Cover Home Showcase: Life, Elevated in Lanikai, Hawaii

One of the most exquisite waterfront properties worldwide, the residence featured on the cover of this issue is as much a masterpiece as it is a piece of real property.

By Camilla McLaughlin
Set on two-plus acres, high on a hill in a private gated compound within Lanikai, this estate overlooks one of the most beautiful beaches in Oahu. The views, which extend along the coast to the tip of the peninsula, are perhaps the best in Hawaii. Spectacular sunrises usher in an ever-changing panorama of marine blues and turquoises. The crests of the Mokulua islands appear as sculptures on the water. At night, lights twinkle along the extended shoreline. “Even visitors who have previewed the property are spellbound by the views, which they say surpass their imagination,” shares Tracy Allen, vice president, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, who is listing the property.
The architecture reflects the refined aesthetic of contemporary’s latest iteration. Warm woods soften and showcase streamlined linear forms. European influences and materials elevate the interiors. A SieMatic kitchen seems to melt into the open concept living spaces. Windows and doors from Achenbach, Germany, are almost commercial grade and seamlessly integrate extensive outdoor living spaces and views with the interior. More than 1,177 square feet are devoted to open and covered lanais and decks. The full complement of outdoor living amenities includes a second-floor sundeck complete with a spa. The infinity pool is finished with glass tiles hand-selected to evoke the ocean hues.
What is not immediately apparent about this home is the degree of privacy it affords without compromising views or even access to a secluded beach. To get to this private resort, one must navigate two separate gated entries. This much privacy and the opportunity to relax while the view dazzles and the trade winds caress might be considered priceless; but in this case the price is $14.8 million.
For more about this property, visit Unique Homes Global.

Photos Courtesy Tracy Allen

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE GLOBAL 2016 ISSUE OF UNIQUE HOMES. TO SEE THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.

January 6, 2017 Leave a comment

Global Perspective

with:Kristen Ordonez

A New York City-based interior designer draws upon her travels around the world and involvement in the art community to create crisp, elegant and comfortable living spaces.

By Kim Quevedo

Story transformed this 2,400-square-foot industrial space into a perfectly tailored modern loft in New York City’s Tribeca. She used a neutral palette accented with contemporary art and splashes of color and pattern; Tribeca loft photos ©eric laignel

Born in Japan and raised in Singapore and Texas, interior designer Sara Story aims to bring a worldly approach in her design work. Not only does she include crafts of artisans from all over the globe, but Story also encompasses some of the different and unique transitions of spaces she has observed on her travels. Since founding her design firm in 2003, Story has worked on residential and commercial projects worldwide, including Singapore, Texas, California and New York City, as well as created two wallpaper collections. With an energetic, free-flowing style, Story is also inspired by art, fashion and architecture.

What motivated you to get into the interior design world?

After being in the corporate world, I took a step back and thought about what my passion was and what I wanted to spend my time doing. Looking back on everything I love, I gravitated toward design and architecture. That is what made me go back to school. Once I got a degree in interior architecture, I moved to New York, worked for a prominent designer and went out on my own when I thought it was time.

How have your travels inspired your projects?

I think when you travel you learn so much about different cultures and their design aesthetic, and that is always in my repertoire and definitely in my mind for projects. I just got back from Asia, and Japan, in particular, was inspiring with the scales of design, use of materials and the transition between everything, particularly in the way they resolve how materials meet each other.

Some of what I saw outside of Tokyo lends itself to a project in Sun Valley, Idaho, I am working on, specifically in the ebonized vertical wood on the exterior and how that transitioned into the interior, and how they installed this beautiful tile vertically.

It was also interesting to see the different way they use their light fixtures and how they are integrated into the beams. That is something I am working on with that project. It was interesting how it all corresponded at the same time.

How does the art world influence you in your interior design work?

New York City has a wealth of inspiration in all its galleries, architecture, art and different shows, and it always keep you on your toes. You keep learning about different artists and their different techniques. It all interplays together with interior design.

What was the inspiration for your wallpaper collection?

For my wallpaper collection, I would go through so many different paintings for inspiration of color combinations and texture. I also drew upon fashion. I went through old vintage Christian Dior. It is so interesting to see all the different color combinations and variations. It is really fascinating.

In a residential area outside of the city center, this three-story bungalow in Singapore is a mix of traditional Colonial architecture and contemporary Asian design.

Plaster molding, refined paneling and exposed ebonized beams highlight the double-height ceilings in the living room. Photos courtesy Singapore bungalow photos ©masano kawana

How did everything come together for the bungalow in Singapore?

That was a really interesting project because it was my first project in Asia. Part of the inspiration of the house was taking the old black and white Colonial houses that were built in Asia, and are kind of national landmarks in Singapore, and doing a contemporary version of a black and white house — so having lots of beams, latticework, marble and teak — and thinking about the environment and what is sustainable there for materials. Lastly, I brought in a European vision too with European antiques. It was a combination of European antiques, architectural black and white house, and contemporary elements like art and light fixtures. It was an eclectic mixture from all over the world.

Can you share your thinking behind the Tribeca loft project?

This project was for a really young bachelor, so it was thinking about Tribeca and bringing interjections of fun, cool patterns. There was a graffiti wallpaper on the ceiling in the entry vestibule and this inside-out pharmacy in the entry powder room, like a medicine cabinet with no doors. That was inspired by Damien Hirst.

Then we built this little office and, in the back, there is this doodle wallpaper I really like. We also took this old air compressor from a scuba tank and made into a vanity. It was fun, and about creating these energetic, cool moments.

Do you have any advice for people going into interior design?

Always keep your eyes open, keep learning about things and explore the cultural aspect of where you live to the fullest.

January 5, 2017 Leave a comment

Tech-Savvy Shopping

with:Kristen Ordonez

Usually viewed as the nemesis of brick-and-mortar shops, technology is now being employed by retailers to draw people back to the mall.

