Solar Shades for the Green Luxury Home
Upon first seeing these beautifully-designed solar panels, I couldn’t help but imagine other applications and modifications for the green lifestyle–whether it be in the luxury home, a school yard, a country club or off-the-grid project.
Imagine these cobra-shaped shades as swiveling solar panels that take the place of outdoor umbrellas around the pool. Or as bus stop shelters or airport curbside check-in. The possibilities are endless and scalable.
And these VEIL Solar Shades are interactive to boot. Indicators on the base show which positions will yield the maximum energy collection at given times of the day. And underneath the shade is an LED feedback system that indicates whether the shade is getting enough sunlight or not–and whether the shade should be turned.
Designed by the Australian design firm Büro North and the the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, the VEIL Solar Shades blend form and function elegantly.
Your ideas for implementation?
Tip of the top hat to Josh Spear.
Email Us or call 877-818-8197 or call/text me at 760-402-9101
read comments (1)Troubled Homeowners: Beware the Predators
The real estate predators are always there–in good times and in bad.
There are whispered stories in real estate circles of certain escrow and loan officers who, in the heady days of real estate, slipped deeds into the stacks of papers homeowners were signing as they refinanced their homes. The deed, of course, moved the property into the predator’s claws.
As the Discovery Channel shows, predators will always pick off the unsteady, the not-so-swift and the elderly because the catch is easy and the herd moves on. No different with these criminals.
But you know what’s scary?
The employers of these predators, when or if they discovered the crimes, fired the perps summarily–and kept their collective mouths shut. They didn’t want bad press, they didn’t want exposure, they didn’t want to field the possible litigation that sometimes come from predator attorneys.
It was a criminal catch and release program that spared corporations their reputations and the hassle of potential lawsuits.
As as result, it should surprise none of us that these same real estate criminals (and others who have caught onto their scams) are again preying on unsteady homeowners. This time they disguise themselves as the good guys of real estate, who are out to save stressed homeowners from foreclosure. Their lines and lead-ins go something like this:
I can save your home from foreclosure. I can save your credit. Just sign here.
Other wannabe-predators offer embarrassed and delinquent homeowners the chance to stay in their homes as renters, and then offer to buy them back when circumstances improve. Families can remain in their homes, the kids can stay in school, and neighbors will never know the difference.
The only problem is that the prices at which the homes will be eventually offered back to the former owners may be far above market value.
The true real estate predator will offer to make the foreclosure go away with a simple loan. All the distressed homeowner needs to do is sign on the marked lines (at the bottom of the promissory note and deed of trust)–which means that he and/or she have just signed over the deed to the house. These predators are really good at slipping these critical documents into big stacks of paper that need to be signed in any real estate transaction. If we recall, this is the same tactic these creeps used a few years ago and their targets remain the same: The distressed, the unsteady and the elderly–who also own homes with enough equity or opportunity to make it worth the hunt.
My advice to distressed homeowners? Immediately consult with a reputable real estate professional or attorney before signing anything offered by a real estate problem solver–and remember that the predators wouldn’t be after you if there wasn’t any meat on the target.
Email Us or call 877-818-8197 or call/text me at 760-402-9101
A Call to Luxury Blogs and Bloggers
I love luxury and enjoy reading luxury blogs. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to visit them all to ferret out the latest in luxury news. One solution is to create a luxury blog network that will syndicate content from the best luxury blogs–whether they are focused on bling, luxury travel, luxury real estate, luxury clues, luxury furnishings or just the rich and famous.
The Luxury Blog Network is under current construction with the Domus Consulting gurus, and we are actively seeking top luxury blogs and bloggers who might be interested in participating in this syndication.
Each article written within the participating luxury blog would be published in a truncated fashion, with a link leading back to the original blog article. The goal is to provide one place to check out the latest in luxury news and increase traffic to the participating sites.
If you feel your luxury blog might be a candidate for this venture, please email roberta (at) luxuryhomedigest.com or contact me through this site.
Email Us or call 877-818-8197 or call/text me at 760-402-9101
I attended the Inman Connect event in San Francisco last year and met lots of people I knew only from the real estate blogging world–and others who would become good friends.
Could I resist missing this event, where we can peer over the bloody edge of the envelope and see what’s in store not only for the real estate market, but in the technologies that serve and propel this economic sector?
Not a chance!
I am already calling real estate blogging buddies around the country to see if we can connect at the Connect this summer. The event will be held at the Palace Hotel–where we will be able to peer over the bloody edge of the real estate technology envelope, go to beer blogging events, and take lots of photos.
This may have little to do with Luxury Real Estate, but I hope you enjoy this rare hippie footage with Scott McKenzie singing that classic “If You Come to San Francisco.”
[youtube]
[/youtube]
Email Us or call 877-818-8197 or call/text me at 760-402-9101
Luxury on a Gold-Plated Shoestring
I call Eve Sieminski the Polish Contessa. She loves fine jewelry, expensive hairstylists and fine wine. I don’t know where Eve shops for jewelry or what deal (if any) she strikes with her hairstylist, but we follow her wine recommendations religiously.
You see, the Polish Contessa, has no problem pouring a classless wine down the drain, nor does she hesitate to share her latest finds. One recent jewel was the TBD Zinfandel that is available at Trader Joe’s for (shhhh!) $4.99 a bottle. We tried one bottle and immediately bought a case. It really is that good. But the recommendation comes from Eve, who says:
“This tastes like a $30 bottle of fine Zinfandel that I wouldn’t hesitate to serve at a State Dinner–or to my snootiest clients. It might be good, however, to decant the wine first. The TBD label and name just don’t do justice to what is inside the bottle.”
If you are looking for commentary about hints of raspberry, chocolate finishes or oakey notes, Eve suggests you visit a symphony or read reviews for $80 bottles of wine in Wine Spectator or the like. And while Eve can afford Opus One or perhaps a Chateau Clement Pichon, she takes great pleasure in finding great wines at fabulous prices–and enjoys sharing her conquests.
If you want reviews and inside bargain scoops on fine wines from a true wine lover (instead of a critic), I advise you to stay tuned. Eve has promised to gift our luxey readers with more of her outstanding finds in wine and food. And if you, dear reader, have a recommendation for great wines under $20, Eve promises she (and we?) will try them out and share the results.
Eve’s Bonus Wine Tip: If you don’t have time to property chill your red wine to European room temperature (yes, red wine blossoms with slight chilling), put it in your freezer for 15 minutes (set timer), remove and enjoy.
This will be an irregular column, but we promise to share great wine finds, food discoveries and bonus wine and food tips with our luxury readers as soon as they become available.
What better way to truly enjoy your luxury home with appreciative friends and other oenophiles.
In the meantime, please feel free to share your own!
You may also wish to read:
Email Us or call 877-818-8197 or call/text me at 760-402-9101
