Desert Sun Retreats 10/21/22

Chris Griffin Joins Bennion Deville Homes Rancho Mirage

Bennion Deville Homes welcomes

REALTOR® Chris Griffin to the Rancho Mirage office, located at 71691 Highway 111 in the heart of the city’s business district.

Chris is a California native and works with clients looking to buy, sell, and invest in properties. A resident of Cathedral City, he offers his services throughout the Coachella Valley, specializing in the communities of Cathedral Canyon Country Club and Canyon Shores, as well as the adjoining resort communities. In addition to his real estate salesperson’s license, Chris earned his real estate appraiser’s license and has a bachelor’s degree from University of California Irvine and a master’s degree from Touro University.

Prior to entering the real estate industry full-time, Chris enjoyed a 26year career in the corporate world. He applied his executive experience to found his own organizational development and executive coaching firms. “I believe in personal and professional development, so diving into real estate is a natural progression for my career,” states Chris. “Real estate has always interested me, and I believe in going forward on paths that allow me to pursue my passions and assist others in the process.

I have made personal investments in real estate for over 20 years, including rental properties and flips. In addition to assisting clients with the traditional purchase and sale of a full or part-time residence, I am here to apply my experience with investing to help clients who would like to get into investment properties.”

A business veteran with personal and professional experience in real estate, plus a background owning and operating businesses focused on helping others excel, Chris is uniquely qualified to support his clients and accomplish their goals. “I believe in creating transformational, not transactional, relationships that last a lifetime. My experience in executive coaching is based in psychology and gives me the insight and understanding required to anticipate what my clients are thinking. I can empathize with them and cut to the core of what they’re trying to

achieve. I appreciate the opportunity to assist others with accomplishing their real estate goals,” Chris continues.

Regardless of industry or role, Chris knows the key to success in business — client satisfaction. “It is important to overdeliver on an exceptional performance and ensure the client is your entire focus when you are with them. Creating satisfying client experiences builds repeat business and referrals. Even more, a job well done is personally gratifying to me. Client satisfaction is my personal satisfaction,” he adds.

Besides helping clients with their real estate needs, Chris is actively involved in helping around the community. He has a degree in drama and enjoys supporting the Coachella Valley Rep Theatre. He also enjoys donating to Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. “Helping people is huge. No matter who we are and where we’re from, we are all similar. Everyone needs to eat, so I support CVRM and their mission to ensure all residents of our desert have access to a good meal and any additional services they require.” In addition to supporting local causes, Chris enjoys travelling, exercising in our perfect desert climate, working in his garden, reading, and spending time with his adopted furry family members, two dogs and two cats. Chris joined Bennion Deville Homes because of his personal experience as a client. “When I first bought a home in the Coachella Valley 12 years ago, I worked with a Bennion Deville Homes agent. They were supportive, professional, and I felt like the company focused its attention on client satisfaction. Bennion Deville Homes treats client transactions with a personal touch, which is a unique feeling. It’s nice to be on the ‘other side’ now and to carry that same legacy with clients of my own. The sense of support and collegiality is strong. Joining Bennion Deville Homes was a natural fit,” concludes Chris.

About Bennion Deville Homes

Bennion Deville Homes was founded in Palm Spring in 2001 by veteran real estate professionals Bob Bennion and Bob Deville and is the #1 real estate brokerage in the Coachella Valley. Visit BDHomes.com for the location of your nearest Bennion Deville Homes office. We will unlock possibilities for you.

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Cozy ideas for fall decor

Cheryl Fenton Reviewed.com | USA TODAY NETWORK

Putting the high temps, beach days, and grills begrudgingly in our rearview mirror, we’ve said “goodbye” to summer. Iced teas give way to pumpkin drinks and layering items for warmth has returned to our daily dress. h With these seasonal swaps, it’s time to also move our home into the months ahead. While it’s tempting to fall into overkill pumpkin décor (everyone loves a mini-gourd display), it’s possible to instead employ subtle touches to visually warm the space during the chillier months. h We asked a few experts on how to transition your home décor from summer to fall. Here are some expert-approved fall décor ideas to get your home ready for the new season.

Abstract area rugs can be fun and chíc. REVIEWED/ WEST ELM

1. Decorate with warm and neutral tones for a cozy feel

“When I’m decorating for a season, I prefer not to go too heavy on a theme. You don’t want your house to look like a Hobby Lobby vignette,” warns Paula Blankenship, founder and president of Heirloom Traditions Paint. “I prefer to use colors to transition the feel of my home from season-to-season versus themed items. As I’m transitioning from summer to fall, I’m using spicy, earthy, warm tones in things like pillows, throws and rugs versus sitting a bunch of pumpkins on my table.”