By Roger Grody

With RFID technology, fitting rooms become interactive. Photo courtesy Oak Labs.

Adjusting to a fundamental shift in how the world shops, retail establishments are struggling to retain customers who have become accustomed to shopping online in their pajamas, or while sipping a latte at their neighborhood café. To get people back to the mall, retailers must offer a more compelling experience, and for some, technology is not the enemy, but the answer.

Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, who parlayed a flirty “downtown romantic” style into a global lifestyle brand, is also one of the most technologically ambitious retailers. At her boutiques in New York, San Francisco and L.A., the experience begins at a large touchscreen from which customers can order cappuccino or Champagne, delivered to them as they browse.

At her boutiques, Minkoff has also introduced technology to the dressing rooms, equipped with mirrors doubling as interactive touchscreens that allow customers to adjust the lighting and request alternate sizes or styles. In addition, the “smart mirrors” detect the radio-frequency identification (RFID)-tagged garments and suggest matching pieces or accessories. “The amount of embedded tech that has gone into this retail embodiment has given us the opportunity to reach our ultimate goal in catering to next-generation shoppers,” says Uri Minkoff, the designer’s brother and company CEO.

Burberry, the iconic British luxury brand, also has demonstrated a strong commitment to technology, first at its global flagship store on London’s Regent Street and subsequently at its Shanghai flagship, the largest of seven locations in that city. The illumination of the sleek Shanghai façade changes with the natural light, while 40 strategically placed video screens and 130 speakers reinforce a decidedly high-tech interior.

Using RFID technology, a multimedia experience is triggered every time a customer steps into a dressing room at Burberry Shanghai. Not only are mirrors transformed into video screens — displaying images from a Parisian fashion show, for instance — but product specs and other relevant information are also presented to the customer.

William Toney, vice president of global RFID market development at Avery Dennison, a leader in the field, reports retailers are rapidly embracing this technology. His company manufactures tiny ultra-high-frequency RFID antennae with integrated chips that are adhered to price stickers or sewn-in labels, unnoticed by shoppers.

Oak Labs’ smart mirrors transform shopping at Ralph Lauren boutiques. Photo courtesy Oak Labs.

These stickers, which can be scanned from a distance, have revolutionized retail inventory management. Recognizing that customers’ greatest frustration is not being able to find what they’re looking for, retailers welcome the opportunity to increase inventory accuracy from an industry average of 65 percent to 95-plus percent, explains Toney.

By collaborating with high-tech companies like Oak Labs, Avery Dennison’s RFID tags can trigger the interactive experiences pioneered by Rebecca Minkoff and Burberry. “Retailers are beginning to realize the definition of ‘mobile’ is quickly moving away from mobile apps and towards a reality where patrons keep their heads up as the store changes around them,” says Oak Labs CEO Healey Cypher, whose full-length touchscreen mirrors are live at selected Ralph Lauren stores.

“Without anybody having to scan anything, a garment comes to life in the dressing room,” says Toney, who explains the mirror identifies what the customer has brought in and gives her or him an opportunity to interact with the store’s resources. “The greatest contribution of this technology is that it elevates the shopping experience for the consumer,” he maintains.

At its stores in New York, San Francisco and London, outdoor apparel and equipment retailer The North Face offers customers a virtual reality (VR) experience through a collaboration with Jaunt, a Silicon Valley startup. The content, filmed with Jaunt’s proprietary cameras and microphones, provides a fully immersive experience of trekking in Nepal with professional rock climber Renan Ozturk.

“Virtual reality is a powerful medium that has the ability to introduce audiences to incredible people in amazing places,” says Cliff Plumer, president of Jaunt Studios. For The North Face, VR represents an innovative way to share its passion for the outdoors and inspire customers to equip themselves for new adventures.

On The Web

Burberry: www.burberry.com

Ralph Lauren: www.ralphlauren.com

Rebecca Minkoff: www.rebeccaminkoff.com

The North Face: www.thenorthface.com

Avery Dennison: www.averydennison.com

Jaunt: www.jauntvr.com

Oak Labs: www.oaklabs.is

At The North Face, virtual reality transports customers to Nepal; Photo courtesy The North Face.

January 4, 2017 Leave a comment

Up in the Sky

with:Kristen Ordonez

All photos ©J Grassi.

New York City’s luxurious Sky tower reveals new design options.

By Stacey Staum

Sasha Bikoff Interior Design: “I tried to bring a European moody element to the space. I suspect the renter at Sky to be well-traveled and intellectual,” Sasha Binkoff says.

Interiors by Erik Galiana: Erik Galiana’s design has pieces of furniture serving multiple functions, creating a space that is both beautiful and efficient. “One of the major design elements we used was a bookcase that divides the space’s public and private areas,” he says.

For some of New York City’s most discerning tenants, designing their homes just became more convenient. The Moinian Group is partnering with six designers to offer in-house services at Sky, its 71-story tower in the coveted Midtown West neighborhood.

Sky recently unveiled a cluster of model suites designed by a handful of both up-and-coming and established New York City designers. The model suites show prospective tenants the luxury afforded to residents of Sky, and allow them to envision how their future homes at Sky might look.

The six design teams working on the model units each developed a completely different aesthetic for their apartment, yet each apartment exudes refinement and class in its own unique way.

Sasha Bikoff of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design describes her style for the project, explaining, “I tried to bring a European moody element to the space. I suspect the renter at Sky to be well-traveled and intellectual. The Timothy Oulton deep red tufted velvet couch against the Slim Aaron’s photograph of Lake Como kind of take you to another world, and created an escape from city life.”

For Bikoff, the residence lies at the intersection of form and function. “New Yorkers care a lot about a comfortable couch and a place to kick back after a long day at work. I wanted to have that in my space, and not just have it be stylish, but also offer maximum functionality. In model units, we often see people using settees as opposed to couches or consoles for dining tables, and this isn’t what the lifestyle is about. It’s not just for show; it’s for daily use.”

