The Range Rover brand has defined luxury SUVs since it was first introduced in 1970 and continues to push the boundaries of modern luxury through curations of highly desirable and exclusive vehicles. The latest addition to this legacy is the New Range Rover SV Carmel Edition, which made its debut during Monterey Car Week in the exclusive Pebble Beach, CA community. Land Rover Minneapolis will have 1 of the 17 produced Range Rover Carmel Edition SUVs available in early 2025 – contact us for details today.
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8905 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55426
763.222.2200
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Land Rover Minneapolis 8905 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55426 763.222.2200 LandRoverMinneapolis.com
Dress | Michael Kors Boots | Guess
Sweater & Shawl | Nordstrom Pants | The Normal Brand
Shop the unique retailer collection at Mall of America® and discover the first, the unique, the only and the newest at every turn.
TREND:
Arctic Knit
This season cozy knitwear, with oversized sweaters and chunky cardigans take center stage. Textures and neutral tones add elegance and make layering effortless and stylish.
Goggles | Shady Rays Jacket | Canada Goose
Hat | Free People Sunglasses | Nordstrom
Bag | Nordstrom
THE GALLERIA EDINA
THE LUXURY OF LAND
SIOUX CITY
SIOUX FALLS
OMAHA FARGO
WAYZATA
KOHLER® Signature Store Edina, MN
Kohler and First Supply have come together to bring you a shopping experience that’s so much more than a store. Explore firsthand all that Kohler has to offer with a wide range of products in various styles and finishes.
Monday-Saturday: 10am–6pm Sunday: Closed
Scan to book an Appointment Walk-ins welcome
ROHE
MICHAEL ARAMS
TOTEME
BERNHARDT
PHOTOGRAPHY
“It is a big relief to be able to find a place to lay your head and focus on yourself and your family to move forward.”
– Derrick, US Marine Corp Veteran
Veteran Village Dream Big. Believe
Big. Build Big.
The Housing First Minnesota Foundation is a missiondriven organization that has a legacy of building and renovating dignifi ed housing for those experiencing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless. Our focus is on partnerships that lead community build projects for vulnerable individuals, families, and veterans. These community build projects are a unique, collaborative model connecting builders, remodelers, and their trade partners in the building industry with nonprofi t organizations in need of new or renovated housing solutions.
VETERAN VILLAGE PROJECT
We soon will be breaking ground on this fi rst ever multi-unit complex which will support Minnesotan Veterans and their families experiencing homelessness.
This complex will include 24-28 homes in a townhome-style community and provide up to an additional 51 beds when completed. The complex will be a multi-year project done in partnership between Housing First Minnesota Foundation (HFMF), The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) and build partner Lennar.
This community will provide veterans a place to call home as they move toward stability and selfsu ciency. In addition, MACV’s holistic approach and proven track record has become a national model for ending Veteran homelessness that other organizations and communities look to when addressing this critical issue.
Our Nation’s heroes have protected and served us, and now is our time to help and serve them. Once construction is completed, we will be able to celebrate the functional end of Veteran homelessness in Minnesota!
$ 125
$ 500 $ 275 $ 1000
Home necessities (kitchen dishes, bedding, small rugs)
Finishing touches (cabinet hardware, window coverings, home lighting)
Make home feel like home (furniture, home entertainment/TV, bedroom carpenting)
Construction contributions (lumber, roofing, garage door, windows)
• Monetary donation
• Materials donation
• Sponsorship opportunities Ways to Help
• Become a build partner
For more information on how you can directly impact this project, contact us at Foundation@HousingFirstMN.org
KITCHEN SYNC
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HENRI INTERIORS
Photographed by Taylor Hall O’Brien
THE HOLIDAY ISSUE
110 MAKING MERRY
Five of the world’s hottest interior designers and A-list creatives share their best advice for an inspired and joyful holiday at home.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY INÊS SILVA SÁ
life. at your summit.
At the core of our care lies the profound understanding that you are on a journey to reach your full potential, to realize your goals and dreams, to reach your summit—no matter what that summit may be. It is this understanding that drives us to provide the highest standard of excellence through every injury or aching joint and muscle that may stand in your way.
IMMEDIATE CARE AT OUR ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE METRO
CONTENTS
CULTURE
57 ART SCENE
Celebrating 22 years of Art Basel Miami Beach.
62 DESIGN
Lakeview Retreat kitchen by PKA Architecture is a 2022–2023 KDC finalist.
65 TREND
The rise of bucket-list vacations for dogs.
STYLE
71 SHOPPING
MartinPatrick 3 buyers reveal their top picks for the season.
75 FINE JEWELRY
An R.F. Moeller Jeweler diamond collection changes the lives of children in Botswana
81 GUIDE
Shine bright with these must-have gifts from Galleria.
COMPASS
90 ARTFUL STAY
Inside Sardinia’s iconic Hotel Cala di Volpe.
97 TOUR
The Artful Living guide to London.
104 DESTINATION
A writer recalls her idyllic return to Santorini, Greece.
Coldwell Banker Realty presents the finest homes for sale.
152 DESIGN
Rehkamp Larson Architects designs an East Coastinspired family home.
160 BUILD
Lecy Bros. restores a historic Victorian home on Lake Minnetonka.
168 ARCHITECTURE
TEA2 Architects creates a luxurious Northwoods retreat.
ADVENTURE
174 EXPLORATION
Mark Synnott explores the mystery behind the 1924 disappearance of Mount Everest explorers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine.
180 BOAT SOCIETY
The Anderson family and Nor-Son Custom Builders host an Antique & Classic Boat Society soiree on Gull Lake.
186 BUCKET LIST
Aboard a Galápagos Islands adventure on Aqua Expeditions’ Aqua Mare.
INTEL
194 PRIVATE CLUBS
A peek into the rarified world of the country’s most exclusive social clubs.
200 BUILD
John Kraemer & Sons delivers on modern livability mere steps from downtown Wayzata.
208 NORTH NOTABLES
The region’s best and brightest.
EDITOR'S LETTER
‘TIS THE SEASON! AND, WITH THE LAUNCH of our first holiday issue, we are determined to help you make it merry and bright. To that end, writer Suzanne Zuckerman interviewed five of the world’s hottest interior designers and A-list creatives for their best advice on having an inspired and joyful holiday home (“Making Merry,” page 110). From Nate Berkus’ favorite tablescaping tricks to Bobbi Brown’s top gifts to give and receive, we’ve got everything you need to deck your halls — without having a midwinter meltdown.
While you cozy up at home over the holidays, why not start plotting your next bucket list adventure? If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing around the Galápagos on a luxury yacht, tag along with Managing Editor Lexi Sunberg as she takes off on “A Darwinian Dream” (page 186). Is a warm beach vacation more your vibe? If so, dive into “The Quiet Pleasures of Greece” with writer Marcia DeSanctis (page 104) or join me as I explore “La Dolce Vita” at the iconic Cala di Volpe hotel in Sardinia (page 90). In “The Everest Enigma,” (page 174) you can journey to the summit of Mount Everest as pioneering big wall climber and New York Times best-selling author Mark Synnott (and yes, also my brother) attempts to solve one of the mountaineering world’s biggest mysteries: Who really made it to the top first?
For those who prefer their bucket list vacations to be stocked with highend dog treats and happy tail wags, look no further than “Jetset Pets” (page 65). Here, writer and rescue dog mama Anne Rodrique-Jones explores the rise of luxury travel for dogs. Travel vicariously to The Plaza with Rodrique-Jones and her senior lab mix, Delta Burke, and giggle along as they are treated to matching fluffy bathrobes and a series of delightful canine-themed surprises, including a personal welcome note from Eloise’s fictional dog, Weenie, and a multi-tiered silver platter full of dog-friendly macaroons. And don’t worry if you can’t stomach the sticker shock of a $6,000 domestic flight on BARK Air, there are other ways to travel in style with your pup. This summer, I took my 13-year-old Labrador Lucy on one last bucket list adventure at the dogfriendly Surf Lodge in Montauk (see above). As part of the “Defender Experience,” we had access to a rugged and roomy Range Rover all weekend, which made it easy for my senior dog to put her paws in the sand one last time. With her head poking out the window and her ears flapping in the breeze, she was the picture of happiness as we wheeled around town, ultimately stopping at a dog-friendly beach where my grizzly-muzzled water baby briefly seemed to forget about her arthritic hips and other chronic health issues as she sauntered happily into the ocean.
Consider these inspiring stories of love and light our gift to you in this season of giving. Enjoy the issue!
Amy Synnott Editor-in-Chief @amysynnott
CHARLIE & CO. DESIGN / WELCH FORSMAN ASSOCIATES / IMAGE BY SPACECRAFTING
Amy Synnott Editor-in-Chief
Emma Cutler Velez Publisher
Hayley Saunders Associate Publisher
Lexi Sunberg Managing Editor
Margaret Cooper Senior Art Director
Rosie Kelly Digital Editor
AJ Longabaugh Contributing Digital Editor
Genevieve Cossette Coleman Vice President of Sales
Meg Lehman
Marketing + Events Manager
Mitchell Lambert Director of Operations
Tyra Ericson Project Manager
Jolie Tanner
Editorial Intern
Frank Roffers Founder + Editor-at-Large
Pete Burgeson President
Editorial Advisory Board
Kate Nelson Editor-at-Large
Heidi Libera, Chris Plantan, Dana Swindler
Contributors
Writers: Merritt Bamrick, Tatiana Boncompagni, Brittany Chaffee, Marcia DeSanctis, Katie Dohman, Amber Gibson, Laurie Junker, Wendy Lubovich, Melinda Nelson, Marisa Petrarca, Anne Roderique-Jones, Mark Synnott, Grant Whittaker, Suzanne Zuckerman
Photographer: Spacecrafting
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Artful Living
1125 Buchanan St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Artful Living is published by North Co., all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission. North Co. cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Artful Living is committed to preserving the environment and demonstrates this by printing efficiently and sustainably. In consideration of environmental impact, this magazine is 100% recyclable.
CONTRIBUTORS
Marcia DeSanctis
A contributing editor at Travel & Leisure, Marcia DeSanctis also regularly writes for publications such as Vogue, Town & Country, Air Mail, BBC Travel and Departures. In addition to being the author of two books, she teaches about France, travel writing and essay craft. DeSanctis covers her long-awaited return to Greece in “The Quiet Pleasure of Santorini” (page 104). “I was happy to have the chance to revisit Santorini, as I’m fascinated by returns,” she said. “I’m always curious to see how time changes a place, if at all.” A seasoned traveler, DeSanctis revisits Santorini’s cuisine, accommodations and culture while addressing the island’s reputation for overcrowding. “I was interested in how the owners of the Canaves Collection of hotels, who have been on the island for generations, are preserving the old traditions and creating wonderful, private sanctuaries for their guests,” she said. “They have succeeded.”
Mark Synnott
Mark Synnott is a New York Times bestselling author and professional climber. His book, The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession and Death on Mount Everest chronicles his astonishing summit of Mount Everest via the Northeast Ridge. In The Impossible Climb: Alex Honnold, El Capitan and the Climbing Life, Synnott touches on the climbing community and his friend’s free solo ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan. For this issue, Synnott explores the 100th anniversary of the disappearance of British climbers George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine on Everest (“The Everest Enigma,” page 174). “The chance to possibly solve this 100-year-old mystery was irresistible,” he said. “It drew me to the mountain I never thought I would climb.”
Anne Roderique-Jones
A writer, reporter and host of the Ozarks True Crime podcast, Anne Roderique-Jones has written for dozens of publications, including The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Town & Country, Conde Nast Traveler and more. Previously head of content at ShermansTravel Media, Roderique-Jones has visited over 60 countries. Her story, “Jetset Pets” (page 65), examines the rise of luxury travel for dogs, a phenomenon she and her husband experienced firsthand when they recently visited The Plaza Hotel with their lab mix rescue. “I was surprised by how well animals are treated at high-end hotels. They may be even more spoiled than the human guests, which is fine by me,” she said. “People are traveling with their animals more than ever before, and the industry is responding with pet-friendly hotel packages and even airlines that cater specifically to animals.”
Suzanne Zuckerman
A celebrity journalist and ghostwriter, Suzanne Zuckerman has been featured as an entertainment news and royals expert on The Today Show, Good Morning America and beyond. Her writing about celebrities and their homes has appeared in People, InStyle, Bustle and more. Zuckerman also edited the People’s Special Issue, Hollywood at Home. Her work can be found in publications such as SELF, New York Magazine and Women’s Health. For Artful Living’s first-ever holiday issue, Zuckerman interviewed some of the world’s most successful designers and tastemakers about how they make the most of the season in “Making Merry” (page 110). “I was surprised and delighted to learn how emotional and nostalgic our featured celebrities and lifestyle experts feel about the holidays,” she said. “Even for the coolest tastemakers on the cutting edge of interior design, fashion and beauty, the holidays offer a common thread; they represent a time to slow down and focus on connection and shared experiences with loved ones.”
Your idea to create a grand getaway in a remote location?
It’s not crazy. Well, not completely crazy.
Perhaps you’ve dreamed of it: that place where family and friends gather year after year, where the stories told for generations are written.
At TEA2, we’ve created many such retreats. Our experience can make your experience better and the result, absolutely breathtaking.
From landscape and siting to managing local builders, there’s an enormous list of considerations, and we consider each one. Carefully. Like, how to integrate the outdoors in every season, or how to create entire compounds—boathouses, bunkhouses, remote offices, etc. that inspire connection and create private escapes, too. We’re here through the construction process, ensuring build quality, ensuring that every specification is met, right down to the nails used.
Most of all, we understand that a retreat is not just a highend, custom home in a rural setting: it’s a place designed for relaxation, rich experiences and lasting memories. Let’s talk about your dream retreat. Visit us at TEA2architects.com
ON THE COVER
Our Cover Shot
Swiss photographer Johannes Hofmann captures the spirit of the holiday season with this enchanting, storybook-like cover image for our very first holiday edition
The photograph showcases the Rhaetian Railway’s Bernina Express winding through the snowy Swiss Alps, evoking the charm of a real-life “Polar Express.” This stunning scene brings a sense of nostalgia and warmth, reflecting the wonder and joy of this special time of the year. The snapshot invites readers to embark on a journey and experience the beauty and sparkle of the holiday season that awaits within the pages of this issue
About Us
Artful Living is one of the top independent boutique lifestyle magazines across the United States with international reach. Founded in 2008, this award-winning magazine features engaging original content and beautiful design, bringing the best of the North and beyond to an affluent audience with impeccable taste. This elegant, intelligent publication aims to inspire and entertain, highlighting culture, home, style, travel, food, profiles and more. The Artful Living lifestyle brand is headquartered in Minneapolis.
To subscribe to Artful Living or order back issues, visit ArtfulLiving.com For bulk copies, contact us at 952-230-3133 or hello@artfulliving.com.
photo by Spacecrafting
event planner Colin Cowie on curating flawless fêtes.
Photo by Chris Emeott
CULTURE
FOR ART ’ S SAKE
Art Basel Miami Beach turns 22 and it's a party not to be missed.
BY WENDY LUBOVICH
JUST WHEN THOSE DECEMBER TEMPERATURES DIP INTO THE chilly zone, along comes the glittering, celebrity-driven Art Basel Miami Beach, where art lovers from around the globe pack their party outfits and descend on Florida for the start of the winter season. The event is the premiere modern and contemporary art fair in the Americas, and this season, it’s buzzier than ever. Welcome to the most fabulous party of the year.
Leading the creative charge for 2024 is the fair’s new director, Bridget Finn, who brings a deep knowledge of the art world after working in New York City galleries and co-owning the Detroit gallery Reyes | Finn. “Miami Beach is like no other place in the world,” Finn tells us exclusively, “The city is the meeting place of North and South America, with its tangible Latin and Caribbean influences.”
Art Basel’s spectacle grows every year, but this season, there is an emphasis on smaller galleries. That’s because they petite-sized booths – all geared towards modest-sized galleries. Some 34 first-time artists are participating, the most significant number of newcomers since 2008.
“We created the linear sliding scale system to ensure a more level playing field for galleries across all market segments. Our decision is grounded in the belief that small and mid-sized galleries play an essential role in a healthy art ecosystem,” Finn explains.
