Snowmass Village

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Shannon Francis is a native of Aspen and has unique insight into the fine details of real estate in the Roaring Fork Valley. With her husband, Shannon has successfully started and developed Glenwood Springs’ only Tandem Paragliding operation, demonstrating the skills required to thrive and grow in the market's tourist-driven economy. She believes that each and every client deserves the highest standard of care regardless of budget, timeline, or desire.

Shannon talked with Haute Residence about how she got started in Real Estate and about running her successful tandem paragliding business.

How did you get your start in the business?

I originally started in the real estate business because I was working with a residential developer in the central valley of California. I thought that having my license would help me understand the business better and be able to work with more knowledge in my job. I was also selling my condo in Aspen and wanted to avoid real estate commissions on the sale. That was in 2005. I then let my license go inactive while I focused on raising my son and working for our paragliding business. As we transitioned during the Covid pandemic I decided to reactivate my license and start getting back to real estate.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How did you go from tandem paragliding to real estate?

In essence, I do both. I am a managing member of our paragliding LLC and spend every morning from May 1 to September 30th working for the paragliding business. I then transition to real estate in the afternoon. I believe my paragliding business provides access to people that I might not encounter in everyday life and that in effect helps my real estate business.

What sets you apart from other real estate agents?

I am personally involved in all my transactions. I don't have people that I hand work off to in order to take on more clients. All my clients are my top priority so I do not overload my plate because I want each client to get the personal attention they deserve during their transactions. I was born in Aspen and know the ins and outs of our valley better than anyone I know. I have submerged myself in the community and think outside the box to get my clients the best possible outcomes in any situation.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Why do you consider Roaring Fork Valley not just a city, but a lifestyle?

The Roaring Fork Valley is a lifestyle because here we really enjoy nature, culture, and health. It is not simply a place to own property but really it's a place to live, in every aspect of the word. All of our communities are relatively small but offer world-class food, cultural events, schools, outdoor activities, and sports. The people you meet here are invested in living well-rounded, healthy lives.

What has been your favorite memory throughout your real estate career?

I have great memories from all my transactions, but the most significant lately is that I helped a good friend get into the perfect house while he was going through a very difficult divorce. By finding him the house and helping him get financing, it allowed him to stay in the valley near his kids and get out of an impossible situation.

For more information, please contact Shannon Francis at 970-319-7430 or aspensmf@gmail.com

Shannon Francis is the exclusive agent representing the Snowmass Village, CO real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post From Paragliding To Real Estate, Top Realtor Shannon Francis Does It All appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Rita Chraibi

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Castro

Rita Chraibi launched International Designers in 2013, introducing her European design expertise and French “Art de Vivre” influence through modern, luxury designs to residential and hospitality projects in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Rita recently took the time to share a bit more of her design background as well as predict design themes for 2022 and beyond.

Haute Design: Could you share a bit more about your upbringing and your background in design?

Rita Chraibi: My background is one of opposition between art and discipline, creativity and duty. Growing up in Morocco, my father was one of the few officers in the Moroccan Army to have studied at Saint Cyr, in France, which is the highest training available for the military.  In fact, it is the same education General de Gaulle had. My mother on the other hand, had a degree in philosophy. So, while it was always my dream to be a fashion designer, my parents felt I needed to study in a more intellectual field. My dreams to draw, create, and work with colors and textures were dashed when I acquiesced and got my law degree. I felt my artistic soul had been crushed.

I worked at a law firm for two years until an opportunity to work as a design intern presented itself through a family friend, Hugo Torrico at Villarroel Torrico, a renowned design firm with offices in Spain and China, and I took it!

Not only did this experience make me fall in love with the world of interior design and architecture but it made me realize that many of my passions found within fashion could be translated to interior design, in terms of colors, textures, fabrics, drawing and volumes. You can "dress up" an interior and evoke many feelings, create and reconsider space. It's magic!

Eventually, in 2013, I opened my own firm, International Designers by Rita Chraibi. I chose to not name it exclusively after myself because although many of the projects derive from my inspiration, there is an exceptional team of designers behind me and I wanted to pay tribute to them.

