ICONIC LIFE February/March 2023

Acclaimed for its exquisite design and advanced technology, the Monogram Professional Range is redefining luxury appliances one detail at a time. Elevate Everything.

“The experience of a home should always be dynamic. The dynamism should come from a felt flow, a pouring of nature through the home….Moving through the house should always result in measures of awe, gratitude, and humility, as well as surprise.”

-Homeowner describing their Kendle Design Collaborative home

Creating beautiful gardens is our business…what you do in them is yours.

Designers, Craftsmen, and Caretakers of Distinctive Gardens

berghoffdesign.com

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN

COMFORT AND DESIGN

Our luxurious furniture, home furnishings, and original works of art are handcrafted in America using the finest materials and methods of craftsmanship. Let us enrich your lifestyle by creating timeless custom furnishings of the highest quality for your home.

BUFFALOCOLLECTION.COM

A STATE OF MIND. A STATE OF MIND. A WAY OF LIFE. A WAY OF LIFE.

By Fran Miller

By Carlye Klick

Bailey Badillo

56 Switzerland’s Sustainable Structure

By Nora Burba Trulsson

60 Honoring Legends

Kaitlyn Beickel

By Sam Micatrotto

By Laura Madden

ICONIC: Serving Sparkle

Sam Micatrotto

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Renee Dee, PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sacro, LIGHTING: Jamie Anderson, HAIR & MAKEUP: Melissa Evans, ICONIC TEAM: Carlye Klick, MODEL: Makenzie from FORD Robert Black Agency, WARDROBE: FRAME via Amy Atelier, LOCATION: ICON at Silverleaf, SET DESIGN: Shearon, Brown Jordan chair

savorscotch

Sipping with Guy Sporbert International Scotch Expert

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is celebrating the grand reopening of their ICONIC Scotch Library with their certified Master of Scotch, Guy Sporbert. Spobert earned his certification at the Rothes Glen Castle in Speyside, Scotland after taking part in intense master classes, tastings and exams.

The Scotch Library provides both aficionados and those new to Scotch with the opportunity to select from more than 350 different whisky labels poured by Scotch Library Ambassadors, experts in single malt and blend whiskies from Scotland.

AN EVENING OF SCOTCHES

Join us Friday evenings at 6 p.m. when our resident international expert presents a flighted tasting experience with three Scotch Whisky selections and small bites. You will learn about the differences between the labels, unique aspects of the various whisky regions of Scotland, and various ways to drink Scotch.

Or join us Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. to enjoy any Scotch in the library and visit with Guy.

The Epitome of Elegance.

Shopping

A Cool Breeze

At-Ease Fine Men’s Clothes

Bryn Walker

Carine’s Boutique

Diva Sizes 14-24

Femme

Kreiss

Oliver Smith Jeweler

Paris Paris

Posh

Ritzy Rags and Shoes

The Collector’s House

Dining

Bandolero

Famous 48

Hash Kitchen

Kaleidoscope Juice

Koibito Poke

Luna Gelateria & Caffetteria

Lure Fish House + Oyster Bar

Panera Bread

Pei Wei

Pomo Pizzeria

Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery

SunSet Wine Bistro

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Village Tavern

Beauty & Services

100% Chiropractic

CLOVR Life Spa

Club Pilates

Custom Ink

Gainey Nails & Spa

IYA MedAesthetics

ROLFS

StretchLab

YogaSix

Restore Hyper Wellness

Grocery

Sprouts

Renee M. Dee Publisher

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’m feeling all the optimism of this new year, and I am so excited about being in this hot spot of the country for building, design, real estate and retail. We are on fire, and there are so many extraordinary projects coming out of the ground this year, and all this growth is just in time for the biggest time of the year in Scottsdale, made only bigger by The Valley of the Sun hosting the Super Bowl this month.

Prior to that, Barrett-Jackson Car Auction and the WM Phoenix Open saw record-breaking crowds that only added to the amplified population during the first few months of the year around here. (We just released our “Ultimate Guide to a Good Time in AZ” to share all the ICONIC people, places and things to do for visitors. You can see it, too, at iconiclife.com or grab your copy on newsstands.)

The experts are predicting more population growth in the Valley for the next five years, and some of those new residents—who may have just experienced Scottsdale/ Paradise Valley for the first time by traveling here—will have the opportunity to feast their eyes on real estate unlike anything ever offered before.

In Silverleaf, one of the most prestigious communities in the state, friends at Drewett Works, Ownby Design and G.S. Fries Construction have joined forces to design and build two extraordinary estates that boast the highest listing prices for specs to date— one represented by Mike Sweeney at Silverleaf Realty, and one represented by Allan MacDonald at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty—both north of $30 million.

In that same community, Silverleaf Realty has launched the next phase of ICON at Silverleaf, an uber-luxury, high-rise condo community that is pure luxury. In fact, living at ICON is the setting for this month’s cover with the ICONIC views of the McDowell Mountains at Tom’s Thumb at sunset—pure magic.

Throughout the pages of this magazine, you’ll find the best of the best when it comes to luxury living in Arizona. The top architects, designers and builders are changing the landscape of our community with the amenity-filled, glamorous communities, developed by our clients, from Camelot Homes to Cullum Homes to RePlay Destinations in its next phase at Ascent at The Phoenician, to the leading realtors representing these properties.

I share all of this because one of the biggest industries for Paradise Valley and Scottsdale is luxury homebuilding and real estate, and the enormous village that development supports and plays into our booming local economy, including all of us at ICONIC LIFE

On that note, Net Zero ICONIC Home launches this month with our grand reveal in this issue, surrounded by themed sustainability content throughout this issue. You can tour the home virtually by going to iconiclife.com.

With the highs we are seeing, I predict a blue sky ahead. And THAT’S the way to start a new year.

With Gratitude,

Renee M. Dee Publisher

Photo by Carlye Klick

RENEE M. DEE | Publisher

CARLYE KLICK | Marketing Director

MEG PERICH | Client Relations Director AZ

DOROTHY COSTELLO | Business Development Director OC

KAITLYN BEICKEL | Editorial and Communications Manager

KATIE POE | Social Media and Marketing Coordinator

ERIN SUWWAN | Publication Designer

MARK SACRO | Fashion Photographer

JAMIE ANDERSON | Lighting Design

BRANDON TIGRETT | Features Photographer

PAUL MOORE | Features Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS

Bailey Badillo, Nancy Erdmann, Elyse Glickman, Shoshana Leon, Laura Madden, Sam Micatrotto, Fran Miller, Dena Roché, David Rubin, Joseph Specter and Nora Burba Trulsson

Advertising and Editorial Queries, contact us at concierge@iconiclife.com

8145 E. Evans Road, Suite 7

Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.330.3737 Subscribe NOW: ICONICLIFE.COM

A Hometown Builder’s 25-Year Legacy

Making An Indelible Mark

From Scottsdale to Prescott, the unique imprint DLB Custom Homes has made over the past 25 years can be felt across the state in the most distinctive ways. And one of the reasons this hometown builder has fostered an enduring legacy is due to its commitment to unrivaled craftsmanship.

Giving Design Function

As a builder anchored by the academics of design, DLB Custom Homes has shown time and again its ability to fuse form with function and bring novel architectural concepts to life in the most livable ways.

Building Relationships And Homes

The completion of a home doesn’t mark the end of a relationship. At DLB Custom Homes, those connections continue, through decades and multiple homes. And that’s the true legacy of a hometown builder.

dlbhomes.com

480.396.8556

info@dlbhomes.com

ROC# 137750-B

By ICONIC LIFE

Kristen Vegan Leather Water Bottle Crossbody Bag, $68 via Nordstrom.

Aqua Bottle With Shoulder Strap, $880 via Dior.

SUSTAINABLE SIPS

Green is the new black this season (and every season) as the world becomes more and more aware of our environmental impact. It seems that everywhere you go, people are joining the conversation about sustainability and conscious luxury.

Sky Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $69 via Nordstrom.

Fitness Glass Water Bottle, $98 via Neiman Marcus.

GEORG JENSEN

GEM-WATER BY VITAJUWEL

DIOR

MALI + LILI

COLLINA STRADA

Crystal Embellished Insulated Water Bottle, $100 via Nordstrom.

No-Compromise CANNED WINES

By Fran Miller

Irecently took a line-up of canned wines, rather than a bottle, to a friend’s home as a hostess gift. The immediate reaction was skepticism. Canned wine? Are you kidding? But after popping open each and taste-testing, my recipient joined in my enthusiasm. Canned wine is the real deal. Sure, there may or may not be an ageability-indicating vintage denoted on the label, but it’s really no secret that canned wines are meant to be relished in the here and now.

Canned wines are convenient and easy to enjoy during activities at the beach, at picnics, or really any outdoor activity where glass is ill-advised. And lucky for wine lovers, high quality means no compromise. Here are some of our current favorites:

High quality means no compromise with these five tasty canned wines that are fun, convenient and easy to bring along to your activities on the beach, to a picnic or a tailgate party.

WEST + WILDER

The West + Wilder style can be summed up in one word: beautiful—both the taste and the matte can design, the illustrations of which depict the native plants from the West Coast states where the brand’s grapes are sourced. The wines are bright, crisp, clean and refreshing, delivering deliciousness straight out of the can.

A collaboration with C. Mondavi & Family, West + Wilder was founded in 2018 by friends Matt Allan and Kenny Rochford with a commitment to sustainability. The duo is dedicated to giving back via a partnership with 1% For The Planet, supporting the preservation of wild spaces that inspire the wines. The aluminum canned wines (red, white, rosé, sparkling rosé and sparkling white) are convenient for all the activities where glass is not—poolside, beach, golf course, spa, concerts and more.

PAPER PLANES FLIGHT SCHOOL ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR

This lightly sparkling Rosé of Pinot Noir from Paper Planes Wine Company is made with the same attention to detail that proprietors Laura and Kyle Gabriel pay to their bottled wines—a Rosé of Pinot Noir, Hidden Track Grenache and Hidden Track Pinot Noir. The husband and wife team start by sourcing Sonoma Coast vineyard fruit that provides a great balance of texture, crisp acidity and mouthwatering freshness.

The grapes are lightly pressed and fermented in neutral oak barrels before the addition of

a light spritz that makes it extra refreshing. Sneak this one into the movie theater—it pairs perfectly with popcorn.

BROC CELLARS LOVE RED, LOVE WHITE, LOVE ROSÉ, LOVE SPARKLING

Berkeley is the last place you’d expect to find a winery, but Broc Cellars has made the city its home for nearly ten years. Known for his creativity and restraint in making approachable wines in a natural way, proprietor and winemaker Chris Brockway is known for single varietal offerings, but his Love Series blends are a great introduction to his streamlined style.

Love Red is a chuggable blend of heritage, dry-farmed, organic California grapes—a mix of carignan, valdiguie and syrah. The unfiltered and unfined Love White, an organic blend of marsanne, grenache blanc, roussanne and picpoul, looks like spun honey and tastes like liquid sunshine. Love Rosé is a rich, watermelon-flavored wine made mostly from valdiguié with a touch of zinfandel and trousseau. And the new Love Sparkling is a blend of chenin blanc and muscat that tastes of lemon, lime, pineapple and green apple.

AVALINE

Beloved for its delicious flavor and a clean profile, Avaline canned wines now come in perfectly proportioned cans. This brand created by global icon and wellness author Cameron Diaz and her good friend Katherine Power features vegan-friendly wines made with organic grapes. Each offers

a lower ABV and is free of unwanted extras like sugars, colors, and concentrates.

