The Agency Times, Fall 2025

BY CAROLYN MEERS

AUTUMNAL ADVENTURES

BY MEGHAN THIBAULT

AEXCLUSIVE ESCAPES, EXPERIENCES, AND FALL FÊTES TO INDULGE IN THIS SEASON

s the days grow shorter and the holidays draw near, it’s the perfect moment to seek out unique destinations and plan ahead for some one-of-a-kind experiences. Whether you’re looking to gather with family and friends or get lost in a city full of strangers, here are our recommendations for creating lasting memories this fall.

Sip & Savor Island Flavors

Need an escape for some aloha spirit and tropical weather this fall? The 15th Annual Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival invites visitors to choose from three islands—or island-hop throughout the festival’s full run, from October 17 through November 2, 2025. With its year-round growing season, the islands provide an extraordinary backdrop to inspire culinary creativity. The festival gathers 150+ global tastemakers, including Michelin-starred chefs, acclaimed winemakers, and master mixologists, to showcase Hawai‘i’s freshest local ingredients. Savor the vibrant flavors and delight in the unique cultures and traditions that make Hawai‘i a worldclass culinary destination.

HFWF honors Hawai‘i’s rich agricultural heritage, ensuring that both the islands’ cuisine and its people continue to thrive. The event connects chefs with local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen across the islands, while it supports the local economy with visitor spending and raises funds for culinary education, sustainability, cultural preservation, and more. Events include intimate wine and whiskey tastings, golf tournaments, gala events, panel discussions, and more. Stay in one of Hawai‘i’s most luxurious properties (or more than one), since the festival will be hosted at multiple hotel venues across the islands. We especially love to indulge our senses at the Halekulani on O‘ahu and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawai‘i Island.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

October 17 to 18, 2025 | Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i | USA

October 24 to 26, 2025 | Ka‘anapali, Maui, Hawai‘i | USA

October 30 to November 2, 2025 | O‘ahu, Hawai‘i | USA

For more information, visit HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com

London Swings

The EFG London Jazz Festival returns from November 14 through 23, 2025, bringing a vibrant celebration of the genre to venues across the U.K. capital. Now in its 32nd year, the festival continues its mission to showcase both global stars and emerging talent, highlighting the musical tradition’s creativity, energy, and enduring appeal.

As Europe’s largest city-wide music festival, the 2025 event is expected to welcome over 100,000 attendees to more than 300 performances, from intimate basement jazz bars to London’s finest concert halls. Founded in 1992, the festival remains a cornerstone of the U.K.’s cultural calendar. It provides a platform for artists, reaffirms London as a global center for jazz music, all while animating venues across the city with the improvised sounds of what is considered one of America’s greatest art forms.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

November 14 to 23, 2025 | London, England

For more information, visit EFGLondonJazzFestival.org.uk

A Sparkling Seasonal Celebration

Once known as the Toronto Christmas Market, this beloved holiday tradition was rebranded in recent years as The Distillery Winter Village, held annually in the city’s historic Distillery District. But you don’t need to celebrate Christmas to enjoy this one-of-a-kind winter wonderland in Canada’s most populous city. The festival is just east of Toronto’s downtown core in a vibrant, pedestrian-only quarter whose cobblestone streets are lined with an array of trendy eateries, boutique shops, and bars, as well as well-preserved 19th-century architecture. Outdoor sculptures, art galleries, and performance theatres make this area a nexus of arts and culture.

With DIOR as the event’s marquis sponsor, the festival’s centerpiece is a majestic, 55-foot-tall silver fir dressed in the French fashion house’s signature style. Adorned in thousands of lights and ornaments, it radiates holiday magic. Explore charming vendor cabins, holiday shopping, festive dining, and enchanting winter attractions. The event runs from December 12 to 31, 2025, and the district opens daily at 10 a.m., while the Winter Village cabins and vendors open at noon daily. Access is entirely free before 4 pm; after which, tickets are required, though admission remains free for children nine and younger.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

December 12 to 31, 2025 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Enjoy a stay in the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel, or choose from an array of preferred hotel partner packages at TheDistilleryWinterVillage.com

The Agency Art House Debuts New Art Staging Service

BY MEGHAN THIBAULT

Helmed by art dealer and advisor Arushi Kapoor, The Agency Art House has set a new standard in luxury real estate with its recently introduced residential art staging service.

Enhancing each home with exclusive art pieces has myriad benefits for both homeowner and listing agent. Of course, it increases the home’s appeal in photography, videography and at showings. “For me, art staging is about creating a feeling the moment someone walks in. It’s about weaving beauty, storytelling, and connection into a home so that buyers don’t just see the space, they imagine themselves living in it,” shares Kapoor.

