502 Begonia Avenue | Corona Del Mar Village | Sold
Transforming Orange County landscapes with timeless design and superior build quality. Sailhouse sets the standard for luxury living.
ON THE COVER
The tropical waters gently lapping at the shoreline of the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay—the only hotel in Hawai`i featured on Condé Nast’s Traveler Gold List last year—are just one of many irresistible features of this location. Awarded a MICHELIN key, the hotel ranks among the world’s most idyllic destinations, dedicated to nurturing both body and mind with an incredible array of wellness offerings that make it one of the most sought-after places to be. It exists as a world unto itself, fulfilling its promise of ultimate relaxation, rejuvenation, and soulful reinvention.
All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to Blue Door Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.
2024 IN THE REARVIEW
4527 Perham Road, Corona del Mar
LP $22,500,000
SOLD | Represented Seller and Buyer
3000 Breakers Drive, Corona del Mar
LP $7,475,000
NEW LISTING | Representing Seller
235 Driftwood Road, Corona del Mar
LP $5,995,000
SOLD | Represented Buyer
230 Morning Canyon, Corona del Mar LP $12,500,000 SOLD | Represented Seller
314 Evening Canyon, Corona del Mar
$12,500,000
Shore Cliffs | Representing Seller
3408 Ocean Boulevard, Corona del Mar LP $14,995,000
226 Morning Canyon, Corona del Mar
LP $10,170,000
SOLD | Represented Buyer and Seller
547 Tustin Avenue, Newport Beach
LP $5,995,000
NEW LISTING | Representing Seller
Tim’s vision, dedication, and heartfelt leadership were instrumental in shaping VALIA Properties’ success and its deep connection to the community.
While his loss is profound, the brokerage remains committed to upholding his values and honoring his legacy through continued dedication to excellence and meaningful relationships.
Vanguard University created a real estate scholarhip in memory of Tim. If you’d like to donate, this would empower deserving students to achieve their dreams, thank you for making a lasting impact.
TIMOTHY N. TAMURA
Reflecting on 2024: Gratitude, Community, and a Renewed Commitment
As 2024 enters our rearview mirror, I feel a mixture of relief, excitement, and sadness.
Relief, because after a year of uncertainty and change, the market has found some stability post-election, bringing with it a sense of clarity (though, as with all things, there are both positives and challenges depending on your perspective). Excitement, because there truly is no place like coastal Orange County to build, design, or buy your home. It’s a community that not only attracts but also nurtures people who dream of living in an environment that balances natural beauty with opportunity. But there’s also sadness, as we mourn the loss of Tim Tamura of Valia, who passed away from cancer. Tim was not just a remarkable leader in real estate but he was also an extraordinary human being. He embodied the core values of relationships, community, integrity, friendship, and family—values that remind us to slow down and appreciate the people and connections we often take for granted. (Please see the obituary on page 38.)
This year, more than ever, has reminded me of the importance of family, community, and connection. The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year because it allows us to reflect on these values and celebrate the coastal way. As we gather together, we raise awareness and vital funds for those in need, and this sense of collective generosity fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Our community’s
commitment to helping those who struggle to make ends meet is an inspiring reminder of the power we have when we come together for a greater good.
Throughout the pages of this magazine, we spotlight the incredible charitable endeavors happening in our community, shining light on the amazing patrons, staff, and board members who work tirelessly throughout the year to make these efforts a reality. I am continually moved by the generosity and dedication I see in the people around me. It is these actions—these contributions—that make our community what it is and will continue to help shape our future.
As we head into this festive season, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes to each of you for a peaceful holiday and a prosperous new year. May we all continue to honor the values that bring us together, support one another, and, most importantly, cherish the relationships that make life meaningful. With gratitude and warmest regards,
Justin Williams Founder, Blue Door Magazine
208.720.2142 justin@bluedoormagazine.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
From Robin Keats
Well into our winter of coastal Orange County contentedness, we hope this issue of Blue Door Magazine brings yet another welcomed celebration of meaningful lives and a lifestyle so coveted by those elsewhere who do not get the chance to enjoy our sunny skies, blue waters, and cultural offerings. We live in a world-class destination. You might gift a departing visitor a copy of Blue Door Magazine to remind them of all they are missing once they’ve left!
Leaf through the following pages to learn about Jodie Gates, the subject of this issue’s interview, and discover the amazing accomplishments of this world-renowned dancer and choreographer and the work she’s doing with Laguna Dance. You’ll also find a story about legendary architect Mark Singer, whose home designs grace our coastal hillsides. It’s been ten years since his passing, and we honor his work with an insightful look into his career and delight the eye with a broad showing that’s representational of the houses he is famed for designing. It’s also a father-and-son story, as architect Ryan Singer follows his father in building a legacy sure to be celebrated on its own merits.
We also present the stunning, revolutionary paintings of Fred Tomaselli, whose work is currently exhibited at the Laguna Art Museum. For those seeking heavenly landscapes (and wanting to get out of town temporarily), we offer a travel piece about the world-class MICHELIN-keyed 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kauai.
This hotel builds on the promising allure depicted on our cover. It offers luxurious respite and extensive wellness programs to enhance and holistically improve health.
We also examine architect Horst Noppenberger’s latest triumph, learn what realtor Tim Smith is doing to clean our local waterways, and hear from artist Daniel Canogar, who engages in a question-and-answer session with Jeannie Denholm of the SCAPE gallery.
Add our coverage of local events in our Scenes section and a look at what architect Matthew McGrane is doing with small spaces. You’ll also hear from therapist/solutions-based coach Quentin Hafner, who has mentored kids involved with CASA OC (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and who is donating the proceeds from the launch of his book, Go Next-Level, to CASA.
We seek and find people, places, and things that we hope interest you. Art, architecture, design, dance, travel, real estate, and more fill this edition. We welcome your feedback on what you have before you and your thoughts about what we can bring you in the future. Community is, by nature, coursed by a two-way street. Write to me any time.
robin@bluedoormagazine.com
IN MEMORIUM: TIM TAMURA
(1959-2024)
HONORING HIS LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, KINDNESS, AND FAMILY
Few embody integrity and compassion like Timothy Tamura in business and his personal life. Tim was a leader, mentor, friend, and inspiration, but most of all, he was an exceptional human. Over the past five years, I have worked with Tim and his incredible team, witnessing firsthand the values that defined him.
Tim lived by the philosophy that “the quality of your relationships will determine the quality of your life.” He built every connection with respect, generosity, and sincerity, whether with clients, his team, other agents, or his family. His mantra, “Always give more than you take,” wasn’t just advice—it was how he lived.
Tim had a rare ability to connect deeply with others. He listened with care, offered support selflessly, and honored those he met, often reaching out during difficult times with words of encouragement. He lifted those around him, mentoring them with wisdom and humility, always focusing on others’ success.
Tim’s humility was equally remarkable. He shunned the spotlight to uplift others and ensure everyone felt valued. His legacy of kindness and leadership continues with his family, employees, associates, and everyone who knew him.
Above all, Tim was devoted to his family. His love for his wife, Nancy, and his sons, Alexander and Nicholas, was the cornerstone of his life. Whether surfing with his boys, spending time with good friends, or traveling with his family, Tim’s joy was evident.
Tim’s family and his entire VALIA real estate team continue to move forward with Tim’s guiding principles firmly in place. His legacy lives on in each of them. As Nancy beautifully said, “We will remain strong and continue to move forward because that’s what Tim wanted.” His legacy is not just in his work but in how he improved everyone around him.
While we deeply miss Tim, we honor his memory by carrying forward the principles he exemplified: generosity, integrity, love, and joy. His spirit lives on in our actions and relationships.
Tim, you are forever in our hearts. We will continue to support your family and your stellar VALIA real estate business, cherishing the incredible foundation you built.
Justin Williams Founder and Publisher Blue Door Magazine
Design
LAGUNA DANCE FUNDRAISER
Laguna Dance, celebrating its 20th anniversary, held a fundraiser in September at the historic Griffith Estate property of host David Braff and board member Niko Christou. It raised $171,000. With its overall goal of $200,000, Laguna Dance made great progress and credited the generous support of the DMK Foundation for helping it increase public appreciation of the art.
The funding will help provide quality dance education and support various programs, including live world-class dance performances in intimate venues, scholarships, and dance training opportunities for youth, and will also build a strong and sustainable future for Laguna Dance within the community.
Realtor Meital Taub shared the history of the storied event location, which had been the home of movie producer Edward Griffith and his wife, America. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Laguna Beach’s most fascinating properties, where Griffith began entertaining Hollywood royalty in the late 1920s. Its most intriguing
features include a landmark lighthouse as well as a swimming pool built into the rock and filled by the tide at the ocean’s edge.
Among the crowd raising wine glasses and enjoying an outdoor dance performance were longtime supporters Chris Quilter, Doug and Karen Wilson (a past Laguna Dance chair), Bill Witte and Keiko Sakamoto, Gary and Betsy Jenkins, Gregory and Kathleen Abel, Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, Bill and Cindy Shopoff, Keitha Russell, and Natalie Noble. Founding board members and supporters Nancy Meyer and Christine Rhoades attended, as did founding board chair Janet Eggers. Also in attendance were board members Ward and Mari Bukofsky, Robert Braun, Margot Shapiro, Edie Tonkon, Allison Eggers, Christy Miller, Karen Redding, Mary Dawe and Crystal Sims, Laguna Dance’s staff, and executive director Joy Dittberner.
Laguna Dance’s 2025 BIRTHDAY BASH event is scheduled for May 3, 2025, at the Lyon Air Museum.
1. Dancer Carissa Hsu, Dancer Megan Goldstein, Owner David Braff, Founder Jodie Gates, Board Member and Owner Niko Christou, Dancer Lani Yamanaka, Dancer Alec Guthrie
2. Dancers Lani Yamanaka and Alec Guthrie
3. Founding Board Member Nancy Meyer
4. Board Member Robert Braun, Executive Director Joy Dittberner, and Board Member Allison Eggers
5. Guests with Board Member Edie Tonken, Board Member Margot Shapiro, and Jodie Gates 6. Dancer Megan Goldstein 7. Jodie Gates and Gregory Abel
8. Jan and Ken Kaplan, Patron Keitha Russell, Patron Karen Wilson, Executive Director Joy Dittberner
HARVESTERS 32ND ANNUAL FASHION SHOW & LUNCHEON SHINES BRIGHT
Photos by Frank Salas and Loreen Sarkis
Founded in 1992, Harvesters is a group of devoted women working hard to ensure everyone in Orange County is well-fed. The organization, whose mission—carried out in collaboration with its partners—is to “provide dignified, equitable, and consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health,” held its 32nd Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon in October at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to raise critical funds for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The fashion show, presented by South Coast Plaza, featured looks from Balmain’s Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection.
