Though the rest of the country may be in the throes of financial scandals and economic woes, the power players at Kelleher & Associates make no apologies for defining themselves as recession-proof. Jill Kelleher and her daughter, Amber, continue to lead their international matchmaking firm in successfully pairing up accomplished professionals.

“The reason that we have not experienced the same decline that many American companies are currently facing is because of the profiles of our clientele,” explains Jill. Even though their confidential client list has been rumored to include Scottish royalty and iconic family names like du Pont and Rockefeller, the Kelleher’s formula for success includes representing a wide range of individuals who are successful in their careers and place a high value on a quality, active lifestyle.

“When I began, I determined that I only wanted to work with educated, fit, non-smoking professionals who were looking for a significant relationship. Once I made that distinction, my company took off,” says Jill. Today Kelleher & Associates is the largest privately owned matchmaking firm in the U.S. They opened their doors 23 years ago in Marin County and spent the subsequent decades building a presence and reputation in major U.S. and European markets, honing their success rate to an astounding 85 percent.

Her clients are leaders in their fields, which run the gamut from medicine, law, architecture, politics, banking, real estate development, fashion, art, entertainment, and sports. She also works with several Napa Valley vineyard owners. “It seems that it is very hard to meet single people in that area,” she says, explaining that most of the people who live there are married and tend to socialize with their married friends. “If the men only knew who might be just a vineyard away…” Jill describes her women as having beauty, brains, and substance.

Kelleher & Associates clients are high-energy individuals. Yachting, horseback riding, golfing, playing tennis, scuba diving, and globe trekking are the activities of choice when not tending to their corporate ROIs.

Lately, Jill says she has noticed new priorities in the world of eligible singles, as many are now placing an emphasis on finding someone to share the bumpy ride. “People don’t want to weather this economic storm alone. And with the financial markets in the shape that they’re in, the only safe investment right now may be an investment in your love life,” she says.

Industry experience, business savvy, and refined intuition have earned Kelleher & Associates television appearances on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 20/20, The Today Show, Good Morning America and an endless array of print publications including TIME magazine and The New York Times.

Kelleher & Associates
800.401.6282
www.kelleher-associates.com

On the fashion front, however, “going green” has often conjured images of drab-colored hemp fabrics, Birkenstocks, and dreadlocks. Truth be told, Fashionistas probably never expected to see the word “organic” anywhere near their designer threads. Not the case anymore, high fashion is wrapping its arms around the environmental movement and producing some chic alternatives. From the runways of the top designers to mass retail outlets, eco-fashion is more than just a passing trend. It’s a movement, a subtle shift in the fashion paradigm. I saw this quote from Coco Chanel not long ago that really speaks to this. She said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

Over the last few years, designers have upped the eco-style ante with fashion-driven, wearable pieces that give consumers a mission-an improved sense of style and a clear conscious. You no longer need to sacrifice fashion for philosophy. There’s a new, ethical, ecological fashion movement taking place that is driven by consumers’ desire to choose healthier alternatives. As men, our clothing, the outward projection of our personal brand, is very important symbolically and should reflect something about the times we’re living in and our attitude towards them. Every aspect of our society in one form or another is making a conscious effort to cut back on the consumption of resources and find alternatives that will not hurt our planet.

Personally, my children have inspired me to become more aware of the big picture. They are going to have to live with the choices you and I make every day. So we’ve decided to do everything we can in our business to ensure a better future for them. By selecting eco-friendly fabrics, processes, and environmentally conscious suppliers and vendors, in our own small way, we are affecting this outcome.

So what does all this organic talk mean? Most of us have never really thought of our pants as an unfriendly entity, unless we grew too large to fit into them. In actuality, 55 million pounds of pesticides are sprayed on non-organic cotton each year alone. A cotton T-shirt blended with polyester can release approximately one quarter of its weight in air pollutants and 10 times its weight in carbon dioxide. Switching to eco-textiles means a cleaner earth; pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers that have a negative effect on the environment are passed over in lieu of organically sound ones, giving greenhouse emissions a much-deserved break. Add to the fact that designs by David August now offer options with this organic mantra and your wardrobe might finally achieve the sustainability it’s been lacking. As the demand for eco-friendly fashion increases, organic fabrics will become more mainstream. We’re currently creating some beautiful garments using organic fabrics as well as carrying accessories that follow a green philosophy. Vegetable-tanned leather belts and organic Loomstate jeans and T-Shirts are just some of the new additions in the David August line.