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Castro

HD: How would you describe your personal design style?

RC: I am not a fan of giving my style a label or committing to one for my firm because I think every good designer knows that each project has a soul of its own. Whether it is a hotel, office or residence, each property has a story, which I want to help convey. While each project guides me by way of style, I do have core values which I always strive to respect.

My spaces must feel elegant regardless of the style in which they are designed. That said, I have a good mastery of classical European, contemporary, Art Deco and Arab-Moorish styles, perhaps in part due to my French and Moroccan roots. "Haute Couture" would be another way to attempt to describe my styles I do take plenty of inspiration from the world of Haute Couture fashion, be it Christian Lacroix or Chanel.

I look at interiors in a similar way a fashion designer would look at their models. This does not just mean using fashionable furniture lines like Hermès, although I do that as well, it is also a way to humanize the interiors and express their personality. Fashionable and chic homes should not mean cold. It is very important to me that interiors are warm, livable and friendly. Achieving interiors that are simultaneously chic, sophisticated, warm and cozy is a challenge that I enjoy rising toward.

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Castro

HD: What direction do you feel that design is moving toward?

RC: We are all learning to live for longer periods of time at home than we were previously used to and this has to be factored into residential designs moving forward. Interiors will need to be arranged in a manner that is more family-friendly while also allowing for solitary moments in order to allow for reflections as well as real work done.

Design will probably move toward comfort above trendy, which is a good thing in my opinion. Anything that is too trendy is further from authenticity and truth. There is a certain hypocrisy in imposing a current color or style on everyone so I simply avoid to do so. I feel we are going to get closer to the "real" and have closer as well as more frequent connections to nature. Conversely, there will be more technology incorporated into design, which may, in some ways, help with these environmental connections.

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Castro

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Rafaela Simoes & Laila Colvin

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

Founders and Creative Directors Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin have established Miami’s premiere luxury interior design company, 2id Interiors. Regarded for their relevant and skillful approach to design, 2id Interiors in Miami is an award-winning leading interior design firm servicing clients which are among today's well-known names in professional industries and entertainment, spanning across South Florida, the U.S., and around the world with projects in Canada, Europe, and Brazil.

The dynamic duo behind 2id Interiors sat down with Haute Design and spoke about an eclectic array of topics which covered subjects from collaboration in design to what inspires their work.

Haute Design: Both of you are from Brazil. Do you think part of the Brazilian culture or design criteria carries over into your work?

Rafaela Simoes: Yes. I think the use of wood and organic, essential materials are always present in our design and I think that really comes from the Brazilian style of design. The desire to use natural and organic textures, I think, is very Brazilian and we always apply that into our work.

But because we also cater to so many cultures here in Miami, not just the Brazilians, I think we have learned how to be very diverse. For example, we have Russian clients who like a bit more 'bling-bling,' Brazilian clients who are more 'Earth-y,' and love the use of wood, but then we also have German clients, who have a totally different taste.

We have so many different clients and you can see that in our portfolio because it's so eclectic. We don't only follow one trend or one style. We cater to different cultures, different clients, with different backgrounds, and I think that is definitely reflected throughout our portfolio.

HD: We would agree! You mentioned the use of natural elements within your design. Have you noticed a shift with clients in regard to requesting more environmentally-conscious materials and design principles?

RS: Yes, I think so. Not specifically ecologically conscious material, but definitely more design aspects geared toward nature, more blues and greens. We are doing a lot of green walls on the exteriors of homes, so I do feel that people want the outdoors reflected inside their homes a little bit more. That said, I wouldn't go as far as saying it would be ecologically-friendly thinking.

We do have clients who really want to go in an environmentally-conscious direction and make sure the materials are responsible, but that's rare. That does not happen much.

Rafaela Simoes

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

HD: That's interesting. Switching gears a bit, considering all the time most of us have spent indoors over the past year or more, do you think clients have reconsidered how much they value their interior living spaces and home design?

RS: We definitely felt that at the beginning of COVID. We were a little bit worried about what was going to happen, as everyone was. So, everyone was remaining indoors and trying to contact us for potential projects and we couldn't do construction. But clients were ready to improve their homes right away.

