HOME A VISUAL MASTERPIECE
U YO
RH
OM E . YO U R
LIF
E.
A NEW POINT OF VIEW
Couture Design-Build Studio by
NOT TOO SHABBY
MARISOL GULLO & HER PUP, PIPER
SPECIAL EDITION C’EST LA VIE CURATED COLLECTION by LINEN & SAND
November 2023
Stories with Heart & Soul ™
Linda Miller is now entering her 25th year of selling Real Estate on Scenic Highway 30A!
GIVI N G BACK TO OU R COM MU N IT Y As a proud board member of the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Linda Miller is donating a portion of proceeds to this 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information:
BRO K ER L I N DA M I L L ER (850) 974-8885 | Linda@TheSmileof30a.com P.O. Box 611362, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
L I N D A M I L L E R L U X U R Y. C O M
A B AY F R O N T DREAM HOUSE 1 7 5 8 L A G R A N G E R O A D , F R E E P O R T, F L 2 B R | 3 B A | 1 , 1 5 2 S Q . F T. O F F E R E D AT $ 1 , 6 7 5 , 0 0 0
This beautifully renovated bayfront home sits on 2.86 acres in up-and-coming Freeport! Perfect for a small family or weekend getaway, this property has room to grow and offers an exclusive outdoor oasis on the water. With modern updates and bright accents, this dream home is sure to make you SMILE!
Photo by Dave Warren Photography Space Designed by Dawn Gall
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a unique shopping experience on
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A BOHEME DESIGN
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F r o m t h e G U L F t o t h e B AY t o t h e D U N E L A K E S o f 3 0A , We A r e Yo u r WAT E R F R O N T S P E C I A L I STS .
“Our approach to real estate is different. We strive for excellence. We take the responsibility our clients give us with abundant gratitude. We’re knowledgeable. We’re enthusiastic. We love what we get to do every day. We work hard. We work smart. Whether you are selling property or buying property here on 30A or all across the Emerald Coast – we provide you with the experience, community knowledge, and commitment that fulfill your needs. Our “clients first” business philosophy provides you with the reassurance that every action we put in motion is with your best interest in mind.” —B R I A N B E A S L E Y, B ro ke r A s s o c i ate
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In this issue On the Cover
High fashion meets couture design in the home of Marisol and Tony Gullo, owners of Not Too Shabby home decor showrooms in Miramar Beach and Inlet Beach, Florida. Marisol, a native of Costa Rica who worked in law before shifting to the creative world of art, furniture, and interior design, is our stunning cover star alongside her faithful pup, Piper. The Gullos are excited to announce their new design-build firm coming soon and to show off their skills in crafting homes from the ground up through their stunning private residence in Churchill Oaks, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Peek inside it on page 24! Photo by Romona Robbins Hairstyling by Brooke Miller Wristwatch – Ferragamo Curve; Ferragamo.com
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WELCOME TO CHEETAH PLAINS! THIS SAFARI GETAWAY FEATURES THREE SUSTAINABLY BUILT AND OPERATED VILLAS IN THE SABI SAND NATURE RESERVE NEAR KRUGER NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTH AFRICA. THEIR BESPOKE GETAWAYS OFFER AN EXCITING BLEND OF HIGH-END DESIGN AND ART, FINE DINING, AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.
Photo courtesy of Cheetah Plains
FEATURE 24 A Visual Masterpiece: Marisol Gullo Has a New Point of View
LA MAISON 23 36 Petite pause: The Avant Gardens 40 Beautiful, Bespoke Interiors: Baker Design Co. 46 Celebrating 30 Years of Livable Communities: E. F. San Juan and The Seaside Institute
Vie is a French word meaning “life” or “way of living.” VIE magazine sets itself apart as a high-gloss publication that focuses on human-interest stories with heart and soul. From Seattle to NYC with a concentration in the Southeast, VIE is known for its unique editorial approach—a broad spectrum of deep content with rich photography. The award-winning magazine was founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife team Lisa and Gerald Burwell, owners of the specialty publishing and branding house known as The Idea Boutique®. From the finest artistically bound books to paperless digital publication and distribution, The Idea Boutique provides comprehensive publishing services to authors and organizations. Its team of creative professionals delivers a complete publishing experience—all that’s needed is your vision.
PUBLISHED BY
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52 Style Sanctuary: Tips from a Celebrity Closet Designer for Ultimate Organization
56 A Timeless Design of Sense and Sensibility: Melanie Turner Interiors
62 The Art of Detail: Tile Trends for 2024 and Beyond
66 The Power of Color 70 Petite pause: pause: The Sphere Las Vegas
84 Country Club Chic: An Incomparable Oasis Awaits
90 From Paris to Portugal: Louboutin Unveils First Hotel
C’EST LA VIE CURATED COLLECTION 96 C’EST LA VIE SPECIAL EDITION: LINEN & SAND 102 SPECIAL REAL ESTATE EDITION: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE 109 110 A Love Letter to 30-A: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years in Real Estate
114 Transcending Real Estate: Helping You Find Your Magnetic North
120 Guiding Clients toward the Perfect Property 124 A Trusted Team: Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent
VOYAGER 73
THE LAST WORD 131
74 Eco-Chic Safari Adventures with
AU REVOIR! 135
Cheetah Plains
80 Christmas at the Wesley House: Experience the Holidays at Eden Gardens
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 13
CREATIVE TEAM CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CREATIVE DIRECTOR LISA MARIE BURWELL Lisa@VIEmagazine.com
FOUNDER / PUBLISHER GERALD BURWELL Gerald@VIEmagazine.com
EDITORIAL EDITOR JORDAN STAGGS Jordan@VIEmagazine.com
ASSISTANT EDITORS KELLY CURRY Kelly@VIEmagazine.com EMME MARTIN Emme@VIEmagazine.com
COPY EDITOR WENDY ANDERSON
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LISA ADAMS, LISA A XELSON, ANDRE DOMINICK, SARAH FREEMAN, ANTHEA GERRIE, CARRIE HONAKER, MYLES MELLOR, LINDA MILLER, CAROLYN O’NEIL, SUZANNE POLL AK, COLLEEN SACHS, XENIA TALIOTIS
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR SALLY NEAL Sally@VIEmagazine.com
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Jack Kirkendall
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS ANNA SIMPSON HANNAH VERMILLION
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS L AUREN ATHALIA, MEGHAN BOB, ABBIE BOLTON, HUNTER BURGTORF, KYLE CARPENTER, LYNN CROW, JASON ELLIS, CHAS GALLOWAY, JACK GARDNER, BRITTANY GODBEE, ED GUTENTAG, ALEX HALL, BRENNA KNEISS, JEFF L ANDRETH, CARLO PIERONI, ROMONA ROBBINS, AMBROISE TÉZENAS, DAVE WARREN, CHANDLER WILLIAMS, MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY, PAUL BRADY, SHUTTERSTOCK
ADVERTISING, SALES, AND MARKETING DIRECTOR OF MARKETING KELLY CURRY Kelly@VIEmagazine.com
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VIE is a registered trademark. All contents herein are Copyright © 2008–2023 Cornerstone Marketing and Advertising, Incorporated (Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. VIE is a lifestyle magazine and is published twelve times annually on a monthly schedule. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by state law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or the Publisher. VIE is a paid publication. Subscription rates: Printed magazine – One-year $29.95; Two-year $49.95. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.VIEmagazine.com.
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MODERN COASTAL CHIC Furniture, Art, Decor, Pots, Planters, and Fountains 16810 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 | (850) 775-1227 Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM
MAISON30A.COM | @MAISON30A
Editor’s Note
The MAKIN G of a COVER
I
Lisa Marie Burwell at the Gullos’ home in Churchill Oaks, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida Photo by Romona Robbins
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
t’s been said that the front cover is the most valuable real estate you can have within the pages of a magazine, with the back cover as its rival for the best placement. We strive to create the most eye-popping visuals to help tell our feature story as it acts as a lead for the other articles found within, setting the stage for your viewing and reading pleasure. We’ve had the privilege of printing 121 editions of VIE over the last fifteen years and have had some amazing covers. That said, there is a turning point every couple of years in our creative process where we decide to take the magazine in a new direction to keep its spirit alive and thriving as we evolve to the next level. We feel that the incomparable Marisol Gullo, dressed in Chanel from head to toe on this stunning backlit cascading staircase next to her adorable pup, Piper, does just that. Weeks and months before the magazine appears on the newsstands, our creative team is knee-deep in conjuring up ideas as we sit around a big table sharing what we want to see on our upcoming covers. It can take a few meetings before we finally decide which direction to head and what we want to say graphically and visually. The entire process is about telling a story, and we understand the importance of a cover, as it has an undeniable impact and presence on the life of a magazine. Once we land on the ethos of what we want to say, inspiration boards are created and finessed, locations are scouted, and props and styling are gathered to help create a space and place of what we want to create. Art directors, graphic designers, photographers, and filmmakers assemble to capture the perfect images and catch the behind-the-scenes outtakes that make
great Instagram stories. Curating wardrobe, hair, and makeup, catering for the crew on the day of the shoot, watching the weather, creating backup plans, and a plethora of tiny decisions must be made to capture that one moment we are looking for. Most of all, the team and camaraderie help bring and create the magic and, of course, lots of talent and passion. The result here is Marisol looking chic and confident as she heads into a new chapter of her life. Read all about it in our feature article, “A Visual Masterpiece: Marisol Gullo Has a New Point of View.” If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a cover picture of a magazine might even be worth two thousand. So hats off and bravo to a team of consummate professionals, including photographer Romona Robbins and videographer Mark Little, along with our cover girl for being the reason this cover has a little more cachet and a new attitude! Creating something new in a world where many things are copied makes me smile, and I see something new here—something fresh. Thank you, Marisol, for opening your home to a crew of twelve as we rearranged furniture, raided your closet of designer treasures (and a strong shoe game!), and felt welcomed in your peaceful and gorgeous abode. —To Life and Love!
—Lisa Marie CEO/Editor-in-Chief/Creative Director
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 17
The Creatives
We collaborate with talented photographers, writers, and other creatives on a regular basis, and we’re continually inspired by how they pour their hearts and souls into their crafts. Follow these creatives on social media, and remember to check out our account, @viemagazine.
LIBBY BAKER
I WANT A VISITOR TO WALK IN AND IMMEDIATELY FEEL WELCOMED AND COMFORTABLE.
Owner/Designer, Baker Design Co. @bakerdesignco
IN THIS ISSUE, WE ASKED THE CREATIVES: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OR SIGNATURE DESIGN ELEMENT TO UTILIZE WHEN CURATING A SPACE?
I would say my favorite design element when curating a space is to have a collection of items we compile from the client’s personal items or things we have procured to hang on a statement wall. It’s great when the collection is full of things that are sentimental to them. It could be a framed ticket stub from a bucket-list concert paired with a small painting they acquired on their travels, mixed in with family photography and items from their hobbies or interests, like water activities, traveling, or their children or pets!
EDWARD SAN JUAN President, E. F. San Juan @e.f.sanjuan
MARISOL GULLO Founder/Owner, Not Too Shabby @nottooshabbybymarisolgullo
Mixing metals! It is such a versatile design technique that can add depth and interest to a room. It involves incorporating different metal finishes and tones in the same space, such as using a combination of gold, silver, copper, or other metallic colors. There are two main reasons I love to do it: Visual Contrast—Mixing metals can create a pleasing visual contrast. It adds complexity and richness to the design by introducing a variety of textures, colors, and reflective surfaces. Balance and Harmony—When done thoughtfully, mixing metals can help establish balance and harmony in a space. By strategically placing different metal elements, you can create a sense of cohesion while avoiding a monotonous or overly uniform look.
ANNA SIMPSON Graphic Designer, The Idea Boutique/VIE @annasimpsondesign
When curating a space, my signature design element would be incorporating unique vintage pieces. These pieces could be ornate furniture or something as small as trinkets displayed on your coffee table. I think it’s important to have your space reflect your personality. For my own spaces, I always look for classic blue and white ceramic pieces, brass figures, and any artwork that includes vintage typography. Living spaces are just an extension of your personality. Pieces that are unique to you help give your home a little more soul and become storytellers in your space.
My wife and I have been married for thirty-five years. Our marriage works well because we delegate tasks according to our respective strengths and interests. As an accountant, she decided interior design fell in my realm of expertise; for better or worse, I have embraced this responsibility! I love the natural beauty of wood and original pieces of art. Our home is full of both. I like muted earth tones on the walls to serve as a neutral backdrop for the eclectic collection of art we have acquired over the years and to contrast against the natural wood tones of the ceiling, beams, and millwork within our home. Vibrant colored rugs on tile floors complete the warm, inviting feeling. I want a visitor to walk in and immediately feel welcomed and comfortable. If their timing is right, the rich aroma of French roast from a fresh brew of café con leche will entice them to sit down for a morning social.
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362 3 6 EM ER A L D COAST PA R KWAY, SUITE F, DESTIN, FL 32541 | (8 50) 8 37- 6 2 12
La conversation
Falling for Fall Sharing stories, memories, and laughs is at the heart of everything we do! If you have a fun fall adventure to share, be sure to tag VIE; we would love to see where this season takes our readers. Take a look at some recent experiences and stories below. Until next month, read responsibly!
@theideaboutique Our team here at The Idea Boutique is growing! Please join us in welcoming @mck6nna and @annanoellesimpson. McKenna is joining us as Digital Content Director, and Anna is joining us as a Graphic Designer. We could not be more excited to have them aboard. Welcome to the team, ladies!
