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A guestroom at the Banyan Tree Ungasan, Bali

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts’ guests take their luxury with a healthy dose of social responsibility. by David Eisen

Most companies are interested in producing a healthy P+L statement, not a transparent sustainability report. But since 2006, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, with 20 properties in places like Thailand and the Maldives, has been doing just that. The company’s reports cover each resort and highlight resource conservation topics like green house gas emissions and energy consumption.

“It’s what we do, and we seek to be as transparent as possible to allow everyone to make their own judgment,” explains Claire Chiang, senior vice president of Banyan Tree Holdings and co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts.

In fact, everything about Banyan Tree begins with sustainability—from its resorts’ designs to the manner in which they’re run to the way they integrate the local community. “We look to use the most architecturally efficient materials within a reasonable investment cost,” Chiang says. “This is applied anywhere, from using the passive method on natural lighting and ventilation to the selection of building supplies. We plan and design resorts with minimum impact to the environment and great impact on a guest’s experience.” (Take Banyan Tree Ringha in China, where 32 lodges and suites were reconstructed, log by log, from decades-old Tibetan farmhouses, without the use of nails or other modern materials.)

Banyan Tree’s commitment to sustainability does not mean it comes at the expense of profits; the Banyan Tree product is not cheap. Consider Banyan Tree Samui in Thailand, where rates for a Deluxe Pool Villa begin around $900 per night. The Presidential Villa at Banyan Tree Seychelles commands a rate of around $4,700 per night.

“Banyan Tree’s definition of sustainability echoes the triple-bottom-line approach, whereby we seek social, environmental, and financial success simultaneously,” Chiang says. “We see sustainability as not being a zero-sum game between earning profits, promoting communal prosperity, and ecological conservation. The biggest obstacle is when we allow the time horizons associated with profitability to shrink such that the tail (short-term profits) is truly wagging the dog (long-term success).”

Currently, Banyan Tree properties are mostly situated in Asia, but there are two in Mexico. For the time being, Banyan Tree taking up a presence stateside is unlikely, but not out of the question, says Chiang.

Banyan Tree’s main goal is to continue operating and serving its brand of sustainable luxury. “Resorts are even more exposed to the three Ls of real estate: location, location, location,” says Chiang. “You can have the most beautiful location, but if you’re not conscientious about designing, building, and operating the resort, you’ll destroy the competitive advantage of that destination by destroying…the local ecosystem.”

Chef de Cuisine, Rebecca Merhej

Chef Rebecca Marhej

Terranea’s signature restaurant, mar’sel exudes the warmth and classic elegance of Southern California set against a panoramic ocean backdrop. mar’sel takes its name from the Spanish term for sea, mar, and French term for salt, sel – a reflection of its contemporary twist on the California-inspired menu. Chef de Cuisine Rebecca Merhej brings fresh flavors to her seasonal creations with local ingredients and produce grown in Terranea’s herb garden.

Being only 24, Chef Marhej is the youngest member of the culinary team to earn the position of Chef de Cuisine. She has been an integral part of the resort since opening and contributed greatly to the development of mar’sel. Prior to joining Terranea Resort as sous chef in 2009, Merhej earned her stripes at Chef Kerry Simon’s celebrated restaurant, Simon LA. Since then she has spent the last three years honing her culinary skills and working alongside award-winning Terranea Resort Executive Sous Chef and mentor Michael Fiorelli and under the tutelage of the highly acclaimed Destination Hotels & Resorts Corporate Executive Chef Christian Schmidt.

Now at the helm of mar’sel, Merhej’s dynamic interpretation of a classic, California-inspired menu is enhanced through European and Mediterranean influences. She is committed to utilizing local, seasonal ingredients to develop farm-to-table menu offerings that change daily. Merhej’s inspiration for cooking is fueled by, “the joy that is felt in creating happiness for others through unique dining experience.”

Imitate Chef Mehej’s specialty brunch items with the following recipes.

Buckwheat Waffle Mix

Ingredients

1 c buckwheat flour
1 c All purpose flour
2 tbl brown sugar
1 tbl baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 eggs separated
1 ½ c milk
8 tbl unsalted butter- melted
Powdered sugar for dusting
¼ c of your favorite preserves or fresh berries

Directions

Preheat waffle iron
In a large bowl sift together all your dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl whisk your egg yolks, butter and milk. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir in briefly just to incorporate them all together.
With a stand mixer or a hand mixer whisk your egg white until they form soft peaks and gently fold them into your batter.
Ladle your mix into your waffle machine (use the amount according to how much your waffle machine holds).
The waffle should take about 5 minutes or until its golden brown.
Once the waffle is done, cut it into 4 triangles, dust it with the powdered sugar and top it with the berries or the preserves.

Chef Rebecca Merhej, mar'sel, Terranea, Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes

Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, one of Chef Rebecca Merhej’s brunch items.