For Erik Galiana of Interiors by Erik Galiana, his design seeks “to appeal to the largest audience possible by creating something that multiple people would walk into and say, ‘this feels like home to me.’”

Galiana’s design of his model residence has pieces of furniture serving multiple functions, creating a space that is both beautiful and efficient. “One of the major design elements we used was a bookcase that divides the space’s public and private areas,” he says. Galiana also added additional drawer space by having one dresser under the television, and an additional dresser as one of the nightstands beside the bed.

Churchill Living’s design utilized neutral tones to maximize the natural light and views, and incorporated multifunctional furniture. Eileen Guinnessey explains, “We chose furnishings with clean design elements to match Sky’s design ethos. Design elements were chosen to maximize the functionality of the space while maintaining the ambiance from the natural light of the floor-to-ceiling windows. We went with subtle design choices that do not distract from the views, but someone with a discerning eye will see the details and recognize luxury living instantly.”

Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group cites the residence’s clean lines and open spaces as “the driving force to my design. You can walk into my apartment and it feels like an extension of the Sky brand.”

Ovadia’s design is geared towards young New York professionals, but feels that the Sky brand really is for people of any style. His residence allows decorative features to make the boldest statement. “In this project, we provided all the furniture and decorative features in the apartment. The idea was to give a neutral backdrop and let the artwork and cool furniture pieces express themselves with individuality, such as brighter patterned fabric and artwork that pops,” he says.

Churchill Living: “We chose furnishings with clean design elements to match Sky’s design ethos. We went with subtle design choices that do not distract from the views, but someone with a discerning eye will see the details and recognize luxury living instantly,” Eileen Guinnessey says.

Ovadia Design Group and Bijou Covering: Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group worked with Bijou Covering, wallpapering the wall and ceiling above the bed to make it feel like a custom built-in. “Wall coverings create detail where none exists,” says Jason Kaen of Bijou.

Daniela Schneider, founder and chief designer officer of Quadra FS, paid close attention to layout in the design of Quadra FS’s model residence. “We wanted to present the space in the best possible layout, which we achieved by creating two distinct yet cohesive spaces. The open-flow floor plan from the living room to the bedroom was married through color, texture, form and light, creating the best solution for this unique space,” she explains.

Quadra’s design aesthetic marries Sky’s clean lines with a softer touch. “You can see the straight lines and hard elements of the architecture from the unit, so we wanted to juxtapose those features on the interior through soft colors in warm tones, an assortment of textures and curvilinear shapes to bring the unit to life. The multitude of woven fabrics creates a rich, creamy palette to contrast with the natural materials of concrete and metals,” Schneider says.

While each unit is unique in style and design, certain elements are evident in all of the spaces. Foremost in this trend is an unwillingness to block out breathtaking city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the walls of each apartment. Schneider and Guinnessey used clear glass or lucite furnishings to provide unobstructed views, while Ovadia used low furniture to achieve the same effect. On the 43rd floor of Sky, it really is all about the view.

High-end materials and interesting textures also dominate each model residence design. Bikoff used Brazilian agate geode slabs to form occasional tables, and incorporated restored antiques from the 1920s and 1940s to complete the design style. Galiana included a pouf made of cowhide, providing additional seating for guests. Ovadia worked with Jason Kaen at Bijou Covering, wallpapering the wall and ceiling above the bed to make it feel like a custom built-in. “Wall coverings create detail where none exists,” Kaen says.

Quadra FS: “We wanted to present the space in the best possible layout, which we achieved by creating two distinct yet cohesive spaces. The open-flow floor plan from the living room to the bedroom was married through color, texture, form and light, creating the best solution for this unique space,” Daniela Schneider explains.

Sky offers prospective tenants the option of furnishing their apartments through the designers, allowing for a turnkey experience upon move in.

Rockwell Group: David Rockwell, founder and president of Rockwell Group, describes Sky’s design as a “contemporary interpretation of modern loft living. We developed a luxurious, but more informal, materials palette with natural and handcrafted materials and finishes, such as marble, walnut, brass and stone.”

“We create lifestyles and vertical neighborhoods for sophisticated renters that could purchase condos at this point in their lives, but choose to rent with us,” says Natasha Vardi, senior vice president of residential properties at The Moinian Group, which developed, owns and operates Sky. “With every property we develop, we always set our standards high. As the renter becomes more sophisticated, we need to not only meet expectations but to far surpass their expectations. Sky is not only different from Moinian’s other projects, it is different from every rental in New York City at large.”

This difference can be found in the unrivaled amenities offered at Sky, including lifestyle concierge and art displayed throughout the property, inviting the feel of living in a gallery. Perhaps the most sought-after amenity at Sky is the Life Time Athletic club, a one-of-a-kind fitness and lifestyle center. The 15,500-square-foot training space includes two outdoor pools with lounging decks; cycle, Pilates and yoga studios; wood-paneled dining rooms; a refreshment lounge; and a residents’ lounge with a pool table, library wall and a fireplace.

The design aesthetic created by Rockwell Group lends contemporary sophistication to the Life Time Athletic club, as well as the lobby and residential units. David Rockwell, founder and president of Rockwell Group, describes Sky’s design as a “contemporary interpretation of modern loft living. We developed a luxurious, but more informal, materials palette with natural and handcrafted materials and finishes, such as marble, walnut, brass and stone.”

The residential units boast open kitchens with rich walnut cabinets, plank flooring and custom marble kitchen islands. The bathrooms offer showers with vertical-striped tiling, sculptural surface-mounted basins and custom vanities made of blackened metal with timber drawers and shelving.

January 3, 2017 Leave a comment

Timeless Baths

with:Kristen Ordonez

Bespoke British bath maker opens first U.S. showroom.
By Samantha Myers

The Copper Tay: Wrapped in sheets of pure copper, The Copper Tay bathtub is the perfect picture of bathroom luxury.

