Published by BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® Haven HOME & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OFF-ROAD LUXURY VINTAGE STYLE IN-HOME WELLNESS READING ROOM HIGH TEA 2026-2027 FREE
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’25 VOTED BEST REALTOR © 2026 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. Explore More at JRRouseProperties.com Senior Downsizing • Trust Sales • Estate Property Guidance Call or Text: J.R. Rouse Properties Group: 831.318.3808 jrrouseproperties.com Helping Seniors and Families Make Thoughtful Real Estate Transitions Downsizing from a longtime home or managing a trust sale can feel overwhelming. J.R. Rouse Properties Group provides patient, experienced guidance for seniors, families, trustees, and fiduciaries throughout the Monterey Peninsula. With local expertise, integrity, and a collaborative team approach, we help manage the details—from preparation and pricing to marketing, negotiations, and closing—so you can move forward with confidence. Scan to find out what your home is worth 24875 Carmel Hills Drive New Price $2,149,000 24875carmelhillsdr.com 4890 Peninsula Point Drive New Price $1,428,300 4890peninsulapointdr.com Seaside Carmel
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Madonna celebrated the polish of mid-century Hollywood icons in “Vogue.” ZZ Top praised contemporary 1980s fashion. David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake—many pop icons have addressed the importance of attire in song. Even the Kinks’ snide “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” recognized the power of clothing trends. When it comes to fashion, the past is never really out of date. Currently, people wanting to express a unique look are returning to the style of previous decades—not as thrifting finds, but as designer couture statements. This is the case not only when it comes to how we present ourselves, but also in the activities we pursue. Haven can be a place we create to ease stress or improve wellness through anything from yoga to a meditative stroll. It might be an event that brings friends together, such as a formal—or wildly informal— tea party. The word extends to spaces set aside for reading or study, which is another form of improvement. It might even be found in the ways we choose to play, such as taking to the sodden forest trails in automotive style. Each year, the articles in this magazine browse the many forms that the concept of haven can take. Haven the magazine takes its name from the Gilded Age notion of home as a haven in a heartless world. But we found that it consists of what we consider the best expressions of ourselves. In other words, Haven celebrates the things that are not of the heartless world. We hope you enjoy it. -Dave Faries DANIEL DREIFUSS Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve Publisher Erik Cushman Project Editor Dave Faries Editor Sara Rubin Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser Contributing Writers and Copy Editors Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Royvi Hernandez, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Aric Sleeper Graphic Designers Annie Cobb, Lani Headley, Kevin Jewell Advertising Keith Bruecker, Diane Glim, George Kassal Business Development Director Keely Richter Cover Photo Hunter Porter Eldridge Architecture, Inc. The Best of Monterey Bay® is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2026. No portion may be reproduced. 831394-5656. www.montereycountynow.com. Inside 14 Off-roading in luxury 20 Designing for wellness 24 Time for tea 26 Fashionably vintage 32 Reading the room Welcome 12 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop OVER 140 DEALERS 21,000 SQUARE FEET The Largest Antiques and Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast 471 WAVE STREET MONTEREY (831) 655-0264 P M canneryrowantiquemall.com ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES “ANTIQUE MALL OF THE YEAR” Professional Antique Mall Magazine ’25 CR-antique_1-3v_VG26_gk.indd 1 6/10/26 2:14 PM
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In the forested hills above The Quail in Carmel Valley, I pilot a 2026 Land Rover Defender to the crest of a steep hill. My line of sight over the vehicle’s hood is nothing but tree branches; the dirt trail in front of the vehicle is nowhere to be seen. Brenton Corns is sitting shotgun. With a few taps on the vehicle’s center screen, a camera shows the road in front of the vehicle, revealing what occupants of the vehicle can’t see with their own eyes. Corns advises me to shift the Land Rover into the S1 gear, which limits the vehicle’s speed to just a few miles an hour and automatically controls its momentum on a descent. He then tells me to do something that two decades of driving experience has taught me otherwise: Keep both feet flat on the floor and don’t use the brake when going downhill. 14 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 THE QUAIL Terrain Treaders LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE AT THE QUAIL LEADS BEGINNING AND ADVANCED OFF-ROADERS ON A JOURNEY OFF THE BEATEN PATH. By Erik Chalhoub ERIK CHALHOUB Top: From steep cliffs to muddy pits, the Land Rover Experience at The Quail in Carmel Valley allows drivers to traverse different types of terrain alongside an instructor. Below: Brenton Corns, lead instructor of the Land Rover Experience, explains how to calculate a Land Rover Defender’s approach angle during a pre-drive training session. Such a measurement is important to determine how steep of a ramp the vehicle can approach without hitting the front end.