Ricotta and Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients

2 c water
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c honey
2 c pancake mix (Bob’s Red Mill all organic mix is great)
1 c whole milk
1 c ricotta cheese
½ c blueberries
Melted butter for your skillet
Powdered sugar for garnish
Blueberries for garnish

Directions

Using a rubber spatula, stir the water, honey, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl.
Add the pancake mix and stir just until its incorporated (no lumps).
Stir in the ricotta into the pancake mixture.
Gently fold in the ricotta but try not to break it up too much, clumps are a good thing.
Fold in the blueberries.
Heat a griddle over medium heat & brush with the melted butter.
Ladle the pancakes onto the griddle, flip when you see small bubbles around the edges.
Cook until both sides are golden brown.
Top with fresh blueberries and shake powdered sugar on top.

Destination Hotels & Resorts

Designing Destination

You might know one of the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts portfolio, but soon you’ll know the company, too. by Bill Owens

Destination Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company with a well-capitalized real estate parent in Lowe Enterprises (loweenterprises.com). Together, they’re quietly assembling a strong portfolio of mainly upscale mixed-use properties, of which Lowe owns almost half of the 42 in Destination’s collection.

Terranea

While many of its hotels are known by travelers, Destination’s president and CEO Jamie Sabatier wants those travelers to know that they are the brand behind properties that include Wild Dunes Resort in South Carolina and L’Auberge Del Mar in California.

“One of my focal areas for 2013 is to move us from being a bunch of different properties that have a linkage together to a collection of properties that resonate with the consumer,” Sabatier says. “That doesn’t mean we necessarily need to do a hard brand, but we have the opportunity to better present our portfolio to our customers in a way that will enhance their awareness and their desire to go from one property to another.” The move is similar to what hotel collections like Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and RockResorts have done to acquaint themselves with their customers. For example, The Carlyle in New York only recently became The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel.

There is also a residential component to many Destination properties, which is part of the vertically integrated structure of the Lowe Hospitality Group, where Destination acts as the manager and Lowe as the developer.

At Terranea, in Southern California, Ocean Golf Villas and Oceanfront Casitas are priced from around $1.3 million. In Vermont, Front Four Residences at Stowe Mountain range from $219,000 to $309,000.

“We have chosen to stay out of timeshare [options],” Sabatier says. “We’ve got a great opportunity to develop communities. The types of deals we are seeing are really redevelopments. Every market is different, but what we are seeing is a greater velocity in the number of sales. With that comes better pricing, and we are in early phases of seeing pricing improvement.”

In the near future, Destination will look to grow via acquisitions and expand its reach outside of the U.S. to the Caribbean and Mexico. “Our goal is to double the size of the company over the next five to seven years,” Sabatier says.

At the same time, Lowe Enterprises and its development arm, Lowe Destination Development, look to develop properties across the United States. And while growing via acquisitions, Sabatier does think the market for ground-up development is coming back. “As the development market improves, and we have seen a real increase in our development pipeline, I can see [new development] being a growth vehicle,” he says.

Room With A View

Barefoot Beach, Bonita Springs, FL

Location: Barefoot Beach, Bonita Springs, FL
Built By: Potter Homes (Naples, FL)
Completed: October 2012
Architect: Jon Kukk of Kukk Architecture (Naples, FL)
Developer: Windover Construction
Interior designer: Collins & Dupont Interior Design
Style: Floridian Coastal

“The challenge in oceanfront living is to maximize the amazing views while providing a livable and functional floorplan. Collins was able to achieve this very difficult balance while demonstrating an elegant design of coastal sophistication.” – R. Jason Burrell, Project Executive, Windover Construction

We want to hear from you! Show us your own favorite room with a view. Email to editor@oceanhomemag.com

A Classic Approach

La Playa Carmel

Sam Grossman’s business is real estate. His passion is hotels. By David Eisen

To hear Sam Grossman tell it, the hotel business really has nothing to do with real estate. In fact, adds the chairman of Grossman Properties, “The hotel business is actually an ongoing business operation that requires constant attention.” Perhaps that’s why Grossman has a soft spot for hotels—it’s a passion he can nurture and to which he can devote constant attention, ultimately leaving his own mark.

Grossman displays this side through Classic Hotels & Resorts, the Phoenix-based hospitality management division of Grossman Properties, whose portfolio includes the Arizona Grand Resort, in Phoenix, plus the Inn at Laguna Beach and La Playa Carmel, both in California. All three hotels are well positioned to take advantage of the upturn following the downturn. “The leader in the pack right now is high end [properties],” Grossman says, pointing to positive signs in rate and occupancy growth.

For now, Grossman is content to focus on West Coast projects. The company recently completed multimillion-dollar renovations at the Inn at Laguna Beach and La Playa Carmel. Classic’s finest turn-around moment, arguably, was its 1992 acquisition of the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Classic bought the 730-room resort for $62 million, spent $60 million on renovations, then sold it in 2000 for $350 million.

While the company has dipped its toes into waters off the West Coast—in the past having built two hotels in Dallas—the mode of growth today is in acquiring properties and, as Grossman tells it, prices have shot up. “We are interested in acquiring properties with attractive pricing, but it’s difficult to find really good properties below replacement cost,” Gross- man says. In fact, he adds, prices are approaching 2006 and 2007 levels— then heady times for the hotel industry.

No matter the time, Grossman is a firm believer in hotels and real estate. “I’m often asked the question, ‘Is this a good time to be in real estate?’ “My answer: It’s always a good time to be in real estate.” classichotels.com.

