Now that the summer season is fully upon us and it appears we are collectively turning the page, slowly but surely, to what is seemingly closer to "normal life," the thought of summer getaways came to mind. Haute Design decided to ask what some of our design experts consider to be the ideal summer getaway in terms of design inspiration.

Haute Design:Which summer getaway destination provides you with inspiration the most around this time of year? Why?

Hafsa Burt of hb+a Architects, San Francisco, CA: I am always looking for places to travel and discover. I love to interact with locals and delve into a different culture. I have had two recent trips that were phenomenal. One was an escape to Spain which began in the Basque Country and stretched all the way to Granada and Cordoba.

Soon after, I read Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises and felt like he was on the trip with me in Pamplona.

That journey continued into a very thrilling road trip in Morocco, from Marrakesh to Casablanca. The food, colors, culture and history all lend themselves to a perfect cerebral escape.

Another trip that comes to mind happened a year later. I traveled to Jordan where some of the highlights were camping in the desert with Bedouins and hiking in Petra and Wadi Mujib. Jordan is an adventure-filled country and should be on everyone's bucket list.

We also managed to spend a couple of days in and around Jerusalem, absorbing the sights and sounds. I love walking through historically and culturally different places and intellectually indulge so I leave with a billion sensory images in my memory. If it inadvertently shows up in my work, all the better.

Laila Colvin of 2id Interiors, Miami, FL: I actually have my tickets purchased and will be leaving soon! I am going to Portugal for a family reunion.

I think I have two travel obsessions: Europe and Japan.

However, if it's related to design, I believe Europe is the place to go. There is just so much to see and so much art all around, it doesn't matter what country you visit, you will leave with design inspirations.

The last trip which truly inspired me was a family trip to England and Ireland. It was amazing. The year before that was Japan. But I feel like I will always go back to Europe at least once a year because it's just never enough.

However, Rafaela and I are from Brazil and we always talk about how design in Brazil is so rich and yet, it is not well-known. Because Brazilians are so quick to turn to Italian furniture and Italian design, but in our opinion, Brazilian designers, Brazilan architects, and Brazilian furniture are way beyond anything else we know. So every time we go back home to Brazil, it is unbelievable. We are always sending videos and photos to the team, and to each other. We’ll go to a restaurant, we’ll go to the mall, anywhere we go, it is out of this world.

Chasity Centeno of Riese Design, Long Island ,NY: Riese Design is inspired by the summer tropical feel with different prints, colors and textures. We love the mixture of soft textures with organic wood elements for summer when conceptualizing a design for our clients!

Who doesn't love a fun, colorful wallpaper, beautiful outdoor sets and textured walls for either interiors or exteriors?

We especially like to take inspiration from Cabo when doing design concepts for bathrooms. It's the best room to implement bold colors and accents. Cabo's inspiration comes from the beautiful beaches, history and foliage, along with an array of plants, which brings such an elegant blend of traditional and modern design.

To learn more about our adventurous design experts, visit their websites below.

CLICK HERE to visit the hb+a Architects website.

CLICK HERE to visit 2id Interiors' website.

CLICK HERE to visit Riese Design's website.

The post Haute Design Experts Weigh In On The Best Summer Getaways For Design Inspiration appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Balashev spoke at length about the UK market and how it has managed through the COVID-19 pandemic. He was hosted by Haute Living's April Donelson, who also asked him about the beginnings and growth of Montague Real Estate.

Watch the webinar below.

Highlight quotes from Balashev:

"Montague Real Estate was an accident. I sold out my diamond business in 2014. On a trip to Portugal, I came across a luxury real estate developer from Paris. I was inspired to what the real estate industry was like from an agent's point of view and said to myself that I would be moving out of the diamond market. I understood the luxury market and buyer. It was the time for me to get into real estate."

"We like to see ourselves as where wealth management, meets real estate, meets private banking. It's a melting pot where you give above average service to a client as they would be accustomed to in private banking and wealth management, but we do it for real estate."

"If we can learn anything, it's that you have to be adaptable."

"In the UK, from September through the end of the year, I think reality will set in when people release their profit and loss  statements for the quarter. The real severity of COVID on the economy will have an impact, and then we'll see how real estate looks, but right now there are deals to be done. If you are cash rich and in the market, you can buy properties for pennies on the pound."

"In the U.S., it's ok to take ownership of making something good out of a bad situation. In the UK, we don't do that enough. From a business standpoint, we have had a good past three months, and we are grateful for it."

"I'm looking forward to Art Basel in Miami, and going to New York. The only thing stopping me is being able to jump on a plane. Once those borders open, there will be craziness for the next two years."

"We will be in three continents by Spring 2021. I'm so proud of the team we have here, we do an incredible job from London, but we need to be in those regions if we're going to keep growing. I'm in love with the U.S. and have wanted to have an office there."

"We have seen inquiries from Hong Kong and Asia quadruple over the last months."