@seaside_institue Have you read the October Influencer Issue of @viemagazine? The @seaside_institute is making waves. We just returned from London/Poundbury and are marveling at the influence and reach the Davis family has on towns across the globe. It makes us proud to come home to @seasidefl! Seaside is more than a town—it is a vision, a living laboratory, a movement. Video: @modusphoto and @mlittleproductions
@lisamburwell What a lovely stay @onealdwychhotel as we prepare for the 59th International Making Cities Livable conference in Poundbury, UK, developed by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales. It’s heralded as using best practices for creating a place with intent with New Urbanism principles birthed by the developer of the town of Seaside, Robert Davis. We’re here representing @seaside_institute. Photo: @coastalcam1
@viebookclub A street full of bookstores? Sign us up! Cecil Court in #London is also known as Booksellers’ Row. It has remained one of the city’s most distinctive shopping experiences for books, art, antiques, and curiosities since the 17th century. Our #VIEbookclub host @jordanlstaggs in front of Alice Through the Looking Glass. Photo: @coastalcam1
LET’S TALK! Send VIE your comments and photos on our social media channels or by emailing us at info@viemagazine.com. We’d love to hear your thoughts. They could end up in the next La conversation! @caringandsharingsowal Such a wonderful afternoon spent with our amazing community @monetmonetgardens30a! A big thank you to our generous sponsors and donors for our fall fashion show! Your support means the absolute world to us!
@wearedpz Many thanks to @viemagazine for the recent reflective-and-forward-looking feature on Seaside. DPZ remains privileged to work with the Davis family and the Seaside Institute on this mission of planning, design, and development innovation and reform.
VIEmagazine.com
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Introducing T H E CO U T URE COLLECT ION
Fine Jewelry Trunk Show | Friday, November 24 4 watercolor blvd s unit 4-101b, santa rosa beach, fl | (850) 420-8940 | marieleoni.com for special orders, please email hello@marieleoni.com.
La maison
Explore Turgeman’s work at RaiseTheMoral.com.
La maison WHERE THE HEART IS
Drawing inspiration from the intricate mycelial networks of nature, Moral Turgeman merges modern design with natural phenomena to create art. With a diverse background in global commissions and a unique multidisciplinary approach, her creations have garnered worldwide attention. Among them is the Caterpillar Chair. Crafted from mohair felt, this piece is visually captivating and technologically sophisticated. Through its sound vibration technology, sitters can feel tactile vibrations mirroring the mycelial network of mushrooms. Beyond mere aesthetics, the chair offers tangible health benefits such as lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, better sleep quality, and an enhanced sense of calm. Turgeman’s work isn’t just about beauty; it’s a holistic experience.
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La maison
A VISUAL MASTERPIECE
MARISOL GU LLO HAS A NEW POINT OF VIEW 24 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
BY LISA MARIE BURWELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMONA ROBBINS
A private sneak-peek tour in late May of artisan, designer, and entrepreneur Marisol Gullo’s new seven-thousandsquare-foot residence was a treat for the senses. The home, located in the stunning private community of Churchill Oaks in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, was still months away from being finished. Still, it was apparent even then that it would be something special and out of the ordinary. Marisol greeted us at the front door, dressed in paint-covered jeans, a sweater, and a chic beret with oversized black glasses, looking every bit the couture interior designer. As we were scouting her home for the cover and feature photo shoot for this issue, she was calm amid workers buzzing around us as they hurriedly went about their business; they would excuse themselves as they politely interrupted us to ask Marisol a few questions about the job site. Her composure and unfettered approach made this all look like a dance of organized chaos, and it was beautiful to watch. At that time, Marisol was a few weeks from getting the furniture and design part of the home’s journey underway. She could already clearly see it all in her head, exactly how it would look and the story it would tell. The completed house is a creation of her own making from the ground up, from digging the foundation to building and then curating every aspect. It’s a home with a point of view—her view. She and her husband, Tony, crafted and built this spectacular private oasis while working with Savoie Architects. No detail was spared, which is evident upon walking into the house. Multiple unique chandeliers, carefully curated artwork, bespoke furnishings, and high-end accessories grace nearly every room and outdoor space. Almost everything in the home is available at Not Too
Shabby, the Gullos’ designer furniture and home decor showroom with locations at 30Avenue lifestyle center in Inlet Beach and Highway 98 in Miramar Beach, Florida. There, she helps returning design clients and first-time customers alike find spectacular pieces for their homes or businesses. But while she works with her clients to make their visions come to life, the Churchill Oaks house is all Marisol. It’s not often you see a home from someone’s point of view, from concept to completion, but we were fortunate to witness that with this beautiful residence. Everything inside it stems from the things Marisol loves, displaying an artisan’s heart with exceptional taste. Beautiful in every way, this artist, designer, and builder has created a one-of-a-kind luxury couture home by employing the most exquisite wallpaper, Venetian plaster throughout, unique fixtures, and doors that scream European luxury, along with expansive ceiling heights that seem to touch the sky. The home is a true showstopper. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Marisol obtained her law degree at age twenty-one and was working in San José when she met Tony, a Las Vegas native visiting the city with his father. A year later, the couple married and moved to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, where they settled in and started a custom cabinetry and construction business. It wasn’t easy starting over, but Marisol did not want to go back and repeat law school to get accredited to practice in the States, so she reinvented herself instead.
Opposite: Artist, interior designer, and entrepreneur Marisol Gullo in the stairwell of her new custom-built home in the Churchill Oaks community in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
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La maison
”
Beautiful in every way, this artist, designer, and builder has created a one-ofa-kind luxury niche couture home.
The couple’s company grew swiftly, thanks to the area’s boom in population and new homes being built. They didn’t expect that Marisol’s new passion would also take off. She began working on custom furniture, doing faux finishes, and giving new life to consigned pieces—this was the genesis of Not Too Shabby. The idea for the showroom itself was sort of an accident, born when the duo realized that they had a refined taste for home goods from hosting yard sales at their home—they would sell out each time. It became clear they needed a retail space where they could sell a variety of home decor, furniture, art, and Marisol’s custom pieces, such as the gorgeous driftwood table she designed and finished, which is now a focal piece in their new home and was featured in the book HOME—Inspirations for Home and Life by VIE. Sophisticated and chic, Marisol says she fell in love with the area’s fine homes when she owned a cleaning business and always ensured she was doing the best job. She says she wanted to be better than anyone else, and it showed as she quickly grew her business to thirty employees. Marisol has a tenacious drive to reach her destiny and has all the makings of a success story in any endeavor she takes on, because she never gives up. Back then, she hadn’t known she was a gifted artist, but she started making some unique paintings that would sell out in the store, so she kept going and gained a reputation, even winning South Walton Artist of the Year in 2017. 26 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Left: The collection of incredible lighting, decor, furnishings, and more throughout the Gullos’ home can also be found at their decor and art showroom, Not Too Shabby, with locations in Miramar Beach and Inlet Beach, Florida. Opposite: With high ceilings, rich textures, and unique accessories throughout, this seven-thousandsquare-foot residence reflects Marisol’s artistic, luxury lifestyle through every space.
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Marisol and her pup, Piper, hanging out on the pool deck featuring tropical pops of color Opposite left: Fashion-forward wallpaper and whimsical light fixtures add fun to the chic powder room. Opposite right: Marisol with her husband and business partner, Tony Gullo
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La maison
”
I am a very determined person, and I keep going until I reach the next place that I’ve dreamed of going to. Marisol matter-of-factly says, “I am a very determined person, and I keep going until I reach the next place that I’ve dreamed of going to.” This virtue, coupled with movie-star good looks and a wardrobe that would give any celebrity a run for their money, makes the designer somewhat of a paradox. She’s lovely and approachable and can be intimidating at the same time, as she truly is a force to be reckoned with. Her determination and charisma led to the new evolution of Not Too Shabby, whose fitting motto is “Your Home. Your Life.” Influenced by her experience helping clients customize their homes, the next level of Marisol’s journey includes opening a new luxury designbuild firm with a new name to be announced soon.
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La maison
”
Multiple unique chandeliers, carefully curated artwork, bespoke furnishings, and high-end accessories grace nearly every room and outdoor space.
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La maison
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She and Tony, their son, Joshua, and French bulldog, Piper, will meanwhile be enjoying their lovely home outfitted for their beauty-inspired lifestyle. We are thrilled they so graciously shared it with us on these pages. Cheers to a well-designed life!
Visit NotTooShabbyByMarisolGullo.com to learn more, shop, or contact the designer, follow on Instagram @nottooshabbybymarisolgullo, and be sure to check out Marisol’s interview coming to VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart & Soul podcast, hosted by Lisa Marie Burwell, on November 7, 2023. Visit VIEmagazine.com/vie-speaks-conversationswith-heart-soul-podcast to see all episodes, or listen on your favorite podcast platform!
Opposite: Even with its luxurious feel and finishes, soft textures and a soothing palette make the home an inviting, relaxing oasis near the Choctawhatchee Bay. Below: Roy and Wendy Sembera, owners of the Churchill Oaks development, have carefully curated a private enclave for their homeowners and guests to enjoy amid stunning bay views, live oak trees, and beautiful landscaping.
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PRIVATE RESIDENCE Heritage Dunes, Seagrove Beach, Florida
114 Logan Lane, Suite 4, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 BurwellAssociates.com | (850) 231-6377 Florida LIC AA0003613
Blurring the lines between the natural and the cultivated, The Avant Gardens: Gardens Beyond Wild Expectations, Visionaries, and Landscape Architecture observes visionary and unusual gardens in all their varying forms. Exploring extraordinary landscape design, this gorgeous coffee-table book showcases a wide range of projects that reflect their locales’ shifting mindsets and cultures, challenging our notions of what a garden can be and how it can make us feel. Taking into consideration climate change and biodiversity, The Avant Gardens celebrates the cultivated natural world. The Avant Gardens, 2023 Edited by gestalten and John Tebbs Now available at gestalten.com.
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Petite pause
I would like to see gardening evolve to become more focused on its ability to connect us to nature, to be able to imagine a garden with less human ego rather than having a fixed construct of what a garden should be. —JOHN TEBBS V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 37
TIMELESS STYLES FOR THE BEACH & BEYOND
Visit Our 36,000-Square-Foot Showroom 9705 US-98, Mirmar Beach, Florida 32550 Sunday 12-5PM Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM
Coast-Furniture.com | (850) 424-6078
La maison
This private residence in the Burnt Pine golf community of Miramar Beach, Florida, features interiors by Baker Design Co.
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B Y J O R D A N S TA G G S
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P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B R I T TA N Y G O D B E E
Beautiful, Bespoke
Interiors “I think the biggest compliment I can ever receive is that Baker Design Co. does not have an ascribable signature look,” says interior designer Libby Baker Speight, who embarked upon her design career in 2006 after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi. “When we execute a job from start to finish, we work to bring out an individual or brand’s style through innovative design.” A clean slate is where she says all her projects begin, and she works closely with each client, be it an architect, homeowner, builder, or business, to determine the style and functionality needed for their lifestyle. Homes, offices, or other spaces should be both pleasing to the eye and easy to maneuver in, helping to make life a seamless relationship between interiors and the people who will be in them.
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La maison
From spec homes to commercial projects, Speight has designed numerous projects in the communities along Scenic Highway 30-A on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Some of her most recognizable projects include Black Bear Bread Co. in Grayton Beach and 30A Smiles dental office in Inlet Beach, plus multiple private residences. One recent project, a gorgeous home nicknamed “I’m Yours, No Refunds,” is located in the gated Burnt Pine golf community within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
This page and opposite: The home’s blue-andgray palette reflects the location near the Gulf Coast, while pops of color and patterns bring out the owners’ playful personalities. Opposite bottom: The homeowners are also fans of history and all things aquatic, so designer Libby Baker Speight and her team incorporated vintage nautical elements on the walls, including anchors, buoys, life vests, and turtle shells.
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Speight says the homeowners put a lot of trust in her to execute this complete renovation of the existing home, which they had recently purchased when they hired Baker Design Co. “We had only met through the real estate agents— Chris Abbott and Corey Ledbetter of Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty—on the project,” Speight says, “but when the owners gave us minimal direction, we ran with it! This home has had about five different owners until now, each with a different style expressed throughout. The new owners were interested in timeless style and longevity, leaving no detail untouched. We also wanted to make it fun and playful, like the clients’ sense of humor.”
The homeowners love the water, and the outdoors inspired the home’s blue-andgreen palette. “The wife grew up in South Florida, so water and natural light were important to her,” the designer shares. “The husband’s wish list included quality products and character. He loves items with history and a story. We incorporated several vintage items throughout the home in prominent places—one to note was a 1920s green turtle shell procured from an estate in Chicago. It is currently displayed in the dining room on the shell wall. A few others are the reclaimed barn door from Europe in the master bedroom, the vintage porthole we incorporated into the butler’s pantry door, and several vintage maritime accessories like brass propellers, life vests, flippers, and more, which we grouped into collections for wall art.” Family was also a central focus for the clients, who wanted to ensure the home was welcoming, with areas designed for everyone to gather in without feeling crowded. “We focused on making the outdoor space super entertainment-friendly,” Speight says. “We added a cabana area with a hanging daybed for relaxing close to the action, a fire pit and seating area down by the hot tub, and a TV nearby for a fun footballwatching spot. We also opened up the existing kitchen layout to make a large family gathering spot away from the more formal living room. It’s an awesome spot for entertaining and watching the grandkids in the pool from a splash-free zone.”