All-Star Story

Donna Orender

From NYC to Jacksonville Beach,WNBA President Donna Orender finds serenity and inspiration in her oceanfront home.

Donna Orender, president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, knows how to sink a shot, and her Jacksonville Beach, FL, beach house is one of her many scores. This “committed New Yorker” picked up roots when she was recruited by the PGA Tour to lead the effort of moving their production company to the Sunshine State. Florida may not have been home, but things turned out exceptionally well; the Nantucket-style Cedar Shake oceanfront home that she shares with husband MG Orender (Honorary PGA President) and their four children is a testament to the benefits of change. Many years later, the WBL All-Star point guard and ABC Sports and SportsChannel celebrity says,

“I don’t think a day goes by that we don’t remark on how much we enjoy our home.” —Kiley Jacques

What drew you to Jacksonville? I was involved in the initial start-up of PGA TOUR Productions in New York City, and after a few years left to begin my own marketing company (Primo Donna Productions). The Tour decided to move their company in-house; they asked if I would be interested in going to Jacksonville to help. I found the beach lifestyle to be the perfect complement to my city life and a great antidote for a very busy and challenging job.

Which area destinations do you like to share with out-of-town visitors? We play golf at Amelia Island’s Northampton Golf Club and at the Ponte Vedra Inn. There are a lot of good restaurants and local chefs that we like to support, including Pom’s Signature Restaurant and Eleven South. For little and big kids alike, a trip to the Alligator Farm is a must. Recently, we hosted a group who came here to launch Generation W, a special event for women in northeast Florida. Our itinerary included a reception at Roy’s—one of my family’s favorites (Roy himself visits from Hawaii and cooks for us).

How would you describe its furnishings? It is a happy house with an open layout, a great flow, clean lines, a warm heart, and a beach soul. With a beautiful view of the ocean, we have chosen colors that echo nature and accentuate the window-framed scenery.

What has influenced your tastes and design choices? We often joke about the influence of things we’ve seen during our travels, particularly great bathrooms. We are equally at ease in urban environments and have ultimately created a warm, clean, and friendly aesthetic. We have an eclectic style—with a dash of whimsy. We feel strongly that style has to function for all to work well.

Which room do you spend the most time in? The room with “the view” and the food. We do everything in this space. Our kitchen, dining area, computer workspace, and living room tie together and are framed by three enormous picture windows. I find it serene, inspiring, and motivating. Everyone tends to end up in this space.

Honduras Pristine Bay Resort

Get to know Pristine Bay Resort off the coast of Honduras—Central America’s next island hot spot. By David Eisen

Thirty-five miles off the coast of Honduras sits the island of Roatán, where scuba diving, eco-tourism, fishing, and glass-bottom boat tours are a way of life. Pristine Bay Resort, situated on a 400-plus-acre site that nuzzles against the Caribbean Sea, offers all of this, and more.

Pristine Bay Resort features a wide variety of residential units, including two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as two-bedroom villas and quarter-acre custom home lots. Many of these properties enjoy unobstructed views of the ocean and access to a Pete and Perry Dye-designed par-72 golf course, The Black Pearl, which has been ranked No. 1 in Honduras by Golf Digest. Residences range from $600,000 to $1.1 million; lots start at $260,000; and villas average between $438,000 and $500,000.

Currently, there are approximately 60 properties available for purchase, says Luis Pedro Toriello, COO of Pristine Bay Resort, adding that sales have been brisk, with more than 150 properties sold. “The exclusiveness of our development and its many amenities for owners attract people looking for the best investment opportunities or the perfect vacation,” Toriello says.

In addition to the residences, a new 155-slip full-service marina will provide deep-water access for a wide variety of seafaring vessels. For those not in the market to buy, there is also a luxury hotel component. The previously named Resort & Spa at Pristine Bay has been r

enamed Las Verandas Hotel & Villas, and opened earlier this year. The hotel includes 36 rooms and 11 free-standing villas; its design has a local feel with features like terracotta flat-tile roofing and Honduran mahogany trim. At the top end is the Ocean View Villa, which goes for $925 per night during high season (late December through May). The villa has its own private pool and other amenities. pristinebayresort.com.

Windsurfing Champ Dane Dingerson

At home in Belize with Dane Dingerson, windsurfing champ and founder of the country’s Caye Caulker Nature Reserve.

For Windsurfing National Champion of Belize Dane Dingerson, there’s no place like home, especially when his home happens to be surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. Dingerson is the founder of the Caye Caulker Nature Reserve (cayecaulker.org/reserve), established in 1989 on the small limestone island off the coast of Belize. With an amphibious nature, Dingerson is equally at ease navigating the eye of the wind, planing the perfect wave, and planting tropical gardens. No matter the venture, he’s living Caye Caulker’s island lifestyle to its fullest. —Kiley Jacques

You have had such a diverse career history, from Windsurfing National Champion of Belize, to Founder of the Ocean Academy and the Caye Caulker Nature Reserve, to CEO of Eden Isles, Inc. What inspired you to take on so many things? I began traveling in college as part of my education, and found the world full of opportunities unavailable to those who prefer to stay home.