Most of all, trust the system. With some trepidation, I feather the accelerator to crawl the vehicle to the descent, and then let off. Like magic (or in reality, high tech), the Land Rover slowly and confidently makes its way down the narrow, steep dirt trail, at less than 3 miles per hour. Corns says it’s much safer to let the vehicle do its thing (calling the mechanisms its “Thinkalator”) in this instance. In S1 gear, the vehicle knows how much brake to apply to each wheel in order to have as much control as possible. If the driver was controlling the brake pedal, all four wheels would stop at the same time, possibly locking up the wheels and increasing the chance of sliding off the trail. Corns’ rule of thumb for off-roading? “As slow as necessary, as fast as possible,” he says. In addition to looking left, right, front and back, drivers must also look above for any low-hanging tree limbs. And watch out for those side-view mirrors. It’s safe to say Corns knows a thing or two about Land Rovers. He’s the lead instructor of the Land Rover Experience at The Quail in Carmel Valley, where adventure-seekers from across the globe visit to go off-roading in the latest and greatest from the British auto manufacturer. Beginners will walk away with terms such as “departure angle” and “articulation” becoming part of their regular vocabulary, while experienced off-roaders will discover the rapidly evolving tech that’s making the activity more accessible. No off-roading experience is necessary. My first official off-roading experience had only come days before during the Life Time Sea Otter Classic at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where I got the chance to take a Ford Bronco on a dirt course for less than 10 minutes. Here at The Quail, I got a full hour experience, where I felt my confidence ERIK CHALHOUB Modern off-road vehicles enjoy a slew of technological features that assist on the trail. Here, Brenton Corns shows how a Land Rover Defender’s suspension height can be adjusted with a few taps on a screen. 16 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Everyone Loves Butter! Lemon Curd & Blueberry Pancakes Carne Asada Fried Rice Bacon Breakfast Burrito 831-394-2887 Everyone Loves Butter! Open Everyday 6am-2:30pm It’s time Seaside is no longer the evil step sister of Monterey but the Cinderella - Benny & Susan Lemon Curd & Blueberry Pancakes 1760 Fremont Blvd. B-1 Seaside EbQ Pork Belly Adobe Fried Rice Open Everyday 6 am-2 pm View Menu Join Waitlist ButterHouse_1-2h_FG25_KB.indd 1 3/11/25 4:42 PM
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in off-roading driving ability growing by the minute. Corns was quick to keep my ego in check: “You should never get too confident with a vehicle,” he says. That means respecting the terrain, and knowing when something is beyond the vehicle’s capability. You don’t want a trail named after you, Corns notes, rattling off some names that are selfexplanatory: Champion’s Slide, Bee Avenue, etc. Corns says instructors tailor the experience to the driver’s comfort level and their interests. An initial warning about poison oak on the trails led to a discussion on mountain biking, so Corns used that knowledge to give me a reference point for off-roading (You never want to slam your bike’s brakes on a dirt downhill—it’ll skid and slide. Same thing applies to a large vehicle). The Land Rover Experience arrived at The Quail in 2005. It is now one of only two such experiences by the manufacturer in the country, with the other taking place in Vermont. As such, Land Rover owners (and those in the market) from across the world arrive in Carmel Valley to get a taste of what the vehicles are capable of. Corns says he’s given instruction to people from countries such as South Korea, Kenya and the United Kingdom. From the United States, Texas and Florida make up the most common states people come from. Those participating run the gamut: There’ll be the timid first-time offroaders, for which Corns is able to confidently show them how to operate the vehicle to ease their nerves, as well as the experienced mud-runners who will come away learning something new. Some are in the market for a Land Rover, making the experience the ultimate test drive. While participants can bring their