From the beginning of lockdown, clients wanted to change furniture or change the layout of their homes that we had recently worked on and make things more comfortable. The first thing we did, before lockdown was over - we were already sending proposals to existing clients and new clients . It seemed everyone was desperate to improve their homes because it was a new way of life. No one had ever stayed home for this long so it was an interesting shift in the way people lived.

Everyone wants a comfortable home and they always have. But now, this idea of a comfortable home is really at the top of the list for requests. The requests have definitely shifted toward a more cozy and inviting home because people are working from home, the kids are studying from home, so comfort is key.

HD: To that point, something that has been rightfully addressed often throughout the year has been mental health. Have you noticed this awareness of mental health affect the clients' requests?

RS: I totally think so. But with us, we always thought about that when we started in this business; using materials we love, natural materials, bringing nature inside, including wood and raw materials inside the home, which does not happen in Miami often.

I think the Miami style is very shiny and cold and not very home-y. It's glossed whites and a pearly kind of style. Which, in my opinion, is not the most mentally healthy because it's so cold rather than warm and cozy like one should want their home to be. We are always designing with that in mind. We totally think that the house can be chic and elegant but still include some nature in the home.

We want the home to be beautiful but still feel cozy and warm and I totally connect that to mental health. I think that having a home that is not so cold and stark is very important for mental health.

Laila Colvin

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

HD: If we had to ask you to name three main principles throughout your design, what would those be?

Laila Colvin: I think our main principle is definitely to design for the client. As Rafaela mentioned, we have clients from all over the world and our portfolio is so eclectic because of that. I don't think we have a specific style. We do have some things that are always present, but we really try to embrace the client's dream home.

We really try to follow their vision and try to put that together for the client. If the style is more traditional, we will keep things more traditional for that project. If the taste is very modern and contemporary, we embrace that. So, whatever dream the client brings to us, we try to really embrace that.

We are not designers that say, 'you know what, that's not my style, go find someone else.' We really love having been able to work on such a variety of projects because that is an asset when trying to satisfy the clients to create their home, not our home.

HL: So, would you say in this case the client can be regarded as a secret weapon within your design team?

LC: Yes, that would be a fun way to say it, yeah. We definitely listen to them. There are a lot of exchanges between us and the client so that we have a better understanding of their desires. I do not understand how other designers can have a style that is so specific. You know, some designers have a style that once you see the work, you know it's them right away.

I don't know how they do it! Because they either need the client to totally buy into their personal vision so the client agrees to everything they recommend, or they say no to a lot of clients. We cannot do that. We actually love the difference between our projects and clients.

If you would like to learn more about 2id Interiors, CLICK HERE to visit their website.

The post 2id Interiors’ Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin Talk To Haute Design About Their Design Philosophy appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate

How would you describe a “legacy property”?

Legacy properties are those that offer owners luxury, privacy, security, and most of all, a comfortable place for your family to call home. Legacy properties have space to spread out and often have acreage. These estates include amenities like pools, sports courts, fitness centers, and home offices and are designed to be passed down from generation to generation.

Why would a buyer want to purchase a legacy property in Oregon?

Oregon has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country - ranging from the sandy beaches and rugged coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the high desert of Central Oregon and the majestic mountains of the Cascade Range. Many of the legacy properties I have represented take advantage of the incredible hilltop, desert, mountaintop, or water views.

Oregon has become an appealing place for both out-of-state and out-of-country buyers. In addition to the state’s beautiful and varied landscapes and the fabulous properties that can be found throughout the state, buyers appreciate that there is no sales tax in Oregon. We also have thriving industry clusters that include high-tech, apparel, wine, and clean technology.

Photo Credit: LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate

What are some examples of legacy properties available in Oregon?

Oregon is the ninth largest state in the country but ranks 27th in population. That means we have space to spread out, and many legacy properties take advantage of that!

