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If I must be honest, I definitely look for the best spot to eat lunch, take a break, meet up at the end of the day to Apres ski, and of course, where to dine.
Pictured here, Chase and Katja enjoying Apres ski in Aspen Snowmass. What you don’t see is the band playing just beneath the ski slopes, people dancing and the outfits. One South American financier flew in a few (50+) of his best friends for a party. We were the lucky benefactors — music, outfits, entertainment.
I was inspired to write this blog after receiving Gray Malin’s email yesterday. Gray Malin is one of my favorite photographers discovered during my journey of the Empty Nest while producing my book, Contained Beauty, Photographs, Reflections and Swimming Pools to which he featured on Pages 74 and 122 … Click To Preview The Making of Gray Malin in Aspen.
Here are my top five places I have discovered over the years, and enjoy– from Aspen to Park City/Deer Valley and Vail to Telluride and Lake Tahoe.
- The 10th @ Vail, Colorado. My daughter and her friends turned me on to this beautiful restaurant set on the top of Vail Mountain. Make a reservation, it is a sit down restaurant. Highlight: Remove your ski boots and jackets and slide into a pair of cozy slippers to borrow during your long leisurely lunch. The 10th
- Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, Aspen, Colorado. Adam and I discovered this little jewel while skiing Aspen Highlands at the top of Cloud Nine Lift. Highlight: Perched beneath the chair lift you are right in the center of it all. Ski in, ski out or book a dinner reservation and arrive by snowcat. Lunch, Apres ski and Dinner. Charming, quaint and reminiscent of a resort in the European Alps. Cloud 9
- Alpino Vino @ Telluride, Colorado. We discovered Alpino Vino while skiing Telluride’s tallest mountains one Christmas vacation. Alpino Vino sits at 11,966 vertical feet and is the highest fine dining restaurant in North America. Got Oxygen! I highly recommend drinking a lot of water and keep a bottle of O2 on hand. They sell cans of O2 at almost every store, including clothing boutiques. Highlight: The views, the stunning location, the beautiful plates of charcuterie and cheese exiting the kitchen or the effervescent glasses of crisp white and sparkling prosecco. Grab a cozy, luxurious throw and wrap it around you while you linger at Alpino Vino. Cheers!
- Fireside Dining @ Deer Valley adjacent to Park City, Utah. Chase, Katja, Adam and I drove from California to Colorado skiing our way back at the end of Winter Break from home to CU Boulder — back to college. We started in Lake Tahoe at the Ritz Carlton, NorthStar, to Park City, Utah and through Vail, Co and back. While in Park City — it was a chilly, snowy, winter wonderland — cold yet gorgeous, but we made the best of it. Of course! One evening we dined at Fireside Dining located in the Empire Canyon Lodge. Check days and hours of operation, it’s not always open. It is European dining at its finest. Enjoy 4 courses served from stone fireplaces. It was the first I had ever heard the term raclette. The raclette fireplace serves warm, melted cheese accompanied by cured meats, potatoes, baguettes and more. It’s delicious! And a first for me. A little like fondue, perhaps. Fireside Dining, Deer Valley — add this one to your list of places to experience.
- Manzanita, Northstar, Lake Tahoe. Anytime of day. As you approach the Ritz from below the gigantic structure situated high on the mountain reminds me of Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s boarding school. Relax, work or read in the expansive lobby with dramatic wall of windows, or dine at Manzanita, an ideal spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks after a long day of skiing or spa–ing. Sit indoors or out, and experience fine dining overlooking the snowy peaks.
Happy Skiing and of course, enjoy your Apres Ski experience whether you ski or not!
XOXO
Selling homes is what I do, love to do, and have done for over 30 years, and what has transpired by default, if you will, is become pretty good at design. Each year we bring about 20 homes to market, and in doing so I provide a complimentary service to each of our clients, I call them mini makeovers, some, not so mini, they can be fairly significant.
Renovating a home is one of the many aspects of the home selling process I love most. I am now offering my clients and you, my newest service, Designed To Stay, rather than Designed To Sell. Here is what my team and I can do for future clients interested in maximizing the enjoyment of their home.
Below this home had carpet, black painted wood hand railings, carpet, a granite fireplace and green walls. The BEFORE photo shows Phase 1. carpet, white railings and neutral walls, and the granite removed. AFTER: In order to create a more open loft like environment the railings were removed to open up the room, the room painted bright white and bleached white hardwood floors installed. What you can’t see is that the walls were not flat, they had that ugly sprayed on texture representative of a bad apartment. It took two crews, the first crew did not do a great job of removing the texture, so crew two had to come in and continue the sanding until the walls were truly flat. I must say it makes a huge difference.