Chaired by Jassel Kaye and Co-Chaired by Monica Wood, the event included a chic champagne reception hosted by Mikimoto and a silent auction featuring luxurious items, such as a getaway to the Four Seasons Resort Cabo San
Lucas and Mikimoto Petit Soleil Akoya Cultured Pearl Earrings. Key sponsors like City National Bank played a pivotal role, running a matching campaign that doubled donations up to $75,000. Other partners included Mikimoto, which hosted the champagne reception, and Loewe, which held the kickoff luncheon at Knife Pleat.
A significant focus this year was funding a new tractor for Harvest Solutions Farm, a collaboration with Solutions for Urban Agriculture. The farm has already harvested 5.8 million pounds of produce, benefiting over 442,000 people monthly. Board Chair Gail Haft demonstrated her commitment to the community by delivering unused produce from the luncheon to Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, ensuring no food went to waste. feedoc.org/harvesters
1. Harvesters Chair, Jassel Kaye, and Co-Chair, Monica Wood.
2. Stephanie Watts, Nancy Muth, Glenys Slavik, and Veronica Slavik
3. Select Second Harvest Food Bank Board and Staff
4. Jill Johnson-Tucker, Teddie Ray, Liz McKinley, Jennifer Van Bergh, Susan Croul and Jeri McKenna
South Coast Plaza presented the Balmain Fashion Show, which featured over 35 looks from the Fall/Winter 2024 - 2025 collection.
SECOND ANNUAL CASA CLASSIC RAISES
OVER $76K FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
The second annual CASA Classic, held in September at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, raised over $76,000 to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County’s mission of connecting abused, abandoned, and neglected children with trained volunteer advocates.
Chaired by CASA Board Members Jay Nugent and Paul Tacorian, the event saw 138 golfers tee off on the scenic, ocean-view course. The day included a Bloody Mary bar, breakfast burritos, and on-course beverage stations, with special activations like the Women’s and Men’s Longest Drive contests, a “Beat the Pro” challenge, and two hole-in-one opportunities to win a Harley-Davidson and a TACORI bracelet.
Following the tournament, Nugent and Tacorian addressed the golfers, emphasizing the importance of mentorship for foster children. Nugent highlighted how the event mobilized the community to make a tangible difference.
Sponsors included Title Sponsor Astiva Health, Course Sponsor Akona Capital, and Amazon as the Closest to the Pin Sponsor. Champion Sponsors included The Cheng Family, Lucy Donahue, and In-N-Out Burger.
CASA OC provides a powerful voice for children in foster care through dedicated volunteer advocates.
casaoc.org
1. CASA Board Members: Sarah Minakary, Jassel Kaye, Michael Wong, Paul Tacorian, Jay Nugent, Regan Dean Phillips, Lindsey Poker, Karen Jordan, Lucy Donahue 2. Liz Manji
3. Regan Dean Phillips, Jenny Leon, Matthew Wadlinger, Erika Pedersen
4. Jassel Kaye, Paul Tacorian
5. Tournament Winners: Burton Young, Mike Hornung, Bob Drown
6. Monarch Beach Golf Links
7. Shigeru Yoshida
8. Michael Wong and Jay Nugent
9. Nicole Inal Hutchinson, Liz deSousa, Sarah Minakary, Jennifer Gonzales Oxen
SIP & SHUCK, the highly anticipated beachside event benefiting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Orange County, returned for its tenth year in early November. Held at The Deck on Laguna Beach, Driftwood Kitchen, and The Bungalows at Pacific Edge Hotel, guests had the unique opportunity to enjoy hand-shucked oysters, champagne, sparkling wines, spirits, and more while taking in stunning ocean views.
Hosted by Executive Chef Rainer Schwarz, SIP & SHUCK featured fresh oysters and gourmet bites prepared by The Deck and Driftwood Kitchen teams. The event also offered lively entertainment, surprises, and a curated selection of champagnes and wines. VIP tickets granted early entry, exclusive access to the Oceanfront Lounge, and additional perks such as caviar service.
All proceeds benefitted CASA, an organization that provides trained volunteer advocates for children in the foster care system.
sipnshuck.com
CITY OF HOPE
City of Hope, a leading cancer and diabetes research organization, has received a $20 million gift from philanthropists Norman and Melinda Payson to establish a center for groundbreaking pancreatic research and treatments for pancreatic cancer and diabetes. The donation, announced at City of Hope’s Promises of Hope gala, builds on the Paysons’ legacy of support. The gala raised $2 million for research and patient care in Orange County. Global superstar Christina Aguilera headlined the event, delivering a powerful performance that energized the audience.
Photos by Chris Laxamana
Norman Payson, a healthcare executive and City of Hope board director, has previously donated over $10 million to the organization, including funding for its Orange County cancer campus. This latest gift is in honor of his mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. “City of Hope is uniquely positioned to advance pioneering treatments for pancreatic cancer and diabetes,” says Payson. The center will focus its research on cancer-diabetes connections, early detection, and potential vaccines.
City of Hope continues to be a leader in cancer and diabetes care, with plans to expand its cancer network, including a new cancer hospital opening in Orange County in 2025. cityofhope.org
1. Orange County philanthropic leaders Norman and Melinda Payson, accompanied by their daughter and her husband, Devon and Randy Wilson
2. Barclay Butera and Matheus Cabral Butera
3. Beth and Howard Bidna
4. Global superstar Christina Aguilera held a special performance at City of Hope Orange County’s “Promises of Hope” celebration among Orange County community members and philanthropic leaders.
5. Chairman George Wall and Julia Kelly
6. Charlie and Ling Zhang
7. Christina Aguilera is pictured alongside City of Hope Orange County Physician-in-Chief
Dr. Edward S. Kim, City of Hope Chief Philanthropy Officer Kristin Bertell, City of Hope CEO Robert Stone and City of Hope Orange County President Annette M. Walker
8. Tim Mudrick and Polina Chebotareva-Mudrick
PHOTO
MENTOR ON A MISSION
Quentin Hafner on his work benefiting the children of CASA
Quentin Hafner is a licensed therapist and solution-based coach who has built an international reputation for offering—over the past 20 years—positive, life-altering changes to clients who now number over 20,000. These clients were high-performing men and women who counted on him, as a trusted advisor, to get unstuck from life and business plateaus. In the past, he’s put his experience and skills to work by helping the abused, neglected, and abandoned children that CASA OC (Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County) serves. Now, Hafner is contributing the proceeds from the launch of his new book, Go Next-Level, to CASA.
In this highly personal reflection, Hafner explains his involvement with the nonprofit organization with the hope that he’ll inspire other volunteers to take up the cause. His involvement, while entirely altruistic, has also served him. As he says, “It’s amazing how transformative our lives become when we focus on giving back and helping others.”
A BLUEPRINT FOR LIVING
I originally got connected with CASA because a close friend of mine had signed up with the organization as a volunteer, and he kept telling me how great it was. He raved about it, and at that time in my life, I really needed something to focus on. I needed a purpose. I needed a mission. I needed something to get me outside of myself and focus on helping others, because I was going through a really difficult time personally. Through his gentle nudging and persuasion, I decided to jump in and give CASA a try. I didn’t know anything about CASA prior to this; it just seemed like a great place for me to start.
There are many specific memories to share that had an impact on me, but one that stands out was a day when I took my seven-year-old mentee to Knott’s Berry Farm. I remember going there as a kid and having a blast, so when I learned he had never been, I knew it would be a great experience for us. Going to Knott’s Berry Farm is always fun for any kid, but for my mentee, it was extraordinary. Due to his limited life experiences up to that point, it felt like I had transported him to the moon—eyes wide open, experiencing something magical and surreal. It was overwhelming for me to see how much it meant to him. Going to an amusement park might seem trivial to some, but for someone who had spent the first seven years of his life in a group home with limited experiences, it was life-changing and eye-opening. This day will always be a memory that proves giving is far more meaningful than receiving.
Mentoring kids through CASA didn’t make all my problems go away, but it did put everything I was going through in perspective. During tough times, it’s natural to obsess over our own challenges, and what CASA did for me was take my mind off my personal struggles and direct all my focus and energy toward giving and loving someone deeply. It was also eye-opening to see how many children are in the foster care system and how few resources they have, even in affluent places like Orange County. For most of these kids, even going to McDonald’s can be a breathtaking experience. The training that every CASA volunteer goes through is complementary to my training as a therapist. We’re not there to “fix” someone’s problems; often, what people need most is
an empathetic and listening ear. Learning about a CASA’s life experiences can be gut-wrenching, hearing about the atrocities and abuses they’ve endured. It makes you realize you can’t fix those problems, but you can be there to help them feel seen, heard, known, and understood. My work with CASA was a significant catalyst for me becoming a professional therapist.
After nearly two decades as a therapist, I can tell you that life problems follow clear themes, and whether someone has millions in Newport Coast or is a 10-year-old in the foster system, they experience fundamental challenges like broken relationships, existential crises, lack of clarity on purpose and mission, and more.
I believe so strongly in CASA’s mission that donating the proceeds from my book launch to support the organization was an easy decision for me. I’ve been blessed in many ways, and it felt right to give back. I also hoped it might inspire others looking for volunteer opportunities to consider CASA as a great starting place.
Although my journey in helping others began with foster children decades ago, the high-performing and high-achieving clients I work with today share many of the fundamental elements found in my book Go Next-Level. This book is a blueprint for living a robust and successful life that applies to anyone.
In many ways, I still mentor people today, not unlike my role as a CASA mentor. We all need someone who deeply knows us, believes in us, champions us, celebrates our wins, and stands by us when we doubt ourselves. That’s the essence of a CASA, and it’s the role I play in my clients’ lives today. While I no longer work with children in the foster care system, even the most highfunctioning people need this kind of relationship—the fundamental life challenges remain the same; they just become more complex as we grow older and more dimensional.
One of the hardest challenges for me while volunteering was not spoiling the children! CASA has strict guidelines against giving gifts because it sets problematic precedents. This was tough because gift-giving is my way of showing love, but I had to restrain myself and focus on the guidelines.
My advice for anyone considering volunteer opportunities is to dive in. It’s amazing how transformative our lives become when we focus on giving back and helping others. The universe has a special way of reciprocating what we put out, though we don’t do it for transactional reasons. Developing a relationship with a child through CASA brings so many benefits.