own Land Rover, nearly all choose one from the Land Rover Experience’s fleet, according to Corns. That fleet includes three Land Rover Defender 110s, one Defender 130, a Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and a 1997 Defender. (That old Defender shows just how far the auto manufacturer has come in less than 30 years. “You go from the dinosaur to the spaceship,” Corns says.) Through its partnership with The Quail, Land Rover is given exclusive access to 110 acres, amounting to 10 miles of trails. That’s a lot of ground to cover, so participants have their choice of different experiences, from a onehour jaunt to a two-day expedition with 12 hours of coaching. For the more adventurous, the rainy season adds a new layer of challenge. Corns says he gets calls all the time from people asking how muddy the trails are. Sign up for the Land Rover Experience at experience.landroverusa.com. Land Rover Experience continued from pg 16 18 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Estate Winery & Tasting Room 1972 Hobson Ave.,Greenfield (831) 386-0316 Pouring from 11am daily Carmel-By-The-Sea San Carlos & 7th (831) 626-WINE (9463) Tasting from 12 noon daily Scheid_1-2h_VG25_kpr.indd 1 6/6/25 4:05 PM
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As people turn their focus to good health and longevity there’s a growing awareness that our surroundings, both built and natural, play a crucial role. That desire for thoughtfully designed and built-in wellness features is now driving changes in how homes and surrounding landscaping are designed and built. It’s also fueling a fast-growing global real estate sector expected to reach a value of $1 trillion by 2029, real real estate sector expected to reach a value of $1 trillion by 2029, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Today the demand is for even more features and an overall design that promotes wellness and provides a place to rest and recuperate. People are also asking for healthier building materials, improved air quality systems and other features designed to support overall good health and well-being. Pacific Grove architect Hunter Porter Eldridge, with 30 years of experience designing custom homes in Monterey County, says he’s encountering an increasing number of clients who prize their mental and physical well-being and are requesting such features be included in their new homes. “I lean in that direction myself. I would be looking for a space to relax, take in the view and breathe in fresh air,” Eldridge says. He’s currently working on a home in the Carmel Highlands on a scenic piece of property that will include a bathhouse with a sauna and cold plunge in a very private setting overlooking a meadow and the ocean. Another client in Big Sur wants a gymnasium, “but right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. The idea is you can work on your fitness and look out on the horizon,” Eldridge says. Another Big Sur client once asked for a pilates studio with a view. It’s not always a structure, it can be the landscape surrounding the home where his clients are seeking well-being. “Sometimes it’s more of an outdoor sitting area, typically with a view and exposure to sun and fresh air,” he says. “It can be a very powerful place to meditate and reset and find your center.” One global trend is something called biophilic design, which means incorporating natural elements and views in the overall design. There’s strong research to suggest that biophilic design reduces stress and improves well-being. Think big picture windows that bring the outdoors in, indoor plants, and natural elements like wood and stone throughout the home, as well as water features. It also could mean accordion glass doors that open up to decks or walking paths, labyrinths and meditation gardens. Inside the home there’s more aware20 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Well Built MORE AND MORE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS ARE TOP AMENITIES IN HOME BUILDING AND RENOVATIONS. By Pam Marino WAYNE CAPILI HUNTER PORTER ELDRIDGE ARCHITECTURE, INC. Top: Homeowners seeking a place to reset are asking builders for calming outdoor spaces. Bottom: Pilates studios and home gyms with a view are in high demand among people building new homes.
