Occupy Your Dreams - Article

Occupy Your Dreams
At Time & Place Homes

By Sara Pentz

A sophisticated new service combining luxury and anonymity has entered the residential home market in recent years. International lawyer Mitch Willey, founder and president of Time & Place Homes, developed the concept stemming from his own hobby of collecting real estate properties. Willey combines his passion for prime real estate with the needs of travelers who want the services of a similarly priced hotel room with the greater space, privacy, independence and comfort of a real home.

“When traveling throughout the world, I sought the services of a five-star hotel but craved the solitude and convenience of a private home,” he explains. Two years ago Willey created his concept and—voilà!—today he represents some 75 homes around the world. Willey describes the business as a premier asset management firm of second and third homes, which can otherwise be daunting for owners to manage themselves.

The business premise is two-fold. Multi-homeowners can find a secondary income from renting their seldom-used properties. And, travelers can stay in exclusive home environments instead of commercial properties. Explains Willey: “We take care of our guests’ every wish while they are staying with us, and they never have to be concerned with a long-term legal agreement involved when purchasing a property.”

In each of the company’s residences, Willey has achieved the welcoming environment of a true home with a wide variety of design styles. A 16^th century French penthouse apartment in Paris has been up-dated with all the modern conveniences, while maintaining its original charm. In Palm Springs, an elegant mid-20^th century desert home still brims with Old Hollywood panache.

Each residence has been carefully renovated by a team of architects, landscape and interior designers with such features as Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchens, Waterworks fixtures, Penhaligon’s products, Frette linens, French antiques and lush swimming pools.

“Every one of our homes has what I call a “wow” factor. They may not be the most expensive or the largest, but they are the best,” he explains. “Still when all the luxuries and accoutrements are factored into the price, the costs are less than similarly priced hotels.”

Then there’s the ‘pamper’ factor. Willey takes pride in the personalized concierge services offered to guests. This include airport transportation, access to prescreened masseurs, private chefs, errand services, babysitters, personalized tours, private aerobics or yoga classes, cooking classes or golf instructions, Internet connections, fax, stereo, cable television and state of the art DVD systems. A concierge will even stock your kitchen before you arrive and a cleaning service will keep everything immaculate. When guests want to know where to dine out, shop or book a sunrise massage, all they need to do is ask their personal concierge.

Time & Place Homes’ apartments and estates are located in Palm Springs, Sonoma, Kauai, Puerto Vallarta, Nantucket, Beaver Creek and Jackson Hole, to name a few. Many properties are on the National Historic Registry and some have been owned or frequented by celebrities. Because of their expansive layouts and scenic settings, the homes are often the site of weddings, special events, television commercials or film productions. Time & Place properties are also popular for corporate retreats and executive housing. Companies use them for anything from brainstorming sessions and team-building exercises to unforgettable receptions.

So, if you’re looking for an unmatched and worldly spot to stay, you can find places in the heart of Paris, the center of town in Nantucket or on the slopes in Jackson Hole. Whatever your choice—17th century French, classic 50’s Palm Springs or the rich rustic Rocky Mountains—click on www.timeandplacehomes.com to occupy your dreams.

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