Building on last year’s success, the fair will be a visual beehive for art aficionados poised to discover their newest favorite artist, from large-scale immersive pieces to innovative installations. On tap, Carmo Johnson Projects out of Brazil will show works by the artist collective MAHKU. These colorful, kaleidoscopic paintings depict indigenous chants from the Huni Kuin people living
in the Amazon region of Western Brazil. Meanwhile, Gordon Robichaux Gallery in New York City will show mixed media and photo works by the late Agosto Machado, a Chinese-Spanish-Filipino visual and performing artist and activist.
“The show is, more than any other event in the world, a cultural conduit for not just art but design, fashion, music and film,” Finn points out. “It’s
Elevating expectations. Second showroom opening soon.
In The Living Kitchen Experience, we invite you to envision a higher standard for your own home. Featuring stunning vignettes designed around Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances, this curated environment will inspire a wealth of new ideas to elevate your kitchen and bring joy to your life.
We are excited to announce our second showroom, which will be located at Hwy 55 & 494. Opening early 2025.
We are proud to be a Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Living Kitchen Experience retailer.
cooking up a winner Lakeview Retreat kitchen
by PKA Architecture is a Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest finalist.
BY LAURIE JUNKER
HARMONIOUS HOMES TEND TO HAVE HARMONIOUS owners, compatible in spirit and design preferences. That’s true of the empty nesters who built this Lakeview Retreat on a beloved property that had been in their family for generations. “These clients were completely in sync when it came to knowing what they wanted and decision-making,” says Kristine Anderson, principal of PKA Architecture. One of their top priorities was a congenial and connected kitchen and pantry to prepare and serve meals for family and friends. They never dreamed it would become a finalist in an international design competition. “None of us expected that to happen,” says Anderson.
Nevertheless, this warm, light-filled space rose to the top of over 1,600 global entries to earn a finalist spot in the prestigious 2022–2023 Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest (KDC). Not everyone was surprised, including Rosemary Merrill, trade and builder representative for local luxury showroom, Roth Living (reopening early 2025), the exclusive Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove regional distributor. “When I saw this kitchen, I knew they would be a finalist if not a winner,” says Merrill.
Like most well-designed rooms, the space feels effortless in a way that belies its precise details, which include large windows and an airy vault. Key to the ease of the space are expanses of white oak cabinetry — a calm envelope that punctuates the view and the homeowner’s colorful Fiestaware collection (displayed in open plate racks). “The cabinetry creates a kind of nest around the room,” explains Anderson.
One unconventional touch is the location of the Wolf Range along a bank of windows, but it makes sense here. “The homeowner loves to cook, and we wanted to allow her to be a part of the lake activity while she does it,” says Tammy Angaran, project manager at PKA. She and Anderson tapped into some architectural ingenuity to find a spot for the exhaust fan, meeting the challenge with a white oak soffit that conceals the ventilation hood without blocking the view. Next to the kitchen, a hard-working pantry allows the residents to prepare and store large meals ahead of family gatherings. It functions like a secondary kitchen with a Wolf wall oven and warming drawer and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, freezer, ice maker and wine fridge. Here, the white oak continues, but the appliances appear in all their stainless-steel glory, signaling the no-nonsense nature of the space.
As a KDC finalist, Anderson, and Angaran mingled with other nominated designers at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, at the gala and summit. Merrill points out that entries are now open for the 2024–2025 KDC and close at the end of January 2026. “This is the best kitchen design contest in the industry,” says Merrill. “To anyone considering entering the KDC Contest, get out there and do it! It’s free to enter, and the opportunity is unbelievable. It can really take your career to the next level.”
“The clients have had Sub-Zero and Wolf before and wanted them here because they’re reliable and keep food fresher longer,” says Anderson. “As architects, we appreciate the versatility of being panel-ready or stainless,” she adds. “We can be bold in some areas and quieter in others.”
Visit Roth Living, reopening in Minnetonka with a brand-new showroom in 2025, to see the state-of-the-art appliances that inspired this winning kitchen design. Entries for the 2024–2025 Subzero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest are being accepted at subzerowolf.com/contest.
JETSET PETS
BY ANNE RODERIQUEJONES
ON A WARM DAY IN JUNE, MY HUSBAND AND I checked into The Plaza Hotel with our lab mix, Delta Burke. This is a bucket-list hotel stay for many people, but this trip was exclusively for our senior rescue dog.
As a travel writer, I’ve heard the term “bucket list” thrown around a lot in the past decade. “Oh, I’d love to take Meemaw on a bucket-list cruise to the Caribbean!” “We’re taking the kids on their bucket-list vacation to Disney over spring break!” “I’m heading to India to live out my bucket-list version of Eat, Pray, Love!” But a new travel trend is emerging and hear me out: There’s no one better to take on a dream vacation than your pet.
To be completely transparent, this wasn’t my original idea. I once met a man on a hike in Red Rock Canyon, and when I stopped to pet his beautiful golden retriever, he informed me that he was ticking off a travel list for his dying dog, and this was her favorite hike. I immediately stole the idea when my pup became a senior.
Art Markman, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, says that for many people, their relationship with their pet is the most uncomplicated relationship they have. “Dogs and cats show unconditional love and ask little in return.” He adds, “For some pet owners, going on vacation is partly stressful because they are concerned about how their pet will be taken care of. Bringing a pet on vacation — particularly one that the pet will enjoy — is a way of honoring that relationship while reducing the anxiety associated with leaving a pet in boarding or with a sitter.”
For Delta’s stay at The Plaza, we drove just 30 blocks for her to be treated to a plush dog bed, water bowls filled with Evian and a multi-tiered silver platter with dog-friendly macarons. Eloise’s fictional dog, Weenie, even left Delta a personalized welcome note. That night, my sweet dog slept on sky-high thread count sheets (foregoing the dog bed for our own), gorged on homemade dog treats and we all snapped selfies in our matching robes.
Is this completely over the top? Yes. Does this make me sound like I could be an extra in Best in Show or a skit on Portlandia? Also, yes. But is it also sort of endearing? I think so. Markman says, “One of the biggest challenges with having a pet is that you are likely to outlive it. As pets age, they often develop health problems that slow them down; they are tired, suffer from arthritis and sleep a lot. Yet, you want happy memories that will sustain you after the pet is gone. Taking your pet on a trip and taking videos as they enjoy the scenery, run on the beach or breathe fresh air is a way to create memories that will live on even after a beloved pet is gone.” (Who knew I could type through tears?)
According to a Pew Research Center study, 62% of Americans own a pet, and nearly all U.S. pet owners (97%) consider them family. Additionally, a survey of 10,000 American dog owners by Forbes Advisor revealed that 82% of dog owners sometimes travel with their dogs by car and 33% do so by plane. Airlines are responding. BARK Air is claiming to be the world’s first air travel experience designed for dogs. Dogs receive flight prep with calming pheromones. All furry passengers have access to calming treats and noise-canceling earmuffs. Once onboard, dogs are served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to prevent ear discomfort caused by changes in cabin pressure.
Additionally, various BARK-branded treats, snacks and surprises are provided throughout the flight. (Domestic tickets cost $6,000 for one human and their dog.) Alternatively, VistaJet offers VistaPet, developed with veterinary experts, groomers, dietitians and animal trainers to address the rising demand for improved pet travel. In 2023, Vista had a 43% increase in pets flying onboard their planes. The company offers crew members trained in pet CPR (who knew this was a thing?), along with Labbvenn sleep mats, curated prime cuts of meat, natural flower essences to mix with pet’s drinking water for relaxation and water-free shampoo and wipes for salon-quality fur care. This sounds a lot better than my plastic cup of chardonnay in seat 27B.
But traveling with a pet doesn’t have to be all caviar and private puppy jets. Beth Reser and her partner, who reside in Durham, North Carolina, share a blind 13-year-old Yorkie mix named Roxie who had a rough life until they found, fostered and adopted her. They’ve spent the last two years taking Roxie on bucket-list trips. Reser says, “We have taken her to the beach numerous times and the mountains. She’s blind but enjoys the smell of saltwater and crisp mountain air.” She adds, “Depending on the terrain, we may push her in a stroller or put her in a backpack. She loves to walk, though, and being blind doesn’t slow her down.”
Julie Ward from New Orleans planned a bucketlist staycation day for her dog, Millie, before saying goodbye. “We went to visit all her friends (including Blanche, the tortoise); we did a photoshoot at The Chloe Hotel and visited the horses at City Park; we also paid a visit to the neighborhood bar for the last time. We ended the day at home on a big pallet of pillows and blankets where we listened to music while snuggling.”
Artful Living’s editor-in-chief, Amy Synnott, planned a similar trip with her 13-year-old dog, Lucy, at the dog-friendly Surf Lodge in Montauk, New York. As part of the Defender weekend experience, she and her pup had access to a vehicle all weekend, which made it easy for Lucy to put her paws in the sand one last time. With her head poking out the window and her ears flapping in the breeze, she was the picture of happiness as they wheeled around town, ultimately stopping at a dog-friendly beach where the waterloving pup briefly seemed to forget about her arthritic hips and other chronic health issues as she sauntered happily into the ocean.
This sort of bucket-list trip might be easier than taking your children, parents or spouse on vacation, says Markman. “Most family vacations are fun only when you look back on them. In the moment, there is a lot of stress. The journey to a destination can be stressful. Family members may differ in what they want to do or where they want to eat. Though you often focus later on the happy memories, there are likely to be several frustrations along the way.” However, he says, “Pets are much less demanding because they live in the moment. Let them loose on the beach, and they don’t complain about the traffic but rather just enjoy that moment as it happens. That can make a trip with a pet easier and perhaps more enjoyable than trips with other people.”
Right now, the trips with our senior dog are designed for her. But the memory of this short time with Delta will stay with us forever. As they say these days: core (pet) memory unlocked.
STYLE
WINTER WONDERLAND
MartinPatrick 3 buyers reveal their top picks for the season.
BY MARISA PETRARCA
MARTINPATRICK 3 HAS LONG BEEN A MINNEAPOLIS MAINSTAY. FIRMLY rooted in the North Loop since its start as an interior design studio in 1994, the luxury retailer is more than just a store — it’s an experience, offering exclusive trunk shows, curated stacks of its own published newspapers and personalized fitting sessions. And as the holiday season kicks into full swing, it transforms into a gift-givers paradise, packed with a curated selection sure to wow everyone from your impossible-to-please daughter (let her try turning her nose up at a Byredo’s Gypsy Water) to your persnickety mother-in-law (one look at her new Lalique vase and she’ll be your new best friend).
The MP3 magic begins before you even step inside the store. “Every year, our holiday window displays become a true spectacle, renowned for their creativity, intricate design and attention to detail,” says Anthony Serino, marketing director at MartinPatrick 3. “These elaborate showcases have earned awards and become a highly anticipated attraction for locals and visitors alike.”
What’s in store this year? “This season,” Serino continues, “our windows revolve around the whimsical and nostalgic theme of the ‘Land of 10,000 Sweets,’ inspired by Minnesota’s nickname as the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes.’ We’re showcasing iconic Minnesota landmarks, each reimagined in a gingerbread motif.”
The fun doesn’t stop at the windows. Inside, it’s like a game of Elf on the Shelf. Sprinkled throughout the store, you’ll find a specially curated selection of gingerbread-themed gifts — socks, T-shirts, a custom MP3 gingerbread scented candle and a few other surprises — that align with the magic on display,” Serino teases.
Beyond these playful seasonal offerings, MP3 is known for providing a very personalized shopping experience. “Our stylists build lasting relationships with our clients, learning their tastes and preferences and curating the perfect holiday gifting experience,” Serino continues. “Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your entire family, we take pride in helping you select meaningful presents that reflect the personality and style of each recipient.”
This season, as every year, holiday gift options abound at MP3. Buyer Ben Magnuson recommends checking out the boutique selection from Italian luxury brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, Isaia and Marco Pescarolo in the menswear section. Another one of his top picks for holiday gifting? Johnstons of Elgin. “This season, the 200-year-old Scottish cashmere mill has delivered beautiful sweaters, cardigans, scarves and beanies,” he says, adding that these pieces are perfect for layering. “Our customers have embraced this trend, and it shows no signs of
Over in womenswear, Samantha Tousey, director of women’s buying, says she finds it challenging to choose her holiday favorites. “It’s almost like a parent being asked to pick a favorite child,” she admits. She is, however, looking forward to introducing clients to Gigi Hadid’s new cashmere knitwear line, Guest in Residence. Offering cozy crews, cardigans and stylish coveralls, “it is fun and playful, perfect for the holidays,” she says. “I don’t like cold weather, but these pieces have me looking forward to winter.”
Tousey’s other can’tmiss-pick? Bernadette’s pre-spring 2025 line, A Conversation Between Mother and Daughter. The Antwerp, Belgium–based label’s latest drop includes keepsake-worthy cardigans, elegant dresses and chic two-piece sets, many featuring eye-catching floral prints. “The pieces are so special,” she says. “I think any mother or daughter will appreciate them.”
For the fragrance-obsessed teenager, Winslow suggests Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 — a captivating scent that radiates sophistication and youthful allure. And if there’s a tastemaker on your list who craves something truly remarkable? One of Assouline’s Impossible Collection books makes the perfect statement piece. An extraordinary collector’s item, the Formula 1 edition celebrates the history and thrill of the sport in breathtaking detail. “These books offer a luxurious blend of art and passion,” says Winslow. “For anyone who appreciates the finer things in life, they are an unforgettable gift.”
Of course, these holiday highlights barely scratch the surface of what MartinPatrick 3 offers this season. Visiting in person is the only way to take it all in. Fair warning, though: You may be unable to resist scooping up a few things for yourself along the way.
SHINE ON
BY WENDY LUBOVICH
MARILYN MONROE AND ELIZABETH
Taylor certainly knew something about the power of a dazzling diamond ring. From 68-carat sparklers to stunning yellow stones, diamonds have always captured the zeitgeist of high-style glamour. But what if jewelry lovers today could purchase a diamond that had a special kind of brilliance? A lifetime splurge, which could change the lives of others half a world away?
That’s the idea behind Diamonds of Wonder by R.F. Moeller Jeweler in the Twin Cities, a forwardthinking company that wants to change how people buy diamonds. “We knew that this collection had to be bigger than us,” says Bergit Mars, director of marketing at R.F. Moeller Jeweler. “It had to give back and contribute to the well-being of people and communities who make natural diamonds possible.”
It all begins with the rough stones selected using strict standards. The diamonds are guaranteed to be natural, untreated, conflict-free and nonRussian. These precious stones only pass through organizations that meet the American Gem Society and international ethics, human rights, environmental and labor standards.
With every Diamonds of Wonder purchase, a portion of the proceeds is donated to The Dow Academy in Mochudi, Botswana, which serves children from daycare through secondary school. The learning center offers safe and cost-effective education while affording parents, most of whom are single mothers, a chance to work outside of the home.
“Without the diamond industry, Botswana would not be where it is today,” Cheshe Dow, chief executive officer of The Dow Academy, tells us. “The ethical and sustainable mining and selling of natural diamonds has allowed us as a people and a country to make and keep promises that matter. These promises include universal access to healthcare, education and a secure, peaceful country.”
The Dow Academy is undoubtedly different from your standard educational model, as this innovative school mixes traditional teaching principles with tangible, 21st-century life skills. They integrate computer coding into the elementary school curriculum, along with their Rebuild a Laptop program, which gives pupils a chance to take donated laptops apart, refurbish the machines and then put them back together again. Even their Graphic Novel Design project is geared toward a sense of discovery. Students learn the fundamentals of drawing, character development and storytelling while creating their own novel.
“Diamonds capture the imagination in every way, from the natural wonder they are to the beauty and uniqueness of each,” Dow points out. “Our students are just that, too. Inherently precious, each one is special and requires love, passion and attention to enable them to flourish. That’s why we call them our diamonds.”
This creative approach to learning inspired R.F. Moeller Jeweler to infuse each of their Diamonds of Wonder pieces with a one-of-a-kind beauty. Clients select their diamond, then choose which settings strike their fancies – the most challenging part is deciding. “We have a stunning 7.70-carat fancy intense yellow pearshaped diamond with pear-shaped white diamonds on
and sparkle like a glittery snow globe. It is one of the most beautiful diamonds I have ever seen.”