"If you have a willing buyer and seller, it's easy to do a deal. For us, to grow our brand and compete on a global level, we have to be better than the competition. You can't be nearly as good; you have to be better. The key is treating the people that work with you as well as you would treat clients."

"Anyone that thinks they want to do something in real estate, I saw go for it. The worst case scenario is you're wrong and you have to step back and reevaluate."

Watch more webinars curated by Haute Residence at dev.hauteresidence.com.

Thomas Balashev

The post Webinar: Thomas Balashev Of Montague Real Estate Talks UK Luxury Real Estate appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Watch the full video below

As the #1 selling real estate broker in North America for an unprecedented eight times, Dolly Lenz is responsible for achievements such as the sale of the Setai development site at 400 Fifth Avenue for over $200 million. She set a record for the highest downtown condominium sale of the One Madison penthouse for $57,350,000, representing Rupert Murdoch in the purchase; and many more. Her numerous accolades continuously place her at the top of the real estate industry in New York and the United States.

Jenny Lenz joined her mother at Dolly Lenz Real Estate and has since become the company's Managing Partner. Her passion for the business started at an early age as she was exposed to some of the most breathtaking properties in the world, accompanying her mother on business trips to Europe and Asia. Today, she is looking to continue in Dolly’s pursuit of taking on and dominating the NY and international real estate market. She has also fulfilled numerous speaking engagements at real estate conferences throughout the U.S and Australia.

The webinar was hosted by Haute Living Senior Vice President April Donelson, who asked the mother/daughter combo questions that included several from the live webinar audience.

On the use of technology for showings, Jenny said, "We've used technology in the past. It gets better every year, but we don't see that replacing in-home tours. We have amazing drone footage, which is a new thing, but it's not a differentiator." Dolly added, "It is almost impossible to sell something off a virtual tour, but it can help. We find that photography is often much better than anything else in reflecting a property."

Donelson asked Dolly for her advice to the younger generation of real estate agents coming up. "Stay the course," she said. "Know your data. Really get into the details of information. The only way you can get credit with any buyer is if you know the details."

Jenny added, "We all have time now to learn every new development. Everything is online. If a client knows something you don't, that's bad."

They are optimistic about the near future of the real estate industry. "We are fortunate to be in this business that can come back on a short term basis," said Dolly.

Jenny Lenz, Dolly Lenz

The post New York Real Estate In Quarantine: Watch Webinar With Experts Dolly Lenz And Jenny Lenz appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: KonMari Media Inc.

Her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” had already flown off the shelves by the time the show premiered in early 2019, with which singles, couples and families implemented The KonMari Method. As Kondo says in her website, “The KonMari Method encourages keeping only those things that speak to the heart. Discard items that have outlived their purpose; thank them for their service – then let them go.”

You will be stunned at how many things you are ready to say goodbye to in your life once you hold each item in your hands and ask yourself the question. These include clothes, trinkets, photos, decorative items, and anything else under your roof.

From North America to Europe and all the way to Asia, Marie has grown a network of Certified Consultants that implement the KonMari Method to help thousands of people in tidying their home.

Marie Kondo kindly joined us for a Q&A.

Photo Credit: KonMari Media Inc.

Haute Living: How has 2020 gone so far for you?

Marie Kondo: The beginning of a new year is always special. I use this time to step back and consider my goals for the year ahead.

HL: What is special about the KonMari lifestyle brand?

MK: KonMari is a lifestyle brand with a suite of products, services and content designed to help organize your home and bring joy to your life. We’re also a platform for connecting and supporting one another on our tidying journeys – which is very powerful. Everything we do is centered around the concept of sparking joy, and I think that’s what makes us special.

Photo Credit: KonMari Media Inc.

HL: How does growing your Certified Consultant network across so many countries’ borders feel?

MK: Right now we have over 350 certified KonMari Consultants in 40 countries – with a waitlist of thousands to join the program. The continued growth and success of such a personal offering is humbling. I’m still amazed at how many people find a sense of purpose in this work! For those unfamiliar with the program, we wrote about its beginnings and expansion here: Organize the World: Behind the Consultant Program.

HL: People are using your name as a verb to describe how they declutter, saying phrases like, “I just Kondo’d my place.” Did you ever think this could be possible?

MK: No! I never imagined this would happen. I’m still surprised – and my family is, too! Kondo is a fairly common last name in Japan – it’s like Smith in the U.S. I’ve heard of other Kondos from Japan being asked if they’re good at tidying when they travel abroad.

Photo Credit: KonMari Media Inc.

HL: When you were a professional tidying consultant, what was the longest time that you consulted a home? Why?  

MK: Two years. My client was a very busy doctor who ran her own clinic, and we could only meet once a month. She lived in a very large three-story house, and she owned a lot of stuff. By the end of our time together her house has transformed – it was a completely different home.

HL: Your fans want to know, do you have any news on season two of “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”?

MK: I’m excited to report that season two is in development – stay tuned!

Photo Credit: KonMari Media Inc.

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