Blue Door Magazine | Issue 16 by Blue Door Magazine

ISSUE 16 | 2021

DESIGN DESTINATIONS Timeless Tahitian style by designer Lynn Pries, a whirlwind tour of global beach house chic, and California’s coolest resort do-overs

ART AND ARCHITECTURE A peek at OC’s secret estate winery, downsizing with midcentury style, and a glam pre-gala gathering at

California Scenario

A R C H I T E C T U R E • D E S I G N • A R T • L I F E S T Y L E • R E A L E S TAT E

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CONTENTS

22 22 Scenes Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrates the upcoming Candlelight Concert at California Scenario, Romance of the Mission, and more.

38 Unseen Picasso Rare prints by Pablo Picasso are on display at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.

42 Made for Life WILLBO, a new California lifestyle company, is debuting a pop-up store in North Laguna.

38 44

44 Conversion Theory Second acts are where it’s at for some of California’s best reimagined hotels.

58 Labor of Love Designers Tama and Lauren Bell create a free bedroom makeover for an exceptional teen.

62 Seasons by the Sea A look at seaside and tropical homes from around the world.

76 Design Matters Tips, trends, and aesthetic advice from business insiders and interior experts.

The printing of this magazine is automated. Each issue is wrapped in a polybag by machine, untouched by human hands. The magazines are boxed and set on pallets wrapped again in plastic. Once delivered to coastal Orange County, Blue Door team members wearing gloves and masks distribute the magazines directly to your door.

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CONTENTS

110 82 Member Spaces

Blue Door Magazine members inspire with insights and insider info.

86 Real Estate Gallery Exclusive OC real estate listings from Blue Door Magazine members.

122

110 Beacon Bay Beauty A Newport Beach remodel by Lynn Pries offers a timeless touch of Tahitian art and culture.

122 The New Woman

132

144

Behind the Camera The extraordinary worldwide impact women had on the practice of photography is celebrated at the National Gallery of Art.

132 Silver Lining A Huntington Beach homeowner “downsizes” from two stories to one and creates an expansive vision for the future.

144 OC Wine Country A secluded four-acre estate in Cowan Heights comes complete with vineyards, olive trees, and a winery.

152 Higher Ground A Newport Heights home hits a record-breaking price with its unbeatable mix of design, location, and near-total privacy.

158 Perfect PIRCH Insights from the PIRCH kitchen installation team.

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158

FOUNDING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kedric Francis

kedric@bluedoormagazine.com

ART DIRECTOR Randi Karabin

randi@bluedoormagazine.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brett Hillyard

brett@bluedoormagazine.com

SENIOR EDITOR Alexandria Abramian COPY EDITOR Carrie Lightner Brett Hillyard Creative Director/ Photographer

PUBLISHER Maria Barnes

Brett Hillyard (aka “Hilly”) is a Southern California native with a Fine Arts degree from USC. Hilly is a freelance documentary and advertising photographer known for capturing black and white candid photographs. He shoots and processes his own film and finds a genuine richness in the analog process. Hilly resides in Laguna Beach, where the ocean plays a big role in his life, both as a surfer and an open-water swimmer. If you would like to learn more, please visit hillycollective.com.

949.436.1590 maria@bluedoormagazine.com

CFO Jan Super

208.721.7926 jan@bluedoormagazine.com

FOUNDER Justin Williams

208.720.2142 justin@bluedoormagazine.com

ON THE COVER

The image on the cover was taken by Brett Hillyard, in collaboration with Lynn Pries of Lynn Pries Design & Build. “The idea was to take Lynn’s interior design brilliance and make it exterior by bringing it outdoors,” says Brett about the shoot in the hills above North Laguna. “So, we took a living room setting and placed it outdoors.” Lynn says that she “enjoyed the out-of-the-box creative process of shooting in nature. It was whimsical and fun.” After all, as Hilly says, “It’s not every day one sees an Eames chair on a hiking trail.” hillycollective.com lynnpriesdb.com 16

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Blue Door Magazine is published by Aspect Media LLC

Copyright © 2021 Aspect Media LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to Blue Door Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher. PRINTED BY PUBLICATION PRINTERS

C R A F T I N G E X C E L L E N C E S I N C E 19 9 0

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Top left photo Chad Mellon / top right and bottom photos VIPhoto

PUBLISHER’S NOTE from Maria Barnes Philanthropy ... True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking, and a philosophy driven by entrepreneurial insights and creative opportunities.

evening to remember. Your commitment over the years to this organization is so commendable. Macy Gray provided brilliant entertainment and the event was insanely entertaining.

Philanthropy is abundant in this community and it’s so wonderful to watch it come back to life with events this fall. Yes, that (photo) is me with Donavon Frankenreiter, singer, songwriter and all-around fab human. With a name like that he’d better be. He played for the Night at the Ranch annual fun-raiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach. The cause is near and dear to my heart as I coached basketball there for years and I love the energy it brings to young kids’ lives. The people who support and run this place are so humble, unselfish, and kind. Kudos to club alumni Leif Hanson and Steve Blue for hosting. The live concert event is such a highlight, so thanks Donavon, but next time let’s wear different glasses.

I would also like to give a shout-out to some of our Blue Door Magazine members and the things they do to help our community.

In the last month I have been lucky enough to attend the Table for Ten event at the Bowers Museum, the CASA soirée, and the Festival of OC Chefs. Make-A-Wish, CASA, and KidWorks are all charities helping children and they are on it. Kristin Martin, congrats on your execution of Table for Ten and OC Chefs. And if you aren’t familiar with KidWorks, please study it. It is innovative and gives straight back. Thanks to the Kay and Pyle families for your generosity. The format of this event was so refreshing, fun, and inclusive. And then there is CASA … I was a CASA and I love this cause so very much. It raises money for kids in our social system who need an advocate to help them navigate the long and windy road of social workers, foster homes, group homes, and court dates and it gives them a consistent person in their lives. Lourdes Nark, Wendy Tannenbaum, Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson, Karen Jordan, Urvashi Patel, and Linda Young collaborated to put on an 18

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Casey Lesher was a corporate sponsor of Harvesters annual fashion show and fundraiser this month. Harvesters distributed 67.8 million meals this year to families in need of help. harvesters.org/about-harvesters/our-programs

Maura Short supports Sally’s Fund, which provides one-on-one free transportation to the frail and elderly in Laguna Beach. sallysfund.org

Mike Johnson started a kitchen tour fundraiser, “Stock the Pantry,” raising money for Laguna Food Pantry. lagunafoodpantry.org

So, yes, it is fun to dust off some old duds and be social again, and have people gather and raise money at a time when it is needed most. Hats off to all of you who spend your time and energy serving others. Happy fall and please be in touch with any input about stories and interest in advertising. Ciao! Maria Barnes, Publisher, 949.436.1590 maria@bluedoormagazine.com PHOTO BY BRETT HILLYARD

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EDITOR’S NOTE

from Kedric Francis

As I’m finishing up this issue on a sunny October day, sitting on the patio at Philz Coffee, there are three fashionable young women recording what I can only surmise is a TikTok dance video. They have an iPhone leaning up against a plastic bottle half-filled with green juice, as they repeat the dance, ad infinitum. The trio seems completely unself-conscious. They don’t care that the patio is packed, or that I’m trying to work. We are lucky to live at a time when the world is full of creative people, and their work is so close at hand. I don’t watch TikTok myself, but I am aware that it can be a forum for self-expression and art. So, I’m grateful for those who have it and other forms of media, social and otherwise, as canvases on which to create. Artists may yet save the world, or at least go viral and make bank as influencers. I have been thinking a lot about gratitude these days. How could I not? I have a great life, with four young children and a wonderful wife. I spend most of my working hours focused on beautiful things: art, architecture, charity, design, fashion, oceanfront living, cuisine, and the people who have created and continue to create contemporary Orange County. People like you. I’m grateful that in recent months the OC social scene has kicked back into high gear, as my colleague Maria Barnes notes in her publisher’s note. The image to your right was taken at Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario on the occasion of the Candlelight Kickoff gathering to benefit Segerstrom Center for the Arts. You’ll read more about (and see many images from) that event later in this issue. It was one of dozens of events benefitting worthy Orange County non-profits held since summer. I haven’t been able to attend as many as I would have liked, partially because my children are now deeply involved in the arts themselves. Our eldest child Otis is on stage in a community performance of Shrek: The Musical. He is

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in the tap-dancing rats number, and also plays Peter Pan in the scenes with the fairy tale folk. Speaking of fairies, that’s Rosey with me at the Candlelight event in the photo to your right. As regular readers may recall, I’ve written about how we have attended ballets and other dance performances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts together since she was three. World premieres like Whipped Cream, classics like La Bayadère, and our annual experience of ABT’s The Nutcracker are important parts of our mutual memories. This year will be different. I won’t be able to sit in the audience with Rosey. That’s because she will be on the stage for one scene and several performances along with her classmates from ABT William J. Gillespie School, and backstage as an alternate for others. I just dropped her off at a Saturday rehearsal, and she said she’s still a bit amazed to be walking up to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts where we’ve seen so many performances, and soon she’s going to be on stage. ABT will give 12 performances of The Nutcracker between December 10 through December 19, 2021, in Segerstrom Hall, the sixth time that The Center has presented ABT’s production. I’ll be there for several of them. We don’t know the dates Rosey will dance, so we’re hedging our bets by buying tickets to a few. We suggest fans of dance (and Rosey!) do the same. Alas, Shrek the Musical will be over by the time you read this, but I imagine there will be other opportunities to see Otis perform. And our other two kids? Mabel, who is five, is also taking ballet at ABT William J. Gillespie School, and young Flynn Joseph Francis, who will turn four in December, is still searching for his form of artistic, athletic, or aesthetic expression. For now, he really loves tools, building towers out of blocks, and knocking them down. I’m hoping we might have an architect or a builder on our hands, but whatever makes him happy. Maybe it will be making TikTok videos, or whatever the creative kids are doing next decade. kedric@bluedoormagazine.com PHOTO OF ROSE Y AND KEDRIC FRANCIS BY LAUREN HILLARY

EDITOR’S NOTE

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CANDLELIGHT KICKOFF AT CALIFORNIA SCENARIO OC’s iconic sculpture garden is the setting for a stylish gathering in support of Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ signature event

By Kedric Francis Photos by Lauren Hillary

I visit California Scenario, Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture garden in Costa Mesa, regularly—at least once a month or so. Serenely set between office towers and a parking structure, it is a short walk from both South Coast Plaza and Segerstrom Center for the Arts, places I visit often. The aesthetically perfect space has always held meaning for my family. My wife photographs our kids and other families there, and I have long been inspired by its design. Still, it had been some time since I attended an event at the sculpture garden. So I was thrilled to be invited to a private reception and dance performance at the garden to celebrate the return of Candlelight Concert, Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ signature annual fundraiser, which will take place on November 30.