Avaline White is a dry Spanish wine offering a crisp flavor with a fresh finish. Fruit-forward and French Avaline Rosé offers a light and fresh mouthfeel with flavors of zesty melon to bring the wine’s light pink hues to life. Ideal for any time, this one is perfect for spending an afternoon in the sun with your best friend.

UNE FEMME WINES PIQUETTE PINOT & PIQUETTE CHARDONNAY

It’s a woman’s world at Une Femme Wines, where sister-brother proprietors Jen and Zach Pelka work with female winemakers, investors, distributors, designers and wine retailers in making, promoting, and selling their canned Piquette Pinot and the Piquette Chardonnay. (Piquette is an age-old style invented as a way to utilize skins and stems for a second pressing—true upcycling.) Every can sold contributes to charities that positively impact the lives of women.

The stainless-steel-aged, naturally farmed, Mendocino County Three Streams Vineyard Chardonnay Piquette is bright and zippy, and best served chilled or over ice. The Pinot Noir Piquette is a blend of organic, biodynamically-farmed pinot noir and pinot meunier from the sun-drenched Van der Kamp Vineyard atop Sonoma Mountain and is perfect for weekend picnics, beachside brunches and happy hour hangs. The Pelkas recommend this one with avocado-topped burgers, corn on the cob, and pesto pasta salads.

Whether you’re looking for bronze or ceramic windbells, planters, tiles, pots, or jewelry, we can help you find something that fits your style and needs. Our artisans work hard to create unique pieces that will last a lifetime and make a lasting impact on your home or garden. Each piece we create has supported The Cosanti Foundation and other worthy causes for over 65 years.

MUST HAVES

By Carlye Klick

VIKTOR & ROLF

Flowerbomb Ruby Orchid Eau de Parfum, $168 via Neiman Marcus.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

K-I-S-S-I-N-G Lipstick in Velvet Underground, $34 via Nordstrom.

VIVA MAGENTA!

Pantone has announced

TOM FORD

Quilted Puffy

Large Natalia Bag

$4,990 via Tom Ford.

Nothing embodies a vibrant joie de vivre quite like “Viva Magenta,” named Pantone Color of the Year for 2023. This stand-out shade is loud and proud, and is popping up everywhere from fashion, to food, design and more! Embrace the color of the year in bold, monochromatic style, or, incorporate a piece or two into your wardrobe or home.

L’IDÉE

Amour Sleeveless

Pleated Minidress, $325 via Saks.

WEST ELM

Estelle Colored Glass Stemless Wine Glasses, $170 via West Elm.

“Viva Magenta” as the Color of the Year for 2023, and we are cheering.

BAYCO

Platinum Burma Ruby Band Ring, $31,000 via Neiman Marcus.

The Thrill of the Chaise

With hundreds of new items every day, find the perfect statement piece for your home at up to 90% off retail. Or make easy money by consigning your designer home furnishing with us.

RADIANT RUGS

By Bailey Badillo

Erik Lindstrom believes that every successful room design should begin with an eye-catching rug—allowing everything else to organically grow from it. Offering a “curated selection of contemporary, transitional and textural patterns, which evoke both subtle and statement personalities to complement any interior,” Lindstrom’s custom area rugs disrupt trends while utilizing designs primarily from the natural world, inspired from flora, fauna, landscape and more.

“Creating a design or texture that stands apart from the rest is always the ultimate goal, but it requires an open mind and a trained eye on our surroundings,” Lindstrom says. “The natural world of flora and fauna is always inspiring to me and is often showcased in our collections. With a background in interior architecture, I also try to always design through this lens, creating interest in each part of the rug so as to give our clients a blank canvas from which to place furniture, lighting and more.”

While products from Erik Lindstrom’s online shop are completely customizable to just about any pattern, shape, color or size, there is also a large assortment of ready-to-order area rugs, which, by the way, are manufactured from the finest natural materials—Tibetan and New Zealand wool, Chinese fine (mulberry) silk and plant fibers like bamboo silk, hemp, cactus, nettle and linen. These artisan rugs are also responsibly woven and socially conscious.

“We are a proud partner of Goodweave International, who is the non-profit arm of the rug industry and ensures that no children have a hand in the rugs we make,” Lindstrom says. “A small portion of each rug purchased through us goes back to Goodweave, providing educational programs for children removed from enslaved factories around the globe, particularly in east Asia.”

“It’s part of our moral compass that is a feelgood moment for both our company and clients alike.”

Courtesy of Erik Lindstrom

ICONIC bespoke, luxurious rugs from Erik Lindstrom are a work of art—and ethically woven.

GET A LOAD

Switch to sustainable soaps—we tested four sustainable laundry detergents to help you make the move!

By Kaitlyn Beickel

As Kermit the Frog once said, it’s not that easy being green. Transitioning the everyday household products you purchase—including laundry detergent—to sustainable and eco-friendly options doesn’t just happen overnight, and it can easily become overwhelming.

If you are looking for a good place to start on your sustainability journey, consider your laundry detergent. It typically comes in a large plastic jug, and while it may leave your clothes smelling like a fresh breeze, it can contain harmful chemicals that irritate your skin and even impact your health.

Luckily, there is a wealth of eco-friendly, sustainable and plant-based laundry detergents options available today. But can they be both gentle on the skin AND tough on stains?

The ICONIC LIFE team put four different eco-friendly laundry detergents to the test to see if they work just as well as the traditional big-box laundry soap, and we were pleasantly surprised with the results. In most cases, these sustainable laundry detergents cleaned just as well, and left our clothes feeling and smelling great.

SHEETS LAUNDRY CLUB

This eco-friendly laundry detergent removes the need for plastic packaging. Instead, the detergent comes in the form of tearable strips, packaged in a 100 percent plastic-free, recyclable cardboard box.

The strips are biodegradable and made with plant-based ingredients with no harsh chemicals, optical brighteners or dyes.

This laundry detergent is very simple to use—just add all of your dirty laundry into the washing machine, add a strip of laundry detergent (or half a strip for small loads and two strips for extra large loads) and wash.

ICONIC THOUGHTS

We tested out the fresh linen scent and it left our laundry smelling fresh and not overly fragrant.

of These Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents

KIND LAUNDRY

Be kind to the planet and to your laundry with these zero-waste laundry detergent sheets. Made with biodegradable plant-based ingredients, these sheets have no harsh chemicals for a gentler alternative to big-box detergents. In fact, they only contains four total ingredients.

The 100 percent recyclable packaging also makes it an ideal choice for sustainability, and the small box the sheets come in is great for tight storage spaces. To use it, simply add one easily-dissolvable sheet to your load of laundry.

TRU EARTH

Another eco-friendly laundry detergent strip option is the ultra-concentrated Tru Earth eco-strips. Available in a fresh linen scent or fragrance-free, these convenient strips are pre-measured so you can just toss them in and wash.

They arrive in a zero-waste envelope and the strips are also biodegradable, made from vegan ingredients with no parabens or phosphates. The brand says, “its light weight reduces transportation fuel consumption and global-warming carbon emissions by 94 percent compared to today’s leading-brand liquid and powder detergent.”

ZUM

If you prefer to use a traditional liquid soap over a strip of solid detergent, Zum Laundry Soap is a great eco-friendly option. It contains a mix of gentle, plant-based ingredients and is packed with essential oils. There’s no parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals, cocamidopropyl betaine, or sulfates, and it’s not tested on animals.

The soap is low-sudsing, highly concentrated and ideal for highefficiency machines.

ICONIC THOUGHTS

It’s available in ocean breeze scent—which is the variety we tested at ICONIC LIFE—or fragrance-free for the most sensitive skin. It left our laundry smelling and feeling exactly how we like it—clean.

ICONIC THOUGHTS

We tried out the fresh linen scent and felt that it did a good job of getting our clothes clean without leaving behind fragrance.

ICONIC THOUGHTS

We tested out the Frankincense & Myrrh scent—it also comes in patchouli, lavender and sea-salt scents—and it was extremely fragrant, but it does an excellent job of cleaning dirty laundry.

“

RESTYLING YOUR WARDROBE For A More Sustainable Planet

Laura Madden—fashion advocate, model, stylist and blogger— shares her top sustainable fashion styling strategies to try.

By Laura Madden | Photography by Brandon Tigrett

Can fashion even be sustainable?” I’ve been covering sustainable fashion for seven years now, and still I am asked this question. I know most people would assume no, fashion can not be sustainable since the very act of producing clothing requires resources—lots of them.

Fortunately, we have a growing number of passionate fashionistas who actually do care about the environment, including myself, and we’ve learned a thing or two about how you can make fashion more sustainable without abstaining from buying (or wearing) clothes. And don’t worry, we do not believe in sacrificing your style to any extent to participate in sustainable fashion either.

There are many ways that we can take part in fashion sustainably, such as choosing certain fabrics, shopping brands that commit to regenerative production, water recycling and upcycling, or shopping secondhand.

My greatest passion lies in helping people understand that the most sustainable wardrobe is actually the one you already own. Yes—the very garments that are already hanging in your closet—no matter where they came from. The longer you wear

the wardrobe that you already possess the better you are doing for the environment.

Restyle and rewear is the name of the game here! Think of it this way—the more

you can wear any given garment, you are essentially maximizing the resources that have already been used… such as the 700 gallons of water used to make a cotton t-shirt or the 1,800 gallons of water used to make one pair of denim.

Since I believe that fashion should always be fun too, you can make this a game of challenging your creativity instead of a chore to endure—how many ways can you restyle and reinvent your favorite garments? I’ll give you a hint—the options are endless. It all comes down to styling! Secret weapons—accessories, heels and a pop of color on the lips.

I’ll show you five of my standby staple wardrobe pieces and how you can restyle them from day to night, including a blazer, a pair of black pants, a statement blouse, black slip dress and pencil skirt.

I hope you’ll join me, along with ICONIC LIFE Magazine, on our journey to a more sustainable relationship with fashion and reinventing our relationship to clothes. The future of fashion undoubtedly is a more earth-friendly and responsible one. And no question, it will be just as beautiful and glamorous as it ever was.

DAY/NIGHT RESTYLE 1

DAY/NIGHT RESTYLE 2

DAY/NIGHT RESTYLE 3

MY STANDBY STAPLE WARDROBE PIECES

BLAZER

DAY Blazer, bike shorts and high-top sneakers.

NIGHT Add chandelier earrings and an oversized belt; swap in faux leather pants and heels.

BLACK PANTS

DAY Black pants, white blouse and leopard-print heels.

NIGHT Change to a bodysuit and rhinestone-embellished belt and heels with a statement necklace. Bold lips add extra elevation.

STATEMENT BLOUSE

DAY Blouse, denim shorts and slides.

NIGHT Swap out shorts for a skirt, add black heels, oversized tassel earrings and a bold lip.

SLIP DRESS

DAY Dress, colorful scarf, gold hoops, fedora and sneakers.

NIGHT Add a sequin-embellished coat on top, swap out earrings, add embellished heels and a sequin clutch. Add a bold lip.

PENCIL SKIRT

DAY Playful T-shirt, kitten heels and casual earrings.

NIGHT Swap T-shirt for a metallic tank and belt, add statement earrings and high-studded boots.

Photography courtesy of ETH University

Switzerland’s SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURE

Just outside of Zurich, a structure with swooping rooflines sits high atop a four-story building. This isn’t some billionaire’s penthouse aerie. Instead, it’s an experimental research project meant to create a more sustainable approach to building.

Short for high performance, low emissions, HiLo is the eighth module built upon the NEST building on the campus of two research institutions, Empa and Eawag, in Duebendorf, Switzerland, which are part of ETH university. The NEST building itself is a LEGO-like shelf system, where experimental residential and commercial structures can be constructed.

