This estate is a beautiful expression of ranch hacienda-style architecture. Designed by acclaimed architect John Sather of Swaback Partners, it was built with the highest quality materials and workmanship, and every room reflects extraordinary attention to detail. Nestled on six acres on the side of the McDowell Mountains – and backing onto a nature preserve – the property is truly a mountainside sanctuary that offers both privacy and an organic connection to the Sonoran Desert.
The entrance speaks volumes about what’s inside. The imposing arched front door with seeded-glass panels was custom crafted of reclaimed materials by La Puerta of Santa Fe, and the two-story entryway features a commanding chandelier fabricated by the trade-only designer Paul Ferrante. The hardwood floors in the house are made of distressed hickory, and they perfectly compliment the artisanal plasterwork on the walls. Imported from Italy, the Albertini windows and glass-paneled doors, with their rich burnt-pine finish, are another strong design element. Tucson-based Taber & Co. made the bespoke in-wall mesquite cabinets in the living room, and the custom interior doors are also solid mesquite.
Attention to detail is found throughout. The twin custom granite sinks in the kitchen feature integrated drain boards chiseled into the countertop – no dish racks needed. To reduce back strain when rolling dough, chopping vegetables, or doing other prep work, the center island was set at an above-standard 42” height. Electric outlets throughout the house were faux painted to match the surrounding walls and backsplashes. The three decorative panels on each interior door were deliberately sized so that the door lever is perfectly centered on the door rail. And the massive living room fireplace surround was entirely assembled from book-matched marble slabs, to stunning effect.
Many of the rooms are worthy of special mention. Befitting a movie producer who wants to experience films in the best possible way, the 10-seat tiered theater is equipped with state-of-the-art projection and sound systems designed by Shen Milsom & Wilke, a world-class engineering firm. Next to the theater on the lower level is a 2,000-bottle wine cellar, whose rustic stone walls help maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels for long-term storage. Also on the “play” level is a game room that can accommodate all sorts of toys, which currently include a pool table, juke box, Skee-Ball alley, Harley-themed pinball machine and poker table.
The spacious Primary Suite was designed to achieve just the right balance between privacy and togetherness. The suite has a common bedroom but completely separate dual bathrooms and dual closets. The suite also includes a room for luggage storage and a private patio with a fireplace and whirlpool.
Located in a stand-alone structure a little further up the mountain, the Spa is another noteworthy space. On one side is a fully equipped exercise room with wall-to-wall French doors and transom windows that wash the room with light and offer lovely views of a desert garden. On the other side is an intimate massage room with an exquisite domed mosaic ceiling.
How many homes have an ADA-compliant bedroom suite? This one does. All of the light switches are set at ADA height, the bathroom vanity is ADA accessible, and there are grab bars at the commode and in the shower. A commercial-grade elevator serves all three floors and is also ADA-compliant.
The exterior spaces are equally impressive. Berghoff Design Group did the landscaping, which features a virtual arboretum of mature, thriving ironwood, palo verde, mesquite, and Texas ebony trees, all native to the Desert Southwest. These trees form a natural canopy and add to the overall sense of privacy which characterizes this property. The fountains are genuine antiques, and an inviting bougainvillea-lined walkway made from reclaimed stone leads to the main entrance.
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By Camilla McLaughlin
Designed to make best use of a generous waterfront site in coveted Bay Colony while also ensuring privacy, 10 Compass Road offers optimum views and thoughtful connections with the landscape. The elevation is imposing while also perfectly in sync with the setting. Step inside and it is equally breathtaking.
“Upon walking into this home you are immediately speechless by the grandeur of the 35-foot ceilings and open floor plan, accompanied by the massive glass wall overlooking the pool and water,” says Gilles Rais with Coldwell Banker Realty in Fort Lauderdale.
Extensive amenities include a clubroom with a bar area. Particularly striking is the bar top comprised of a rare onyx that is dramatically backlit.
