A Master Class in Life’s Luxuries
Hailing from the world’s most exclusive industries and privy to their hallowed traditions, Compass agents share insights from their luxurious backgrounds.
Words: Hannah McWilliams
Illustration: Berto Martínez
Erich Cabe
The Snow Shepherd
Born into the Vermont ski industry, DC agent Erich Cabe was raised in his family’s ski school. “I remember taking naps curled up beneath piles of parkas as a child,” he laughs. By junior high, Cabe was a certified trainer; by college, he had tallied years of coaching and racing. Making his home in the world’s ski capitals — Austria, Chile, New Zealand, and Colorado — he taught while adding challenging backcountry and helicopter descents to his own repertoire. Today, he leverages the same leadership skills to steer clients through the peaks and valleys of the District’s competitive housing market.
PEAK SEASON
Looking for a luxe ski locale? Here are Cabe’s international recommendations for an elevated resort experience.
Arlberg Region | Austria
This Tyrolean range is home to five iconic ski towns: Lech, Zurs, Stuben, St. Christoph, and St. Anton. Punctuated by Michelin-starred restaurants and world-class resorts, the area’s hospitality and nightlife dazzle nearly as bright as the Alps’ pristine powder.
South Island | New Zealand
Considered the island nation’s foremost ski and snowboard destination, the Southern Alps offer some of the top backcountry skiing in the world. Home to a number of exclusive club fields, these private ski areas grant access to remote, otherwise-inaccessible terrain.
Andean Slopes | Chile
Found among these formidable peaks are Portillo and Valle Nevado, two of South America’s top ski hubs. Their subequatorial position has established them as an off-season training destination of the national Austrian, Italian, and US ski teams.
Lisa-Maree Carter
The Hollywood Hotelier
As a college student in LA, Lisa-Maree Carter took a part-time job at the front desk of a local inn, unwittingly launching an 11-year stint in the hospitality industry. Rapidly ascending to managerial ranks, she elevated standards at some of the city’s most esteemed institutions: Santa Monica’s beachfront properties Hotel Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach as well as the former Bel Age Hotel, immortalized by Beverly Hills 90210. Today, Carter’s impeccable sense of guest service extends to her real estate clients, who appreciate her innate understanding of personalized courtesies.
HOST OF THE TOWN
“Luxury lies in the experience you create, not necessarily the thread-count of the sheets or the quality of the soap,” notes Carter. “To make guests feel at home, you have to create a human connection.” To guarantee return visitors, employ these five-star secrets the next time you roll out the welcome mat.
Give them the grand tour
Immediately show guests around, pointing out linen closets, remote controls, thermostats, and any household quirks they might find helpful.
Anticipate their needs
Stock the bathroom with toiletries and commonly forgotten items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and contact lens solution, eliminating their need to ask.
Empower your guests
Set up coffee the night before, jot down the WiFi password, or pack a beach bag with essentials and house keys for early risers who want to explore.
Customize their experience
Do they have a favorite novelist? Preferred sweet? Leave a book on the nightstand or set out a dish on their dresser. Ask whether they have any dietary restrictions prior to arrival and stock up accordingly.
Pippa Davis
The Inveterate Vetter
Following college graduation in South Africa, Santa Barbara agent Pippa Davis began her career as a Johannesburg-based buyer for Edgars, a high-end department store with 150 locations around the country. Relying on her eye for style, attention to craftsmanship, and intuitive sense of utility, she honed what would be a lifelong understanding of what customers want and how to deliver it. “It was there that I first learned the most critical requisite for providing elevated, professional service was listening to clients’ needs and devising creative ways to deliver,” she notes.
INVESTMENT PROPERTY
Looking to procure a few guru-approved wardrobe essentials? Here are this professional’s own best bets.
A pair of tortoiseshell Ray-Ban Wayfarers
A versatile silk scarf by Hermès
A bamboo-handled Gucci tote
A timeless Rolex statement watch
Jeffrey Saad
The Culinary Mastermind
Receiving his first promotion at age 14 — from dishwasher to cook at the Chicago diner where he worked — Jeffrey Saad was designated for culinary greatness early in life. Some years later, he would graduate to owning 24 restaurants that span nearly every world cuisine, competing on the Food Network’s Chopped All-Stars, hosting the Cooking Channel’s United Tastes of America, and developing recipes for his book Jeffrey Saad’s Global Kitchen: Recipes Without Borders. Not surprisingly, serving others throughout his life benefits him now as an agent in LA, allowing Saad to transfer his creative skills from one field to another.
COURSE OF ACTION
When Saad cooks for his family in their Encino home, the young diners’ preferences govern most meals. “Every day is like Chopped, except with a bit more time and a great glass of wine in hand!” he jokes. But when he hosts? Here are the principles that dictate his parties.
Hors d’oeuvre
Crostini with fresh-made ricotta, bourbon-fig jam, and a sprig of mint
“I like to start with a single bite of something indulgent upon the guests’ arrival.”