Why Belize? Why Caye Caulker Island specifically? I am a curious traveler and often ask other high mileage travelers, ‘Where is the best place on earth?’ A doctor in India, who has been to more than a hundred countries, once told me, for her, it is Caye Caulker. Many years later, I went and found she was right. I’ve stayed for 30 years.

What do you love most about the island? The whole island is white sand. No matter how deep you dig, there are no rocks or dirt. The water is clear and warm because the nearby reef encloses and protects us from waves; sometimes when fishing, you can actually see the fish you are trying to catch.

Describe your home and its immediate surroundings? We have a good bit of direct oceanfront property because land here is very affordable. We live on a place about 300 feet from the ocean, and we have five small decks from which we savor our forest and coastline proximity. The vegetation grows fast, and we allow it to crowd the house to provide natural cooling from shade and evaporation.

What is Caye Caulker’s appeal? Slow development is sometimes best; it allows the local culture to survive and evolve in a natural way. There is an island nearby named Ambergris Caye, which attracts travelers who enjoy luxury resort vacations. But Caye Caulker is for people looking for a true Belize-style vacation. It’s the kind of place that makes people dream about staying forever.

Southern Comfort at Reynolds Plantation

New ownership, same carefree living at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia. By David Eisen

Few development communities in the United States rival Reynolds Plantation (reynoldsplantation.com) on Lake Oconee, in Greensboro, Georgia, in terms of sheer beauty and lifestyle. Situated on 10,000 acres and including six golf courses (featuring Nicklaus, Fazio, Jones, and Cupp designs), four marinas, a Ritz-Carlton hotel, and ample real estate opportunities, Reynolds Plantation, which is about 70 miles east of Atlanta, is a vacation mecca for some, a business opportunity for others seeking to pad their real estate portfolios.

Maybe that’s why it was so appealing to the nation’s largest life insurer, MetLife, which agreed to acquire the community in May from Linger Longer Development Company after it struggled under a heavy debt load too high to bear.

“This is a premier community with world-class amenities, a great reputation, and a strong future,” says Robert Merck, senior managing director and head of real estate investments for MetLife. “This transaction represents an outstanding investment opportunity for us.”

The new owner has brought on Daniel Corporation to oversee all day-to-day operations. The collaboration between MetLife and Daniel represents a continuation of a 25-year relationship between the two companies.

In addition to its golf courses and 251-room Ritz-Carlton hotel (which will remain operated by Ritz-Carlton after the acquisition closes some time this summer), Reynolds Plantation has 3,800 residences, some of which struggled to sell during the housing slump.

Single-family homes, cottages (tandem or attached), and home sites are available for purchase, with varying views (lake, woods, or golf course). Single-family homes are available starting around $300,000 for three bedrooms and two baths. Cottages start below $200,000, while home sites are listed starting at $40,000.

Reynolds Plantation also offers a long-term leasing program for those looking to rent instead of own. These can range from one month to one year or more, and some of the properties in this program have a membership available to borrow that can allow tenants the opportunity to obtain golf privileges while renting. reynolds plantation.com.

Beach Buff; Andrew Thomka-Gazdik

For 38-year-old attorney Andrew Thomka-Gazdik, Palm Beach is the ideal coastal playground—but it’s also home.

Palm Beach is known the world over as a sun-drenched paradise, an exclusive enclave that’s rife with shops bearing ultra-luxe brands, highways crawling with the sexiest and most expensive cars on the market, world-class restaurants, and some of the planet’s most eye-popping real estate. For 38-year-old attorney Andrew Thomka-Gazdik of the firm Stromberg and Tarone, PLC, this earthly paradise is also where he lives and works. Gazdik talks to Ocean Home about striking a balance between work and play in this glamorous corner of the globe. —L.L.

You’ve lived in Europe and also Canada, where you were born, and have studied in the North and Northeast, but you came back to Florida to practice law. What drew you back? The quality of life. We live in paradise. Palm Beach has the reputation of being a “resort-town” destination, but in fact, it’s a vibrant close-knit community that has great restaurants, water-geared activities, and, of course, the weather. You can’t beat 70 degrees in December!

What do you love most about life in Palm Beach? Not only is it a pristinely beautiful place, but it’s clean, safe, friendly, and has an overall relaxed, easy-going vibe that allows you to enjoy the perks of living on an island, without having the whole “island-time” mentality.

If we spent a weekend with you in Palm Beach, what would it be like? I absolutely love to entertain. Hosting a dinner party with great friends is my ideal Saturday evening. Also, the notion of sunset cocktails is really taken to a new level here!

What does Palm Beach have that makes it special, and what keeps you there? The ability to take advantage of the weather, scenery and island living. To be able to play tennis or golf at a moment’s notice, or hop in the ocean. It seems that there are more hours in the day down here.

Favorite hangouts in Palm Beach? Buccan and Cucina are two of my go-to spots for a great dinner (fresh seafood, etc.) and lively nightlife scene.

You’ve got a background in real estate and real estate law, as well. Living in Palm Beach must be like living in a candy store for a kid. Palm Beach real estate is unique unto itself. Whether it’s a quaint pied-a-terre, bungalow, or sprawling mansion, Palm Beach has something for everyone. It has been a retreat for many snow birds, as well as a solid investment for those looking to put down roots here.