—Quentin Hafner
COASTAL CLEAN-UP
Realtor Tim Smith takes to the water for the benefit of all
Realtor Tim Smith is enhancing life in Coastal Orange County, not only with the beautiful homes in his listings, but offshore as well. Tim recently took the initiative to help clean up our local waterways by putting ‘The Good Seamaritan’—a boat that skims the water, collecting the debris that fouls it— to work. The vessel, an Omni Catamaran, is a versatile aluminum work boat with a price tag of $131,000—an expense paid solely by Smith, as well as all operational expenses. We had a few questions to ask him about how and why he got involved with this effort ... and to describe the work it does for all of us and where.
BDM: Could you share the story behind how The Good Seamaritan trash boat initiative came to life?
TS: The Good Seamaritan was an idea born out of a shared vision between me and Greg Blake, an agent on my team. We wanted a way to keep our harbor clean and contribute positively to our community.
BDM: Who is responsible for operating the boat, and how frequently does it head out for harbor clean-up?
TS: Robert Sloan is The Good Seamaritan’s boat captain, going out three times each week. He is a Coast Guard-licensed 100-ton captain and also manages various charter boats around Newport Beach.
BDM: Which specific areas of Newport Harbor does the boat focus on?
TS: The Good Seamaritan covers the entirety of Newport Harbor and part of the upper bay. It follows a route through popular areas like Balboa Bay Resort, Billy’s, Lido Marina, the Cannery, and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, as well as along waterfront homes. We also focus on high-traffic public docks. In addition to our regular route, certain spots in the bay act as collection points for debris, much like the Pacific Garbage Patch. We consistently gather trash at places like the Rhine Channel near the Cannery Restaurant and by the Galley Restaurant and Basin Marine.
BDM: How much trash does The Good Seamaritan typically gather on each outing?
TS: On average, we collect 40-50 pounds of trash per day. Our largest haul so far has been 455 pounds in a single day.
BDM: What types of debris are most commonly collected in the harbor?
TS: We find everything from bags of trash to larger items like old mattresses, balloons, household goods, plastic waste, logs, wildlife remains, and ropes. You name it, we’ve probably picked it up.
BDM: Are there ways for local residents to volunteer and participate in the clean-up efforts?
TS: We welcome anyone interested in helping clean the harbor! One of our regular volunteers, Christian Buhl, is the founder of California Inclusive Sailing (CIS), which provides free sailing experiences for disabled individuals on a specially designed 16-foot sailboat. New volunteers receive a bay tour from our captain, who is highly knowledgeable about the area, as well as basic deckhand training. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for students needing volunteer hours to fulfill graduation requirements.
BDM: What are your future aspirations for the trash boat initiative? Are there plans for expansion, education programs, or collaborations with other harbors?
TS: We’d love to get more community involvement and partner with local organizations to raise awareness about the health of our waters.
FRED TOMASELLI’S VISIONS
On exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum
The extraordinary artist Fred Tomaselli was born in Santa Monica in 1956, raised in Santa Ana, and educated at Cal State University in Fullerton from which he received a BA in Painting and Drawing in 1982. This son of Orange County moved to Brooklyn in 1985, but his Southern California roots remain evident in much of his work that’s said to have been deeply influenced by the fantasy culture of Disneyland that sprung up nearby his childhood home. Paired with that surreal influence was the natural beauty of the Orange County coastal environment that surrounded him (he was an avid surfer) until his relocation to New York.
“Fred Tomaselli’s work offers a vital narrative emphasizing the beauty and turmoil of our times,” says Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. The Museum kicked off an exhibition of about 50 of Tomaselli’s works in early October that will run through February 2, 2025. “His uncanny ability to incorporate contemporary issues within his unique and eye-catching artistic approach allows for important conversations and deeper enjoyment of his stunning work.”
The exhibition, guest-curated by Laguna Art Museum
Curatorial Fellow Rochelle Steiner, highlights Tomaselli’s unique approach to collage-based resin paintings and his engagement with topics such as global warming, the impact of the pandemic, and today’s most pressing social issues.
As evidenced by his work and comments made to interviewers, he loves the wild: wildlife (as in birds, bears, fish, flowers, et al), wild life, and wild patterns. As Tomaselli told writer Robert Ayers in a 2006 piece for ARTINFO, “I throw all of my obsessions and loves into the work, and I try not to be too embarrassed about any of it. I love nature, I love gardening, I love watching birds, and all of that gets into the work. I just try to be true to who I am and make the work I want to see. I don’t have a radical agenda.”
He may not have a radical agenda, and the definition of radical is (albeit) subjective, but Tomaselli certainly can’t be considered conservative by any means. Consider his series of pieces that incorporate the front pages of The New York Times . Tomaselli knows how to play, with meaning. He’s done so in a manner that is sarcastic, sly, almost always playful. His work “After June 2, 2017” (completed in 2018) displays such a Times cover with a starburst that has human hands reaching out from within it. A viewer can’t miss seeing the newspaper’s logo and the headline: “Trump Abandoning Global Climate Action.”
“I want people to get lost in the work. I want to seduce people into it, and I want people to escape inside the world of the work. In that way the work is pre-Modernist,” Tomaselli has reflected. As a child, he was drawn to the fantasy elements of Disneyland, and as a teenager, he imbibed literal doses of surrealism by using both cannabis and psychedelic drugs. While he no longer puts them in his body, he has made use of drugs in his body of work . Some of his paintings incorporate prescription pills, hallucinogenic plants, and herbs. He has, for example, embedded actual pills into his painting, and, as he says, “Encapsulated in
Fred Tomaselli, After June 2, 2017, 2018, acrylic, photo collage, leaves, and resin on wood panel, 60 x 60 inches, Friedman Family Collection. (c) 2024 Fred Tomaselli
Fred Tomaselli, Untitled, 2020, acrylic, photo collage, leaves, and resin on wood panel, 48 x 48 inches, Friedman Family Collection.
(c) 2024 Fred Tomaselli
tamperproof resin, those chemical cocktails lost their street price (they’ve been ruined as pills) but acquired a different sort of artistic value, whatever that might be. In addition, they could no longer reach the brain through the mouth, stomach, and bloodstream and had to take a different route to altering perception. In my work, they traveled to the brain through the eyes.”
“Tomaselli’s work is a powerful exploration of the world at large through ideas of individual perception, shared reality, and the altered states between,” says Rochelle Steiner, guest curator for the Tomaselli exhibition. “This exhibition promises to provide an insightful look at today’s most pressing issues by considering collisions of nature and culture, humans and animals, science and art, and our need to process the fever pitch noise that surrounds modern life.”
If any body of work echoes an artist’s inner voice, it may not be too far a stretch to say that Tomaselli’s portfolio often screams “relevance” in a unique voice delivered at a fevered pitch.
Fred Tomaselli, Honeycreeper, 2022, acrylic, photo collage, leaves, and resin on wood panel, 84 x 60 inches, Private collection. (c) 2024 Fred Tomaselli
Fred Tomaselli: Second Nature Through February 2, 2025 Laguna Art Museum 307 Cliff Drive
Anthology Interiors is a full-service interior design firm that serves residential clients and delivers homes designed from the inside out, focusing first on function, then on design, and delivering within budget and on time. Our homes have a timeless modern design and we design in a client-centric manner so that each home is as individual as the clients within.
JOSH BUSTOS PHOTOGRAPHY
Questions to & answers from
Jodie Gates
by Robin Keats
A CONVERSATION WITH A VISIONARY OF DANCE
I recently had the grand opportunity and enlightening pleasure of conversing with one of the most renowned, artistically accomplished members of our greater Coastal Orange County community —Jodie Gates. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Laguna Dance. Her list of achievements is extraordinary: she’s a former principal ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She is also the Founding Director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at USC and was a tenured Professor of Dance at UC Irvine and USC. She’s worked as a dancer and rehearsal director for the Frankfurt Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Jodie has been awarded the distinguished Jerome Robbins New Essential Works Program, and a Fellowship from The Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, which acknowledges her work as a facilitator for the Artistic Directors Coalition for Ballet in America, a group of artistic leaders who have addressed systemic racism and inequities in the world of ballet.
Jodie has danced in St. Petersburg and Moscow, at Spoleto and the Edinburgh, the Nijinsky and Melbourne festivals, and at the Kennedy Center for presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. She’s collaborated with jazz musician Ornette Coleman and tap dancer Savion Glover, danced as Juliet to Ron Reagan Junior’s Romeo, and has had her ballets performed at New York’s City Center, the Kennedy Center, Princeton University, Staatsballett Berlin, and the Helsinki International Ballet Competition among many distinguished stages. She regularly stages dance works for the esteemed choreographer William Forsythe and has coached professionals and staged productions for such companies as Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Prague National Theatre Ballet, Teatro alla Scala ... and many more such companies, and at myriad venues.
A true citizen of the world, a global artist, Jodie Gates is constantly expanding the horizons of dance with an imagination whose capacity is only rivaled by her drive, her talent, and her ability to move audiences.
—Robin Keats, Editor
RK: Tell us about the formation of Laguna Dance, how it came about, what prompted its creation, and who or what brought about your involvement with it.
JG: I retired from the stage in 2005 after a 25-year performing career. Upon retirement, after my last performance in New York City, I opted to come to Laguna Beach. I had been coming to Laguna since I was 16. I’m from Northern California originally, but I kept having this feeling that my spirit was happier when I was in Laguna. So, I stayed with a good friend who became a founding board member of Laguna Dance. I stayed for a couple of months, and then I ended up moving here. When I moved here, I was looking for how to be helpful in the field of dance, and how I might find a void here in Orange County. And what I discovered is that the community was rich in culture and artistic ventures but there was no dance. I always looked for voids in the field, and I asked a few friends I knew in town about that and told them, ‘I think we can do something here.’ And we started with a festival idea because it’s a destination city, somewhat of a resort town. And we thought, well, maybe we do this once a year. And that’s how it started. We founded the nonprofit status in December of 2005. We still work with our founding board member, Nancy Meyer (who’s still my best friend in the world), and several people who were original. The original chair, for example, is still in Laguna.
RK: The town, the lifestyle, and the culture. The combination seems to have drawn you and kept you here. Tell us the organization’s mission statement and please expand on it a bit.