While renovating his U.K. home, Drummond Shaw couldn’t find the classic, quality pieces he desired. Focused on preserving and restoring artifacts, from flooring to stones, he began his own architectural salvage business. His further passion for bathrooms — coupled with his difficulty finding bathroom antiques with suitable plumbing — inspired him to found Drummonds in 1988, now a leading manufacturer and distributer of high-end, classic bathrooms.

Fast-forward to May 2016, and Drummonds has just opened its first showroom in the U.S., ready to bring its in-demand pieces from the U.K. to the states. Director of Sales & Marketing James Lentaigne has been in the business for 10 years, working on turning the company’s past as part of a disappearing artisan trade into a definitive luxury bathroom brand. “We manufacture timeless bathrooms that are classic and made to look good now, and over the years as well, when fashions and trends move out.”

Although best known for cast-iron bathtubs, the company brings luxury to the entire bathroom suite, providing a distinctive range of stunning handmade and hand-finished products and bespoke services. With two showrooms already in London, its first American showroom is in the D&D Building at Lapicida in New York City, and operates, like the others, similarly to an art gallery, highlighting individual products or suites. “Our showrooms give hints to room settings, and help guide and give inspiration, but don’t set the tone completely,” says Lentaigne.

The showrooms demonstrate how applicable Drummonds’ classic aesthetic is to a variety of styles. “We try not to bracket products in historical time periods, because they are truly timeless. With subtle dressing, it can change the look of a room. The pieces are adaptable, and the showrooms allow customers to see that.”

Lentaigne hopes to bring the attention to bathrooms and bathroom pieces that other rooms of the house and furniture have received. “Interestingly, in recent years, the focus has grown from the kitchen to the bathroom. People have the ability to design a spa or a sanctuary in the home out of these products on the market,” says Lentaigne.

Drummonds’ products are a result of absolute hand-manufacturing, occurring in three core areas — iron, brass and copper — which allows it to not only produce unrivaled pieces with stunning detail, but also to fully meet customers’ desires. “Customers come to us because we are bespoke manufactures, and they’ve seen our small range of products and want to select them for custom-finishing. We can paint our products any color, we can hand polish, wrap copper or bronze on the baths, make them freestanding or not.”

While the company intends to remain focused on bathrooms, some of its products, such as lighting and fittings, offer slight adaptability for other rooms. But, according to Lentaigne, “The truth is we are a bathroom company. We don’t want to bring out a lot of new products, but we want to refine our trade in-house and grow.”

From castles in Scotland, to hotels in Ireland, to palaces in the Middle East, demand for Drummonds’ is steadily growing worldwide. Although expanding its distribution is important, Lentaigne outlines the ultimate priority — materializing the quality of timelessness. “We want our bathrooms to outlast us, and to truly outstand the test of time.”

The Double Lowther with Arabescato Marble

Providing his and her basins, this vanity suite stuns with natural Arabescato marble.

The Severn Freestanding Shower

Entirely freestanding, this shower can go literally anywhere in the home, even next to your bed.

First American Showroom

Drummonds’ first showroom in the U.S. is in New York City’s D&D Building at Lapicida.

All photos courtesy Drummonds UK.

January 1, 2017 Leave a comment

The New Urbanism

with:Kristen Ordonez

Increased demand for downtown environments is changing the way spaces to live, work and shop are designed and planned.

By Camilla McLaughlin

Authenticity and experience have easily become the bywords of new urbanism, which means developers and architects are challenged to create buildings and neighborhoods that reflect the spirit of a place, even if the “place” doesn’t really exist yet. Often characterized as “live, work, play,” these new urban hubs include venues designed to foster community and retail spaces that do more than just showcase goods. Offices are geared toward flexible ways to work. And, rather than just a focus on adequate parking, today’s urban vision integrates multiple modes of transportation.

Whether it’s a mega-development that transforms a city, revitalization of a historic street, or a neighborhood blossoming around a transit hub, the objective is the same: creating dynamic spaces geared toward a new urban consumer.

“There is a national trend impacting our cities,” explains Quito Anderson, CEO of Ben Carter Enterprises. “A new class of consumers is trading their big backyards and three-car garages for authentic, urban downtown experiences. They care about sustainability and walkability, and they are interested in the history and local culture of the city. They want to live, work and play in vibrant urban cores.”

Miami: Creating A New Urban Paradigm

Miami today is all about new, and there is no better example of emerging urban design than Brickell City Centre, a 5.4-million-square-foot development rising in the city’s Brickell financial district. It is the largest private sector project currently under construction in Miami,
according to developer Swire Properties. The first phase includes two mid-rise office buildings, two residential towers, a hotel with residences, and approximately 500,000 square feet of retail and entertainment. Parking is located below grade, and an on-site Metromover station and connections to light rail provide direct access to many of Miami’s favorite destinations. Elevated walkways connect all 11 acres of the development, which spans four city blocks.

And unlike other new mixed-use projects, Brickell City Centre is decidedly upscale, with a list of tenants that reads like a who’s who of luxury. Residences reflect some of the best in urban interiors with spectacular views, exterior walls of glass, indulgent finishes and an extensive menu of amenities.

Real estate developments that transform are not new in the Brickell neighborhood or for Swire Properties, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong conglomerate Swire Properties Ltd. Almost 40 years ago, Swire piloted the $1 billion master-planned development of Brickell Key, a 44-acre island separated from Brickell Avenue by a few hundred feet of the Miami River.

“Actually, Brickell Key was the first time I heard the idea of a mixed-use, master-planned community,” said Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties. “In those days, we didn’t have so many of those; in fact, the term was hardly used.” Fast forward to 2016, Brickell City Centre is set to be complete this November as Swire’s second mixed-use development in Miami.