“The NEST building is a vertical village with a central backbone,” explains Arno Schlueter, an ETH professor of architecture and building systems, who spearheaded the HiLo project with fellow ETH architecture professor Philippe Block. “Its layers are constantly changing and it serves as a way of learning by doing. NEST bridges the gap between lab research and application.”

The approximately 1,300-square-foot HiLo structure—which was designed as office space—was a concept initiated in 2012, says Schlueter. It showcases several sustainable construction innovations.

Most visually striking are the arched rooflines, inspired by gothic cathedrals, which frame large glass walls. The roof’s load-bearing capacity comes from the curved geometry and its lightweight concrete sandwich structure is made of two thin

layers of reinforced concrete connected by a grid of concrete ribs and steel anchors. The construction method saves both materials and formwork.

HiLo’s mezzanine floors were also designed to use as little material as possible by employing a rib-stiffened funicular shell instead of flat plate, which allowed for more than 70 percent reduction in material over the use of conventional floor slabs. For further efficiency, ventilation, cooling and heating systems were also integrated into the floor structure.

Under Schlueter’s direction, a solar facade was designed for HiLo. Set in a metal armature, 30 photovoltaic panels were installed on a southwest-facing window to provide some of the structure’s energy needs and act like louvers, shading the glass from too-bright sunshine, yet allowing views and daylighting.

“This solar facade is designed to learn from the occupants,” Schlueter points out. “After a while, the control system knows how to calculate the probability of what indoor conditions are most comfortable for the occupants, and therefore reduce energy consumption.”

Will HiLo’s innovations translate into realworld strategies and products?

“We hope so,” says Schlueter. “This is primarily a research project, but we are always wanting a collaboration to bring this research into the marketplace.”

In Switzerland, an innovative, sustainable new structure was designed to influence how we build.

By Nora Burba Trulsson

TV

Design Meets Technology

From Leon’s custom soundbars handcrafted to match the width of your TV to automated lighting and shading, Monarch is dedicated to making sure that your technology works seamlessly, intuitively, beautifully throughout your entire home. Schedule a consultation at www.mavphx.com or call (480) 590-3048

Horizon soundbar by Leon custom built to match

Honoring LEGENDS

By Sam Micatrotto

The 18th Annual Legends for Charity Dinner benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is coming to Phoenix! This cornerstone event, always held in conjunction with the Big Game, will be taking place on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

This year’s recipient of the coveted Pat Summerall Award will be Howie Long, Pro Football Hall of Famer and studio analyst on FOX NFL Sunday, who also owns a home here in Scottsdale.

Kick off the game day by giving back to St. Jude in a legendary way.

The dinner, which got its start as a luncheon during the 2005 Big Game, has since grown to be one of the biggest charity dinners that take place during the weekend of the Big Game. The event was created by Cheryl DeLeonardis of Ocean 2 Ocean Productions, and with the addition of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the charitable beneficiary, the annual affair is a cornerstone event that brings together sports broadcasters and athletes to honor their peers while supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.

The turnout for the inaugural event, honoring Pat Summerall, was much more than anyone could have anticipated as ICONIC NFL broadcasters such as Troy Aikman, Greg Gumbel and Lesley Visser showed up to pay tribute to the legend who came before them.

Because of Summerall’s obvious impact on those in the broadcasting industry, the Pat Summerall Award was created along with this new tradition, to “honor a national broadcaster or prominent sports personality who exemplified the characteristics Pat Summerall wanted the award to represent – an individual who has had an outstanding career and who has made a significant impact in their community.” Some past honorees include Erin Andrews, John Madden, Joe Buck and Michael Strahan.

Summerall personally chose the honoree and presented the award himself each year from its inception until his passing in 2013. His legacy will continue to live on through the Legends for Charity Dinner and with every child who walks through the doors of St. Jude, the official charity partner for Legends for Charity.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been part of the big event for the past 17 years! All proceeds from the Legends for Charity Dinner benefit St. Jude, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food—so they can focus on helping their child live.

Through research and treatment, St. Jude aims to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases. They vow that no child will be denied treatment based on race, religion or their family’s inability to pay. They are also the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children.

When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent, and they won’t stop until no children die from cancer. St. Jude also shares the discoveries it makes so that other doctors and scientists can use the knowledge to save even more children worldwide.

The event has raised more than $10 million for the kids of St. Jude since 2006, with $2 million of that coming from last year’s event alone! As always, the goal is to continue adding to that total this year at the 18th Annual Legends for Charity Dinner.

Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you help give kids with cancer around the world that chance.

Tickets and sponsorship packages for the event can be purchased directly on the Legends for Charity Dinner website: www.legendsforcharity.com

Photography courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

THEATRE The is with the of

Meet

By Joseph Specter

If you ask her, our publisher will tell you about a few of her favorite things, and The Sound of Music is one of them. So, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this.

Arizona Opera will produce The Sound of Music, a timeless story told against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps this March 3-5 in Phoenix and March 11-12 in Tucson.

Whether you’ve seen The Sound of Music on film or as a Broadway musical, you’ve likely followed the footsteps of the Von Trapp family and Maria Rainer through a classic story infused with love, music and morality.

You’ll learn that the two lead roles, soprano Cadie Bryan, (playing Maria Rainer) and baritone Jonathan Bryan (playing Captain Von Trapp) who fall in love on-stage, have already fallen in love off-stage, and are married in real life!

Sit down for a behind-the-curtain look at the lives of opera performers and couple, Cadie and Jonathan Bryan in this Q&A:

IL: How long have you two been married?

We’ve been married for two years and together for almost 10.

IL: What’s it like playing the roles of two characters who fall in love, when you’re actually in love off-stage?

CADIE: It’s fun to think back to when we first got together and were falling in love. I’m really excited to play with Jonathan in that realm and to tap into real memories of newness and excitement and tie them into these characters.

JONATHAN: It’s a unique challenge. Usually, when playing a romantic role, I have to focus on how I’m going to pretend to love my counterpart in front of the audience. In this case, I’m more concerned with how I’m going to pull off pretending I haven’t fallen in love with her yet for half of the show!

Arizona Opera performers and real-life couple, Cadie and Jonathan Bryan, who bring this treasured classic to life.

Photography courtesy of Arizona Opera

IL: How does your marriage help you in your roles as Captain von Trapp and Maria Rainer?

CADIE: On a practical level, we have an open line of communication in all things, and I find it really helpful to be able to work on these roles together and communicate ideas for what we’re trying to do in any given moment and address how effectively we’re implementing and executing those ideas. We respect each other as people and as artists, and I think that’s one of the foundational qualities of the Captain’s and Maria’s relationship.

IL: Are there any obstacles you face in being married and performing together?

JONATHAN: We’ve had a long time to develop a rhythm in our home life, but we rarely get to share the stage together. Professionally, we are both very assertive performers with strong ideas. I think the biggest obstacle is managing moments “at the office” where we might have clashing visions for our characters. Luckily, we’ve spent a decade together without finding a conflict we couldn’t resolve, so we don’t expect any obstacle this process might present to be too daunting.

CADIE: When it comes to ballroom dancing, I have a habit of leading instead of following...there’s at least one dance scene in this production, so I’m going to do my very best to follow my very capable husband!

IL: What is a lesson you’ve learned in your marriage that you also take on-stage with you as you perform?

CADIE: Honesty is the best policy, and vulnerability is an extremely rewarding way to be. In my marriage and on the stage, I have to give 100 percent of myself to it 100 percent of the time.

JONATHAN: Both at home and on the stage, the most important thing one can do is listen to their partner. Through our marriage, I’ve learned that the most effective

way I can empower both my partner and myself is to listen, learn, and move forward in mutual understanding.

IL: What’s the key (or keys) to a happy marriage?

WE CAME UP WITH A LIST TOGETHER:

Kindness and consideration always and everywhere, honest communication even when it’s hard, giving each other enough space to grow and change while remembering that we are on the same team in the game of life, and avoiding the assumption that we already have all of the keys and can stop working EVER.

IL: The Sound of Music is a timeless classic. What does it mean to you both to be playing two of the lead roles and what’s your personal experience with this classic?

CADIE: “My Favorite Things” is the very first song I can remember singing in front of people in a kindergarten Christmas program. I’ve always loved that song, and eventually, I fell in love with every other song and grew old enough to appreciate the musical as a whole. I think most people smile at the thought of it, whether it’s for the amazing music, the beautiful Austrian landscapes, the human ideals, or all of the above. In a way, I don’t feel like I’m playing just Maria. I’m playing The Sound of Music. It’s larger than me, and it carries a lot of weight for me. I just want to do it the justice it deserves!

JONATHAN: Captain von Trapp is a man of conviction and resolute ideals. As the country he loves is enveloped in tumult, he is faced with a difficult choice: do the safe thing or do the right thing. I think we are all feeling the tumult of contemporary life in the country we love, and as we are all faced with tough choices, Captain von Trapp’s decision is just as relevant now as it ever has been. I’m thankful for the opportunity to walk a little while in the shoes of such an exemplary man, and I’m even more thankful that it means I get a front row seat to watch my beautiful wife bring the house down as Maria!

Ahead CURVE of the

By Nancy Erdmann

Photography by Werner Segarra

Adrive down this quiet lane in Paradise Valley reveals an impressive array of contemporary homes—some finished and others in various stages of development. At the end of the street is an all-white house that arcs ever so gracefully along the contours of the cul-desac on which it sits.

Its linear architecture, white stone walls, and perfectly placed palm trees harken back to an earlier time.

“It’s a modern throwback to the Hollywood era,” Architect C.P. Drewett of Scottsdale-based Drewett Works, says. “The white stone, high-contrast fascia, curved geometry, and large simplistic form all speak to that era.”

ARCHITECT C.P. Drewett–Drewett Works, BUILDER Rich Brock–Bedbrock Developers, INTERIOR DESIGN Claire Ownby–Ownby Design, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Russ Greey–Greey|Pickett, WINDOW INSTALLATION Roadrunner Glass, WINDOW MANUFACTURER Western Window Systems

A bend in the road sets the stage for a Palm Springsinspired home that marks a fresh beginning.

Located in Cameldale Estates, an exclusive community near the base of Camelback Mountain, the house is one of 11 custom contemporary homes developed and built by Rich Brock of Bedbrock Developers, designed by Drewett and finished by interior designer Claire Ownby of Ownby Design. It also was one of the first properties sold and completed.

Homeowners Marlene and Lanny Lahr, who previously lived on Mummy Mountain and were looking to downsize, saw the development at the very beginning and liked what they saw.

“Lanny and I wanted to stay in Paradise Valley, and we’ve always favored contemporary. When we saw what C.P. had designed, we knew this was the place for us,” Marlene recalls.

One of the most significant traits of the 6,700-square-foot residence, which includes a casita visually connected by black fascia, is that it bears few straight walls. Instead, an almost imperceptible curve permeates nearly every room, creating visual softness and flow.

“This house is architecturally special in that it is not built square. Rather, it is built on an axis creating uniquely curved walls throughout,” Ownby notes.

According to Brock, the most significant challenge during construction was framing it on a radius.

“It was built based on a survey marker set in the center of the cul-desac to make sure that the walls faced north to south,” he says.

Another standout element is the prominent stone walls that flow inside and out. Craftsman worked their magic, painstakingly cladding the walls using three sizes of white textured Turkish limestone in four finishes to create massive architectural art.

“These walls add charm and give the home a unique expression compared to what you might see with classic white-box architecture,” Brock observes.

The windows are a stand-out feature says Doug Sanders, owner of Roadrunner Windows, who installed some of the biggest windows used in The Valley.

“This estate showcases impressive 12-foot sliders and a large 12-foot rotating door that represent a new standard in glass in these extraordinary homes.”