This spring menswear is all about fresh color, natural fabrics, and plenty of texture. The season’s styles use natural colors from an organic palette. Browns, golds, and greens were everywhere on the runways; in fact, color and lots of it is key. We’re seeing a lot of natural textures and light layers in menswear as well. Organic cotton, linen, and blends using sustainably harvested silk, bamboo, and soy are among the new “eco-fabrics” being used. Some of the fresh additions to the David August Spring/Summer line are fabrics blended with linen, silk, cotton, and mohair-linen for the “resort” look; silk for dressing things up a notch; cotton for added comfort and wear-ability; and mohair for performance and wrinkle resistance. The combination is incredible. We are taking green fashion “from hippie to hip” by focusing on those aspects of apparel that make the difference to consumers, including style, color, hand, and performance. And the changes will become increasingly evident, with more organic styles showing up on the catwalk and in stores near you. If you decide that new, natural clothing is a statement that you must make to reflect where the world is today, then shopping for it will help the economy start moving in the right direction.

If you have questions you’d like to see addressed in future issues, e-mail me at haute@davidaugustinc.com.
David August
3140 Airway Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
800.546.SUIT (7848)
www.davidaugustinc.com

Spring is a time of hope and change, even more so this year with the compelling change of administration. With the economic hardships that are apparent across the country and around the globe, many may feel that changing their home’s look with the change of season this year would be too extravagant. In reality, the coming season is calling for simplicity, which can be accomplished in a few easy steps. This spring, whether in home décor or fashion, people and designers will be opting for simple choices, ones that inspire comfort. In-your-face, over-the-top designs are a thing of the past, which works well with my personal style. I always strive to create inviting environments that people feel comfortable in, that they can relax in, whether I am designing a home or hotel, or even hosting an event in my own home. It is important for people to feel welcome.

Simple details make all of the difference in the world. For example, when hosting a dinner party, I often put decorative throw pillows on the chairs and have wraps readily available for guests should they become chilly. Not only do these extra touches enhance people’s comfort level, but they also add to the overall ambiance. I keep the color scheme in check with the rest of the décor, including the centerpiece, which is of utmost importance. You don’t want the centerpiece to be too large, loud, or distracting, but a conversation piece is always a good choice.  When I am not hosting a dinner party, my large dining room table is completely covered with a variety of pieces, from busts and vases to kaleidoscopes and sculptures. Rearranging, adding, and removing these accessories helps update the look without forcing a total makeover, as would be the case if I used one large centerpiece.

Fresh flowers also play a large role in creating a welcoming environment. For my every day, I often use monochromatic arrangements placed intermittently throughout the household. When preparing for larger gatherings, opt for something larger and brighter, as flowers can really liven up any space.

The main thing to keep in mind is that updating a look for the coming season doesn’t have to break the bank. It can be as simple as moving an accent piece from one room to another. It is an easy way to bring a new life and a new feel to a space. In my own home, I am constantly rearranging in hopes of finding the ideal harmony. When things start to feel a little stale, I will move a piece of furniture, artwork, lighting, or even an accessory from one part of the house to another. Having a painting or a sconce in a different room helps change the focal point, therefore altering its entire feel. Experiment and see what you can come up with-you could end up changing the ambiance of your entire home without so much as opening your wallet.

When you do opt for new pieces, avoid trends and choose pieces that you really love. The coming season will be filled with classic styles that will stand the test of time. The new collection of soft home goods that I am debuting with Sferra is reflective of this trend. The line is influenced by my travels, fashion (such as the vintage jewelry pieces that inspired the napkin rings), and my own home.  From decorative throw pillows and throws to dinner napkins, napkin rings, and fine bed linens, the line gives people a way to update their looks for the coming seasons without doing a complete overhaul. The collection offers an mélange of texture, color, and patterns in a soft and subtle palette that is so reflective of the current times. When designing the line, I worked to create classic looks that will continue to be in style for many coming seasons.