Before Brickell City Centre’s development, the land was empty and less than desirable. For example, Owens described the greenspace under the Metromover connected to Brickell City Centre as “a Brickell dump scattered with old car tires, old sofas, washing machines; everything people wanted to discard was under the rails.” Swire has beautified that area in preparation for The Underline, a 10-mile linear park, and recently donated $600,000 earmarked for the Brickell City Centre portion.

Sustainability is increasingly intertwined with development. Brickell City Centre is LEED registered for Neighborhood Development, currently one of the largest in the U.S., according to Swire. Particularly unique is the $30 million CLIMATE Ribbon, an elevated trellis system that undulates over the retail spaces and connects the project’s three city blocks. Originally conceived as an architectural feature, the ribbon is as much a masterpiece of art as of science, since it creates a microclimate underneath by providing shade as well as capturing and directing breezes. Lighting makes it even more dramatic at night. It also collects rainwater to be used for irrigation.

Phase Two of Brickell City Centre is slated to begin in 2017 and holds the potential for even more innovation.

Featured and above image: Artist renderings of Brickell City Centre; Photo courtesy Swire Properties, Inc.

Savannah: Bringing Life Back To A Retail Sector

Savannah’s modern urban story is one of resurrection and preservation. Beginning in the mid-1950s, when the trend in cities in the South was demolition, six Savannah residents banded together to save the city’s historic structures, one by one. Later the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) joined the push for the preservation, refurbishing dozens of structures ranging from a former orphanage to old motels.

With the largest historic district in the U.S., Savannah’s international reputation for preservation is well deserved. The city hums with new businesses, a growing population and a blossoming restaurant scene. Yet, until recently, Broughton Street, what had been the city’s main retail thoroughfare, remained untouched, even though it was only a block from historic squares and City Market, with some of the historic district’s most popular restaurants, galleries and entertainment venues.

Photos ©ben carter enterprises

Atlanta developer Ben Carter saw the untapped potential behind the long-vacant second floors and layers of stucco concealing historic facades of the buildings — some dating back to the 1800s — that lined the street, and embarked on a $92 million redevelopment project spanning seven blocks and 37 buildings.

Not only is the entire street being brought back to its original use, but it is also being recast as a modern retail district. A stroll on Broughton Street on a recent weekday also brought evidence that it is emerging as a place where everyone — locals, SCAD students, tourists — finds common ground.

Rather than being a blight of modern architecture that doesn’t fit the context of the city, the buildings in the revamped Broughton Street Collection recall another day while offering a forward-looking live, work and play lifestyle. “Unique and historic storefronts and interiors make shopping more than just purchasing goods, but rather an experience of what Broughton used to be in the early 1900s,” says Anderson.

Once abandoned spaces on the upper floors have been converted into residential lofts and offices. The mix is approximately 80 percent urban loft apartments and 20 percent creative working space.

Interiors blend contemporary floor plans and streamlined kitchens and baths with tall windows and historic materials such as heart pine floors, exposed antique bricks and beamed ceilings. Phase I was 100-percent occupied upon completion and the last residential phase is slated to be completed in the spring of 2017.

Los Angeles: Transit As A Catalyst For Development

Transit that runs between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica — either old rail lines being revived or new light rail such as the Expo line — is triggering the development of new urban hubs. Most do more than simply incorporate retail, office and residential spaces; instead, they take the mixed-use concept to the next level, integrating parks and outdoor spaces as well as other recreational opportunities.

In Culver City, four new projects currently under development are clustered around a stop for the Expo Line. Even before construction on the line was completed, the Runyon Group began work to transform 4 acres adjacent to the new Culver City stop into what would become Platform, a creative collection of six different spaces connected by meandering gardens. The site was the former home of a 1960s auto dealership that had been vacant for decades. “When we started the project, the Expo line had not opened. We were the first ones in the ground,” recalls Trevor Abramson, design principal at Abramson Teiger Architects in Culver City, California. “Our client had the vision and our challenge was to take the vision into the built form.”

Three of the original structures were repurposed, and Abramson’s firm designed three new ground-up buildings. “It became an assemblage of new buildings and repurposed buildings,” Abramson observes. The old car showroom now functions as an art gallery, while an entirely new building, The Greenhouse, with 5,000 square feet of indoor space and a 2,500-square-foot outdoor terrace, was designed to function as a special events venue.

Far Left & Left: Platform; Right: Before; Far Right: After; Photos ©Katie Gibbs Photography

The design challenge, Abramson says, was to create an atmosphere and a destination out of nothing but a rundown empty building that hadn’t been used in 15 years. “We see this as a gentrification of an existing urban environment where we are injecting new life into it. We wanted it to have the character of repurposed versus new, so when you walk through you feel as though you are part of an existing urban microcosm. And you really do get that sense.”

Still, history remains. For example, the original car repair bays are now shops and restaurants with glass storefronts replacing the garage doors. Abramson points to the Loqui Taco Bar as an example of the mix of new and old. “We preserved this environment with raw industrial and imperfect elements. Flaws in the existing cinder block walls were left exposed, and a tin roof ceiling adds to this ‘back-alley found’ industrial style,” he says.

The name Platform pays homage to the historic rail lines, but it also underscores a new approach to retail as a showcase. “We are not trying to create a new shopping mall; we are trying to create a shopping environment, the kind found in an urban microcosm,” explains Abramson.

Retail is all about the experience, and Abramson says the emphasis on the experience between the buildings is pushing the envelope. “It’s tactile. The central courtyard is green and people hang under the trees, live oaks that are so respected in California. There is also a nice sense of scale in the places.”

Also striking are the office spaces. Visit Platform on a workday and you are likely to find a meeting taking place at Beans and Brews patio, and workers clustered around laptops on the patios and decks woven into office areas. This is the first stage of what will be a very exciting transformation of a corner, according to Abramson. Still navigating the lengthy approval process are plans for a six-story hotel, another five-story building with an additional 200 residences, as well as a retail and restaurant space grouped around an open plaza and green space.

