By Julie Gedeon
Photography By George Pimentel
It pays to be in the know. And that certainly describes the feeling among the esteemed guests who attended Buzz Luxury Secrets at this year’s Living Luxe Design Show (LLDS). The Sunday forum presented the crème de la crème in luxury real estate agents, home developers and generational wealth experts.
Virginia Munden and Isabella Munden, co-founders of Buzz Buzz Media Inc., hosted the sessions with co-host Richard Silver of Silver Burtnick & Associates at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. They welcomed expert insight from the who’s who of Canada’s top real estate agencies and developers, including sponsors Cohen Homes & Estates, Forest Hill Real Estate Inc., Re/Max Collection, Mayfair Law Group and presenting sponsor Tridel.
“For a second consecutive year, we gathered premier experts at the Living Luxe Design Show, adding a new element this spring focused on curating legacy wealth,” Munden says.
Speakers discussed the importance of protecting the investments made in art holdings, heirloom jewelry and other prized collections. “Homeowners frequently overlook the value of their wine collections or their designer handbags,” Munden notes, adding that the conversation included the importance of proper appraisals for insurance and estate purposes, along with how to get the deserved value if the owner ever decides to divest. At LLDS, design is never far from the mind, and Munden says: “We also talked about how to integrate heritage pieces and estate treasures into today’s aesthetic by, for example, surrounding a home’s artistic rendering with photos of the family who lived in it over generations.”
The forum highlighted the highly personal nature of valuables and their stories. “Evan McDonald at Mac Inc. shared an experience of a client picking out the perfect boulder—’nature’s sculpture’—to integrate into their backyard oasis overlooking the Niagara waterfront,” Munden says.
Whether it’s a huge rock or a grandma’s crystal wedding vase, prized possessions tend to be imbued with treasured memories of establishing a home, recalling a wonderful trip, or receiving a special-occasion gift. “It’s the story associated with an item,” Munden says.
Left to right: Anita Zaman, Winson Chan, Samson Fung and Richard Silver
Left to right: Gianpiero Pugliese and Adrienne Lake
Though the discussions touched on new topics at the 2025 Buzz Luxury Secrets, one highlight remains the same from last year: the connections that are formed. The networking that happens at Buzz Luxury Secrets is priceless for agents, buyers and sellers. “The highest echelon of Canada’s real estate market is actually quite small,” Munden says. “It’s good to know who the experts are when it comes to seeking out a property or putting one up for sale. The luxury experts are constantly levelling up their knowledge and expertise.”