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David Codiga, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Phil Hettema, Carol Perry, Greg Miller, and Donna Kendall

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The Candlelight Kickoff was hosted by (and was no doubt the idea of ) Elizabeth Segerstrom, along with Candlelight Concert Co-Chairs Carol Perry and Britt Meyer. Mrs. Segerstrom, Co-Managing Partner at South Coast Plaza and this year’s Candlelight Concert Honorary Chair, is one of the most stylish people we know, and one of the select few who know and love California Scenario more than most anyone. The post press release for the event explains it perfectly: “Her late husband, Henry T. Segerstrom, and the Segerstrom family, commissioned California Scenario in 1979 as part of Henry’s expansive vision to bring together art, culture, philanthropy, and commerce in one cosmopolitan epicenter.” I brought our nine-year-old daughter Rosey, who loves all things dance, to the gathering so she could experience sitespecific performances by Benjamin Millepied’s LA Dance Project. Millepied, who is perhaps best known to general audiences for choreographing and dancing in the film Black Swan and marrying Natalie Portman, was at the event. Rosey has seen me scold photographers and social media types who don’t respect that the garden is a work of art: “No climbing on the sculptures, please.” So it was a thrill to see BlueDoorMagazine.com

1. Diana Martin, Jane Yada, Mykal Urbina, and Inessa Cascone 2. Elizabeth Segerstrom, Britt Meyer, and Carol Perry 3. Casey Reitz 4. Soogie Kang and Shanaz Langson 5. Judy Morr and Todd Bentjen 6. Tracy and Roger Kirwan

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Candlelight Concert raises millions to support Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ artistic, education, and community engagement programs, which reach more than 1 million patrons and community members each year.

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Elizabeth Segerstrom and Benjamin Millepied

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artists dancing in, around, and on California Scenario, highlighting its iconic status as a living work of art. The dancers performed excerpts from Night Bloom, choreographed by Janie Taylor, incorporating the rocks, water features, and architectural elements of the garden into the movements. The dapper Casey Reitz, Segerstrom Center for the Arts president and CEO, welcomed guests from the stage, introduced Board Chair Jane Yada, and thanked Elizabeth Segerstrom, Carol Perry and Britt Meyer, the dream team looking to bring new life and a commitment to excellence to the 2021 event. Tiffany & Co. and LVMH were announced as generous lead sponsors for this year’s event. (Tiffany & Co. is now part of LVMH, thanks to a $16.2 billion acquisition early this year.) The entertainment at the concert was also previewed, though we were asked to reserve announcing the identity of the visionary artist whose operatic voice will be heard at the event. As night fell, dramatic lighting put Noguchi’s iconic sculpture garden at the center of OC’s art, culture, and philanthropy stage, where it belongs. 47th Annual Candlelight Concert Segerstrom Center for the Arts Tuesday, November 30, 2021 scfta.org

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HUNGRY GAMES By James Reed Photos by Garth Buckles

Bracken’s Kitchen, a nonprofit hunger relief agency in Orange County, hosted their fourth annual fundraiser, the Hungry Games 4.0, raising $301,500, enough to provide the less fortunate in our community some 300,000 meals. More than 350 guests gathered at the indoor/ outdoor venue to sample signature dishes from many of Orange County’s most talented chefs, with guests voting for their favorite dish. Chefs Michael and David Rossi won the vote with their Baja Striped Bass Tostada. “More than a fundraising event, the Hungry Games allows us to come together as a community to celebrate the work we’ve been fortunate to do, and share more about the important work of recovering and repurposing food to serve the underprivileged in Orange County,” says Bill Bracken, Founder and Culinary Director of Bracken’s Kitchen. Bracken’s Kitchen makes and delivers about 7,000 meals per day using 210,000 tons of food gathered and rescued from partner restaurants and organizations so far this year. brackenskitchen.org 30

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1. Julie Adams, Eileen Saul, Bill Bracken, and Katherine Meredith 2. Hungry Games 4.0 guests in the yard at Bracken’s Kitchen 3. Chef Rich Mead talking with Steve Dickler 4. Lauren Ruiz, Cat Richards, and LaVal Brewer 5. Chefs Michael and David Rossi, Hungry Games Champions 6. Allan Tea and the Cali Dumpling Team

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TABLE FOR TEN By Kedric Francis

Photos by Bob Hodson and Tony Lattimore

The courtyard at the Bowers Museum was a serene space to relax and enjoy one of the first post-lockdown, sit-down fundraising dinners many of us have attended. Some 300 guests came out to support Make-A-Wish Orange County and Inland Empire, the beneficiaries of the Table for Ten event. Each table was served a five-course meal with wine pairings created table-side by one of dozens of generous chefs. The event created and produced by Kristin Martin raised some $480,000 for Make-A-Wish. Gloria Jetter Crockett, the group’s president and CEO, and Make-A-Wish America CEO Richard K. Davis thanked the guests and chefs, pointing out that MakeA-Wish has granted more than 500,000 life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses since 1980. “Don’t wait for hope,” Crockett told the crowd. “Help us create it.” wish.org/ocie 32

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1. Angel Shelly, Mary Murfey, Kristin Martin, and Ashley Martin 2. Table for 10 was held in the courtyard of Bowers Museum 3. Chef Ben Martinek, Montage Laguna Beach 4. E xecutive Chef Jessica Roy of Cultivar at Sherman Gardens was honorary celebrity chef

5. Hossein Karimi, Lugano Diamonds models, and Bill Peters 6. Kristin Martin with Bowers Board Chairman Anne Shih 7. Mary Murfey with Make-A-Wish CEO Richard Davis

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MISSION MAGIC

Gala raises $650,000 toward preservation of the original OC landmark. By James Reed Photos by Lisa Renee Photography

Any list of Orange County’s most significant buildings must begin with Mission San Juan Capistrano. Historically, architecturally, spiritually, culturally, and aesthetically, the Mission has impacted the land and people of this region for 245 years. The Romance of the Mission benefit gala was held recently after a hiatus due to the pandemic, and raised some $650,000 toward the care, preservation, and stewardship of the landmark. During the evening’s program, Mission Preservation Board Chair George O’Connell recognized Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza for their longtime support of the Mission, including Connie’s 15 years of service on the Preservation Foundation Board of Directors.

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The highlight of the gala is always a concert held in the stunningly beautiful ruins of The Great Stone Church. Singer, songwriter, and actress Loren Allred, perhaps best known for Never Enough from the Greatest Showman, was the performer this year.

Longtime Mission supporters who passed away during the pandemic, along with three others who could not attend due to serious health issues, were remembered by the placement of seven white candles in the Ruins while an eighth candle represented gala attendees. The candles also offered guests an opportunity to reflect upon the 40 native California parishioners who perished in the 1812 earthquake that reduced the Great Stone Church to ruins. As guests made their way into the Central Courtyard for dinner, the Mission’s historic bells were rung by members of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Nathan Banda and Michael Gastelum. The Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Vann said the dinner blessing, with the meal hosted by Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, the lovely new resort located adjacent to the Mission. Major underwriting was provided by Kerry and Gavin Herbert of Roger’s Gardens, who donated the evening’s floral design and décor, and Lugano Diamonds donating diamond earrings valued at nearly $12,000, which went home with a lucky and generous guest. missionsjc.com

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5 1. Singer Loren Allred performs in the ruins of The Great Stone Church

2. Mike Penn and Ashleigh Aitken-Penn

3. Gavin S. and Kerry Herbert (Kerry is a Mission Preservation Board member and Roger’s Gardens donated all the floral décor for the evening)

4. Scott and Pam Looney with concert artist Loren Allred at a post-concert reception

5. Lugano’s Bill Peters with a living statue

6. James Irvine Swinden, Jr., Olivia Obermeyer, and Monsignor Michael McKiernan

7. Mission San Juan executive director Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Mission Preservation board chair George O’Connell, and honorees Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza

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Above: Francoise Against a Gray Background, 1950 Above right: Bacchanal with Young Goat and Onlooker, 1959 38

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ARTS

UNSEEN PICASSO

Rare prints by Pablo Picasso are on display at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena through January 22, 2022.

Unseen Picasso at the Norton Simon Museum is a small exhibition featuring 16 exceptional prints made by Pablo Picasso between the 1930s and 1960s, many from the museum’s permanent collection. The exhibition examines a select group of iconic and lesser-known prints of enduring subjects from the artist’s repertoire, including his muses and the nude. The works demostrate Picasso’s bold experiments, technically and stylistically, in the graphic arts.

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was the most influential artist of the 20th century. Who hasn’t purchased a Picasso postcard at a museum store, or hung Guernica, Woman with a Book, or Les Demoiselles d’Avignon on a dorm room wall? “Love him or hate him, we use Picasso as a way to talk about ourselves,” said artist and photographer Carrie Mae Weems in The New York Times, circa 1996. “Picasso is the accepted voice of modernity.” Woman with a Hairnet, 1956

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Above: Head of Woman, No. 3 (Dora Maar), 1939 Right: Francoise, 1946

Across eight decades and countless media, Picasso pursued new modes of representation in a career characterized by change and experimentation. For most of his life, Picasso engaged in printmaking with a gusto and freedom of expression that is thrilling to experience. No print medium intimidated him, and his prodigious facility inspired him to deconstruct and reinvent customary practices. Works by Picasso in the Norton Simon collections represent every aspect of the artist’s production, including some 800 prints. Unseen Picasso offers viewers the opportunity to study innovative, seldom-seen prints by one of the 20th century’s greatest practitioners in the medium. No bulls or minotaurs included. Many works are one of only two or three examples in the world. Gloria Williams Sander, who curated Unseen Picasso, says she included prints in the exhibtion that are distinguished by a singular characteristic. Two Nude Women (1946) is the sole work from the lithographic series to be printed in color. Head of a Woman, No. 3 (1939),

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ARTS

Two Nude Women, 1946

which depicts surrealist artist Dora Maar, is a unique artist’s proof. Picasso met Maar in 1936, and created hundreds of images of her that are both profoundly attractive and often deeply disturbing, as the museum describes. “Picasso was one of the most self-conscious artists of the 20th century, and the activity of printmaking was a form of autobiography for him,” the curator told Pasadena Magazine. “His obsessions, whether with the women in his life, his artistic legacy, or his own mortality, permeate his prints.” Enjoy the exhibtion before January 22, and buy a Picasso postcard or print at the museum store. You know you want to. Norton Simon Museum 411 West Colorado Boulevard Pasadena 626.449.6840 nortonsimon.org BlueDoorMagazine.com

MADE FOR LIFE WILLBO, a new California lifestyle company, is debuting a pop-up store in North Laguna. The thrill of a bike trek up a river canyon. The smell of spring grass at the ballpark. The camaraderie around a campsite. The friendly competition of a backyard game. The anticipation of summer’s first swell.