December 31, 2016 Leave a comment

Revenge of the Vegans

with:Kristen Ordonez

Vegan restaurants, suddenly attracting trendy designers, world-class chefs and mainstream diners, are not what they used to be.
By Roger Grady

Macadamia cheese crumble with tarragon-spirulina sauce, squash blossom and black radish; Elizabeth’s Gone Raw; photo © Foster Wiley

The current wave of steakhouses, Korean barbecue restaurants and Brazilian churrascarias suggests Americans are unapologetically embracing their carnivorous cravings. Also flourishing, however, are vegan restaurants that shatter stereotypes of funky holes-in-the-wall accommodating struggling philosophers with tasteless sprouts. A new generation of vegan restaurants offers sophisticated, even elegant experiences with surprisingly little deprivation.

A vegan diet — the more politically correct term is “plant-based” cuisine — utilizes no animal products whatsoever, making it more restrictive than vegetarianism, and therefore stigmatized by those who assume such orthodoxy stifles creativity. But plant-based kitchens are suddenly attracting chefs that take their craft seriously, people trained in top culinary schools and Michelin-starred kitchens. Their customers are not exclusively herbivores, but mainstream diners simply seeking a change of pace, no different than going out for Thai or Peruvian food.

The Los Angeles diner is often typecast as a supermodel picking at her salad, so it is no surprise the city has its share of vegan establishments. But no restaurant in L.A. provides a better example of an imaginative chef elevating plant-based cuisine than Crossroads, where chef/owner Tal Ronnen turns out exquisitely plated dishes in a dining room with white linen-clad tables, trendy chandeliers and high-end finishes. “We wanted to create a dining experience that was comfortable and a little more refined than what most people think a vegan restaurant experience is all about,” says Ronnen.

“What we try to do at Crossroads is provide an experience that doesn’t feel like a sacrifice, but is actually a step up,” says Ronnen. The author of The Conscious Cook explains that the challenge of finding creative, vegan alternatives to traditional sauces like hollandaise or béarnaise is very exciting to him as a chef.

Spring chopped salad with whole-grain-mustard vinaigrette; Photo courtesy Crossroads

At Crossroads, the seasonally changing menu may include vichyssoise or tomato-watermelon gazpacho, pizza with truffle “cream” sauce, grilled vegetable lasagna, and even a cheese plate showcasing Kite Hill artisanal vegan cheeses. In the fall, a “seafood” tower is offered, with carrot “lox” standing in for smoked salmon with kelp caviar and almond milk “crème fraîche,” while tempura-battered lobster mushrooms suggest something far more indulgent.

Longtime Washington, D.C., caterer Elizabeth Petty turned to a raw vegan diet when she was recovering from breast cancer, but faced a pivotal dilemma regarding her career. “I lived and breathed food, so I knew I could take raw vegan cuisine to a level nobody had ever seen,” she recounts, and founded Elizabeth’s Gone Raw rather than abandoning her passion. The restaurant, occupying a sumptuously furnished 19th century Federalist-era townhouse not far from the White House, is the antithesis of the stereotypical countercultural vegan hole-in-the-wall.

Petty is passionate about the various benefits of maintaining a raw vegan diet, but retains a commitment to culinary sophistication and creativity, which executive chef Francisco Hernandez presents in exquisite seven-course meals every Friday evening. With artfully plated dishes like a silky red pepper soup with lavender-cabbage foam or a mushroom roulade with black truffle, salsa verde, yuzu and almond buttermilk cream, it is no wonder foodies of all stripes have discovered this highly personalized, heartfelt restaurant. Hardly a zealot — she occasionally cooks meat for her own family — Petty reports, “I’m not only happy to be alive but am so grateful people have embraced this cuisine and continue to express their
appreciation.”

Rich Landau, executive chef/co-owner, and Valarie McCarro, kitchen manager; Photo courtesy Vedge.

In 1994, chef Richard Landau opened a humble food counter inside a natural food store, eventually marrying one of his customers, Kate Jacoby. Today the couple operates Vedge, ensconced in a historic brownstone in downtown Philadelphia, and both have earned James Beard Award nominations for their refined veggie-centric cooking. From a kitchen devoid of animal products comes an avocado stuffed with turmeric-tinted cauliflower or a playful riff on the city’s iconic Philly cheesesteak sandwich: house-made potato bread stuffed with maitake mushrooms in a “cheesy” sauce of roasted rutabaga. The all-natural wine list is nationally recognized, and pastry chef Jacoby creates a pretzel-crusted chocolate-peanut butter finale that is downright decadent.

Although Jacoby never proselytizes customers — most of them are foodies, but not full-time vegans — she states, “There’s such a strong argument for health and environmental impact in choosing a vegan lifestyle.” The couple’s second restaurant, V Street, offers a more casual vegan experience. “V Street is more fun, more daring and spicier, inspired by street foods from around the world,” reports Jacoby.

When he is not working as a private celebrity chef, keynote speaker or consultant, Matthew Kenney oversees restaurants in his native Maine, Miami, L.A., and New York City, with another opening in the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain next year. The Miami location of Plant Food + Wine, designed by renowned architect Rene Gonzalez, features a gorgeous palm-studded wooden deck surrounding a seductively illuminated reflecting pool. “Our cuisine is modern, clean and organic, and we create environments to fit this vision,” explains Kenney.

“Cooking plant-based has challenged me to look at ingredients in a new way,” explains Kenney. Meats may be off limits at Plant Food + Wine, but a mushroom pâté can provide the illusion of something much richer, while watermelon poke, coconut ceviche tacos and kimchi dumplings populate a globally inspired menu. A five-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings is offered, and desserts range from vegan tiramisu to strawberry-hibiscus cheesecake.

