfast area and a chef’s delight of a kitchen. The backyard is an entertainer’s dream with an outdoor barbecue!
$1,750,000

 

John Fairbanks & Marion Fairbanks originally appeared as Elite agents in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See their page here.

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Featured Agents: Julie Barnett & Leigh Barnett of Harry Norman, REALTORS®

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Julie Barnett & Leigh Barnett

Harry Norman, REALTORS®

141 S. Main Street, Clayton, GA 30525
O. 706.212.0228 | J. 404.697.3860  |  L. 404.931.3636 | julie.barnett@harrynorman.com
leigh.barnett@harrynorman.com | www.lakeburtonhome.com

Featured Listing by Julie Barnett & Leigh Barnett

TIGER, GEORGIA

57 Cody Lane

This 7-bedroom, 7.5-bath stately Lake Burton retreat is gracefully positioned on manicured grounds enjoying long range lake & mountain views. The 2-story great room features a vaulted ceiling, reclaimed beams, oak flooring, stone fireplace & floor-to-ceiling windows framing lake views. A lakeside porch acts as an outdoor living room with fireplace, built-in pizza oven and dining area. The chef’s kitchen is equipped with professional appliances, a large island & cozy breakfast nook with fireplace. The terrace level features a family room with fireplace, full kitchen, wine cellar, game room with wet bar & lakeside covered porch. Amenities include: master on main, 3-car garage, detached workshop, 7 masonry stone fireplaces, fenced garden, dog run, 2-stall boathouse.
$5,900,000.

 

Julie Barnett & Leigh Barnett originally appeared as Elite agents in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See their page here.

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Featured Agent: Mariann Cordova of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

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Mariann Cordova

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

California Properties

333 Village Main Street, Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
949.307.4040 | MC@SouthOrangeCountyLiving.com | www.SouthOrangeCountyLiving.com
When you work with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, you can expect dedicated real estate experts and a brokerage that is with you every step of the way. We’re here to help you find your perfect, no matter what it may be.

Featured Listing by Mariann Cordova

Coto De Caza, California

Stunning Georgian Equestrian Estate
23111 & 23112 Maravilla Lane
Top quality residence | 6-stall barn | Large pastures
Arena | Guesthouse | Pool & Spa
www.23112Maravilla.com | $15,900,000.

 

Mariann Cordova originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See her page here.

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