In recent years, oval-shaped diamonds have become popular, she says. The jeweler has also seen a growing interest in cushion-cut gems and radiant-cut diamonds, with a few marquise and pear shapes added. “Another trend we’re seeing is the Toi et Moi, or You and Me, ring setting that often features two diamonds in different shapes,” Mars tells us. “We have a remarkable 2.01-carat, loose, cushion-cut white diamond that I am
daydreaming of setting in a pendant. It has amazing fire and brilliance and makes me smile when I see it on display in the store.”
High-quality, specially chosen gems are a signature of R.F. Moeller Jeweler, a three-generation family business that has been around since 1951. Because Moeller family members live in the same community as their clients, they are uniquely committed to providing exceptional designs. Their mission is to bring joy through tailor-made, one-onone service to clients – the kind of attention not typically found at larger jewelry houses.
And now, with their new global initiative, R.F. Moeller is bringing another facet to the jewelry world. Diamonds of Wonder is adding a new “C” to this classic diamond standard – charity, along with color, clarity, cut and carat weight. “We’ve noticed that individuals have a greater interest in ensuring that the money they spend is doing good,” Mars sums up. “We hope Diamonds of Wonder will inspire people’s interest in natural diamonds and open their eyes to the stunning ripple effect they can have on the lives of children halfway across the world.”
HAIR STUDIO EXTENSIONS ACADEMY
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THE GUIDE
All that glitters.
PRODUCED BY GRANT WHITTAKER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING
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COMPASS
Inside Sardinia’s iconic Hotel Cala di Volpe
BY AMY SYNNOTT
LA DOLCE VITA
“THE AGA KHAN ALWAYS USED TO STAY IN THAT ROOM.”
My Italian tour guide, Michela, points to a high room in a tower to my left. We are sitting at the outdoor Atrium Bar on the deck of Hotel Cala di Volpe drinking Bellinis that taste like they have been blended from nectar of the gods. “He could see the entire bay from that little window.”
It’s easy to see why His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who founded Cala di Volpe in 1962 with some Sardinian partners, was enchanted with the setting. Designed by famed French architect Jacques Couëlle to look like a charming fishing village, the property offers unobstructed panoramic views of Costa Smeralda, a coastal destination in northwestern Sardinia so stunning it seems almost AI-generated.
Sitting on the deck, we are surrounded by vibrant pink bougainvillea and sparkling, emerald-blue water. Dramatic granite cliffs and craggy mountains dot the horizon. I got a closer peek at those rock towers yesterday when my son and I were taken by boat (the only mode of transport) to the hotel’s private beach. After lounging on the white sand for a few hours, we strolled over for lunch at Matsuhisa Beach (yes, that Matsuhisa; it’s the only Nobu in all of Italy, and it’s right on the water). There, we nibbled on Michelin-star yellowtail with jalapeno and miso cod while taking in arguably one of the most beautiful restaurant views in the world.
I take a sip of my Bellini. “Ooh, that’s fresh,” I whisper, dabbing a few drops of pulp from my lips as a discreet waiter slips a tiny dish onto a table already filled with glistening olives, crispy chips and fresh guacamole. Michela has been regaling me with stories about the hotel. Though she won’t reveal the names of many of the celebrities and royals who have stayed in the $41,120-a-night Harrods Suite, she does mention that Dodi Fayed docked his yacht in the harbor here and he
and Princess Diana ate at the restaurant. (I don’t know about the rest of you but I remember those yacht pictures.)
“And did you know that a James Bond movie was filmed here?” she asks. “Remember the scene in The Spy Who Loved Me where the white sports car [a Lotus Esprit] shoots off the dock into the water? It was shot right over there.” She points to a dock before us and takes a small sip of her Bellini. “After we finish here, I’ll take you to the Matsuhisa in the hotel. It’s a restaurant now, but when they shot the film, they used it as James Bond’s hotel suite.”
After we finish our drinks, we continue our tour of the property, passing the Olympic-sized saltwater pool where I spent the morning gazing at yachts from a terra cotta–hued lounge chair. “We have an indoor and an outdoor gym,” she says, waving toward a small fleet of machines on the ocean’s edge. “And, of course, you’ve tried our Barbeque restaurant, right?” Indeed, I had. Earlier that morning, the chef whipped up an herb-andcheese omelet that I ate looking out on the glamorous poolscape, trying not to pinch myself.
“And this is my favorite part of the hotel,” Michela says as she walks past tennis courts and a soccer field where my son spent a few hours the day prior. (The hotel offers a “Juventus Resort Experience” for would-be Taty Castellanoses.) She opens the gate to a magical little garden that’s part of the Kids Club (and where, for a fee, you can host a private farm-to-table alfresco dinner for up to 20 people). “The children love the goats,” Michela notes as we amble toward a small shed filled with kids (baby goats, that is, not pint-sized hotel guests).
After admiring the adorable baby goats and wishing I had more tiny farm animals in my life, I continue to explore the garden, which smells intensely of mint. I glance to my right and discover why: a massive plot filled with enough mint to serve mint juleps to the entire hotel in perpetuity. My nose leads me to another fragrant spot, and I spy lavender, rosemary and basil. We wander past row after row of fresh herbs and vegetables. “I think the chef used some of these herbs in my omelet this morning,” I say, crushing some sage in my hand and inhaling deeply. “Maybe,” says Michela. “It’s very possible!”
Soon, we are back at the main hotel, which consists of a series of irregularly shaped pastel houses with tiled roofs that curve around the
coastline. Though the main building was renovated in 2022 by the Parisian design studio Moinard Bétaille, many of the interior spaces have retained the rustic, cavelike quality of Jacques Couëlle’s original design, with roughhewn whitewashed walls, large, arched windows and doors, terra cotta tiles, local stonework and stained glass windows throughout.
As we leave the main lobby, we pass a beauty salon. (The word “coiffure” is hand-painted in a maroon-and-black script, set off by a swirling design motif seen throughout the hotel.) At the entrance, a series of bulbous green jugs of varying sizes have been half submerged in the white stucco wall, giving the effect of sea glass washed ashore.
We arrive at Matsuhisa at Cala di Volpe, aka James Bond’s hotel suite in The Spy Who Loved Me. It is a vast space with a wall of glass windows facing the glittering Costa Smeralda Bay. I immediately recognize the undulating white stucco walls, dark exposed wood beams and funky curved bar from the movie, which I must have watched at least five times with my dad, a huge James Bond fan. “Shaken, not stirred,” I think, imagining Roger Moore standing a few feet away, his signature martini in hand.
Our next stop is the Harrods Penthouse Suite, the crown jewel of this iconic hotel. If James Bond really did stay here, this is undoubetedly where he would spend the night canoodling with Russian double agent Major Anya Amasova. Renovated recently by the design team from Harrods, the palatial, three-floor, 2,690-square-foot suite is a masterpiece of modern design with solid-wood doors carved to resemble sunbeams; a glass wardrobe hand-painted in swirling emerald green and sapphire blue with 22-karat gold fragments; and a fluted limestone feature wall that mirrors the natural curves of the Sardinian landscape.
On the first floor of the suite, there is both a bar and a wine cellar. In the three king-size bedrooms, patinated-bronze alcoves cast ambient light over the beds. But the pièce de résistance — the raw material for a lifetime of vacation fantasies — is the 2,690-square-foot rooftop. In addition to an alfresco dining pergola and a sunbathing deck, the roof boasts a gorgeous infinity pool (with an integrated bar) that appears to spill right over into the Mediterranean Sea.
“Nobody does it better,” Carly Simon crooned about 007 in the 1977 theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me. The same can be said about this stunning hotel where James Bond chose to shelter in place.
TOUR
The Artful Living city guide to London.
BY AMBER GIBSON
IF LOVE ACTUALLY IS ANY INDICATION, LONDON FEELS LIKE A MOVIE SET EACH winter, and no city does the festive season more festively. From cheerful carolers at Christmas markets and the menorah at Trafalgar Square to the glittering botanical light show at Kew Gardens, it’s easy to get in the holiday spirit. London has a lot to look forward to in 2025 as well: South by Southwest (SXSW) debuts in June, the Saville Theatre will reopen as the international home of Cirque Du Soleil theater and The Devil Wears Prada is drawing crowds to the West End theater scene.
STAY
COMO THE HALKIN, LONDON
Belgravia has luxury hotels around every corner, but COMO The Halkin stands out from its neighbors with an understated Georgian-style brick facade on a quiet side street and just 41 rooms and suites. Doors blend seamlessly into glossy pommelé sapele wood walls, expressing the hotel’s discreet brand of quiet luxury with curved corridors and black marble bathrooms. With friendly 24-hour concierge service, the hotel feels more like an upscale apartment than a traditional hotel, and the central location is within easy walking distance of Harrods, Piccadilly’s theaters and Mayfair restaurants.
Although there’s no spa, the sister property, COMO Metropolitan London, a half mile away, welcomes guests to COMO Shambhala Urban Escape for Guinot facials and excellent massages to revive jetlagged bodies. The wellness theme continues with afternoon tea. Chilled almond and green grape gazpacho and zucchini rösti replace finger sandwiches for a healthy, contemporary twist on the British tradition.
DINE
BENARES
London is known to have the best Indian food outside India, and Benares in Mayfair is a prime example. A London staple for more than 20 years, the food here is better than ever under the leadership of chef Sameer Taneja, a Delhi native with classical French training who puts a personal touch on traditional Indian flavors, from skewered morsels of fallow deer marinated in curry and coriander to coconut curry Scottish scallops baked on the shell.
Both a la carte and tasting menus are available at lunch and dinner, including creative vegetarian options like cavolo nero kofta dumplings in creamy cashew korma. Taneja considers menu development a team effort and invites his team to bring in their home cooking for inspiration. Sip a paan fizz or mango lassi while chatting with the friendly chef, who often greets guests in the dining room when it’s not busy.
BICESTER VILLAGE
Every tourist has heard of Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Still, Londoners know the best designer deals are at this charming outdoor mall just outside the city in Oxfordshire, which is easily accessible via Chiltern Railways. With more than 150 luxury and lifestyle boutiques and prices at least a third off original pricing, it’s easy to spend an entire day browsing global favorites like Céline, Fendi, Zegna and the only off-price Dior in Europe, along with British style icons like Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, plus Penhaligon’s perfume and Bamford bath amenities.
Beloved London restaurants like Ottolenghi and Cecconi’s fuel your shopping spree, and personal shopping services are bookable in advance. Try on a curated wardrobe privately in four well-appointed personal shopping suites stocked with fresh fruit, Champagne and pastries. You may score an invite to the VIP Apartment upstairs if you are lucky. It feels like a British countryside home away from home.
SHOP
DINE
KOL
Chef Santiago Lastra was born and raised in Mexico, and his food at KOL is imbued with childhood nostalgia (sweet and savory obleas, tamales and tacos all appear). Still, Lastra approaches cooking with the academic curiosity of a scientist and historian, combining diligent research with wild experimentation to recreate Mexican culinary traditions with British ingredients.
Before opening KOL, Lastra popped up in 27 countries, challenging himself by cooking Mexican-inspired recipes with local ingredients. He was instrumental in Noma’s 2017 Tulum, Mexico, pop-up as project manager. Remarkably complex pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan menus are all available — substituting dehydrated purple carrot for lamb saddle with rye koji mole, for example.
The wine list features biodynamic and organic bottles from Central and Eastern Europe, or you can discover a world of sipping mezcals. Downstairs, KOL Mezcaleria specializes in agave spirit cocktails and is undoubtedly worth a visit before or after dinner.
MOCO MUSEUM
London’s newest art museum features a vibrant lineup of the most influential modern, contemporary and street artists under one roof at the northeast corner of Hyde Park next to the Marble Arch. Upon entering, you’ll recognize pieces by pop art king Andy Warhol, African-American street art pioneer Jean-Michel Basquiat and colorful Japanese legend Yayoi Kusama, alongside works by Jeff Koons, Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst.
The Modern Contemporary (Moco) Museum was founded in Amsterdam in 2016. London is the third permanent location, continuing the museum’s mission to make art accessible for all while reflecting modern society. Bring headphones to enjoy a free audio tour. Children under the age of 7 receive complimentary admission. On the lower ground floor, large-scale multimedia digital art installations captivate the imagination with immersive multi-sensory masterpieces, while upstairs, British luminaries like singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, Hayden Kays and anonymous graffiti artist Banksy take center stage.
HOTEL CAF É ROYAL
A dramatic Murano glass chandelier and mini Champagne coupes make for a glamorous greeting in the Piero Lissoni–designed lobby. Café Royal opened in 1865, hosting everyone from Winston Churchill to David Bowie before undergoing a multiyear restoration and reopening as a hotel in 2012. Historic elements like mosaic tile floors, elegant Carrara marble and ornate original lift doors (mechanized for efficiency) contrast with spacious, comfortable rooms, where a few tasteful pops of pastel accent an otherwise neutral palette.
The underground Akasha Spa facilities are a highlight, with a 60-foot lap pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and private hammam. Hotel guests can access complimentary fitness classes and unique spa treatments like a full-body massage with Theraguns. Indulge your sweet tooth with fanciful cakes and confections at Cakes & Bubbles by world-famous pastry chef Albert Adrià. Alternatively, linger for afternoon tea in the original Café Royal gilded with gold leaf.
JACKSON STROM
ERIC BERG CONSTRUCTION / AGL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS / BELLE KITCHEN / SPACECRAFTING
the quietpleasures santorini of
A writer returns to Greece and finds that everything, and nothing, has changed.
BY MARCIA DESANCTIS
WHEN I WAS 13, MY PARENTS TOOK ME ON MY FIRST OVERSEAS trip to the Greek Islands. I had never imagined such a color could exist as the piercing sapphire blue of the almost indistinguishable Aegean Sea and sky. My favorite photo was from Santorini, the croissant-shaped, southernmost island in the Cyclades. I was riding a mule up the precipitous incline from the port to the town of Oia, wearing a blue blazer and, hewing closely to 1974 fashion, clogs. My mother sat behind me atop another beast with a smile that said, “Here we go!”
The photo is long gone, but the memories of Santorini remain: widows clad in black, fishermen with rugged faces and undulating white houses built into the cliffside. I remember the caldera — the water-filled crater formed 3,600 years ago by a volcanic eruption and a bona fide geological masterpiece. What was most indelible was the remoteness of the place, and the dusty ribbons of empty streets that wound through town.
That changed in the early 1980s, in part, perhaps, because of a somewhat forgotten movie, Summer Lovers. The film was about a young couple’s sexual liberation in Santorini, and the location was almost more significant than the story. Soon after arriving in Oia (from Connecticut), a boyish Peter Gallagher turns to his girlfriend, played by willowy Daryl Hannah, and says, “I can’t tell you how this place turns me on.” Travelers, including most of my graduating college class, began flocking to Santorini, seeking that decadent mystique.
Around that time, the Chaidemenos family, who were native to Santorini but living in Athens, decided to transform the caves that had been in the family for generations — where they stored their wine, chickens and mules — into a hotel. “It was a very progressive idea at the time, and of course, everyone thought they were crazy,” says their son Markos, 36, managing director of the family’s Canaves Collection. Their four properties around Oia are wildly chic interpretations of the sun-kissed architectural vernacular that, along with its powerful landscape and prime location in the heart of the Aegean, helped put Santorini on the map 40 years ago.
When I recently returned, I was eager to revisit the secluded outpost I remembered as a teenager. I also wanted to experience the Greek island that, since then, has become a darling among high-end travelers who love their sensuous playgrounds in the sun served up with local flavor, refined style and a chilled glass of Assyrtiko wine.
After four decades, the Chaidemenos’ original property was reimagined, reopening in 2024 as Canaves Ena, a boutique hotel that, despite its central location in Oia, feels like a private, exclusive villa. Each room has a zilliondollar view of the caldera and Santorini’s fabled sunsets and is furnished— minimally and gorgeously — with coffee tables fashioned from Greek marble and ceramic vessels crafted by local artist Andreas Makaris. I visited his atelier and he guided me as I spun a bowl, one of many experiences that filled my dreamy days.
I stayed in the family’s flagship hotel, Canaves Epitome, which opened in 2018, and where I sensed something increasingly rare in the luxury hotel space. The glamour here was not the white-hot pretentious kind, but the warm and earthy version: in the spare but exquisite room and the understated yet flawless service. “True luxury is also about
plants, gardens, space and total privacy,” said Markos. “That’s why we created this sanctuary.”