“When we execute a job from start to finish, we work to bring out an individual or brand’s style through innovative design.”
Many of the art and accessories came from local shops or vendors, Speight shares. This is a feature in all Baker Design Co. projects. “As a designer and small business owner, it is always important for me to make sure we support other local businesses as much as possible while still achieving the desired look for the client,” she explains. “We achieved that goal in this house with the local art throughout the home and by working with custom local craftsmen for the cabinetry and the metalwork.” Art pieces by Allison Wickey, Mark Little, Bradley Copeland, and Katherine Wirth (of Atlanta) adorn the home. Local artisans involved include Creative Metalworks, cabinetry by William Whaley of Custom Re-Creations & Millwork, Sellers Tile, landscape design by Callie Barker of Callie & Co. and installation by Brad Davis, and contracting by JD Coleman of Coleman Renovation + Remodeling. “I’m Yours, No Refunds” is also a smart home with technology integrated throughout, such as hidden USB ports and charging areas in the kitchen island and the sectional sofa in the family room. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 43
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Speight, along with her junior designer Kaitlyn Gosse and director of logistics and procurement Rachel Whaley, can undoubtedly be proud of the result: a colorful, playful-yet-timeless residence that combines beauty, form, and function.
Visit BakerDesignCo.com to learn more or see more projects.
A TOWN OF IDEAS You can’t finish a city in a day or a lifetime. All you can do is start. Rome was not built in a day but has actually spanned thousands of years. Seaside on, the other hand, has been continually created for 40 years as of 2023. — robert davis
Seaside Founder/Visionary
Photo by Dave Warren
inspiring livable communities
168 Smolian Circle, PO Box 4875 | (850) 231-2421 | SeasideInstitute.org To become a member of a consortium of thoughts and ideas with great thinkers to improve our world, please visit www.seasideinstitute.org
E . F. S A N J U A N S P O N S O R S 2024 SEASIDE PRIZE WEEKEND
CELEBRATING
30 Years
of L I V A B L E COMMUNITIES
Seaside’s Central Square Photo courtesy of Seaside, Florida 46 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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The Seaside Institute is poised to commemorate its thirtieth anniversary in a grand manner, bringing together visionaries who have shaped the landscape of livable communities through the prestigious 2024 Seaside Prize. This celebration, scheduled for February 2–4, 2024, promises a weekend filled with insightful symposia and events under the theme “New Urbanism: Frontiers Remain.” At the heart of this extraordinary event lies the recognition of Victor Dover and Joe Kohl, the founders of Dover, Kohl & Partners, a Miami-based town-planning firm established in 1987. As reformers, revitalizers, and champions of better collaborative methods in city planning, Dover and Kohl have profoundly impacted urban development. Their approach has been defined as “visualizing change before it occurs.” Their vivid illustrations have motivated investments in older neighborhoods, utilizing historic principles in neighborhood design to create beautiful, well-functioning places. They emphasize meaningful citizen involvement in city planning reform, believing pride in one’s community can bring positive change. As an urban designer, town planner, and futurist, Victor Dover seamlessly blends design excellence with community engagement, leaving an indelible mark on urban planning projects worldwide. Dover is also a five-time Ironman triathlete and coauthor of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns.
Above: E. F. San Juan president Edward San Juan Photo by Jack Gardner Left: The Seaside Prize Key Photo courtesy of The Seaside Institute
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Above: Three generations of E. F. San Juan craftsmen: Edward A. San Juan, Ed F. San Juan, and Eddie San Juan Photo by Kyle Carpenter Right: Seaside Prize 2024 recipients Joseph Kohl and Victor Dover of Dover, Kohl & Partners Photos courtesy of Dover, Kohl & Partners Opposite: The Chapel at Seaside, featuring custom millwork by E. F. San Juan Photos by Brenna Kneiss 48 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Joe Kohl’s dedication to innovative design and sustainable practices has brought solutions to various problematic situations. He wears multiple hats, including business owner, code writer, park designer, and futurist, even famously exploring how New Urbanism can extend beyond our world! The Seaside Institute will officially present the Seaside Prize to Dover and Kohl at the awards ceremony on February 3, 2024, hosted by Seaside founder Robert Davis. The ceremony will take place at The Chapel at Seaside, marking the central event of a weekend dedicated to reflection, celebration, and inspiration. In tandem with these celebrations, E. F. San Juan, Inc., a leading architectural millwork company, has taken a prominent role as the Keystone Sponsor of the 2024 Seaside Prize Weekend. Their craftsmanship and dedication will be showcased by creating a hand-crafted box enclosure for the Seaside Prize Key, symbolizing their shared commitment to excellence and the art of design.
E. F. San Juan’s founder and CEO, Ed F. San Juan, and company president, Edward A. San Juan, will craft these bespoke key enclosures for the winners. Edward will also lead events during the weekend, educating attendees on custom moulding and millwork in alignment with New Urbanism beauty standards in building construction. E. F. San Juan’s legacy in woodworking traces back to the mid-1900s, with three family generations of excellence evolving from modest facilities to a state-of-theart production plant based in Youngstown, Florida. They continue to set the standard for quality architectural millwork in towns throughout Florida’s coastal regions and beyond, with work prominently showcased in many New Urbanist communities, including Seaside, Alys Beach, WaterColor, and more. As a testament to their significant contributions to architectural excellence, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt of Khoury Vogt Architects will also play a role in the Seaside Prize Weekend. As Town Architects of Alys Beach, they share a profound partnership with E. F. San Juan, whose team has provided custom millwork, windows, and doors for many custom homes and commercial spaces by KVA.
The 2024 Seaside Prize Weekend promises to be a celebration of visionary leadership, architectural excellence, and the enduring commitment to creating livable communities.
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Marieanne and Erik’s work spans architecture, interior design, and urban planning and has received numerous regional and national awards. Notably, they will be the featured panelists at an Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) lecture titled “Creating A Classic: Exploring Timeless Collaborations In Architecture & Design” on November 15, 2023, at Authentic Provence in West Palm Beach, Florida. The lecture will showcase the firm’s contribution to classical architecture as they discuss the creative process across the professions of architecture, interior design, and landscape. They will highlight their Addison Mizner Awardwinning projects and talk about their collaborations with partners like E. F. San Juan through engaging conversation and imagery. E. F. San Juan, Alys Beach, Weather Shield, and Loewen are among the evening’s sponsors. Visit FLclassicist.org to learn more or get tickets.
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“In Surf We Trust” custom home in Seaside, Florida, featuring custom millwork by E. F. San Juan Photo by Romona Robbins
Marieanne Khoury-Vogt will also lead a tour of Alys Beach during the Seaside Prize Weekend, offering a unique insight into the classical architectural beauty of this coastal gem. The 2024 Seaside Prize Weekend promises to be a celebration of visionary leadership, architectural excellence, and the enduring commitment to creating livable communities. In honoring Victor Dover, Joe Kohl, and their exemplary contributions to urban planning, the event also recognizes the craftsmen at E. F. San Juan and the architectural mastery of Khoury Vogt Architects and more, creating a tapestry of inspiration that points the way forward to more beautiful, sustainable, and connected communities.
SEASIDE PRIZE 2024 LINEUP KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, DPZ PRIZE RECIPIENTS: Victor Dover and Joseph Kohl, Dover, Kohl & Partners SPEAKERS: Phillip Stoddard, Former Mayor of South Miami; John Simmerman, Founder of Active Towns; Allan Branch, Investor and Entrepreneur – Panama City, Florida; John Massengale and Victor Dover, Authors – Street Design TOWN TOURS AND EXPERIENCES: Seaside Tour with Robert Davis, Micah Davis, and Larry Davis; Rosemary Beach Tour with Andrés Duany and Bret Azzarelli; Alys
For more information or to get tickets to the 2024 Seaside Prize Weekend, visit SeasideInstitute.org and follow on social media @seaside_institute. To learn more about E. F. San Juan or see their projects, visit EFSanJuan.com and follow on Instagram @e.f.sanjuan. 50 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Beach Tour with Marieanne Khory-Vogt; Brunch at Caliza Restaurant and Celebration of Alys Beach’s 20th Anniversary; Celebration dinner at Bud & Alley’s in Seaside
W A L K I N G T O U R S : S E A S I D E | A LY S B E A C H | R O S E M A R Y B E A C H
f the Seaside ro In o st ns
side Prize ™ Sea te itu
24 KeyStone S 20 po
D I N N E R AT B U D & A L L E Y ’S H O N O R I N G V I C TO R D OV E R A N D J OS E P H KO H L
Celebrating the 30th Annual
SEASIDE PRIZE WEEKEND™ HOSTED BY THE SEASIDE INSTITUTE™ February 2nd - 4th, 2024
T I C K E TS ON SAL E NOW PR ES E N T IN G KEYSTONE S P ONSOR
www. s e a s id e ins t i t ut e . o r g
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Tips from a Celebrity Closet Designer for Ultimate Organization Courtesy of Lisa Adams, L.A. Closet Design Photography by Meghan Bob 52 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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e’ve all seen those aspirationally organized closets on home decorating shows and thought, “That’s nice, but it could never be me.” With perfect lighting, meticulously organized accessories, and a clear view of every item, these closets allow us to imagine a life where getting dressed is much easier. Enter Los Angeles-based closet designer Lisa Adams. She has turned this dream of effortless elegance and organizational bliss into reality for her fortunate clients through her company, L.A. Closet Design. Drawing from her design background and a keen aesthetic eye, Adams optimizes space while attentively meeting her clients’ needs. Her philosophy is simple: she is dedicated to cultivating peace and beauty within spaces that often lean toward chaos, emphasizing that closets don’t have to be unruly. With high-profile names like the Kardashians, Reese Witherspoon, and many more on her client roster, her approach clearly resonates with those with an eye for fashion. Lucky for us, Adams has shared her top ten tips that anyone can implement to introduce more function and sophistication into their daily dressing routine. These versatile tips are helpful for closets of all sizes and contents. After all, since getting ready often feels like an Olympic feat, why not set ourselves up for success?
PURGE REGULARLY You want to ensure the items you bring into your dream dressing room are genuinely the pieces you love and will wear! If something doesn’t fit or isn’t being worn, take action. Tailor it, donate it, or consign it!
INVEST IN THE RIGHT HANGERS Investing in hangers is an easy way to elevate your closet’s look instantly. Not to mention, using proper hangers for sweaters, suits, and outerwear will extend the life of your clothes.
INSTALL VALET RODS EVERYWHERE YOU CAN The secret weapon for a functional closet is the valet rod. A valet rod is a pull-out rod or bar installed to provide temporary hanging space. They usually retract or push back into the side of the closet when not in use to save space. Every closet needs at least one; if you have room, the more, the merrier.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR DRAWERS Outfitting drawers with appropriate compartments makes your life so much easier. You can find smaller items like jewelry, wallets, clutches, and matching socks much faster. Partitioning deeper drawers for folded tees, sweaters, and sweats means never having to dig.
CREATE A STAGING AREA Staging areas are great for keeping your closet organized! I like to design a dedicated spot for clients to hang new and incoming pieces or to stage their looks. This ensures items don’t get lost in the closet, making getting dressed or packing for a trip much more accessible.
HAVE A SYSTEM I like to organize clients’ clothing by style and color, so finding the piece you’re looking for is always easy! Whatever your system is, stick to it. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 53
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GOOD LIGHTING IS CRUCIAL I like incorporating lots of lighting in the closet, with functional in-cabinet and decorative fixtures. You want to be sure the lighting temperature is correct so you can distinguish the color of your clothes. Wherever possible, automated lighting is a great addition.
ACCESSIBILITY IS KEY If you can’t see something in your closet, you won’t wear it. Easy access to everything in the closet has to be a top priority. This means having shelves that pull out so you can access the items in the back, hanging rods that lower for easier reach, and sliding ladders to make the upper areas of your closet more usable.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS Often, accessories are the most valuable pieces in our closets, and they end up overlooked! Care for your designer bags with properly sized purse pillows and appropriate shelf heights so nothing gets crushed or creased. Incorporate safes, watch winders, and suede jewelry inserts to secure all your valuables. MAKE THE CLOSET A PLACE YOU WANT TO BE This means incorporating creature comforts like beverage stations, vanities, TVs, and seating areas. The more you take pride in your closet and want to be in the space, the more incentive you’ll have to keep it organized!
Visit LAClosetDesign.com to learn more or book a consultation with Lisa Adams or her teams in LA, NYC, Aspen, and Nashville. 54 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Her philosophy is simple: she is dedicated to cultivating peace and beauty within spaces that often lean toward chaos, emphasizing that closets don’t have to be unruly.
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SENSE & SENSIBILITY
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B Y Jordan Staggs P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U R T E SY O F Melanie Turner Interiors
Left: Interior designer Melanie Turner
“I had an award and a magazine cover but no clients,” laughs Atlanta-based interior designer Melanie Turner, who has curated interiors for fine custom homes since 2009.
Below and opposite: Turner’s designs often feature bold colors and a mix of contemporary and unique furnishings and accessories.