These are the special moments that help create a life well-lived, as advocated by the new SoCal lifestyle brand WILLBO. How, exactly? Check out the brand’s new pop-up store in North Laguna to learn more. It’s being billed as a community clubhouse meets retail space, a spot to hang to escape the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. And maybe pick up a few basics as gifts, too. All of WILLBO’s products are made in California and designed with an emphasis on simplicity: think minimal graphics with a focus on shape, fabric, and color. The brand’s foundational pieces reflect the region’s climate, offering year-round wearability. Fabrication materials include organic cotton, medium-weight French terry, recycled polyester, and nylon. Drawing inspiration from the lifestyle, culture, and timeless games enjoyed along California’s southern coastline, WILLBO’s mission includes “inspiring its community to push beyond boundaries for a more joyful and fulfilling life, while cherishing moments with the ones we love.” 42

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WILLBO Base Camp 353 North Coast Highway Laguna Beach willbousa.com @willbo

CONVERSION THEORY 44

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Second acts are where it’s at for some of California’s best reimagined retreats. Check into these hotel reboots and see how the second time around is definitely worth the wait. By Alexandria Abramian

PHO TO BY K A RY N MILLE T

TRAVEL

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PALIHOTEL From Boarding House to Boutique Retreat The storyline at Palihotel—a 1920s-era boarding house reborn as boutique hotel—may read like a Hollywood movie, a fitting ode to its location in Culver City, home to the birthplace of movie-making a century ago. Today, the 49-room jewel box is tucked behind a new titan of global entertainment, Amazon Studios. Step inside the teal-toned hotel as a series of intimate spaces unfold. The scene-stealer? Simonette, an indoor/outdoor, always-open Parisian-style bistro, along with the lower-level bar, where classic cocktails and out-of-the-box concoctions come with booze-absorbing fare, including a buildyour-own poutine. palisociety.com/hotels/culver-city

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TRAVEL

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SKYVIEW

TRAVEL

From Motor Lodge to Mini Foodie Mecca Grilled avocado and Morro Bay oysters share menu space with citrusy Baja scallops at Norman, the full-service restaurant at Skyview, a 1950s motor lodge turned Central Coast wine country hideaway. Popular with cowboys who moonlight as winemakers, reluctant celebrities, and a growing cadre of L.A. expats, the Santa Barbara enclave of Los Alamos has emerged as the quiet Central California hub for creatives and foodies who know their Pinot Grigios from their Muscadets, and Skyview is its ground zero. Enjoy Pendleton blankets around fire pits, a fleet of tangerine Linus bikes, a house Pinot Noir vinified on-site, and guest rooms fitted with globally sourced décor. skyviewlosalamos.com

PHO TOS BY K A RY N MILLE T

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WYLDER HOPE VALLEY

TRAVEL

From Roadside Rest Stop to Mountain Retreat

Nestled in an idyllic mountain perch 20 miles from South Lake Tahoe, this 165-acre resort began as a humble collection of roadside cabins for travelers. Today, it’s an adventure-enabling outdoor resort where modern/minimalist yurts meet a collection of 30 renovated cabins originally built over the past 100 years. There is also one fully restored riverfront vintage Spartan trailer. West Fork Carson River meanders through the ground’s alpine meadows and groves of aspen trees, while activities include hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, and stargazing. wylderhotels.com/hope-valley BlueDoorMagazine.com

HOTEL JOAQUIN

From Motor Inn to Wellness Haven

Reborn from the bones of a dilapidated motor inn, Hotel Joaquin is a paean to the golden-oldie days of surfside glamour. With its hidden coves, artist colony roots, and breezy affluence, Laguna Beach has long been a coastal playground for Californians looking to unplug—and the Joaquin is chock-full of tributes to the vibe: there’s morning yoga, cucumber toast with tahini at the seafood-centric Saline, and airy rooms boasting vintage record collections and flea-market furniture alongside Anichini linens. Hotelier Paul Makarechian tapped his travels to the French Riviera as well as his childhood on the nearby beaches for inspiration, and it shows. hoteljoaquin.com 52

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TRAVEL

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CUYAMA BUCKHORN Originally designed by George Vernon Russell— who also designed the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, and the University of California Riverside—this 1952 roadside motel is a true high-desert hideaway. It is located on Highway 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield in Cuyama Valley, AKA The Hidden Valley of Enchantment. Today, this remote retreat has been reimagined into relevance by L.A. designbuild firm iDGroup, which has maintained its midcentury design cred while creating an indoor/ outdoor, food-focused refuge. Enjoy sunset views from a barrel sauna, gather around a series of firepits, or soak in its entirely updated swimming pool. cuyamabuckhorn.com 54

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Midcentury Motel to Farm-to-Table Desert Hideaway

TRAVEL

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HOTEL YNEZ

From Quaint Country Inn to Cool Boutique Retreat

Set along California’s Central Coast just two miles from Solvang, Hotel Ynez is nestled on two private acres studded with majestic pine trees, gardens, bonfire pits, and a rustic outdoor pavilion for nights under the stars. Created from the footprint of the former Meadowlark Inn, originally built in 1952, each of the 18 guest rooms opens to a private stone-encased patio overlooking the woodsy central courtyard. Room interiors are outfitted with sumptuous white bedding, hand-stitched pillows, comfortable club chairs in earthy tones, vintage vanities, hand-painted Spanish-inspired tile, local art, and modern amenities, while the patios feature hand-crocheted hammocks where guests can lounge and dine on Santa Maria-style barbecue and sip Santa Barbara-area wine. hotelynez.com 56

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TRAVEL

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LABOR OF LOVE

Designers Tama and Lauren Bell create a free bedroom makeover for an exceptional teen By Alexandria Abramian

As interior designers in California’s Wine Country, Tama and Lauren Bell are known for their work on everything f rom midcentury ranches  to expansive estates. Wine cellars, outdoor dining rooms, and gourmet kitchens often fit into the equation.

Yet the Bells wanted to bring their services beyond the  scope of their clients. So in 2018 they launched The Love List, a charitable branch of their boutique design firm that works with children in need. “I am passionate about interior design as well as giving  back in a meaningful way,” says Tama. “I just didn’t think of putting the two  together before.” Now, each year, Tama and Lauren bring their signature version  of light-filled, custom design to a child with medical needs. “We interview our client to discover his or her favorite  colors, hobbies, interests. From there we create a bedroom that is highly  personalized for them,” says Lauren, who adds that the scope of their work  includes everything from fundraising to final design details. Above and opposite: The designers transformed the teen’s bedroom into a Hollywood-inspired retreat, with a new bed, window treatments, furniture, a signature palm tree art piece, and more.

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DESIGN

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This year the Bells worked with 15-year-old Brinkley  Woodward, who suffers from Verheij syndrome, a rare chromosome mutation that has required the Petaluma teen to undergo multiple surgeries. Tama and Lauren  reimagined her bedroom, taking it from a baby-blue-hued kid’s room to a  resort-inspired retreat thanks to new paint, window treatments, furniture,  bedding, and more.

TAMA BELL DESIGN I N T E R I O R D E S I G N | A R C H I T E C T U R A L S T Y L I N G | S PA C E P L A N N I N G

THE LOVE LIST BRINKLEY

The Bells stress that the effort is not just theirs alone.  “When our clients find out about this, they are eager to help,” says Tama. “And  so many of our subs want to donate their time. It is a true labor of love for us  to add to the list. As one of our subs just said, ‘Let’s do this again!’” Tama Bell Design 154 North Main Street Sebastopol, CA 707.861.9890 tamabell.com 60

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Top: Tama and Lauren Bell at their design studio. Above: Interior elements and accessories used in The Love List room makeover for a Petaluma teenager.

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ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

SEASONS BY THE SEA

Interior design in coastal Orange County reflects our idyllic locale and the aesthetic of talented locals, while also responding to international influences and the sensibility of global style-makers. As an inspiration for the endless summer season in California, here’s a look at seaside and tropical homes from around the world, as featured in recently released design monographs. Design and architecture from Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic as seen in Island Whimsy by Celerie Kemble.

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ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

ISLAND WHIMSY

Spending her childhood summers on the beach and in the magical, romantic chaos of her family’s rambling Palm Beach house, internationally renowned interior designer Celerie Kemble has a deep-rooted connection to the sun and surf. “I spent much of my childhood in a damp, sandy bathing suit, my hair crispy with salt, my back streaked with bands of sunburn f rom hastily applied Coppertone,” Kemble says.

As an adult, she long had a dream of building a cluster of vacation homes for friends and family somewhere beautiful and wild, but not too remote. A place where she could build a cluster of houses centered around a shared clubhouse, which would perhaps turn into a boutique hotel when the homes weren’t in use. When Kemble was introduced to Playa Grande, a wild swath of jungle in the Dominican Republic next to minty-blue water and an endless stretch of golden sand, she fell madly in love with the locale. Over many years, she realized her dream of building an island retreat—a clubhouse and a grouping of family homes and guesthouses—suffused with light and air, full of indoor and outdoor rooms for relaxation. Island Whimsy, Kemble’s latest book, recounts the deeply personal and creative journey of designing Playa Grande. She shares inspiration for creating a sense of openness to the sea, sand, and sky, and infusing spaces with invitation, welcome, and magic. “I think good design is always a marriage of self and setting,” she says. “A home exists first and foremost to make its inhabitants feel safe and comfortable—to tell stories about the things they love and the times they’ve shared, and to help inspire them to do new things. But the best houses also tell a story about the place itself, the landscape and the larger culture within which its inhabitants live. But by far the most important thing—the ingredient that will thread all these elements into a beautiful, unique space—is you.”

Left: A carnival of texture and pattern, this room is meant to overwhelm you with its cornucopia of vintage weaves and prints from various time periods all over the world, collected over years of travel. Top: A snaking rope of shells and seaglass-like glassware suggests treasures found on a beach walk and also dresses up the dinner table without stuffy formality.

Above: I mimicked fallen tropical leaves with fanciful Mexican pom-poms, making a dreamy tangle over the beds in a kids’ room, as well as letting beautifully decrepit metal flowers on the bedside table bear further witness to the passage of time. BlueDoorMagazine.com

An open-plan design appears more spacious with high ceilings and windows. Opposite:The Gallacher family’s early 20thcentury house’s expansive backyard now includes an idyllic pool with an arbor for shade.

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ART AND DESIGN

A SUMMER PLACE

Bellport is a small village located on the South shore of Long Island that has been a destination for New Yorkers since the 1870s. The village features a mix of modern residences that have been designed around water views; 19th-century shingle-style cottages restored for today’s living; and artist retreats filled with color, pattern, and unique style. With a quiet harbor as the focal point and Fire Island’s barrier beach across the bay, it is naturally landscaped with sea grasses and soft, sandy beaches. Many residents are in creative fields and have made houses and gardens that reflect their aesthetic.

Many of these houses, with their screened porches, handcrafted outbuildings, and summer gardens, have ideas that translate to seaside living anywhere. Some are decorated with subtle hues of sky blue, white floorboards, and comfortable rustic or contemporary furnishings. The grounds vary from manicured lawns that roll down to the sea to wild landscapes of seagrass, romantic pergolas dripping with wisteria, and working cutting gardens. In A Summer Place, noted designer and author Tricia Foley offers an insider’s look at homes in Bellport, including her own. “We’ve captured some of their inspirational design ideas for casual summer living in this book—ideas that translate to homes across the country,” Foley says. “The homeowners feel lucky to be here, as I do, and appreciate the old-fashioned summer rituals, the sense of community, and the circle of friends that make this summer place by the sea the place they want to live.”

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A vintage Jean Prouvé table was restored and placed in the center hallway.

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A “shoes-off upstairs” house rule makes sense when visiting the guest bedrooms, all made up with crisp white sheets and bedding, light-finished floors, pale straw rugs, and simple night tables.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

The former garage on this artist’s property was transformed into a painting studio, with lowmaintenance concrete floors and painted white walls as a backdrop.

The bedroom is a study in navy blue and white, especially in the textiles used throughout the house. Artwork by Hugo Guinness is included in the mix.

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An artist and art dealer respectively, the owners wanted their new house in Bellport to be a modern backdrop for their lives in the art world. White sofas by Vladimir Kagan, an iconic glass and wood coffee table by Noguchi, and vintage mid-century modern chairs were found at one of the local auctions and estate sales that are part of the Bellport tradition. The Elisabeth Kley ceramic vessel and a simple white paper lamp by George Nelson are perfectly at home here.

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ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

Above: A wooded property is the setting for this copper-clad two-story writing studio for an architectural historian and author. She commissioned New York City architect Andrew Berman to interpret her vision. Top left: Filled with natural light, the room functions as an office, writing studio, library, and screening room. The interior walls and custom bookcases and window frames are crafted of Douglas fir. Left: The studio’s main room upstairs, which is cantilevered into the woods with expansive views of a stream and bamboo forest, evokes a feeling of being in a treehouse.