We were chatting over an al-fresco breakfast. Birds trilled in 700-year-old olive trees that the family shipped to Santorini, where the volcanic earth allows little to flourish besides cherry tomatoes and grapes. It’s hard to decide what was more pleasing — the scent of jasmine drifting around our table or my fragrant bowl of kagianas, a sublime concoction of scrambled eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes and local sausage.
We discussed Santorini’s reputation for overcrowding, which may have been, in recent years, a deterrent (although it is Mykonos that regularly makes news for price-gouging tourists). In fact, says Markos, the island, especially Oia, is highly resistant to overdevelopment due mainly to legislation made when his father served as mayor, including a law forbidding the construction of any new establishment without another one being closed. “People said, ‘You’re killing the destination!’ But what he was really doing was saving it.”
Markos’ current mission, he said, is to preserve and promote the Santorini he knew growing up, spending every summer and holiday there. “This will always be a destination because of the natural beauty and the energy,” he said. “But it’s up to us to offer not just a hotel but a whole experience that’s different and authentic to this island.”
The streets in Oia were busy but not congested. Ambling through town, showered in sunshine, I ordered tender pork souvlaki wrapped in a pita that I ate on a whitewashed step overlooking the sea. The hotel arranged for a catamaran to sail around the caldera to the hot springs, where I had a soothing swim. On deck, I showered off the strong residue of sulfur. That and the panorama of black and white lava cliffs reminded me that this is still an active underwater volcano.
One afternoon, I sojourned to the island’s premier winemaker, Sigalas. It was quiet there, almost contemplative. The head of hospitality, Labrini Kouvatsi, led me through the grapevines, which are gathered into round baskets fashioned from older vines to protect them from dryness and the salt wind. The soil was a remarkable red, black and white volcanic ash. “There is not a lot of production, but the quality is outstanding,” she told me as I sipped an assortment of citrusy whites and peppery reds.
I descended past dramatic escarpments from the hotel to the port of Ammoudi and the hotel’s taverna, Armeni. There, I feasted on grilled prawns, tomatoes and feta and red snapper that was swimming that morning. I saw mules on the hillside and recognized it as the place I had been with my parents years ago. I smiled at the memory of my absurd footwear and my mother laughing herself to tears.
I sensed that Santorini — the perfume in the wind and my elegantly minimal room with a private pool, where I watched the sun set over the Aegean — might occupy my daydreams in icy winter. I ate decadently and slept deeply. My time in Oia was escapism with a twist. I didn’t simply laze on a beach. I engaged with the village, the sea and my past, and fell hard for the rugged landscape. I will not wait another fifty years to return.
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Five of the world’s hottest interior designers and A-list creatives share their best advice for an inspired and joyful holiday at home.
BY SUZANNE ZUCKERMAN
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. UNLESS, of course, you’re spinning out about cooking, hosting extended family and friends, managing travel logistics, readying your spaces and sourcing (and wrapping) piles of gifts. No doubt, holiday pressure can pile up faster than a mid-December snowdrift. To turn down the temperature on the yuletide frenzy and amp up the comfort and joy, we asked a who’s who of tastemakers — from interior designer Nate Berkus to makeup mogul Bobbi Brown — how they maximize delight and minimize midwinter meltdowns. Consider this your invitation into their homes and sacred spaces to learn how they deck their halls. While the experts all approach the season differently, they share a common sentiment: The last two weeks of December are about indulgence, creativity and connection. Whether your plans include celebration or hibernation, may your days be merry and bright.
ate Berkus created “quiet luxury” before it was a thing. The Minnesota-raised designer and bestselling author first rose to fame in 2002 as Oprah’s go-to interiors expert. But he has since created an empire all his own (just ask his 1.9 million Instagram followers). With his namesake furnishings, textile and window collections as well as the highend residential design firm he founded at age 24, Berkus is beloved for his unique mix of classic elements and unexpected pops of daring. Enter a Nate Berkus–designed room, and beyond the foundational background of checkerboard flooring, brass finishes and creamy neutral upholstery, you might find a Calacata Turquoise Antico marble countertop, a vintage Parisian-style mirrored wall or a black bouclé settee. His ability to create spaces that simultaneously soothe and surprise sets him apart. And his skill at transforming homes into sanctuaries that feel modern and timeless has only sharpened over the decades. Here, he shares his favorite Midwestern holiday traditions and advice for making your house a haven. It’s no wonder that when we asked him about his dream holiday travel destination, he replied, “Home.”
On Minnesota Memories
I was raised in Minnesota and Southern California, so I celebrated the holidays on the West Coast every year with my dad and that side of the family. When I was 7, my father and stepmother got me a battery-powered police motorcycle you could ride. I still remember that morning. But returning to the Midwest every January tan and wearing skateboarding clothes did not make me particularly popular in middle school. I still feel nostalgic for the Minnesota of my childhood: the [now-closed] Ralph Lauren store on Nicollet Mall, Dayton’s department store and Boundary Waters [wilderness sanctuary]. Now, when I’m in Minneapolis, I love to visit the Walker Arts Center and sculpture garden, downtown Wayzata and the antiques shops on Main Street in Hopkins. I love Lunds & Byerlys’ wild rice soup and anything from Leeann Chin [Chinese restaurant]. I love broccoli casserole. I also love stuffing. Being from Minnesota, I’ll eat almost anything served in Pyrex.
On Global Tables
I like when my eye travels around a room and lands on something that tells a story — an object that evokes memories and is unique to your family. That, to me, is what the holidays are about, however you choose to celebrate. Decorate your tree or tablescapes using meaningful keepsakes. I don’t cook, so setting the table is always my job, and I love it. I keep it simple and the color palette muted, using texture and gold and brass elements rather than reaching for traditional holiday decor. I mix things found in different countries, like woven placemats from Mexico with Italian porcelain plates and lots of candles in vintage candlesticks. Also, don’t leave setting the table to the last minute. I always do it the night before, even though getting me off the sofa after a meal is tough!
On
Garlands Galore
Nothing nods more to the holiday season than fresh greenery in your entryway, on your mantel or weaving up your staircase. Fresh branches in a vase add a festive touch in guest rooms. [Berkus is a fan of pale marble or textured stone planters, as seen here in his apartment in Manhattan’s West Village.]
On Luxe Linens
I love gifting two sets of white towels because who can’t use a new set? I’ll usually tie them with ribbon and write a personal note. Making your holiday guests feel cared for when they visit is essential. Crisp white sheets and a cozy throw, a reading light and a carafe of water with a glass next to the bed are welcoming touches. I always put new towels and bath mats in the bathroom. If I’ve read a good book recently that I think my guests will enjoy, I’ll leave a copy on the bedside table.
On Rejecting Resolutions
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because they often make people feel bad when they don’t follow through. I try to live intentionally year round.
ward-winning French designer and architect Laura Gonzalez is unlike any other interiors expert working today. With galleries in Paris and Manhattan, she’s the living embodiment of what the French call “Art de Vivre” — a maximalist mash-up of fearless decorator, skilled engineer, creative craftswoman and avant-garde artist. She wears her many hats lightly, letting her imagination unfurl into every boundarypushing, breathtaking space she touches. Within the private homes, chic Parisian eateries and five-star hotels she designs, you'll find eclectic mixes of the unexpected — a fantastical chandelier with dangling glass flowers, a Medusa-inspired end table with undulating brass legs, rich brocade drapes, a tomato-red lacquer desk. She has designed boutiques for L’Occitane, Louboutin and Cartier, including the iconic jewelry house’s landmark Fifth Avenue mansion. Rizzoli has published a book of her projects around the world. Here, she discusses the pleasures of her annual holiday at her country house in Normandy.
On Throwing Down
My house in Mainneville, Normandy, is my favorite place to go for the holidays. I like to be in my bubble with my family during this time. Christmas and New Year’s Eve have a special place in my heart, with our unmissable Christmas tree. I love to add warmth and comfy touches in every room; I cover the sofas and beds with soft throws. It is simply the most precious time.
On Sculptural Vases
As the daylight is rare, I love to compensate with colorful garlands inside the house for a unique winter glow. I also add beautiful vases, matching them with the season’s flowers. My favorite vases at the moment are by Nicolette Johnson, a Brisbane, Australia–based ceramic artist.
On Vibrant Meals
I like having lots of people around the table. I also love to cook with my children. My favorite dish for the holidays is seafood risotto. It's simple but very chic at the same time. I’ll pair it with a dry French white wine like Chablis or Pouilly Fumé. I collect glassware from flea markets in different places I’ve traveled. I am especially drawn to plates, glasses and cutlery. Christmas is a perfect excuse to show them off and create a beautiful, colorful table.
On Gilded Gifts
Sharing my children’s excitement about presents and celebrations is one of my greatest pleasures. To friends, I usually offer very arty gifts — small objects that can be useful and decorative simultaneously, like little pocket mirrors or beautiful jewelry boxes. My favorite ones this year are pretty marquetry boxes made by L’Atelier Jallu.
On Soaking It All In
I am a big fan of candles; they add a particular atmosphere. To make my guests feel at home, I also like to place a small coffee table near the bath, with a body sponge and a wide choice of soaps so they can feel free to use their favorite.
On Good Intentions
I prefer small intentions to big resolutions. Rather than trying to change everything, I focus on what I can improve daily. It’s a gentler approach, I think. New Year’s resolutions are about cultivating a positive mindset and setting goals that feed our well-being.
On Making Beautiful Music
The gifts I love to receive are those from my closest loved ones, especially when they add to some of my collections, like rings or crystals. The best gift I’ve given recently is an art deco rosewood piano to my husband, Benjamin, a music lover. He started playing a year ago but has learned faster than I did with 10 years of lessons! The piano is Danish and dates back to the 1950s. It arrived on the morning of Christmas Eve, an event for the whole family.
tylist. Fashion and beauty influencer. Brand ambassador. Kahlana Barfield Brown is a major player in the social media game. Privately, though, she nurtures another passion — interior design. As a new L.A. homeowner, “I will talk to you about cleaning supplies, detergent for the best-smelling towels and Christmas ornaments all day,” the former InStyle beauty director confesses. “I love fashion, but I would rather talk about interiors than shoes and bags any day!” During the holidays, the Seattle native hews closely to the minimalist-chic aesthetic that defines her coveted fashion looks. She’s drawn to silver-andglass lighting, stone furnishings and culture-defining coffee table books — all an extension of the sophisticated simplicity she cultivates in every aspect of her life. “I think about designing my home like putting together an outfit,” she says. “The look is clean, architectural and interesting but never over the top.”
On Fashion as Inspiration
If clothing brand The Row were a house, that would be my design style. Very minimalist. After years in fashion, my wardrobe is almost a uniform. My palette is black, white, ivory or tan. I learned years ago I would get more wear out of investing in neutral blazers with interesting embellishments, fitted tops to highlight the waist and amazing, oversized pants in unique shapes than I would with trendy colors or patterns you wouldn’t be caught dead in after one season. Now, I might be in all-white, but my shirt will be asymmetric, or the silhouette will be unexpected. I take that same approach at home. A neutral palette never goes out of style. You can always bring the look to life with pops of color. Some might find it boring, but it feels fresh and classic to me. I love clean lines, balance and eye-catching details. I want to be as comfortable in my living space as I am in my clothes.
On Holiday Drip
I lived in a small box [apartment] in New York City for most of my life. Now that we are in L.A., it’s the first time I’ve had the space to do the whole
Christmas thing. So I invested in a beautiful Balsam Hill tree and covered it in clear glass teardrop ornaments that look like dripping icicles. They look so luxe, but they’re super affordable from Amazon! I used to be a gold jewelry girl but lately I’m loving silver. It’s less flashy and more elegant. Last year, I placed giant decorative silver CB2 orbs under the tree. It’s a classic Christmas look I’ll want to revisit every December. I love coming home to this beautiful tree that lights up our space and puts us all in the holiday spirit.
On Winter Whites
I like my house to feel like no one lives here. That’s very challenging when you have two kids! But they know not to eat anywhere near our vintage seventies white fabric semicircle couch. My mom begged me not to get it. She was like, “You have children. You are not going to be able to keep it white.” But I’m so glad I did. It’s also such a joy to have fresh white tulips or roses everywhere. It’s like a gift I give to myself every week. The Empty Vase in L.A. makes the most beautiful arrangements, with the stems twirled decoratively around the vessel. They’re always my centerpiece when I’m entertaining. I’ll also bring out metallic, snowflake-inspired placemats and clear glass hurricanes. My white porcelain plates have a silver border. That’s as far as I go with color. The tree has lights embedded in the branches, so you click a button to switch them from white to colorful. My girls come home from school and turn on the colored lights, and I’m like, “No!” I am allergic to those lights! I’m always going behind them and switching back to the all-white lights.
On Storytelling Shelves
I can’t just display pretty books. They have to be meaningful to me. I have fashion books on Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton and Virgil Abloh. But I also love rap, so I have Jay-Z and Tupac biographies. My shelves reflect a mix of culture — art, fashion, music, Black history. I always return to my books by Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela. So when someone looks at my shelves, they will understand what I value. They’ll see me.
On Hostess Glam
When hosting, I wear black or white maxi skirts and a blazer, perhaps with feathers on the sleeve. My go-to look is white nail polish, a matte red lip and a sleek bob. My favorite blue-based red lipsticks are MAC Ruby Woo or Bawse Lady by The Lip Bar. I wear them with a brown lip liner — Makeup Forever in Limitless. Some people constantly experiment with their look, but I figured out what works for me and stuck with it.
os Angeles–based designer Tiffany Howell, founder of Night Palm Interiors, began her career in film and fashion, including as director of the music video studio for iconic fashion photographer Herb Ritts. So it’s no surprise that sexy, cinematic spaces are her signature. Howell thinks of each project as a “visual poem,” drawing inspiration from references like eighties music, floral Gucci campaigns and Mediterranean villas. The results are glamorous, texture-rich rooms, often accented with historical French wallpaper, custom wood furnishings and jewel-like vintage sconces. Her talents have been tapped by industry insiders like Hollywood actors, celebrity real estate agents, screenwriters, top wellness gurus and authors. At holiday time, however, her focus is on family and flowers, heirlooms and silk robes — all imbued with their own romance.
On Lush Living
I would never design a home that is not cozy. My word that I probably use too much — as my team will tell you— is “lush.” Seating must feel lush, both aesthetically and from a sensory perspective. I love sculptural objects, but I will find a way to make every room feel lived in. I do complete comfort studies with my clients to personalize their furniture. Some like ergonomic seating. Some like it cushy. But I avoid anything too heavy or clunky.
On Soft Hues
I’m drawn to holiday colors but more muted versions, like rust reds and mint greens. For example, we selected teal velvet couches because this client liked green and blue. That house could be seen as bold and wild, but because of the color palette, it has a lushness. I may pick a pink, like the one in the bathroom (opposite, upper right), but it’s not jarring. I custommade that paint by finding a vintage dress then color-matching it. The walls are painted in a tadelakt finish, an age-old technique that feels like Venetian plaster.
On Moody Lighting
I change my spaces for the holidays by bringing in more lighting as it gets darker earlier. I love creating a cozy vibe with candles and lamps everywhere. I try to incorporate artful moments into the architecture and find interesting objects nobody else has, like vintage sconces from 1stDibs or Chairish. I like to translate ideas from fashion into interiors, so I think of lighting as jewelry for the room.
On Hollywood Hospitality
I know the favorite smells of everyone in our family. So if they come to stay, I’ll find a related candle or create a flower arrangement of peonies
or citrus branches I know they’ll love. I’m obsessed with this Lola James Harper room spray that I keep gifting and falling in love with. They made a fragrance sold at Colette in Paris, so it brings me right back there. If my guest is a fan of, say, Pablo Neruda, I’ll put a vintage book of his on the bedside table. And I’m all about giving guests super plush Four Seasons robes or vintage silk kimonos and slippers. I want them to feel like they’re in a beautiful hotel.
On Vintage Barware
For this Hollywood Hills project (pictured here), I selected beautiful vintage Christian Dior dinnerware and Gucci barware for my client. My own entertaining bar gets significantly beefed up during the holidays, with beautiful vintage glassware and trays from my travels. I don’t keep a holiday table permanently set because my son would dance on it and break everything.