At the time, she was driving to construction sites with her husband, Stan, who is a developer, and would assist in crafting the interiors for his projects through his company, Benecki Homes. She had just won her first (of three) Southeastern Designer of the Year awards from Atlanta Decorative Arts Center and designed Architectural Digest’s 2010 Kitchen of the Year, but had yet to open her own business. “This was all during the real estate recession, and, in my mind, I had nowhere to go but up. I decided to put my design degree to good use and opened Melanie Turner Interiors.” She reveals that her keen eye for detail and penchant for creating spaces that just work were honed long before she made it her career. “I feel like I’m fortunate I see things three-dimensionally—something I didn’t realize as a kid,” she explains. Turner moved to Florida at age three as one of nine immigrants in her family (plus a Welsh terrier) who voyaged from Southhampton on the Queen Mary. Her family members are also creative, she says, and their home was often full of music, poetry, and art, which influenced her desire to make something from nothing. Even at a young age, she had a photographic memory for spaces and says she was, and still is, “always observing, always thinking about how to live better in a home.” V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 57
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We create spaces that are comfortable, function effortlessly, and are never underdecorated or overdesigned.
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fter opening her eponymous interior design firm in 2010 on the heels of some impressive accolades and press, things have only escalated. She has designed homes across the Southeast and beyond. Participating in show home projects across the US has given her perspective on why she loves the Atlanta and Northwest Florida coastal regions so much. “Atlanta has such a wealth of great resources and products; we are able to bring that to the beach and easily share with our clients there,” she says. One of those design resources, SOURCE, holds a particularly special place in Turner’s projects: the “one-stop shop” for architectural elements and finishes was cofounded by her daughter, Cydney Mitchell. SOURCE offers a place where design professionals can find tile, hard surfaces, ceramic components, finishes, and more, all in one high-end showroom. Turner says the business was inspired by the desire to bridge the “disconnect between architects, designers, and builders” so they can collaborate more closely with the help of the SOURCE team. Collaboration, of course, is vital to the success of any home project, whether it is a new build, the renovation of a historic property, or anything in between. Turner also works closely from the beginning stages with the homeowners to get a feel for their lifestyle, needs, and desires before she works her magic. “We create spaces that are comfortable, function effortlessly, and are never underdecorated or overdesigned. We’re different from most designers in that we like to shop at international antique markets to add unique pieces to each home. One-of-a-kind pieces in a house make it special, and accessories and art take it to another level.” 58 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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ather than having a signature look as a designer, she works with her clients to build upon what they like and need to suit their lives within the house. This is especially fun, Turner says, in largely second-home markets like the beach communities along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A, where she has spent a lot of time since visiting the New Urbanist community of Seaside in the 1980s. “I had studied New Urbanism in school and came to Seaside, then bought a house in Rosemary Beach in the late 1990s,” Turner shares. “It was just a great, natural fit for me to do business in the area. I love working on secondary homes because they show the true character of the owners—how they really want to live when they’re on
vacation, without the typical expectations of everyday life and work. The owners have much more fun here. I also love the caliber of the professionals found along the Gulf Coast, from world-class architects to builders and developers.” Turner works with those professionals from the ground up on her projects, which is one reason she says hiring a professional interior designer is a must for any high-end custom home. “I look at a house and want to work with the team to ensure it is, firstly, architecturally integral to the area, and, secondly, that it runs functionally, like a business. If you’re thoughtful and purposeful when creating your home, it enables you to live better—life becomes more effortless.” V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 59
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till, form and function go hand in hand, and style is never sacrificed in a Melanie Turner home. “I love persuading clients to get more creative and not so cookie-cutter,” she expounds. “I’m there to jump in and say, ‘Let’s raise the bar and not be scared.’ I want to make your house feel like you, unique and different from any other.” Working on homes at the beach comes with different challenges and “rules” than in Atlanta or around the country. Turner says in a Gulf-front home, for example, you have to “be very conscious that the light here is very blue, due to the water and the types of windows often used. Paint colors that work elsewhere wouldn’t work here.” She also recommends creating rooms for different moods and feelings to aid in winding down after a long day in the sun. “We do a lot of monochrome and darker spaces in beach homes, especially for children; having that in a bunk room or den can promote calm and relaxation.” One more essential she recommends is the “beach room”—like a mudroom, it’s a space just inside the house that acts like a holding area for toys, flip flops, towels, beach bags, and more, keeping those items contained and ideally preventing them being left all over the house or misplaced.
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One-of-a-kind pieces in a house make it special, and accessories and art take it to another level.
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orking with artists and art dealers to find the perfect pieces for her clients is also central to Turner’s process of creating inviting interiors. Jackson Fine Art, Todd Murphy, and America Martin are a few she turns to repeatedly, while vintage pieces and heirlooms from homeowners round out a space and ground it, creating a mix of new and old that feels fresh and timeless. With some beautiful projects coming up in the communities of Alys Beach and Redfish Village, Turner is also still celebrating her recent 30A Showhouse, a collaboration with Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles that was unveiled this summer in the new 30-A neighborhood of Santimo. Proceeds from tours and events hosted at the home benefited local nonprofits Alaqua Animal Refuge, Children’s Volunteer
Health Network, and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. The home’s bold, colorful interiors showcased a truly unique yet functional lifestyle for guests to aspire to at the beach and beyond. Fans can also find many of Turner’s projects in her beautiful coffee-table book, Inviting Interiors, in which the designer “shares her secrets for creating understated, sophisticated, and functional rooms. Balance, scale, light, and subtle coloration all factor into her designs, creating a timeless effect.” Dive in and get inspired!
Visit MelanieTurnerInteriors.com or follow her on Instagram @melanieturnerinteriors to learn more and see more projects. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 61
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THE ART OF DETAIL T I L E T R E N D S F O R 2 0 2 4 A N D B E YO N D
STORY COURTESY OF Sellers Tile
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOUSE AND A HOME—OR BETTER YET, A DREAM HOME—LIES IN THE
details.
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rom beautiful crown mouldings to personalized decor, seemingly small things can make a huge impact when a residence is complete. They might be subtle enough that one does not immediately recognize them upon entry. Still, the overall feeling of a home with custom details throughout will be warmer, more inviting, and more aesthetically pleasing. Tile is often one of the standout details homeowners love for a wow factor, and the experts at Sellers Tile in North Florida and South Georgia love helping interior designers, architects, builders, and homeowners choose the perfect tile for any space. Since opening its doors in 1965 in Albany, Georgia, Sellers Tile has been dedicated to transforming houses into homes throughout the Southeast by providing quality materials, including tile, flooring, and countertops in select locations. The company’s flourishing reputation has come from working closely with professionals every step of the way for any home or commercial project, from selection to installation. In 1986, Rodney Fickel acquired Sellers Tile. Under Rodney’s ownership, Sellers has retained its hometown charm throughout the years while expanding throughout
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Georgia and Florida. It now has showrooms in six locations, including Albany, Macon, Columbus, Tallahassee, Eastpoint, and Santa Rosa Beach. Growing up, Stewart Fickel, Rodney’s son, knew he wanted to carry on the legacy of Sellers. After working in the Albany warehouse during high school and graduating from Auburn University in 2004, he joined the family business and eventually became the CEO. “Sellers has been importing tile from manufacturers throughout five different countries for over thirty years,” Stewart shares. “We stock all setting materials and supply your project from start to finish. With our gallery-inspired showroom and expansive warehouse, we provide a unique experience for all our clients.” The design team at Sellers explains that elements get reinvented year after year. Tile is often where interior design begins, as it is one of the most versatile and decorative elements of the home. It is a constant evolution of shapes, sizes, materials, colors, and patterns. Let’s take a look at some of the top trends in tile for 2024 and beyond, curated by the team at Sellers Tile:
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Tile is often where interior design begins, as it is one of the most versatile and decorative elements of the home. TEXTURED FINISHES The movement in the tile industry is shifting to more textured and handmade surfaces, giving less of a factory feel and one that’s more irregular and improper. From reeded, concave, and raked surfaces to raised subtle detailing, these looks give tile more depth and add dimension to a space.
WARM AND ORGANIC COLORS With color inspiration from nature, terra-cotta tiles are back in action. As a staple in European home building, it was the only clay product used until around the fourteenth century. These tiles can only be finished one at a time, so no two look alike. The unique history and culture of this earthenware clay make it a highly sought-after design element in a home.
CL AY TILES Speaking of clay tiles, the front-runner of clay options is the handmade Moroccan Zellige. From its roots in North Africa, this distinct style has made its way across the world. It is rugged and refined in its shape, pattern, and size. With the ability to be installed on nearly any surface, these handmade tiles’ craftsmanship is truly special.
CHECKERBOARD This classic and timeless look is here to stay. The traditional black-and-white palette, or a cast of warmer tones in this pattern, gives a cozy ambience to a home. Various sizes and material options allow you to create a unique look for every house with checkerboard.
BOLD, NATURAL STONES With strong veining and soft features, marble has it all. The statement stones currently are marbles like Calacatta Viola, Lilac, and Verde Green. Viola features a soft, creamy white background with rich, red wine-colored veining. Lilac, being highly dramatic with its deep jetting plum striations, will make you feel like you are falling in love. Ranging from mint to deep moss, Verde marble will be sure to draw the gaze of every eye. 64 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
THE BIGGER, THE BETTER Large format tiles have taken over. These provide a slab-like look with minimal grout lines. They are offered in a variety of styles, finishes, and sizes. You can achieve the effect of a cement, wood, or marble look with large tile, and are certainly not limited to these styles. The world is essentially your oyster with these!
FOR COASTAL HOMES In our desirable coastal area, outdoor living is a bonus and can be brought indoors through selections of tile. People flock to the Gulf Coast from all different backgrounds, bringing culture and diversity to the local design style. The Sellers team often creates spaces that reflect this coastal lifestyle—white, blue, and green are the area’s natural color palette. One can mix in the history and background of other cultures using elements like clay, Mexican tile, and marble to inspire a grounding and calming atmosphere in the home. Using a neutral color palette with various surfaces will provide depth and movement, creating a design that stands the test of time.
Visit SellersTile.com to learn more and shop brands, or find the Sellers Tile showroom at 2820 US Highway 98 West, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 32459. Call (850) 622-9797 for more information. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 65
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BY SUZANNE POLLAK
THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN A MUSEUM STANDING IN FRONT OF YOUR FAVORITE PAINTING, THINK ABOUT HOW THE ARTIST USED COLOR TO CREATE THE MOOD AND, AS A RESULT, ALSO TO SHAPE THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT YOU FEEL.
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Below: The iconic townhomes of Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina
rom the soft, airy colors used by impressionists to represent the natural life outdoors to the concentrated color rectangles—almost vibrating—used in Rothko’s later works, artists use color to convey human emotions, and not just ours, but their own. The colors we use to paint our homes are no different: our palette choices create a mood, evoke emotions, and communicate with us, whether we live there or are just visiting. The decisions we make about interior color are hugely important. While furniture and other objects support the room’s purpose, color brings it together. When it comes to your home, first consider the proportions of the room, then the color, then what’s in the room. In Africa, where my family lived in dozens of US government-owned houses, we carried our furniture and belongings with us, including bookshelves to hold the thousands of books and records my father collected. But we unpacked without ever changing the interiors: each house had the same bland wall color. I suppose it was because, in those tropical and subtropical climates, the color was outside, in the gardens and views. As a result, when I had my own house to design, wall color remained a mystery. I was color clueless. But at the time, I figured, “How hard could this be?” If I like light gray, why not use that? However, when the color went on the wall (I was too inexperienced to test different shades), the gray was uninspired and didn’t move me. The truth is, at the time, I didn’t know about the connection between color and the experience you have living with it—my understanding of the role of color came years later.
In my next house, I was under the tutelage of architect Jay Dalgliesh, whose work transformed many historic properties throughout the East and Southeast Coasts. When Jay suggested apricot paint for the dining room walls, I had my first color epiphany. The apricot shade he chose was distinctive enough to highlight the architectural details but also luminous and softly complementary for everyone who sat in that room, an elegant backdrop for entertaining. Then we painted a tiny upstairs study forest green, and reading in that dark forest space felt totally different than eating in the dining room with the lighter, enhancing color. The deep green room made me feel focused and cocooned, while in the joyful apricot dining room, my mood shifted to social. I could easily understand how each color supported the use of each room—I guess you could say I saw the light. My learning curve increased dramatically when I was lucky enough to work with Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl, pioneers in the field of architectural V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 67
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IT’S THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, AND COLOR PLAYS A VITAL AND REWARDING ROLE IN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THAT SHARED LIFE. Two years ago, Maurice made a color suggestion for two rooms in my little Charleston house. The change brought a bit of gravitas and a lot of sophistication, surprising in such a small space and unassuming house. The color showcases the objects—a weird mix of 1920s American paintings, eighteenth-century Chinese porcelain, English silver, and African art—and ties them together into a harmonious, if eclectic, whole. The colors, a luminous golden wall hue and a blue-gray ceiling (Benjamin Moore CW 380 Massicot and 717 Paradiso), create an exotic, unique, and elegant mood. Initially, I felt like I was living inside a pumpkin. Then I realized Maurice had turned the place into a jewel box.
color who are widely known for designing palettes for unique locations and geographies. We applied their expertise in restoring a 1780 antebellum mansion made of tabby (often called “coastal concrete” for its use of sand and oyster shells) in Beaufort, South Carolina, and the colors they chose for our house were stunning. Flowing seamlessly from room to room, the colors shifted slightly (subtly changing the mood) during the time of day and seasons of the year, all depending on the outside light, thanks to the way the Dahls formulated their paint. My third color professor was extraordinary jewelry designer James de Givenchy in our Charleston Rainbow Row house. As someone who understands the contrast of gemstones against metals, James played with layers of colors, choosing pale sapphire hues for connecting living rooms and ruby red for a tiny powder room, with all Venetian plaster, which made the spaces glow with elegance. The stairwell color was James’s little joke; he chose a classic color called “Paris Rain,” a soft gray with a tiny touch of green, so we could have a little chic Parisian cloudy sky in our beautiful city, even if in name only. I was lucky to learn under several passionate colorists, but I still have more to learn. Now it’s Maurice Bernstein’s turn to teach; he is a superb interior designer whose career started in the 1960s—with more years of experience than anyone I know. 68 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Now Maurice is advising me on a 1920 Duncan Leedesigned house in Richmond, Virginia. While not fancy or large, the house has lovely architectural details of paneling, arches, and moulding—not too much, but just right, as you would expect from a superb architect like Lee, one of the city’s most respected professionals whose signature designs often combined elements from the Colonial Revival and American Arts and Crafts movements. And we certainly want to choose the right color palette to highlight those distinctive accents. Choosing colors to live with reminds me of cooking dinner. Both are creative endeavors, and I find creativity to be one of the joys of domestic pursuits. With every choice we make, from what’s for dinner tonight to which interior design will continue to please, we create our life—how we feel where we eat, sleep, and communicate with family and friends. It’s the foundation for everything else, and color plays a vital and rewarding role in laying the groundwork for that shared life.