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The living room palapa appears to float on an island surrounded by a pool tiled in shimmering cobalt-blue glass tiles.

DESIGNING PARADISE

The acclaimed interior designer Juan Montoya has created all manner of modern interiors— f rom sprawling, luxurious Park Avenue penthouses to Parisian pieds-à-terre; f rom Montana fishing lodges to rambling private estates; from movie studios to resorts. The Columbian-born designer is also drawn to tropical projects on stunning sites in Punta Mita (Mexico), Casa de Compo (Dominican Republic), Miami Beach, Fisher Island, and other idyllic oceanfront locales.

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Above: Juan Montoya defined the outdoor living room with a border of river stone mosaic. All the furniture is designed by Montoya and scattered with throw pillows from Andrianna Shamaris, New York. Overhead are Balinese baskets repurposed as light fixtures.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

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His love for tropical design began when he was a child, when Montoya’s family split its time between Bogotá and a rice farm in Puerto Tejada, a remote town in Colombia’s department of Cauca, about a three-hour drive from Cali. “The hacienda was very isolated; it was thoroughly tropical,” Montoya recalls. Puerto Tejada was also tropical in terms of the way houses were built. “The heat and humidity gave you no choice but to consider the particulars of the locale,” he says. The tropical homes Montoya designs are escapist fantasias, they are also rooted to their geographic locations and their regional cultures. And, while the sense of luxury is palpable, so is the lack of pretension, the practicality that makes them functional for the families who reside there, and the resilience to the natural conditions in which they are found. Designing Paradise is a book of Montoya’s tropical houses designed for pleasure, for relaxation, and for escape.

© Designing Paradise: Tropical Interiors by Juan Montoya by Jorge Arango, Rizzoli New York, 2021. A spectacular polychrome Indian chest inlaid with mirrors at the entry to the master suite. Atop the chest, chased Mexican silver decorative objects bracket a Mexican clay sculpture with colors that rival the piece on which it sits.

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ARCHITECTURE ART AND& DESIGN

Looking out toward the Caribbean is a large marble sculpture by Venezuelan sculptor Francisco Narváez (1905–1982) set in a grass clearing surrounded by tropical foliage. Rain chains hang from the canopies of the various palapas that make up the house.

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Design Matters Blue Door Magazine asks design insiders and clients what trends, brands, and looks they’re loving right now.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT® BATH COLLECTION BY BRIZO® draws its palette and materials from the natural world, as evidenced by the distinctive texture and color of each individual piece of wood.

The Wright Touch

An homage to a true luminary, the Frank Lloyd Wright Bath Collection by Brizo® pays tribute to Wright’s enduring influence

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In honor of his legacy, the new Frank Lloyd Wright® Bath Collection by Brizo® channels the unrelenting artistry and enduring influence of iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Developed in collaboration with the esteemed Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the full bath suite evidences his revolutionary American style of architecture, beginning with the careful selection of materials down to the meticulous construction of every fine detail. “We have been honored to work with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation as we developed and designed this collection,” says Judd Lord, Brizo® Senior Director of Industrial Design. “Their dedication to create and inspire in the name of making life more beautiful mirrors our own steadfast commitment to inspire, challenge, and elevate the world around us through distinct design and unparalleled craftsmanship. Staying true to Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision of reinvention was core to our

DESIGN MATTERS

The horizontal planes of the cantilevered spout echo Wright’s awe-inspiring structures, harnessing the laws of physics, yet seeming to defy gravity. Freestanding Tub Filler In Brilliance® Luxe Nickel™ / Wood

product development, and the Foundation’s incredible knowledge and deep reverence for that vision has been invaluable.” Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy and six principles of organic architecture are reflected throughout every detail of the collection: simplicity, individuality, belonging, palette, substance, and integrity. From the cantilevered spout design that seems to defy gravity to the innovative side-stream water flow that seeks to challenge convention, each element draws from his legacy while simultaneously daring to break with tradition. “People sometimes make the mistake of thinking Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy is complete,” says Stuart Graff, President and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. “But really, it’s ongoing. It’s not just about what he created in his lifetime—it’s about all the artists and all the disciplines he inspired and their work going forward. That’s why working with the Brizo brand has been such a delight. They understand that honoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision means continuing it. And in this collection, they have.”

Top: The raincan showerhead showcases the distinctive rush of the Canopy Spray, which activates a built-in light by hydrogenerator for a dramatic effect.

For more information about Brizo® kitchen and bath products or to locate a dealer, visit brizo.com.

Above: From drawer pulls to towel bars, elegantly coordinated accessories and hardware pair with lavatory faucets, tub fillers, and custom shower components to unify the aesthetic throughout the entire bath space.

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A View to a Grill

Fire Magic—grills you can design your outdoor kitchen around

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THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN AS AN EXTENSION OF THE INDOORS Much like the interior of a home, an outdoor kitchen is the hub of the backyard; it’s where family members and guests congregate. Running water, ample preparation space, refrigeration, and storage are all important considerations. Fire Magic has an extensive line of outdoor cooking, cooling, and storage solutions—from warming drawers and beverage centers to trash containers and paper towel holders—to create a complete outdoor kitchen with all of the conveniences of an indoor kitchen. THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN AS AN ELEMENT OF THE OUTDOOR ROOM Today, the outdoor kitchen is generally an element of a much larger and more robust outdoor entertainment space. Ice makers, refrigerators, and even kegerators like the ones Fire Magic manufactures can help create the ultimate outdoor entertainment area.

DESIGN MATTERS

The Black Diamond grill takes center stage in this outdoor kitchen.

A GRILL TO MATCH ANY DESIGN At Fire Magic we say we’re a grill you can design an outdoor kitchen around. We pride ourselves on our unique designs—from our rounded hood, created to enhance cooking performance, that gives a soft, streamlined look to models like our drop-in grill ideal for mid-century modern kitchen designs. A QUALITY OUTDOOR KITCHEN REQUIRES QUALITY APPLIANCES Fire Magic products are built right here in Southern California. They’re crafted from the finest quality materials and come with the industry’s best warranty. And Fire Magic has been in business for more than 80 years—still manufacturing parts for every grill we’ve ever made—so homeowners can be confident of their investment knowing that their grill will last as long as they enjoy their outdoor kitchen. Fire Magic Grills 626.369.5085 firemagicgrills.com

An Echelon grill is showcased in a Moya Living custom island.

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Blue Door Magazine and eMotoring President Scott Gladstone discuss the new-world experience of car sales. BLUE DOOR MAGAZINE: WE ALL KNOW CAR BUYING IS A PAINFUL PROCESS, SO WHAT IS IT YOU DO TO CIRCUMVENT THAT? Scott Gladstone: The world of automotive retail is rapidly going through a seismic transformation. The consumer is demanding a more individualized experience, and the tools available to transform the buying experience have never been so abundant and, at the same time, so confusing. We stand alongside the consumer as an advocate, researcher, negotiator, and trusted advisor, to deliver a customized buying experience that yields the best price possible. We are transforming the car buying experience by removing the countless hours of research, dealer visits, and unsatisfying salesperson encounters with a concierge whiteglove approach to buying your next automobile. Our customer-centric approach puts us on your side. It leverages our industry expertise to source, negotiate, and deliver the perfect car at the best possible price in a stress-free and customer-first manner. 80

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Traditional automotive retail has relied upon a decades-old approach to negotiation. The automobile purchase is one of the last remaining bastions of a negotiated-price purchase. But unfortunately, the car buying experience is fraught with uncertainty and a lack of transparency. What is the actual value? What is someone else prepared to pay? And how much would I be able to save if I had endless amounts of market data, industry expertise, and authentic insight into the seller’s ‘bottom line?’ Well, we provide that insight into the automotive buying process, layer on top of that our purchasing leverage, and that ultimate confidence that we have been able to secure the best possible price. BDM: WHAT’S YOUR BUSINESS MODEL? SG: Our strategy is to deliver an alternative to the traditional automobile dealership experience, one that provides high levels of customer service with a curated approach to vehicle selection, sourcing, and negotiation. Assessing customer needs and lifestyle characteristics through a oneon-one intake process allows us to act as a trusted advisor who makes the car buying process an enjoyable experience that reduces friction at the dealership level and ensures the lowest possible price outcome. In addition to assisting our clients in sourcing their next vehicle, we identify and analyze the various purchasing versus leasing options and develop a strategy for maximizing the value of their current vehicle through our network of preferred dealership partners. We are not just car salespeople wearing a different jacket. We understand the value of customer loyalty and engagement and strive to exceed customer expectations throughout every step of the car-buying journey. We are your trusted advisor. PHOTO BY BRET T HILLYARD

Q&A “We take a lot of the friction out of the car buying process and put the consumer back in control.” —Scott Gladstone, President, eMotoring

BDM: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CARS YOU ARE ASKED TO LOCATE ARE ELECTRIC? SG: We have some clients who own Teslas and are tired of the lack of design evolution and are looking for alternatives. Currently, only a tiny percentage of our clients are actively looking for a pure electric option. However, I anticipate it will grow to 20-30 percent of our volume within the next three years. There is a long way to go before the battery-powered cars produced by the legacy manufacturers can rival Tesla’s sales volume, but we are moving in the right direction.

BDM: WHAT IS YOUR MOST EXCITING CAR SEARCH STORY? SG: We have had several tense interactions with couples with different tastes, budgets, and desires. Often, we act as a mediator trying to find the best possible solution for their family based upon the feedback that they have provided during the intake process. However, the most enjoyable experiences are working with clients who purchase their ‘dream car,’ perhaps even a car that they had a poster of on their wall as a kid. Now that they have achieved the financial ability to purchase that vehicle, they engage with our team to search the country for the perfect collector car. It is such an honor to partner with our clients as we seek out the right vehicle at the right price and see the smiles on their faces as we deliver their new car in their driveway.

BDM: WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURER TODAY? SG: We’re seeing every car manufacturer using Tesla as the benchmark in technology, simplicity, and convenience. The challenge for traditional manufacturers lies in their legacy cost structure and the tremendous investment requirements required to compete with Tesla. Fortunately, we are living during a renaissance in the auto industry. The sheer number of new EVs (electric vehicles) launching over two to three years is unbelievable. I love what Volkswagen is doing with its brands such as Audi and Porsche when it comes to electrification of their lineup, and the domestic brands such as Ford as they are delivering new trucks that lead the way in total unit sales for any model vehicle in the country.

BDM: IS IT TRUE YOU USED TO RACE CARS? SG: I have always said that there would be oil in my veins if you were to cut me open. Ever since I was a young kid, I raced anything with wheels or an engine. I started early on racing go-karts, which are the training ground for every Formula One driver. I then moved on to openwheel formula cars. While I was competitive, I realized at a relatively young age that I didn’t want to be a starving race car driver while other drivers who came from wealthy families continued to move up the ladder. So, I turned that experience and passion into a career in the automotive motorsports industry and launched a brand in the United States called SPARCO. It was a tremendous experience as I traveled the world at a young age, building SPARCO into a global leader in motorsports safety equipment and automotive accessories.

BDM: WHY DO YOU THINK IT HAS TAKEN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SO LONG TO EVOLVE? SG: The vast amount of capital required to develop and manufacture a new automobile is staggering. When you layer in the sales channel across the United States, which has a highly fragmented ownership structure, there seem to be a million different views on how to improve the process. It leads to a lack of consensus and innovation. With a shock to the system, like Tesla introducing their factory-owned stores, consumers realize that there may be a better process. That is where eMotoring fits, as we take a lot of the friction out of the car buying process and put the consumer back in control.

