Paradise ISSUETHE IV 2022
Editor-in-Chief, CEO & Founder KUBA JEWGIENIEW Editorial Writer MELISSA KANDEL Publisher and Chief Marketing Officer CORY VASQUEZ Lead Designer AUSTIN BELISLE Creative Directors JENNIFER KOO KIMMI ROBERTSON ONE LUXE Director TAYLOR SOMERA Chief Learning Officer MARK WEBFINDPESSINUSREALTYONEGROUP.COM/ONELUXE JOIN JOIN.REALTYONEGROUP.COM/ONE-LUXE IG @REALTYONEGROUP FB @REALTYONEGROUP PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WWW.REALTYONEGROUP.COM/CONTACT/JOIN-AS-A-PARTNER
TO OUR WORLD OF EXTRAORDINARY & DISTINCTIVE LIVING LET’S EXPLORE: THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ONE LUXE. THE PERFECT MIX SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW SUMMER DRINK OUTDOOR DECOR BEST TRENDS IN OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT MEET XIMENA VILLARREAL A MODERN MIAMI MOMPRENEUR181206 LUXURY TRAVEL TRAVEL IN STYLE WHEREVER YOU GO LUXURY ADS EXPLORE OUR HIGH-END LISTINGS 2631
The stories we’re sharing all contain an element of that summer brightness - from an award-winning bartender mixing the flavors of the season to an award-winning Realty ONE Group agent scorching a trail of success throughout South Florida.
They’re meant to uplift and inspire, with an air of familiarity like a warm, August breeze. We deliver the latest trends in outdoor entertaining to make any s’mores session that much sweeter. We detail luxury travel in all its private-jet glory. There’s so much to discover among these pages, it’s almost hard to know where to start. So, if you’re wondering where to begin, my suggestion is with page ONE.
KUBA FROM OUR EDITOR
Welcome to the summer edition of ONE LUXE Magazine, an editorial destination for adventurous fun in the sunshine. If I had to pick a season that best reflects the collective characteristic of our brokerage network, it would have to be summer. Our agents are summerluminous, brilliant and sparkling with our signature gold. We’re really proud of this edition because it uniquely captures the vibe of our Realty ONE Group family.
CEO AND FOUNDER, REALTY ONE GROUP CHEERS TO THE SUMMERTIME!- Kuba
A Modern MIAMI MOMPRENEUR BY MELISSA KANDEL MEET ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
At the time, Ximena was going through a divorce, had a one-year-old daughter and just moved to a country where she didn’t have any friends or even a small circle of acquaintances who could refer business her way. “It took about a year to reach my first sale,” she explains. Before that sale, Ximena only made about $10,000 for the entire year, mostly from rentals. She had an eviction notice on her door every single month. At the time, she had no car, so to get from one showing to the next, she’d take her baby and her stroller, get on the bus - even in the sweltering 100-degree Miami summer heat - and arrive at a property, ready to get it done.
If you follow Ximena Villarreal on Instagram (and you should - @ximenavillarreal_miami) you’ll notice a few things. Yes, she’s a successful luxury real estate broker with Realty ONE Group Evolution in Miami and Broward, Florida. Yes, she lists gorgeous luxury properties with oversized pools etched into sprawling South Florida backyards. But she’s also a mom of two; she has a young daughter and a newborn baby girl. Dig deeper and you’ll see she’s a prolific entrepreneur, able to build her business during naptime, mentor her Villarreal Estates team between showings and put together flawlessly bold workday outfits with the confidence of someone who just gets it. The 34-year-old sales professional is the definition of a real estate powerhouse, and not just because she spends her days (and many late nights) helping clients buy and sell homes. “I’ve been working in real estate since 2015,” she says, adding that her start sprung from an intense “personal moment.”
REAL ESTATE IS ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES WHERE YOUR SUCCESS IS DETERMINED BY
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
“I may not have had a car or the right contacts or the sales, but I did have the tools and I knew the numbers, and I was determined to put in the effort,” she says. “For me, it was a difficult process but I’m happy with the way it turned Byout.”“the way it turned out” Ximena means the shift from that first year filled with eviction notices and hotter-than-hot bus rides to today, where she works diligently to build her luxury real estate empire, with her husband and team by her side. If you ask what got Ximena from there to here, she’d point to her ability to build relationships with the community around her, and with friends and family in her native country of Colombia. “Over the last seven years, I’ve created a strong sphere of influence from connections with other agents, involvement in local and national organizations and social media,” she says. “When I started sharing more than my listings and really putting my life out there on those digital platforms, I was able to connect on a more personal level and really show people why they should trust me, instead of just telling them they should.”