After high school I attended Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, one of the largest and most well respected professional culinary schools in Japan. Upon graduation, I returned back to my hometown and began my career at Harbor View Hotel in Okinawa. I stayed in the city for six years, working in several different restaurants and hotels, perfecting my craft, until my first move to the United States in 1984. Though I stayed here for several years, learning the cultures of the American culinary scene, eventually I went back to Okinawa to retrain. The old art of Japanese cuisine is something that I take very seriously, and I wanted to have my foundation firmly set before I went about infusing American gastronomy with the delicacies of Japan.

My second trip to the United States landed me in Seattle in 1989. Two years later, I moved to Ventura County and have been thrilled to spend the last two decades bringing the art of Japanese sushi to the American West Coast.

Opening my first restaurant, Katsu-ya in Studio City, in 1997, was one of my biggest joys. At the time, it was the culmination of my years of training, both in school and working with many other talented chefs. Owning my own restaurant was always the main goal for which I was striving, but, as they say, the top of one mountain is always the bottom of the next, and soon it became time to tackle something new. I opened another Katsu-ya in Encino and continued on the path as a restaurateur and entrepreneur. Today I own four restaurants on my own in addition to three restaurants with my partners, SBE.

On another new adventure in the culinary world, I recently opened the Sushi Institute of America in downtown Los Angeles with my partners, the Mutual Trading Company, one of the premier suppliers in Japanese foodservice. It is ironic because even though I was never the superstar student in school, I find that teaching fresh young talent about the art of sushi making is extremely rewarding. As American foodies embrace sushi more and more, it is becoming that much more difficult to find and employ properly trained sushi chefs. Our vision at the Sushi Institute of America is to educate about proper techniques and promote the integrity of the centuries-old Japanese art. I am proud to report that we just graduated our first class of sushi chefs, and now several of the former students are working for me, in my restaurants.

This path has made for a very busy life for me and recently I became aware of the fact that I was spending more time in the office and less time in the kitchen. Even though my drive for success is strong, at my core I am a chef and I want to be cooking, so in my newest restaurant, Kiwami at 11920 Ventura Blvd., I will be running things from behind the sushi bar, instead of behind a desk.

While I appreciate the way American palates have adopted the taste for sushi, it is also true that dining out at sushi restaurants has become quite trendy. Therefore, I would offer this precursor in my description of Kiwami-it is a sushi restaurant for the purists. My favorite part is the Omakase Bar, or “Chef’s Choice.” Parties of six can make reservations in advance, but there is no menu for them to choose from. As I prepare this column, I am also preparing for tonight’s table, which will include baby tuna and octopus from Japan as well as the seasonal, first catch of bonito.

I am adamant in my pursuit of the freshest seafood and in my upcoming columns, I will use this space to discuss new ingredients that I am working with, methods of preparation and filleting techniques that I am using and teaching, as well as pay homage to the ancient art of sushi making. It will be my pleasure to serve you in your quest for sushi knowledge.

Itadakimasu,
Katsuya Uechi

While most profiles of Kathy Ireland begin by detailing the supermodel’s success (for this is how the world first got to know the bathing beauty-from her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition covers and appearances), if you ask her about her modeling career today, the brilliant businesswoman, who runs an international multibillion-dollar corporation that bears her name, laughs it off like child’s play.

“I did okay as a model, but I wasn’t super. Some of the publications I worked for were certainly pretty super, so I did alright.” She isn’t trying to convey a faux sense of humility; rather she takes her current role in life and in business very seriously. “Growing up, [modeling] was never a part of my plan,” she explains. “I entered the modeling industry already as a businessperson….I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was four years old.”

Her entrepreneurial skills first emerged when she was selling rocks out of her wagon, and were further honed by her efforts in the “boy’s job” of running a paper route at 11 years old. It all led to the founding of Kathy Ireland Worldwide in 1993 with a single pair of socks. Time and again, Ireland has proven herself as an innovative capitalist and earned well-respected industry accolades for her efforts. She has been recognized by Forbes, Women’s Wear Daily, the Associated Press, London Times, and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Today Kathy Ireland Worldwide is a design and marketing firm producing more than 15,000 products sold in 28 countries.

As an aging model (at the ripe old age of 29), with no lucrative endorsement deals on the horizon, Ireland was approached by John and Marilyn Moretz from designer sock company, Moretz Sports. “I got offered an opportunity to model a pair of socks. Not quite as glamorous as it sounds,” she jokes. As it turns out, that small sock offer stoked her entrepreneurial fire.