The ultramodern architecture is stunning, but a well-conceived layout and thoughtful finishes ensure it doesn’t overwhelm. The open design carves out private areas, while a liberal use of natural materials and greenery lend a sense of warmth throughout. Extensive amenities make it exceptional for entertaining, but family was an equally important consideration in the vision.
Extensive amenities include a clubroom with a bar area. Particularly striking is the bar top comprised of a rare onyx that is dramatically backlit. Other amenities include an office, theater, a gym, a glass elevator, outdoor kitchen, pool and outdoor dining. Set on a deepwater basin that connects to the Intracoastal, the property offers an 89-foot-long dock.
Beginning with a location in a much-desired enclave of only 110 homes, privacy is another important characteristic of this property. Bay Colony, according to Rais, is one of the few waterfront communities that is guard gated 24/7. Each home is sited on a basin or canal, and the entire community is surrounded by water.
“In fact,” Rais says “there is really only one road into the development, and finding a waterfront community with this amount of security is a rarity.” Privacy also informed the design of the home, with six bedrooms and baths distributed on multiple levels, including several guest rooms. One, located on the top level of the home, includes a sitting room.
Each bedroom is paired with an en suite and also accesses a terrace or outdoor space.
Each bedroom is paired with an en suite and also accesses a terrace or outdoor space. Some, such as the children’s room, include lofts, just some of the whimsical elements tucked into the home. All of the baths are beautifully appointed and indulgent.
The primary suite occupies a large part of the lower level and includes an indulgent bath with skylights and separate dressing areas. Particularly interesting are the closets, which are showcased as luxury boutiques. A glass-enclosed shower is surrounded by lush greenery on one side. An extensive smart home system automates everything, including lighting, shades, security and audio. Everything can be activated or turned with a single control from any location.
Location is still most important, and this home is minutes from one of the best schools in Florida.
The executive airport is also an easy drive, which means it’s only about a 15-minute journey from the tarmac to your home. The home was recently refurbished, so everything is less than two years old. Rais points out, it is like buying a newly constructed home without waiting years to complete construction.
And it can be purchased furnished, making it turnkey … an even more extraordinary find.
10 Compass Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL
6 bedrooms, 7 full baths
$12,900,000
Represented by: Gilles Rais
Coldwell Banker Realty
T. 954.304.1579
gilles@gillesrais.com
gillesraisfinehomes.com
Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, people and businesses have had to adapt to a “new normal,” with daily life shaken up by social distancing and limited physical contact. Making changes to adhere to guidelines while keeping people safe often requires some creativity, and MY Furniture, a luxury, high-quality furniture retailer, has made it easy for customers to enjoy furniture shopping without ever having to leave their homes.
First, MY Furniture introduced a Video Call Facility for customers, a video call-in appointment that allows people to easily visit the company’s virtual showroom. By navigating to the website and clicking the “Request Video Call” button, a member of the MY Furniture team will be able to call the customer at a suitable date and time via FaceTime, Skype, or WhatsApp depending on the customer’s preference to show them the item they are interested in. This is also helpful for busy customers who would rather skip out on viewing furniture pieces in person in a showroom.
To control the flow of customers in and out of their showrooms, MY Furniture has also introduced an appointment system, adhering to social distancing and capacity guidelines. Deliveries are handled by couriers that deliver to the front door, and not inside the property, to maintain cleanliness.
Increased social distancing and personal appointments have proven to fare well for MY Furniture, with the changes resulting in a 30-percent increase in online business and an increase in older customers shopping online who previously would not have shopped this way. With new adaptations like virtual shopping and private appointments becoming the norm, customers can rest assured that furniture shopping can effectively be a safe, enjoyable experience.
Photos courtesy of MY Furniture
Kitchens and bathrooms are established markers of luxury — without updated, high-end versions of these important rooms, a home is likely to quickly decrease in value regardless of how elegant its other elements may be. However, the most luxurious homes need more than just above-average indoor spaces to be considered grandiose.