WWW.MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM 21 Discover Monterey County Now NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR LOCAL NEWS SERVED DAILY FOR FREE Subscribe to the newsletter: montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com MC_NOW_1-3s_haven26_kpr.indd 1 7/24/26 11:28 AM SAVE THE DATE BIG SUR FOOD & WINE PRESENTS BIGSURFOODANDWINE.ORG FOR TICKETS PLEASE VISIT: THEBARNYARD.COM/EVENTS Food & Wine Festival Big Sur 28TH ANNUAL AUGUST 15, 2026 FERRARI EVENT AT THE BARNYARD BigSurFood&Wine-Ferrari_1-3s_Haven26_dg.indd 1 7/23/26 11:34 AM SAN SABA VINEYARD 4 Decades of Great Wines 2023 Wrath Pinot Noir Tondre Grapefield 97PTS EDITOR’S CHOICE INTERNATIONAL WINE REPORT 2023 Wrath Pinot Noir Boekenoogen Vineyard 96PTS THE WINE PALATE wrathwines.com 831-678-2212
ness of the importance of good air quality for the preservation and improvement of health, leading to a demand for air filtration systems that include features like hospital-grade HEPA filters, ultraviolet lights and carbon scrubbers. In general, a good-quality HVAC system to keep the home comfortable at all times is important and not to be skimped on in high-value homes. Lighting is also important in any home, Eldridge says. He steers away from LED lighting that is harsh on the eyes. More widely there is a trend toward incorporating automatic systems that control lighting throughout the day to support peoples’ natural circadian rhythms and promote good sleep. “Your shades are going down and the evening chill lights are coming on,” observes Natalie Gibson of Axiom Home Tech in Monterey. “These things happen all on their own.” Axiom installs automated lighting and shades that can follow the course of any day. And the system can be programmed to adjust for unexpected events. Red light therapy is another feature that is being increasingly used in luxury homes. The low-level light waves are thought to target the cells and lead to rejuvenation of the skin, decreased inflammation and even the promotion of better sleep. Entire panels or ceiling fixtures are being installed in home gyms and bathrooms—some RLT technology is built directly into shower heads or ceiling tiles in shower stalls. Therapies found at spas are making their ways into private homes—salt caves providing halotherapy, or salt therapy, are an example. Walls can be made of sea salt or pink Himalayan salt or include a halogenerator, a machine that grinds salt into fine particles and blows them into the air. Some people swear salt’s natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help respiratory issues, lead to healthier skin and reduced stress. Aside from special rooms or gardens, a home’s building materials are an important factor in creating a healthy home atmosphere. “I like cedar paneling in a room,” Eldridge says. “It provides a real warm material feel but it also doesn’t kick off [volatile organic compounds].” Avoiding any materials that could hold PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” and using natural materials like nontoxic paint on the walls, hardwood floors, natural linoleum, or cork flooring, as well as wool rugs and carpeting, are also part of the trend toward promoting overall wellness through the home. While designing a healthy home is good for humans, it’s also good for the financial bottom line. Homes with built-in wellness features tend to sell for 10- to 25-percent more, according to the National Association of Realtors— although once you’ve built your dream home that helps you live a healthier and longer life, you may never want to leave. Wellness Homes continued from pg 20 22 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Move here & stay in the driver’s seat Many car enthusiasts, like Fred, call Carmel Valley Manor home. We o er those 65+ impeccable service, a low-maintenance home, scrumptious meals, and exceptional healthcare. Our 28-acre campus is complete with manicured gardens, a pool, fitness center, and even a putting green. Take a test drive at 8545 Carmel Valley Rd in Carmel. For a tour, call Angie Machado (800) 544-5546 or visit CVManor.com License #270700110 – COA#082 Hear the residents talk about it CV-Manor_1-2h_Haven26_dg.indd 1 7/20/26 17:18
Tea—particularly high tea—once served as a convivial bridge between lunch and dinner. But these days it has been transformed into a moment of sensory indulgence to celebrate events from bridal parties to birthdays or outdoor gatherings. Regardless of the occasion, having a great tea means having the right vibe and setup: a curated menu of savory and sweet bites, paired with the right tea (since not all teas are created equal). The process begins with choosing the right setting to host a tea party. Dorothy Findlater, owner of Rosemary and Thyme High Teas in Monterey, says that before organizing a tea—whether at home or on location—she needs to know the party size. She also requests photographs of the space and furniture where she will set up the china and serving trays. “If it’s six people to eight people we can generally get them around a dining room table,” Findlater says. This is a good arrangement for conversation and sharing. At the table, each place setting contains several elements. Findlater says that everything is about presentation, making sure every piece harmonizes with the others. “All my dishes are eclectic,” she adds. Findlater specializes in traditional tea parties. Her arrangements include threetier sandwich trays with finger foods, where she plates