Culinary diversity for vegans is provided at San Francisco’s Gracias Madre, whose Mexican-themed menu offers gorditas with salsa verde, avocado and cashew crema, and vegan tamales. Beyond Sushi, a New York vegan mini-chain from classically trained, Israeli-born chef Guy Vaknin, dispenses eye-popping black rice sushi with curried cauliflower and almond pesto, or a spicy mango roll topped with toasted cayenne sauce.

“I always wanted to create beautiful, nutritious food and deliver fantastic culinary experiences,” reports Kenney, a sentiment that could be attributed to any passionate chef, not just an advocate of plant-based cuisine.

Wood Roasted Carroy by Vedge

Watermelon Poke by Plant Food + Wine

Guiltless Indulgence

Beyond Sushi 229 E. 14th St., New York City, 646.861.2889 (and two other locations); www.beyondsushinyc.com

Crossroads 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323.782.9245; www.crossroadskitchen.com

Elizabeth’s Gone Raw 1341 L St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202.347.8349; www.elizabethsgoneraw.com

Gracias Madre 2211 Mission St., San Francisco, 415.683.1346; www.gracias-madre.com

Plant Food + Wine 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, California, 310.450.1009; 105 NE 24th St., Miami, 305.814.5365; www.matthewkenneycuisine.com

Vedge 1221 Locust St., Philadelphia, 215.320.7500; www.vedgerestaurant.com

V Street 126 S. 19th St., Philadelphia, 215.278.7943; www.vstreetfood.com

December 30, 2016 Leave a comment

Experiential Travel

with:Kristen Ordonez

Learn why you should hide the guidebook.

By Sarah Binder

Photo courtesy of photo Ker & Downey; ©Rosita Stumpel

Luxury travel used to involve a simple formula — determine where you want to go; work with a provider to book the essentials; and enjoy “luxuriousness,” which likely would not extend beyond the trappings of your boutique hotel room.

As the ultimate caretakers of precious leisure and family time, several trailblazing companies — renowned for thought leadership, unparalleled customer service, extensive networks, and encyclopedic knowledge — are responding to their clients’ desire for more meaningful luxury travel.

In recent years, a new phrase has caught hold in the luxury tourism industry: experiential travel. The descriptor gives a name to a type of travel that the savviest providers and clients already embraced — a wish to completely immerse oneself in a destination. To connect with its soul, rather than check off recommended, overcrowded sites with Instagram selfies that are forgotten as quickly as they are snapped.

“Experiential travelers want to dive deeper into authentic, local cultures, connecting with people in ways that enrich their lives and create lasting memories,” explains Stephanie Click, marketing manager for Ker & Downey. “We have noticed a trend towards ‘travel with a soul’ — clients who don’t just want to ‘go,’ but also want to ‘do’ and ‘be’ as much as possible.”

Safaris are often described as the first form of experiential travel, and providers are devising innovative ways to take guests off the beaten path. Abercrombie & Kent offers a private, tented safari in East Africa. It features a mobile and self-sufficient camp, so clients aren’t restricted to locations with game lodges, says Stephanie Papaioannou, vice president of Tailor Made and Private Travel.

The top luxury travel providers bring to the table intimate first-hand knowledge of both classic and emerging destinations worldwide, as well as a vast network of resources that can elevate tailored activities to a whole other level.

“We have a special relationship with Paspaley, the largest and oldest pearling company in Australia,” says Drew Kluska, founder of South Australia-based The Tailor. “They invite us into their grading room, where the best graders in the world demonstrate their process. They’ve been doing this for 80 years and will pull out the best 50 pearls they have ever seen from their exclusive collection.”

Kluska grew up in rural, off-the-radar South Australia before attending university and majoring in agricultural science. His upbringing — combined with later tourism experience in Kenya — led him to launch the company, which showcases Australia through hand-crafted luxury journeys complemented by the perspectives of generations of locals.

“Australia is virtually untouched in many areas. The rural population, people who live on the land, is very small,” he explains. “I was able to tap into people that live in remote areas, in order to create what I call a people-to-people experience. This kind of experience didn’t exist previously in Australia.”

Kluska and others understand that a destination’s people are its heart and soul; meaningful personal interactions are a key component of experiential travel.

Ker & Downey offered several days of private guided helicopter tours in Antarctica, led by a professional photographer, for two clients who were also professional photographers. ©istockphoto.com/ Kira Kaplinski

In New Zealand, Ker & Downey guests can accompany a former fisherman aboard his yacht to his favorite fishing spots throughout the Marlborough Sounds and the islands of Tonga, meeting the locals he has formed friendships with over the years. Or, in Bulgaria, guests can set off on a horseback ride amid the Rhodope Mountains to St. Ilia Chapel. There, they will meet its local painter — a young man who says he has been called by God to restore the chapel, says Click.

Other personal encounters may be higher-profile. “Often, we will involve people who have nothing to do with travel, but who have expertise or valuable insights to share,” says Philippe Brown, founder of London-based Brown + Hudson. For example, the company planned a bespoke South Africa honeymoon in which a couple sat down and talked with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner famous for helping to bring about the downfall of the apartheid regime.

Whatever the preferred activities, high-end experts are pros at helping clients travel “where they want, when they want, with whom they want, and in whatever style they choose, from luxurious to adventurous,” says Papaioannou. She adds, as travelers’ motivations continue to evolve, the definition of “real luxury” may shift, but it remains distinguished by three hallmarks.

“Real luxury has authenticity, flexibility, and a sense of well-being. Authenticity means the product is true to its place and traditions, incorporating elements of the past and reflecting the local culture,” she explains. “Flexibility refers to service that anticipates your needs and satisfies them in an unobtrusive manner. And a sense of well-being comes from knowing you are traveling with a first-class organization for whom the word ‘impossible’ does not exist.”

Kluska predicts that future luxury travel may entail what he calls “pop-up experiences.” For example, guests may travel to pop-up lodges in remote regions during limited times of the year, to enjoy rare experiences such as a desert in bloom.