What are your toys of choice for enjoying the coastal life in Palm Beach? Anything goes down here, from converted former U.S. Mail Delivery Jeeps to Maybachs, but I’m a little more practical with a Range Rover, especially as I plan on taking up paddle boarding and will need to lug that tall board around.

Made with Love: St Kitts’ Christophe Harbour

Christophe Harbour

St. Kitts’ Christophe Harbour is a labor of love. By Stephen Oakridge

It is one thing to build a one-off hotel or resort; it’s a whole other story to develop a luxury community from scratch. That is the pursuit of Christophe Harbour, the luxury resort development still under construction on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts in the eastern Caribbean.

The master-planned development spans 2,500 acres and, when complete, will entail a mega-yacht harbor and 300-slip marina (the development’s focal points); an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course; two branded hotels; private residences; a yacht club; beach clubs, restaurants; and shopping.

Getting to the point of total completion has been a chore for Christophe Harbour Development Company, a venture of Kiawah Partners, stymied by a fickle economy and a downturn that arrived just as the first shovel hit the dirt in 2008.

Now, the development is in full advance. “Despite launching this project during a difficult economic climate, Christophe Harbour has successfully sold more than properties and started to develop both the infrastructure and amenities for a world-class residential resort community,” said Charles P. “Buddy” Darby III, CEO of Kiawah Partners. “Our goal is to create an opportunity for a lifestyle that is unmatched anywhere in the Caribbean, and we believe by doing that, Christophe Harbour is well positioned to take advantage of the economic recovery we are now beginning to see.

The real estate component comprises lots available from $750,000 to $2.8 million. A variety of different home sites to choose from includes Sandy Bank Bay, set along a horseshoe bay with two reefs and a natural sand bank that extends more than 100 yards from the shoreline, and Cardinal Point, which is situated above Sandy Bank Bay and comprises 13 home sites overlooking the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic. According to Kiawah Partners, 67 lots have been sold to date. christopheharbour.com.

Profile: Christopher Pulitzer Leidy

Palm Beach native Christopher Pulitzer Leidy channels a life spent by the sea into a thriving, ocean-inspired photography career.

A native of Palm Beach, Florida, Christopher Pulitzer Leidy was practically born loving the beach. Today, Leidy, an avid surfer and grandson of designer Lilly Pulitzer, channels his passion for the sea into his own successful photography business, Leidy Images. Of his evolution as an underwater photographer, Leidy says, “From day one, I have had salt water rushing through my veins. I grew up surfing and fishing off my home coast of Palm Beach, and I was fortunate enough later in life to spend several months out of the year diving and fishing through the southern Bahamas on my grandfather’s boat, the Sea Hunter.”

When Leidy returned from those trips, he brought back “amazing stories of riding whale sharks, diving in schools of sharks, and catching 500-pound blue marlin” to share with friends. “For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to share…tales of my excursions, global travels, and experiences,” he says.

That’s precisely what Leidy accomplishes through his photography, counting singer Jimmy Buffett and New York real estate tycoon Douglas Durst among the high-profile clients who own pieces of Leidy’s imagery, some of which he captured in places like French Polynesia, Panama, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Leidy says he still loves the Bahamas and shoots there often (“because of color and beautiful whale shark encounters”), as well as in the South Pacific.

Wherever his travels take him, Leidy says his goal is to soak in the sights and experiences each destination affords him and to create a collection of photographs that not only appeals to ocean enthusiasts, but contemporary fine art lovers as well. Apparently, he’s well on his way—Leidy frequently exhibits his work around the U.S., with 2012 exhibits including Christie’s “Green Auction” Bid To Save The Earth in New York City (“It was unreal”); the NYC Affordable Art Fair; a solo show at 4 Times Square in New York City, a.k.a. the headquarters of global publishing juggernaut Condé Nast; and Art Basel in June. For Chris Leidy, life really is a day at the beach. —L.L.

Paul Mitchell Systems Co-Owner, Angus Mitchell

Angus Mitchell

Angus Mitchell, co-owner of Paul Mitchell Systems, knows a thing or two about beauty—and we aren’t just talking hair.

As co-owner of Paul Mitchell Systems, world-renowned stylist and educator Angus Mitchell keeps a jet-setter’s schedule, traveling between his namesake salons and endless engagements. In between, Mitchell, son of late hair-cutting guru Paul Mitchell, finds time to recharge at his coastal properties in Hawaii, Canada, and Southern California. —L.L.

You spend a lot of time considering aesthetics. How does that affect how you see your homes? I see hair through architecture and design; I am sensitive to form and function through structure. I apply the same vision to hair as I do to my homes. My father purchased the land at Lanikai in the ’80s but never lived to see the construction through to completion. I have redesigned and redecorated different elements of the estate to enhance the natural coastal environment. I am currently going through a major renovation that incorporates surprise elements of design that I spent planning out in detail in my head before committing it to a blueprint. Lanikai embodies my deep appreciation for art and localism.