At the time of the offer, she already had a small business and branding team in place, led by her Creative Director Jon Carrasco, who is still on the job today. “I did not want to do an endorsement,” she explains. “I wanted to start a real brand from the ground up. People said we were absolutely crazy, but we thought this could be a really great beginning. What better place to start a brand from the ground up than with socks?”

Though everyone advised the model to break into retail with a swimwear collection, she bucked the status quo, citing faith in the intelligence of the women who would become her loyal customers. “I thought, what would that be like if women embraced something as basic as a pair of socks?” Women did, and her unending gratitude is as palpable today as in 1993. “I really appreciate the fact that women turned down the noise of stereotyping and embraced our brand,” she says.

With their support, Ireland forged ahead into new markets with the gusto of hurricane force winds, all the while never losing sight of her company’s credo of finding solutions for families, especially busy moms. “We take [our mission] very seriously with everything we do. And our customer is very demanding. She wants the fashion, the quality, the value, and the safety. And so those four promises go into everything that we design and market.”

Kathy Ireland Worldwide has a hand in a wide variety of sectors, including furniture, flooring, lighting, window treatments, bedding, tabletop, decorative accessories, and apparel. In addition to the Kathy Ireland Home Collection, she also partners with industry experts like Nicholas Walker in designing products featuring garden inspirations, showcased on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Chef André Carthen for the food, entertaining, and culture divisions of her brand.

From designing, marketing and sales, vendor relations, shipping and distribution, to quality control issues, Ireland is a hands-on leader, taking most of her directives directly from her customers. “If you could see the emails I get…my customer doesn’t want a beauty tip or an autograph. She is a smart busy mom who cuts right to the chase,” she says. When a customer told her that the edges on a cocktail table were too sharp and were a hazard to a three-year-old, she took her marching orders and designed dime radius corners. “My customer needs a solution, needs it now, and I deliver it to her,” she states.

But she is immediately aware of the “I” in that statement, and addresses the incredible support she receives from her team. “I never had a family business, but today I do have a business family. I really believe that when you treat the people you work with the way you would want your family members to be treated, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish together,” declares Ireland.

Amidst traveling the globe with her design team and collecting raw material that can be translated into product, she somehow found the time last year to pen a new book, Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success & Sanity, (Howard Books, $23.99) slated to release in early April 2009. This is a comprehensive guide for women who don’t have a lot of time that addresses today’s real world issues, such as credit card debt, home foreclosures, planning for retirement and children’s education, caring for elderly parents, health issues, drug abuse, STDs, sexual predators, and the mental, physical, and spiritual well being of children. She explains, “It’s written in a way that [a woman] can pick it up and really address her immediate needs and find a solution for it.”

As a busy mom herself (she is the mother of three), Ireland cites her faith as the bedrock of her success and integrated her values into the Kathy Ireland Worldwide corporate philanthropic mandates, which are women’s health and children’s needs.

Though she already has accomplished a lifetime of achievements, Ireland admits there is always more on the horizon. “Our brand is in its infancy and we have such a long way to go. And one of the beauties of our mission is that there are always solutions that we’re going to need to find.”

And, in the upper echelon of real estate sales, it’s also about innovation, marketing, and service. John McMonigle and his team at the McMonigle Group have forged an impressive reputation-and sold more than $2.1 billion in real estate in the past five years-by delivering breakthrough sales and marketing strategies and unparalleled client service. Now, the McMonigle Group is poised to extend its success with the opening of the firm’s just-completed corporate headquarters in the heart of Newport Beach, featuring a location, design, and state-of-the-art technology on par with the spectacular homes it represents. We caught up with McMonigle to discuss the move, the office, and the new ventures that will continue to ensure that he remains at the top of the real estate game.

Haute Living What prompted the move to the new office?

John McMonigle The McMonigle Group’s new offices further our dual commitment: to innovate and deliver state-of-the-art promotion for our clients’ properties; and to continue to set and provide the real estate industry’s gold-standard for client service. It’s no secret that location is the most important value variable in real estate, and it was critical that our new offices feature a premier location to most successfully promote our clients’ listings in an environment with high visibility and traffic flow.

HL Who is the designer? Builder? Architect?

JM Our new offices were designed by LPA, Inc., built by Howard CDM and project managed by Monarch Estates (my real estate development division), with interiors by David Riley Associates.

HL Can you describe the new space?