JG: You know, it’s interesting about mission statements—they have to be broad enough to cover a lot, right? And they change constantly. A vision statement and a mission statement; I think they’re meant to change as times move on. Our current mission
statement is to present world-class dance performances, increase public appreciation for the art form, and provide quality dance education. So, when I look at that, and I talk about it, it’s all about those three pillars. Expanding on that, I need to point out that appreciation means all the free events we do throughout the community ... so that we offer dance in a way that is easy for people to see and understand. And then the education component is pretty clear: we have several scholarships that we hand out to students throughout the year, and we provide summer intensives, master classes, and lectures, and then, of course, the presentation part is when you see a dance performance on the stage. So those three pillars are basically what we do. Dance is for everyone. You can see it at a world-class level on stage, or you can experience it in the park, or other public places.
RK: It’s all about bringing dance to the people wherever they are.
JG: You must, you have to.
RK: That seems to be true about so many things these days, in everything from politics to art.
JG: I think the concern some people have is that no one wants to go into a theater and feel dumb. Dance, unlike other art forms, can appear elitist, and it really is not. You want to understand what you’re seeing. So that’s what I mean about educating. I just want people to go and enjoy, and that’s part of what is helping people understand that you don’t have to know the rules.
RK: You don’t have to be well-versed in literature to read a poem. And I’m sure it’s the same with dance.
JG: Right!
RK: What were the greatest obstacles involved in making the organization a success? And what surprised you, if there have been surprises, about how the community has received and supported you?
JG: It’s been about 20 years, and I wasn’t sure at first that it was going to be sustainable. We got through the economic crisis in 2008. Then we got through a pandemic. You know, theater is not what it was pre-pandemic. It’s very difficult to sell tickets to anything unless you’re Taylor Swift or Beyonce, or the Rolling Stones. But, you know, to get people back into theater has been challenging. And it’s not just us, we are a small presenter, so we had to look at what is relevant to individuals. For example, a young person wants to have autonomy. They want to have authorship when they come to see a dance performance. I don’t blame somebody if they don’t want to sit in a dark theater in a crowded row.
So, the question becomes, ‘How can you get people to be involved in the performance?’ You don’t have to feel separate, that you’re watching these ethereal creatures on a stage and you, yourself are just a human amongst several hundred thousand. Right? So, the way I’m looking at curating is to include the audience as much as possible: include live music, because everyone, I think, responds to live music. People respond to dance, too, but the two together —when they’re married—is quite special. Another thing that I’ve learned over the years is about contemporary dance in particular. If it doesn’t have a narrative aspect, one has to find ways to help the audience along because an abstract dance is akin to seeing abstract visual art. You want to know what the story is, and sometimes there’s no story, right?
RK: It’s about how you feel by looking at it, by experiencing it.
JG: The beautiful thing about dance is that it is the experience. You experience this form, and you hope that people go away feeling good about themselves. And hopefully, sometimes, it might be an intense performance. I often think, ‘Oh, how do we bottle that up? How would we bottle that experience up?’ It’s practically impossible. So, I’ve often been asked about what compares to my experience on stage as a ballerina. Nothing compares to that. There’s no greater pleasure than to be on a stage and be able to generously offer your art and then have that same feeling coming back to you from the audience. And it’s not so much about the applause. It’s about this interaction and exchange of the energy that is the unseen, the invisible.
RK: The sense that you moved somebody.
JG: As I’ve gotten older, more and more people come up to me and say, ‘You don’t know me, but I saw you perform Juliet at the Music Center in 1997 and that changed my life.’ That gives one purpose. And again, setting ego aside, that has given me purpose in my life and why I have remained in the field. I feel as though my voice matters, my voice as a woman leader matters, and my voice in the field of ballet and contemporary dance specifically matters. So, I continue to find ways of reinventing myself within the art form that I have loved all my life.
RK: This may be a bit of a non sequitur, but you jolted my memory so as to recall a decades-old, highly controversial Paul Simon lyric from the song “Dangling Conversation.” As originally written, it was ‘Is God really dead?’ And he got such backlash about it that he changed it to ‘Is the theater really dead?’ Broadway was pretty moribund at the time, but it did come roaring back. So, I imagine what you were speaking to is that different forms of the performing arts, art in general, are never really dead. There may be some slow times, like with dance, perhaps, during an economic crisis or a pandemic but it comes roaring back at some point.
JG: Right.
RK: You were talking about the interaction with the audience. Speak about the idea of breaking the fourth wall in dance, if that’s done.
JG: Oh 100%, yes. That happens more and more, where you’ll see a performance, a dance performance in the round. And that global perspective, I think, is critical to the form because, again, it’s setting the audience as part of the actual performance. As a cast member, for example. It’s been done in Europe for ages. And now I’m starting to see it more and more. Also, film—using multimedia, which also involves sort of a global perspective within the form as well. Now you have to have funds to be able to do that, you know? Is Laguna Dance able to do that? No. We have very specific ways that we can present depending on the venue. For example, when we are in a museum or a gallery and it’s a free event, there is a complete 360-degree view of what the dancer is doing in space in real-time. We can do it in a site-specific location. If you have a big budget and you’re in a theater, you can. An example: a dance performance was staged in a sound studio in Los Angeles, and the performance was in the center, with bleacher-type seating surrounding the performers. Fantastic. Great idea. And, it had a completely different feel, not just a different perspective.
RK: What are your personal and the organization’s achievements that you’re most proud of?
JG: What I think I’m most proud about is the fact that Laguna Dance has stayed true to our artistic integrity. And also, the level of excellence. We’ve managed to stay true to that on a very small budget. We’ve also seen young dancers receive one of our scholarships and then become a megastar. So many different levels. I think what I’m truly most proud of is that we haven’t strayed too far from our vision. We’ve maintained financial success by not overreaching. We don’t overpromise and under-deliver at all. We’ve constantly stayed on track, and I think that’s important. We’ve been practical yet ambitious. We have so many great ideas. There’s not a lack of ideas. I think it’s all about what is plausible here within this location and in Southern California. And I think about when the right time is to introduce further innovation.
RK: You’ve had a storied career as a dancer and choreographer, always creating. And in act two of your life, you’re teaching and running this wonderful organization. Touch on a hallmark moment—a highlight moment in your life as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, or directing.
JG: Oh, there are so many. I’m recalling our very first festival in 2005. Patrick Swayze flew in with his wife, and we did a curtain speech together, and he stayed, and he sort of blessed the organization and its future and there was a big party afterward. I remember riding in the limo with him and his wife to the party with my mother and feeling so fortunate that someone who didn’t know me believed in this vision that had not existed yet. I had a similar feeling when I was asked to take on the development of the University of Southern California’s Kaufman School of Dance. Glorya Kaufman asked me to build her dream program. And who gets that luxury, you know? I feel as though God came down. I remember recruiting for the first class. There were no BFA students. And we recruited based on a vision and a dream and a philosophy, a strong philosophy. We had hopes of maybe attracting 15 students. Our first class had 33. Almost everybody said yes, and that was at USC. And I have a very similar feeling when I think about Laguna Dance, that people have believed over the years and continue to believe that this is a worthy cause, that it is a piece of our fabric, of our culture here in Laguna Beach. Not just Laguna Beach because we fit into it like a couture piece of clothing, like it feels good. We’ve also reached out to performing at the Barclay, for example, in Irvine. Many of our patrons come from Newport Beach and San Diego. My dreams are too big most of the time, but (I think I’m quoting someone else here) if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough. You have to think big and then just start to whittle away at what’s possible.
RK: It goes along with that timeless quote: “If not me, who? If not now, when?”
JG: Exactly. I do believe in that. And I think over time now, at this season of my life, I believe in it more than ever. It’s my responsibility to pass on what I know. I’ve said often that through my profession, I’ve used all kinds of skills. Being a ballerina is transferable to being a vice dean, to being an artistic director, to being an administrator. The skills one has to learn—dedication, resilience, and organizational skills, for example—are pretty much all you need to know to be a good leader. Show a lot of empathy, understand communication, and be humble but maintain a strong ego.
RK: Would it be fair to say you went from yearning to learning to leadership?
JG: That’s it. That’s wonderful. Yes.
SCAPE SHOWCASES DANIEL CANOGAR
A conversation about his artistic inspirations and explorations
We asked Jeannie Denholm of SCAPE Gallery to engage in a conversation with Daniel Canogar about his technologically driven works. Canogar’s art explores the relationship between technology and society, addressing issues like information overload, memory loss, and the evolving role of the individual in a digitally interconnected world. From his early experiments with light projections on discarded objects to his current work with algorithmic animations shaped by live data, Canogar’s art has consistently evolved to reflect the technological changes that have transformed our world over the past few decades.
Canogar’s exhibition at SCAPE Gallery in Corona del Mar coincides with the Getty initiative, a large-scale collaboration held every five
PHOTO BY ALBERTO FEIJÓO
Daniel Canogar in his studio
Daniel Canogar, Waterfall, 2020. Permanent installation, private collection, Europe.
years that explores the intersection of art and science. This year’s theme, “Art and Science Collide,” highlights global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.
JD: What sparked your interest in using technology as a primary source of inspiration?
DC: I think it’s important for artists to react to their times, using art to better understand the world they live in. In my case, beyond using technology as a tool, I’m deeply interested in how technological advancements shape our society. This impact is a central theme in my work. I believe technology opens endless aesthetic possibilities to explore. My work pushes the boundaries of art by embracing technology and finding fresh, visual paths. Digital art also raises fascinating questions about authorship—is it the artist, the code, or the data that shapes the final piece? I’m fascinated by the changing role of artists in a post-human world and the challenges posed by technology.
JD: Currently on view at SCAPE Gallery is your piece titled “Billow,” which has screens that seem as malleable as rubber. How different these pieces are from the rigid luminous squares and rectangles we are used to manipulating daily. Can you tell us more about what drew you to experimenting with this medium?
DC: An important engineering milestone for my studio was the development of a flexible LED screen, expanding the dynamic range of how my pieces integrate into their installation sites. I am interested in the screen not only as a surface but also as a sculptural element that can be manipulated and turned into an artwork. For example, my series “Billow” consists of sculptural LED screens displaying abstract animations created from real-time data of the most popular searches on Google. Another key element in the works is the curved, architectural intersections of the sculptures. The undulating silhouettes of technological streams evoke the natural world of rivers, hills, and valleys. I create sculptures of the immaterial electronic realm to better understand the constant ebb and flow of our digital age.
JD: You often work with algorithms and live data. What interests you about this constant flow of information?