What I do:
Planning I begin with a walk through, assessing the property and home with a keen eye. What I scrutinize: curb appeal, gardens, walkways, light fixtures, paint, floors, carpet, appliances, hardware, rooms and bathrooms, fireplace, electrical, furnace, the basement and, finally, the foundation. I inquire about systems you cannot easily see like the roof and the sewer. I take it all in, commit to memory, and visualize a plan. Window washing, a detailed cleaning and staging are the finishing touches after we complete the mini, or not so mini, makeover.
Paint, I can’t say enough about paint.
From drab to fab!
Removing window coverings is usually one of the first things we do. And paint, wow, paint goes a long way to beautifying an indoor space as it does the exterior.
Choosing fabulous light fixtures is another inexpensive touch. Of course it can me expensive, depending on your pocket book.
Preparation Whether we are working on the transformation together, or should you decide to do it on your own, obtaining bids is the next step. I have a team of amazing service providers who will meet with me at a moment’s notice, so I am able to line up everyone over a one or two-day period in order to obtain our estimates. Upon receiving the bids, I then sit down with my client and review … We discuss budget and how much, if all, of the recommendations we implement. Then we prioritize, together.
Transformation A commitment from the homeowner and attention to detail is critical as there is much work involved. The client must be available to approve or disapprove of choices. I will project manage and offer choices. Ideally I do that up front so we can make the transition quick and seamless since most often our re design clients will be living in their homes. ( A timely vacation is always an ideal option during this time. ) I have many wonderful service provider partners who will work with me to create an environment you will want to say, “instead of going out for drinks, come over to my house.”
I love the process and even more so the results. From “Lived In” to “Staged to Stay”, the transformation is exciting each and every time.
So, from LIVED IN to Staged To Stay, or Lived In to Staged to Sell, give me a call. I look forward to creating an environment so wonderful you’ll fall in love with your home all over again.
XOXO Debbi
PS. So where will you vacation?
I can’t watch a movie, read a book or flip through a magazine without focusing on the words, the images and the design. I am always seeing something deeper, my mind begins to wander, just like it did this afternoon as I was flipping through the pages of Elle Decor. Within the first few pages I was inspired once again to pick up my laptop, begin to dream, Blog, and share. While watching a movie I can become distressed just trying to fathom how an actor can memorize lines while feeling the passion of what they are saying. How do they do that? Sifting through a magazine I am mesmerized by the beauty and simplicity of a well placed objects on a coffee table, the layout of a room or if I love or dislike a light fixture. And when reading a book I oftentimes re read as my mind wanders I have to pull myself back… did it really say that? did I misread it, or wow, that was an amazing passage. How did the author weave those words together so brilliantly? Or if let’s say they are writing about a place I love, like Nantucket or the Hamptons, the book will transcend me back. Who knows, maybe your mind wanders too. Sometimes I wish I could just turn it off, my mind that is, and simply watch to experience what’s in front of me. Then again, if it’s truly a great piece, it will, and it has. Any great books, TV shows or movies I should read or watch please share. I would love and appreciate your recommendations. The last time I truly recall being immersed into a show was one holiday season between Christmas and New Year’s my husband and I binged Breaking Bad. I recall becoming so immersed I felt I looked as disheveled and drugged out as the characters on the show. I wasn’t, mind you, I was just really into it. While flipping through my recent copy of Elle Decor a few of my Top 5’s came to mind. So I grabbed a Sharpie and began taking notes on the glossy pages. So here goes.
Top 5 Places I Enjoy Stopping into while visiting New York ( oftentimes, every time! )
1. RH Home Flagship Store in the Meatpacking District – RH Home is filled with more than just furnishings. RHNY Flagship has a barista bar on one level and a beautiful restaurant on the top floor. It’s a visual journey. Preview Video Below.
2. ABC Carpet and Home – Multiple levels of beautiful accessories and things for the home, small and large. 
3. Eataly in the Flatiron District – Yes, it’s chaotic, hectic and you’ll be on sensory overload, but it’s a feast for the eyes and the palate. 
4. Chelsea Market – What can I say but, come hungry. One can find anything from lobster rolls at the Lobster Place and sushi, to unique food stands like Takumi Taco a delicious combination of Japanese and Mexican. The list goes on. Chelsea Market also has great shopping, artisans, music and events. I can never get enough. 
5. International Spy Museum – My latest find. It’s a hands on experience with a plethora of interesting historical facts. Spy movies just so happen to be my favorite genre.
And 5 Historical Favorites Not to Be Missed — The Whitney, The Met, Museum of Modern Art, Central Park and Rockefeller Plaza.
And New York would not be NY without exploring the city with my beautiful daughter Bianca who is a current resident working and living the dream in Manhattan.
Here’s to getting to the top and achieving our goals in 2020!
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