An entertaining, opulent addition to a large backyard, outdoor kitchens have become popular staples among luxury homeowners. From small-scale pizza ovens accompanied by an understated seating area to a fully furnished kitchen tailored to outdoor cooking, having access to a means of preparing food in an outdoor space is crucial to high-end homebuyers, especially in warm
weather states.
Arcadia White Pane. Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.
Photo courtesy of Brantley Photography.
Kalamazoo Gaucho Grill. Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.
Russ Faulk, Chief Designer and Head of Product at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, says that one of the biggest outdoor culinary trends is cooking on a live fire.
“Live-fire cooking isn’t new; in fact, it is the oldest form of cooking,” Faulk says. “But more recently, people are re-embracing wood-fired cooking and its primal nature. It started with the chef community. Restaurant menus described dishes as wood-fired or wood-grilled steaks, seafood, vegetables, and even dessert. It was all about capturing the char, smoke and unique flavor that comes when you grill using wood. Now people can capture that same experience right in their backyards.”
Outdoor kitchen design used to capitalize on the novelty of the out-in-the-elements nature of the space, but lately, Faulk has seen homeowners transition their outdoor kitchens to mirror their indoor ones.
Photo courtesy of Brantley Photography.
“We’re seeing indoor kitchen trends move into the outdoor kitchen. That includes more transitional designs, more cabinetry drawers versus doors, and more color,” he says.
These spaces can serve as a poolside dining area made for entertaining, or more simply as a peaceful place to cook on a summer night. The versatility and unconventionality of an outdoor kitchen makes a statement even among the most luxurious of homes.
You’ve found a place dedicated to your morning workout and upgraded your space with the finest finishes, now it’s time to bring the best equipment home.
Don’t settle for unattractive workout equipment, choose from colorful designs, enchanting patterns and the finest materials for your routine. Long gone are the days of plastic water bottles, dull workout mats, and beat up gym bags. Athletes and enthusiasts are searching for equipment that will brighten their workouts and spark envy at the gym.
Yoga Design Lab offers a variety of mats, blocks, kids mats, towels, exercise balls, and other equipment that are nothing short of works of art. Whether you’re a beginner or the owner of your own home studio, these choices make the perfect addition to any session, a thoughtful gift, or the fun source of motivation you’ve been missing.
Yoga Design Lab stemmed from a desire for creativity and function, along with bio-renewable consciousness. Praised around the world for its wide variety of products and designs, the company continues to expand and create enviable yoga and other workout essentials.
Embrace color on and off the mat.
Infinity Mats
Beauty meets premium performance. The natural tree rubber base with an ultra-grip laser cut surface helps align your practice.
Combo Mats
Redefining yoga mats. Mat and towel combined in one product. Made from recycled plastic bottles and designed to be awesome.
Towels
Experience how this non-slip, super absorbent, microfiber yoga towel takes your practice to the next level.
Wheels
Achieve backbends smoothly, loosen tight muscles, and add creativity to your practice with the Yoga Wheel.
Bags
Carry your mat and essentials to class or run away to a deserted island for the weekend. It’s got you.
Props
Luxury yoga straps, blocks, balls designed to support you in the most beautiful way and stretch further.
For years, the coastal town of Port Aransas, affectionately called “Port A” by its residents, has seen visitors from other areas of Texas and from all throughout the U.S. In fact, the amount of visitors so far in 2019 has exceeded last year’s numbers by 40 percent.
This influx of new visitors is only expected to rise with the new festivals Port A is involved in over the summer. The location has long been described as an ideal fishing destination, and the 84th Annual Deep Sea Roundup is a reflection of just that. As the oldest fishing competition on the Gulf Coast, the Deep Sea Roundup, taking place from July 11 to July 14, brings people from all over to enjoy fishing in this relaxed atmosphere. Also attracting fishers from across the nation is the Texas Legends Billfish Tournament, taking place from August 7 to August 11.