Suzanne Pollak, a mentor and lecturer in the fields of home, hearth, and hospitality, is the founder and dean of the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits. She is the coauthor of Entertaining for Dummies, The Pat Conroy Cookbook, and The Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits: A Handbook of Etiquette with Recipes. Born into a diplomatic family, Pollak was raised in Africa, where her parents hosted multiple parties every week. Her South Carolina homes have been featured in the Wall Street Journal Mansion section and Town & Country magazine. Visit CharlestonAcademy.com or contact her at Suzanne@CharlestonAcademy.com to learn more.
F O U N D AT I O N S
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F U R N I S H I N G S
PHO T O G R A P H Y B Y C L A UDIA CAS B AR IAN W I T H JU L IE S OE F E R
C o m m e r c i a l • Re s i d e n t i a l • N e w C o n s t r u c t i o n • F u l l - S e r v i c e D e s i g n OwenGroupInteriors.com • 713.515.0380
Petite pause
It’s a canvas of an unparalleled scale and image resolution and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. —THE EDGE, U2
By now, you’ve probably seen the newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip skyline: the Sphere. This revolutionary entertainment venue, interactive museum, and architectural feat has been filling our social media feeds since U2 performed at its inaugural concert on September 29. Guests who visit the Sphere will be immersed in a world of holographic images, beamforming sound displays, multisensory films, and incredible live entertainment within the dome-shaped amphitheater. The U2 residency in the globe-shaped, LED-adorned venue runs until February 18, 2024. Visit TheSphereVegas.com to learn more or get tickets. Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
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SEE THE WORLD
Discover the revamped White Elephant Nantucket at WhiteElephantNantucket.com. Photo courtesy of White Elephant Nantucket
Step into a world of timeless elegance at the White Elephant Nantucket, which has recently unveiled its multimilliondollar facelift. Situated on Nantucket’s untouched shores, this iconic resort is a testament to a century of luxury. In honor of its centennial anniversary, the resort has thoughtfully updated and expanded its legacy property. Within its walls, visitors will discover artisan-crafted furnishings curated in collaboration with Arhaus. Every design element resonates with Nantucket’s storied past and maritime traditions. The White Elephant, embracing modern sophistication and historical charm, invites guests to experience a new chapter of its enduring story.
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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Eco-Chic Safari Adventures W I T H C H E E TA H P L A I N S
WHERE LUXURY MEETS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Interview by Emme Martin | Photography courtesy of Cheetah Plains he Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, the oldest private game reserve in South Africa and the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism, sets the stage for an extraordinary journey. In this remarkable environment lies Cheetah Plains, a contemporary safari lodge that combines luxury and sustainability. Established in 2018, Cheetah Plains has garnered renown for its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship while immersing guests in the area’s pristine natural beauty. Nestled within a landscape of unparalleled biodiversity, Cheetah Plains offers a unique opportunity to witness South Africa’s wildlife in its natural
magnificence. The lodge elevates the safari experience to new heights, providing luxurious accommodations that blend modern architecture and amenities with a profound reverence for the environment. The private bushveld villas redefine notions of privacy and comfort, each attended by dedicated teams ensuring every guest’s needs are met and exceeded. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, from meticulously curated artistry to the finest luxury finishes. Cheetah Plains is more than just a visual marvel. It stands as an innovator in preserving and nurturing the diverse Sabi Sand ecosystem. Embracing a resolute zero-carbon emission stance, the lodge deploys
electric safari vehicles that glide silently through the bush, leaving only a minimal ecological footprint in their wake. These efforts exemplify the property’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, allowing guests to form a profound connection with the untamed landscape. In our conversation with the founder of Cheetah Plains, Japie van Niekerk, we delve into the lodge’s distinctive approach to luxury and sustainability in safari travel. We explore the unique design of the exclusive villas, the diverse array of activities available to guests, and some of the most unforgettable wildlife encounters awaiting those who venture to this remarkable destination.
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VIE: What inspired your vision for Cheetah Plains, and how does it cater to guests seeking a unique and personal travel experience? Japie van Niekerk: My vision for Cheetah Plains stemmed from my preference for travel. I’ve always cherished moments spent with my family and friends, deeply immersed in breathtaking surroundings, creating lasting memories, all in the luxury of privacy. This philosophy is evident in every corner of Cheetah Plains. My passion for South African fine art and our country’s exceptional wines is showcased throughout the villas. I’ve personally curated every piece of artwork and selected each varietal, and it’s an honor to share these collections with our guests. With its inception in 2018, Cheetah Plains was designed as an oasis of luxury and environmental consciousness, offering guests an unparalleled opportunity to experience the beauty of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
VIE: How do the design and architecture of the three exclusive villas contribute to guests’ experience and connection to nature? JVN: Each of our villas is strategically nestled within the bush, allowing for unique experiences: one overlooks a dam teeming with hippos, while others are positioned near active waterholes. Cheetah Plains was designed to amplify the sensation of being deeply connected to the wilderness, blending the outdoors and indoors.
VIE: What distinguishes Cheetah Plains from other game reserves in the region? JVN: Cheetah Plains stands out because it emphasizes a private and tailored experience. Our guests reside in exclusive villas, each with a devoted staff to ensure their comfort. This personal touch extends to privately curated safaris, wine tastings, and dining. Unlike many other lodges, we don’t offer communal or shared activities, which differentiates Cheetah Plains.
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“Cheetah P lains was designed to amplify the sensation of being
deeply connected to the wilderness,
blending the outdoors and indoors.”
VIE: Can you walk us through a typical day for guests at Cheetah Plains and the range of experiences to enjoy? JVN: At Cheetah Plains, every day is a tailor-made adventure. The beauty of our private safari is its flexibility, allowing guests to chart their course through various experiences. Whether embarking on game drives, indulging in bushveld dining, savoring wine tastings and pairings, or unwinding with in-villa spa treatments, the day is yours to design. For those eager to connect more deeply with the wilderness, our expert guides and trackers are on hand for game drives and interpretive walks. These experiences foster a profound appreciation for nature, a sentiment that resonates with guests of all ages. Moreover, we’ve curated a range of activities for children, from scavenger hunts and tracking to baking and crafts, ensuring they’re both entertained and educated.
VIE: What have been some of the most memorable wildlife moments for guests at Cheetah Plains? JVN: One of the standout moments we’ve recently witnessed was a cheetah making a kill—a rare and captivating sight! To ensure guests can capture these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, we provide access to Nikon D500 series cameras, enabling them to take home high-quality mementos from their safari adventures. Our visitors frequently spot the “Big Five”—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo—and the “Magnificent Seven,” which extends the Big Five to include the cheetah and the African wild dog. Alongside these, guests occasionally can observe rare and endangered species like honey badgers, ground hornbills, and more. Each day presents a new possibility to witness the wonders of the wild.
VIE: What additional activities and experiences can guests partake in at Cheetah Plains Lodge? JVN: Apart from our signature private safaris, guests at Cheetah Plains can explore one of the most secluded private diamond showrooms. This personalized experience includes consultations
with the talented New York GIA gemologist and jewelry designer Kate Shearer. The ethically sourced Cheetah Plains Diamonds, inspired by our surroundings, are custom cut and fashioned into unique pieces.
VIE: Can you elaborate on the culinary experience guests can anticipate at the lodge? JVN: Our private dining experience at Cheetah Plains is like no other. Each villa boasts a culinary team featuring two chefs, a pastry specialist, and an experienced sommelier. Guests can choose to have their meals set up at dining locations amid the bushveld, a formal dining area, the wine gallery, or by the pool.
Above and next page: Cheetah Plains safari lodge is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint by using electric safari vehicles, powering its three villas with solar energy, recycling graywater, and more.
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Voyager VIE: How has Cheetah Plains integrated environmental sustainability into its ethos and operations, and what impact has this had? JVN: Environmental responsibility has been at the forefront of our approach since Cheetah Plains’s inception. We proudly maintain a zero-emission, carbon-negative stance, setting new standards in the safari world. Guests can witness the Big Five from the seat of our electric safari vehicles and then unwind in our solar-powered villas, offering a genuinely off-the-grid safari experience. Our advanced Land Cruiser Electric vehicles, which are silent and run on Tesla batteries, cover distances of up to fifty kilometers per drive. Our exclusive use of solar power and gray-water recycling systems further reinforces this commitment. In the face of South Africa’s energy challenges, we have taken the initiative to be self-reliant, ensuring that every aspect of Cheetah Plains—from amenities to villas—embodies our commitment to luxury that is also environmentally conscious. A stay with us even offsets the carbon footprint of an economy flight from London to Johannesburg.
VIE: Tell us more about how Cheetah Plains engages with and supports the surrounding local communities. JVN: Community engagement is integral to Cheetah Plains. We hire predominantly from local communities, and our team of field guides reflects this commitment. Our involvement goes beyond employment; we’re dedicated to education and social projects in the area. We actively raise funds to supply local schools with essential tools and resources. Moreover, a part of our diamond and boutique sales directly benefits the Lezagwa Utah Community Crèche, a collaboration that is a testament to our commitment. This institution employs numerous educators and supports over sixty children aged between six months and five years. This crèche is a significant hub for early childhood development in the community, and we are proud to contribute to its mission.
VIE: What exciting future plans or developments can guests look forward to at Cheetah Plains? JVN: We’re excited about our upcoming project—a contemporary art gallery in the bush. This initiative will offer our guests access to renowned pieces and further enhance the philosophy of our safari and diamond buying experiences. Additionally, we’ve partnered with experts in renewable energy to drive clean energy solutions that benefit our hospitality and safari offerings at Cheetah Plains. Our commitment to eco-tourism and conservation remains strong as we work to secure a legacy for the future.
Visit CheetahPlains.com to plan your stay and delve into the world of eco-luxury. Don’t forget to explore @cheetahplains on Instagram for captivating visuals, including the rarely observed cheetah kill! 78 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
“Our commitment to eco-
tourism and conservation
remains strong as we work
to secure a legacy for the future.”
F U R N I T U R E | A P O T H E C A RY | FA S H I O N | I N T E R I O R D E S I G N | G I F T S 57 Uptown Grayton Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 SummerHouseLifestyle.com 850-533-6679
W e e h s t l t e y a H s a m t s ouse i r h C
EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAYS AT EDEN GARDENS
BY MCKENNA MEARS PHOTOS BY LYNN CROW PHOTOGRAPHY
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NESTLED WITHIN THE IDYLLIC EDEN GARDENS STATE PARK IN WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA, THE WESLEY HOUSE STANDS AS A MAGNIFICENT TESTAMENT TO HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CHERISHED TRADITIONS.
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his upcoming year, 2024, holds a special significance as it marks the bicentennial of Walton County, and the Wesley House plays a vital role in commemorating this milestone, symbolizing the rich tapestry of history and tradition that the county holds dear.
journey back in time begins on November 14, 2023, as a dedicated team of volunteers, local garden clubs, and talented decorators gather to transform the house into a winter wonderland. Each room is carefully and thoughtfully adorned with Victorian-era decorations, evoking the charm and elegance of yesteryear. Public tours showcasing the Christmas decorations will begin on Thursday, November 16. Guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite room, making it a delightful competition that adds to the festive atmosphere. The house will remain decorated until January 9, 2024, ensuring an extended opportunity to savor the enchanting ambience.