On Heirloom Magic
The holidays are a time for nostalgia and connection. My favorite gifts of all time are handwritten letters from my son that I keep in a vintage art
deco box. I lean into romance during Christmas but not with traditional decorations. Listen, my husband is totally like, “The nutcrackers are coming out!” And I’m like, “No more nutcrackers! No more Santas and weird elves!” But it is a time to reflect on what’s important to you, to express yourself and honor your history. The holidays can be challenging, so I try to surround myself with objects that bring me joy. I’ll set out many personal mementos, tableware and linens I typically don’t want to see all year. Heritage pieces like beautifully mismatched plates from my grandmother, or I’ll fill her pitchers with dahlias. I bring out all the old poetry books I grew up with or the nostalgic Dr. Seuss books I read to my son every Christmas and place those all around.
On a Sensory Experience
In my home, all the senses are awakened. I love the scents of evergreen and whisky because they remind me of my grandfather. We’ll watch When Harry Met Sally a million times. I’m obsessed with jazz and I’ll listen to Chet Baker’s rendition of “Winter Wonderland.” I want to be surrounded by things that bring me closer to the people I love.
obbi Brown essentially invented “no makeup makeup” — building a blockbuster brand based on the once-revolutionary idea that we look best when we enhance our features rather than try to transform them. If you wore makeup in the nineties, you were probably obsessed with her rum raisin lip pencil. Consider her accomplishment: Her products went viral three decades before TikTok. And Brown hasn’t stopped innovating since. The Chicago native once again took the cosmetics business by storm with the 2020 launch of Jones Road, a clean makeup-skincare hybrid beloved for its pots of multipurpose Miracle Balms, setting the standard for natural beauty a second time. Just a few years earlier, Brown poured her passions for design and travel into The George, a landmark inn in Montclair, New Jersey, the hip New York City suburb where she raised her three kids. Thanks to an extensive renovation, the historic building has been reborn as a 31-room boutique hotel, where art nodding to famous Georges — from President Washington to the Beatles’ Harrison to Seinfeld’s Costanza — abounds. Whether celebrating the holidays there or at her waterfront Hamptons home, Brown takes an equally artful yet down-to-earth approach. One formula she hasn’t improved upon: believing authenticity is the main ingredient for beauty — and betting on herself.
On Easy Entertaining
I may not be a great cook, but I’m a great entertainer. I believe in having everything prepared before the first guest arrives. I’m the host but also want to enjoy the party! I don’t typically use chefs, but I'll often bring in delicious food from my favorite takeout spots. I love a beautiful platter, so I’ll get amazing cheeses from our local shop. I’ll serve something extra special like caviar with all the fixings in my most beautiful pottery bowls. It makes it look like you had it professionally catered. And I don’t mind splurging to bring someone in to help with the cleanup. It makes a perfect night of entertaining stress free.
On Moderation and Meditation
I do my best to maintain my regular exercise routine and healthy eating habits, even when my calendar is full of holiday parties and work commitments. If I do indulge, I try to do it in moderation. My favorite cocktail is one I invented called "The Bobbi Rocks." It’s a large ice cube, fresh cucumber juice, a squeeze of lemon juice and clean vodka like Tito’s or Belvedere. If I eat French fries or have an extra cocktail, I enjoy it in the moment. But then I’ll eat clean for the next few days and get back on track without feeling guilty. I love the first few weeks of January. After indulging during the holidays, I reset and recharge myself. I also try to take five minutes out of the day to slow down and take a breath. That habit doesn’t always last, but it’s an excellent way to start the year.
On Festive Faces
If you love a red lip, make a strong statement with a matte finish. ’Tis the season for it! Pair it with some pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. When picking a red, start with the texture. A sheer balm or lip tint is forgiving, so you can choose a brighter or deeper shade. But if you’re like me and feel more comfortable with a neutral lip, use a poppy red on your nails. That’s my signature look. Then accentuate your eyes and cheeks. Top off a pop of blush with shimmery highlighter on your cheekbones. You can get dramatic eyes in just a few easy steps: First, define your brows with a brow pencil. Add some smoky gray shadow on your lids for definition. Line your top lash line with black pencil, then finish with three coats of black mascara. Now you’re party-ready!
On Signature Swag
I love to gift a leather picture frame or a chic domino set. Whether at our home or our hotel, I’ll stock guest rooms with small comforts like healthy snacks — fresh fruit, raw almonds, plain yogurt — and bottled water with sliced lemon to keep everyone well-hydrated. Finally, I always leave a Jones Road lip balm, a Hippie Stick (an all-over face, body and hair balm) or our Fragrance in Shower as a special gift.
On Travel Traditions
Blue water and white sand make the Caribbean my happy place. In the Bahamas, we stay at Baker’s Bay. But the best holiday travel experience I’ve ever had was taking a safari with my extended family to the Londolozi Game Reserve [in South Africa]. Wherever I am, I love to be in a luxurious hotel bed. Give me clean, crisp sheets, the TV remote, a charger for all my electronics and a comfortable bathrobe, and I am one happy girl.
Audio | Visual | Lighting | Shades
Photographer: Spacecrafting
by
coldwell banker Realty
The Holiday PROPERTY GALLERY 1482 HUNTER DRIVE | MEDINA | $5,140,000 PROPERTY FEATURED ON PAGE 128
Cover Represented by DREW HUELER
Photo Courtesy of Spacecrafting
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Season’s Greetings! We warmly welcome you to the Property Gallery by Coldwell Banker Realty. As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to share the beauty and joy of this festive time with you. We invite you to explore the charm and elegance of our featured properties, each one a perfect backdrop for creating cherished holiday memories. Our gallery is more than just a showcase of stunning homes; it’s about helping you find a place to truly call your own.
Our dedicated agents are equipped with extensive training and a wide network of resources, ensuring you receive top-notch advice and support throughout your journey. For sellers, we provide a comprehensive 360° marketing strategy that includes national brand advertising, digital and print promotions, and access to our entire network of agents. For buyers, we offer expert insights into local market trends, pricing, and availability, giving you a competitive edge and the confidence to navigate any challenges that may arise. With Coldwell Banker, you can approach the complexities of the real estate market with ease and assurance.
Lake1 #1 in Minneapolis1 #1 in Minnetonka1 #1 in Orono1 #1 in St. Paul1 #1 in Wayzata1 #1 in Luxury
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Whether you’ve been a lifelong resident of Minnesota or Western Wisconsin, or you’re starting a new journey in this beautiful part of the Midwest, we are thankful for the chance to assist with your real estate needs, both now and in the future. If you’re considering listing your home or are ready to find your dream property, feel free to visit any of our Coldwell Banker Realty offices and connect with one of our fantastic, affiliated agents. You can also start your journey any time at ColdwellBankerHomes.com.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with peace, joy, and a sprinkle of real estate magic. Here’s to new beginnings, celebrations, and discovering the perfect place to build your future. Happy holidays from all of us at Coldwell Banker Realty!
Brian Bolier Regional Vice President Minnesota and
7 BR 10 BA | $5,140,000
Seated on over 10 pristine acres on Mooney Lake, this storied estate exudes quiet elegance. Impeccable, French-inspired design and finishes throughout. Grounds include outdoor pool, tennis court, horse stable and more. Less than 10 minutes to downtown Wayzata. 5810 HARDSCRABBLE CIRCLE | MINNETRISTA
5
Custom-built,
314
5
Seated on an
5 BR 6 BA | $5,000,000
Unprecedented opportunity on upper Lake Minnetonka - sweeping water views and nearly 300 feet of lakeshore. 3.72 acres of wooded privacy. Co-listed with Meredith Howell.
4 BR 6 BA | $2,995,000
This expertly crafted home in coveted Mirror Oaks features exquisite, hand-selected finishes throughout. Backyard is a true oasis and features outdoor kitchen, saltwater pool and spa, firepit and mature landscaping.
Charlez
wetland
4
This
2
Award-Winning
5
3
Privacy
5
1655
4 BR 6 BA | $9,995,000
Landmark Lake Minnetonka estate offering 2.8 acres overlooking 350' of southwest facing shoreline! Timeless East Coast architecture, breathtaking panoramic water views. Newly remodeled carriage house. Orono schools.
6 BR 7 BA | $7,799,000
Lake Minnetonka masterpiece! This custom-built home offers an open floorplan, theater, attached pool house and unparalleled views of Smithtown Bay. Private 1.7 acre setting with 210' of lakeshore. Sandy beach. Minnetonka schools.
4603
6 BR 7 BA | $3,999,000
19955 COTTAGEWOOD AVENUE | DEEPHAVEN
4 BR 6 BA | $7,999,000 | SOLD
Stunning Swan + Streeter collaboration! This custom-built home offers main-level living with elevator, golf simulator, UV pool, hot tub and 140' of south facing rip-rap shoreline with private beach. Enjoy all the amenities Cottagewood has to offer!
20395 PARK PLACE | DEEPHAVEN
5 BR 5 BA | $4,495,000
Completed new construction by Vine Hill Partners! Open floorplan and walls of windows offering natural light-filled spaces. 4 bedrooms + loft on the upper-level. Indoor sport court. Premier .49 acre Cottagewood setting. Minnetonka schools.
4 BR 5 BA | $3,895,000
Impeccable remodel by Hage Homes! Enjoy the open floorplan offering a spacious vaulted great room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the golf course. Amenities: office, exercise room, sunroom with fireplace & 4-car garage. Private cul-de-sac setting. 2119 E. LAKE OF THE ISLES PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS
Beautifully remodeled home offering sunset views over Lake of the Isles! Gourmet kitchen with doors opening to the patio, the perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living. 4 BR + office on the upper-level. Attached 2-car garage with private driveway.
3 BR 4 BA | $3,195,000
Beautifully sited on the Fagerness Point peninsula, offering unparalleled sunrises + sunsets! This home is completely remodeled inside and out featuring an open flowing floorplan with walls of windows showcasing breathtaking panoramic lake views!
4 BR 4 BA | $2,899,000
Thoughtfully designed by PKA Architecture and built by Hage Homes, this modern European home offers high-end finishes and details at every turn. Ideally sited to showcase west-facing lake views and maximize privacy. 1971 FAGERNESS POINT ROAD | ORONO
721
5 BR 5 BA | $2,095,000
Build your dream home on this gorgeous 1.8 acre setting in highly sought-after Highcroft! Walk to shops + restaurants and all the amenities downtown Wayzata has to offer! Open to all builders. Wayzata schools.
5 BR 5 BA | $2,624,900
Premier Wayzata Highlands neighborhood! This beautifully designed home offers an open floorplan, main-level living and walls of windows looking out to the private backyard. Space for a pool! Walk to Lake Minnetonka, shops + restaurants! Wayzata schools.
Completed new construction! Gorgeous open floorplan with modern finishes, 4-season porch with fireplace. 4 bedrooms + large bonus room on the upper-level. Exercise room + sport court alternative. Wayzata schools. 8800 SUNSET TRAIL |
6 BR 6 BA | $1,799,000
Private retreat sited on 2.7+ acres at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac! Enjoy the open floorplan with vaulted ceilings, unparalleled woodwork details and walls of windows showcasing endless nature views. Attached pool house, 5-car garage.
4
Classic lakeshore home in the heart of Excelsior! Panoramic views from nearly every room. This well-appointed home features multiple gathering spaces including a wrap-around screened porch with miles of Lower Lake views to Big Island and beyond.
3
4
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Stylish modern design on Lake Minnetonka. This exquisite home features clean architectural lines and walls of glass flooding the interior with natural light. High-end finishes and open design evoke the feel of life on the water.
612.860.4222
mbaker@cbrealty.com
2388 W. LAKE OF THE ISLES PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS
4 BR 5 BA | $4,599,000
Iconic Lake of the Isles Cotswold Cottage home. Beautiful light-infused interiors, refined sophistication, panoramic vistas, and an extensive 2020 renovation. This home represents the highest level of design & detail, a work of art!
1875 TROY LANE | PLYMOUTH
4 BR 3BA | $1,789,000
180 feet of serene lakeshore on Mooney Lake. This exceptional, mid-century-modern masterpiece is set on a secluded 2-acre wooded lot. Stunning views from windows galore. Walk out to a gradual trail leading to your private lakeshore oasis.
4820 HAMILTON LANE | MINNETONKA
3 BR 3 BA | $1,065,000
This remarkable Streeter/Stinson residence is absolutely pristine perfection. Artfully integrated onto an exceptional, elevated lot. Walls of glass frame a serene, heavily wooded pond setting. Open yet intimate. This is a truly special home.
2201 ISENGARD STREET | MINNETONKA
5 BR 8 BA | $3,995,000
This commanding and distinctive home is on a lot that offers complete privacy. A five-bedroom, eight-bathroom masterpiece infused with irreplaceable style and relaxed warmth. A sanctuary 15 minutes from downtown, the airport, and Lake Minnetonka!
5804 VERNON LANE | EDINA
3 BR 3BA | $1,199,000
Coveted Vernon Lane. This masterpiece is remarkably designed, quality built, and simply sparkles! Ideally situated onto an exceptional lot with elevated views of nature and a pond setting. Meticulously maintained. Many Updates. This is it!
3942 HAVEN ROAD | MINNETONKA
5 BR 4 BA | $939,000
An amazing two-story, walk-out home set in a pristine and private cul-de-sac. Customdesigned with an open floor plan and a magnificent sunroom overlooking the private parklike yard. Breathtaking views and sun-drenched spaces. Meticulous!
GEORGE W. STICKNEY
952.476.3694
gstickney@cbrealty.com
DAVID STICKNEY
952.250.0122
djstickney@cbrealty.com
370 FERNDALE ROAD W. | WAYZATA
4 BR 5 BA | $5,499,000
Experience the epitome of upscale living in this stunning prairie-style home designed by SKD Architects, exquisitely set along Wayzata’s Gold Coast in the coveted Highcroft neighborhood. Relish the recently remodeled main level, boasting a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen and owner’s suite that is a true sanctuary.
535 & 555 BUSHAWAY ROAD | WAYZATA
LOT/LAND | $8,995,000 & $7,995,000
Two of the finest estate sites on Lake Minnetonka. 535 Bushaway Rd with 3.62 acres encompassing 300 feet of prime west facing lakeshore and 555 Bushaway Rd with 2.7 acres encompassing 240 feet of level west facing lakeshore on prestigious Wayzata Bay. Stunning sunset views and ideal close-in location with walking paths to Wayzata village.
952.250.2015
kwstickney@cbrealty.com
JACOB STICKNEY
952.250.1267
jmstickney@cbrealty.com KEVIN STICKNEY
3375 GRAHAM HILL ROAD | ORONO
5 BR 6 BA | $3,995,000
Incredible custom-built home on one of the finest sites in Orono’s high-demand estate neighborhood, Graham Hill Preserve. Thoughtfully designed floor plan with beautiful prairie-style architectural details, including floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the home, showcasing the stunning natural retreat-like setting with panoramic treetop views.
1382 HUNTER DRIVE | MEDINA
5 BR 6 BA | $2,995,000
Located on the Gold Coast of Medina, this estate offers 7.5 acres of complete privacy with 300 feet of shoreline on Mooney Lake. Beautifully remodeled, this main level living home boasts exquisite craftsmanship and stunning views. The grounds feature a tennis court, pool, travertine patios, gazebo, barn, and riding arena. All just minutes from Wayzata.
952.476.3694
gstickney@cbrealty.com
952.250.0122
djstickney@cbrealty.com
650
4 BR 4 BA | $1,050,000
952.250.2015
kwstickney@cbrealty.com
952.250.1267
jmstickney@cbrealty.com
Incredibly maintained two-story colonial home set upon a private wooded 2.19 acres in Orono Schools! Gracious open spaces with touches of the traditional. Great location with close access to Lake Minnetonka, Luce Line Trail, and downtown Wayzata. 6672
Nestled
5 BR 4 BA | $2,274,900
Superbly set upon a picturesque 9.2 acres of mature woods and wetlands in the Medina countryside. Completely remodeled in 2022 by Narr Construction, this Scandinavian influenced home showcases one-story living at its finest.
3 BR 3 BA | $850,000
Upgraded one-story walkout home on a premium private lot with breathtaking views of wetlands and woods. Bright open layout perfect for entertaining. Outdoor living is equally impressive with a large patio and a stunning gas firepit perfect for cozy gatherings.
4 BR 6 BA | $1,950,000
Elegant two-story home perfectly located just minutes from downtown Wayzata. Gracious rooms and open floorplan are perfect for all your entertaining needs. Manicured lawn and gardens lead to storybook poolside setting.