Of all the fall décor ideas, adapting your interior color palette to meet the needs of the season by mixing cool, crisp whites with earthy tones and warmer shades, like the Tuspa Easy Care Rug from West Elm.

“Yellows, oranges, reds, browns, and pops of green are all wonderful bases to build a fall cozy nest out of,”

This small shag rug from The Citizenry can remix an old piece of furniture that you’ve been thinking of getting rid of. REVIEWED/THE CITIZENRY

says Véra Kempf, co-founder of Singulart. They also pair brilliantly with copper-, gold- and brass-toned items.

West Elm

2. Use textures to add depth to the room

While the summer is all about breezy feels and light fabrics, adding thicker, cozier textures will help bring a fall vibe to your interior, according to Kempf. Think wool, velvet, real or faux leather and wood.

And if you’re willing to invest, you can do so in a beautiful, significant piece of furniture like a touchable couch. “You can also take this tip and apply it to interior décor pieces like wooden shelves, fluffy rugs, and soft cushions.”

Other textures, like The Citizenry’s Sheepskin throw, is a great way to add texture and warmth to any room, shares Eunice Weckesser of Wave and Woven

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She suggests draping them over your couch, but don’t discount placing them on the floor as a quick and easy warm-up for a bare spot.

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3. Experiment with a floor lamp

As days grow shorter and daylight dims, combining light sources at different levels of the room, like with a floor lamp like West Elm’s Sculptural Overarching Fabric Cone Floor Lamp, helps create a warmer, brighter atmosphere.

“Fall is your chance to experiment with different light fixtures,” says Kempf. “Take time to curate a selection, from pendants and chandeliers to floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces.”

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Also play with strategically placed mirrors, which will help bounce light. And don’t forget candles for the perfect mood lighting, updating scents to spicier and deeper scents with woody, spicy, gourmand ingredients and rich, warmer tones.

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4. Create a cozy reading space

Kempf loves trading in an outdoor hammock for a cushioned locale for her favorite page-turner.

“I’m an avid reader all year, but nothing says fall quite like a cozy reading spot you’ll want to curl up on when days get chillier,” she explains.

For your home, this could translate to a new bookcase, an inviting couch or an armchair, a nice coffee table, and, of course, the right light to fall over you. A cozy chair like the Yaheetech Leather Armchair invites you to snuggle up with a good book. And don’t forget to plop down a woven basket filled with fluffy, rolled blankets next to the sitting area.

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5. Curved lines are in

When it comes to fall décor ideas, a huge trend this season is curved lines and furniture, and Kempf says it’s for good reason. “Rounded corners, soft edges, and arched shapes are all great ways to make your home feel cozier and more inviting for the great fall days ahead.”

Look into investing in pieces of furniture with silhouettes that set a soft tone in shape like the Safavieh Couture Primrose Glam Light Blue Velvet Curved Sofa.

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6. Swap out your pillows for something more seasonal

Pillows are an easy refresh for any décor. To wake up an otherwise sleepy season, Weckesser suggests rich shades. To refresh your old pillows, replace the pillow cases with an option like the BeBen Velvet Throw Pillow Covers.

“I like to add jewel-colored pillows like emerald green, royal blue, eggplant purple or amber. Incorporating these colors will transform your summer décor from light and airy to warm and dimensional for the fall.”

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7. Opt for dried flowers instead of fresh blooms

Flower arrangements are not just for the spring and summer, says Weckesser. Swap out your fresh bouquets with dried bouquets, like The Bouq’s Co. Terracotta arrangement, to set the autumn tone.

“Adding dried florals and peacock feathers as cen-

terpieces can be a great way to add an autumn edge to a table.”

Opt for fall foliage such as eucalyptus branches to help you transition to the winter season. $99 at Bouqs

8. Try out a subscription decorating box

If the change of seasons has a habit of sneaking up on you, try ordering subscription boxes like ReadyFestive and Decorated. These collections of seasonal décor are sent straight to your home and are easy DIY decorating for when you need a little help.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Home simply resplendent with beauty from Bali

Melonee Hurt Nashville Tennessean USA TODAY Network – Tennessee

Music industry veteran Fletcher Foster and his late husband, Dennis Johnson, loved visiting the Indonesian province of Bali so much that after seven or eight visits, they designed, built and decorated their Nashville home to feel like The Four Seasons resort there.

They started by finding the perfect lot: one with a view of the Nashville skyline.