Constructed in 1897 in the Victorian style, the Wesley House has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to the dedication of individuals and the community. In 1963, Ms. Lois Maxon purchased the house, referring to it as her “Eden.” She acquired the property encompassing 10.5 acres for a mere $12,500. Maxon’s deep connection with the house led to a significant renovation, turning it into an antebellum-style masterpiece. The restoration efforts amounted to over a million dollars, resulting in the grandeur visitors can now enjoy. Despite her short time living in her beloved Eden, Maxon’s generosity knew no bounds. She chose to leave the house and its grounds to the State of Florida, a heartwarming transfer that took place on Christmas Eve in 1968. It’s a testament to her love for the house and her desire to preserve it for future generations. The Wesley House offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the splendor of a bygone era. Antique furniture from 1790 to the late 1800s graces its rooms, representing the American and European Empire periods. Keepers of the house meticulously preserve its original yellow heart pine siding, floors, and interior mouldings, along with an impressive 95 percent of its original glass pocket windows. Guided tours of the Wesley House are available year-round from Thursday to Monday, providing insights into this historic gem’s rich story and cultural significance. As winter approaches and the holiday season draws near, this charming house undergoes a magical transformation that immerses visitors in the allure of a Victorian Christmas, this year’s theme. This enchanting V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 81
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The Wesley House offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the splendor of a bygone era. A highlight of the holiday season at Eden Gardens State Park is the Christmas Candlelight Open House and Luminaries event, set to take place on December 9, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The park will be adorned with a sea of twinkling candles, trees will be aglow with festive lights, and the Wesley House will welcome visitors to explore its beautifully decorated rooms. The event will also include delectable refreshments, complimentary park entry, and shuttle service, all ensuring an unforgettable evening of holiday enchantment. It’s a joyous celebration that captures the true essence of the holidays, making it a cherished tradition for the Walton County community and beyond. Whether you are a resident or a visitor to Walton County, mark your calendar for a visit to the Wesley House to experience the magic of the past, the beauty of the present, and the warmth of the season.
Tickets for Wesley House daily tours can be purchased at the home upon arrival. The Christmas Candlelight Open House and Luminaries event is free of charge on December 9, 2023. Learn more about events and news at FriendsofEdenGardens.com.
LOCATED ON THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY ABOVE NORTH BEACH SOCIAL 24200 US-331 SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL 32459 | FARMANDFIRESOUTHWALTON.COM
A Jim Shirley Enterprises Restaurant
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A N I N C O M PA R A B L E O A S I S AWA I T S
Country Club
CHIC
BY CA R R I E H O NA K E R PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WA T E R S O U N D C L U B 84 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
General manager Dave Merryman elaborates, “What we have elevates the private club experience. They have tennis courts, but we offer eight pickleball courts in addition to our eight Har-Tru clay tennis courts.” He adds, “The expansive pool area spreads everybody out so you don’t feel overcrowded—you can spend the entire day lounging while your kids play in the lazy river or hit the waterslide.”
“YOU’RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST BOWL OF SOUP,” SAYS THE EXECUTIVE CHEF FOR CAMP CREEK DINING VENUES, JOSEPH TRUEX.
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f that’s true, the gumbo has delivered for The St. Joe Company over the last few months.
Condé Nast Traveler announced its annual Readers’ Choice Awards after polling more than 520,000 readers, and two of the St. Joe development and hospitality company’s properties ranked among the most elite. The Pearl Hotel was recognized as one of the best hotels in the USA and one of the world’s best hotels, and WaterColor Inn was one of the top resorts in Florida. Now, there’s a new kid in the portfolio of St. Joe’s collection of Watersound Clubs and hotels: The Camp Creek Inn. Just past the guard station on Watersound Way in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, a winding lane takes you along the graceful Camp Creek golf course, shrouded in lush grasses, pines, and oaks native to the area. The end of the journey deposits you at a roundabout showcasing this new property’s many amenities. The Wellness Center sits opposite the inn and houses a yoga space, a cycle studio with seventeen bikes, locker rooms with steam room and sauna, and a suite of cardio equipment overlooking the three pools with lazy river, waterslide, and Bark N’ Brine smokehouse. By 10 a.m., the scent of smoked brisket fills the air around the pools—they smoke it in-house for twenty-four hours. Local ingredients like Gulf shrimp are menu cornerstones because, as Truex says, “They taste so much better, they’re better for the environment, and they’re supporting our economy.” In the distance, an activity lawn (sometimes filled with inflatables), a half-court basketball area, a game room with ping pong and tabletop shuffleboard, and paddle sports courts await.
And if you’re a Camp Creek Inn guest, all those Watersound Club amenities belong to you—it’s a “member for a stay” experience, living that private club life as a hotel guest. Sweeping the elegant doors open at the Camp Creek Inn, you immediately notice the attention to detail. The color palette and tile mirror the Wellness Center, creating a cohesive design experience, while thoughtful touches like bits of railroad ties buried in the succulent vases strewn around the lobby nod to The St. Joe Company and its role in this area’s history. It feels more intimate than a traditional hotel lobby, and Merryman attributes that to the fact that when you walk into Camp Creek Inn, you walk into the clubhouse for the golf course. He adds, “It’s a private member golf course, a private member clubhouse, and we just happen to have seventy-five beautiful hotel rooms right above it.” The design leans into the area without an overbearing beach theme. The decor draws inspiration from the lush fairways radiating into the surrounding wilderness, the sage greens and blues of the landscape, and the natural woods canopying the property.
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ANR restaurant at Camp Creek
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he well-appointed rooms feature that same palette with floorto-ceiling curtains in subtle botanical prints, soft grays, blues, and greens on the walls, warm hardwood floors, and luxurious bathrooms with comfy pinstriped robes waiting to be donned. Downstairs, two restaurants complete the inn: 1936 and ANR. 1936 charms with its loungestyle bar and restaurant named after the year St. Joe was founded. A stately marble bar offers a front-row seat for their classic cocktail program—mixologists pour their tinctures, crack their shakers, and delicately place garnishes atop their creations. Truex, who got his start in the celebrated dining rooms of New Orleans, adds, “1936 is an elevated coastal-casual restaurant with great sandwiches, good snacks, and fresh shareables that you can get quickly. We have an amazing po’boy, a Cuban sandwich, and dishes reflective of the region while pulling a little from the Caribbean, Cuba, and New Orleans.” He also says grace over ANR, the full-service restaurant adjacent to 1936. The name serves as an homage to the history St. Joe shares with the Apalachicola 86 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Northern Railroad, and the menu sections nod to important moments with titles like “DuPont Beginnings” and “Next Stop…Milltown. The short-line railroad completed in 1910 operated in the Florida Panhandle between Port St. Joe and Chattahoochee with a short spur to Apalachicola. In 1933, Alfred duPont, founder of The St. Joe Company, purchased the railroad to service his paper mill. A colorful character and nonconformist, duPont had a vision for his company when he first bought the scrub pine and sand that made up the austere landscape of this area in 1926. Today, St. Joe is known for developments like Camp Creek, but it’s always alongside projects for the communities where it operates, like land donations to build schools, parks, fire stations, and wetland preservation. For Truex, ANR is not just about honoring the company’s history but also his culinary journey. He began his career in Louisiana at grand hotels like the Fairmont, but cooking has taken him to many points around the globe, including Switzerland, New York City, Atlanta, and Dubai. He’s worked under renowned chefs like Daniel Boulud; his résumé is deep and wide.
EVERY PLACE I’VE EVER COOKED AND LIVED CHANGED ME AS A HUMAN AND AS A CHEF. Every table at ANR receives a petite cast iron skillet. A batch of cornbread with a craggy golden brown crust studded with bits of bacon and onion fills its confines. But according to Truex, that could change. Next time, it could be monkey bread, mini rolls, or focaccia filled with tomatoes and herbs, but as Truex says, “Every table gets a skillet—sometimes two, sometimes three—and it will always be homemade.” The Cajun fried oysters make a worthy followup to the cornbread with their spicy dredge and geometric swooshes of curry vinaigrette and tiger sauce. Other heavy hitters are the light crab cakes filled with lump crabmeat delicately perched atop a Florida corn puree or the Spanish Iberico bone-in pork chop with peach gastrique and sweet potato gratin. For Truex, the blackened redfish with oyster velouté speaks to the ethos of what they are trying to do at ANR: “honoring the ingredients of the South while providing an interesting take informed by the places I’ve been. Every place I’ve ever cooked and lived changed me as a human and as a chef.”
Camp Creek Inn and golf course Above: Executive Chef Joseph Truex
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Hotel guests at Camp Creek Inn not only enjoy its incredible accommodations but also become “members for a stay” with access to Watersound Clubs’ golf, beach, tennis, spa, and other amenities.
A fleet of bicycles awaits right outside the hotel to spirit you away for the star of the show, the cotton candy-colored sunset over the Gulf. But if tucking in after a luxurious dinner fits the bill, your room is just a few steps away. And if you get a late-night hankering for a snack, the treat suite is open 24/7. Merryman elaborates, “In most hotels, you’ll find a minibar in the room and a couple of snacks, maybe some water and a soft drink or two. Instead, we created a common area where you can walk in and help yourself to everything from ice cream to protein bars to healthy snacks, water, ice, juices, and more. It’s almost like you are staying at home, and you just walk down to the kitchen and grab something whenever you want.” Every detail thought of, every need assuaged, a home for the short time you stay; that is the goal of the Camp Creek team. That’s some good soup.
Visit WatersoundClub.com to learn more about lodging, golf, dining, and club amenities at Watersound Club properties by The St. Joe Company. VIE is excited to partner with ANR to host an exclusive vintner dinner benefiting Children’s Volunteer Health Network in April 2024 as part of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation weekend. Stay tuned for more news and ticket information at DCWAF.org and CVHNkids.org, or follow us on social media @viemagazine. 88 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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F Rfrom OM paris PA R I S to TO portugal PORTUGAL
Louboutin Unveils First Hotel STORY COURTESY OF VERMELHO HOTEL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBROISE TEZENAS 90 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
hristian Louboutin’s first hospitality project—Vermelho—has proudly opened its doors to guests this year. Operated by Marugal Hotel Management, the intimate thirteen-room hotel is set in the village of Melides, deep in Portugal’s Alentejo region, just inland of the west coast, south of Comporta and Lisbon. Louboutin, who has a long-standing admiration for Portugal and the area, spent many weeks designing his collections in the country inspired by the unique light and the culture. The name Vermelho, meaning “red” in Portuguese, is the perfect homage to his signature color, and the design is a tribute to the region’s unique natural beauty and heritage. With a passion for arts, crafts, and cultures of the world and nurturing his curiosity by surrounding himself with artisans, artists, and craftspeople, Louboutin was drawn to Melides, home to a flourishing community where creative minds find inspiration in the gentle pace of life. This peaceful part of the country is home to vineyards, rice fields, white cobbled squares, and endless views of the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon. The interior of the hotel is a showcase of Louboutin’s eclectic and maximalist aesthetic—intimate, warm, and vibrant. He has personally sourced the furniture and collected the art and ceramics while incorporating and celebrating Portuguese talent and traditions.
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he home-away-from-home experience guests are invited to experience extends to the restaurant, Xtian, where they can discover the culinary treasures of Portugal, and the Vermelho bar, where cocktails are served in a relaxed setting. Spa treatments and massages are available to ease both body and soul. To bring Vermelho to life, Christian called upon the talents of the Lusitanian architect Madalena Caiado, whom he had already worked with on his Lisbon house, as well as longtime friend Carolina Irving, who acted as an advisor on textile creations and overall decoration. Patricia Medina, his friend from Sevilla, connected Iberian artisans with a unique and secular savoir faire with contemporary architectural visionaries. French landscape architect Louis Benech, regarded as one of the most remarkable landscape architects of his generation with a portfolio of public and private commissions around the world, from Peru to Morocco and the United States, designed the hotel’s gardens to sit comfortably and in seamless harmony within the broader landscape—colorful but natural. “I realized many people have the fantasy of designing or owning a hotel,” says Christian Louboutin. “I like to make my dreams a reality. That is why Vermelho was born. This project allowed me to empty my storage full of antiques and objects I have purchased over many years! Furthermore, it is an opportunity to show the excellence of many artists and artisans I admire.”
Rates for staying at Vermelho start at €400 (around $425 USD) and include breakfast. Visit VermelhoHotel.com to learn more or book a stay! 92 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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“ THE DESIGN IS A TRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE N AT U R A L B E AU T Y A N D H E R I TAG E OF THE REGION.” V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 93
The Seaside story that hasn’t been told . . . from the perspective of cofounder/visionary Daryl Rose Davis. A brand-new luxury coffee-table book celebrating the rich history of the Town of SEASIDE ® and the evolution of The Seaside Style ® through 40 years of photos and stories.
Choose Your Seaside Style: One Book, Two Cover Options! Published by The Idea Boutique ®
N OW AVAIL ABL E for PU R C HASE Get your copy at TheSeasideStyle.com or at The Seaside Style ® and Cabana in Seaside, Florida.