7217 PURPLE PARKWAY | CHANHASSEN
5 BR 4 BA | $995,000
Discover the lifestyle you've been dreaming of at The Park, in Chanhassen! This stunning Taylor floor plan by Lennar offers more than just a home—it's a way of life. This home looks and feels like it is brand new and is ready to offer you a lifestyle of comfort, convenience, and peace of mind.
170 WILDHURST ROAD | TONKA BAY
4 BR 4 BA | $2,999,000
Welcome to this inviting lakefront retreat, boasting 96 feet of west-facing shoreline on the serene Crescent Beach. Nestled on a peaceful, non-through street, this home is surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds, offering both privacy and tranquility. This home offers the perfect blend of luxury and laid-back lakeside living.
5925 RIDGE ROAD | SHOREWOOD
3 BR 5 BA | $1,050,000
This tastefully appointed soft contemporary residence offers a serene and picturesque retreat with lake views immediately upon entering. Providing a blend of comfort and style, offering a very private setting, it is an ideal sanctuary for those seeking tranquility and elegance.
2771 SHADYWOOD ROAD | ORONO
4 BR 4 BA | $3,300,000
Nestled on a picturesque 1.25-acre lot with 100 ft of Carman Bay’s pristine lakeshore, this exquisite property by Steiner & Koppleman showcases unparalleled craftsmanship. Whether relaxing by an indoor fire, enjoying the scenic porch views, or embracing the expansive outdoor spaces, this home offers unmatched lakefront living.
Exceptional home on Balsam Lake! 5+ acres, 242 feet of impeccable shoreline, oversized screen porch, perfect for entertaining! Teri Kampmeyer 612.308.1831 teri@cbrealty.com
1027 SUMMIT AVENUE | SAINT PAUL
5 BR 6 BA | $1,350,000
Historic Summit Avenue. Prestigious living on 3-levels. Vintage details. Elevator & ADA lift. Two-bedroom apartment. TJ Pierret 651.755.6669 tj@cbrealty.com
7212 FLEETWOOD DRIVE | EDINA
5 BR 5 BA | $1,249,000 | SOLD
Beautifully remodeled. Three amusement/family rooms, stunning office with handcarved details, dream garage and more. Perfect for daily living and entertaining. Carolyn Olson 952.270.5784 cholson@cbrealty.com
1867 HUNTER LANE | MENDOTA HEIGHTS
6 BR 7 BA | $3,950,000
Once in a lifetime views on this 2.25 acre lot ready for your dream custom or pre-designed new build with M&M Construction! Mike Distad 612.275.1343 mike@mikedistad.com
L u x u r y L e a d e r s
S e r v i n g t h e N o r t h w e s t M e t r o & b e y o n d
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S e r v i n g t h e T w i n C i t i e s & B e y o n d
C a r m e l R u b e l C a r v e r
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i k e D i s t a d 6 1 2 2 7 5 1 3 4 3 M i k e @ M i k e D i s t a d c o m N i c o l e
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Cindy Redmond 612 850 7015
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Kathy Sawicki 612 270 1001 KSawicki@CBRealty.com
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Eric Stafford 952 221 7751 | Eric Stafford@CBRealty com
Zinn Family Realtors 952 474 4444 ZinnFamily@CBRealty.com
MIDWEST EAST
COAST COLONIAL
Rehkamp Larson Architects designs an East Coast-inspired family home with an old soul.
BY LAURIE JUNKER
HOME DESIGN
ONE OF THE LESSER-SUNG BENEFITS OF LIVING ON a lake is the light. “Reflected off the water, it is incredible,” says architect Jean Rehkamp, “especially at sunrise and sunset.” The author and award-winning co-founder of Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc. is speaking in general — but also specifically about her latest project, an East Coastinspired Colonial on a quiet lake outside the Twin Cities. A return engagement for Rehkamp, who previously worked with the homeowners on another project, this home offered an opportunity to build on an established relationship. “There’s no higher compliment than repeat clients,” says Rehkamp. For this wooded site, the homeowners envisioned a home with formal architecture and a lively spirit, inspired by traditional Colonial homes they’d admired while spending time on the East Coast. The style demands symmetry (front door flanked by evenly spaced windows), which is part of the appeal. Rehkamp and team member Angela Taffe Wingate adhered to that convention with a few mindful deviations.
“The staircase would generally be in the center of a colonial house, but we wanted a clear view from the front entry through the house to the lake beyond,” Rehkamp explains. “So, we placed the stairs in a wing between the kitchen and primary suite.” Formally detailed, comfortably furnished rooms radiate off that front-to-back central hall, each proportioned to suit its purpose. Winsome nooks
and small enchantments are sprinkled throughout the house, architectural touches that would be common in older homes of this style. Take the porthole window over a built-in desk off the stairs that peers into the pantry, a slim French casement window bisecting the living bookcase, classic tile detailing or the delicate Grecian pattern metal vent covers. This house oozes charm.
The dining room is papered in a dreamy, hand-painted verdure mural by Iksel, a portion of which conceals a hidden jib door that pops open to reveal a sweet, soft pink China closet. Even unoccupied, the space evokes a sense of occasion. Across the hall, the kitchen and family room are a bit less formal and more open but share the same attention to detail as the rest of the house. It’s easy to envision the home full of family members engaged in various activities, reading by the fire in the living room, playing board games on the porch, baking cookies in the kitchen or watching a movie in the family room. “That’s the beauty of this layout,” says designer Sue Weldon. “Each room is inviting and scaled just right.”
Traditional homes can sometimes be dark, with less natural light due to smaller windows and a more closed layout. Rehkamp resolved the issue in various ways —
Architect: Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc
Builder: Streeter Custom Builder
Interior Designer: Sue Weldon
Landscape Architect: Keenan & Sveiven
creating wider openings between rooms, adding French doors off the living and dining room and including three stories of divided glass on the staircase. “So that views to the lake and reflected light are always part of the experience when moving between levels of the home,” she explains. Rehkamp added two cupolas (a more romantic alternative to skylights) in the mudroom and primary suite closet and Solatube [tubular daylighting devices] in the vaulted second-floor internal hallway to welcome light from above. Her goal was to capture daylight without sacrificing the authentic feel of the design. “It’s quite amazing how much natural light this house has without massive windows,” says Josh Crenshaw, project director and director of innovation at Streeter Custom Builder.
Weldon worked with the homeowners on finishing touches, selecting soft paint colors, subtle wallpaper and a mix of light fixtures. Antiques, newer pieces and an array of patterns, textures, and details like scalloped edges and rolled arms on furniture make the house feel established — like
it’s not trying too hard. One fun addition is a pull-down world map behind the kitchen banquette for the family to reference during meals and games
— a repeated detail from a previous home project with Rehkamp Larson. “We had a ball,” says Weldon.
The house’s grounds reflect the same sensibility, beginning with the long herringbone driveway and courtyard (you can almost hear the clipclop of horses’ hooves). “These clay pavers are an Old World material that will change color as they age,” says Landscape Architect Todd Irvine of Keenan & Sveiven. His understated design includes boxwood hedges, bobo hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and a feels-like-its-always-been-there limestone wall on the lakeside. Elegantly satisfying the five-foot pool safety fence requirement, the wall supports the pool, pool house and hot tub.
True to its inspiration, the home recalls Connecticut or Southampton. “It defines elegance,” says Rehkamp. “I love details, and this was a deep dive into all the layers and an incredible collaboration with all the players.”
QUEEN ANNE REVIVAL
Lecy Bros. restores a historic Victorian home on Lake Minnetonka to its original glory.
BY LAURIE JUNKER
“GO OUT ON A LIMB, THAT’S WHERE THE FRUIT IS,” could have been Dan and Kerima Brattland’s motto when they undertook a massive renovation of this historic Lake Minnetonka Victorian in 2019. “It had been on the market for a couple of years, but everyone wanted to tear it down,” Dan says. Demolition wasn’t an option due to the home’s Heritage Preservation Site designation, but that wasn’t what the Brattlands had in mind anyway. They envisioned restoring the 3,000-square-foot 1890 house to its turn-ofthe-century glory, with open porches sweeping around the three-story turret and period-appropriate finishes inside and out. Turns out, that was going to be the easy part. First, they had to deal with the crumbling limestone foundation, which had caused the walls and floors to shift and settle unevenly. “It was amazing that the house was still standing,” says Andy Johnsrud of Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling. The fix required lifting the house off the existing foundation to get underneath, excavate and construct a new foundation. Nobody was sure how the house would react to being hoisted up. “It held,” Johnsrud adds.
Known as the Milnor House after the one-time mayor of Excelsior, Walter Sears Milnor (1856–1931), the home was one of the first lakeside cottages in the area. “Milnor could’ve built anywhere on the lake, but he chose this spot for its proximity to town and views of Gideon Bay,” Dan points out. Once a graceful Queen Anne, much of the home’s elegant architecture had been denuded by a clumsy
Builder: Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling
Interior Designer: MartinPatrick 3
1970s remodel. That unfortunate undertaking committed a multitude of sins against the house by enclosing the lakeside porches and adding decade-revealing finishes like faux wood timbers and paneling, track lighting and a drop ceiling in the kitchen. Hardly any period treasures remained by the time the Brattlands got it, just the stained-glass windows in the turret (visible only from the outside, inexplicably boarded over on the interior), another stained-glass window in the service staircase and a 200-year-old copper weathervane.
According to Dan, few builders were interested in the project due to the risk involved. “You don’t know what you’re up against with a project like this and have to be able to stomach the unknowns and have the tradespeople who can handle it,” he says. “Lecy had the same passion for this that we did.” Other team members included Greg Walsh from MartinPatrick 3, the lead designer, and the Excelsior Heritage Commission, who advised on issues of historical fidelity.
Old photos of the home’s original exterior guided the restoration, but unfortunately, none existed of the interior, a chopped-up layout with sloping floors and slumping walls. Lecy needed to gut the home down to the studs to even things out and create a more workable floor plan for the Brattland family. During that process, the crew saved any original framing and trusses they could. “We were amazed at how the turret was framed. The craftsmanship was incredible,” says Johnsrud. The Excelsior
Heritage Commission provided valuable input to ensure new and old blend graciously and advised on window, siding, dormer and porch styles. Current building codes prevented the team from recreating everything; for example, the ornate porch railings were too low to meet those codes, but they did their best to get as close as possible.
The new floorplan is more open and puts the lake at center stage without sacrificing the look and feel of a historic home. The jewel is a curving grand staircase wrapped in raised panel wainscoting, placed to one side to ensure sightlines from the front of the house. “I wanted to see the lake from the front door,” Dan explains. Walsh continued the millwork throughout the rest of the house and added period flourishes like a ceiling medallion (the Victorians couldn’t resist the urge to gild even the ceilings) in the entryway.
These features and sympathetic light fixtures lend a traditional feel while opening up the house for better flow, views and access to the lake. There are also plenty of bedrooms for the couple’s four adult children, grandchildren, and guests, along with a discretely located elevator to ensure Dan and Kerima can age in place in their gilded age home.
“A house like this has lasted this long because of the craftsmanship and materials that went into it,” says Johnsrud. “We tried to do the same with this renovation, which will allow this home to continue to stand the test of time.”
SECOND NATURE
TEA2 Architects creates a luxurious Northwoods retreat that merges harmoniously with the landscape.
BY MERRITT BAMRICK
FROM THE FIRST CRUNCH OF THE GRAVEL DRIVE TO THE SWEEPING lake views sheltered by soaring timber ceilings, every architectural detail of this wooded haven is rooted in nature. The expansive retreat is nestled on Leisure Lake, a pocket of northwestern Wisconsin more secluded than the typical lakeside community. A communal feel was always top of mind for clients Kristi and Jeff Wisdom. “We envisioned a place where people could gather and soak in the beauty of the Northwoods in a relaxed yet luxurious way,” says Kristi. When she came across TEA2 Architects, she was immediately confident the award-winning team would be able to realize her vision of a wellness-centered abode.
Leffert Tigelaar, associate principal at TEA2, and Project Manager Ann Carlson-Yunga took cues from the 100-acre site when conjuring the rustic, contemporary retreat. A palette of steel, wood and stone connects the structure to its surroundings, providing a space that’s as comfortable for grand gatherings as it is for cozy weekends for the couple. The linear, cedar-sided cabin is offset by two gables, each distinctive in their own right: one defined by a tall window grouping that frames a three-story staircase, allowing light to enter deeply into the lower level, and the other accented by a commanding limestone chimney. “It’s a critical way of looking at the architecture,” explains Tigelaar. “We had to ensure it’s balanced without being 100% symmetrical.”
The floorplan unfolds behind a statement wall in the foyer, revealing a living area that offers a balance of openness and refuge. Its nave-like space features vaulted ceilings with industrial steel trusses and is lined with windows on both ends. Partnering with Country View Log Homes, the team thickened transitional walls. It incorporated built-in window bench seating to make the central space feel more grounded, providing a cozy sanctuary where you can gaze at panoramic water views. “The [window] seating simply becomes part of the surrounding architecture,” Tigelaar says. This strategic solution also allows large groups to feel part of a singular gathering, alleviating the need for multiple seating areas within one space. On the other side of the nave is the hearth room. Its low ceilings and cascade of limestone masonry anchor the large expanse of glass on the opposite end. The space also features an inviting Rumford-style fireplace, nearly as tall as it is wide. As the flooring transitions from wood to stone, the intimate setting creates the sensation of being inside the hearth — a getaway within the home’s grandeur.
Builder: Country View Log Homes
Architect: TEA2 Architects
Landscape Architect: TEN x TEN
Interior Designer: Studio Vesta
Connecting these two destinations is a live-edge extension dining table, which comfortably seats large groups for private retreats hosted by Wise & Well, a health and wellness company owned by the Wisdoms’ daughter, McKenzie. Guests gather underneath over three dozen hand-blown glass pendants, illuminating chef-crafted meals. For a quieter dining experience, guests can enjoy island seating or a built-in dinette booth in the kitchen. The intimate atmosphere is enhanced by a modest ceiling height and walnutwrapped cabinetry reminiscent of a classic Northwoods cabin. “The kitchen is the heart of our home. It’s where connection happens most,” adds Wisdom. It flows out to a sprawling stone patio where you can take in the sunrise or its watercolor reflections off the lake in the evenings while enjoying a slice of wood-fired pizza made in the outdoor oven. Behind the kitchen is an office nook and primary suite, while the upper level boasts a trio of bedroom suites. The lower level offers a generous bunk room, a vibrant communal space and a bar perfect for entertaining. Above it, a second circular patio softens the exterior architecture, evoking a labyrinth-like feel.
In addition to a pre-existing spa and guest house, which includes a sauna, a full kitchen and a living area complete with a fireplace, the estate highlights the wonderment of nature through intentional design. The team celebrated the site’s natural beauty by incorporating an amphitheater, which features retaining-wall style seating built directly into the bowl-shaped topography. This unique amenity provides a beautiful setting for naturalists to host educational engagements about the region’s flora and fauna. A community garden and natural flower and bee garden are enhanced by a 30-by-15-foot potting shed designed by TEA2. “We achieved aesthetic cohesion not by making everything identical but by integrating complementary elements just as nature does,” says Tigelaar.
The Wisdoms also partnered with Tiffany Weber of Studio Vesta for interior design and finish selections, as well as with landscape architects at TEN x TEN to develop thoughtfully designed walking trails. Each pathway elevates the journey between structures and highlights the extraordinary experiences throughout the acreage. That invitation to connect — through environment and architecture — is a hallmark of the service-oriented firm. Seamlessly merging the two is second nature.
THE EVEREST ENIGMA
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition, during which George Mallory and Sandy Irvine were last seen at 28,200 feet on the mountain’s Northeast Ridge. A century later, the question remains: Did they make it to the top 29 years before the first official ascent?
BY MARK SYNNOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY
“NO, NO, NO!” YELLED LHAKPA TENJE Sherpa. “Very Dangerous. Very Dangerous!”
I stood about 20 feet below him, my crampons skittering in a pile of loose rocks at 27,700 feet, high in what they call the “Death Zone” on the North Face of Mount Everest. I had just unclipped from the fixed ropes that climbers use as their umbilical cord on the way up and down from the summit, and this, I was now being told by this veteran guide, is something that you simply don’t do.
