NEW YORK – The Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance (HABA) presented a lively and informative discussion, titled House Poor, Furniture Rich? Furniture as an Alternative Investment, on December 4 at the Luxury Living Group in Manhattan.

HABA Treasurer Costas Kellas gave the welcoming remarks and introduced HABA President Robert Savage who served as the moderator for the discussion. Featuring Shanna Bender, Owner and Design Principal for Design Studio 15, and Nikki Field, Founder of The Field Team and Senior Global Advisor and Associate Broker for Sotheby’s International Realty, the discussion offered great insights into the luxury real estate market and the vital role design and furniture play in luxury real estate.

Bender shared her experiences working with various clients in New York and Florida, including professional athletes and young tech entrepreneurs, and helping guide their decisions when investing in design and furniture items to add value to their estates. Bender worked with Field on a recent high profile project in Manhattan just blocks from where the event took place, noting how she takes the architecture of the building into consideration to create interiors that work with the specific architectural elements and also the client’s style and requirements.

Both Bender and Field noted that different types of clients will have varying degrees of input on a project; some may have specific requests or be very involved in the process while for others the home is not their only one, so they trust the team to deliver the luxury they require.

Left to right: Panagiota Mahendru, Nick Lionas, Shanna Bender, Nikki Field, Kondilia Parissi, Robert Savage, Chris Thomas, and Fanny Trataros. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

Field’s insights into the luxury real estate market were also fascinating as she noted the changes that are currently affecting the market which is, she pointed out, a buyer’s market. She also noted how successful the partnership with Bender has been as more and more buyers often want everything included in the sale, all the furnishings and artwork as well.

A lively Q&A session followed and attendees enjoyed the wine and hors d’oeuvres at the event which also served as HABA’s holiday party. Savage thanked everyone for attending and for their support throughout the year, and especially thanked Nick Lionas for organizing the event and suggesting the location. He then wished everyone a happy and healthy holiday season with more events to come in the New Year, beginning with the Hellenic professional organizations’ annual Vasilopita at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan on January 9.

Also present at the event were the HABA Vice President Chris Thomas and Secretary Sophia Prountzos, as well as Lionas, James P. Gerkis, Panagiota Mahendru, Kondilia Parissi, and previous HABA President Fanny Trataros.

Luxury Living Group in Manhattan offered a beautiful setting with designer furnishings for the HABA event with art curated by Axiom. Photo by Eleni Sakellis