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
While social media is far from a new invention for real estate marketing, Ximena has perfected the art of sharing and engaging on her platforms and says about 2/3 of her sales come from social media marketing. On social, she uses her successful sales as proof of concept for her tremendous luxury real estate experience and skills.
When I started sharing more than my listings and really putting my life out there on those digital platforms, I was able to on a more and really show people they should trust me, instead of just telling them they should.
After that initial transaction, Ximena quickly shifted her strategy, investing both marketing dollars and her time to target luxury buyers seeking property in South Florida. “The competition at that level of the market was different, and I put myself in a position where I could negotiate benefits for my buyers, which is impossible in our market if you’re working with homes priced under $700K.”
For many years, business was good - no, it was great - then Covid hit. Suddenly, inventory became incredibly sparse and buyer demand in South Florida skyrocketed. Ximena would submit offers on behalf of clients for homes ranging between $400K and $800K and they were constantly rejected. She knew she’d have to make a switch or risk losing the success she’d worked so hard to find. “I started to promote more listings in the higher price ranges, about $1 million and up,” she explains. “My first luxury client came to me during Covid and found me through a social media post. She’s a friend from Colombia and wanted a waterfront property in Sunny Isles Beach. We virtually met, I helped find her perfect home and that’s how my very first luxury sale - $2.6 million - happened all through Zoom.”
“I get on social media and scream from the mountaintop when I hit a big sale,” she says. “For me, storytelling on social media is about sharing everything with my audience. So many agents only show luxury buildings or nice images, but I show my daily job, including the challenges of transactions, appraisal results, the staging process, and people see that I am an active broker involved in every aspect of the sale. It’s not just about pretty pictures or beautiful projects. I’m active in the market, my audience recognizes that and says, ‘I want to work with her,’ or ‘I’ll send her referrals.’”
levelatexplains,aroundXimenamarkets,CountynoticeableForactually,andquickly,”“We’retomorrowput-it-on-the-MLS-get-20-offers-over-asking-themarketof2021,sheremainsoptimistic.inaseller’smarketbutit’schangingshedescribes.“Interestratesarehigherit’smakingthemarketmorestableandmorepeaceful.”realestateinMiami,XimenasaysthereispriceappreciationinMiamiDadebutit’sincreasingatthesamerateasotherespeciallyintheluxurysector,whichpersonallydescribesaspropertiespriced$2millionorabove.Luxurycondos,shecanbesignificantlyhigher,easilypriced$10millionor$35million,dependingontheofluxe.
It’s not just the level of service Ximena delivers that sets her apart in Miami, Broward and beyond; she’s incredibly positive. Even in this market, which is arguably trickier than
Now firmly established in the luxury marketplace, Ximena says she typically works with two types of clients: foreign national buyers from Latin America and people relocating from other states to Florida. And once those clients are secured, Ximena describes the experience she provides as a “concierge service with all their needs covered by me and my team.”
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
“Miami is the perfect place to live,” says Ximena. “You have amazing weather the entire year, which makes everyone more productive because you don’t have to stop your activities because of the weather. You have amazing food from different cultures, a healthy lifestyle with so many new wellness companies springing up every day and of course, beach living. What’s not to love about living in Miami?” The question doesn’t need an answer. Ximena is proof that there’s a whole lot to love about the city. After all, it’s where she turned a $10,000-a-year job into an epic luxury career, and where she’s made an incredible life for her family that keeps getting better every day. “Real estate is one of those businesses where your success is determined by how hard you want to work,” she explains. “If you plan and you’re committed, you’ll always see results.”
Summer BY MELISSA KANDEL AWARD-WINNING COCKTAIL CRAFTER JARRETT HOLBOROUGH MIXES IT UP FOR THE SEASON ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
These days, drinks are so much more than poured libations with a fancy glass or perfectly shaped ice cube - they’re art, and in the world of modern mixology, there’s no finer artist than Jarrett “J the Barman”
TheHoloborough.Atlantanative is the current barman at 12 Cocktail Bar, with a string of impressive awards and accolades to his name. He’s been featured in Forbes’ “6 Mixologists to Follow on Instagram ASAP.” He won the 2021 Woodford Manhattan Competition, the 2021 Angel’s Envy Chopped Style Competition, the Tucker Brewing Cocktail Competition, the 2019 Petrus Cocktail Competition and was a finalist in the Herradura Tequila Margarita Competition in Jalisco, Mexico. But dig beneath the wow-that’s-impressive resume and you’ll find a vivid storyteller, whose cocktails are so unforgettable, they’ll transport you somewhere entirely new. And in that spirit of new discoveries, we sat down with J the Barman to find out exactly what’s shaking.