BDM: WHAT DO YOU DRIVE? SG: To be honest, it has changed almost monthly since launching eMotoring. We have successfully assisted our clients in the sales of their current vehicles as we are a licensed automobile dealership in California. We often find great opportunities to sell those cars on a retail basis. I’m typically in a vehicle that we are in the process of selling. I never know when I may be ‘car-less.’ BDM: WHAT’S THE MOST-ASKED-FOR CAR? SG: Over the last two and half years since launching eMotoring, I have been surprised by the breadth of cars we have delivered. We have helped clients on multimillion-dollar supercars and have also helped some younger clients get into their very first pre-owned vehicle. The most-asked-for vehicle is clearly the mid- to large-size luxury SUV. Our Southern California-based clients love the safety, comfort, and convenience of this category of cars. Additionally, our clients’ enormous demand for the Ford F150 Raptor has pushed us into a role wherein we have probably purchased more Ford F150 Raptors on behalf of our clients than anyone in the country.

BDM: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? SG: It was an incredibly impressive 1983 Volvo station wagon in metallic brown. I was lucky to have a car to drive and had to use that to get to my first job, bagging groceries at Alpha-Beta in Huntington Beach, so I could afford to put gas in it. BDM: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE RACE CAR DRIVER OF ALL TIME? SG: Anyone who knows me could answer that on my behalf. Ayrton Senna was and will always be my hero. I grew up watching the most significant racing driver of all time during the pinnacle of F1. I still remember vividly watching on May 1, 1994, when he died during the San Marino Grand Prix. I always have said that if I were to have a son, there is no question that he would be named Senna. BDM: I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTER IS ONLY TWO, BUT WHAT FIRST CAR WOULD YOU BUY HER IF SHE WAS OF AGE? SG: As a protective father, probably an armored tank. She will be a force to be reckoned with, and I feel sorry for any boy who doesn’t know the difference between a Ferrari and a Ford. But, all kidding aside, I’d probably put her in a Volvo station wagon, just like her daddy drove when he was 16. eMotoring.com BlueDoorMagazine.com

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MEMBER FEATURE

BLUE DOOR MAGAZINE MEMBERS INSPIRE WITH INSIGHTS AND INSIDER INFO FROM THEIR LIVES ALONG THE ORANGE COUNTY COAST

KYLE FLAGG

Photos by Brett Hillyard In high school, I remember driving off Lido Isle, though Newport Heights, Cliff Haven, and Dover Shores to the Newport Aquatic Center, looking at the beautiful, magnificent homes Newport Beach has to offer and thinking…one day I would love to sell real estate here.

Kyle Flagg Villa Real Estate 450 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100 Newport Beach 949.514.5113 kflagg@villarealestate.com BlueDoorMagazine.com

GEOFF SUMICH I start every design experimenting in the model-making room. I design anywhere from 5-20 models per project, which allows me to discover shapes/forms/textures and compositional harmonies no other medium can achieve. Designing with models creates pure, simple, and timeless pieces of architecture.

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MEMBER FEATURE

Geoff Sumich 31511-A Camino Capistrano San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 geoff@geoffsumichdesign.com geoffsumichdesign.com 949.412.8461

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4 Shoreline Newport Coast Offered at $7,288,000 Beautifully sited with a panoramic view vista of the Pacific Ocean across the unspoiled natural reserve of Crystal Cove, the home at 4 Shoreline epitomizes the ideal southern California coastal lifestyle. The location is prime – behind the guarded gates of the small oceanfront enclave of Pelican Point (the ONLY oceanside community in tony Newport Coast), residents share exclusive access to the paths of Crystal Cove, a private cove lookout, and it’s just a short distance to both the shops and restaurants of Crystal Cove AND Corona del Mar… ideal! 4 Shoreline hits the mark.

3 Shoreline Newport Coast Offered at $7,500,000 In a topsy-turvy world, the owner of 3 Shoreline set out to create a home that soothed, a relaxing retreat that provides a place to nest and get away from the bustle of life. The start is the location – a wonderful oceanfront guard - gated community adjacent to the open space of Crystal Cove yet just minutes from Newport Center and the village of Corona del Mar.

Mike Johnson + Partners ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ Mike Johnson Paulo Prietto Kristine Flynn Andrew Graff 949.207.3735 mjandpartners.com

Nick Hooper Sylvia Ames Inge Bunn Lilly Tabrizi

2320 Crestview Drive Laguna Beach Offered at $5,575,000 or $14,800/month Commanding, straight-on coastline and Catalina Island views provide a magnificent backdrop to this understated, finely finished Laguna Beach home. Sitting above the Wood’s Cove neighborhood, this home is just minutes from beaches, fine dining and shopping. Virtually Staged

Watch for our annual Laguna Food Pantry Fundraiser in December. Do good and win prizes!

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. DRE 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal without notice. DRE’s Mike Johnson l DRE 01429647; Nick Hooper l DRE 01962012l; Inge Bunn l DRE 00641176; Andrew Graff l DRE 02024856; Paulo Prietto l DRE 01878796; Sylvia Ames l DRE 02021418; Kristine Flynn l DRE 02063127; Lilly Tabrizi | DRE 02107169.

Nick Hooper 949.939.7083 nick.hooper@compass.com DRE 01962012

3053 Nestall Road l Laguna Beach Offered at $2,399,000

867 Acapulco l Laguna Beach Offered at $2,095,000

In Escrow

2317 Half Moon Lane | Costa Mesa Eastside Costa Mesa Jewel

30621 Hilltop Way | San Juan Capistrano Private Estate Home

DEDICATED Working with Leo was a fantastic experience. His personable and professional approach to finding us our dream home meant the world to us. He is an extremely dedicated and hardworking agent for his clients. He treats you like family and really works to understand exactly the home and life experiences you are looking for. Leo genuinely cares for his clients and looks not only to sell homes but to represent people in the utmost way. We know we will thoroughly enjoy our home for years to come and also value the friendships made during the process. HE’S A CLASS ACT! — Norm & Kollett C., The Strand , Dana Point

STRATEGIC

REFRESH AND RELAX, YOU DESERVE A STRESS FREE EXPERIENCE WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME. With Leo Goldschwartz we bought three luxury properties — 2300 Crestview Dr., Laguna Beach 35 Beach View Ave., Dana Point 23033 Cape Point Dr., PV In addition to his charming demeanor, Leo is a professional expert in his field. He is very sensitive to the taste of the client and does not waste time showing meaningless options. Leo is responsible and responsive, and reacts quickly to texts and immediately calls back. Energetic and friendly, when we moved to OC from LA and didn’t know anyone, Leo literally became our guide. Through the connections of people who respect him, Leo helped us to find a boat slip (which is almost unrealistic in such terms). Leo also is patient, polite and attentive ... hardworking and professional.

GETS IT DONE

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! — Nadine Khapsalis Kogod

We lucked out with Leo and had our offer accepted on our first home viewing! During the the escrow Leo was extremely respectful and responsive to our request. Leo is definitely a helpful and knowledgeable realtor for the southern orange county coastal area! — J.S., Laguna Beach

COMMUNICATIVE When I need real estate help in OC , I turn to Leo! Leo is punctual, responsible and overly communicative. I’ve found that when it comes to brokers the ones always over communicate with their clients. If you want a broker that will go above and beyond the extra mile,I highly recommend engaging Leo. You’ll be glad you did! — KC, Dallas ,TX

LE O G O LD S C H WA RT Z 714.719.0670

leogoldschwartz.com

leo.gold@compass.com DRE 01704591 L E O G O L D | D E D I C AT E D . S T R AT E G I C . E X P E R T . G E N U I N E & G E T S I T D O N E Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. DRE 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal without notice.

M A K E YO U R M OV E KATHRYN WHITE

ANDRE WHITE

949.433.0315

949.378.9653

kathryn.white@compass.com

andre.white@compass.com

DRE 01346645

DRE 01873658

CELEBRATING 360+ SUCCESSFUL SALES AND COUNTING

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 5 0 + S U C C E S S F U L S A L E S A N D C O U N T I N G

CELEBRATING 360+ SUCCESSFUL SALES AND COUNTING

BEFORE

NEWPORT COAST | $3,189,000 5SUNDIAL.COM

TURTLE RIDGE | $3,295,000 29 CASTLEROCK.COM Single Level Home

NEWPORT COAST | $1,249,000 50VIAAMANTI.COM

AFTER

NEWPORT COAST | $3,189,000 23SEAVIEW.COM 9,300+ Sq Ft Lot

NEWPORT COAST | $3,189,000 5SUNDIAL.COM

NEWPORT COAST | $1,995,000 BEFO RE 39CLERMONT.COM Expanded with Views

ng and uncertain of times, we continue to meet and exceed our clients e practices, creative and virtual marketing, and our extensive network, pened/closed 10 escrow sides during Covid-19. Once again, we NEWPORT J U S T L I SBEACH T E D |B$2,100,000 AYS H O R E S | N E W P O R T B E AC H 325ALVARADO.COM NEWPORT COAST | $1,249,000 en resultsADU/Investment of Rthe you. G UA D GBradshaw AT EOpportunity D B AY F RResidential O N T C O M M UGroup N I T Y | to work for50VIAAMANTI.COM

AFTER

NEWPORT COAST | $1,995,000 39CLERMONT.COM Expanded with Views

H I G H LY U P G R A D E D | 4 B E D R O O M S + O F F I C E | T E E N R Oat O MBradshawResidentialGroup.com/Remodel | 3 . 5 CA R G A R AG E | $ 6 , 6 3 5 , 0 0 0 After gallery Even in the most challenging and uncertain of times, we continue to meet and exceed our clients needs. With the use of safe practices, creative and virtual marketing, and our extensive network, we have successfully opened/closed 10 escrow sides during Covid-19. Once again, we J U S T S O L D, M U LT I P L E O F F E R S | 30 T I M O R S E A invite youJASON to put the proven results of the Bradshaw Residential Group to work for you. C. JASON BRADSHAW

Bradshaw Residential Group BRADSHAW

C R Y S TA L CO

INVESTING IN YOUR INVESTMENT

Visit 949.433.3001 our Before and After gallery at BradshawResidentialGroup.com/Remodel Let us add VALUE with NO up front costs, interest or fees. CalRE# 01304396

jason@bradshawresidential.com DRE# 01304396 949.433.3001

Put the prove design services to work for you, allowing us to sell your property fast C O L D W E L L B AN KE R RE ALT Y

I N V E S T I N G I N YO U R I N V E S T M E N T

Let us add VALUE with no up front costs, interest, or fees. Put the proven results ofAlthough our concierge design and construction services to e property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. ely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker. All Rights work for you, allowing us to sell your property for more money! ell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which (20456581) DARREN DARREN SMITH

he principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act

Bradshaw Residential Group SMITH 949.887.0643 CalRE# 01233459

darren@bradshawresidential.com 949.887.0643 DRE# 01233459

JASON C. JASON BRADSHAW Bradshaw Residential Group BRADSHAW BradshawResidentialGroup.com/Remodel 949.433.3001 CalRE# 01304396

jason@bradshawresidential.com

DRE# 01304396 949.433.3001

Brad

Laur COLD W E LL B ANKE R RE ALT Y

F RO M C A N YO N TO COA ST,

JACQUELINE THOMPSON Group DE L IV E R S R E S U LTS

JacquelineThompsonGroup.com

949.326.3392 · JTGroup@surterreproperties.com @JacquelineThompsonGroup DRE#01476106

F RO M C AN YO N TO COA ST,

JACQUELINE THOMPSON Group DE L IV E R S R E SU LTS

F RO M C AN YO N TO COA ST,

JACQUELINE THOMPSON Group DE L IV E R S R E SU LTS

FROM CANYON TO COA S T,

JACQUELINE THOMPSON Group D ELI V ERS RES U LTS

A Great Journey Starts With A Great Guide ® 7 years helping clients acquire spectacular properties throughout Coastal Southern California.