But I was on an entirely different mission than the other climbers on the mountain that year, and I had a very good reason for leaving the security of those ropes. It was the spring of 2019, and I was leading a team sponsored by National Geographic that was trying to solve one of the great mysteries of exploration: Who really was the first to stand atop the roof of the world? Officially, the tallest mountain on Earth was first ascended by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in May 1953. But there has always been a chance that pioneering British mountaineers, George Leigh Mallory and Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine might have beaten them to the punch.
Shortly after noon on June 8, 1924, Mallory and Irvine’s teammate Noel Odell scrambled atop a small limestone crag jutting from the North Face of Mount Everest. A thick cottony veil had enveloped the upper reaches of the mountain all morning, but as Odell turned his gaze towards the summit, 3,000 feet above him, the swirling cloud cap lifted. High on the Northeast Ridge, at what he later approximated to be 28,200 feet — just 800 feet shy of the summit — Odell spotted two tiny silhouettes going strong for the summit. “My eyes became fixed on one tiny black spot silhouetted on a small snow crest,” Odell would write a few days later in his diary. “The first then approached the great rock step and shortly emerged on top; the second did likewise. Then the whole fascinating vision vanished, enveloped in clouds once more.”
It was the last time Odell would ever see his two friends. At that moment, two of history’s greatest explorers — men decades ahead of their time, clad in wool and gabardine, hobnailed leather boots and homemade oxygen sets — vanished into the ether.
In the years since, clues as to what might have happened on that fateful day have been few and far between. A subsequent British expedition in 1933 found Irvine’s ice ax laying atop a rock slab not far from where he’d last been seen. Then, in 1999, my friend Conrad Anker found Mallory’s body on a ledge at 26,700 feet. Mallory lay face down, frozen into the ground, his arms outstretched overhead, bare fingers dug into the gravel. His jacket had been shorn from his body, and his right leg was broken cleanly above the top of his boot. Rope burns on the left side of his torso suggest that he had taken a hard, swinging fall. The rope itself was tangled around his body, its severed end whipping in the wind.
Anker and his companions searched Mallory’s pockets, finding a pair of green tinted goggles and a wrist watch missing its crystal that had
stopped working between one and two (but was that a.m. or p.m.?).
More significant, though, was what they didn’t find, namely the photo of Mallory’s wife, Ruth, which he had said he would leave on the summit. There was also no trace of Sandy Irvine, nor of the Kodak Vest Pocket camera, known as the VPK, that he is believed to have been carrying. If that camera could be found, and the film was salvageable and held snapshots of the summit, it could rewrite the history of the world’s tallest peak. In the meantime, new research had resulted in a set of GPS coordinates that might mark the spot of Sandy’s final resting place. This is what my team had come to investigate.
As I contemplated how Lhakpa might react if I disobeyed his order to clip back in, I took a moment to assess how I felt. Since setting off from Advanced Base Camp three days earlier, I had barely slept or ate. That morning, I had forced myself to choke down a bite of Snickers — only to vomit it on the front of my down suit. Lhakpa was right, of course. One slip and I would meet the same fate as the man I was trying to find. And after leading dozens of mountaineering expeditions all over the world, I had promised my wife and four children that I would never step over to the wrong side of the fence. But this mystery and this mountain that Tibetans call Chomolungma, which means “goddess mother of the world,” had by now all but consumed me. And so, against those promises and Lhakpa’s admonitions, I turned into the slope and began downclimbing into the unknown.
After traversing about 200 feet, I arrived atop a small rock step about as high and steep as a playground slide. It would have been inconsequential almost anywhere else, but up here in the Death Zone, in my depleted state, alone and without a rope, it was a daunting obstacle. Looking down, I took in the dizzying void between me and the glacier, 7,000 feet below. Then I removed the steel blade of my ax from the snow and stepped gingerly down onto the rock. My crampons grated on the sloping gray limestone, but they didn’t slip, and step after timid step, I made my way down.
At the bottom of the cliff, I stomped my foot into a panel of rock-hard snow, took a few deep breaths and paused to take in my surroundings. Balancing carefully, I reached into my suit and pulled out the GPS which hung from a string around my neck. It showed that I had arrived at the waypoint. Ten feet to my right lay a small alcove with a niche in the back that looked like the kind of place where a climber in distress might try to find shelter. My eyes opened wide.
Wind whispered through the thin air, and high above I could see the summit of Chomolungma etched against a pale blue sky. Fourteen thousand feet below, the arid plain of the Tibetan Plateau shimmered like a mirage. I had risked my life to reach this forlorn place. And I now knew with awful clarity that it had been a fool’s errand. The
niche was empty. Sandy Irvine wasn’t there. Unlike Mallory and Irvine — and so many others — I was allowed safe passage back to those fixed ropes, which led me down Chomolungma and back to my family. But I had failed in my quest to find that infamous camera and the images it might hold. Then, in the fall of 2021, about six months following the publication of my book, The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession and Death on Mt. Everest, a former high ranking official in the British Embassy dropped a bombshell that he had been sitting on for almost forty years.
According to my source (who has asked to remain anonymous), he attended a meeting at the headquarters of the Chinese Mountaineering Association in Beijing back in 1984. At this meeting, a woman named Pan Duo, who made the first female ascent of the North Face of Everest in 1975, told the diplomat that on the way to the summit her team stumbled upon a body high on the mountain. And on that body, they found the Kodak VPK. They brought the camera back to China and tried to develop the film. But they either botched it or the film was ruined. No images were recovered.
I assumed this would be the end of the story, but then in October 2024 came some stunning news out of Tibet: a National Geographic team led by my old climbing partner Jimmy Chin had found Sandy’s boot, with a sock labeled A.C. [Andrew Comyn] Irvine, on the Central Rongbuk Glacier, at the base of the North Face of Everest. At one point or another, it seems that Sandy did indeed fall to the bottom of the mountain.
The coincidence of this discovery happening on the 100 year anniversary of Sandy’s disappearance is almost too hard to believe, but as I have learned time and again with this story, sometimes real life is more incredible than anything we could make up.
My initial reaction when hearing this news was one of intense relief to finally know where Sandy rests in peace. But like all the other clues in this mystery, the boot offers more questions than answers, and, of course, the camera is still out there somewhere. If the story from the British diplomat is true, one possible place for the VPK to reside is the Tsering Chey Nga Snow Mountain Museum in Lhasa. And yes, I would like to visit this museum and ask its director if they have the VPK. But there’s another part of me, a stronger part, that is glad that I still don’t know what happened on that fateful day a century ago — and that the mystery of Mallory and Irvine endures.
And maybe that’s the nut of it all: In not knowing, the ending to this epic story is left to all of us. For me, this will always be a vision of those two intrepid souls, still going strong for the summit — despite the late hour of the day, and the odds stacked terribly against them.
Excerpted and adapted from The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession and Death on Mount Everest (Dutton, 2021).
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ONE OF ONE
The Anderson family and Nor-Son Custom Builders host a once-in-a-lifetime evening for the Antique & Classic Boat Society at the family’s private museum and boathouse on Gull Lake.
BY MELINDA NELSON
PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR CHRIS-CRAFT COLLECTORS, HACKER-CRAFT CONNOISSEURS and other classic boat enthusiasts, Friday, September 13, was an especially lucky day. As part of Woods and Water II, the Antique & Classic Boat Society’s (ACBS) International Show on the Gull Chain of Lakes, guests were invited to an exclusive fundraising dinner for ACBS at the Anderson family’s lakefront compound. Hosted by Lee and Penny Anderson and their son, Nor-Son Custom Builders CEO Andy Anderson, the evening offered an extraordinary opportunity to experience the family’s private boat museum and their majestic, Adirondack-inspired boathouse. Built by Nor-Son Custom Builders with meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, the museum and boathouse made a stunning backdrop for Baby Horace III, a 1923 International Sweepstakes Racer, Royaleze, a sleek 1929 Ditchburn boat from Canada and other iconic vessels.
Infused with the Anderson family’s signature warmth and hospitality, the evening began with Champagne and a special cocktail to celebrate the 100th birthday of Baby Bootlegger, a 1924 mahogany runabout and twotime winner of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup Races. After a presentation by Mark Mason, a vintage boat enthusiast who found Baby Bootlegger in a Florida junkyard and restored it to its original glory in 1982, guests dined on fresh seafood, prime rib sliders, paella and other delights as they explored the Andersons’ collection of boats, including Tolka, an impeccably restored 1928 limousine boat built in Alexander Graham Bell’s lab, plus classic cars, rare Native American artifacts and other treasures.
The evening at the Anderson compound was one of the many highlights of the week-long ACBS show, which brought hundreds of enthusiasts and their prized boats from Lake Minnetonka, Lake Michigan, Lake George, Lake Tahoe and other resort lakes across the United States and Canada. Guests enjoyed picture-perfect Minnesota weather, a shoreline cruise, a water ski
show, an evening at Fort Mahogany, a private museum founded by Lee’s longtime friend and fellow collector John Allen and a boat show at Allen’s Bar Harbor Supper Club on Gull Lake.
“Together, Lee Anderson and John Allen have the finest collection of wooden boats in North America, so for antique and classic boat enthusiasts, their private museums are like Versailles and the Louvre,” says Dave Bortner, chair of Woods and Water II. “What sets Lee and John apart from many other boat collectors is that they take their boats out on the lake and use them as they were intended. Restoring a boat so it can be enjoyed on the water requires much more commitment and craftsmanship than simply preserving it for display in a static environment.”
The Anderson family has been part of the Brainerd Lakes community for generations. Lee’s parents bought their first cabin on Nisswa Lake in 1943, and he inherited his love of wooden boats from his father, a passion he passed down to his children and grandchildren. “In 1985, my father bought his first antique wooden boat, a 19-foot 1938 Chris-Craft Sportsman. He christened it Katharine after my mother,” says Andy. “Since then, he’s rescued and restored many wooden boats that are more than a century old. Every boat in his collection is truly one of one — the only one of its kind in existence anywhere in the world. As stewards of these rare boats, my family is honored to be able to preserve, respect and take care of them for the next generation.”
The ACBS fundraising dinner reflected the Andersons’ commitment to quality, craftsmanship and stewardship — the same values that guide Nor-Son Custom Builders’ process of designing and building custom homes. Working with their clients, architects, interior designers, expert artisans and craftspeople, the Nor-Son team combines science with artistry to create legacy homes that will last for generations.
“Whether we’re refinishing a prize-winning mahogany boat and restoring its original World War II aircraft engine, renovating an ancient log cabin on Gull Lake or building a luxurious modern family home on Lake Minnetonka, we recognize that every project is one of one — a rare opportunity to build an enduring relationship with people who share our passion,” says Andy. “We’re so grateful to the Andersons, Nor-Son Custom Builders, John Allen and Bar Harbor Supper Club for creating these incredible experiences for our members and making Woods and Water II a resounding success,” says Bortner. “As longtime friends, Gull Lake neighbors and fellow vintage boat enthusiasts, their generosity helped take this year’s International Show to the next level. For many of our guests, this show was their first introduction to the Brainerd Lakes area and this uniquely Minnesotan way of life. The opportunity to see many of the world’s most famous vintage boats in person made the week truly memorable.”
Fall Winter 2024
Carlo Barbera, exclusive to Gladson Vitale Barberis, new Bamboo Collection, Hardy Mini’s London
Cloth by
Photo courtesy of Gladson New York
A DARWINIAN
DREAM
BY LEXI SUNBERG
“YOU SEE THAT POINTY BLACK ROCK PEAKING ABOVE THE green vegetation there? He’s about half a meter directly below that,” our naturalist Jaime said patiently as he handed a pair of binoculars to me … for a third time. He had spotted a Galápagos short-eared owl — a tricky sight to catch as its dark features and diminutive stature blend effortlessly into the shades of gray and black on the Galápagos’ island of Genovesa. I had been trying for at least five minutes to slowly move my gaze from the aforementioned pointy rock directly south, and I’d continued to come up dry. “Ugh, I still don’t see him!” I announced back to Jaime, aggravated that I was missing out on this IRL Planet Earth moment. I handed him back the binoculars, bewildered yet pleasantly surprised and impressed by the time and energy I was giving this. Me? Interested in birds?
It was a sun-soaked summer afternoon, and I had just embarked on a bucket-list adventure upon Aqua Expeditions’ Aqua Mare off the coast of the Galápagos’ Baltra Island. A welcome change from my city life, the expedition was structured similarly to a safari trip with twice-daily land and sea excursions. The Aqua Mare takes guests to five of the archipelago’s 13 primary and three smaller islands, including Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Santiago, Santa Fé and Española. Each island was distinct from the last. While one offered picturesque sandy beaches and sea lions, the next featured a vast stretch of rock inhabited by land iguanas, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds (the males utilize their iconic red-throat pouches to attract females). The ship, which stakes its claim as the Galápagos’ first actual superyacht experience, features seven luxury cabins, offering a maximum of 16 guests an intimate travel experience with a 1-to-1 crewto-guest ratio.
Charles Darwin famously researched the wildlife of the Galápagos, leading him to develop his theory of natural selection. And while I haven’t read On the Origin of Species, I couldn’t help but imagine Darwin’s historic explorations as I gazed up at the tiny warbler finches, the same creatures he set his sights on over 150 years ago. Like Darwin, the two expert naturalist guides aboard the Aqua Mare were incredibly passionate about exploring this wonderland of biodiversity. Each time the boat’s motor slowed as we approached the day’s island to explore, their eyes would light up. Moments later, I’d find them crouching next to the wildlife, snapping countless iPhone photos of the captivating bird species right alongside the rest of us. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I soon found myself calling out sightings of the fluffy and adorable baby frigate birds. I listened intently as they explained the identifiers of each species. Minute by minute, I collected new nuggets of information, doing my best to stash them away safely in my brain for future recollection.
To fuel our jam-packed daily itineraries, the culinary team aboard the Aqua Mare kept us well-fed with a Peruvian Japanese Nikkeiinspired menu curated by chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Offering only the freshest, sustainable ingredients sourced from local suppliers, we enjoyed dinners like classic Ecuadorian seco de bife (a flavorful beef dish) and lunches like linguine ai frutti di mare (fresh seafood pasta). On a particularly breezy day on the main deck, I bit into a homemade empanada bursting with stringy Ecuadorian cheese. “Oh, I could eat like 20 of these,” I told the guest next to me as I prepped my next bite with a scoop of salsa. As someone with a savory-over-sweet palate, I admittedly found the impeccably crafted sweets — think tree tomato cheesecake and passionfruit suspiro (a Peruvian pie-like treat) — to be the absolute cherry on top of unforgettable meals.
After touching back down in the United States — with a keener than ever appreciation for the wonders of nature and a sense of pride for completing my first solo adventure — I scrolled through the 400-some photos and videos I captured on the trip and felt a pang of nostalgia. I missed the quirky animals, the fellow guests and crew, and the inexplicable thrill of exploring one of the world’s most rarified ecosystems. Having been immersed for seven days in a place that was bursting at the seams with adventure, beauty and history in its rawest form, I’m now holding tight to the feeling I had when I first set eyes on a baby sea lion or watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean atop the upper deck of the Aqua Mare. The Galápagos Islands are a destination with heart. When given the respect and love that the land and its inhabitants deserve, it will love you back in ways you could never imagine. And while I may never hear that endearing bark of the native sea lion or witness the famed albatross mating dance again, I’m forever changed by my week walking in Darwin’s footsteps.
BARRIER
BY BRITTANY CHAFFEE
PHOTOGRAPHY
ON A WARM SPRING EVENING IN THE HEART OF NOHO IN NEW YORK CITY, AN elevator springs open onto a dimly lit entryway. Beyond, the din of a hot night out — drinking, gossip — emanates from a room that’s at once cozy and grand, with exposed-brick walls, velvetupholstered banquettes and gleaming wood tables. Welcome to Zero Bond, a 20,000-square-foot pantheon of New York City’s new ruling class, where there’s no dress code, but if you’re cool enough to enter and rub shoulders with some of its famous members (rumored: Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, Josh Kushner), you know the unwritten rule: What happens at Zero Bond stays at Zero Bond.
Which is part of the appeal of a handful of members-only clubs that have taken over the nightlife scene in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Members must be referred and vetted to join. By virtue of having the connections and wealth to gain entry, they garner a certain amount of status, prestige and networking opportunities. Plus, these clubs provide an exclusive place to dine and relax at a moment’s notice — no playing the reservations game with impossible-tobook restaurants. “It means I don’t have to wait three weeks for a reservation at Carbone,” says Samantha,* a member of one such club.