DC: Lately, I’ve focused on generative art that responds to realtime data, whether it’s financial markets, Google searches, or climate change stats. With my team of programmers, we create pieces that reflect the underlying rhythms of information. Since the printing press, humans have struggled with information overload, but today’s flood of data from cloud technologies is overwhelming. It’s crucial that we find ways to process it, or we risk becoming memoryless. My work seeks to engage with this reality, offering a way to untangle it and understand it better.
JD: Recently, we’ve seen a boom in artificial intelligence, with people seeing it both as a threat and an opportunity. Do you think using AI in art helps us understand it? What’s your take?
DC: AI in art is sparking a lot of attention and debate. I think we’re still in an early phase with these tools, and there’s a lot of misunderstanding about them. Poorly integrated technology can have negative consequences, and we’re still figuring out how to approach AI. As an artist, I think now is the time for artists, philosophers, and humanists to explore these tools. For me, reflecting on our algorithmic world, social media, and communication—or lack thereof—is a way to stay grounded in this rapidly changing landscape. The only way arts and humanities can face the mystery and fear surrounding AI is to engage with the technology directly. This hands-on approach is essential for forming fresh, humanist perspectives on AI, in contrast to the corporate uses we see today.
JD: How do you go about developing such complex, tech-based artworks?
DC: Over the years, my studio has grown into a diverse team that includes engineers, programmers, artists, and media specialists. Each person plays an important role in shaping the tech aspects of my work. The engineers and programmers, for instance, help develop the algorithms and data systems that bring my generative artworks to life. We’re constantly bouncing ideas off each other, and this collaboration is key. It’s through this mix of creative and technical expertise that we’re able to push the limits of what we can create.
JD: You have become particularly interested in textiles in recent times, exploring it through a digital lens in your series “Pixelweaver.” Can you tell us about the origins and development of this series?
DC: I have always been interested in textiles, but when I realized that there was a connection between textiles and digital technologies, I immediately knew there was potential for a series on this theme. I discovered that the first Jacquard loom, created in the early 19th century, is considered by many historians as the first computer because it used punch cards to link patterns into the loom. This historical connection has brought us to the present day, where screens have replaced fabrics as spaces of representation, allowing us to weave both personal and collective concerns. The relationship between digital technology and the history of fabrics was the starting point that inspired me to create the series. Some fascinating pieces have spun from this series, and while I don’t see an end in sight just yet, my programmers keep trying to convince me that it’s close! Some works from the series, like “Chyron,” weave real-time news tickers from major networks into a frayed fabric that reflects the chaos of our current information ecosystem. “Abacus” draws on financial
Daniel Canogar, Billow V, 2020. Permanent installation. ING Bank Headquarters, Madrid, Spain.
Daniel Canogar, Dynamo, 2021. Temporary installation. Expo Dubai, Spanish Pavillion, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
data, using it to weave a constantly shifting fabric. Most recently, we have developed the “Universal Loom” series, which focuses on the aesthetic qualities of digital textiles, reinterpreting traditional framed lace and heirloom fabrics.
JD: Many of your works have been exhibited in public spaces. What draws you to creating art for public environments?
DC: Public art projects are a central part of my practice. Large-scale works like “Dynamo” at Expo Dubai 2020 or “Tendril” at Tampa Airport have pushed me as an artist, presenting challenges and opportunities for growth on multiple levels—technical, administrative, and creative. These projects have forced me to think bigger, both in terms of the scale of the work and the logistics involved in bringing it to life. Public art not only offers larger spaces and bigger budgets, but it also demands a higher level of organization and discipline while giving me the chance to reach a much wider audience. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating pieces that become part of a public environment, interacting with people in their everyday lives. I’m particularly drawn to this aspect because I enjoy the opportunity to engage with diverse audiences and contribute to shared spaces. I believe art is a tool for improving society, and my work often highlights critical issues that are changing so rapidly it feels urgent to address them.
JD: Your work is closely connected to the world around us, and you appear to be continually seeking out the innovative changes that shape our reality. How do you see your role as an artist in this evolving landscape, and what is the primary motivation behind your creative process?
DC: Art is a tool that allows us to process and psychically digest our reality. Artists have always needed to respond to their times, but I use my art to process the vast amount of information that’s constantly been thrown at me and try to make sense of it. I want to dive into this constant flow of data that we process daily and create hypnotic generative animations as a result. I’m trying to discover the inner calmness of the eye of the storm, finding a sense of meaning and purpose in the tumultuous times we are living through.
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Top: Daniel Canogar, Spine, 2023. Private collection. Frankfurt, Germany
Above: Jeannie Denholm, SCAPE owner and art advisor
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Designer Anna-Marie
Claassen of Anthology
Interiors shares her thoughts on one of her recent projects
This room (pictured right) is part of a major remodel and redecoration of a beautiful family home at One Ford Road. The homeowners were wonderful to work with and had specific style desires. Their love of artwork and color especially struck me. Jewel tones were the focus of the design. They were used sparingly in key parts of the home, usually as accent colors. The mostused room in the house, the family room is where the entire family gathers together at the end of the day. The goal here was to be casual and comfortable and for the entire family—furry members included—to feel welcome and relaxed. The house inherently had a little bit of traditional grandness to it with all of its inlaid woodwork, so we wanted to allow the furnishings in this room to make everyone feel comfortable kicking off their shoes and nestling into a cushy space. This room has many elements that we at Anthology try to place into a well-curated lounging space.
Anna-Marie Claassen Anthology Interiors
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Comfortable Custom Sectional Sofa
Most of our upholstered pieces are custom-made, and this sectional was no exception. We select soft fabrics that are familyand pet-friendly, work with our clients on their desired level of firmness for the seating, and even measure their ideal seating depths to create the perfect sofa. Sectionals are most popular in family rooms, as everyone loves the corners!
Two-tier Cocktail Table
Whether for cocktails or coffee, these tables are a great place for our clients’ hobbies and styles to shine. A two-tier table has great display and storage power and adds more interest to a room. This is a custom-made table from Redford House with an antique gold base.
Ottoman Seating
We have found that ottomans are incredibly versatile, and we often include them in our most used sitting rooms. Ottomans can be moved easily as seats or footrests, add seating to cocktail tables for board games or casual meals, and, best of all, add a great pop of color, pattern, and texture to rooms. This ottoman was custommade in gorgeous magenta velvet, and it is difficult to imagine the room without that deep color.
Original Artwork
The absolute best place to start designing a room is with our clients’ beloved original artwork, and this was such a great piece to include in the design. Original art adds life to a home and room, allowing our clients’ tastes and styles to shine. This piece is from Italian artist Francesco Zurlini, our clients’ favorite.
Dogs
JoJo is a great example of how we work with the entire family (pets included) when we create our designs. The entire Anthology team loves dogs. Many of our clients have pets, and we must consider their needs, messes, fur, and activity when selecting the durability of the products we select. We try to use stain-protected or naturally stain-resistant rugs and fabrics in our pet-friendly homes because we know that these adorable furry friends can and will cause some unforeseen messes down the road.
NATURE MEETS LUXURY
Laura Brophy designs holistic homes for coastal living
Designing a luxury home that prioritizes wellness is about creating a harmonious space where beauty, functionality, and emotional well-being intersect. With its breathtaking landscapes and temperate climate, Southern California offers an unparalleled opportunity to craft such a sanctuary. Central to this approach is biophilic design and a deliberate focus on how visual and emotional factors shape the living experience, ensuring that every detail contributes to a holistic sense of well-being.
Biophilic design is the cornerstone of wellness-focused homes, emphasizing a profound connection to nature. Expansive windows that frame natural views invite the outdoors in, while natural light floods interiors to uplift mood and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. Open layouts seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor spaces through sliding glass doors, covered patios, and courtyards, creating an uninterrupted flow between the built environment and the natural world.
Thoughtful aesthetic choices enhance the emotional and sensory experience of a home. Color palettes inspired by nature—soft greens, sandy beiges, and
ocean blues—evoke feelings of calm and balance. Paired with organic materials like wood, stone, and natural fibers, these hues create a tactile warmth that soothes and relaxes. Texture plays a critical role in sensory engagement, whether in the smooth grain of a wooden beam, the inviting softness of a wool rug, or the raw elegance of a stone feature wall. These elements work together to create a living environment that feels connected, authentic, and deeply comforting.
Lighting design is another essential component of wellness-focused homes. Natural light, amplified by skylights and large windows, harmonizes with the daily rhythms of life, while
circadian lighting systems adapt artificial illumination to mimic the progression of sunlight. This dynamic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day enlivens interiors and supports healthy sleepwake cycles. The result is a home that feels alive and in tune with the natural world.
Artwork and decor further personalize a home and enhance emotional well-being. Custom pieces inspired by natural themes, such as landscapes or organic forms, bring visual joy and a sense of connection to the surrounding environment. Furniture and decor chosen for their craftsmanship and sustainable materials foster a sense of authenticity, while personal touches ensure that the space reflects the
unique identity of its inhabitants. These details create an emotional connection that transforms a house into a true sanctuary.
Outdoor spaces in wellness-focused homes serve as vital extensions of indoor living areas. Expansive patios, infinity pools, and serene gardens offer areas for relaxation, meditation, or social gatherings. Garden pathways and outdoor living spaces invite residents to immerse themselves in nature, fostering a sense of balance and freedom that promotes holistic well-being.
Material choices are equally critical in supporting wellness. Sustainable, non-toxic materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and low-VOC paints ensure healthier indoor air quality while exuding timeless elegance. Textural details, such as smooth stone tiles or the softness of natural-fiber upholstery, provide tactile comfort, enriching the sensory and emotional experience of the home. These materials combine sustainability with luxury, creating an environment that feels both indulgent and responsible.
Acoustics further enhance the sense of peace and sanctuary within the home. Soundproofing ensures a quiet retreat from external noise, while built-in sound systems allow for curated auditory experiences, such as soothing music or nature sounds. The gentle rustling of leaves or the distant sound of water features adds a subtle layer of relaxation, contributing to the home’s restorative atmosphere.
Southern California’s unique climate and landscape provide additional opportunities for wellness-focused design. Homes in this
region can take full advantage of the mild, sunny weather by integrating outdoor living areas that celebrate the coastal environment. Expansive decks with ocean views, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits become gathering spaces for family and friends, while native plant gardens and shaded pergolas create serene retreats for reflection. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean inspires design elements like natural stone finishes, sandy color palettes, and large, breezy windows that frame the dramatic beauty of the coastline. The coastal lifestyle is inherently tied to wellness, and incorporating these local elements creates homes that feel deeply rooted in their environments while offering a seamless blend of luxury and nature.