I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life. George Burns Hanz Radlein Realtor® 949.245.4470 hanz@radlein.com hanzradlein.com DRE 01954778

Emerald Bay...

Emerald Bay

There’s Nothing Better.

From Sun Up... to Sun Down. MAURA SHORT 949.233.7949 MAURA@COMPASS.COM DRE 01883774

Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit properties already listed. *Currently in escrow as of 10.08.21 *Average sales price for 2021. *$303M total sales volume YTD as of 10.08.21 for overall carreer. *Maura Short has sold more homes than any other agent in Emerald Bay for the year 2021 to date 08.16.21. *$88,000,000 in sales valume YTD 08.16.21.

Maura Short... Emerald Bay Extraordinare

$121M+

$11M

Sales volume year to date

Currently in escrow*

$10M

$303M

Average sales price*

Total sales volume*

Maura has sold more homes than any other agent in Emerald Bay*

Founding Agent at Compass OC

Maura Short 949.233.7949 maurashort.com DRE 01883774

HIGH

CORKETT

413 VIA LIDO SOUD Newport Beach | $6,195,000 | 413ViaLidoSoud.com Prestigious Lido Isle in Newport Harbor is the location of this rare bayfront triplex property on a 40’ wide lot. All of the fun of Newport Beach is out your door, swimming, sailing, bike riding, paddle boarding, and the newly updated Lido Village with its fine dining and high-end retails shops are an easy walk away. Lido Isle is the ultimate waterfront lifestyle community with its private Beach Club, summertime snack bar, parks, tennis courts, stradas and activities for the entire family including sailing and tennis instruction. Offered for sale for the first time in over 45 years, the property has spectacular waterfront vistas of the harbor, sits on a pristine sandy bay beach and all three units are flooded with natural light due to its corner location on the Lido Isle “boat garden” and sunny southern exposure. Unit A is a bayfront three bedroom, three bath, 1,567 sqft, with a waterfront patio and leases at $5,880 per month, unit B is an upstairs bayfront unit with two bedrooms, two baths, 1,491 sqft, and a waterside deck that leases at $4,388 per month, and unit C is a two bedroom, one and one-half bath, 862 sqft, unit over the garage that has waterfront vistas and leases at $2,500 per month. Come enjoy the Lido lifestyle.

highcorkett.com

39 SKYRIDGE Newport Coast | $15,995,000 | 39Skyridge.com This Traditional-style bayfront “cottage” lies on the western shore of historic Bay Island and features endless views of Newport Harbor, the main turning basin, the Balboa shoreline, Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s mooring field, Lido Isle, and in wintertime, the snow-covered San Bernardino mountains. From this vantage point your vistas are an everchanging kaleidoscope of sailing regattas, paddleboarders, morning crew workouts, boat parades, and never-ending sunsets. Accessed by a private bridge from the Balboa Peninsula, Bay Island, the harbors only natural Island, originally began as a “gun club” in 1903; where its earliest owners shot ducks from its shores. Today, Bay Island is one of Newport Beach’s most exclusive addresses - a private 5.5 acre sanctuary of 23 waterfront homes that commonly own a tennis court, parking structure, wide sandy beach, grassy lawns, mature trees, and lush botanical and cutting gardens. This gracious French Normandy revival home features richly stained dark hardwood floors, beautifully proportioned rooms including a huge great room with a fireplace and built-in bookcases, a family room, remodeled kitchen, an elegant master suite with a marble bath, three additional bedrooms, four baths, a lower-level multi-purpose room and a private boat dock that can accommodate a boat to 60’ and several side ties. All of the fun of Newport Beach is out your door, swimming, sailing, boating, paddleboarding, biking or strolling the boardwalk, fine dining, high-end retail shopping, and the “world famous” Fun Zone is an easy walk away. Bay Island is one of Southern California’s most unique and gracious locations and this is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to purchase one of its twenty-three bayfront residences.

STEVE HIGH

949 874 4724 shigh@villarealestate.com @high_corkett DRE No. 00936421

EVAN CORKETT

949 285 1055 ecorkett@villarealestate.com @high_corkett DRE No. 00468496

JON FLAGG

414 VIA LIDO NORD Lido Isle | Listed at $5,995,000

53 GOLETA POINT DRIVE | NEW LISTING Corona del Mar | Listed at $3,995,000 | 53GoletaPoint.com

JON FLAGG

949 698 1910 jflagg@villarealestate.com jonflagg.com JonFlaggRealEstateServices @JonFlaggHomes DRE No. 01316048

KYLE FLAGG

In Association with Jon Flagg DRE No. 02095991

TIM CARR GROUP

218 EVENING STAR LANE Dover Shores | $8,995,000 | 218EveningStar.com

416 HOLMWOOD DRIVE Newport Heights | $4,449,000 | 416Holmwood.com

7 LINDA ISLE Newport Beach | $8,495,000 | 7Linda.com

104 KINGS PLACE | IN ESCROW Newport Heights | $14,995,000 | 104Kings.com

14 GLENEAGLES DRIVE | IN ESCROW Newport Beach | $4,261,000 | 14Gleneagles.com Co-listed with Linda Duffy

TIM CARR

TIM CARR GROUP 949 631 9999 tci@timcarrgroup.com timcarrgroup.com @timcarrgroup DRE No. 01017277

CHRIS MADDY

TIM CARR GROUP 949 294 5408 chris@timcarrgroup.com chrismaddy.com DRE No. 01946797

KYLA JOHNS TIM CARR GROUP 714 609 7063 kyla@timcarrgroup.com timcarrgroup.com DRE No. 01946236

3725 Ocean Boulevard | Corona Del Mar | $26,150,000

2501 Ocean Blvd | Corona Del Mar | $18,850,000

GARRET T WESTON 7 14.425.6904 | mrweston@compass.com | garrettweston.com

B R E AT H TA K I N G H O M E O N T H E B I G W O O D 1 3 0 S G O L D E N E A G L E D R I V E - S U N VA L L E Y I D A H O This expansive home has it all with over 11,000 square feet of living space in a flowing open floor plan. The beautiful estate offers great space for entertaining in the gourmet kitchen which features all new appliances.

There are exquisite finishes with no details left out. The completely finished basement creates the opportunity for additional bedrooms. Plus.. World Class fishing out your back door!

Mike Murphy & Jessica Blake Engel & Völkers Sun Valley Mike: +1 208-720-3323 Jessica: +1 208-720-7566 murphyblakegroup@evrealestate.com www.murphyblakegroup.evrealestate.com

Engel & Völkers Sun Valley • 291 First Avenue North • Ketchum, Idaho 83340 ©2021 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

1010 KINGS ROAD, NEWPORT BEACH

6 BEDROOM 5.5 BATH • 6,425 SQFT, 7,083 SQFT LOT • PANORAMIC VIEWS • www.1010kingsroad.com

B R IA N LIBERTO Realtor®

714.931.32 87 brian@brianliberto.com brianliberto.com DRE: 01473233

SHE LLY COFINI Realtor®

9 49. 9 2 2 . 36 9 8

shellycofini@bhhscal.com thecofinigroup.com DRE: 01080698

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BEACON BAY BEAUTY

A Newport Beach home designed by Lynn Pries offers a timeless touch of Tahitian art and culture that suits the life, times, and travels of her clients By Kedric Francis Photos by Brett Hillyard

Orange County can be a magical place to live. The more one learns about its wonders, the more there is to discover, especially when it comes to choosing where to build or buy a dream house. Most in-the-know locals are aware of the beauty of Beacon Bay, for example, an exclusive Newport Beach enclave of some 72 homes. But who knew that five waterfront properties here are just slightly more perfect than the rest? Designer Lynn Pries knows that, and more. Her deep, unique, and authentic insight is reflected in the Beacon Bay home she created for her clients, as it is in all her projects. BlueDoorMagazine.com

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Lynn designed a built a family home for her parents 25 years ago ndhas had a personal connection to the community ever since. Both her mother and sister still live there, and she has provided design services for many others with homes in the area. Take a tour of the new Beacon Bay home she designed, and one feels her connection to the place, as reflected in the timelessness and beauty of the enclave she created for her clients. “The special thing about this house is the location,” says Pries. “You can be here any time of the day, and feel calm when you walk in, and you’re drawn to the view of the water. It’s a magical place because of the setting.” The first five homes (including the one owned by her clients) are quieter than all the other houses on the water in Beacon

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Above: The kitchen includes quartz counters sourced from Venetian Stone Gallery, while select hardware in the home is from The Nanz Company in New York. The walnut floor is reclaimed wood, hand-hewn as it was installed and not sanded flat, so it has a well-aged appeal. “They don’t work with a lot of designers,” Pries says of the flooring firm. “Their work is mostly found in resorts and hotels, and they installed floors at the White House.” Above left: Lynn Pries designed the Beacon Bay property with a timeless appeal. The antique spears on the wall are from the homeowners’ collection. Pries re-stained them for display, creating a subtle Polynesian aesthetic carried throughout the home.

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The open and airy main living area opens onto the water, with a view of Harbor Island. The designer added the cubbyholes on the wall, “not even knowing what we would display in them,” she says. “The clients had just what we needed, and it worked… magically.” Brenda, the powerful female figure greeting all who enter the home, was created by a local artist.

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“I want my clients to feel like this is their dream home, so we curated and displayed art and objects they’ve collected on their travels. We wove in a select few antiques and custom pieces as well. This creates a more meaningful and memorable atmosphere than if we just bought all new things.” —Lynn Pries BlueDoorMagazine.com

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The second floor suite features art and antiques from Antonio’s Bella Casa on Old Newport Boulevard, chairs sourced from Nicholson’s of Laguna Antiques, a Rose Tarlow chandelier, and hand-woven rugs from Marc Phillips in Los Angeles.

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Bay, she explains. The shallow depth of the channel results in the water revealing vibrant turquoise hues at certain times and in certain lights. The more detail-oriented might notice that the homes further along the waterfront have wind blocks on the patios. The understated, Zen-like patio space here needs none, thanks to Harbor Island, perhaps the most valuable windscreen in the world.

The bedroom suite includes a work space with the clients’ books and photographs, a favorite work of art by Millard Sheets, and offers stunning views of the harbor and islands.