Each property is treated as a curated gallery that showcases high-quality artworks from established artists around the globe. Kapoor’s innovative approach creates an immersive experience for potential buyers, akin to a pop-up gallery exhibit, heightening each property’s unique aesthetic and appeal. The service made its debut in August at a Mulholland Drive open house event, at a property listed by The Agency’s Craig Knizek and Scott Gorelick.

“The owner is a seasoned developer used to working with the best staging companies,” said Craig Knizek, Managing Partner of The Agency Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Calabasas. “He was extraordinarily glad he took the risk to have The Agency Art House install the art. He felt he couldn’t have received better service at a compelling price point, with truly unique and dynamic art that elevates his project.”

Art staging by firms focused primarily on interior design is often uninspired, misaligned with the caliber of the home, and expensive due to the costs of acquisition and storage. The Agency Art House provides a remarkably cost-effective and distinct advantage. By working directly with galleries and artists on a consignment basis, Kapoor’s team can deliver a superlative service that’s often 30% to 40% less expensive than existing options, with access to a meticulously curated collection of artworks, and specialized expertise in art installation.

When artists and galleries promote the staged property on their own channels, a new audience of art enthusiasts and collectors is introduced to the listing and the agent. Art staging also serves as a powerful tool for securing new listings by adding tremendous value to the agent’s service offering.

Aside from expertly adorning a home’s walls to prepare it for sale, Kapoor’s team offers a full range of services, from selling a client’s existing collection to curating art for a new home and building a long-term portfolio in this asset class for her clients. Her team also works collaboratively

with high-end furniture staging companies and interior decorators to achieve cohesive, design- and art-forward outcomes. “I recommend this service for any listing agent who wants to elevate the presentation of a property or its price point,” said Knizek.

The Agency Art House staging is currently available in Southern California, with imminent plans to expand to key markets, including Aspen, New York, Miami, and Seattle and NorCal. Agents and clients may inquire by contacting Arushi Kapoor at Arushi@TheAgencyArtHouse.com

7 TOP TRENDS Heating Up THE SEASON

WHAT’S TRENDING ACROSS HOME, FASHION, AND CULTURE

CRAFT CORE

THE FARMER’S MARKET PALETTE

Feeling hungry? It might be the Farmer’s Market Palette being served up across fashion and home decor. We’re seeing dill green, butter yellow (still thriving after its summer spotlight), and tomato reds—pairings that feel fresh but with a bit of retro inspo. These combos lean toward warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. These tones also serve up into craft-forward quirk, rebel against sterile greys of the past, and touch on another strengthening trend: Homestead Couture.

Coastal and country-core influences reach a crescendo with richly textured, hand-touched designs. Pervasive across home decor and fashion accessories, this aesthetic leans into individuality—even imperfection—and rejects mass-produced, algorithmdriven sameness.

THE RISE OF SOLARPUNK

Part Burning Man ingenuity, part ecoutopia, Solarpunk powers trends like Craft Core and Homestead Couture.

A design and lifestyle movement, it fuses sustainability, community, and tech. Think hemp fabrics, solar lighting, biophilic design, and DIY over mass waste. At its heart, Solarpunk is a hopeful, hands-on vision of the future. We can get on board with that.

GETTING THE BLUES

2026’s top contender marks a tonal shift from 2025’s color of the year, Mocha Mousse. Now, deep blues and teals are taking the lead. Cool yet rich, these hues evoke calm while still being bold. Jewel tones, electric purples, and pops of elemental cobalt blue are gaining ground in home and in fashion. Craving a more muted version? Go for a silvery gray eucalyptus hue— it’s subtle but still moving with the current.

RETRO COLOR PAIRINGS

“Retro” can mean lots of things, so let us be specific. This trend is all about unexpected color pairings, ones we haven’t seen since the ’90s, ‘70s—or maybe, ever. Think burnt orange with yellow, baby blue with chocolate brown, or denim with brown leather.

HOMESTEAD COUTURE

In a digital-first world, homesteadinspired living is flourishing. Rooted in a vision of self-sufficiency, it spans interiors, fashion, and food—think heritage patterns, produce-as-decor, and soul over spin. New brands, from cult launches to celebrity-backed lines, have embraced the look, though not always authentically. If something feels staged or saccharine, consumers will pass.

ANIMAL HOUSE

This season, self-expression leads—and animal prints are on the move. Leopard, zebra, and snakeskin lead the herd, but Dalmatian (modern, graphic, and versatile) is the one to watch. At home, it pops on cushions, rugs, and chairs and pairs well with neutral tones and natural textures.