Ultimately, designing a luxury home for wellness is about creating more than just a beautiful structure—it’s about crafting a space that harmonizes with its surroundings and enhances every aspect of its residents’ lives. Combining biophilic principles with a focus on visual and emotional well-being, these homes become sanctuaries of peace, connection, and renewal—a true reflection of the effortless balance between nature and modern living.
TIDELLI’S PAINHO COLLECTION
Celebrating 10 years of iconic design
Blending Brazilian cultural influences with contemporary design, the Painho Collection by Tidelli—designed in collaboration (in 2014) with renowned Brazilian designer Marcelo Rosenbaum and Fetiche Design—made its debut. Ten years later, this collection remains one of the most iconic in the world of outdoor furniture, symbolizing the fusion of tradition, artistry, and modern craftsmanship.
Inspired by the aesthetics of the tropical Bahia region, and the spiritual symbolism of Umbanda’s thrones, the Painho Collection offers a vivid reflection of Brazil’s rich cultural heritage. The collection’s distinctive fretwork patterns and hand-wrapped nautical ropes create a beautiful interplay between texture and structure, offering visual appeal and functional design. The open, airy backrests allow for visibility while maintaining the collection’s unique, intricate detailing.
Rosenbaum, known for infusing his designs with personal and cultural significance, sees furniture not just as functional objects but as pieces that carry stories and memories. In his partnership with Fetiche Design, led by Carolina Armellini and Paulo Biacchi, the goal was to craft pieces that went beyond mere utility, embedding Brazilian culture into every curve and knot. Together, they created furniture that embodies a narrative, not just for those who own it, but also for the culture it represents.
The Painho Collection includes a variety of pieces, from chairs and swings to side tables, each customizable with over 60 rope colors. This customization allows for endless possibilities, enabling owners to create personalized combinations that speak to their unique tastes. Whether it’s a single piece or a mix of colors within one design, the Painho Collection offers versatility and a whimsical touch to any space.
Today, the Painho Collection boasts eight different typologies, from lounge chairs to swinging seats, each representing a seamless marriage of industrial precisionw and handcrafted artistry. It stands as a testament to Tidelli’s ability to blend cutting-edge design with traditional craftsmanship, creating pieces that are as much works of art as they are functional furniture.
Marcelo Rosenbaum’s ability to connect design with cultural roots, combined with the creativity of Fetiche Design, has resulted in a collection that continues to captivate and inspire. The Painho Collection is now a fixture in some of Tidelli’s most stunning projects and homes around the world. It is a reminder that great design can be timeless, meaningful, and ever-evolving. As it celebrates 10 years, the collection is not just a milestone in Tidelli’s history—it’s a celebration of Brazilian culture, craftsmanship, and design.
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THE PREMIER PARADISE WITHIN
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay beckons with a health-conscious call to hearts & minds
by Robin Keats
The only hotel in Hawaii to earn a spot on the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List 2024, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on Kaua`i’s north shore is a mission-driven luxury lifestyle resort committed to honoring the beauty of nature through biophilic design and being a driver for change in environmentally-friendly living. Opened last year, it’s the flagship of 1 Hotels and an ultimate bucket-list destination for the most discerning travelers. It’s been named Hawaii’s first Ocean-Friendly Hotel by the Surfrider Foundation, with all its outlets designated Ocean-Friendly Restaurants. Recently awarded a MICHELIN Key, the hotel was founded upon and guided by the concept that those who travel the world should also care about it.
Designed as a global holistic wellness destination, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay features 18,000 square feet of dedicated wellness space; it has an extensive offering of well-being treatments and therapies and farmand ocean-to-table meals. In addition to the sanctuary of the guest rooms and multiple pools, there’s an immense, spectacularly curated menu of enhancements for both the body and the soul that awaits all those who come seeking the very best things they can do for their health (and happiness). Within Wellbeing is the hotel’s program of unique wellness experiences: multi-day retreats and custom itineraries, an 18-treatment room spa, a boxing terrace, the oceanfront
Albizia gym, and an indoor fitness studio. On staff are wellness practitioners, board-certified physicians, renowned nutritionists, and numerous subspecialists. There’s the Bamford Wellness Spa by organic pioneer Carole Bamford; the Anatomy Fitness Center by former NFL player Marc Megna; and functional medicine partner Vitality Kaua`i. Among the services offered by Vitality Kauai are DEXA scans (which provide insights into bone and body health) and metabolic testing (used to estimate calorie burn at rest to determine an individual caloric need as well as to measure carbohydrate utilization and fat).
Guests who opt for the Within Wellbeing retreat can choose from an array of multi-day “Journeys” geared to achieving holistic balance and personal revitalization. There are touchless therapies, fitness training sessions, mindfulness practices, and advanced therapeutic treatments. These journeys include the Wai-Water Reboot & Recharge, which offers two 80-min Bamford Wellness Spa experiences (facial or body); one 50-min Bamford Wellness Spa experience; two Touchless Therapies (Meditation Pod and Ocean Float); two private sessions with an Anatomy Body Architect (including two of the following yoga, meditation, personal training, sound journey,
Pilates); Immunity IV Therapy with Vitality Kaua`i; a daily breakfast credit; complimentary valet parking and personalized nightly turndowns. If the Wai-Water Reboot & Recharge doesn’t appeal, there are other journeys to choose from: Honua-Earth-Terrain for the outdoors enthusiast; the Ahi-Fire-Spark journey, during which guests learn more about their bodies and what lifestyle changes they can make to foster long-term health and happiness; the Makani-Wind-Air journey, which allows guests to craft their own wellness experience and, besides providing IV therapies, has its own specific menu of spa activities. It also offers unlimited beach rentals of kayaks, surfboards, and snorkel gear.
Want to go further down 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s road to health? Enter the resort’s Ocean Float Room, which features a zero-gravity environment for a nervous system reset, or the Somadome Meditation Pod, where a merging of ancient healing methods and modern technology handles stress reduction. There’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy, immunity infusions, Lipo Mino injections, botanical scrubs, and facials using not just honey but also the adaptogenic herb tulsi. The most dedicated seekers of wellbeing practices would be extremely hard put (and likely find it impossible) to find a place that rivals 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
Overlooking the spectacular Hanalei Bay, the resort’s views include the equally eye-catching and spectacularly soaring cliffs of Mount Makana. Kaua`i is Hawaii’s “Garden Island,” with an incomparable lushness and live-life-toits-fullest spirit. Guest room and suite amenities here are far from the usual and include compression boots, infrared mats, sound therapy, weighted blankets, healing crystals, meditation cushions, and percussion massagers! The options on the path to wellbeing here are incredibly extensive, inviting, and immensely valuable. A contrast therapy lounge will offer a cryogenic chamber, ice baths, and infrared sauna in 2025.
Of course, that’s not all the hotel offers for your have-the-timeof-your-life (extension) stay here. Nutrition is a key element of wellness at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. 1 Kitchen, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves hyper-local, sustainably sourced breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The bar at 1 Kitchen also features tropical-inspired handcrafted cocktails using ingredients that support local partners and distilleries that prioritize sustainable practices. Welina Terrace is an oceanfront lounge where you can order Japanese-inspired shared plates as well as Hawaiian rums, Japanese whiskeys, agave spirits, wines, and craft beers. The Sandbox is an oceanfront/poolside restaurant and bar serving lunch and cocktails (until sunset). 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay cocktail menus also offer zero and low ABV cocktails. For easy graband-go, there’s also the counter service Neighbors for coffee, breakfast, and lunch; The Juice Bar for cold-pressed juices and smoothies; the Wai’oli for cold treats (including alcohol-infused syrups and toppings) for pool or beachfront consumption. There’s also the Lobby Farmstand, with healthy snacks stocked
with local farm produce, where you can grab something to go as you take off after choosing from a wonderful set of choice excursions and activities off resort grounds that 1 Hotel Hanalei coordinates for you. Among the many off-site places to go are the Princeville Makai Golf Club with tennis courts and pickleball, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, and the Kilauea Farmers Market.
Guided by its commitment to sustainability, the hotel provides guests daytime give-back opportunities to take part in beach cleanups, restoration programs, and Kaua`i Humane Society dog field trips. The commitment to eco-consciousness doesn’t wane when the sun goes down. Integral to 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s Dark Sky initiative is the use of wildlife-friendly lighting and neutral earth-tone paint that reduces light pollution and protects young shearwater seabirds who rely on moonlight to find their way to the ocean during their September 15 to December 15 fledging season. In keeping with its overall philosophy, the hotel considers it a vital responsibility to show extra care for such wildlife. Nonessential lighting is turned off
at night and guest room curtains are drawn after sundown.
The hotel’s eco-consciousness extends beyond its property lines. A fully electric Audi Q8 e-tron house car is available for excursions to Lydgate Farms, Anaina Hou Community Park, and the Limahuli Garden & Preserve National Tropical Botanical Garden. The electric vehicles are also available for drop-offs and pick-ups in the Princeville area on a first-come, first-served basis from the hotel entrance. Test drives are also offered.
One would be best advised to absorb much of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s website a good while before heading there. There is so much offered by the resort within it and beyond it that not a minute of precious time should be spent mulling too long over what you want to partake of once you’ve arrived. This is the apogee of the confluence of hedonism and health, a destination where you’ll joyfully unload the weight of the world, shed the stress, nourish your body, and feed your soul.
PRIVATE CLUB
Hotel Hanalei Bay has a “private club” membership—the only one of its kind on Kauai. Ideal for local residents and popular with frequent visitors, part-time residents, celebrities and C-suite—the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s Within Membership offers year-round, 24/7 access to the resort’s Anatomy gym, use of the steam room and wet sauna in the Bamford Wellness Spa, four fitness assessments by an Anatomy Body Architect, daily fitness classes, and ability to rent cabanas with access to pools and outdoor Albizia gym. Members also receive complimentary valet parking, priority dining reservations, discounts on wellbeing services such as training and spa treatments, retail discounts, and reduced guestroom rates. Contact the hotel for membership pricing.
5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, HI 96722
808.826.9644 1hotels.com/hanalei-bay
501 Lombardy Lane
Laguna Beach
Restored Historic Cottage
Offered at $3,475,000
Welcome to 501 Lombardy Lane in Laguna Beach. Sitting on an enchanting street that locals revere for its nostalgic row of cottages and flowering gardens, this thoughtfully designed bungalow embodies the Laguna soul so many seek. Behind a white picket fence and abundantly charming but incredibly livable - this spectacularly updated home has been revitalized without a detail overlooked.