The result is a calmer, quieter location, but still with a view of the activity on the harbor, as paddleboarders, kayaks, and small boats glide by. The architecture and design of the home highlights those rare elements of light, air, and water. The existing house was torn down to the studs, or at least as far as the Coastal Commission allows, and a new one built in its place, but one would never know it. “We wanted the house to feel like it was an historic house, an older house that had been refreshed a little,” she says. “But not a brand-new build.” “Timeless” is a design description that is perhaps over-used but is an entirely appropriate way to describe the house Lynn Pries created and curated for her clients. In the 1940s, the client’s father owned the most famous bar in Tahiti, and the couple has often traveled to the islands, as well as around the world. Pries gathered and curated their art, antiques, and artifacts for display, adding in complimentary pieces she selected or had custom-made, including many from local artists and artisans. BlueDoorMagazine.com

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Lynn Pries Design and Build lynnpriesdb.com lynn@lpdbco.com Office: 949.549.1900 Cell: 949.280.0893 M Carole McElwee, Landscape Design carolemcelwee@gmail.com CP McClary Custom Construction cpmcustomhomes.com 714.271.1055 120

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The owners had a home in Emerald Bay with brown shingles, so Pries brought that aesthetic to this home, “and they love it,” she says. The result is a California take on classic East Coast Nantucket, which fits seamlessly into existing Beacon Bay architecture. Pries designed the patio to be simple and serene. Unlike many homes on the water, there’s no need for a wind guard, so the patio opens onto the beach in front and water beyond. She used Ipe wood on the deck, and “landscaping-wise we kept it more of a Zen feel,” she says, an aesthetic introduced in the front courtyard that features two 40-yearold Bonzai trees.

There is warm and perfectly worn wood throughout, including handhewn walnut floors, antique closet doors, and an antique Moroccan wedding chest. There are hand-woven rugs and antique furniture refinished in vintage fabrics. Every room has unique, often stunningly beautiful details. One bathroom features a chopped limestone floor reminiscent of a sandy beach. Still, with all the attention to detail, there is a serenity and simplicity to the interiors of the home. “I kept things pretty simple,” Pries says. “I like to use quality things to get it just right, rather than clutter things up.” The designer is renowned for the deep dives she takes on each project, including exhaustively researching the history of the periods and places reflected in the homes, from luxurious Tuscanstyle estates to historic Laguna Beach cottages, including the one she works from. “I’ve been really fortunate to have amazing clients,” Pries says, and she takes pride in what she created for the Beacon Bay couple. “They have homes in Telluride and Carmel, and this may be the last home they build. I wanted it to be perfect.” BlueDoorMagazine.com

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THE NEW WOMAN BEHIND THE CAMERA

The extraordinary worldwide impact women had on the practice of photography from the 1920s to the 1950s is celebrated by an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.

Above: Self-Portrait, 1932, by Alma Lavenson Opposite: Model outside the Rose Pauson House, 1942, by Louise Dahl-Wolfe

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During the 1920s, the iconic New Woman was splashed across the pages of magazines and projected on the silver screen. As a global phenomenon, she embodied an ideal of female empowerment based on real women making revolutionary changes in life and art. Featuring more than 120 photographers from over 20 countries, the groundbreaking exhibition, The New Woman Behind the Camera, explores the diverse “new” women who embraced photography as a mode of professional and personal expression from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Known by different names, from nouvelle femme and neue Frau to modan gāru and xin nüxing, the New Woman was easy to recognize but hard to define. Fashionably dressed with her hair bobbed, the self-assured cosmopolitan New Woman was arguably more than a marketable image. She was a contested symbol of liberation from traditional gender roles. In an era when traditional definitions of womanhood were being questioned, women’s lives were a mix of emancipating and confining experiences that varied by country. Many women around the world found the camera to be a means of independence as they sought to redefine their positions in society and expand their rights. This exhibition presents a geographically, culturally, and artistically diverse range of practitioners to advance new conversations

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Above: Magnolia Blossom, c. 1925, by Imogen Cunningham Opposite: Vanderbilt Avenue from East 46th Street, October 9, 1935, by Berenice Abbott

FINE ART

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Model Natalie Nickerson Paine wearing a bikini, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 1946, by Toni Frissell

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Vitrine magasin du Printemps, Paris (Store Window at Printemps, Paris), 1951, by Sabine Weiss

FINE ART

about the history of modern photography and the continual struggle of women to gain creative agency and self-representation. The first exhibition to take an international approach to the subject, it examines how women brought their own perspectives to artistic experimentation, studio portraiture, fashion and advertising work, scenes of urban life, ethnography, and photojournalism, profoundly shaping the medium during a time of tremendous social and political change. Revealing how female photographers from around the world gave rise to and embodied the quintessential New Woman, even as they critiqued the popular construction of the role, the exhibition opens with a group of compelling portraits and self-portraits. In these works, women defined their positions as professionals and artists during a time when they were seeking greater personal rights and freedoms.

Models wearing suits by Carolyn Schnurer, 1945–1946, by Genevieve Naylor Untitled, 1932, by Toni von Horn BlueDoorMagazine.com

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Children of the Weill public school shown in a flag pledge ceremony, San Francisco, California, April 1942, by Dorothea Lange

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Annie Mae Merriweather, 1935, by Consuelo Kanaga

Japanese-American-owned grocery store, Oakland, California, March 1942, by Dorothea Lange

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Page from New York Album, 1929–1930, by Berenice Abbott

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FINE ART 14th Street, New York City, 1947–1948, by Rebecca Lepko

Organized thematically in eight galleries, The New Woman Behind the Camera illustrates women’s groundbreaking work in modern photography, exploring their innovations in the fields of social documentary, avant-garde experimentation, commercial studio practice, photojournalism, ethnography, and the recording of sports, dance, and fashion. The exhibition curated by Andrea Nelson, associate curator in the department of photographs at the National Gallery of Art, seeks to reevaluate the history of photography and advance new and more inclusive conversations on the contributions of female photographers. Photographers such as Berenice Abbott, Ilse Bing, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Madame d’Ora, Florence Henri, Dorothea Lange, Dora Maar, Niu Weiyu, Tsuneko Sasamoto, Gerda Taro, and Homai Vyarawalla, among many others, emerged at a tumultuous moment in history that was profoundly shaped by two world wars, a global economic depression, struggles for decolonization, and the rise of fascism and communism.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, 1953, by Tsuneko Sasamoto

Against the odds, these women were at the forefront of experimentation with the camera and produced invaluable visual testimony that reflects both their personal experiences and the extraordinary social and political transformations of the era. Accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog, the landmark exhibition will be on view from October 31, 2021 through January 30, 2022, in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art, Washington. It was previously on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The New Woman Behind the Camera National Gallery of Art Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC nga.gov BlueDoorMagazine.com

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SILVER LINING A Huntington Beach homeowner “downsizes” from two stories to one and creates an expansive vision for the future

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By Alexandria Abramian Photos by Chad Mellon

Designer Mathew McGrane and builder Joe Kramer crafted a stunning second act for a Huntington Beach homeowner. BlueDoorMagazine.com

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Ann Chlebicki was no stranger to the renovation process when she decided to update her Huntington Beach home. In fact, she had just completed a renovation a few years earlier on the two-story home in the Sea Cliff golf course community.

When the wood floors started bowing and leaks sprang up in different parts of the house, however, Chlebicki decided not just to make the repairs, but to tear down the old house and build a new one where she could remain beyond her current 71 years of age. Chlebicki knew she was ready to make a decision that took her in a design direction few modern-day homeowners explore: She opted to downsize to a single-story, indoor/outdoor residence that would allow her to use the entire property with little effort. “This is the first–and possibly only–time in my career when I have replaced a two-story home with a new single-level home,” says designer Matt McGrane. The open-plan design includes a kitchen with sequence-matched walnut on the cabinets. Dacor ovens and range are used along with a Sub-Zero refrigerator.

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A five-by-ten-foot oak door opens onto the central courtyard, which offers additional living space.

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“When Matt first came to me about building it, I was immediately drawn to his plans that allowed us to capture the views of the golf course and blue sky with the multiple skylights,” says Laguna Beachbased J. Kramer Corp.’s Joe Kramer. “She’s the first one in the Sea Cliff community to build a well-designed, new, modern house. In a lot of ways, this lot finally has the house it deserves.” When it came to reimagining the home, Kramer and McGrane had more than the average amount of space to work with. Chlebicki was able to purchase a 25-foot-wide easement surrounding the property, giving her an almost 10,000-square-foot lot and the most golf-course

frontage of any home in the community. That enabled McGrane to design a home that could spread out, but also created the challenge of maintaining privacy. “The home is in the middle of the fairway,” says McGrane. “Every five minutes you have a new group of people coming through.” The house now offers seamless outdoor integration, while Fleetwood sliders disappear and all thresholds are flush. Kramer took extreme care with the details throughout the home, finding design solutions to create a high-functioning home that would allow Chlebicki to age in place. The look and architectural BlueDoorMagazine.com

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Fleetwood pocket sliders disappear to make the home a true indoor/outdoor environment. Cedar lines the ceiling and the outside eaves, connecting the two spaces.

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A Japanese maple was craned into the central garden near the end of the project, bringing a punctuarion of color to the space to contrast with the neutrals.

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In the master bedroom, the fireplace surround is finished in a light-gray stucco, as is the main living area fireplace.

presence of the home evokes a feeling of openplan minimalism that would appeal to modernists of any age. The 3,150-square-foot home is a testament to highly personalized form and function, one where doors and floors are wheelchair-accessible, should that be needed. “The floors have a little bit of texture so they don’t slip. It also has radiant heat so she can walk around in bare feet,” says Kramer, while McGrane designed all bathrooms to have zero-edge showers. One of the greatest silver linings of the project turned out to be the way Chlebicki’s art collection now comes to life and how the natural light changes drastically throughout the day. J. Kramer Corp. Laguna Beach 949.466.1533 jkramercorp.com Mathew McGrane 562.686.4097 mathewmcgrane.com

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Bathroom counters by Epic Ceramic & Stone

DESIGN & BUILD

Designer Mathew McGrane, owner Ann Chlebicki, and builder Joe Kramer in the central courtyard.

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OC PROPERTY

OC WINE COUNTRY A secluded four-acre estate in the hills of Cowan Heights comes complete with vineyards, groves of olive trees, and a working winery that produces awardwinning all-OC-grown vintages

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A 100-year-old olive tree takes center stage at Peppertree Canyon.

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OC PROPERTY

The real estate edict about owning oceanfront property because “they aren’t making it anymore” is true—truisms often are. But the fact is that there are hundreds of prime properties on the water along Orange County’s 42 miles of coastline, while there’s only one Peppertree Canyon.

We were introduced to the four-acre inland estate hidden in the hills of Cowan Heights by Blue Door Magazine member Maura Short. The one-of-a-kind property is a private urban farm, vineyard, and working winery with an olive tree grove, fruit orchards, and wooded hiking trails on the grounds. There’s a 5,000-square-foot Tuscan farmhouse where the owners of the retreat reside, a resort-style guesthouse with pool and spa, and a 4,000-square-foot winemaking facility that produces an award-winning, 100 percent estate-grown Sangiovese. The first 1,400 grape vines were planted on the property in 2013 and the inaugural harvest was in 2016. That original Peppertree Canyon vintage, a bright and fruit-forward wine that has been on the list at Farmhouse and other select OC restaurants, won a Silver Medal at the Orange County Fair. Chefs also prize the extra virgin olive oil that is grown, hand-harvested, and bottled right on the farm. The owners of Peppertree Canyon planted a grove of 100 trees when they bought the property, including Frantoio, Pendolino, and Leccino cultivars. The couple who created this magical place didn’t buy the property with an urban farm and winery in mind. They purchased it from a developer BlueDoorMagazine.com

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OC PROPERTY A view of the expansive Peppertree Canyon property at dusk, with vineyards in the foreground. On the left is the Tuscan farmhouse, which was originally built in 1969, remodeled in 2007 and again by the current owners in 2013. The winery building on the right was added in 2013. It doubles as an event space when not in use for crushing, bottling, and labeling the wine. Features include large doors that open onto the vineyards, cold rooms, a full kitchen, and video screening capabilities. The loft space upstairs includes a yoga studio, lounge, and playroom.