The FARRALONE

HOW OUR AWARD-WINNING CAMPAIGN LEVERAGED BOLD DESIGN to CAPTIVATE

BY CAROLYN MEERS

The Farralone, best known as the “Frank Sinatra Estate” and “the most filmed house in America,” had come on and off the market for over 13 years. In late 2024, The Agency’s Craig Knizek and Blair Chang set out to reframe its story and (finally) get it sold.

Partnering with The Agency’s marketing and design team, the agents harnessed eye-catching branding, and targeted PR to capture the attention of the right buyers. A bold new logo, striking photography, and a lifestyle-driven narrative highlighted The Farralone’s investment potential and reignited market excitement around the listing.

Guided by The Agency’s Senior Graphic Designer, Sara Reitenbach; SVP of Communications and Marketing, Laura Corrigan; Senior Director of PR, Andrea Delgado, alongside Senior Marketing Account Managers Kerry Madden and Samantha Driscoll, the team executed a fresh creative vision and precision outreach to reintroduce the property to the world.

The result? A dual sale totaling nearly $8 million and an Inman’s Golden I Award for Best Sales & Marketing Campaign for a Luxury Home/Property.

Designed in 1949 by renowned architect William Pereira, 9361 Farralone is set on four acres with a 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom main house. It closed at $5,000,000, while its adjacent 9-acre property, 9363 Farralone, sold for $2,999,999.

The Agency’s Senior Graphic Designer Sara Reitenbach explains the inspirations that shaped the property’s custom branding—and ultimately , help seal the deal.

We chose “The Farralone” to give the home a fresh identity, dropping “Estate” to avoid dated, overly formal connotation. The script (a modified version of the typeface Beverly Drive by SoCal studio Hoodzpah Design) used for “The” evokes classic Hollywood —like “The End” in vintage film credits. Overall, this style reinforced the branding’s cinematic feel. Also, given the home’s long market history, this simplified name marked a bold, confident step forward.

THE LOGO

During the logo design process, inspiration was drawn from retro letterforms found in classic movie posters of the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. The typography blends the elegant

curves of Art Nouveau with the sharp geometry of 1930s Art Deco, resulting in a mark that feels both timeless and luxurious. The final design evokes Old Hollywood’s Golden Age while maintaining a fresh and modern simplicity.

COLORS & FONTS

The color palette and typography also blends historical glamour with mid-century style, reflecting the home’s 1950s–60s origins. Deep burgundy—rooted in tones found in mid-century print and interior design—anchors the branding with a sense of soft elegance. Paired with warm, organic neutrals like cream and retro-inspired accents in muted teal, the palette feels both period-authentic and timeless.

By placing people front and center, “The Perfect Setting” speaks directly to a discerning clientele who seek out brands that celebrate their complexity while endeavoring to better achieve their goals.

For Creative Director Shane Gazzo and his team, the campaign’s foundation was rooted in storytelling. “From the very beginning, we knew this campaign needed beautiful, compelling visuals—but above all, it had to tell relatable stories,” said Gazzo. The creative process resembled “matchmaking,” carefully pairing fictional individuals with environments that reflected their unique personalities and aspirations.

Rather than treating properties as mere backdrops, Gazzo and his team ensured each setting functioned as a “costar,” amplifying the distinct essence of each character.

“Our intentional pairing of people with their places was inspired by that incredible moment of recognition buyers

Perfectly PERSONAL PEOPLE and PLACES

feel when they arrive at a home and just know this is where they belong.”

Lesley Stern, VP of Agent Marketing, emphasizes the campaign’s dual purpose—asserting The Agency’s role as a tastemaker in luxury real estate while providing agents powerful tools to connect with elite clients.

“My team and I obsess about how to build the bridge between our corporate brand vision and the day-to-day business of our agents,” says Stern. “This campaign’s strength lies in its ability to showcase what makes The Agency’s agents exceptional—their understanding that luxury real estate isn’t just about properties, but about seeing their clients for who they are, what they desire, and where they see themselves thriving.”

PAIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH ENVIRONMENTS THAT REFLECT THEIR PERFECT SETTING

WHAT OUR AGENTS ARE SAYING

“From the moment I saw it at Forum, I was obsessed with the 2025 campaign! My brokers love it too, and it’s been great to see so many agents at The Agency using this message in their markets. As agents at this caliber, we must take every aspect of our clients’ lifestyles and interests into account. It’s almost expected. Showcasing this talent in a brand campaign is so special. Plus, it just looks so cool.”

CHANG & CRAIG KNIZEK