No matter its make-up, all luxury experiential travel supports universal goodwill. “Our style of travel brings clients straight to the source of each destination’s identity, and leaves them with an understanding of its people and culture,” says Click. “Being an open-minded traveler leads to being an open-minded citizen, and as the world becomes more connected, we think that is important.”

Destination Surprise!

Going above and beyond the usual specifications to help clients articulate why they want to travel can help planners translate those motivations into unforgettable experiences.

Philippe Brown, founder of London-based Brown + Hudson, describes how his team conducts extensive personal interviews to determine their clients’ quirks, likes, dislikes, motivations, their definition of luxury, and outcomes sought. Ultimately, the team distills and presents a client with a set of goals, which serves as a guiding framework for creating his bespoke itinerary.

“We delve carefully into our clients’ psyche to find out what makes them tick, who they are, and what their story is,” says Brown. “We work like a cross between a therapist and an investigative journalist.”

This in-depth discovery process serves Brown + Hudson well in its most ambitious concept: A Journey with No Destination. Unique in the luxury tourism industry, these completely customized journeys are designed so that the destination and itinerary are unknown to the client until she arrives, or right before the flight.

“I wondered whether travel could potentially be all about the outcome rather than the place,” explains Brown. “My sense was, if people traveled to achieve a certain feeling, then perhaps the destination didn’t even matter. And thus, A Journey with No Destination was born.”

The thoughtful surprise itineraries focus on the outcome of the trip, or the feelings it will evoke for the client, which are discussed at length in the planning phase.

For example, the company connected one client with a charismatic local baker, who vacuum-packed the finished product for her to take home to New York. “The goal was to evoke childhood memories and embrace a simple longing for comfort and warmth,” says Brown.

The team builds suspense and playfully misleads clients through carefully crafted, pre-travel information, gifts, and activities, even convincing them that they’re traveling thousands of miles away from their actual destination. Clients have met the author of a book about the emotion of surprise or an archaeologist at a natural history museum.

The impactful grand reveal may not make sense immediately, such as a journey involving a Texan oil field to learn about culture. However, the reward is the enlightenment clients experience throughout their vacation. “We create an intellectual journey of self-exploration and discovery that transcends the physical journey,” Brown says.

December 29, 2016 Leave a comment

A River Runs Through It

with:Unique Homes Staff

Visually representing a river ecosystem, the Kasparo I table merges interactivity with interior furniture as it magically comes to life when someone enters the room.

By Samantha Myers

Produced from three basic materials — wood, glass and resin — and coupled with cutting-edge LED technology, the Kasparo I table evokes the sense of observing a small creek flowing into a larger river, eventually cascading into a glass waterfall. Created by a team of six in Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Poland, the Kasparo I took over a year to design and each individual table requires 200 hours of hand labor and fifteen intricate stages of execution.

“I think that the table has many connections to nature. But I think the main one is the simple idea that when you go into a forest, you find a river and a tree,” says Rafal Kasprzak, founder of Kasparo. Each table is made from a single tree and after it is finished, a tree is planted in return. Customers receive a certificate of the planting with details of the location.

“We are showing the problems with the forest and the environment and, of course, with the concept of one tree, one table. It’s not a lot, but it helps in a small way and establishes a good point of view to think about the environment,” says Kasprzak.“The idea was also to speak with friends and family around the table and having an interesting story for it.”

Each table is embedded with proximity sensors that begin an animation when someone approaches the table, using simulation of light to suggest water movement. While the animations tend to be 25 seconds long, it can be programmed to meet the customers’ desires — just one of the many customizations Kasparo offers. “The customer can make changes, bigger or smaller, and we have 20 colors of transparent resin,” he says. Although the typical wood used is oak, the client also can choose the type of wood or tree they’d prefer.

Only a year old, the company aims to make no more than 100 Kasparo I tables — providing each one with a certificate of authenticity and a number — and to venture into other designer furniture that will also take inspiration from nature. While not yet in showrooms, the company accepts personalized requests — a complete rarity when it comes to this type of technological innovation in furniture design.

www.kasparo.pl | 5,000 to 12,500

December 27, 2016 Leave a comment

Dazzling on the Dunes

with:Mark Moffa

A Lake Michigan Contemporary compound breathes life into a protected seashore.

By Zachary Chase

Photography by David Kingma & Roger Wade Studios

Merriam Webster defines a “labor of love” as “a labor voluntarily undertaken or performed without consideration of any benefit or reward.”
According to that definition, The Dunes, a 40-acre private lakefront oasis in Montague, Michigan, fails to qualify. Make no mistake; the labor was most certainly there — how else to explain the years of approvals to even get the go-ahead to build in a protected Lake Michigan Critical Dune Area? But so was the reward — how else to explain the rousing, remarkable structure that has redefined coastal development in this idyllic hamlet?
Truth be told, it took vision simply to…

Click here for the full story, as seen in the Fall 2016 issue of Homes & Estates.

December 12, 2016 Leave a comment

Cover Home Showcase: Life, Elevated in Lanikai, Hawaii

One of the most exquisite waterfront properties worldwide, the residence featured on the cover of this issue is as much a masterpiece as it is a piece of real property.

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE GLOBAL 2016 ISSUE OF UNIQUE HOMES. TO SEE THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.

Global Perspective

Tech-Savvy Shopping

Up in the Sky

Timeless Baths

The Double Lowther with Arabescato Marble

The Severn Freestanding Shower

First American Showroom

The New Urbanism

Revenge of the Vegans

Experiential Travel

Learn why you should hide the guidebook.

A River Runs Through It

Visually representing a river ecosystem, the Kasparo I table merges interactivity with interior furniture as it magically comes to life when someone enters the room.

Dazzling on the Dunes

A Lake Michigan Contemporary compound breathes life into a protected seashore.

By Zachary Chase

Photography by David Kingma & Roger Wade Studios

Click here for the full story, as seen in the Fall 2016 issue of Homes & Estates.

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