What other properties do you own? I recently purchased a 2,600-square-foot house on Victoria Beach in Laguna, California. Victoria Beach is known as the birthplace of skimboarding. The house was was built in 2006; it’s a Cape Cod-style home that leads directly onto the beach. Victoria Beach is my Hawaiian paradise in California; I call it “Hawaii nice.” The beaches are impeccable and I can truly relax and connect with the power of the ocean when I am there.

We hear you also have a place in Canada. I own a 27-acre private island in Canada, with a 6,000-square-foot home. It is a fishing/hunting lodge built in 1902. We rent this home out for weddings, but this island is my rustic getaway. The views of the water from the hiking trails on the island are breathtaking. The water can get as warm as 80 degrees in the summer. It has a floating boathouse that garages the boats, the only transportation to and from the surrounding islands.

You support environmental initiatives. What’s your take on it? I believe in living life selflessly, not selfishly. On a greater scale, this mantra is pertinent to the preservation of Hawaii’s coastal land. In December 2011, I donated my favorite coastal property in Turtle Bay, Hawaii, to the Nature Conservancy. Together we are committed to protecting the land so that generations to come can appreciate [Hawaii’s] scenic and historical coastline.

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The Details The Paul Mitchell Estate, Lanikai, Hawaii. Bedrooms: 7. Bathrooms: 6 full, 5 half. Special features: Outdoor pool/Jacuzzi, massage/lounge area, and firepit. Land purchased: 1980s. Style: Polynesian.

Marbella Club, Puerto Rico

At a time when many Caribbean developments are looking for signs of a real estate recovery, The Marbella Club is pumping up Puerto Rico’s market with positive news.

Fueled by highly attractive value pricing, various government tax incentives, and 100 percent developer financing, the oceanfront Marbella Club entered the spring season with nine luxury condo units sold in the previous 12-month period—easily surpassing sales from each of the previous two years, says developer Candelero Point Partners principal Jim Harvie.

The Marbella Club

Situated on a prime parcel in the Palmas del Mar resort about 45 minutes from the airport on the island’s southeast coast, The Marbella Club is a fully developed community of 150 residences with roughly 15 left for sale. The two- and three-bedroom homes are surrounded by matured landscaping and two private pools, and a unique Spanish Cava is offered for member wine storage and events.

Meanwhile, The Marbella Club residents have access to Palmas del Mar’s nearby amenities and services, including a beach, a 200-slip marina and yacht club, equestrian facilities, 20 restaurants, two golf courses, and the Caribbean’s largest tennis center.

Condos start at $362,000 for 1,100-square-foot, one-bedroom units (reduced from $483,000) and go up to $709,000 for 2,200-square-foot, three-bedroom/three-bath units (reduced from $945,000). Harvie says 70 percent of Marbella Club homeowners are locals, but the balance is made up of U.S. buyers seeking an exotic yet easy getaway.

“One of our newer residents is a New Jersey lawyer who used to own in Los Suenos [Costa Rica],” Harvie says. “He said, ‘This is the best-kept secret.’ You don’t need a passport; there are direct flights and it’s so much easier to get to. It’s three and a half hours by plane, then 45 minutes to your home. He told me when he’s down here, he feels like he really escapes to a whole different atmosphere.”

Indeed, it’s one that’s starting to become a real seller’s market.

Puerto Rican Pride

Cayo Diablo Island

A quick trip from the U.S., Puerto Rico is brimming with upscale hotels, divine restaurants, and beautiful beaches. By Lisa Rogak

Puerto Rico is often overlooked as a warm-weather getaway, which is unfortunate, because it’s an easy jaunt from most of the United States. Plus, you can leave your passport at home.

This unincorporated U.S. territory offers a multitude of diversity to visitors, from the salsa-infused energy of San Juan to the ultra-laid-back beach culture of Vieques. And at only 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, it’s small enough that you can cram three distinctly different vacations—city, beach, and resort—into a week (or less), as getting from one place to another won’t eat up a lot of your precious vacation time.

Start in San Juan, the capital. Old San Juan has a clearly European flavor, with wrought-iron balconies and Easter egg-colored houses, where residents call to one another above the cobblestoned streets. Browse the shops, soak in the history of a 500-year-old fort or 17th-century cathedral, or sit on a bench to take in the sights of the city and enjoy its people’s energy.

Visitors can kayak on Bio Bay

Next, grab a short 25-minute flight to Vieques, an island that is largely unspoiled and undiscovered…for now. Until 2003, the island served as a vital Navy outpost, which kept Vieques relatively undeveloped. With the arrival of the W Resort in 2010, more people flocked to the island, yet the downtown area and roads that crisscross the island remain largely unchanged. Activities cater to outdoors lovers—biking, horseback riding, kayaking—and it’s not unusual to spend hours pursuing these endeavors without encountering another person.

To wrap things up, opt for classic luxury at El Conquistador, a Waldorf-Astoria property. Located in the northeastern corner of the main island, the resort makes a great jumping-off point for all of the activities that are packed into this small corner of the island. Plus, guests at the resort are allowed the opportunity to spend the day at Palomino Island, a private 100-acre reserve with horseback riding, snorkeling, windsurfing, and sailing–or just relaxing on the beach.

Of course, while you can easily experience all three vacations over the course of a week, you can just pick one and still get the full flavor of Puerto Rico.