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How many properties in Orange County have a hiking trail—not a little path, but a winding, climbing, meandering path through the woods and past meadows overflowing with wildflowers? The trail circles up and across the ridgeline that is part of the property, leading to a cabin that has a treehouse feel, pergolas, and a daybed covered in wisteria blooms each spring. That daybed offers a view similar to this. It’s the owners’ favorite vista, from which they watch the full moon rise above the mountains beyond.

who intended to subdivide the four acres. The wine-loving duo soon realized that the Mediterranean-like temperature and terroir make the land ideal for growing olives, grapes, herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees. Soon enough, they were rehabilitating the land, which had been filled for development. Large tractors ripped through the fill, they added organic materials and gypsum, tested the soil, and repeated the process many times to create a an environment right for the vineyards. They also went through the exceedingly complex process to obtain the zoning, permits, and other approvals to run a fully-bonded winery on the property. The result is a beautiful and bucolic place, unique in Orange County, where most everything grows. Peppertree Canyon is not currently on the market, but a visit to the remarkable spot raises an obvious question: What’s the value of a property such as this? It’s surely more than the price of a Cowan Heights acre, times four. There’s the value of the winery business, as well. Orange County was once the epicenter of the best farmland in Southern California. Now, few acres of farmland remain, so future owners will have a rare opportunity to continue an agricultural legacy. When all the elements are included, the value equation grows exponentially. In many respects, Peppertree Canyon is priceless. “We are blessed with the privilege to be stewards of the beautiful, unique, spiritual place that is Peppertree Canyon,” the owners say. “When the time comes, we hope to pass that privilege on to one who will value it as we do.” Peppertree Canyon 9902 Rangeview Drive Cowan Heights peppertreecanyon.com BlueDoorMagazine.com

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When this almost 9,000-square-foot home sold for a record price in Newport Heights, it came as little surprise to Tim Carr. The Newport Beach real estate agent and founder of Tim Carr Group says it’s a logical result of an an exceptional home on a unique lot. “Some of the highest-selling properties have sold for $10 million in this area. Nothing has sold even near the $14.995 million paid for this home. And the reason is that this home is exceptional on a lot of levels: You’ve got an almost half-acre flat lot perfectly positioned for views,” says Carr. Add to that the home’s size, design, and flow, and you’ve got the makings for a record-breaking number.

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HIGHER GROUND

A Newport Heights home hits a record-breaking price with its unbeatable mix of design, location, and near-total privacy By Alexandria Abramian

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The gourmet kitchen is located in the great room and conceals a secondary prep kitchen for entertaining.

Those vistas include unobstructed, panoramic ocean, harbor, and city light views visible from every major area in the 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom home. The design is another exceptional factor, says Carr. While many second-generation homes in the Kings Road area of Newport Heights are contemporary, this property boasts a more appealing take on clean-lined design, one where wood and stone finishes, thoughtful landscaping, and an interplay of expansive spaces and cozier nooks put a premium on livability. RDM General Contractors brought those designs to life, both indoors as well as in the outdoor spaces, including an infinity lap pool, outdoor entertainer’s lounge, and private terrace off the master suite. Disappearing glass walls integrate the indoors with the outdoors on both floors of the home. In fact, the view side of the home is primarily a series of 154

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The expansive master suite includes a private terrace with stunning views as well as a spa-inspired ensuite bathroom.

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retracting glass walls, the better to invite views into every area of the home. Despite its focus on transparency, however, the home is incredibly private, says Carr. Thanks to an elevated, bluff-hugging location, both outdoor rooms as well as inside the home offer a highly private sanctuary. “Inventory is low right now,” says Carr. “Amazing homes are in even shorter supply. And this home would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace.” Tim Carr Group 136 Rochester Street Costa Mesa 949.631.9999 timcarrgroup.com RDM General Contractors 250 East Baker Street #300 Costa Mesa 714.497.1861 rdmgc.com 156

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Above left: Tim Carr stands next to the infinity lap pool that flows directly from the great room of the house. Above: Robert McCarthy of RDM General Contractors completed the home in 2013.

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PERFECT PIRCH By Annette Reeves

The elite members of the PIRCH install team understand that the title of “installer” goes much further than unboxing a dishwasher and plugging it in. Their role and obligation within the PIRCH organization centers on first-class service and understanding the needs of each and every customer. Jeremy Prosser, Director of Installation for soon-tobe seven PIRCH locations, describes how the installation department has grown to focus on details, customer satisfaction, and raising the bar within the industry to a whole new level.

BLUE DOOR MAGAZINE: WHY IS IT AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE STAFF INSTALLERS? JEREMY PROSSER: Our goal is to deliver the same experience from store level to jobsite. When you use a third party, there’s no consistency, there’s no desire to provide the same level of service. Third-party installers don’t have skin in the game. They’re thinking, “I have to do these things on this checklist and then I can go home.” The way we look at an install is: “Once we leave your home, we want you to be able to cook, to enjoy your appliances, to live in your home, and to enjoy it with family and friends.” BDM: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH PIRCH? JP: It’ll be 10 years in October. I started as a level two installer and then progressed to level three, lead installer, install supervisor, installation manager, and now I am Director of Installation. BDM: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE? JP: When I’m looking for a new person to join our team, it has very little to do with install technique. It’s much more about the way they handle situations, their experience with customers, their de-escalation skills, proper communication, and overall customer service technique. It’s the customer interfacing part that a lot of people struggle with and since our business is all about customer service, it’s the key ingredient to how I hire. Third-party companies focus on other attributes; we focus on hiring good humans. 158

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BDM: WHAT IS THE WORKLOAD FOR YOUR INSTALL TEAMS? JP: We run eight to ten teams out of Oceanside, five to six teams out of our L.A. warehouse, and three teams out of our Palm Desert location daily. BDM: WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR A TEAM? JP: Our install managers and schedulers base everything on time allocation, as different appliances take different amounts of time. For example, a dishwasher versus a 72” column refrigerator installation. Our install teams do approximately three to six stops per day with more stops if they are simple installations like dishwashers and laundry and then fewer stops if it’s a full house installation. We try to be as flexible as possible within the schedule so that we can accommodate escalations, revisits, or quick turnaround requests. Our delivery teams do approximately 14 to 17 stops per day. BDM: EXPLAIN WHY PIRCH OFFERS A PRE-SITE SERVICE? JP: Pre-site is peace of mind for the contractor and the homeowner. In some scenarios, they are not sure if they have read the specs correctly or if trades have covered all the necessary specifications to install the appliance to the manufacturer’s requirements. It gives them relief to know that someone else has looked at the opening, checked the location of the gas line, the dimensions of the cabinets, and when install day comes, it’s going to go as smooth as possible. This is an area in 2022 that we will look to grow as we believe it truly separates us from our competition but also delivers to our customers a level of professionalism that others don’t bring to the table. PHOTOS BY KIM UTLE Y

Q&A BDM: HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED THE INSTALLATION EXPERIENCE? JP: I’m very proud to say that COVID-19 has affected us in the most positive way possible. We didn’t shy away, we didn’t shut down our services, we pressed on, we did everything we could to still move forward and take care of our customers. In my mind, what we were saying to customers when our teams showed up was, “we are taking care of you in a time when there is a lot of uncertainty. We are going to give you that certainty, we are going to give you the utmost care when you need it the most.” Beyond that, COVID-19 has affected us in our awareness of the customers, in their comfort levels. We take our job during this time very seriously. Our teams wear face coverings, we practice social distancing, and we have had plenty of customers tell us that our approach has been perfect.

BDM: WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING FOR INSTALLERS? JP: It’s different for each person. The physical aspect is obviously hard. The harder part though is extending and maintaining the experience that the client had inside the showroom all the way to the end of the project when we show up. The showroom gives you the warm and fuzzies; our experienced salespeople make homeowners feel great about their purchase. But within the life of an order, a lot can happen. Sometimes we don’t start installing until three months later and on larger jobs it could be 12 to 18 months later. By the time our installers show up, clients are ready to move into their home, they are ready to be done with the remodel or home-build process and there is a lot of expectation on our installers to get it done and get it done right. We don’t know if we are walking into a calm, peaceful setting or if we’re walking into a war zone. Regardless, our installers maintain the same level of professionalism, expertise, and mindfulness.

BDM: IS THERE A PANDEMIC INSTALLATION PROTOCOL YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED? JP: The protocol is that they all wear masks and gloves. The team comes in and completely disinfects the work area. We ask the trades and the homeowner to refrain from being in that area so that we can maintain a disinfected safe place for our installers. When we complete an install, we do a second disinfecting procedure and we wipe down all knobs, pulls, and anything we touched. Basically, we are saying to the homeowner, “The first time it’s for us, the second time it’s for you.” That way, the homeowners and other trades feel comfortable going back into that area. For us it’s been about making the customer comfortable, being aware of those around us, including elderly clients, health- compromised individuals, or little children. It’s very easy to let that slip away and forget that we are in the middle of a pandemic. When we do our meetings, we do 10-15 minutes completely talking about COVID-19, how our teams are feeling, how we can improve on our protocols. These protocols will be included in our daily routine until everyone feels like we can truly say this is over.

BDM: HOW DO YOU INCENTIVIZE YOUR TEAM TO CARE, TO WANT TO DELIVER THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE DAY IN AND DAY OUT? JP: The way I have built the team is through score cards. I hold them accountable for everything that happens at the jobsite, via email, through Dispatch Track. Basically, everything they do that is a connection with the customer, they are rated on and everything they do equals a score. We don’t want them to rush, we don’t pay per piece. We have taught our installers that they need to be more concerned about delivering a good experience because that makes a good score. We openly talk about score cards at meetings, we share good experiences, we learn from mistakes, and ultimately that helps each person improve their scorecard. We use those score cards when we look at promotions, when we look at bonuses and raises. Our installers truly live by their scorecards and are motivated to see their scores improve as they improve.

BDM: WHAT KEY FACTORS MAKE FOR A SUCCESSFUL INSTALL? JP: When we can get good communication with the contractor, that’s when we are hitting it out of the park. When we can walk with them, discuss things that might need to be fixed or modified, we can always make it work. We truly want to create a team with the contractor and the jobsite trades so that we can prevent mistakes and oversights. With that process we can quickly address issues and offer solutions.

BDM: ANY COOL STUFF ON THE HORIZON FOR THE INSTALLATION TEAMS THAT YOU CAN SHARE? JP: Looking ahead, we are working on a certification program for our installers to become more versed and proficient in small modification work like installing shut-offs, checking for leaks, etc. We are developing in-depth study guides. We want to take our installers to the next level and ultimately provide our clients with that next level of service. PIRCH South Coast Collection 3303 Hyland Avenue, Suite D Costa Mesa 949.429.0800 pirch.com/visit-us/costa-mesa

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TOTAL SALES IN BOTH UNITS & VOLUME Corona del Mar

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Based on information from MLS for the Regional Parameters one side of a transaction (buyer or seller). Source data is deemed property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices

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Corona del Mar sales in all price ranges as reported on 10/1/2020 for the period of September 1, 2019-September 30, 2020, calculated by multiplying the number of buyer and/or seller sides by sales price. One unit equals reliable but not guaranteed. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. The but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. (24804480-24833357)

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