Q: How has your style changed from that first big break to now? A: I focus on creating balanced drinks that appeal to the masses without cutting corners. As an up-and-coming historian, I’m known for telling the story behind the cocktail for a fullcourse experience at the bar.
Q: What is trending right now in terms of cocktails? Any ingredients or drinks to watch? A: Tequila has been trending heavily in neat pours and cocktails. I believe the Cadillac Margarita is back in style, at least for me it is! In terms of ingredients to watch, I have two words: fresh produce. Let’s keep showing love to our local farms and markets.
Q: What do you love most about serving cocktails? A: What I love most is how creative I get to be, and I love showing someone a new beverage experience for the first time. I think it’s super hilarious when people don’t know what they want and order their cocktails by color - like that has anything to do with the flavor!
Q: How did you get started as a professional mixologist? A: I’ve been bartending for just over six years. I started off at a couple of casual bars before making my big break with Slater Hospitality at 9 Mile Station, under Randy Hayden. I was a barback first then was quickly promoted to bartender. In the winter of 2018, the Slater team opened 12 Cocktail Bar and I jumped at the opportunity to join the team. During my tenure at 12 - whereI still work today - it has evolved from a members-only cocktail club to one of Atlanta’s premier cocktail destinations.
Q: Favorite summer cocktail garnish? Dare we ask about the controversial sprig of mint? A: My favorite cocktail garnish is any fresh ingredient that enhances the cocktail, not something that wastes space. As long as the garnish can elevate the cocktail, whether it’s from a fresh aroma or taste perspective, I think it’s fine. Mint, however, is a terrible garnish! Unless it is used properly, and even then it has to be very fresh.
J THE BARMAN’S ONE LUXE SUMMER INGREDIENTS:COCKTAIL: PREPARATION: 1 1/2 oz Ketel One Vodka 3/4 oz Lemon Juice 3/4oz Simple Syrup 1/4oz Tio Pepe Barspoon Olive Oil 4 Basil Leaves 2 Cherry Tomatoes Garnish: 2 Drops of Olive Oil First, make sure to wash produce and cut your cherry tomatoes in half. Now add all ingredients into a Boston Shaker. Add ice, shake, and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with two drops of olive oil and enjoy.
Heatherly Grace Shepherd, communications specialist at little word studio and Elite Content Collective (a ONE Marketplace partner) made the trek to 12 Cocktail Bar in Atlanta for some taste testing of our ONE Luxe summer cocktail. Here’s what she had to say: “It tastes like summer in Italy, sitting at a vine-covered limestone cafe in a wrought iron chair listening to the waves crash against the rocky shore as you look down on the craggy cliffs below. You’re waiting for your pasta with a plate of bread and olive oil, smelling the herbs and blossoms that waft through the old, cobbled streets. This drink is a story, told by J with basil, citrusy perfection. Sip and find a seaside vacation right inside your glass.”
ONELUXE.
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
BRING ON THE WHAT’S TRENDING IN OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT RIGHT NOW BY MATTIE WHITNEY Summer doesn’t just mean longer days and warmer nights. It also means lounging poolside on a Sunday afternoon. Dinner parties with all the cheese under the glow of backyard lights. Alfresco brunches and evening rosé sipped under a spread of starlit sky. Friends sitting cozy around a backyard fire pit as the curling flames crackle and pop. So, if you’re ready to entertain in style this season, we say bring on the sunshine.
WARM A calming and natural color palette is associated with rustic, earthy elements that can create a sense of calm and well-being in any outdoor space. If you’re looking for the perfect warm summer hues for patio furniture or painted decks, Google Trends data shows a rise in interest for terra-cotta (+5.25%), rust (+4.61%), rose (+11.59%) and moss green (+17.56%). ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
OUTDOOR LIVINGRoom Kitchen+
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
Indoor/outdoor living has been trending for a long time but the idea of a complete “outdoor living room” is more recent. This season, homeowners are looking beyond the custom, built-in gas grill to a hybrid outdoor kitchen and living room, complete with that beloved grill, a wood-fire oven, covered seating areas, a refrigerator, storage space, TVs, a sound system, a full bar and more. Some of the most sought after elements this season will include wood-fire ovens, tap dispensers for beer and wine and storage spaces such as cabinets and warming drawers to limit trips inside.
This summer, live the green lifestyle not only with furniture made from sustainable materials like reclaimed wood or bamboo, but also in your garden! Adding water-wise plants to your yard cuts back on the amount of water you need to keep your landscaping fresh and in bloom. Or, you could replace the plants entirely. Rock gardens, paved stonework and wood gazebos can break up outdoor living space without adding more lawn to maintain.