The Essentials

1 Where to Stay The Hotel El Convento is a beautiful Spanish Colonial building. 100 Cristo Street, Old San Juan 00901; 787-723-9020. The W Retreat and Spa Vieques will make you feel like you’re lazing on your own private island. State Road 200, Vieques; 787-741-4100. El Conquistador Resort is perched high above the ocean on a cliff. 1000 El Conquistador Avenue, Fajardo 00738; 787-863-1000.

2 Where to Eat Augosto’s Restaurant is one of San Juan’s best restaurants, offering contemporary French cuisine and impeccable service. Courtyard Marriott Miramar, Avenida Ponce de Leon 801, Miramar, San Juan; 787-725-7700. Pikayo at The Conrad Condado Plaza offers dishes that fuse cuisines from Eastern Europe and Africa with traditional Puerto Rican flavors. 999 Ashford Avenue, San Juan 00907; 787-721-6194.

3 What To Do The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico contains artifacts from the 16th century. Avenida De Diego 299, Santurce, San Juan, 00909; 787-977-6277. El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. Rio Grande, 787-888-1880. Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 16th-century fort near Old San Juan, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Norzagaray St., San Juan 00901; 787-729-6777.

Ocean Club Undergoes Multi-Million Renovation

Room service: The Ocean Club Hotel

The Ocean Club Hotel opened in March 2012 for its first full season since undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation in late 2010. The hotel has reemerged as sophisticated, chic, and luxe–an ideal modern option in Cape May, New Jersey’s beautiful and quaint Victorian community. Situated across from Cape May Beach, each room boasts a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean from a private balcony. Breezy interiors, plush bedding, and custom-designed furnishings provide the perfect blend of style and comfort. The hotel has a large sun deck area with a poolside bar, where guests can sip on cocktails and sunbathe. SeaSalt restaurant offers fresh seafood paired with wine and specialty cocktails, and, on the weekends, live music.

Forbes Riley Talks Entertaining, Beaches, and Her Florida Home

Forbes Riley

Forbes Riley skipped a grade in high school and earned two undergraduate degrees in just three years. Today, she’s an award-winning TV host, author, spokesperson, motivational keynote speaker, and life coach, as well as the recognizable face behind SpinGym, the at-home fitness accessory she can be seen promoting and demonstrating on HSN. Riley talks to Ocean Home about life at her waterfront Florida home. —L.L.

Why did you choose this home? The house has the most expansive open water views and a long dock with three boat lifts, so we have the jet boat and the jet ski, and we are still trying to figure out the third!

Which spot in the house affords the best view? Our second-floor master bedroom faces east over the water with a wall of windows, and it’s a dream to wake up and see the sun rise out of the water. I’ve seen many sunsets, but from my bedroom between the silhouetted palm trees to see this glowing ball of energy start the day, it’s magical. The first morning after we moved in, I screamed for my twin children to join me at six a.m. because the sky filled with colors you only find in a crayon box.

What’s special to you about living on the water? There is an undeniable energy you get from the water and all the sea life that lives near our home. We have pelicans, osprey, egrets, cormorant, dolphins, a variety of rays, and the occasional manatee that will swim by our dock–it’s like Sea World. Coming from New York City, I was shocked. If you saw a three-foot-tall bird in New York walking on my property, you’d have to call the zoo!

Do you entertain much here? We love to enertain. My husband Tom is a Le Cordon Bleu chef with a nose for great wine and great friends. He can whip up a gourmet meal, snacks, and desserts in just minutes–one Saturday we actually had two different parties in a single night!

What makes it great for hosting guests? The floor plan of the house and large lanai are so open, it really affords the experience of bringing the outdoors in. The kitchen is gorgeous and the stove is on the island, so when the chef is creating, his back is not to the guests. In our house, everyone pulls up a seat to the bartop and we watch, munch, and just hang.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy your home’s beachfront setting? The best is to grab a cup of tea in the morning or a glass of wine at night and head to the back of the boat at the end of the dock. The boat has seating that faces the water; you don’t see any land when you’re out there, and you sort of float above the water on the lift. If you’re lucky (and it’s often!), the dolphins will play and jump right in front of you. Turn on the speakers, meditate, read the paper or just cuddle up and listen to the sounds of the water—it’s so romantic, so peaceful. I truly thank the universe every chance I get to enjoy those moments.

Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Powerhouse: Josh Altman

For Josh Altman, real estate powerhouse and star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing, a day at his high-powered California office really can be a day at the beach. By Melissa C. Gillespie

Bravo's Josh Altman

With an exclusive clientele consisting mainly of celebrities and high-net-worth individuals from around the world, Josh Altman, a self-proclaimed “no-bull type of guy,” has become one of the leading real estate agents in the business, moving luxury properties at Hilton & Hyland Real Estate.

Today, you’ll find him starring in the fifth season of Bravo’s hit series Million Dollar Listing and closing in on the $100 million sales mark for 2012. Having recently closed the sixth-largest sale in Los Angeles County for $16.5 million, as well as the biggest listing of a condo ever in Santa Monica for $10.5 million, he is on the right track.