The Beachtoberfest is a seven week-long festival involving a 5K run, a music fest, fishing tournaments, chef competitions, craft beer tastings, an art walk and other events as well. Also located at Port Aransas, the festival is taking place from September 13 to October 27.
Port A’s underrated food scene will also be showcasing itself during the Texas Super Chef Throwdown Series, occurring from September 18 to October 21. Consisting of 30 chefs from all around the state, the event qualifies the winning chefs to the World Food Championships in Dallas, Texas, consisting of 450 chefs competing from around the world.
All these events, taking place in Port Aransas, are a reflection of the culture and lifestyle in this coastal town — one where breathtaking luxury meets a casual atmosphere and invites all families to join in on the festivities.
Photos courtesy of Cinnamon Shore
Susan Macarz
RE/MAX ULTIMATE REALTY
1739 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-487-5131 | 416-219-7583 | susan@susanmacarz.com | www.susanmarcarz.com
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Susan Macarz is a unique real estate professional in Toronto’s prestigious and upscale neighborhoods. From a young age, Susan honed her love of fine homes in a real estate family. Her dad — a successful real estate developer and builder of communities in and around the Greater Toronto Area — nurtured Susan’s flair for home decor and passion for fine home design.
With an enthusiasm for sales, Susan was soon redesigning model suites, giving a great perspective of how meticulous design works as a sales tool. As she concentrated on interior design and marketing, Susan worked closely with her father, absorbing real estate knowledge, sales strategies, and negotiating tactics. In the early 90s, Susan went for more, focusing her career on real estate sales and marketing. Not settling for the ordinary, she achieved her real estate broker license designation and has gone on to win Re/max awards of distinction: In 2005, she won the award for Top 3 Individual Transactions in a population over 150,000, as well as memberships in the 100% Club, Re/max Platinum Club, and Re/max Hall of Fame; and in 2015, Susan was presented with The Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan has always looked for more innovative ways to lead, but it is her art of negotiating that has truly set Susan apart over the years. She has a knack for looking at a deal from all sides and finding inventive solutions to get it done.
Susan is a smart marketer and sharp negotiator!
Susan Macarz originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition. See her page here.
Extend the comfort of your home outside with Vondom — an avant-garde inspired furniture brand.
Look no further for the perfect outdoor furniture this summer. Vondom embodies quality, innovation, and drama in its designs, which explains the inspiring success of the company. Prestigious in its designs but also in its experience, this furniture appears at resorts such as the Oliva Nova Beach & Resort in Valencia, the Temptation Hotel in Cancun, and The Beach Club Kallis Visby in Sweden.
Whether at a resort, beach club, or in your backyard, Vondom takes the spotlight. The sleekness of each piece brings a sense of elegance to any commercial or residential space. Minimalists will love Vondom’s collections. The lines, fabrics, and colors all create a sense of peace that ensures total relaxation.
In these hot summer months, pool-goers, entertainers, and afternoon-nappers can now relish in the sun in ultimate comfort, with Vondom daybeds, sun chaises, and canopies. Modern, sleek, and quality-made, these products take lounging to the next level.
Ulm and Vela — designed by Ramon Esteve, Vondom’s artistic director — are just two of the collections offered, but there are over 45 available. Both collections are designed with color-changing light features that make it easy to incorporate them into a variety of spaces. The crisp and neutral shades that Ulm and Vela use are softened by the warmth of light. When the pieces are illuminated from underneath it creates a mesmerizing place to rest, day or night.
Vondom’s outdoor furniture is perfect for stretching out to soak up the sun, taking a nap, or decompressing by the pool. With retractable sunroofs, adjustable positions, swivel mechanisms, and designs that ensure comfort, you won’t have to the flee the sun for the indoors.
Photos courtesy of Xavi Gordo and Vondom