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
THE GOAL IS TO ALWAYS LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE POSSIBLE , IN THE PRESENT MOMENT, ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
Forget out with the old, in with the new. We say out with the out and in with the in — well, indoor furniture that is. Plastic and metal lawn furniture may be durable but this trend calls for swapping out those old wicker chairs for indoor-inspired furniture, instead. Who says you can’t place a nylon loveseat on your back patio or a water-resistant armchair on the deck? Pops of the unexpected will elevate your outdoor decor.
FURNITURE FIT FOR THEIndoors ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
NO MATTER HOW YOU REINVENT EXTERIOR SPACES, REMEMBER THE GREAT OUTDOORS WILL ALWAYS BE READY, SET, Luxurious outdoor living is an opportunity to practice the art of creative direction. Forget the traditional swing sets and opt for something more imaginative. Why not place a giant chess set in your backyard? How about a livable treehouse for entertaining in style? And infusing whimsy into your outdoor design doesn’t have to be so over the top; quilted hammocks, fire pits with tempered glass, and dimmable modern string lights will add a touch of luxe to any nighttime s’mores-roasting session. ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
FIRST-CLASS Travel
Traveling in style just took on a whole new meaning. Whether you’re looking to jet across the country in total, serene privacy or traverse little-known corners of the world in style, these companies are taking luxury travel to a whole new level of elegance.
ONE LUXE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE 2022
Traverse Mt. Kilimanjaro. Explore Antarctica - “the world’s last true wilderness,” as Abercrombie & Kent describes - or sail the Nile River in style. Discover the hidden treasures from Florence to Venice. Perks and travel options include a translator, traveling bellhop, valley laundry service and more. With Abercrombie & Kent, the wonders of the world are yours.
Innovators in the luxury travel space, Abercrombie & Kent provide you and your (20ish) closest friends the adventure of a lifetime. These epic curated expeditions are led by hand-picked local guides.
Flying JSX is like switching from generic coffee to the most elaborate latte you’ve ever tasted – but in flight form. The self-proclaimed “more joyful way to fly” includes: a hassle-free departure that requires just 20 minutes from car valet to boarding; a crowd-free experience with a private terminal, no lines, a contactless check-in and non-invasive security plus two free checked bags. The plane itself is packed with amenities like plush leather seats, full flight attendant service, complimentary gourmet snacks, beer, wine and spirits, and a spacious cabin with extra legroom for everyone.
Each Burgess Yacht offers a crew, chef, hot tubs, movie theaters, tennis courts and all the possibilities of an unforgettable escape on the high ””
Other trips include: Capadocia and Madagascar; Pacific and Caribbean Oceans; Saudi Arabia and Tunisia; and Australia’s remote Wolgan Valley and Polynesian Islands.
First, pick your yacht or select your desired destination - options include Italy, Scotland or Corfu - then build a custom itinerary. Finally, sail away.
LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED, IN ALL ITS GLORY, TCS World Travel is a fleet of private jets that fly directly to your destination, and some locales on their itinerary are faraway places no commercial plane can reach (or at least not with such direct ease). TCS’s flagship journey is called “Around the World by Private Jet,” an almost month-long flight around the world, stopping at some of the most iconic destinations (and little-known secret spots) across the globe.
Indulge in locally inspired cuisine as you take in stunning scenes from massive, dome-shaped windows in this ultimate railway ride. Each itinerary includes rail trips during the day and luxurious hotel stays (en route) each night. Travel from Moab, Utah to Denver Colorado; Vancouver to Banff National Park/Lake Louise; Vancouver to Jasper or combine two trips for even more unforgettable train time aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
Vacations by Rail combines the timeless romance of gorgeous views sweeping across train windows with the opulence of rail travel’s iconic Golden Era. Early 1900s rail cars have been exquisitely restored using sumptuous fabrics, dark woods and gilded details. Visit U.S. national parks or take the United Kingdom’s Royal Scotsman, which chugs through Scotland’s highlands, across majestic lochs and glens. The Pride of Africa serpentines through astonishing African wilderness, while the Danube Express winds its way across Budapest, Istanbul and Prague.
OFFERED AT $ , , BED BATH SQFT L E T ’ S T A L K Enjoy t he quintessen tial Santa Barbara Lifestyle in this beautifully re novated SanRoque home. Santa Barbara is renowned for its temperate c limate. A Multitude of European-Style glass doorsopen all roo ms to multip le outdoor living ar eas. Enow evening s in front of the outdoor, stone fireplace w hile challenging fri ends in a ga me of bocce ball. San Roque Road introducing Cami OMBROKERPinsak . . . . cami@rogsummit.com
Paradise ISSUETHE IV 2022