RETAIL PRICE: $95
C’est la vie
Always in Bloom 1
Faux Cherry Blossom in Cream White Afloral.com – $48
NUANCES THAT NURTURE
Embrace the cozy allure of fall with this month’s C’est la VIE home collection. Tailored to enhance warmth and comfort in your space, our selection ranges from soft-hued lighting to unique artisanal pieces. Each item has been thoughtfully curated to ensure style and practicality, creating environments where you can feel at ease. As the days grow shorter and the leaves turn, allow your home to be a welcoming place to embrace and enjoy the simplicity and tranquility of the season. 96 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
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Golden Rain
Anoli 13 Pendant in Gold FinnishDesignShop.com – $9,399
Chill Out 3
Lifesaver Lounge Chair WaltersWicker.com – Price on Request
Timeless Touch 4
Ferragamo Curve Watch Ferragamo.com – $1,195
Lightbulb 6 Moment
5
Fresh Breeze
Windows Down Eau De Parfum HenryRose.com – $120
Knuckle Table Lamp with Voronoi LuluandGeorgia.com – $170
Amber Accent 7
Échasse Bowl FinnishDesignShop.com – $284
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Tide Table
Pebble Coffee Table AguirreDesign.co – Price on Request
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C’est la vie
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Azure Aura
Come On In 10
Hulu Lamp OKA.com – $295
The Outlier Doormat PorteandHall.com – $148
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Inspo Italiano
Michele Bönan: Signature Details Assouline.com – $105
12
Swivel Seat
The K Chair FinnishDesignShop.com – $2,973–$3,272
13
Seasonal Scents
Cozy Cabin Fall Collection Candle KeystoneInspired.com – $36
Day Bed Break 14
Dag Daybed Price on Request – SuiteNY.com
Touch of Teal 15
Malagana Side Table AguirreDesign.co – Price on Request
16
Arctic Luxury
Refrigerator with Bottom Freezer True-Residential.com – Price on Request 98 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Textile Tranquility 17
Machen Linen Fabric MeredithEllisTextiles.com – Price on Request
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Janie blue by Suzy Accola Now Available on amazon Published by The Idea Boutique ®
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C’est la vie
SPECIAL EDITION L I V E T H E L I F E Y O U L O V E | C U R AT E D B Y L I S A A X E L S O N O F L I N E N & S A N D
LINEN & SAND is a new lifestyle shop located in the beautiful Greenway Station lifestyle center in Seagrove Beach, Florida, along the iconic Scenic Highway 30-A. Owner and design aficionado Lisa Axelson, a former stylist for luxury brands including Ralph Lauren, helps guests curate their lives with a modern, coastal bohemian spirit. Her shop features products inspired by global travel, life at the beach, and natural materials, supporting local and global artisan makers who put hearts and souls into their crafts. VIE is honored to have Axelson as a guest editor curating this exclusive C’est la VIE collection. Stop by the store at 4749 East County Highway 30-A in Seagrove Beach or visit online at LinenandSand.com and @linenandsand on social media to shop these products and many more. It’s time to celebrate the perfectly imperfect and enjoy each day with style and ease! 102 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Living With Style + Ease 1
Modern Rattan Armchair $678 – In-Store Exclusive
Bougie Boho 2 Bar Cart
Brisbane Bottle Stopper + Corkscrew $20 (Stopper), $28 (Corkscrew) – Online/In-Store
Bougie Boho Bar Cart 3
Ombre Serving Board $58 – Online/In-Store 4
Little Luxuries
Paloma Artisan Candle $58 – Online/In-Store
6
Luxe Layers
Artisan Pillows + Throws Starting at $258 – Online/In-Store
Little Luxuries 5
Cashmere + Fig Hand Wash $38 – Online/In-Store
Top It Off 7 with Style
Sparkes Suede Hat $298 – In-Store Exclusive
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C’est la vie
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Tabletop
Mesa Artisan Tableware Starting at $40 – Online/In-Store
Beach Life (Is a 9 Good Life) Monterey Turkish Towel $42 – Online/In-Store
10
Tabletop
Hamptons Glassware $54 (Pitcher), $18 (Tumbler) – Online/In-Store
Beach Life (Is a 11 Good Life) Citrine Sea Scrub $28 – Online/In-Store
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36132 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541 | duce@duceandcompany.com | (850) 654-7490 |
This H O L I D A Y S E A S O N ,
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We are proud to announce building the second location of the fully accredited Ohana Day School in the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.
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Special Real Estate Edition
For more coastal home discoveries, visit LaFlorida.com. Photo courtesy of Chas Galloway
An Insider’s Guide T O R E A L E S TAT E
In this home-centric issue, we’re delving into the journey to discover one’s perfect abode, guided by dedicated professionals who make it all possible. Realtor Andre Dominick of La Florida Coastal Properties knows the value of patience and the reward of finding that perfect property. For Bob and Maggie Dickhaus, the stars aligned, and after an extensive search, a sunny and breezy day led them to an expansive estate on the picturesque Choctawhatchee Bay. Perhaps the estate’s unparalleled serenity, or maybe the dolphin playfully swimming in the bay that day, suggesting a touch of divine intervention, sealed their decision. Whatever it was, the property spoke to them like no other had, and that’s what finding a home is all about.
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Special Real Estate Edition
A
Love Letterto 30-A CELEBRATING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN REAL ESTATE
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LINDA MILLER REAL ESTATE
Some places change you, whether it’s after one visit or a permanent move. In real estate broker Linda Miller’s case, it was both. Over three decades ago, she visited the quaint coastal communities along Scenic Highway 30-A in Northwest Florida and fell in love. It seemed destined that she would live there, somewhere just off the little two-lane road she nicknamed “The Smile” for its curved shape where it meets Highway 98 on the eastern end. That stretch of designated Scenic Highway has grown tremendously since then, and Miller’s love has expanded along with it. As she celebrates her twenty-fifth anniversary in the real estate business, Miller and her team are also approaching the fifth anniversary of her boutique luxury brokerage, Linda Miller Real Estate, in 2024. Her exuberance and love for helping people find their dream beach properties have perpetuated Miller’s moniker as “The Smile of 30-A.” To thank all of her clients and supporters as she celebrates these career milestones, Miller has also penned a love letter to 30-A itself, a poignant homage that undoubtedly speaks to many who have made their homes and careers in the area: 110 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Photo by Ed Gutentag
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Special Real Estate Edition
Dear Scenic Highway 30-A, Thank you for the best twenty-five years of my life! I’m so excited to celebrate this career milestone and to continue making my clients’ dreams come true along your beautiful beaches. Thank you for the eighteen miles of two-lane road parallel to pristine white sands, where people drive thirty-five miles per hour, slow down, and breathe in the peace of “paradise.” Thank you for all the happy memories you have helped me make here with my parents, children, and grandchildren. My daddy even got his real estate license here at age eighty. Above: Broker Linda Miller Opposite bottom: Linda Miller and John Sisty Photos by Brenna Kneiss 112 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Thank you, Seaside, for teaching me about New Urbanism after I fell in love with your quaint little post office thirty-five years ago. I’ve learned much about traditional neighborhoods and their value in the real estate community. How lucky we are to live among such great architecture!
Thank you for all the fun events, from Seaside’s July Fourth parade (a perfect venue for the Twirling American Beauties) to Sinfonia concerts, REP performances, CAA festivals, DCWAF fund-raisers, CVHN’s Soiree on the Bay, and so much more. Through the years, you have taught me the value of community. I am so thankful for the friendships formed as our community met the needs of others through world-class nonprofits, like Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Food for Thought, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and Alaqua Animal Refuge, to name a few.
”
Photo by Alex Hall
E V E R Y C L I E N T I H AV E AND WILL CONTINUE TO S E R V E , E V E R Y D R E A M H O M E FO U N D, I O W E TO YO U . As we embrace the future together, 30-A, I want to express my gratitude to you for being the foundation of my success and growth. Every client I have and will continue to serve, every dream home found, I owe to you. You have my heart and make me smile!
With boundless love,
Linda Miller THE SMILE OF 30A
Congratulations, Linda!
For more information or to search available properties, visit LindaMillerLuxury.com.
Photo by Alex Hall
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Special Real Estate Edition
TRANSCENDING HelpingYou Find Your Magnetic North
114 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
REAL ESTATE Photography courtesy of The Beasley Group
I
n an area with a bustling real estate market that’s as wide-reaching as the Gulf Coast region in Northwest Florida, it’s no wonder there are thousands of real estate professionals to assist buyers and sellers. The Compass real estate brand spans over seventy-two markets across the US and has differentiated itself by having “the solutions-driven mindset of a startup and the sophistication of a luxury brand.” Compass has joined the group of national and international real estate brokerages with offices in the Gulf Coast market of Walton, Bay, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa Counties, also known as the Emerald Coast. Brian Beasley, broker associate of The Beasley Group under the Compass brand, first got his foot in the door of real estate by working in the construction business in Asheville, North Carolina. The Auburn University graduate lived there in the early 2000s while remodeling and flipping houses and says he eventually saw an opportunity in the brokerage side of the real estate business. He became a licensed realtor in 2003 and spent time in the Asheville market before relocating to the affluent Northwest Florida region along Scenic Highway 30-A.
10140 E. County Highway 30-A, Unit A102, Seacrest Beach, Florida Photo by Dave Warren
The luxury market around 30-A is, like Asheville, largely second homes and investment properties. This also means it’s common for realtors to encounter diverse visions and preferences from buyers in the area. The Beasley Group primarily services the 30-A area, specializing in waterfront properties. However, its team’s reach covers areas from Panama City to Navarre, Florida, with multiple agents on the job. The team comprises nine members, Beasley says. “Collaboration is at the heart of our operations, extending from our administrative team to our agents. We function cohesively as a unified team.” VIE caught up with Beasley for this special real estate section of this home issue to chat about the 30-A market, current industry trends, and more.
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VIE: Are you seeing any interesting trends in real estate? What can buyers and sellers expect in the coming year? Brian Beasley: In recent years, we’ve observed a significant surge in new construction, often accompanied by the acquisition of older properties. Currently, we’re navigating a period of market stabilization, with many uncertainties in the air, particularly as we approach an upcoming election year. Despite these uncertainties, we anticipate a “soft landing” for the economy rather than a recession. We believe inventory will grow in 2024, exerting a notable influence on property prices. Additionally, we’re closely monitoring the impact of interest rates, especially in the context of the decisions made by the Federal Reserve, as they will play a pivotal role in shaping our investor market. VIE: What makes you and your team one of the most knowledgeable and desirable in this area as a real estate group? How does being under the Compass umbrella aid that? BB: This year, we hold the number two spot among medium-sized teams on 30-A and ranked the number four medium-sized team across Northern Florida in sales, according to Real Trends. With that, we have over twenty years of experience selling luxury real estate with over $710 million in home sales. 116 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Our alignment with Compass, the country’s top brokerage, underscores our commitment to excellence. Within this notably extensive network, we hold membership in a Private Client Network group known as PCN. Furthermore, we enjoy the privilege of exclusive referral partners hailing from essential feeder markets. Under the Compass umbrella, we can provide our clients with exclusive offerings. One of them is Compass Concierge, a program that enables sellers to use the funds for home improvements, furnishings, and more to enhance their home’s marketability. These are just a few examples that set us apart and make us distinctive. VIE: What is your favorite part about helping clients through the homebuying process? BB: I find immense satisfaction in translating a client’s desires into finding the perfect match among our available properties. Playing the matchmaker role and witnessing people’s excitement during the home-buying journey is truly rewarding. The most demanding aspect of this process has been dealing with limited inventory, which requires resourcefulness to uncover potential off-market properties and assemble deals.
Special Real Estate Edition
Playing the role of a matchmaker and witnessing the excitement in people during the home-buying journey is truly rewarding.
Opposite: Members of The Beasley Group real estate team: Stephanie Reiter, Christian Wade, Mackenzie Puckett, Brian Beasley, Lisa Evans, and Joe Pehanick Photo by Abbie Bolton Below left: 108 Woodward Drive in Dune Allen Beach, Florida, is situated on one of the area’s rare coastal dune lakes. Photo by Jason Ellis
VIE: What would you say is your “specialty,” if you have one? BB: Waterfront homes are definitely our specialty. I spend much of my time on the water, especially the bay, fishing and boating. It’s crucial to me to maintain consistency between my personal interests and our business, enabling us to do what we genuinely love. As a result, we take pleasure in representing a diverse range of waterfront properties, including bayfront, Gulf-front, and coastal dune lake homes, making them available to our clients. VIE: Is there any news from the market that you’d like to share with our readers? BB: We have a substantial number of upcoming new construction projects that we’re eagerly anticipating and can’t wait to unveil to the public. We’re also considering organizing events to showcase these properties. Additionally, I’ll participate in the Compass Retreat in San Diego alongside our fellow Compass associates and members of my networking community, Private Client Network. These retreats provide an excellent platform to introduce people to the unique offerings of 30-A, as many individuals, even in Florida, may still be unaware of our location and what we represent. Thank you, Brian!
Visit LP30A.com to browse luxury properties, learn more about The Beasley Group, or contact an agent.
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Our second luxury coffee-- table book, COOK by VIE , is on sale December 1 st as a celebration of Cocktails, Cuisine & Culture. Published by
23 24
DEMETRIUS FULLER, MUSIC & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR YOUR SYMPHONY EXPERIENCE … REDEFINED
feat. Brian Stokes Mitchell Friday, Dec. 8 | 7:30 PM Destin-FWB Convention Center TICKETS: FROM $30 PER PERSON
feat. Time for 3 (Tf3) Sunday, Dec. 3 | 10:30 AM Henderson Beach Resort TICKETS: FROM $95 PER PERSON
Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.
Dubbed "the last leading man" by The New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell is a two-time Tony Award winner with a versatile career spanning Broadway, television, film, and concerts. Get into the spirit as this A-list star performs holiday classics, Broadway tunes and classic favorites with Sinfonia Gulf Coast.
Prepare to be blown away by the electrifying sounds of Grammy Award-winning Time for Three (Tf3), the genre-defying classically trained string trio. With their impeccable skills and boundary-pushing musical tastes, Nick Kendall, Charles Yang, and Ranaan Meyer seamlessly blend classical, bluegrass, rock, jazz, and hip-hop into an unforgettable musical experience.