For Altman, coming to Los Angeles is a childhood dream come true. “There was something about the glitz and glam of Hollywood that I just wanted to be part of, and it lured me in from the East Coast,” Altman says. “For me, it was about selling the dream ever since I was a kid. I always wanted to wheel and deal in Tinseltown and was fascinated with huge estates.”

Although a city kid at heart with a home base in the Hollywood Hills, Altman finds the ocean soothing and relaxing, and so he logs plenty of hours by the beach with clients in search of a beachfront home. “Whenever I show homes on the sand, I want to loosen my tie just a little bit. You feel like you’re always on vacation.”

Approximately 40 percent of Altman’s sales are derived from oceanfront sales, although he notes they are tending to trade slower than houses in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, and other city neighborhoods.

According to Altman, ocean home buyers vary all across the board-–from billionaires to beach bums. “I have major businessmen who want a second or third home to get away from the office, clients who are retired and just want to wake up to the sound of the waves breaking, and athletes and celebrities who want to be closer to the airports or get away from the paparazzi.”

If his high-octane career stays its current course, he’ll most likely know exactly how those latter clients feel.

Profile: AnnMaria Baldine

AnnMaria Baldine

It was a fortuitous journey that led AnnMaria Baldine—founder of Washington, DC’s Gallery la Musa—from studies for a career in illustration and advertising to rug design. Her concern for the well-being of weavers and their children, however, is no accident. She has been committed to service since childhood. “It is very important to me,” she says, “that children are protected. GoodWeave® is a wonderful way to make sure they aren’t exploited.”

Although AnnMaria grew up in upstate New York, the hub of the rug industry, she never considered rug design as a career. After studying illustration and advertising at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology, happenstance led to a job as a textile designer for Mohawk and Alexander Smith. There, in the iconic company’s design studio Ann Maria learned the art of Axminster and Wilton design. As she puts it, “I was the new kid on the block and it was a great learning experience.”

Today her gallery not only shows her colorful and energetic rugs, but also selected ceramic, glass and jewelry. It is the rugs, however, that steal the show. Pompeii, an all-wool cut-and-loop pile rug is her signature piece. The detailed mosaic patterns and the brilliant reds, golds and teals are, she says, the result of a “Wow!” moment she had while looking at images of the ruins of Pompeii. One of her earliest design challenges, and perhaps the most fun, she recalls, was an assignment to design a sea-themed piece for a child’s room. It was a circular rug in two dozen colors with sea creatures of all kinds. “Hand drawn and no repeats,” she says. “That project was fun!”

There is a boldness to her designs, something she cultivates and her clients appreciate. She points to Ionian Isle, a hand tufted 100 percent wool piece in deep blues, reds and yellows. “I wanted to create the feeling of the wind, sea and sky,” she explains. Inspiration comes from many places. The geometric patterns and vibrant colors of Mondrian and the clean lines and simplicity of Giacometti are some of her influences. So is her environment. For example, she is contemplating a collection inspired by a trip to Moldova where she photographed patterns of light and shadow on old architecture. “As an artist you have to have a constant awareness of your surroundings.”

For AnnMaria Baldine, “awareness of surroundings” also has a moral component. The modest rug designer for diplomats, ambassadors and Saudi princes has also worked with a small, women-run factory in Tibet and insists that women, the literal and metaphoric mothers of the planet, need to help each other.

*Images from AnnMaria’s Gallery

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For more information on AnnMaria’s fabulous creations, visit www.annmariabaldine.com. (202) 256-2376

4001 North Ocean Drive

Intimately scaled, thoughtfully placed and individually yours, 4001 North Ocean Drive is the essence of carefree oceanfront living. Defined by low-key elegance, this incomparable ocean enclave offers direct access to 300 feet of soft sand beach, complemented by exclusive resident-only amenities. Surrounded by native tropical landscaping is a tranquil oceanfront pool, relaxation deck with spa and scenic oceanfront fitness center—all reserved entirely for you. This lifestyle is exclusive yet effortless, with services that exceed expectations.

Outstanding private and public courses are conveniently located nearby, including Country Club of Florida, Pinetree Golf Club, Adios Golf Club, The Gulf Stream Country Club and The Boca Raton Resort & Club. Known as a golf mecca world-wide, the Palm Beaches is home to more than four dozen courses—so you never have to go far for a premium golf match. For a change of pace, there are two challenging executive Par 3 courses, The Little Club and St. Andrews just minutes from 4001 North Ocean. Throughout the area you’ll find an excellent selection of fine, established marinas. Less than two miles down the street is a full service marina featuring long-term and overnight wet dockage and rack storage at Marina Delray. There are boat slips for vessels of every size, ship stores, fuel and much more.

Along the highly coveted coastline of Gulf Stream, prime oceanfront for new development is a rarity. Indeed, more than 30 years have passed since the last new residential offering. Careful zoning and thoughtful preservation will limit future opportunities. For those who have longed for modern design and conveniences in an area that—until now—has had limited development, 4001 North Ocean is exactly what you have been waiting for. This is a moment to invest in both your future and your present. This is the moment to change the way you enjoy life.

Priced from $1.7 million

Contact

561-450-7494
4001 North Ocean Blvd
Gulf Stream, FL 33483

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