806 W BALBOA AVENUE, NEWPORT BEACH DUPLEX | 1,500 +/- SF RESIDENCE | 3,071 SF LOT
808 W BALBOA AVENUE, NEWPORT BEACH 5 BED | 4 BATH | 3,353 +/- SF RESIDENCE | 2,700 SF LOT SOLD | $4,400,000 | COMBINED SALES PRICE TIM CARR 949.631.9999 | TIM@TIMCARRGROUP.COM TIMCARRGROUP.COM | DRE 01017277 FACEBOOK.COM/TIMCARRGROUP @TIMCARRGROUP
Perched above Big Canyon Country Club’s iconic 10th hole with approximately 71-feet of view frontage, this end-of-cul-de-sac corner lot residence features five spacious bedrooms, four-and-one-half bathrooms, and roughly 4,083 square feet of completely re-imagined interior living. A pool, spa, chef’s kitchen, and luxe appointments are additional highlights.
33811 Chula Vista, Dana Point 3 Del Mar, Newport Coast
385 Mermaid Street, Laguna Beach
LAKESIDE LIVING IN LAS VEGAS
Virtue Real Estate Group specializes in bringing the dream of lakeside living to life with exclusive Blue Heron homes at Shoreline, Lake Las Vegas. Here, modern design meets natural beauty, with homes that showcase open spaces, flowing layouts, and expansive glass walls that blend indoor and outdoor living. Each home at Shoreline o ers breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains, emphasizing a tranquil lifestyle within a vibrant community.
Shoreline provides three thoughtfully designed floor plans, each with the option for a third story and elevator. These spacious twoand three-level homes, starting at 2,750 square feet, are tailored for those who value both comfort and elegance. Beyond each doorstep, the community o ers a unique blend of relaxation and recreation. Enjoy lakeside trails, fitness amenities, and access to the bustling Village with its array of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. For golf enthusiasts, Shoreline is just moments from world-class courses, and the Las Vegas Strip is only a short drive away, o ering the best of both secluded luxury and urban convenience.
Whether you’re drawn to serene lakeside mornings or evenings by the fire pit with friends, Shoreline promises an elevated living experience like no other. Reach out to Virtue Real Estate Group to explore the lifestyle awaiting you at Shoreline, where lakeside living meets unparalleled luxury.
A DREAM HOME REALIZED
Regal Construction builds homes and relationships
By Maddison Raynor
In the coastal haven of Monarch Bay, Dana Point, the Lough Residence is a breathtaking example of modern luxury and architectural vision. This 4,000-square-foot home, once riddled with structural flaws, has been completely transformed into a sleek, sophisticated retreat—or in the case of Lisa Lough, her dream home. From demolition to completion, the 13-month project is a testament to the craftsmanship and collaborative approach of Regal Construction Corporation, the firm that led the rebuild from the ground up.
At the project’s helm are Ben Matyszuk, a British military veteran and president of Regal Construction, and his partner, CEO Jose Alvarado. Together, they lead a company known for its personalized, hands-on approach to homebuilding. For Matyszuk and Alvarado, the Lough Residence was about more than just constructing a dream home—it was about building lasting partnerships with homeowners Lisa and Rich Lough. “We’re not just building houses; we’re building relationships,” Matyszuk says. “Every client is treated like family. We aim to create homes that reflect their lifestyle, needs, and personal vision.”
When the Loughs first brought on Regal Construction, it was clear that major renovations were needed. As Matyszuk recalls, “When we first arrived, there were holes in the roof, it was leaking, and buckets were catching water. I remember sitting around the table with Lisa and Rich, with water dripping into buckets around us.” Matyszuk and his team took on the challenge of not only demolishing the home down to its studs but also reimagining it as a contemporary Southern California retreat. Collaborating with architects, engineers, city officials, and clients, the team addressed every issue, ensuring safety and beauty.
The design vision for the Lough Residence embraced an open-concept layout that maximized natural light, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. As Matyszuk explains, “Lisa wanted a lot of light in the house, so installing doors and skylights throughout really achieved that.” Large skylights and high-performance windows from Awake flood the home with sunshine while enhancing energy efficiency. The home’s design also incorporates extensive tile work throughout, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms, where carefully selected materials create a sophisticated, modern aesthetic. A standout feature of the home is the striking 14-foot kitchen island, which serves as a functional workspace and a visual anchor. The media room, with invisible speakers and subwoofers integrated into the walls, delivers premium sound without disrupting the minimalist design. These high-end features, paired with an open, airy layout, create the perfect balance of luxury and livability.
“The Loughs had a clear vision, and our job was to bring it to life,” Matyszuk says. “From the tile choices to the HVAC system, we made sure every detail was executed to perfection.”
Regal Construction has built its reputation on personalized service and exceptional quality. Matyszuk and Alvarado are deeply involved in every aspect of each project, making regular site visits and ensuring clear communication with clients. As Matyszuk puts it, “We are hands-on throughout the entire process. Our goal is to keep the project on track and make sure our clients are happy with every decision along the way. I work closely with the homeowners throughout, which is what we do best. They’re not just clients to us—they become friends. With Lisa and Rich, for example, we even watched a Dodgers game together at their home. It’s that kind of personal connection that sets us apart.” As Regal Construction continues to grow, it remains committed to maintaining the personal touch that has driven its success. “As we expand, we’re dedicated to staying connected with our clients. That’s what sets us apart in this industry, and it’s what will continue to distinguish us,” Matyszuk says.
Beyond their passion for building exceptional homes, Regal Construction is focused on the future of the construction industry. With seasoned professionals retiring, it is committed to mentoring the next generation of builders to preserve the industry’s wealth of knowledge. The company is poised for continued growth with more custom homes in the pipeline. The Lough Residence perfectly embodies the company’s blend of innovation and craftsmanship, highlighting its hands-on approach and unwavering commitment to quality, all while staying true to the client’s vision. With Matyszuk and Alvarado at the helm, Regal Construction is making its mark in the luxury home market of coastal Orange County, setting a new standard for custom homebuilding in Southern California.
SMALL SPACES, BIG IMPACT
By Maddison Raynor Mathew McGrane and the future of ADU design
Mathew McGrane is redefining what’s possible in small-space design. As a leading architect specializing in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), he has mastered turning compact, underused spaces into functional, stylish environments that allow homeowners to maximize their property’s potential. Whether creating rental units or flexible living areas, McGrane’s designs prove that you don’t need a sprawling property to live large.
His approach to ADU design emphasizes efficiency and innovation. Unlike traditional home designs, which often focus on larger layouts, ADU projects require a more thoughtful use of every square inch. McGrane excels at crafting spaces that feel expansive, even within small footprints. “Every decision is about making the space work harder,” he explains. “From built-in storage to multifunctional furniture, it’s about creating flexibility in how the space is used.” Excelling at navigating the maze of zoning and building regulations, McGrane has years of experience working directly with city planners, he ensures his designs meet all codes without compromising creativity. “The rules matter,” McGrane says, “but there’s always room for innovation.”
His mastery of zoning laws enables him to unlock the potential of properties in ways homeowners might not realize. “Adding an ADU can increase property value,” McGrane says. “But doing it right means understanding local regulations and tailoring the design to fit the site, climate, and client needs.” McGrane’s ADU designs are known in coastal Orange County for their creative edge and attention to detail. Whether working on a coastal property or an urban
infill project, McGrane tailors each design to its specific context. One recent project involved designing a modern ADU on a seaside property, where the structure had to account for coastal winds, salt exposure, and stunning views. “I treat every ADU design with the same care I would a full-scale home,” McGrane explains. “It’s about creating a space that reflects the owner’s personality while addressing their practical needs.”
What sets McGrane apart is his knack for balancing form and function. Whether it’s a guesthouse, home office, rental unit, or space for extended family, his ADUs maximize small spaces without skimping on quality or comfort. “The beauty of ADUs is their versatility,” he says. “They can adapt to so many lifestyles.” The key is McGrane’s focus on detail, which is evident in his use of materials, lighting, and custom-built features that add character to the smallest of spaces.
“In an ADU, every finish counts. I choose materials that are durable, sustainable, and visually appealing,” he explains. “In a small space, quality finishes elevate the experience, making the ADU feel luxurious and inviting.”
By turning small, underutilized spaces into functional, stylish homes, McGrane proves that less can truly be more—more affordable, more flexible, and more sustainable. As the demand for ADUs grows, McGrane’s innovative approach shows that with the right vision, even the smallest spaces can have a big impact—while sparking the question, do we really need all that extra space after all?
The blending of art and architecture is at the heart of an expansive home in the Irvine Cove enclave of north Laguna Beach. The community is characterized by mid-century modern architecture, with many of the 100 homes bordering the Pacific Ocean.
The 6,500-square-foot modernist home, completed in 2020, features three wings surrounding a large, private central courtyard adorned with luxurious olive trees and framed by a folding roof. The centerpiece of the courtyard, connecting the indoors with the outdoors, is a large linear pool projecting out to the ocean, and the estate is surrounded by the sea.
The seamlessness of the home’s indoor/outdoor setting and the surrounding land, ocean, and sky is the lifeblood of the
environment. The owners can comfortably engage with family and friends while enjoying the natural surroundings.
The temperate coastal climate allows for outdoor living and entertaining year-round. The outdoor furnishings include comfortable lounging chairs, a large dining table and chairs with room for 12 people, and a long outdoor fireplace alongside the table.
Architect Horst Noppenberger, who designed the Irvine Cove home, has been enamored with modernist architecture since embarking on his career decades ago. He describes the seaside home as directly responding to the site and climate, embracing an open floor plan, integrating the interior and exterior spaces, and offering an ambiance of permanence through materials and design features.
When planning a home, he explains, the design needs to support the lifestyle of the home-owners. “We began the design process by spending time with the clients at the site, understanding its unique characteristics, including the topography and the views.” He adds, “Simplicity and restraint were the guiding principles of the design of the Irvine Cove hillside residence, positioned at the poetic edge where the land meets the sea.”
The home’s materials are all timeless and rooted in mid-century architecture. They include concrete for the walls, wood and stone for the floors, stucco, glass, and steel. “These earthy, tactile materials,” Noppenberger says, “invite the magnificent play of light upon the surfaces and evoke emotions.” Concrete has a feeling of permanence, while wood suggests flight and visual lightness.