Besides the chance to mingle with the glitterati, these private clubs offer big-time amenities. At Zero Bond, there are comedy nights and theme parties. At Remedy Place, a West Hollywood– and New York City–based social club focused on wellness and longevity, members can engage in têteà-têtes while receiving personalized IV infusions or complete a Zoom call in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Members of the Aman Club at the Aman New York Hotel have access to a popular jazz club and a world-class spa; Sting provided the entertainment at a recent New Year’s Eve party. Says Isabel,* a member of one of these clubs, “It’s a party. You go, and you never have a dull moment.”
For the clubs, many of which are run by hospitality industry veterans, the desire to belong is big business. The global private social club market is poised to reach $25.8 billion by 2027, with growth of 11.2% projected from 2022 to 2027, according to market research company Mordor Intelligence. There are currently over 18,000 private clubs in the United States, with total membership exceeding 10 million. Soho House — one of the OG social clubs, which originated in the United Kingdom and has expanded to 40 locations worldwide, including New York City (there’s one in downtown Manhattan and one in Brooklyn), Miami and Los Angeles — had to limit its membership to 200,000, because locations were becoming too crowded. That’s a cardinal sin in an industry built on exclusivity.
Historically, New York City’s wealthiest clubs — old-money hideaways — were created for men to socialize (subtext: without women). One of the first, the Union Club, was formed in 1836 with an initiation fee of $200, a pretty penny at the time. Others — like the Knickerbocker Club (former members have included President Calvin Coolidge and poet T. S. Eliot), founded in 1871 by a faction
of Union Club members — were spawned by controversies over who was considered membership material. J.P. Morgan founded the Metropolitan Club of New York in 1891 when a friend he sponsored for membership at the Knickerbocker was blackballed.
For decades, these storied clubs were the only game in town if you wanted to exercise your wealth and privilege. They still are for a specific group of blue bloods, but the new crop of private clubs — places like San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles and Colette Club in New York City — provide a next-gen alternative. While they may be no less competitive and elitist, they’re more meritocratic and less stodgy (i.e., no jacket required) than their precursors. Zero Bond’s members tend to be downtown power brokers from all industries: asset management, professional sports and tech. Soho House is known for wanting only creative types; movie producers, photographers and novelists have a better chance of gaining entry than, say, a lawyer from a white-shoe firm. One applicant to Soho House knows of a member who faked their job to get in, pretending to work for an interior decorator when they actually worked in finance. Aman’s lofty initiation fee is rumored to be substantially reduced for attractive women. (At a happy hour last winter, a couple of the city’s matchmakers could be seen hunting around the club’s outdoor fire pit for new women to add to their roster.) You need to know at least two current members at most places to get in.
Money is a factor, too. Some clubs, notably Aman, which requires a $200,000 initiation fee, are extremely expensive. But for the people who join, billionaires and multimillionaires, it’s an expense in line with their Hamptons golf club dues. That vibe, of course, isn’t for everyone. Says Alexandra,* herself a member of Soho House, “There’s a feeling about Zero Bond that’s not about money. You can’t just buy your way into the club.” Rumor has it that Casa Cipriani, in Lower Manhattan, is looking for a cooler clientele and, according to the New York Post’s Page Six, kicked out members who were responsible for leaking pictures of Taylor Swift and Matty Healy when they were spotted there together.
Theoretically, legacy won’t help you at any of these clubs — “No one’s grandfather belonged to Zero Bond,” Alexandra quips — and there’s something to be said about being an inaugural member of one of society’s new fortresses of power. But we aren’t exactly living in a full-blown meritocracy, and these clubs are nothing if not a reflection of our times. Having a recognizable last name, wealthy parents or royal blood still opens doors. No one is turning down Prince Harry for membership.
“It’s exclusive, but it’s normal. It’s nice to be among people who are like you,” says Isabel. Plus ça change …
Additional reporting by Tatiana Boncompagni
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the sources.
Light from the maker’s hand
PERFECT BALANCE THE
John
Kraemer & Sons delivers the ultimate in modern livability mere steps from dynamic downtown Wayzata.
BY MERRITT BAMRICK
PERCHED ON THE SHORES OF WAYZATA BAY, ONE OF THE LATEST completions from homebuilder John Kraemer & Sons stands as a testament to the power of architectural reinvention and the allure of one of Minnesota’s most unique locations. The home site is the closest residential parcel to downtown Wayzata, offering a highly exclusive blend of lakeside tranquility and urban convenience. A brief stroll from the front door, and you’re crossing off holiday shopping at local boutiques or enjoying the seasonal special at 6Smith. Once back home, the bustle melts away into Lake Minnetonka, visible from every room and tiered roof decks.
But before this modern 5,600-square-foot marvel took shape, another project laid the groundwork — quite literally. The would-be homeowners happened upon the extremely compact site after the helical pier foundation from a previous project was already in place.
“Our challenge was to design and build a home that would align with the existing foundation, but in a completely different architectural style,” explains Vice President John Kraemer. The homeowners saw potential in the location and the award-winning homebuilder. “JK and Sons has a reputation for quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail, so we trusted them to bring our vision to life.”
That vision was clear: a modern, cozy home that would stand the test of time. With the house’s bones already established, the team turned
to Alexander Design Group for the dramatic architectural shift. Sleek lines and expansive glass walls replaced the initial lake cottage design. “Our goal was to make the house look see-through,” says Kathryn Alexander, president and owner of the design firm. The architecture is enhanced by triple-pane Loewen windows and sliding doors, selected for their efficiency and sound barriers to withstand harsh winters and the liveliness of downtown. “We’re mindful that the house has to look beautiful, but it needs to perform, too,” adds Kraemer. Stained cedar siding and a pitched standing seam metal roof complete the exterior for a fresh take on modern Minnesota architecture.
Principal Interior Designer Brooke Voss expanded on these architectural cues, playing into a mix of natural materials that balance the industrial elements of the home with the cozy layers the clients craved. White oak is highlighted throughout, providing all the warmth of wood without the heaviness. It beautifully offsets the home’s industrial touches, such as the exposed steel beams and the cable rail staircase. Voss chose metal wire lighting fixtures to create an airy atmosphere with a touch of drama, suspending them at varying heights in the main stairwell to create an artistic installation so anyone can admire them, even from the front elevation.
The designers introduced pockets of pattern, texture and color throughout the largely open-concept floor plan. One side of the formal
Builder: John Kraemer & Sons
Architect: Alexander Design Group
Interior Designer: Brooke Voss Interior Design
living room offers a panoramic water view. To the left lies a trifecta of fire, steel and stone: a linear fireplace flanked by blackened steel built-ins at the base. Stained wood slats ascend to meet a glass-andlimestone feature wall. “We love how the craftsmanship highlights our artwork and other features,” the clients said. One of their favorite spaces is the gathering room, a glass-encased porch that seamlessly blends the indoors and out. In the warmer months, multi-slide doors open to invite the fresh air in, while in cooler weather, the family can close up and cozy up, nestling near the fireplace. With its wood-paneled ceiling for added warmth, the space is perfectly designed for year-round enjoyment. Kraemer and the team incorporated built-in niches to display treasured art, adding a personal touch to this well-loved room. It connects to the kitchen via the pass-through bar, where Voss selected a hand-glazed metallic tile backsplash that captures the natural light throughout the day, giving it just the right amount of shimmer as it shifts between copper, gunmetal and bronze hues.
Designed with a large extended family in mind, the kitchen is a study in both form and function. The client requested a solution that could serve as a buffet for family gatherings without dominating the space. The design team responded with a counter-height table attached to the island — a waterfall of walnut acts as a stylish serve-yourself station or a casual eating spot for two, with backless counter stools that tuck right underneath when not in use. A swathe of white oak grounds this central gathering space, wrapping the sleek cabinetry by artisan Mark Hurley as well as the island and flooring.
The lower level had some restrictions due to site limitations and proximity to the water. Kraemer’s team tapped into their creativity, building lower-level solutions outside the confines of a basement. The boathouse echoes the architectural style of the abode and provides ample storage. The team took advantage of the square footage above the garage to make space for a fitness room. The entire upper level feels extra livable, boasting three guest rooms, an office and an additional living space that flows out to the main deck where exterior materials echo the palette inside. Limestone adds to the warm, organic feel of the home, connecting the deck to the terrace down below, which features a pool and hot tub — amenities that not just any builder could position on such a challenging site. “We’ve built on the tightest sites around the state. Nothing is too challenging for our team,” says Kraemer, who was proud to deliver the highly desired feature for the clients.
The upper balcony is also a complete destination. Accessible only by the spiral staircase ascending from the deck or a quick elevator ride, the space provides a bird’s eye view with a beverage fridge and other thoughtful essentials. This home and its unique location represent the perfect blend of worlds — an approach mirrored in the design and build process, resulting in a masterful fusion of modern comfort. Reflecting on the collaboration, Voss notes, “We’re fortunate to work with partners like John Kraemer & Sons, who are at the top of their game.”
Mia After Dark
Enjoy Mia in an entirely different way, with exhibition-inspired food and wine experiences held after hours in the museum’s galleries. Discover perfect pairings of art and wine or enjoy a curated dinner at these exceptional events.
Art & Dining
1,000 Years of Spain
Wednesday, December 11, 6–9:30pm; $375/person
Old World/New World
Wednesday, January 15, 6–9:30pm; $375/person
Art & Wine
Latin America
Tuesday, November 12, 6–8pm; $135/person
Paris After Dark: 1890s Moulin Rouge
Tuesday, December 3, 6–8pm; $135/person
Paris After Dark: 1890s Moulin Rouge
Tuesday, December 17, 6–8pm; $135/person
North
The region’s best and brightest.
BY KATIE DOHMAN
Maddie Ehrich DISCOVER STRENGTH
Maddie Ehrich had endured five knee surgeries before she finished graduate school. And as a former Gustavus Adolphus College basketball player, she had done more than enough training, rehab and physical therapy to know what worked and what didn’t. Discover Strength, a science-based gym featuring medical-grade machines that deliver a safe, effective workout in 30 minutes, was her favorite.
“I thought I’d have chronic knee pain forever, but I’m 14 years removed from my first knee surgery with no pain. I attribute that to training at Discover Strength,” Ehrich says. “There’s a bridge needed between the end of physical therapy and optimal functioning for the rest of your life. DS can help decrease pain, decrease reinjury risk and increase joint health.”
Discover Strength takes its commitment to providing supervised workouts with expert specialists for every client very seriously, so it's no surprise that Ehrich herself is now an ACSM certified exercise physiologist, a HIT UNI CPD high-intensity exercise specialist and a NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist.
But what led her to pursue a professional role at Discover Strength? As Ehrich finished her master's degree in exercise science and coached at Ithaca and Stevens colleges, she realized she was missing the principles from her Discover Strength workouts and decided to make a career change.
In 2019, she moved back to Minnesota and started as a Discover Strength trainer in Northeast Minneapolis, which led to a stint as general manager in St. Louis Park. While training Bridgewater Bank CEO Jerry Baack and Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mary Jayne Crocker, she dreamed aloud of owning her own franchise. “The next natural step was to work with the bank right next door,” Ehrich says of the financing deal she arranged with the bank to open her new business. Bridgewater Bank’s personal touch and dedicated service resonated deeply with Ehrich. “Like Bridgewater Bank, I am passionate about educating my clients and making sure they get to where they would like to go,” Ehrich says. And so, just a year after opening her Edina location, she began working with Bridgewater to expand into Hudson, Wisconsin, this fall. “Bridgewater cares about its clients and provides a personalized banking experience,” she says. “They have been fantastic partners.”
Notables
Steve and Becky Chepokas
PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION
Before Mitch Chepokas died 22 years ago of bone cancer at the age of 9, he had simple yet generous plans. Having spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital, he had enjoyed the generosity of his community, but he was also privy to what other children didn’t have. When he heard a family crying about not having enough money for Christmas, he asked his Dad, Steve, how much money he had in his bank account. Then he told his Dad he wanted to withdraw all $6,000 of his savings and hand it out to other children in the pediatric oncology unit. Honoring his son’s wishes, Steve emptied his son’s account and set to wheeling Mitch around, surreptitiously dropping off envelopes stuffed with $100 bills with a note on the outside: “Love you XOXO Mitch.” When one family nearly caught him, the father and son ran down the hall and hid in the elevator, where Mitch told his Dad he wanted to do it again next year. Tragically, they both knew there wouldn’t be a next year for Mitch, so they pinky swore that his parents would carry on the tradition without him.
Two-plus decades later, Steve and his wife Becky have set the 501(c)3, Pinky Swear Foundation, up for success with a staff that helps kids with cancer (and their families) nationwide, distributing envelopes of gift cards and letters of encouragement to help with housing, transportation, and groceries — the nuts and bolts of getting through treatment so families can focus on their kids.
“There were all these little cracks that these families were falling through,” says Becky, Mitch’s mom. “They are sitting in the hospital with their child, just trying to process what’s happening. Meanwhile, all the bills at home are starting to pile up. But, of course, that’s the last thing on their mind. Property taxes are due. The car breaks down. Who is helping with those things if they don’t have a support system? Or maybe the kid gets to come home and wants to throw a party. Who’s paying? That’s where Pinky Swear Foundation comes in.”
The need is ever more significant these days, but Steve and Becky are confident they have put the right team in place to serve as many families as possible. “We’re here to help families focus on foundational emotional memories. When the rest of everyone’s life continues, they’re not alone. Someone is there to support and help them.”
PUBLISHER'S TAKE
IT’S NO EASY FEAT TO SELECT THE PERFECT PRESENT FOR THE GAL who has everything. My gift to you this season? A thoughtful curation sure to please even the most discerning woman on your list. Enjoy.
PERFUME
Working with celebrated perfume noses globally, French perfumer Frédéric Malle has developed some of the most unforgettable fragrances in the world. Choosing a scent for another person can be risky, but his candles are a pretty safe bet, allowing one to dip into his luscious world. Hand poured into matte porcelain, they’re a sensory experience and an object of beauty, suffusing a room with an ineffable glamour whether lit or simply adorning a tabletop. The Country House fragrance evokes a fireside in the Scottish countryside, while Jurassic Flower serves perpetual summer with huge white petals like magnolia.
JEWELRY
Caroline Ellen blends minimalism, exquisite craftsmanship and classic goldsmithing. Her designs feature soft curves and subtle textures culminating in effortless elegance inspired by ancient jewelry. Hand finished with the highest quality gold, often 20- to 22-karat complete with semi-precious and precious stones, each piece delivers a timeless aesthetic that speaks to the power of simplicity. Her pieces are available locally at The Loupe including this perfect Pave Diamond Rounded Band set in 18-karat yellow gold that she handmade in New York.
ART
New York City–based artist Stacy Greene’s iconic “Lipsticks” series, shot in the nineties, is now available in collectable archival prints. Each photograph is an intimate record of a wearer’s personal application technique on the common cosmetic. These images go viral weekly, with a succession of generations discovering Greene’s take on the beauty staple. Striking in individual close-up shots, they are also available to be made into a custom collage of favorites. If lip color doesn’t speak to you, her “Bindi Pop” series is incredible eye candy as well. Greene’s work can be purchased on artsy.net and stacygreene.com.
VINTAGE
Vintage Murano glass will delight even the most discriminating design lovers. This centuries-old, Venetian glass blowing technique produces stunning works of art. I personally love elevating the everyday with tumblers and vases featuring stripes and swirls. 1stDibs is a great source for scouting archival pieces.
THE BAG
Hunting Season’s handbag styles are intentionally seasonless. Featuring a classic, feminine silhouette, my favorite, the Medium Top Handle, delivers incredible attention to detail without a hint of trendiness, allowing it to transition beautifully throughout the year. Composed of Kappa leather and handmade in Spain complete with an adjustable strap for crossbody or over the shoulder, its timeless design transcends the endless ‘It’ bag cycle.
My very best,
Emma Cutler Velez Publisher
LAST CALL
Discover famed tastemakers’ tips and tricks for curating the perfect holiday at home in “Making Merry” on page 110, including the sentiments of acclaimed interior designer Nate Berkus. “I like when my eye travels around a room and lands on something that tells a story,” Berkus shares. “That’s what the holidays are all about.”