JM In our practice, we represent clients with incredibly high levels of taste who are aficionados of good design, workmanship, and high quality finishes. As such, the McMonigle Group offices represent a level of comfort, refinement, and style that reflects both our clientele and the properties we represent. The offices reflect appealing mid-century-inspired architecture and relate to our surroundings here on the picturesque Orange County coastline, with the extensive use of wood and stone, as well as colors-blues, browns, taupes-that capture the natural beauty of our environment. Guests enjoy the convenience of 12,000 square feet of secured, subterranean parking with direct elevator access to the more than 8,000-square-foot space, which encompasses an inviting lobby area featuring an immersive, media-rich environment with multiple flat-screen televisions to display continual looping video presentations of the Group’s listings. The lobby also features interactive displays providing information on the McMonigle Group’s Premier Partners and Industry Affiliates-an exclusive selection of purveyors of fine goods and services-as well as three-dimensional models representing the Group’s Destination Partners-a collection of the world’s preeminent resorts and vacation home destinations.

HL How will this new office better serve your clients?

JM In addition to the eye-catching and comprehensive in-office visual displays we’ve designed to continually promote our clients’ listings, our new offices will be open seven days a week to maximize exposure for our listed properties, and to deliver best-in-class service to our valued clients. We’ve created an inviting and immersive environment that powerfully communicates the appeal of Orange County real estate and of our clients’ properties in particular. We anticipate that our new offices will become a popular destination for both clients and buyers, and we look forward to welcoming them to our new location.

HL How long did the space take from conception to realization? How many people were involved in the project?

JM The new offices represent years of careful planning and negotiation for a Triple-A location within Newport Beach. This was an historic land deal brokered by the McMonigle Group’s commercial real estate division, allowing us to secure a large, three-quarter-acre corner lot at the intersection of Newport Center Drive and Granville Drive, with premium visibility.

HL When did you move in? Any big deals closed in the new office yet?

JM We moved into our new headquarters in January 2009, and we already have closed several important deals in the short time we’ve been here.

HL How many people are working in the new space?

JM The headquarters incorporates 38 offices to house the Group’s 15 Newport Beach-based agents and an extensive support staff, which includes client services, marketing and advertising professionals, as well as two large conference suites with state-of-the-art technology and teleconferencing capabilities.

HL How close is it to your home?

JM I’m pleased to say that my agents and I average only a 10 to 15 minute commute to work.

HL What else is the McMonigle Group working on?

JM We just launched the 90-Day Certain Sale Program-a breakthrough marketing and sales strategy that provides an innovative way to sell your home and maximize your equity in this challenging market. The 90-Day Certain Sale Program is designed to sell properties to value-seeking buyers within a 90-day time period, accounting for a 60-day marketing period and a 30-day escrow. The 90-Day Certain Sale program is ideal for home sellers wanting to speed up the sales process, optimize their equity and sell their home within 90 days; and also delivers best-in-industry results for buyers who want to ensure they are paying true market value for properties in today’s changeable market.

Visit www.90DayCertainSale.com for more information.

The timepiece is equipped with a completely unique world time mechanism with three hands in the center of the watch that indicate the time zone in which the wearer is currently located. Thanks to discs rotating behind the dial, the movement module, which was developed by Eterna in-house, additionally shows a reference location and the present time in corresponding time zones. Once properly set, the watch can indicate any one of 24 time zones and can be changed easily with the press of a button.

The rose gold case is sandblasted, providing for a sophisticated matte-finished surface, and the black dial contrasts elegantly. White luminous coating on the hour and minute hands provides for clear readability. The black strap is made from a natural caoutchouc, and the interior strap pattern, which is embossed with latitudes and longitudes, enhances wearer’s comfort by allowing air to penetrate between the skin and strap.  The exquisite timepiece, also available in titanium, is priced at $26,700 in Porsche Design stores throughout California and at www.porsche-design.com

Porsche Design
236 North Rodeo Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.205.0095

Porsche Design South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.662.2992

The limited edition Flamingo, Swan, and Paloma decanters by Riedel, the preeminent name in wine glasses, are free blown works of art that not only push the limits of performance and design, but the limitations of the medium itself. Designed by Maximilian Riedel and his father, Georg, the decanters were inspired by a flock of birds in flight.

