Villa Malibu Holds Island-Inspired Open House

Since Malibu is relatively far from Los Angeles’s engines of commerce, many of Southern California’s well-heeled residents look to the area for a second home, a place to play within spitting distance of the Pacific. So when Macy & Associates designed an open house on March 24 to lure prospective residents to the newly completed Villa Malibu, a rental community rich with amenities, the public relations and events firm decided to make it a pool party with a beachy, Caribbean theme in keeping with the vacation aura of the 68-unit luxury property. “The idea was a behind-the-gates preview,” said Macy senior account executive Heather Koopman, who worked with Tina West, principal at Sunrise Management, Villa Malibu’s leasing agency. “We wanted an island Skybar feel.”About 370 guests—including brokers, clients, and Robb Report subscribers—began arriving at 5 p.m. Their first stop was an apartment tour: Visitors streamed through six vacant two- and three-bedroom units and two model apartments furnished in sleek beige and brown by Jonathan Barnett Design Studio. Then they moved outside to the Zen meditation garden and the adjacent pool area for finger food and island music. Koopman dressed the area in a palette of white, turquoise, and celadon, topping white daybeds and couches with colorful pillows and filling glass cubes and vases with blue pebbles, shells, and tropical flowers.

Waitresses in white hoodies and sarongs painted with turquoise stars circulated with Asian duck crepes, scallops with lemongrass, grilled beef tenderloin panini, ahi tuna tartare wonton crisps, and chicken Caesar cones. In the meditation garden, cooks grilled skewers of chicken, beef, and vegetable satay, while guests picked up mini cartons of cold Asian noodles. Poolside buffets offered gazpacho shrimp shooters, salmon with lime parsley, and New Zealand lollipop lamb chops with mustard peppermint glaze. Since the beige carpets weren’t rolled up for the party, bar offerings were limited to clear drinks, including white wine from cosponsor Oriel.

—Irene Lacher

Posted 03.28.07

Photos: Jonathan Alcorn Photography