While its white exterior exudes boldness, the interiors and furnishings are all about calmer hues with luxurious finishes, Ownby says. Varying shades of gray and taupe, plus a stunning alder tongue-andgroove ceiling and hardwood flooring, serve as the backdrop for a sleek double-island kitchen with integrated appliances. The adjacent great room with its wall of windows features a stunning black accent

wall with a low, linear fireplace. Above it, a painting by Veloy Vigil slides up with a push of a button to reveal a flat-screen TV.

The simple palette also serves as a quiet backdrop for the homeowners’ art collection.

“Most homes lack art walls, so we wanted to ensure there was space to hang some of their larger paintings,” Drewett explains. “The art fits beautifully in this house,” notes Lanny. “What’s funny is that our friends think we bought new pieces, but they’re the same ones we’ve always had.”

With its abundance of glass, the home is flooded with natural light, allowing for seamless integration with the outdoors.

“It’s an ideal place for entertaining, especially when the kitchen and great room doors open to the back patio,” Drewett says.

Outdoor living plays big here, with intimate sitting areas overlooking a trapezoid-shaped pool that stretches much of the backyard. Running along one edge of the pool is a narrow fire pit filled with lava rocks that produce a glow of flames when lit.

The primary bathroom, too, takes advantage of the outdoors with its floor-to-ceiling windows opening to the verdant backyard and picturesque mountainscape. Three vanities, a glassed-in shower, and beautiful stonework keep the vibe simple and serene. While the home was being built, the Lahrs visited daily.

“Sometimes the spaces looked smaller than we thought, and sometimes they looked bigger, but in the end, they were just right,” Lanny says.

He and Marlene agree that being one of the first on the block does have its advantages.

“Now that we’re living here, we get to meet everyone as their homes are being built,” she says. “It feels like we’re creating our own neighborhood.”

In June of 2021, the residence won three Gold Nugget Awards for Excellence in Design—the Grand Award for Best One-of-a-Kind Home, the Merit Award for Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home and the Merit Award for Best Interior Design of a Custom or One-ofa-Kind Home. No wonder this house’s design is ahead of the curve.

taste TALAVERA OF

As 2023 kicks off, it ushers in a new era of fine Spanish cuisine.

By Dena Roché Photography courtesy of Debbie Wolvos

Talavera’s new Chef de Cuisine Jesus Figueroa is taking the fine dining restaurant back to its roots.

“Expect Talavera to experience a return to Spanish favorites,” Chef Figueroa says. “The Iberian Peninsula has a plethora of amazing ingredients. We will start to bring in some of the amazing Jamon that is so prized in Spain and select cuts from Iberico pigs.”

A Phoenix native, Chef Figueroa was Executive Chef at ETTA, from Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant. Prior to that he was the Executive Chef who opened Renata’s Hearth at the Arizona Biltmore. Chef Figueroa honed his culinary skills at other top Phoenix restaurants including Café Monarch and Tarbell’s and Chicago’s Michelin-rated Boka. While he has worked in illustrious kitchens, Chef Figueroa credits his mom for his love of cooking.

“My mother has been a huge influence on my cooking,” he says. “She taught me to appreciate the finer things in life when it came to food, but still indulge in adventurous eating and stay curious about my cooking. She is my biggest fan and harshest critic, and that has been extremely important to my cooking.”

Another strong influence on Chef Figueroa’s cuisine is his many travels. Figueroa, who speaks three languages, started traveling at age 16 and hasn’t stopped.

“The best part about traveling as a chef has been finding out about cool techniques and ingredients that are often left out of cookbooks and cooking shows because of their simplistic nature, but these end up impacting my food the most,” he says.

The Spanish flair of Talavera envelopes guests from the moment of arrival with the artwork leading to the restaurant. Inside, the space is warm with blue-gray walls, heavy deep-red curtains, a wood beam ceiling and wrought iron candle chandeliers. I love the rich décor, but it’s the view out the unadorned back wall of windows that steals the show as the sun is setting in bursts of oranges and pinks over Pinnacle Peak.

Because there is a bit of a chill in the air, my husband and I opt to sit inside, rather than on the expansive patio. Upon sitting down we’re greeted with a complimentary pour of cava to welcome us while we peruse the menu.

With eyes bigger than our stomachs, we decided to share a few appetizers. Our waiter tells us that the Pulpo Clasico featuring grilled Spanish octopus, cippolini, crushed marbled potatoes and Mexican onion is the most popular, (and it’s fantastic) but it’s the Txakoli & Kombu Cured Tuna Mojama that blows us away. The sashimi-style tuna is melt-in-your-mouth good, which would already make me a fan, but it’s the unexpected pickled strawberries paired with it that elevate this dish into one of the best appetizers I’ve had in the last year.

Talavera bills itself as a Spanish steakhouse so my carnivore-loving husband couldn’t resist trying the 8-ounce beef tenderloin served with a sideboard of different flavors and sauces including chimichurri, Himalayan Sea salt, dried mushrooms and classic steak sauce. With a side of Raclette Potatoes, which he said reminded him of growing up in Switzerland, he was in heaven.

I was torn between trying the Paella Vegana, since I remembered how well Talavera makes paella and a vegetarian version sounded intriguing, but ultimately, I couldn’t pass up the scallops and I’m glad I didn’t. The three perfectly cooked, cepe dusted jumbo scallops with pickled chanterelle mushrooms on a bed of corn celery root cream was delectable. Scallops are tricky to get right, and Chef Figueroa nailed it.

Both dishes were enhanced with a 2018 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley that managed to work well for the two diverse flavor profiles.

Despite being stuffed, we couldn’t pass up the Cinnamon Churros with a warm chocolate dipping sauce that Chef sent out to end the meal.

For a taste of Spain with the stunning desert landscape of Arizona as a backdrop, make sure Talavera is on your 2023 dining lineup.

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Net ICONIC HOME Zero

America’s first sustainable showhouse.

By ICONIC LIFE

Photography by Paul Moore

To truly live a beautiful life, making the world a beautiful place means cherishing the planet and our environment every step of the way. ICONIC LIFE is passionate about sustainability and the importance of shaping design efforts in ways that respect the environment.

Sustainable design is more important than ever as new homes continue to pop up everywhere you look. It’s essential to adopt a multi-phase philosophy with processes that reduce negative impacts on the environment and health of the occupants, without compromising the bottom line.

In the U.S. alone, buildings account for 39 percent of total energy use, 68 percent of total electricity consumption, 30 percent of landfill waste, 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 12 percent of total water consumption. Now, do we have your attention?

The good news is that sustainable design is a conversation that’s gaining steam and entering the mainstream, as seen with ENERGY STAR certified appliances, recycled materials, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, solar panels and many other environmentally conscious tactics.

Sustainable design is here, and it’s here to stay. And that’s why this first-ever sustainability showhouse is a project near to our hearts.

THE START OF THE NET ZERO ICONIC HOME

As the presenter of this incredible environmentally responsible project, we took you on a month-by-month journey on iconiclife.com, guiding you through the construction, sustainable measures and designs that went into the Net Zero ICONIC Home.

The Net Zero ICONIC Home is a sustainable, net-zero energy building design that produces at least as much renewable energy as it consumes on an annual basis. In other words, it must produce one unit of energy for each unit of energy it consumes over the course of a year. It is a building that is designed to reduce the required energy with the balance of the energy needs supplied by on-site renewable energy technologies.

We worked alongside Mark LaLiberte, co-founder and president of Construction Instruction, who has dedicated more than 30 years to building and providing builders, architects and manufacturers with an in-depth look at the current and future state of housing. His work has earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), where he developed the highly acclaimed Houses that Work lecture series.

With time, he realized that there’s a lot of planning and work that goes into creating a sustainable and high-performance home design. When you find a home that is volatile, energy efficient and durable, you’ve met your perfect match. LaLiberte believes that a high-performance home is one with great indoor air quality, remarkable energy performance, beautiful aesthetics and no durability issues.

“It’s like thinking about cars. If I tell you to picture a high-performance car, your mind immediately goes to something faster, quicker, all of those great things that make it sleek,” he said.

He was very selective about the builder he chose and named AFT Construction and its leader Brad Leavitt to build this most-important home.

“We were honored to be selected to build the home since our company is moving towards more sustainable building, and we want to create leadership in that area,” Leavitt says. “They wanted someone who had the marketing muscle to really get this message out and promote building science and construction instruction as leaders in sustainable practices.”

To achieve net zero status, it starts early in the planning and design stages with an understanding of sustainable design decisions that will further achieve the eco-friendly goals.

“We’re trying to use local and national resources to stay with our umbrella of companies and really support the local economy. That’s one of the sustainability issues. Does it have to come from somewhere else? And we’re also trying to look at the carbon impacts, right?” LaLiberte says. “Energy is a huge carbon impact. In my world of sustainability, I want my sustainable building design to make it through its lifespan of more than a hundred years, while, at the same time, minimizing its impact and maintaining the health of the occupants.”

LaLiberte explains that everyone is concerned with the cost, stating they cannot spend the extra money to save energy, which he feels ignores the underlying solution.

“I have an energy bill every month for SRP and APS. What if I didn’t have one? Would that have a value to it? And people will go, well, of course,” he says. “It’s not about economics and costs—it’s about making choices for the greater good.”

In Arizona specifically, where the temperatures are exceptionally hot, one of the first steps in sustainable building design, or an energy efficient home, is to properly orient the building on the site, maximizing north and south exposures while minimizing east and west exposures. To reduce electrical lighting, the concept of daylighting revolves around the controlled admission of natural light and direct sunlight into the home.

LaLiberte designed the home with Peterssen Keller Architecture a collaborative studio of exceptional architects and designers founded in 2009 with decades of diverse experience on award-winning residences around the country. Scott Carson, founder of Cosan Studio, joined the team to serve as consulting architect on the project and bring this home to completion with his knowledge of building in a desert locale.

Using light, space, line and form, they respond to the site to create an environment for living for the next 100 years. From small-scale renovations to luxurious, LEED-certified new homes, they integrate sustainable design practices into every project, finding solutions that merge environmental thinking with exceptional design.

If you’re thinking that this sounds like a big deal, you’re right. But it’s absolutely worth it. The team worked with K & Q Interiors to create the interiors fitting for an environmentally friendly home like this, designing sustainable interiors to further reduce any negative impact to the environment.

The good news is that building a net zero energy home is becoming more and more cost effective. It’s important to go into the build with a solid plan from the very beginning, which requires making strategic, conscious decisions that further the sustainable, net zero design goal.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WITH BRAD LEAVITT

Brad Leavitt, President of AFT Construction, was selected to build the Net Zero ICONIC Home, bringing with him an impressive background in exceptional construction and a desire to promote sustainable building practices.

“When we were starting to design, a big thing was understanding all the concepts of net zero,” Leavitt says.

A net zero home is a lot like any elegant custom home—only better—better for the residents, better for the environment and better for the planet. A net zero home is so airtight, well-insulated and energy efficient that it produces as much renewable energy as it consumes annually. Plus, design decisions made inside allow for temperature management with minimal energy, water conservation, air purification, healthy natural light exposure and sustainable, natural, healthy interiors and products in the home.

“We worked with K & Q Interiors on the interior design, our architect was Cosan Studio, Scott Carson, and so you can see that we tried to source locally, and that’s a big part to sustainability,” Leavitt says. “If you think about the carbon footprint when things ship across the world or country, trying to keep things local was really important.”

In addition to sourcing locally, Leavitt built the house to last using concrete exterior walls.