The Flamingo decanter, which is near 24 inches in height, has a lip that shears off at an acute angle, providing for a drip-free pour. The Swan’s gently curved body flows seamlessly into the neck before narrowing to form the elliptical lip. Wine is simply decanted into the wider opening of the swan’s tail, which also forms the handle for service. The Paloma’s undulating, elongated form, which stands nearly 9 inches in height and 23 inches wide, allows wine to be poured from the widest opening in the tail through the narrower, curved neck. Each decanter, for use with a standard 750ml bottle of wine, is priced at $395.

San Francisco has long been recognized as one of the most expensive American cities, which is why it is fitting that the megalopolis is now playing host to one of the hottest luxury residences to hit the West Coast market. St. Regis Residences on Third Street has become the talk of the town because of this trophy penthouse property.

The price of the St. Regis penthouse was recently reduced to $49,000,000. It is a jaw-dropping property to be sure, created by the international award-winning firm Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates, and at 20,000 square feet, it is considered to be one of San Francisco’s largest personal residences. Six bedrooms, seven full baths, and four half baths are not enough to make us blink, but what about the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that can reach as high as 22 feet in the vast corner living room, family room, and library. The palatial penthouse encompasses the top two floors of the legendary St. Regis building and is designed with a grand, two-story foyer where guests are greeted by a cascading waterfall. The 2,000-square-foot terrace, which is adjacent to both the living room and formal dining room, acts as a magnet, drawing visitors outside for 360-degree views of historic San Franciscan landmarks. Three other terraces also surround the penthouse.

Less is never more in this cosmopolitan city, and therefore this property, dubbed the Museum Tower Penthouse, features a 13-seat home cinema designed by Keith Yates; an executive office suite with conference room; 2,800-square-foot master suite that includes a gym, sauna, steam room, and 525-gallon bath with infinity edge; six garage bays; and a wine cellar. With specs like these, it’s not surprising that the Museum Tower Penthouse at St. Regis won the superlative for the largest penthouse in San Francisco.

Of course, the St. Regis brand is no stranger to superlatives, as it is a name associated with the best of the best. This property certainly lives up to the highest of standards, as it boasts a drool-worthy list of opulent offerings like a state-of-the-art fitness center. Even though these have become standard in today’s luxury condo lifestyle, St. Regis goes above and beyond the competition with its 3,700-square-foot facility that includes bio-mechanically engineered equipment with built-in LCD panels, personal iPods, and a 50-foot-long indoor lap pool. The award-winning Ame restaurant, operated by Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, chefs and co-owners of the acclaimed Terra restaurant in Napa Valley, and the flagship, 9,000-square-foot Remède Spa also deserve a mention.

Only time will tell who will become the owner of such an opulent property, but one thing is certain; they will be rewarded with a crème de la crème abode, high up in the sky, in one of America’s voguest cities.

St. Regis Penthouse
Represented by Sotheby’s International Realty
Louis J. Silcox Jr.: 415.296.2229
Gregg Lynn: 415.901.1780

John Finton’s publicist is billing him as the Indiana Jones of building. At first, I wasn’t buying it. Sure, he is the man behind many of the spectacular homes of Hollywood insiders and Silicon Valley superstars. He even built the grand estates of some of our own Haute Living cover subjects. But Indiana Jones is a character that travels to the ends of the earth to uncover secret treasures, dodging danger and enemies along the way. Besides market fluctuations and the looming threat of workplace accidents, what is the danger and excitement in being a builder?

How about crossing the Jordan River, trying to get to Aman on the first day of Ramadan, when the borders were closed during the first Gulf War, all to ensure that a client’s French stone was being handled correctly? (“The guy said he had pictures,” Finton recalls. “I said my client didn’t pay for me to come out here and look at pictures.”) How about heading into the jungles of Nicaragua-back before going to the jungles of Nicaragua was even a remotely good idea-in order to source the most authentic, hand-fired earth clay tiles for a roof? There are also the projects in Russia and Mexico, the giant slabs of pristine white marble from Greece, the rare and precious stones from Africa, and the constant trips to China. And, of course, there is the cat.

“We have a client overseas who wants to buy a special cat that I have never heard of before,” Finton says. “It’s a $22,000 crazy cat that is 30 pounds and looks like a Cheetah. It is not available in the U.S. and is difficult to get in Europe, with a long waiting list.” Finton had his hands on the purring feline in less than two weeks.