The 22,000-sq.-foot estate I recently sold in Turner, Oregon, sits on 50 rolling acres with views for miles. This property was designed to be a private resort and has an exquisite array of features including a pool with a retractable roof, a fitness center, two-lane bowling alley, private guest apartment, and entertaining space galore. Being in the heart of the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s famed wine country, the estate also has potential for vineyards and a winery as 23 acres of the estate had soil that was rated “good to excellent” for grapevines.

In Newberg, Oregon, I represented a 25-acre, riverfront estate that would certainly be classified as a legacy property. This country estate features a 8,765 sq. foot main residence, a second full-size guest house, premium equestrian facilities, a tennis court, private pool with cabana and bar, personal gym, two boat docks, and a 7-car garage.

One of my favorite legacy properties is a truly extraordinary estate in Ashland, just 15 miles from the California border. Here, an 8,800-sq.-foot home that can only be described as a nature-inspired masterpiece sits atop a mountain on 700 acres. The home reflects the beauty of the land which surrounds it and was built with rounded edges and graceful curves that reflect the organic flow of natural surfaces. Listed at $6,000,000, this beautiful home provides the privacy of countryside living with easy access to one of the most culturally-rich small towns in not only Oregon but in America.

When buying or selling a Legacy Property, what should a client look for in a broker?

Those who seek high-end, luxury homes need to look for a broker who can be a strong liaison and advocate for them. This means having superior research and negotiation skills as well as connections to superior properties that may or may not be currently on the market.

As vice president and principal broker for LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate in Oregon and COO and designated broker of Christie’s International Real Estate Seattle in Washington, I have experience representing buyers and sellers from all over the world and specialize in legacy properties. Being with Christie’s gives me incredible marketing opportunities to reach a global audience of affluent buyers when selling estates and access to the most extraordinary homes when representing buyers.

I’m also proud to be a member of several prestigious global real estate marketing organizations. My affiliations with these powerhouse organizations allow me to connect with other brokers in the United States and abroad, garnering interest in and private viewings for my clients’ homes and connecting clients with outstanding brokers when they are relocating to new areas.

Legacy estates, especially those over $5 million, represent a niche in the market that requires an extra level of industry knowledge and expertise. Often, $5+ million properties involve more than just the sale of a home. Additional considerations, such as significant acreage, sale of a business, water rights, tax implications, or foreign investments, may come into play during a transaction. With nearly 30 years of experience working with many of the region’s most prestigious real estate firms, I understand the nuances of these multi-million dollar properties and can expertly navigate my clients through the negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Photo Credit: LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate

For more information about buying or selling luxury homes in Oregon, please visit OneBrokerOneWorld.com or contact Kendra Ratcliff at 503-330-6677 or kendra@LuxeCIR.com.

The post Kendra Ratcliff Discusses Legacy Properties in Oregon appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Moderate risk, stable economic conditions, and low interest rates have continued to drive investors to Manhattan. More recently, we have been seeing Russian speaking transplants, not only from the FSU but also from many European cities, especially London, come into New York with a clear understanding of the advantages of investing in New York City real estate. Newly released data from TripleMint, a residential real estate start up based in New York, points to a growth in foreign countries investing in American real estate. Topping that list, jumping from the 20th largest investor to the 2nd highest this past year, is FSU.

While these high end buyers come to Manhattan for some of the most respected developments in the world, that is but one of many reasons for their heightened interest. New York City is home to some of the best educational and medical facilities in the world, luxury living and exceptional education is an immigrants dream. As you walk around the campuses of NYU, Columbia University and many of the elite prep schools, you start to notice that Russian is widely spoken and once the kids come, the parents follow. The cultural events held in NYC, (MB fashion week, broadway theater, etc.) have also turned out to be some of the most popular wealth magnets.

Most notably, New York’s ability to provide the best medical treatment, once again puts New York in a league of its own. Adding just another component that help add value to the budding Oligarch considering moving  their family half way across the globe.

While your typical Russian comes to invest in New York real estate because of the consistent positive returns and long term value of their purchase, they stay for the glamour, education, health services and luxurious lifestyle.

The post Op-Ed: Edward Mermelstein’s Vision For New York appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.