“This home will definitely last beyond one hundred years, much longer than a wood-framed house,” Leavitt says. “The reason being, with a wood-framed house you’re going to have deterioration, there could be challenges over time depending on the construction and type but when you’re building with concrete exterior walls, there’s a lot of sturdiness and strength to that.”

“This is something that it’s a lot more difficult to remodel, but for a home that’s going to be sustainable and last, this one will be here for a very long time, a lot longer than most of the neighbors will. Which is another good thing for the environment, because we have less weight building and ripping it back down and we all know in the U.S. we’re pretty wasteful with remodels and you have to account for that,” he added.

MEET THE SPONSORS

It’s no secret that ICONIC LIFE has partnered with the best of the best on this very special project. This showhouse is unlike any other we’ve done before. In lieu of several design teams completing different spaces like in our ICONIC Hauses, this home has one design team, but features a variety of incredible sustainable and innovative brands that are all working together to create a high efficiency, forward-thinking home that will stand the test of time (and energy).

Working on this home is a serious undertaking, and builder Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction, Scott Carson of Cosan Studio and Kacie Lilley and Stacy Scharf of K&Q Interiors have all stepped up to the plate.

These experts in their fields combined their knowledge to create a home for one of the nation’s foremost specialists on sustainable construction, Mark LaLiberte. As the founder of Construction Instruction, he spent years studying the building science that goes into constructing residences that are efficient, good for the environment and good for the inhabitants, too.

Here, we’ll dive into each of the players who are generously sponsoring this home, along with what makes each brand a perfect fit for the goals of this home: sustainability, innovation and wellness.

AVOCADO GREEN BRANDS

Beginning with their signature Avocado Mattresses, Avocado Green Brands has since expanded to include a variety of eco-friendly products for the home. Avocado partnered with the Net Zero ICONIC Home as a sponsor to support the sustainable message.

All Avocado mattresses are certified organic and non-toxic, and the company holds prestigious accolades like being a certified B Corporation, climate neutral and fair trade verified. Now, they continue to progress in sustainability by becoming the first mattress brand to be zero-waste.

NEIGHBOR OUTDOOR

A new, sustainable modular outdoor lifestyle company, Neighbor is changing the way we think about outdoor furniture. Founded by Tuft & Needle alumni Nick Arambula, Mike Fretto and Chris Lee, Neighbor does things differently by using FSC certified teak, Sunbrella fabrics and other durable materials.

Their innovative seating design is modular, so your furnishings can grow with you–simply add or remove sections as needed. The brand has recently expanded its offerings to include dining sets, rugs, coffee tables, lounge chairs and more.

SOLSTICE STONE

Solstice Stone is the trusted resource for natural stone, brick and pavers in the Southwest. Specializing in architectural stone designs, the Solstice Stone team works closely with the nation’s top architects, builders and designers to be the premiere supplier of sustainably-sourced stone.

The wall stone for the Net Zero ICONIC Home is a natural quartzitic sandstone, formed more than 300 million years ago in the deserts of New Mexico. This sustainably-quarried material is locally transported, saving on carbon emissions. Solstice Stone’s forward-thinking mentality has positioned them as a leader in the industry.

CRESTRON | MONARCH AV

Crestron Electronics carved the path for technological innovation through automation solutions that transform the way people live their lives. As one of the originators of the “smart home” concept, Crestron has continued to innovate and integrate home technology in a way that makes living simple, efficient and healthy. This is made possible with smart home technology that is intuitive, simple and responsive to touch or the sound of your voice.

Crestron provides a complete smart home system engineered to be invisible, so all that remains is the experience with its Crestron Home and the new home office solution, Crestron Home Time. The Net Zero ICONIC Home will showcase the latest in smart home technology thanks to Monarch AV, who professionally installed the Crestron system.

BENEFITTING A GREAT CAUSE

Arizona Service Project strives to eradicate substandard housing in the Avondale school district, and to positively affect the community and all those whom the organization engages with.

Arizona Service Project is a compassionate, all-volunteer service organization, open to all people, striving to facilitate a healthy and stable learning atmosphere for the Avondale/ Goodyear community through major, essential and effective home repair. Our team is pleased to volunteer with this group for its annual work week.

If you’d like to support the work of the Arizona Service Project, please visit https://arizonaserviceproject.com/donate/

SUB-ZERO, WOLF AND COVE | EXPRESSIONS HOME GALLERY

Icons of design and paragons of performance, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove are refrigeration, cooking and dishwashing specialists found in the world’s most luxurious homes. The company has placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, leading the way in both food preservation and the preservation of our planet.

By using 75 percent recycled stainless steel and 50 percent recycled plastic in their manufacturing, along with eliminating wastewater, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove are making strides in eco-friendly manufacturing. The company’s beautiful and top-of-the-line appliances will be featured throughout the Net Zero ICONIC Home, provided by Expressions Home Gallery.

VISUAL COMFORT & CO

Recognizing how overwhelming the lighting selection process could be, Visual Comfort & Co founder Gale Singer had a vision to disrupt the way lighting was sold. Visual Comfort & Co came to be the trusted one-stop shop for designers, builders, and consumers alike for shopping the very best in lighting.

It’s no secret that the right light fixture can make or break any space, and more information is coming to light about the importance of a lighting system that aligns with our circadian rhythms. A variety of beautiful chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, lamps and decorative lighting illuminate the Net Zero ICONIC Home.

HEAT & GLO FIREPLACES | ARIZONA FIREPLACES

Heat & Glo fireplaces are paving the way for the future of sustainable fireplaces that prioritize a healthy home. A ton of research and development went into creating innovative systems like direct-vent

technology, which is more efficient and allows the user to direct the heat in their home.

Additionally, their line of eco-friendly electric fireplaces create beautiful flames without gas lines, venting or screens, keeping the air inside the home clean and pure. Heat & Glo offers a variety of styles, from traditional to modern, and some of their contemporary styles went into the design for the Net Zero ICONIC Home. Presented by Arizona Fireplaces and Hearth & Home Technologies, the Net Zero ICONIC Home will be aglow thanks to Heat & Glo fireplaces.

ARIZONA HARDWOOD

With more than 30 years of experience in custom wood flooring installation and refinishing, Arizona Hardwood Floor Supply has built a reputation for excellence. A top resource amongst the best home builders and designers in the Valley, Arizona Hardwood Floor Supply offers hundreds of species and styles of custom wood flooring.

Wood is one of the best earth-friendly and renewable materials for flooring, and reclaimed wood or bamboo flooring is even kinder to the environment. Arizona Hardwood Floor Supply’s sustainably-harvested products offer the perfect foundation for the Net Zero ICONIC Home, ensured to last for years to come.

MIELE | EXPRESSIONS HOME GALLERY

Miele, a German manufacturer of high-end appliances available at Expressions Home Gallery, is all about innovation and timeless elegance, with a focus on sustainability. The brand operates with a goal of energy efficiency and resource conservation with its products and production processes.

Miele earned the German Sustainability Award, is a member of the UN Global Compact sustainability initiative and is a signatory of the “Diversity Charter,” making the brand the ideal supplier for the washer and dryer in the Net Zero ICONIC Home.

KOHLER

The team at Kohler have taken on the responsibility to help protect the planet by tracking their environmental footprint since 2008. With their commitment to become net zero by 2035, the brand was an ideal partner for our Net Zero ICONIC Home.

Kohler supplied a free-standing Abrazo bath with an organic oval shape inspired by pottery, creating a striking focal point for the master bathroom.

SUSTAINABILITY SPONSORS

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Sustainability Sponsors who are participating in the Net Zero ICONIC Home, including: Elkay, Broan-NuTone, Interior Essentials, Renovation Angel, Southwestern Mechanical Sales, Pella Windows and Doors and Cambria.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NET ZERO ICONIC HOME

We’ve been on this journey for nearly two years, and have shared so much incredible, sustainability-focused content along the way. Head to iconiclife.com for more information and to take a virtual tour of the Net Zero ICONIC Home.

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Surprisingly Sustainable STAYS

Explore the earth while you save the earth—add these sustainable resorts to your bucket list.

By Sam Micatrotto

While traveling as a concept is increasingly held to a higher standard for ecofriendly activity, many hotels are now adopting more sustainable habits to give back to Mother Earth. And, according to Booking.com’s “2021 Sustainable Travel Report,” 72 percent of travelers think travel companies should offer more sustainable choices.

So if you’re one of those jetsetters looking to add some sustainability to your next vacation, add these energy efficient or ecofriendly hotels to your list:

SAVE THE REEF

Aqua-Aston Hospitality, an operating business of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, has established itself as a leader in conscious travel. In an effort to keep not only its guests but also the ocean safe, Aqua-Aston partnered with Little Hands Hawaii—a Hawaii based, family-run small business—to provide all hotel guests at its 20 plus locations with reef-friendly sunscreen. More than 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters the ocean in Hawaii each year, and as a result reef bleaching can occur, causing coral to ultimately die.

Another Hawaiian hotel that is dedicated to reef safety is The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu. Before heading out to the pool or one of Hawaii’s beautiful beaches, hotel guests are encouraged to lather up with Raw Elements sunscreen, a reef-safe alternative to SPF, courtesy of complimentary dispensers on the property.

SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURES

Cool down after a day in the sun during your next trip to Turks and Caicos at the luxurious Rock House resort. This resort combines sustainability and architectural design in the form of greywater harvesting, natural ventilation to cool down the resort and a beautiful landscape that consists only of local species of plants. And, a view almost as stunning as the crystal blue waters, the resort itself is a sight to see. Located at the base of a limestone cliff, the Rock House offers a stylish beach club and jetty, which extends 100 feet over the water, allowing guests to sail the waters on yachts and excursion boats to really make the most of their getaway.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT POOLS

Any time you check in for a stay at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, you’re bound to feel connected to the planet. The property is surrounded by beautiful desert scenery with a breathtaking view of the McDowell Mountains—perfect for anyone looking to get away and reconnect with nature.

There’s no doubt you’ll want to spend some time at the resort’s 2.5-acre water playground, an oasis made up of 10 swimming pools, poolside cabanas, a Grotto bar and a three-story high-speed water slide that the hotel recently enhanced to become more energy efficient and mindful of water usage. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale was also rated #5 Best Value of 26 Green Hotels in Scottsdale on Tripadvisor.

If your travels take you to the Dominican Republic, consider Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda, the only operating resort in Michès. This all-inclusive luxury resort thought of it all when it came to sustainable efforts. Their adults-only Zen pool, tucked away in the Emerald Jungle, is naturally-filtered by plants—as the water passes through the plants’ roots and soil, the elements work their magic to clean the pool water, no harsh chemicals required!

An eco-friendly hotel pool isn’t the only thing that makes Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda a sustainable stay. Their employees’ uniforms are made from recycled plastic (using approximately 40 percent less energy consumption than polyester production), they source coffee, cacao and produce from local farms, have an on-site “community” garden to educate guests on planting, recycling and composting and they banned single-use plastics.

PLANT-FRIENDLY

It’s not uncommon to see hotels that allow pets, and many even make the stay just as special for them as their human companions. But, what about people who want to travel with their plants? The world’s first plant-friendly hotel, Elwood Hotel & Suites, located in Lexington, Ky., has those folks covered. Guests who book the plant-friendly package will stay in a Gardener Premier room, decorated with live plants from a local nursery partner, and equipped with three windows to let in natural light. They’ll also receive a complimentary potted succulent from a local greenhouse and locally-made botanical toiletries.

SUSTAINABLE EATING

Located in Hotel Clio in Denver, Colo., Chef Richard Sandoval’s Pan-Latin restaurant Toro promotes sustainability that you can taste. To celebrate Earth Day, Toro recently launched a plant-based campaign to create some buzz about the importance of bees. If you love some fresh, local honey, you’re in luck! On the rooftop of Hotel Clio there’s a beehive where the hotel makes its own local honey to share with its guests and the community. Currently, there are two beehives that each house about 40,000 Carniolan bees, which produced approximately 45 gallons of honey this summer.