The Irvine Cove home is c-shaped, aligning with personal needs for shelter (closed on one side) and expansion (opening on the other side toward the north), allowing the soft, late-afternoon sun to enter the courtyard and the home. The cshaped plan comprises three wings, all looking out to the courtyard with
ocean views. Including three distinct wings creates a sense of order while balancing communal activities with privacy and intimacy.
The front wing along the street contains the communal spaces: the kitchen, the studio, and the family lounge areas. The second wing contains the four guest bedrooms; the third wing is simply the master suite. All five bedrooms face the courtyard, affording ocean views through the sliding slatted wood louvers. These screens provide privacy, warmth, and intimacy while orchestrating nature and light flowing in from the outside. The four secondary bedrooms, each approximately 12 by 14 feet, have ensuite attached bathrooms and are designed with a “minimalist aesthetic.”
The 1,000-square-foot master suite contains a large sleeping space, a spa-like bath, and an indoor/outdoor shower. As the most intimate space in the residence, the master includes warm, tactile materials— wood, artisanal materials (exposed steel with a hand-forged tactile texture), and suede in the area rug and bed wall—conveying intimacy
and privacy. Another welcoming aspect of the master suite is the asymmetrical lighting beside the bed, contributing to a relaxed, informal feeling. The suite also contains an inside/outside shower with a glass ceiling and perforated metal screen above the glass, creating the feeling of sunlight being filtered through tree canopies.
The Irvine Cove home features a subterranean level accessed through graceful wooden stairs and contains an exercise room, a bar, and a lounge area. Throughout the house, two- and three-dimensional modern art, curated by local gallerist Peter Blake, reflects the residence’s minimalist design aesthetic. The art is an elegant addition to a home that is a work of art all by itself.
THE ZEN OF ARCHITECTURE
Goldner
Celebrating the Laguna Beach legacy of architect Mark Singer by Liz
Mark Singer (1948-2015) possessed extraordinary gifts as an architect and engineer, as well as a gracious mentoring character ... qualities that enabled him to reach out compassionately to family members, friends, and clients. Born in New York City’s ethnically diverse Lower East Side, he began drawing at an early age. He learned about design and woodworking from his father, who owned a small custom repair business and who taught him to use tools and hardware. Now, some ten years after his passing, we honor his work, which is the very definition of timeless.
At age nine, Singer, newly transplanted to Los Angeles, discovered a book about Frank Lloyd Wright’s boyhood at a local library, became immersed in it, and soon sought out more information about architecture. His early interests included perusing the airy, open homes of Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler in L.A.’s Silver Lake area— buildings that inspired his later award-winning homes.
Singer once explained, “We should use our abilities to create, as to design is to explore what is within each of us. We feel satisfied to know we have taken the sum total of what we were given and used it in a creative way.” That perspective led him to explore the fundamental nature of buildings and inspired him to pursue a degree in structural engineering from California State University Los Angeles.
Throughout his career, Singer employed his structural engineering insights when designing homes. His son Ryan, a residential designer, describes one of his innovative concepts: “My dad learned about water intrusion by noticing the severe and bizarre behavior of water on the hillsides of Laguna Beach, where the wind blows the rain uphill. This created a need for extraordinary detailing, leading him to ‘think like water’ when designing window and door details.”
After college, Singer worked for a developer who specialized in building large commercial projects, and soon after received his general contractor’s license. When the developer gave him a few residential projects to work on, his passion for designing homes was ignited, leading to his architectural career. He began working in this field, then started his own design firm in Laguna Beach in the mid-1970s. With this experience and his design expertise, he passed the architectural license exam.
By then, Singer was married to the love of his life, Myriam, who had recently emigrated to this country from Peru. His early visits with Myriam to the Peruvian ruins of Machu Picchu with its intact stone walls inspired Singer’s use of permanent construction materials, specifically concrete, for his homes. Ryan explains, “He and I talked about how certain parts of homes like stone would remain over time, while wood would eventually fade.”
Early in Singer’s career, Laguna Beach was a bohemian paradise with a blend of iconic beach cottages, Spanish Colonial-style homes, and eclectic, unconventional styles. Yet the fearless architect created magnanimous home designs that were so at odds with those styles that they were often rejected by the city’s conservative design review boards. However, he quietly and stubbornly prevailed, eventually receiving permission to design and build his “avant-garde” homes.
The homes that Singer designed feature bold geometric, minimalist designs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and expansive vistas of the nearby canyons and the Pacific Ocean—from indoors and outside. His favored materials included stone, stucco, glass, and wood for the exteriors and board-formed concrete for the interiors, which is a feature of many homes containing wood furniture that he designed and built.
Singer’s homes are so magnificent that he gradually gained support from Laguna Beach design boards, residents, and newcomers. Over nearly four decades, he designed and built many hundreds of homes in the city and elsewhere in Orange County. Along the way, he helped to transform the architecture and character of Laguna Beach to become a more contemporary milieu. Younger architects are influenced by his designs.
Singer’s legendary homes have won him many awards from the American Institute of Architects as well as from the Laguna Beach Architectural Guild. They continue to be treasured by their owners and realtors. Those who live in Singer-designed homes speak admiringly of the relationships they forged with him when he was designing their homes, listening to their many requests and desires, and offering his own suggestions.
Singer designed his most intimate home, completed in 2001, for himself and Myriam after their children, Ryan and Jessica, were grown and on their own. The 2,900-square-foot home positioned on a hilltop in the Arch Beach Heights neighborhood of Laguna Beach, offers a 360-degree view of the Saddleback Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
I visited that home in 2002 and was awe-struck by its ambiance. The Zen-like one-bedroom palace (that is still there, in pristine condition) has huge living areas, skylights, endless windows overlooking the ocean, three fireplaces, several kinds of woods for the floors, and homemade furniture, natural concrete, warm mauve, and tan walls and furnishings. The environment extends to two patios, to
the natural desert foliage, and the ocean 850 feet below. Singer described the home, along with its 1,000-square-foot guest wing, as rustic contemporary. “A home should be a sanctuary,” the ponytailed architect told me back then. “It is important to know when to stop designing and building, so the simplicity is not destroyed. We don’t have much art or decorations here because we’re already living with art. In a well-designed home, where the spaces are architectural, the elements of that home become the art.”
Another important art form for Singer is his generous, mentoring behavior that was so evident to his many friends and family. Myriam talks about how giving he was to her early in their relationship when they could barely speak each other’s language. “He taught me
drafting skills,” she explains, “and then included some of my designs in his homes. He took me to construction sites and said to me, ‘You see what you did.’”
Ryan’s experiences with his mentoring father were more comprehensive. As a child, he drew all of the time, he says. Perhaps because he knew that his father created homes, Ryan not only drew pictures of homes but built complicated structures with Legos. During his childhood, his dad took the family on tours of famous homes (including some by Frank Lloyd Wright) and introduced them to many of his interesting friends. The elder Singer spent numerous hours dialoguing with his son about design, architecture, and life. He explained that architecture is often a reaction to what is going on in the world and that when designing homes, it is important to understand that all families are different from each other.
Singer had meaningful relationships with other area architects, including Horst Noppenberger and Anders Lasater. Noppenberger has commented: “I first met Mark years ago and saw immediately that he was a passionate, visionary man and that his work would redefine the local landscape. Mark and I enjoyed a friendly competition over the years and had many illuminating conversations together. The immutable truth of his existence is present in the body of work he has left behind. He is an icon in the world of architecture and design and will be truly missed.”
Lasater, too, paid professional tribute to him. Recalling that he received a gift of handmade furniture from Mark as a wedding present, which deeply touched him, he pointed out that it was through Singer’s craft and heartfelt gestures (like the gift) that he often expressed himself. “Mark was a quiet person. That’s not because he didn’t have a lot to say. He chose how he spoke very thoughtfully.
He was also a master woodworker. His hands were the voice that Mark spoke most forcefully with. His voice came from building buildings.”
Mark Singer—who combined old-world craftsman skills with a new-age design approach—believed that the process and joy of accomplishing his work were as important as the completed structures. With this perspective, he designed and built homes for four decades, refining his skills and artistry while helping to change the face of Laguna Beach. He often looked at the many homes that he created around the city with gratitude and appreciation. Today, his imprint on Laguna, nearly a decade after his passing, continues to be pervasive and profound.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: 111 S La Senda Drive, Laguna Beach
4,061 sq ft | Appx 2.15-Acres | $39,995,000
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS: Nestled at the end of a private cul-de-sac in Three Arch Bay, this custom 4-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom ocean-view estate spans approximately 2.15 acres, encompassing both a bluff and part of the beach below. Revel in the seamless fusion of artistry, nature, and breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling windows framing Dana Point, Catalina Island, colorful sunsets, and twinkling city lights. Highlights include a luxurious pool, state-of-the-art home theater, Garaventa lift, and parking for seven vehicles. Bespoke details— such as a hand-carved mahogany entry, African movingui cabinetry, and Blue Bahia and Blue Pearl granite—embody a home that’s part luxury, part beauty, and entirely Laguna Beach.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: 815 Via Lido Soud, Lido Isle
3,809 sq ft | Lido Isle bay front with a private dock at the eastern tip of the island. |
$15,995,000
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS: Dock your yacht and experience the pinnacle of Newport Harbor living in this exquisitely remodeled Lido Isle bayfront residence. Perfectly positioned at the highly desirable eastern end of the island, this rare opportunity offers approximately 3,800 square feet of coastal elegance, featuring five bedrooms and breathtaking sunset vistas over the bay’s ever-changing activity. This exceptional home has been meticulously updated with quality finishes that exude timeless appeal, including elegant wood flooring, custom sliding doors designed to seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor living, and a gourmet kitchen with coastal-inspired quartzite countertops, custom cabinetry, a large walk-in pantry, and separate refrigerator and freezer.
1220
302 NARCISSUS, CORONA DEL MAR
4 BD | 5 BA | 3,003 SQ FT HOME | 3,540 SQ FT LOT OFFERED AT $5,995,000
602 IRIS, CORONA DEL MAR
3 BD | 5 BA | 2,750 SQ FT FRONT HOME | NEW CONSTRUCTION OFFERED AT $4,595,000
203 8TH ST, NEWPORT BEACH
621 POPPY, CORONA DEL MAR
3 BED | 3.5 BATH | 1,791 SQ FT OFFERED AT $3,795,000
5 BD | 3 BA | 2,446 SQ FT HOME OFFERED AT $3,895,000 1 SAVONA CT, NEWPORT COAST 2 BD | 2 BA | 1,326 SQ FT HOME OFFERED AT $1,550,000