cucumber sandwiches with English butter, Scottish smoked salmon or hummus with roasted red peppers, homemade scones and fresh cream. Hosts should always offer vegan and gluten-free options, she adds. Connie Carey, owner of House of Fuchsia, a Carmel planner specializing in vintage-glam events, plans tea parties from the bottom up, creating a theme and ambiance. Her tea parties don’t follow any particular tradition. Carey builds the occasion by focusing on the menu first, using seasonal ingredients, then pairing them with teas that will bring together the flavors. “I like a fusion,” she adds. “Different cultures do tea time, so it all depends on what culture we’re looking at as far as food goes and then we incorporate that into the tea party.” British-style high teas often have a Victorian feel. There is a ritual aesthetic to Japanese ceremonies. Carey has organized themed tea parties. Her favorite so far is Alice In Wonderland. “Everybody dressed up when they came,” she says. To make the setup process smooth at a tea, keeping the table free of decorations and setting aside kitchen space to prep and refrigerate foods is key. “We like to keep the sandwiches and everything nice and cool,” Findlater observes. Besides gathering, tea parties can, of course, be an opportunity to learn more about tea itself. If requested, Findlater can share the history of tea and tea etiquette—as well as the images that come to mind thanks to decades of comic sketches. “You put your pinky underneath to steady the cup,” she says. The tea should be prepared on the spot. Water has to reach a boiling point— and there is an important reason, as temperature alters the flavor of tea. Both Carey and Findlater offer their own blends. One of Carey’s vendors— Zum Zum Tea, a family-run tea business based in Salinas—helped her create Countryside Cottage, a floral tea with several ingredients including lavender, rose petals and vanilla oil. Findlater’s black tea offers Darjeeling notes and a hint of honey. She worked with a tea sommelier to obtain her signature blend. Whether one opts for fun, quirky or formal, tea provides a moment for people to socialize, enjoy a cup and bask in tradition—or shatter tradition to pieces. 24 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Tea Time CATERERS CAN CREATE THE RIGHT TEA PARTY FOR ANY OCCASION, FROM TRADITIONAL TO WHIMSICAL. By Celia Jiménez COURTESY OF DOROTHY FINDLATER Dorothy Findlater, owner of Rosemary and Thyme High Teas in Monterey, has more than 100 sets of teacups and saucers in her vintage china collection. At her parties, she serves a black tea blend with a bright Darjeeling note, along with homemade pastries and sandwiches.
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Beaumelle, Jack Bryan and Lilli Diamond dresses make a statement at any event to which they’re worn—and they’re not quiet about it. Wearers need not speak for dresses like these to tell their stories. Quality, design and splashes of color say everything there is to know about the lives of California’s fashionable set in the mid-20th century. They say just as much about those decked out in the same couture today. “Vintage is transcendent,” says Tiffany Allegro, owner of vintage reseller popup Moxie Vintage. “What sets it apart is it doesn’t follow any trends.” Instead, vintage is the trend. Hollywood has recently been flaunting fashion from the past. Ariana Grande, for example, appeared at a dinner given for Oscar nominees in an Yves Saint Laurent gown from 1991. On a press tour, she sported a Lilli Diamond dress from the 1950s. And she is just one example. At the now biannual Vintage in the Valley event in Carmel Valley, it’s not just garments on display. Resellers present jewelry, watches and footwear, from heels to boots. The vast majority of vintage resellers only exist in the online ecosystem of Instagram, Etsy and some—like Moxie— are launching independent websites. But men’s vintage purveyor Andrew Chugg operates a retail location, Wally’s Men’s Vintage & More, in Carmel. His wife, Jordan, also recently opened the women’s vintage shop Valentine in Carmel Valley. Chugg’s collection seeks to capture— or perhaps preserve—the lifestyle of Monterey County, particularly the commingling of Bohemian chic and cowboy between Carmel and the valley. “A lot of cultures are jammed into a little peninsula between locals and visitors alike,” Chugg says. “What separates a good vintage store and a great vintage store is that a great one will accurately reflect the history.” According to Vogue, pieces from the early to mid-20th century—Hollywood’s glamor era—are particularly hot right now, but more recent fashion is not out of fashion, either. There is growing interest in looks from the 2010s, as well. Those who follow fashion trends suggest that an interest in sustainability is one factor behind the vogue for vintage. But the quality of materials is also attractive. Mostly, however, people are drawn to the uniqueness of the attire; the floralpattern dresses, the dinner jackets—the pieces are not from collections. They 26 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Classic Style HIGH-END VINTAGE FASHION PURVEYORS OFFER UNIQUE PIECES THAT TELL STORIES PAST AND PRESENT. By Sloan Campi DANIEL DREIFUSS Lilli Diamond dresses are known for their bold floral prints and effortless California style. Moxie Vintage Co. preserves dresses like these, which are sourced from a shuttered Hollywood costumery. Modeled by Karolina CampbellHadynska.