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Special Real Estate Edition
GUIDING CLIENTS toward the PERFECT PROPERTY By Andre Dominick, Realtor
Photography courtesy of La Florida Coastal Properties
120 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
Knowing the importance of having a trustworthy advisor in such a significant undertaking, they turned to the La Florida team.
E
ven for discerning, savvy buyers, real estate transactions can be complex and daunting. When a close friend approached me for guidance on purchasing a new property, I had the privilege of stepping into the role of a trusted advisor. This journey taught me about the value of trust, friendship, and the satisfaction of helping someone achieve their goals and dreams. It was my honor to navigate the world of waterfront property to help them secure the perfect place, a family legacy estate. TThe journey began when my friends, Bob and Maggie Dickhaus, expressed their desire to look at Gulf-front home options. Knowing the importance of having a trustworthy advisor in such a significant undertaking, they turned to the La Florida team. Our friendship had always been very special to my wife, Diane, and me, which made me deeply committed to helping them make the right choices
throughout this process. We started the journey in December 2022 by looking at a modern Gulf-front home and several others in early 2023. These were no “match” for them; they are preservationists and love their trees and privacy. Together, we discussed their must-haves and nice-to-haves in a property. However, this did not have a timeframe, as they lived on a coastal dune lake in a well-appointed, customdesigned residence with Gulf views and were happy to wait for the right opportunity. Throughout this phase, I researched and evaluated potential properties that matched their criteria, offering insights into each property’s pros and cons.
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O
ne day, I received a call from Bob and Maggie after they decided they wanted to see an expansive property on the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay. This unique estate piqued my curiosity, as it had theirs. We set up a preshowing with the listing agent, educating myself on the vast details of such an estate. On the day of the showing, the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze in the trees. After following the meandering half-mile driveway, we found the primary home, carriage house, and garage beneath an enchanting canopy of century-old oaks. Designed by North Carolina architect Dennis Lehmann, the main home and carriage house showcase a gracious Tudor-style architecture featuring sloping gabled roofs, intricate interior details, and breathtaking water views. In addition to lush landscaping created by landscape architect Don Chism, the property offers seventeen acres of uplands—a fantastic fit for my friends’ love of nature and privacy! As we walked out on the deck over the bay, toward
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the boat lift, the most awesome sight appeared—a dolphin was swimming circles in the bay looking for food. I had a feeling right then and there that this was a divine intervention and a great sign. I said to them that the grandchildren would absolutely love this. Once the clients knew this was their property, we navigated the negotiation process together. Our team at La Florida provided guidance on making an initial offer, handling counteroffers, and conducting numerous inspections. However, due to the complexities of this estate, we needed to involve their real estate attorney, Kirby Williams from Barker Williams, to handle some of the intricate details. Bob and Maggie felt confident knowing that they had a team with expertise by their side. Bob and Maggie decided to utilize the services of Shoreline Title, also led by Williams and his team, for their title and closing documents. This ensured that every detail was handled correctly, diligently, and easily. They even commented on how efficient and smooth the closing process went.
Special Real Estate Edition
It is exciting to see their vision unfolding as this one-of-a-kind bayfront estate undergoes a transformation thanks to its new owners.
A
fter months of hard work, dedication, and deliberation, Bob and Maggie closed on their dream estate. We celebrated this milestone with a champagne toast on the dock of the bay. It is exciting to see their vision unfolding as this one-of-a-kind bayfront estate undergoes a transformation thanks to its new owners. Assisting a friend in purchasing such an amazing estate was such a rewarding experience. Our team at La Florida was able to help Bob and Maggie make one of the most significant investments of their life. Their testimony speaks volumes and means the world to me: “Andre is a real pro! He and his team went above and beyond our expectations in both researching information about the property we purchased and proactively helping us throughout the purchase process. Andre is detail-oriented and a consummate professional.”
It’s stories like these that make it all worthwhile for real estate professionals around the world. Visit LaFlorida.com to learn more, see available properties, or make an appointment with a real estate professional.
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A TRUSTED TEAM
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Special Real Estate Edition
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT S T O R Y A N D P H O T O G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F L A M B E R T R E A LT Y & D E V E L O P M E N T
I
n the world of real estate, where every property and transaction is unique, finding the right real estate agent is a pivotal step toward success. With many options, deciding which realtor will best meet your needs can be overwhelming. Lambert Realty & Development, a prominent team serving the Santa Rosa Beach, Florida area, including Destin, Miramar Beach, and 30A, understands the importance of this decision and excels at providing professional, friendly, and knowledgeable guidance by customizing client services best on their own needs and wants.
THE TEAM MEMBERS AND THEIR JOURNEYS INTO REAL ESTATE
Nathan expounds on this idea, saying, “As an agent, you have to constantly stay abreast of the new and existing inventory as well as pending and closed sales. It’s a dynamic and exciting business, and we feel blessed to serve the Emerald Coast as local real estate professionals.” For Christopher, it’s a family legacy that led him into the world of real estate. His background in finance and a passion for design allow him to provide a comprehensive service to his clients. Negotiations and problem-solving are his strong suits. Nick, on the other hand, views real estate as a family business and enjoys connecting with people to help them find their perfect homes.
Nathan Lambert, the dedicated broker and owner, founded his real estate brokerage and development firm in 2016 with the unwavering support of his wife, Corina. This venture stands out because it’s a family business, with the addition of Nathan’s brothers, Christopher and Nick. Unlike many others in this vacation destination area, the Lambert brothers are rare locals who’ve grown up in Walton County, witnessing its transformation from both a social and business standpoint. In collaboration with a dynamic team of seven real estate professionals, Nathan and Corina ensure their clients are equipped with a rich reservoir of resources for their buying or selling journey. This diverse team offers clients a refreshing array of perspectives and personal connections, each agent having a distinct story and expertise within the real estate industry. From Corina’s perspective, “Efficiency, organization skills, always being available, humility, knowledge, and the desire to learn and grow are what it takes to be the best.”
Brothers Nathan, Nick, and Christopher Lambert
Robert’s journey into real estate was guided by friends who recognized his character and how it aligned with the industry. He excels in helping people find their primary homes, always emphasizing that there are no silly questions in this process. Kate’s love for the Destin area inspired her to assist others in making it their home. She excels in offering exceptional customer service and leveraging her local market knowledge. Anya enjoys the puzzle of finding the perfect property for buyers and sellers while providing a local’s perspective on the area. Caterina’s specialty is thorough research, ensuring well-informed decisions for her clients. Addie’s lifelong knowledge of the area contributes to the team’s comprehensive understanding of the local market. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 125
Special Real Estate Edition ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS Lambert Realty & Development provides valuable insights for both buyers and sellers. Christopher emphasizes the long-term aspect of real estate, urging clients to focus on getting the best deal possible. Nick encourages open and honest communication to help clients achieve their goals, while Robert advises asking as many questions as needed. Kate emphasizes finding a professional who truly understands and fulfills clients’ needs, tailored to their specific requirements. Anya advises against rushing and taking time to consider all aspects of a property. Caterina also underscores the importance of patience and not rushing into decisions, as real estate is a longterm investment.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR SOUTH WALTON MARKET IN 2024 Nathan, the optimist, anticipates ample opportunities in the South Walton market for 2024 and beyond. He believes the area’s intrinsic qualities, like beautiful beaches and family-friendly neighborhoods, will continue to draw people in. “Buyers now have more inventory to choose from, and sellers are still enjoying historically high values. Mortgage rates will play a big role in how the market performs over the coming year. If they begin to level off and hopefully start to come down some, it will be a great year here at the beach.”
BALANCING WORK AND LIFE IN REAL ESTATE For Nathan and Corina, balancing work and life in real estate can be challenging, especially in a family business. They acknowledge that work often intersects with their home life, but they take pride in their son’s involvement and the relationships that evolve with their clients over time. “Let’s just say our son has been to more than one build site and has charmed more than a few customers over the years. Our relationships with our customers usually start as professional ones but often evolve into friendships over time. In that way, our work life and our home life often intersect, and that’s just fine with us.”
“NATHAN BELIEVES THE AREA’S INTRINSIC QUALITIES, LIKE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW PEOPLE IN.” 126 | NO V E MBE R 2 02 3
WHAT SETS LAMBERT REALTY & DEVELOPMENT APART Lambert Realty & Development’s team is skilled in its local insight, having witnessed the area’s growth and development over the years. Their commitment to putting clients first and customizing their services sets them apart. Besides the normal brokerage activities of helping buyers and sellers, Lambert Realty & Development is also involved with new construction spec home projects all along Scenic Highway 30-A from Dune Allen to Inlet Beach. If a buyer cannot find an existing home that meets their needs, the team can help them find and secure a lot and design and build their dream home. Real estate investors who want to create value and builtin equity by improving a property can also benefit from working closely with the company’s partner architects, engineers, and builders.
In summary, when choosing a real estate agent, it’s essential to conduct thorough research, consider their credentials, ensure they have local knowledge, and assess their communication skills, personality fit, availability, negotiation prowess, transparency, and resourcefulness. The Lambert Realty & Development team excels in these areas, making them an excellent choice for those seeking professional, friendly real estate services in the Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, area.
Opposite left: The Lambert Realty & Development team: Nathan and Corina Lambert, Nick Lambert, Christopher Lambert, Addie Strickland, Kate Alexandrova, Robert Ouellette, Anya Jackson, and Caterina Ghies Below: Corina Lambert
“THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUTTING CLIENTS FIRST AND CUSTOMIZING THEIR SERVICES SETS THEM APART.”
Visit LambertRealty30A.com to learn more or contact the team about your real estate needs. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 127
with
JORDAN STAGGS Editor of VIE Magazine
P O D C A ST S E A S O N 1 COMING SOON Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube | Subscribe on iTunes | viemagazine.com @V IEBO OKCLUB | @V IEM AGA ZINE | @V IE SP E A K S
FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS & INTROSPECTIVE CONVERSATIONS CARS OF 30A: DAVIS BRACKETT • EMERALD COAST STORYTELLERS: KRISTY HOLDITCH AND ALI DIAMOND • DAVID YARROW • CHARLESTON LITERARY FESTIVAL: SARAH MORIARTY • SUZY ACCOLA
C O NV E R SAT IO NS with H E A RT & S O U L with LISA MARIE BURWELL Founder and EIC of VIE magazine
S E AS O N 3
COMING FALL/WINTER 2023 Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube | Subscribe on iTunes | viemagazine.com @V IE SP E A K S | @V IEM AGA ZINE
FEATURING NEW GUESTS AND GREAT NEW CONVERSATIONS MARISOL GULLO • VICKY TIEL • JEFF ZEHNDER • APRIL SARVER • KARAH YOUNG & KATE MCMILLIAN • JIM SHIRLEY MELANIE TURNER • JENNIFER STEELE • JOHN WELLBORN • RHEA GOFF • PATRICK DAVIS • MADRA MCDONALD DEREK MCMAHON • MATT ALGARIN & KELLI CARTER • ARIX ZALACE & SEAN COUCH • MISTY PARENZAN • KURT TOBIAS
The Last Word
Solution on next page
HOMES & ARCHITECTURE BY MYLES MELLOR
ACROSS
DOWN
1 6 8 9 11 12 14 17 18 21 23 25 26 27
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 13 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 24 29 31
28 30 32 33
Innovative material now being used for countertops Passing through, on a trip Bachelor’s apartment in slang Modernize Do the electrical Nation that boasts the Taj Mahal Tennis equipment Conceal Science of shapes ___ kick base Impressive stateliness and beauty Black wood “Thrilla in Manila” participant Type of roof which is usually a symmetrical two-sided roof with two slopes on each side Expanded Carpentry joint Window options ___ Lanka
Young tree that might be part of a landscaping plan Energy efficient light, abbr. Mark with long streaks Suggested price for a house Improve Having a wavy variegation, as in marble BBQ remains Stumbling expression ___-Fi Casings for entryways (2 words) Box of tools Mortise and ___ joint Type of blue or purple Light shades of brown Bathroom dryers Look at closely Wizardry Play the guitar, e.g. Major conflict Circle ratio
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The Last Word Puzzle on previous page
“
We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity —Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
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WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! Celebrating 18 years and $8 Million in free services provided to children in need.
1 6 , 279
145,130
$8 MILLIO N
Children Helped
Procedures Provided
in Free Services Provided
Learn how you can join our mission by visiting: CVHNKIDS.ORG
( 8 5 0) 6 2 2 -3 2 00 A S P EC IA L T H A N KS TO O UR CO RE F O UNDATI O N SUPPO RTE RS!
Au revoir!
Fall Begins by Alma Thomas, 1976 Acrylic on canvas, 52 × 45 inches, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.1 Visit AmericanArt.si.edu for more information.
Au revoir! BEFORE YOU GO . . .
Alma Thomas’s artwork is illuminating, with vibrant colors and abstract patterns inspired by trees and flowers. Starting with more traditional representational pieces, she transitioned in the 1960s to a style defined by exuberant colorism. This shift, reminiscent of the bright hues of nature, signified her deep immersion into color theory and her unique perspective of visualizing natural forms from an aerial viewpoint. As a black woman artist in Washington, D.C., she faced challenges but found resonance with the Color Field painters, a movement emphasizing large, unadorned areas of single colors. The Smithsonian American Art Museum honors her profound influence with Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas, Thomas, an exhibition continuing through June 2024.
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