From there, the home was designed from the ground up with traditional Balinese architectural features, such as large, airy rooms, natural colors and materials, a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces and a vibe that is as cozy and inviting as it is impressive.

High ceilings are supported with teak wood beams, and massive glass walls fold away to eliminate barriers that traditionally separate living room and kitchen spaces from the view, pool and massive veranda.

The couple made multiple trips to Bali and returned with shipping containers full of furniture, art, building materials and personal treasures, which now accentuate the home Foster shares with his new Cocker Spaniel puppy, Finley.

After a tour of his Nashville retreat, we sat down with Foster to hear more about the Balinese-inspired design and décor as well as some of the busy executive’s favorite spots to unwind in the home.

Career spans decades and genres

Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Foster began his career in the music industry after graduating from Belmont University in the mid-1980s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1989, and during his four-year stint there, worked with everyone from Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow to Annie Lennox, Gladys Knight and TLC.

He returned to Nashville in the mid’90s and has been involved in shaping the careers of musicians such as Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan and Brooks & Dunn

After stints with Capital Records, Sony Music Entertainment and Arista

Records, Foster is currently the president and CEO of F2 Entertainment, which includes artist management, a record label, music publishing, television, artist development and strategic partnerships.

“I love being a part of the music and entertainment business and have really been blessed to work with such a wide range of artists over the years,” Foster said. “My short time in L.A., early in my career, was a great time of growth that allowed me to be creative and blend music into television and film. I’m driven towards artists that have that ability to live in different worlds – outside of just music.”

24-hour flight but worth it

In 2006, Foster and Johnson went to Bali on vacation and had no idea the

The teakwood beams, chandelier and art were all shipped to Nashville from Indonesia to complete the home’s Balinese architecture style. PHOTOS BY GEORGE WALKER IV/THE TENNESSEAN

Fletcher Foster and his late husband Dennis Johnson designed the home to have the feel of a high end-hotel in Bali. This seating area is one of Foster’s favorite spots to relax in during winter.

Foster

Foster

small island would become woven into the fiber of their lives. The couple fell in love with the peacefulness and the people of the island.

“The first time we went over there, I was working with Keith Urban at the time, and he and Nicole Kidman got married in Australia,” Foster said. “We realized if we were going all the way to Australia, we should just tack something else on to the trip, so we went to Bali.”

Johnson had been doing some import business, so he knew how to import things from other countries. The couple thought it would be fun to fill up a shipping container with finds from Bali to send back to Nashville.

“We filled up two and went back for another one,” Foster remembers.

Built to resemble a resort

After multiple return trips to the Indonesian island, the couple decided to build a Nashville home from the ground up where every element was a nod to their favorite vacation spot.

“We wanted to make it feel like a resort,” Foster says. “We designed it to feel like a hotel lobby when you walk in, and it breaks off into little sitting areas. Why not make your home like your own resort?”

The architecture, layout, openness, doorways, disappearing wall connecting the main living area to the pool and million-dollar view are all elements the couple borrowed from Bali.

Johnson, who was in real estate at the time, was known for finding unique pieces of real estate that had something that made them one of a kind.

He found a hilltop lot on the west side of Nashville overlooking the city, and it became the foundation of their Nashville Balinese retreat.

“We wanted when you come in the front door to look straight through the door and see the pool and the fire

pit, and then see the city behind it,” Foster said. “I love being up here away from the city but still feeling like you are part of the city because you can see it.”

Scrap paper sketch

While some elements of the home were designed around the Balinese treasures that had been shipped back to Nashville, like the wooden frame around their drop station, other areas were recreated from photos the couple took in Bali with the goal of harnessing the vibe of the island back in the states. They wanted to build something that would capture the island’s serenity, the stillness and welcoming beauty.

So they began sketching ideas on a scratch piece of paper and built the vision from there.

“We kind-of took some measurements and said you know, ‘How wide do we want that hall to be?’ and then looked at how that adjusted to everything. We went to our builder from there. We really didn’t have an architect or designer; we pretty much did it all ourselves.”

The couple created a home as unique as their secluded hilltop lot by designing two master suites on either end of the house, and a center gathering place with open kitchen and living spaces that flow seamlessly onto the home’s massive patio and infinity pool, thanks to folding glass walls that completely disappear.

Melonee Hurt covers growth and development at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com.

Crogan

A view of the of the home of music industry executive Fletcher Foster in Nashville, Tenn. Foster designed the home to have the feel of a high end hotel in Bali.

GEORGE WALKER IV/THE TENNESSEAN

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