He has evolved from merely a builder to an all-around constructor of dreams, making the impossible happen despite any obstacle, which leads me to reconsider the Indiana Jones comparison. Whatever the wish, John Finton and Finton Construction can make it happen.

A southern California native, Finton spent the summers and holidays of his youth working for his neighbor, a building contractor. After high school, he continued in the profession, earning enough to launch Finton Construction (with partners Michael Reeves and Dan Tontini) during his sophomore year of college. Thanks to his upbringing, he had a fairly strong handle on the business aspects of construction, and when his buddies were struggling to make ends meet while tending bar or flipping burgers, Finton relished in the spoils of his lucrative business, driving a Porsche and carrying a cell phone back before the device was ubiquitous.

Upon graduation, Finton went in search of his niche. With his degree and experience, he was armed with the tools necessary to cater to the upper echelons, to businessmen who were too savvy to deal with a contractor working out of the back of his truck, armed only with a yellow legal pad. Finton and his partners-college roommates-secured a list of architects in Los Angeles and began knocking on doors, making a name for themselves. It wasn’t long before they went from making a few hundred thousand per year to a few million. Since then, business hasn’t slowed.

Today, the architects come looking for him, and likely find him onsite at one of the 30 ongoing projects the team is typically working on. And now his clients-many of whom are repeat customers-rely on Finton not only for building, but also to find a lot, a house, and an architect. There are less than a half-dozen firms in the U.S. that do what Finton does, and none that do it quite so well. The firm overlooks every aspect of the building process and creates a superior product that satisfies even the most discerning clientele (including quite a few demanding starlets).

His stellar reputation has crossed borders, and the company is just as busy overseas as it is here, although with a different breed of challenges. In remote regions of Europe, Finton has encountered a lack of skilled tradesmen and resources. Instead of avoiding the area altogether, he began consulting for projects abroad, working with the local builders on sourcing the materials, such as a stone façade for a home in Russia and handling the logistics of a lighting system for a large estate.

In addition to the complexity of the materials and labor, Finton is dealing with the added pressure that comes with constructing a 60,000-square-foot home in Russia. “The complexity grows exponentially [as homes get bigger],” he says. “A 20,000-square-foot house can be five times more difficult to build than a 10,000-square-foot home….When you get something that big, the level of complexity of the mechanical systems, the plumbing systems, or the lighting, the theaters-everything grows, even in terms of how to staff such a project of that size. You can have hundreds of people working on the project in one day, and you have to deal with all of those personalities and manage all of those people. It’s very difficult.”

At that level, there can be an army of minions involved from the owner’s side, right on down to a personal shopper who is there to determine that the size of the closet is adequate. Finton is used to the hoopla, and handles it all with the grace and ease of an established businessman who puts his client’s needs first. He spends his days traveling to and from his many job sites, which dot the California coast. While these homes are astoundingly beautiful, the sheer grandness is not something that he strives to duplicate in his personal life.

“For me, less is more,” he explains. “Being around it every day has allowed me to see how much it takes to manage a house like that.” He equates a large estate to a large fishing yacht, such as the one that he keeps down in Mexico. “As the boats get bigger, the crew sizes get bigger, and it becomes much more of a commitment….So my home is much smaller than many of the guest houses I build.” But he doesn’t spend that much time there, thanks to his long days touring job sites (he is as hands-on as they come) and his frequent travels. As evidenced by his treks to the end of the earth to find materials for his clients, he loves to explore new places, and would rather own multiple homes around the world than one grand estate.

His passion for frequent travel resulted in his involvement with a large sustainable community in Mexico. While going south to meet his boat for a sailing trip, he swung by an architect friend’s budding project in Loreto Bay and immediately knew he wanted to be involved. “We’re working with Citibank and building their custom home component,” he explains. “There won’t be any cars, and there will be estuaries where you travel by canoe.” As of press time, Finton has six homes under construction in the development.

On a local green front, he is building a 12,000-square-foot sustainable estate for Keenen Wayans. The project is done in conjunction with Planet Green, and will be the subject of a series of 10 reality shows that will detail all of the decisions that go into such a large-scale project. The world will then have the opportunity to watch the Indiana Jones of Building in action, constructing one of the modern temples of California. It will be a performance sure to earn two-thumbs up.