First course
Seared scallops with turmeric and snow peas
“This should be light — maybe two forkfuls to activate the palate. Penzeys’ freshly ground spices are the best!”
Main course
Fish stew with rockfish, clams, and Santa Barbara-sourced spot prawns
“Cook for the season. In the summer, I take my daughter to buy fresh fish at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.”
Dessert
Freshly-melted salted hot chocolate shots
“Something sweet is a must, even if it’s small! Dandelion Chocolate, based out of San Francisco, is my favorite.”
Hilary Porterfield
The Global Gardeness
Compass Aspen agent Hilary Porterfield hails from a long line of florists. Her grandfather founded Porterfield’s, a Kansas flower shop now operated by her father that’s in its 51st year of business, and her mother was the owner and publisher of the trade’s foremost magazine. After moving to Colorado, she continued in her family’s footsteps, working for some of the region’s leading designers and crossing paths with the renowned Parisian floral artist Emilio Robba, who invited her to train with him in Paris. Under his direction, she set up shop aboard international cruise ships, not only providing the tour’s official arrangements, but making her services available to the guests. Traversing the Turkish coast, Panama Canal, and Baltic Sea, Porterfield invoked her extensive knowledge and talented eye to identify local, in-season blooms in each and every port before returning to Colorado to channel that same sensibility toward sourcing Aspen’s most beautiful homes.
NATURAL SELECTION
Flowers are a universally appreciated gift, but choosing the right stems can be tricky. Here, Porterfield shares her picks for occasions throughout the year. But in summertime? You can’t go wrong with peonies and viburnums — her favorite bouquet.
For a guestroom bedside table
Sunflowers tightly gathered with foliage or David Austin roses with English ivy
For summer centerpieces
Soft green garden hydrangeas, white dahlias, and white lilies with liriope (also known as monkey grass or lily turf)
For hostess and housewarming gifts
A single white Phalaenopsis orchid potted in a neutral, petite vessel, so as not to compete with existing arrangements
Martine C. Paulin
The Stylish Sojourner
As a vice president at Chanel, Martine Paulin spent 15 years hopscotching the globe as a brand ambassador and retail strategist. Based in Panama for much of her tenure, she liaised with travel retail stores spanning South America to Japan. “Jetting between luxury hotels, representing a marvelous brand, wearing its suits and accessories on a daily basis, and flying first-class were enjoyable perks, but more importantly, they enabled me to do what I like best: discover new people and experience different lifestyles.” Not surprisingly, it is these same qualities that drew Paulin to real estate and accelerated her success in the Miami market.
BUSINESS CLASS
As a professional traveler, Paulin quickly acclimated to luxury living on the go. Find her top tactics below.
Style
Always pack timeless pieces; if the quality and cut are flawless, you will never be out of place. Diversify your wardrobe with accessories; you can shift your entire look with a simple earring switch.
Space
When you’re constantly in motion, build consistency where you can. Paulin suggests traveling with a scented candle, essential oil, or incense for your hotel room; they help create a meditative, familiar atmosphere.
Portables
Paulin ensured she was always meeting-ready by reducing wrinkling with hardside luggage. Her carry-on of choice? A Bric’s Pininfarina or a Victorinox Swiss Army standard-size case for longer journeys.
Julie Wolfe
The Cover Girl
When 17-year-old Julie Wolfe first walked through the doors of Elite Model Management in Manhattan, the agency signed her on the spot. One month later, she was living in Paris, working alongside the likes of legends — Carol Alt and Janice Dickinson — and traversing Egypt, Japan, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe for photo shoots. “It was a wonderful way to see the world and collaborate with incredibly talented people,” she says. “And I was fortunate to work with some of photography’s greats.” Following two years in the French capital, she returned to New York, securing a Giorgio Armani campaign and landing on the covers of Self and Glamour. Eventually, she parlayed her knowledge of the luxury landscape to relocate to the Hamptons, selling the nation’s most photogenic real estate.
BIG SHOTS
Having worked with many of the greatest names in fashion, Wolfe shares insider secrets she learned along the way.
“Shooting Glamour covers and cosmetic ads with Paul Lange taught me about the different positions of my face. He preferred a 3/4 angle, looking backward, to emphasize the cheekbones.” Compare photographs taken from various vantage points of your own to determine the best ones for you.
“Albert Watson taught me about professionalism: being on time, manicure and pedicure in place, arriving camera-ready. We would shoot ads during the day, followed by editorial shoots from late afternoon until 3 am.” The takeaway? If you come prepared, you’ll feel more confident in front of the camera.
“Working with Irving Penn was like sitting for a still-life — very small, precise movements. If he said ‘move your face to the left,’ he meant a millimeter.” Your cue? The best portraits feature subtle expressions.
“Guy Bourdin was a more complex personality. Extremely superstitious, his photos had an underlying sensuality. He was always referring to poets and French literature to communicate the mood he wanted to express.” Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with every photograph you pose for; attuning yourself mentally will contribute authenticity.
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