POSITIVE ENERGY

Ironically, an old Sinclair Oil building in Fort Worth, Texas, has more recently been repurposed as The Sinclair, the first energy efficient hotel in the world to power itself through ethernet cables. By doing so, the building’s energy consumption is reduced by more than 30 percent. Another first—the hotel’s backup power runs on the world’s first UL 924 lithium iron battery. In the event of a power outage, this battery can power the building for up to three hours—and takes up less space than a typical diesel generator.

And if guests want to help contribute to The Sinclar’s sustainable mission, all they have to do is workout in the on-site fitness center. The gym’s bikes and weight machines all help power the hotel through its aforementioned ethernet-based system.

NOTREReimag

DAME ining

The world watched despairingly when the medieval cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris caught fire in 2019. It was inconceivable that this beloved French icon, completed in 1345, might so easily be destroyed. But like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Notre-Dame’s restoration steadily progresses with a hope that portions can reopen in 2024, just in time for the Olympic games.

Taking the lead on Notre-Dame’s exterior refurbishment is Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets who is working collaboratively with architectural and urban planner GRAU and heritage expert Neufville-Gayet Architectes. Smets, who received his master’s degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the University of Leuven and his master’s in Landscape from the University of Geneva, won the extremely competitive appointment to redevelop Notre-Dame’s and Île de la Cité’s public spaces.

By Fran Miller

Smet’s plan reimagines the historic cathedral’s relationship to its surroundings and includes extending and unifying the exterior with sustainable, climate-resisting plantings, creation of a promenade and park along the Seine that affords views of the Parisian skyline, shaded seating areas and a central fountain feature that will occasionally trickle across the forecourt’s hot pavement in warmer weather, mimicking a light summer rain and providing semi-natural coolant.

ICONIC LIFE was fortunate to chat with the extremely busy Smets to learn more about his process.

With an eye towards sustainability, Brusselsbased landscape designer Bas Smets intends to create a better NotreDame experience for both tourists and Parisians.

Photography courtesy of Studio Alma for BBS

IL: When and how did you become interested in landscape design?

I have always been interested in how we live on this planet and how we share this space with other living organisms. Life on the planet is a question of space. During my studies I came to understand that it is landscape architects who shape the environments we live in. Being formed as an engineer as well as a landscape architect has allowed me to imagine new types of landscapes that help integrate nature into our man-made environments that are our cities.

IL: The competition for this appointment must have been fierce. Do you know with how many you were competing?

A large number of both French and international offices had replied to the candidacy organized by the city of Paris. Out of these candidates four teams were selected to participate in the competition that took 10 months.

IL: How did it feel to be selected?

It was great to be selected among the most renowned French landscape offices to compete for this public commission. Winning it was simply amazing. It is such a great challenge and opportunity to add a layer to the rich history of this place. It felt as if our years-long research into climatic public space had been rewarded.

IL: Why do you think you won this assignment? What was it about your entry that ‘struck’ the selection committee?

I had assembled an interdisciplinary team together with the French architects GRAU and NGA. We proposed to rethink the emblematic public spaces around the Notre-Dame as a sequence of climatic atmospheres. Victor Hugo called the Île de la Cité the “cradle of Paris.” For 800 years Notre-Dame has been a privileged witness to a city in constant transformation. Rethinking the public space around the Notre-Dame was, for us, the opportunity to imagine the type of public spaces a city needs in the 21st century . Our climatic approach responded to the ambition of the city of Paris to become more resilient to the effects of the climate crisis.

IL: What were the existing (pre-fire) Notre Dame exteriors and gardens like, and how do you intend to change them?

The surroundings had been refurbished in the seventies, when an underground car park was built in front of the Cathedral. The plans for a renewal of the public space had been in the making and were accelerated after the fire. We propose to rethink the five major urban figures that were present around the Notre-Dame: Parvis, Placette, Promenade, Berges and Square. Each figure is recomposed with a double intent—making them climate resilient and allowing more uses by both visitors and inhabitants.

Photography courtesy of Studio Alma for BBS

Photography courtesy of Studio Alma for BBS

IL: What is the most markedly different aspect of your design, and what are your general objectives?

We placed climate resilience as our priority, while transforming the historical typologies that characterize such a quality to the public spaces of Paris. By making these spaces adapted to a changing climate, we guarantee their use all year round, taking into account rising temperatures foreseen in the coming years. At the same time, we kept the distinction between what is underground and what is above ground, which allows us to keep the public space free of any functional elements. The former parking garage will be transformed into a visitor center that opens towards the Seine and that is accessible via two generous staircases.

The project intends to create a better experience for both the tourists and the Parisians. Tourists will be invited to make a tour of the Cathedral, discovering the beautiful eastern facade and its connection with the Seine river. The Parisians will discover generous lawns to sit on in between the Seine and the southern facade of the Notre-Dame.

IL: What are particular aspects of your design that overtly address climate change?

For the Parvis, or main plaza in front of the Cathedral, we had to invent a way to create a microclimate during the hot summer days. We could not plant here because of the Roman archeology lying below. We propose to activate a thin layer of water that slowly runs down the plaza, immediately refreshing the air through evaporative cooling. We have calculated that this will lower perceived temperature by 5 degrees Celsius. This feature runs with rain water that is collected in the former parking garage that will be transformed by the architects GRAU and NGA into a visitor center.

As for the planting scheme, we have made a list of both native plants and plants historically used in Paris that are climate resilient. We are looking especially into drought resistance. We will be using many species to double the existing amount of trees on site.

IL: The estimated completion date for the entire NotreDame project (interior and exterior) is 2027. Will you be intricately involved until that time?

I will stay directly involved as the team leader until the completion of the project. It is rare to be able to work on such an important site, so I want to make sure everything will be executed the way we have designed it.

IL: Your home base is Brussels. Where do you stay while working in Paris?

I lived in Paris for six years before founding my office in Brussels in 2008. Since then I have kept a pied-à-terre. We are looking at opening a second office in Paris in the years to come to be able to closely follow the construction of the project

IL: Who is it that oversees your work? Have these ‘powers-that-be’ been easy to work with?

We work for the city of Paris, and they oversee our work in biweekly meetings. At the same time we are in constant dialogue with all the partners involved, for the diocese of Paris to the French State in charge of renovating the Cathedral. Since the fire has touched all of us profoundly, there is a feeling of common purpose that creates a very productive and constructive work atmosphere.

IL: What are some of your other international projects, and which did you find most enjoyable?

Last year we finished the project for Luma Parc des Ateliers in Arles, France. We transformed the semi-desert climate of a former industrial railway yard into a Mediterranean climate by accelerating what nature would have done over time. Planted with more than 80,000 trees, shrubs and plants, the park is made with the species of the three surrounding biotopes and connects all the buildings of the new arts center of the Luma Foundation. This project was very challenging from a technical point of view. We had to invent artificial aquifers underneath the mounds of earth to create a natural environment in which plants can thrive.

In London we designed the courtyard of the Mandrake Hotel, adding 500 climbers to create a waterfall of leaves and trees. We won the AHEAD awards for the best landscape worldwide in 2019 with this project. We hid the plant medium in the U-beams that support the walkways to the different rooms.

In the south of Albania we radically transformed the waterfront of the city of Himara. A former high sea wall was replaced with several sloped terraces restoring the visual and physical connection with the water. The pine trees provide shade and create a linear coastal pine forest in front of the buildings.

THE OF

What could make for a better “Live Beautifully” day than to tour an awe-inspiring, well-designed, architecturally interesting art museum with works by the most-known masters and dining to elevate the spirit. It’s an a-plus day for all your senses, and we recommend making sure you experience each of these fine culinary destinations as you travel to America’s most ICONIC cities to savor the best museum restaurants.

By Renee Dee

RAY’S & STARK BAR at LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

Los Angeles

Designed by architect Renzo Piano, Ray’s & Stark Bar in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a contemporary work of art unto itself. Floor-to-ceiling windows make it look like a jewel box. Dancing tea cups designed from 1850 to 1950 float throughout the space. Outside, artist Chris Burden’s iconic “Urban Light” installation of 202 decommissioned Los Angeles-area streetlamps makes for a striking backdrop as seen on so many television shows and movies. Named in honor of film producer Ray Stark, guests can enjoy a Californiacentric wine list, the nation’s most extensive water menu, and an artisanal selection of beers and spirits, creating a dynamic ambiance for art-loving patrons to go along with wood-fired pizzas and small bites.

It’s an inspiration to all your senses to enjoy culinary excellence in the halls of the country’s most impressive art museums.

Photography Courtesy of Los Angeles County Museum of Art

THE MODERN at MOMA New York

I don’t make a trip to New York without making a reservation in advance for The Modern at the Museum of Modern Art, notably located across the street from one of my favorite hotels, the Baccarat Hotel, included in our Ultimate Travel Guide for 2019. The Modern features a sophisticated environment for Chef Abram’s refined, contemporary cooking in a beautiful setting overlooking the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. There are options to order from a seasonal menu or to enjoy the tasting menu, which we highly recommend. Every dish is plated like artwork and totally Insta-worthy. Be sure to save room for artistically designed desserts made by Pastry Chef Jiho Kim. The restaurant is proud of its award-winning wine program, and every glass is perfectly served in a stunning stem. The Modern holds two Michelin stars, a Three Star review in the New York Times, four James Beard Awards, and the Grand Award from Wine Spectator. Always modern in its ways, The Modern does not accept tipping.

465 BAR AND RESTAURANT at MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts’ dining venue 465 Bar and Restaurant, features executive chef Brian Flagg’s seasonal menu emphasizing fresh local ingredients, with an environmentally friendly and innovative root-to-stalk approach. The restaurant offers a sophisticated space for dining with a view of world-class art with cocktails or mocktails, a multi-course meal or a quick bite and discussion before or after a film, lecture or program. Originally designed by I. M. Pei, the space has been renovated and redesigned by architectural design firm Bergmeyer, its modern venue showcasing six still-lifes from the museum’s collection.

PALETTE at PHOENIX ART MUSEUM

Phoenix

A visit to the Phoenix Art Museum never disappoints, especially when paired with a meal at Palette restaurant. With a focus on family-friendly and seasonal American food, the Palette menu showcases local farmers and producers, giving visitors a taste of Arizona through organic vegetables, handcrafted sauces and local meats. Offering local-to-Arizona boutique beers and wines, it’s also a great spot for a drink. Choose to dine in the casual dining room, or on the patio overlooking the beautiful Dorrance Sculpture Garden.

VERDANT at ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

Costa Mesa

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis, the new home for the Orange County Museum of Art is a work of art, and so is the on-site Verdant Cafe. Led by Chef duo Ross Pangilinan and Nick Weber, Verdant focuses on California-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, innovative and plant-forward dishes. The menu highlights the bounty of local, organic and seasonal produce in Southern California, with tantalizing dishes like Homemade Farmers Cheese, Seasonal Vegan Soup and Vegetable Tagine. In addition to really great food, Verdant also offers gourmet coffees and teas, including ceremonial-grade matcha, as well as a full bar with a curated wine list and excellent craft cocktails.

Journey to INDIA

Experience a world that glows in brilliant technicolor rich with beauty in this first of two stories on this special place.

By David Rubin

India is vast. She intrigues and inspires. India now has the fifth largest economy and is likely to have the third largest by 2030. It is time to discover and explore India!

In the insightful words of Keith Bellows, former editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, “There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor.”

