Dorothy Alon, founder of prominent Los Angeles-based design firm, Sophea Interior Designs, has established herself in the last decade among Los Angeles developers, contractors, and other thought leaders in real estate. Dorothy has built her reputation as someone whose intuition and insight comes through in every project that she undertakes.

"We do things a little bit differently," says Dorothy. "About 90% of my clients are developers. After becoming familiar with the scale of work that I have done, along with my extensive experience in the field, they have developed the trust and understanding that we are a team and we are in this together. I think they appreciate that I'm not only focused on 'making things look pretty.' Instead, my approach is more like, 'yes, make this look pretty, but make it functional as well'."

Sophea Designs does not only handle the design aspect of a home, but it also participates in the planning and building process.

"Ideally, the architect gives me the floor plan before even going to the engineer," Dorothy explains. "Because we try to insure that all the interior built-ins and functional spaces are accounted for in order for us to not be limited by the structure itself."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

"While interior design is a broad spectrum and entails a multitude of specialties, I decided early on to focus on spec homes and new construction projects. This kind of business requires the interior designer to be involved early on in the process. Typically, we are getting the floor plans after the architect's first draft and we are looking at the house placement on the site map. Then we check that all the main spaces are sufficient and proportional to the scale of the house, both in space and return on investment. We proceed by verifying every window and door size and location. Lastly, we are making sure all standard furniture works in the space and we have enough wall space for cabinets, storage and art. Once this is complete, we continue with designing and selecting finishes. If we have any comments throughout this part of the process, we send it back to the architect to hear their thoughts. We respect the work they have done so far and would like to make sure we are giving our client the best product possible in terms of architecture and interior. In essence, the architect is the conductor and we are the orchestra. We work with all architectural softwares to make it easy for them to quickly respond and keep the work streamlined."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

Dorothy's passion in describing the ins and outs of her work and her company's functions is palpable. "I think about everything," she says. "I think of every house we work on as my own investment and as if I were going to live in each and every one of them. That is how I think. This is my mentality toward every home I have designed. I have worked on hundreds of houses and I start every project with the same amount of excitement. The passion toward what I do is what keeps me going. In that sense, we are different. We care. We really care about what we do."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

If you wish to contact Sophea Interior Designs for a prospective project or want to learn more about Dorothy Alon's work, CLICK HERE for more information.

The post Sophea Designs Cares About Each And Every Design Project As If It Were Their Own Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Are there areas in Sarasota where you have seen a lot of growth lately?

The market in Sarasota has been very dynamic since sales have regained momentum in May. Certain areas such as Siesta Key that were selling well before the shutdown in March have not only re-engaged but are up significantly from 2019. Other traditionally strong areas such as West of Trail and Bird Key have reinforced their positions as Sellers’ Markets. New home sales in new and existing subdivisions have also bounced back to a pre-COVID-19 pace.

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

What amenities are buyers requesting more this time of year in their new homes?

We have all learned what we really like or do not like in our homes during the quarantine.   Certainly, on the hot list going forward is the home office or even dual home offices.   We do not see that changing as the future of work at home will continue to evolve in our new reality.  Square footage in general is now more positive. We were trending away from size pre-COVID-19 and now having the extra square footage is a plus - particularly if we have it in the right places: home gym, study area, outdoor space, media room, etc.

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

What is the overall state of the West coast of Florida real estate market?

While we are not experts in markets outside the Greater Sarasota area, reports from colleagues in many Gulf Coast communities are incredibly positive. It seems the combination of fantastic weather, access to numerous outdoor amenities all year round, no income taxes, and the rise in work from home arrangements is giving the Gulf Coast a real shot in the arm.

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

What attractions in Sarasota with enough social distance are open to the public?

So, we are excited to see the number of positive COVID-19 tests on the decline in Florida and more specifically Sarasota. While we are all doing our part to social distance, it is great to report that most of our attractions are open – of course with limitations in place. Siesta Key Beach rated #1 in the country, along with all area public beaches are open.  Access to water and boating has never been more popular.  Most golf courses are open as well.  The reality is that pretty much all the amenities you are looking for in the Greater Sarasota area are available within a defined framework.

Photo Credit: Coastal Home Photography

The post Update On Sarasota Real Estate Market During 2020, With Joel Schemmel appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

With enough lush greenery to trick anyone into thinking it was a scene out of Wizard of Oz, this California oceanfront home seems more like the Wizard of Oz’s beach house. The westward-facing home is optimized for luxury and sunshine in all aspects, with rooms and design built to fit everything from elegant cocktail parties amongst friends to quiet rooms with a décor and design both modern and hygge inspired.

Coming in at just under $18 million from The Agency, this Laguna Beach home at 199 Emerald Bay is a jewel on the coastline, with 7,078 square feet fitting in five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a private spa, outdoor fire pit, two car garage, separate garage, and a master suite that covers nearly an entire floor of the home. Outside the residence, the home even features a private beach, six different tennis courts, a swimming pool, and activities for those of all ages. While the luxury and high end nature of the home may come with an 18-million dollar price tag, its also perfectly filled with activities to get one’s money’s worth.

It’s never been more enticing after a long week at the office to follow the Yellow Brick 405 all the way to Emerald Bay for a relaxing respite.

The post Forget The Emerald City, Make Emerald Bay Where Your Road Leads appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.