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both make a statement and, more importantly, tell a story. Allegro is fascinated with presenting the past through fashion. She has a stock of vintage women’s and men’s couture that come with barcodes giving information about who may have worn it or where it may have been filmed—her inventory is from a shuttered costumery in Hollywood. Just a fraction of this inventory is ready for show in Monterey County. The rest of it remains preserved in a 60,000-square-foot warehouse in Los Angeles, filled with garments ranging from the 1940s to the 1990s. Curated pieces like these make the kind of statements that are timeless in the same way a best-in-show vehicle does during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The pieces can signal luxury or laid-back (denim jackets from the ’80s, for example), but always curated taste. Allegro says that her inventory typically requires hours of research. Much of that work involves examining the hardware or sewing pattern of garments to verify that the piece wasn’t altered or updated. The allure of such pieces is Mixing more than matching period pieces can create a distinct personality. In this case rancher footwear with vintage 1980s University of Oregon letterman’s jacket accessorized with a simple Japanese daypack. Modeled by Sarone Kelete. Women’s style can be a blend of designers and eras, like these patterned pants paired with a leather jacket, accented by Sesto Meucci woven-leather block heeled shoes and a Universal Genève watch from the 1940s. Modeled by Frances Breidenstein. DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS Let Us Create Your Dream Landscape P.M. Landscaping is a proud supporter of Monterey County for 17 years, from its multi-level service of sustainable landscaping to continued patronage of local non-profit organizations, local youth clubs and our communities. Our Services Include: • Design/Installation • Commercial/Residential Maintenance • Irrigation • Dumpster Service • Emergency Storm Clean Up 2611 Garden Rd., Monterey ’25 VOTED BEST LANDSCAPER 8 YEARS IN A ROW! PMLandscaping_1-2h_Haven26_kpr.indd 1 7/23/26 11:30 AM 28 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027
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often in the craftsmanship and detail, which Allegro says speaks to their timelessness. “The quality of some of these pieces are night and day compared to what you’d see that’s new,” she adds. Couture labels are among the most sought-after and therefore fetch the highest prices among wearers or collectors, but Allegro points out that within the vintage world exist several sublabels from designers who drew inspiration from A-listers like Gucci, Oscar De La Renta and Vera Wang. Some of the labels in Allegro’s collection attract specialized vintage-searchers. San Francisco designer Gunne Sax’s 1970s prairie-core dresses are an example. For those who require something more approachable to represent California style with color and flow—perfect for wine tasting—Allegro features a collection of Lilli Diamond dresses for what she calls “effortless California glamour from the 1960s and ’70s.” Chugg has managed to capture that history in the form of ’70s-era Levi’s 501s, dressed with old Carmel-branded T-shirts from the 1980s and difficult-tofind military, letterman or denim jackets propped up on a pair of snakeskin boots. Wally’s also sports a selection of men’s jewelry and watches, along with suitcoats, trousers and shoes that work for dressing up after a round of golf or even a wedding. Valentine’s offerings tell the story of casual and carefree living, in and around the Peninsula, with Sesto Meucci loafers, ’90s-era button-fly 501s, topped with a navy United Colors of Benetton tank, accessorized with a Universal Genève watch from the 1940s. There are other shops now focused on vintage lines, for example Reincarnation Vintage Clothing in Pacific Grove or Monterey’s funky Fashion Trade. Like Moxie, outfits found at Wally’s, Valentine and the others can define the personality of any wearer. Among the rare finds at Wally’s in Carmel are relaxed pieces, such as vintage jerseys matched with authentic python skin boots. Modeled by Sarone Kelete. DANIEL DREIFUSS 30 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 MtyCoFair_1-2h_Haven26_kb.indd 1 7/24/26 1:51 PM
