My name is Francesca Agnoli- Levings, and I live on Bermuda Run Drive with my husband, George Edward Levings. This is my, and our, story. 

In the spring of 2006, I was living in Paris, and working for Christie’s International auction house. Paris was exhilarating, elegant, and all encompassing.

 

During that particular April, I came to visit my parents briefly at their home in Bermuda Run.  It was such a comfort to be back in this beautiful community which I had called home, on and off, since 1979.  

A comment from a family friend made me realize that I could take my wealth of knowledge in art and antique sales and apply it to serving the Triad.  There was a certain peacefulness to being back in North Carolina, with the slower pace, and the idea of owning my own company enthralled me. Within a couple of years, and with the guidance and support of dear friends, family and of a distinguished and greatly respected mentor, I created a successful company named YouFlourish. 

 

To this day, I will simply say that I would not be where I am today without the steady and meaningful advice of this much honored mentor.  My company brings expertise and magic to people who need to downsize, prepare their home for the real estate market, transition from one house to another with grace and dignity, or simply refresh their house through our customized decorating services. 

 

I am so fortunate to do what I love, and to support people around me as they transition from a much loved home, to a different living situation. My artistic and organizational skill set, my knowledge, and my experience allow me to bring great value to my clients’ lives, while respecting their budgets.  Many of these skills were acquired and honed during my years at the finest auction houses in the world. I was hired at Sotheby’s New York in 1997 and worked for this luxurious and fascinating institution for several years before spending two years in international private banking at Merrill Lynch. I returned to the Auction world at Phillips de Pury and Luxembourg, realizing that I loved art for more than numbers. After Phillips, I left New York for Paris, where I joined Christie’s.  The high-end auction world introduces one to the finest art, jewelry, furniture, silver, wine, and cars which one ever see in a lifetime. These experiences positioned me to create YouFlourish.

 

YouFlourish is a wonderful resource for realtors as well. Our work allows agents to present a streamlined and crisp house to the real estate market, knowing it should sell quickly and successfully as a result of our strategy.

 

At nearly the same time as I was launching YouFlourish, I met, dated and married my amazing husband, George, and became a stepmother. My husband is witty, cultured, brilliant and fun-loving. I am forever grateful for his patience and his great sense of good humor.

 

George and I chuckled when we realized that we have followed each other around the East Coast - albeit without meeting - since we were children. We have simultaneously lived in Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, and Massachusetts. We both attended and graduated from Boston University within a couple of years of each other. It was in the cards that we should eventually cross paths!

 

George and I have now lived in Bermuda Run for nearly a decade with our three dogs, and it seems that no matter where I go in the world, Bermuda Run always pulls me back.  Coincidentally, my 82-year-old mother now lives a stone’s throw away from where we had our original Bermuda Run 1979 summer house.  As many seniors have before her, she has downsized at this point in her life.  I remember the many houses we grew up in as children, and thanks to her keen eye and exacting taste, they were all beautiful homes. Perhaps my love of art started at an early age, thanks to her.

 

George and I love to travel, and this is one of the passions we share. He is a commercial pilot, and as I was born in Milan, Italy, and lived throughout Europe, I speak five languages. We are a great traveling team! We have both been to five continents and have so many destinations on our bucket list still to visit. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that Machu Picchu, Turkey, and Tahiti were amongst our favorite trips so far. Locally, we love Maine and Blowing Rock. Bariloche in South America and Alaska are some of the trips we will be taking soon. 

I am fortunate as I have traveled extensively with my parents as a child, and have seen amazing places and countries, such as Kenya and Brazil. Thanks to my father‘s distinguished international career, I had lived on three continents by the time I was five years old, and was trilingual at that same age.

 

My husband and I share a deep fondness for London, and spend a significant amount of time there. It is our home away from home, and a place where we have created a wonderful routine, in a city filled with culture and history.  Both of us share so many memories of visiting with our own fathers throughout our younger years.

 

George and I are also incredibly enthusiastic about our dogs. We have always had Labradors and we are often recognized in the neighborhood because of our furry children! We have made so many wonderful friends through these pups, which bring us so much joy and laughter. 

 

We also love reading, and watching movies together in the evenings. Both of us revel in skiing, deep sea diving and swimming. George loves to sail and play golf, and I have adored being an equestrian in my younger years. I am a devote of beautiful fashion, and use our travels as an opportunity to dress up.

  

My life would not be complete if I were not able to give back to the community which has so embraced and supported me throughout all these years. Thanks to my friend Christine Bland, I have the unique opportunity to work with her and her incredible team for the WSFCS Prom Closet. This program allows kids in need to shop at a special prom boutique, where they can find beautiful, donated prom attire to attend their special event. 

The Prom Closet is a permanent prom shop at 2700 South Main St. and serves the entire WSFC school district. Christine’s vision is a blessing for all young people, who would normally not be able to attend prom, due to financial hardship.

I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to work with Christine Bland, Lauren Richards, Lisa Sugg and  my dear friend and colleague, Ann Umstead, amongst so many other strong, forward thinking, and generous women. I cannot wait to see the joy on the faces of these young men and women, as they pick out their outfits for prom this spring and walk with pride in their step. The Prom Closet gratefully accepts donations of formal clothing for both men and women!

 

My father passed away 13 years ago, and I only wish I could share this article with him. So much has happened in this time. I want to thank him for the education he gave me, but it is not the undergraduate degree at Boston University nor the Master’s degree at Sotheby’s that I am referring to.  

It is the ability to live anywhere in the world and be comfortable, to be resilient, to be kind and compassionate, and to be grateful for the things one has, while always remembering to help others who have less. For that education, I have the deepest gratitude in my heart.

 

I hope to see many of you around Bermuda Run as George and I take one of our pups out for a walk!