Discovering India is a study of contrasts. As noted by the brilliant Cambridge University economist, Joan Robinson, “Whatever you can say about India, the opposite is also true.” Let us plan your first trip to India focusing on several of her best, ICONIC destinations and properties. Everywhere you go, you will see and experience India’s fascinating world of opposites.

1. MUMBAI

Mumbai, an international gateway, is a great place to begin. With India’s largest port, Mumbai is its commercial and industrial hub, as well as its fashion capital and the heart of Bollywood (India’s thriving and unique film industry). The city is endlessly fascinating and, initially, an intimidating hive of activity. A gentle start is to sail away from the city and visit Elephanta Caves located 6 miles away and accessible only by boat. Elephanta are a group of Buddhist and Hindu caves which date from around the seventh century. Famous for exquisite and vibrant sculptures, they also represent evolved Brahmanical rock-cut architecture. Traveling there by public ferry is a perfect start to enjoying magical interactions with friendly locals, including mothers handing you their babies so they may take a photo with you. Locals consider it an honor to welcome and be photographed with foreign visitors. In India, if you are blond, tall, and/ or very muscular, these requests to have you in photos may become a frequent occurrence and a bit overwhelming.

I love taking clients off the beaten track for a dawn visit to Sassoon Docks to see the fish, vegetable and flower markets, and then to visit a garden and watch people do Laughter Yoga. Also visit the opposite side of town for an insider’s tour of the Dharavi slum, featured in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

2. GOA

To continue to ease you into India and provide R&R to recharge you after long flights, a visit to Goa and her beaches is recommended. I like staying in the southern part of Goa where there are a couple of favorite beachfront resorts on pristine beaches on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Clients thank me for this opportunity to regroup and refresh, if time permits. If you prefer something different from the beach, perhaps the place for you is a wellness/ayurvedic center, a palace stay, and/or a nature reserve visit.

Photo courtesy of Taj Mahal Palace

Photos courtesy of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

3. UDAIPUR

Now you are rested and ready to dive in and visit one of my favorite and most gentle cities in India, Udaipur in Rajasthan. Udaipur is known by many names including City of Sunrise, Jewel of Mewar, and City of Lakes. It is one of India’s most romantic cities and a very popular destination for Indian weddings! It is nestled between the glassy waters of its famous lakes and the ancient Aravalli Hills. Although it is one of Rajasthan’s largest cities, Udaipur manages to retain a charming small town vibe.

On your afternoon arrival, take a private sunset boat cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city, its famous palaces and reflections on the lake.

Udaipur sites to see include the City Palace, Crystal Gallery, Royal Vintage Car Museum of the Maharana of Udaipur, Jagdish Hindu Temple at prayer time, and to experience great shopping. In addition, there are wonderful sites to be enjoyed on day trips and

excursions from Udaipur. Approximately 2 miles away are the Ahar Cenotaphs, a monumental group of more than 250 huge marble cenotaphs built over 350 years commemorating the Kings of Mewar. Cenotaphs are tomb-like structures built in honor of kings, queens, and people of significant and crucial importance, and to mark the valor and bravery of the kings of Mewar. It is a hauntingly beautiful place, which often has few tourists.

Other favorite rich heritage sites nearby are the 1,000-plus-year-old Hindu temples, Nagda and Eklingji, which are about a 45 minute drive from Udaipur. Also, well worth the 1.5 hour day trip drive north of Udaipur is Chittorgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This vast seventh century Maurya dynasty fort covers an area of 700 acres and stands on a hill with seven gates. It has four palaces, 19 temples, 22 water bodies, four memorials, and two commemoration towers. Beauty, nature, history, heritage, grandeur and spirituality abound here!

Photos courtesy of Leela Palace, Taj Lake Palace, Oberoi Udaivilas

MALDIVES FOR R&R!

Our list of several recommended Maldives Resorts for total R&R (in alphabetical order). Non-stop flights are only 1-4 hours between several cities in India and Male, Maldives. Call on DavidTravel to find the best match for you.

• Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

• Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

• Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

• Cheval Blanc Randheli

• COMO Cocoa Island

• COMO Maalifushi

• Conrad Maldives*

• Heritance Aarah*

• Hurawalhi Island Resort

• Kagi Maldives Spa Island

• Kudadoo Maldives Private Island

• Niyama Private Islands*

• Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa*

• Soneva Fushi

• Soneva Jani

• Velaa Private Island

* Very good value options!

SAMPLE ITINERARY

A “Best of the Best of Northern India” recommended itinerary with luxury accommodations:

1. 3 nights in Mumbai at Taj Mahal Palace or Oberoi Mumbai

2. 3-5 nights in Goa at St Regis Goa Resort or Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

3. 2-4 nights in Udaipur at Oberoi Udaivilas, Taj Lake Palace or Leela Palace

4. 2-3 nights in Jawai Conservation Reserve at SUJAN JAWAI

5. 3 nights in Jodhpur at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace or RAAS Jodhpur

6. 1-2 nights in Jaipur at Taj Rambagh Palace, Oberoi Rajvilas or Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur

Look for locations 7-12 to be described in more detail in Part 2 of Journey to India in the next edition of ICONIC LIFE.

7. 2-4 nights at Six Senses Fort Barwara

8. 2-3 nights near Ranthambore National Park at SUJAN Sher Bagh or Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort

9. 2-3 nights in Agra at Oberoi Amarvilas

10. 2-3 nights in Varanasi at Taj Nadesar Palace or Brij Rama Palace

11. 3-5 nights at Ananda in the Himalayas

12. 1-3 nights in Delhi at Oberoi New Delhi, The Imperial, The Lodhi, Leela Palace, Taj Mahal New Delhi, Oberoi Gurgaon (near DEL airport)

• NOTE: All hotels above are great for Weddings and Milestone Events!

• ALSO great for Weddings and Milestone Events: Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, RAAS Devigarh in Rajasthan, and Mihir Garh in Rajasthan.

Illustration by Jaclyn Threadgill

4. JAWAI CONSERVATION RESERVE STOPPING EN ROUTE IN RANAKPUR

Rajasthan is worth exploring! Jawai, about a four hour drive from Udaipur, is a wonderful visit en route to Jodhpur with a stop in Ranakpur. The Ranakpur Jain Temples are among the finest examples of Jain art with exquisite carvings inside. These temples were created in the 15th century CE, during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a walled compound. The temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pills carved distinctly. Rising in three stores, the central Caumukha Temple has four small shrines with 80 spires supported by 420 columns. If time and energy levels permit, do include hiking in and around the imposing Kumbhalgarh Fort, a Mewar fortress, which is also known as the Great Wall of India and is surrounded by the Aravali Mountain ranges.

Then, continue your drive to Jawai Conservation Reserve and check into the SUJAN Jawai Leopard Camp. Wilderness drives with expert rangers explore living in the wilderness, animal behavior, and game viewing with a focus on local fauna, including, of course, leopards. Here, you will also discover rural Rajasthan. There are plenty of activities options including a village walk, a trek with a shepherd to Mount Baliraja, or cycling around the area. I love combining cities and history with back-to-nature visits.

5. JODHPUR

Next, you will have about a 3.5-hour drive and arrive in Jodhpur, another not to be missed destination and a personal favorite where there is also great shopping for textiles, jewelry and antique treasures! A dazzling blaze of blue on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is dominated by the imposing fortress that towers above the city on a sandstone ridge. It is awesome! Located strategically on the overland trade route, the city also houses the most recent and the largest residential palace in India, the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Only Buckingham Palace in England is larger. Set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens, it is part museum, part royal residence, and part stunning hotel called the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace. It is grand and ornate yet has playful and strong art deco design details and furnishings throughout.

Discover Jodhpur’s most commanding monument, the Mehrangarh Fort. It is one of the most majestic of Rajasthan’s forts and the best preserved fort in India. It was described by Rudyard Kipling as “the creation of angels, fairies and giants.” Its forbidding ramparts are in sharp contrast to the flamboyantly decorated palaces within. Founded in 1459, the sandstone fort was added to by later rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. Explore the massive fort complex and the

exquisitely curated and maintained museum collection of treasures from the 17th to the 20th centuries, including coronation thrones, miniature paintings, textiles, arms, armor, furniture, cradles, jewelry, metal work, glass and woodwork. When leaving the fort, it is a delight to wander among the locals, and explore day to day life in the old city area.

Guests love visiting the nearby Bishnoi Village Safari, which is designed to showcase the vibrant Marwar rural lifestyle and environmental protections. Begin with a sanctuary visit to see local wildlife, including black bucks, peacocks, and demoiselle cranes. Next, watch centuries-old methods of hand block printing, pottery making, and dhurrie weaving. The Bishnoi movement started in the 1700s. It is one of the first environmentalist groups in the world. The Bishnoi movement is a staunch proponent of eco-conservation, wildlife protection, and green living. In the 1730s, when the Maharaja of Jodhpur was building his new palace, he ordered his soldiers to cut down the trees for wood in nearby villages. The Bishnoi was the first group that used the strategy of hugging and embracing trees to protect them; 363 Bishnois laid down their lives for the protection of Khejri trees.

Photos courtesy of Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, RAAS Jodhpur

THE GIFT OF GIVING

The American Indian Foundation (AIF) is committed to improving the lives of India’s underprivileged, with a special focus on women, children and youth. In a country where extreme contrasts of wealth and poverty coexist in everyday life, we hear hopeful stories of India’s rise and rapid growth. However, 800 million people – more than the entire population of Africa – live on less than two dollars per day in India. AIF has created countless opportunities for India’s poor to live successful, productive lives while creating impactful change at an unprecedented scale, changing the lives of more than 8.4 million of India’s less fortunate.

AIF is committed to catalyzing social and economic change in India and building a lasting bridge between the U.S. and India through high-impact interventions in education, livelihoods, public health and leadership development.

To get involved, find out more or donate, go to www.aif.org

Photos courtesy of SUJAN JAWAI, Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur, Leela Palace Jaipur, Taj Rambagh Palace

6. JAIPUR

Jaipur was founded in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. Here, modernity and tradition exist side by side, but the pressure of traffic and crowds can be overwhelming, so this is not my favorite spot. That said, Jaipur is a rich destination for shopping, great sites and fine hotels. Shoppers love the bustling Old Market bazaar where artisans fashion puppets, silver jewelry, lac bangles and other handicrafts in their workshops.

There are fascinating sites in and near Jaipur. A highlight is a visit to the Amber Fort in Amer, 7 miles from Jaipur. This was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amer before the capital was shifted to present day Jaipur. It is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Mughal elements, and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery.

In Jaipur, is the City Palace, which is a complex, wonderfully laid out with large courtyards, balconies, cupolas, arched entrances, and gardens. It is a prime example of Rajput architecture. Its museum displays the rich heritage of Jaipur in paintings, textiles, garments, books and manuscripts, carpets, palanquins, and weapons dating back to the 15th century. During a tour, our guests will have the opportunity of visiting the private chambers.

A Jaipur “must see” is the Jantar Mantar, a collection of 19 astronomical instruments completed in 1734. It features the world’s largest stone sundial and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The astrological observatory houses precise instruments for measuring “the harmony of heavens.” Each instrument serves a particular function and gives an accurate reading. Also, please plan to stop and see Jaipur’s most famous building with its pink sandstone facade. The Hawa Mahal, also known as the “Palace of Breeze,” was built in 1799 as an extension to the Royal City Palace. At the time, the Purdah system was followed strictly whereby Rajput ladies were not to be seen by strangers, nor to appear in any public area. The construction of Hawa Mahal allowed the royal ladies to be able to watch royal processions and activities on the street without being seen by the public.