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When Richard Platt and his wife, Susan, first moved from Southern California to Pebble Beach in 2013, he immediately turned his attention to priority number-one: Housing his collection of roughly 5,000 books in a 1,100-square-foot house. “I needed space for my books,” Platt says. “This was just a garage with open rafters and cobwebs and a broken concrete floor.” It’s still technically a garage with carriage doors, but the cars live in the driveway and the space is an inviting library. The floor is covered in red brick, the walls lined with Douglas fir shelves. He uses a shillelagh to point at the well organized collection—there are shelves of reference books (including the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, “just because it’s a talisman, it’s an icon”). There’s a section for Jewish scholarship. And then the fiction begins, in chronological order beginning with the Greeks, and it wraps all the way around the corner. This room reflects a downsized version of the writer’s collection, with about 2,500 books, all of which he consults with regularity—this is a working library, not just decorative. Although, Platt says, “The fact that it’s aesthetically pleasing makes 32 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Top Shelf IN HOME LIBRARIES, FORM MEETS FUNCTION FOR BOOK COLLECTORS. By Sara Rubin DAVID TSAY SARA RUBIN Libraries can be minimalist (as in the open upstairs space crafted by Feldman Architecture, above left), or designed to accommodate collections of thousands of books, such as Richard Platt’s converted garage (below left).
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it that much more joyful.” His desk sits under the single window. “My laptop is the one concession to the modern age,” Platt says. Next to it is a functioning rotary phone; he uses a fountain pen. Not every home library is anachronistic. San Francisco-based firm Feldman Architecture and interior designer Raili Clasen recently brought a library/work loft to a Pebble Beach home as part of a renovation meant to brighten shared spaces. The open concept overlooks the main living space—not necessarily a place for rereading Shakespeare’s entire collection. Even in the era of e-readers, home libraries remain popular, and design elements can make them usable and inviting—not just museums of books that collect dust. Also in Pebble Beach, Michael Kean, a Sherlock Holmes expert and retired publishing executive, has designed a functional library to house his collection of roughly 6,500 Holmes-related books. (His and his wife Connie’s other books are shelved elsewhere in the house.) They had lived here for about 18 years before they embarked on renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms— and Kean’s dream library. He’d been envisioning wood he saw at a cocktail lounge in an older Seattle hotel, which a cabinet maker with Pacific Grove-based Travaille Brothers helped him replicate with black oak wood and a bright stain. Step one of the project was discovering that the 8-foot drop ceilings could come out, giving the library the opportunity to go as high as the 18-foot roofline, and room for built-in shelves on every wall, with the uppermost parts of the collection accessible from a ladder. A bay window added natural light over Kean’s desk, where he spends several hours a day working on Sherlockian scholarship as the recent president of the Baker Street Irregulars. “I use the library the way someone might when the only computers that existed were mainframes,” Kean says. “I don’t read books online. I am more comfortable holding a book.” And the space that holds his books is likewise comfortable and inviting. NIC COURY Michael Kean accommodates his collection of 6,500 Sherlock Holmes-related volumes on tall shelves accessible from a ladder. 34 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Where Style & Inclusivity create unforgettable experiences Where Style & Inclusivity create unforgettable experiences (831) 717-8692 581 Pine Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950 thecharlespacificgrove.com (707) 727-7979 1556 Polk St Napa, CA 94559 thecharlesnapavalley.com Charles_1-2h_Haven2025_DG.indd 1 7/22/25 4:57 PM Untitled-37 1 6/12/26 12:06 PM
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