Our ‘Best of the Best’ journey to India will continue with locations 7 through 12 in our next issue!

READY TO GO

To book your business and leisure travels worldwide, call on David Rubin and his team at DavidTravel. In 1996, David moved from a successful law practice, followed a deep passion for travel, and launched his travel company. For more than a decade, David has been on both the Travel + Leisure Magazine “A-List” and the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine “Specialist List” of the best travel advisors in the world. DavidTravel delivers unparalleled style, attention to detail and insider access uniquely responding to each client’s goals, budget, interests and dreams. www.DavidTravel.com, Request@DavidTravel.com

fash

This season, soaring platform shoes of all styles take fashionistas to new heights.

By Carlye Klick

ion

As the saying goes, “the higher the heels, the closer to heaven.” This is the motto of many of the main fashion houses this season, as sky-high heels with prominent platforms began appearing—almost simultaneously—on runways across the globe. All throughout 2022, we saw celebrities, fashionistas, bloggers and style icons embracing the trend.

The look has been recently sported by Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh and new Hollywood IT girl, Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega. As one of the most searched for fashion terms online, platform heels are making their way into the streets and closets everywhere.

DOPAMINE DRESSING

The literal rise of platform shoes happens to coincide with another phenomenon in fashion, dopamine dressing. A trending term on social media channels, this concept simply means to dress in a way that makes you happy.

When we dress for ourselves instead of others and wear things that truly bring us joy, we get caught up in a cycle of dopamine. We feel good about wearing our favorite clothing items or accessories and have a natural confidence because of it. Then, others take notice and perhaps we even get complimented on the items that we’re wearing. This further perpetuates the dopamine cycle, bringing more joy and happiness into the way we dress.

So, go ahead—wear that wild and crazy thing that you love! It’s all about seizing the moment to show off your style with what you’re wearing.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Dolly Leather Red Sole Platform Pumps, $1,195 via Christian Louboutin.

SAINT LAURENT

Women’s Sexy Almond Toe Quilted Platform Sandals, $1,150 via Bloomingdales.

VERSACE

Women’s Medusa Aevitas Ankle Strap Platform Pumps, $1,475 via Bloomingdales.

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

Women’s d’Orsay Embellished High Heel Platform Pumps, $1,550 via Bloomingdales.

VALENTINO

Women’s Block Heel Platform Pumps, $1,200 via Bloomingdales.

DOLCE & GABBANA

Keira Block Heel Platform Sandal, $995 via Nordstrom.

GUCCI

GG Embellished Platform High Heel Sandals, $1,495 via Gucci.

PRADA

Crystal Ankle-Strap Platform

Sandals, $2,150 via Prada.

Y2K

Within the last couple of years, there has been a huge revival of “Y2K” style—fashion trends from the early 2000s making a comeback. Although there are typically many more years before the initial rise of a trend and its return as a “vintage” look, the cyclical nature of fashion has brought back the colors, materials and silhouettes of many ICONIC 1990s styles, all in a “vintage but relevant” way.

Platform shoes are a large part of this trend, as the “Dotcom Bubble” of the late ‘90s predicated a rise in the popularity of clogs, chunky platform-soled stretchy sandals, clear glitter plastic platform shoes and more. The continuation of this early aughts trend indicates that the Y2K style is here to stay—at least for a little while longer.

HOW TO STYLE

The best way to present your mega shoes is by showing them off. Platform shoes underneath long gowns can lead to awkward heights for dress hemlines. Instead, today’s celebrities and stylists are pairing towering shoes with ultra-mini dresses and skirts, like the looks seen from Valentino and Versace.

The element of contrast from the shortened hemlines and chunky stacked platform draws extra attention to the shoes–as well as elongates the legs. Tights with platforms also seem to be a popular look. Bold, monochromatic color palettes are further highlighted—especially in the Pantone Color of the Year, magenta—with tights paired alongside an eye-catching pair of platform heels. No matter how you style these standout shoes, make sure to be ready for comments and compliments, as these are truly fashion’s hottest trend in footwear.

Great wines have the ability to transport—allow your palate to take flight with these international selections.

By Fran Miller

wines Wanderlust for I

f a trip beyond U.S. borders isn’t exactly part of your plan this year, consider the option of satisfying your wanderlust with wines of the world. Great wines have the ability to transport, and each is a reflection of the culture, traditions and history of their place of origin.

You can simulate a visit to France, Italy or South Africa with these selections. Choose one, or all, and let your imagination—and your palate—take flight.

A GREAT SPARKLING FROM THE DOLOMITES

Italy’s Endrizzi Trentodoc Piancastello

Zero comes from the Trentodoc region; the winery is well-known for its organic, low-residual sugar sparklings, and this is one of the Endrizzi winery’s flagship wines. It’s also a flagship of the entire Trentodoc appellation—a region pivotal in embracing sustainability.

Starting in the 1980s, the region was active in promoting widespread use of integrated pest management. Endrizzi has been run by the Endrici family since 1885, and was among the first producers to embrace organic farming in the region. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot and aged for 48 months on the lees, Endrizzi Trentodoc Piancastello Zero beautifully reflects the aromatic grape richness of the region.

SAMPLE THE SAVORINESS OF NEW ZEALAND

Villa Maria, the renowned Marlborough, New Zealand wine producer, shares the legacy of its elegant, approachable wines with the relaunch of its Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, an expressive, fruit-forward wine that showcases the youthful, fresh and vibrant characteristics of Marlborough.

Cool-climate Awatere aromas jump out of the glass, such as lemongrass, jalapeño peppers and fresh herbs, while the warmer Wairau Valley influences with ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavors. A perfect aperitif wine, serve chilled on warm summer days. The fresh herbal flavors match well with most salads, whereas the ripe tropical flavors match well with many fish recipes.

A WONDERFUL SPARKLING FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Established in 1685, Boschendal, located between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Western Cape, is one of the oldest wine estates in the region, and has specialized in the South African traditional method Cap Classique for more than 40 years. The Boschendal Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, made in the same style of Champagne. Pale gold with delicate bubbles, the palate is layered with tart lemon creme and biscuit.

A JUICY RED FROM VALPOLICELLA

From the province of Verona, Italy, east of Lake Garda Massimago Valpolicella DOC Superiore Profasio is made from 65 percent Corvina, 20 percent Corvinone and 15 percent Rondinella which convey hints of cherries, red berries, violet and a tasty juicy palate. This wine goes well with barbecue, roasted chicken, the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, pasta or lasagna.

Massimago’s idea of Valpolicella Superiore is a wine very much similar to its big brother Amarone, but with a higher drinkability and fresher aromas. Valpolicella Superiore Profasio Vineyards are located in Mezzane di Sotto at about 300 m asl on limestone, clay and marly soil. The winery was established back in 1883 and is one of the oldest wineries in its appellation.

AN ORANGE WINE FOR THOSE WILLING TO EXPLORE

Recognized as the birthplace of wine, Georgia boasts a wide range of producers who have perfected the art of crafting unique, dry amber wines produced from native grape varieties that undergo traditional qvevri winemaking. One such winery is Vazisubani Estate, whose inception dates to the 19th century and traces from one of Georgia’s most storied and cherished family lines, Chavchavadze.

The Estate has been meticulously restored over the last decade, emerging as a premier wine-tourism destination built around the palace, gardens, winery, marani (wine cellar) and 35 hectares of estate vineyards. Vazisubani Estate Kakhuri Mtsvane 2020 is a dry amber wine produced from the indigenous Kakhuri Mtsvane grape. This qveri wine making technique results in a wine exhibiting tropical overtones coupled with dried fig notes. The wine is lean and long with a lingering finish that is complemented by a tannin-rich body. Kakhuri Mtsvane can be enjoyed alone or with a wide assortment of meats and cheeses.

ONE OF ITALY’S GREATEST WHITES

Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia 2020 is Ornellaia estate’s white second vin, produced for the first time in 1987. Made from Sauvignon, Viognier and Vermentino grown on chalky skeletal soils, the production is limited to only 35-40,000 bottles.

Olga Fusari, the winemaker, describes the 2020 as follows: “With its classic bright straw-yellow color, Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia 2020 expresses itself on the nose with a beautiful aromatic intensity: aromas of boxwood and white flowers, accompanied by notes of white peach, sage and aromatic herbs are all released once poured. The wine fills the palate with elegance and determination upon tasting, revealing the proper balance of acidic freshness and density. The finish is lively, persistent and with a nice tanginess.”

AN ICONIC NEW RED FROM APALTA VALLEY, CHILE

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet upon their discovery of a unique Clos in the Apalta Valley sheltering 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. They realized the site’s potential for producing world-class wines, and from that day, the Chilean chapter of Lapostolle was born. 2015 Lapostolle La Parcelle 8, named for the first plot Alexandra and Cyril saw upon arriving in the Valley, is an iconic new expression from Apalta.

A 100-percent varietal, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, La Parcelle is a reflection of the vineyard’s unique terroir resulting from the Tinguiririca River to its south and the Coastal Cordillera hills that surround it in a horseshoe shape. In the glass, it entices with a beautiful deep ruby red color and opens on the nose with intense fruit, herbs and spice notes. On the palate, the wine showcases a classic structure with elegant tannins, fruit and black spice flavors, and a long-lasting, velvety finish.

A DELICIOUS SOUTHERN RHONE DESSERT WINE

On the edge of the tiny French village of Beaumes de Venise, fifth-generation family-owned Domaine des Bernardins produces Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. The 2021 features notes of butterscotch and glazed fruit; the palate is rich and maintains a surprising freshness. There is a note of quince paste on the finish, and also herbes de Provence.

Original owner Louis Castaud was concerned about the disappearance of the village’s traditional production methods, and after 10 years of hard work, he achieved appellation status for Muscat de Beaumes de Venise in 1945 (for the 1943 vintage). Today, the previously monk-owned estate is directed by Castaud’s granddaughter Elisabeth, husband Andrew, and their son Romain, yet Castaud’s wife Renée Castaud remains active in day-to-day operations.

ICONIC

By Sam Micatrotto

Serving

First known as an eternity bracelet or line bracelet, the small and dainty jewelry staple—now known as a tennis bracelet— has a big history. The ICONIC statement piece can be traced back to the Roaring Twenties, where it was often seen accessorizing the fanciest of dresses and sparkling in the light at extravagant parties before taking on a whole new identity in the late 1970s.

Tennis pro Chris Evert also seemed to think the all-diamond, bezelset bracelet was the perfect accessory for every situation, as she wore it out on the court for her match at the 1978 U.S. Open. Mid-match, the diamond bracelet snapped and flew off Evert’s arm and onto the court—an unexpected change from the optic yellow ball that typically makes its way back and forth on the court. The match paused, which is understandable when diamonds are at stake! Evert took a few moments to look for her bracelet and because of this courtside cuff, the bracelet took on a new moniker—tennis bracelet.

In the decades since the famous interruption, celebrities such as Serena Williams, Kate Moss, Princess Diana and Lenny Kravitz have been seen wearing the ICONIC tennis bracelet and it doesn’t seem to be going out of style any time soon. The simple elegance of the bracelet makes it an extremely versatile piece, allowing it to work with just about any outfit or occasion. Evert’s choice to wear the bracelet to her tennis match changed how the world viewed fine jewelry and women began wearing tennis bracelets with more casual outfits in addition to their more formal attire.

Traditionally, the tennis bracelet is a string of white diamonds set on a strand of white gold, but modern iterations include using warm gold metal tones and even different color gemstones to add a personal touch to your everyday style. The bracelets are also ideal for layering and make the perfect addition to virtually any jewelry stack.

The timeless, sparkling eternity band for the wrist is the itaccessory that never goes out of style.

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