Archive for the 'Luxury Indulgences' Category
The Luxury Shower (and 5 Tips on How to Create One)
Once upon a time, the lowly shower offered faint competition for the jetted bathtub.
The bathtub was where one went to luxuriate, while the shower was a functional cleanser.
Not any more.
These days the lowly shower is one of the hottest home luxuries in demand. The shower stall might contain a steam shower, a multi-headed storm of warm water, or simply a place to stand under a rainfall of ambient temperature.
More and more, as we tour San Diego luxury homes, we are seeing the shower stall (or room) overtake the once dominant bathtub. And even if the shower stall doesnt have a steam feature, discriminating home buyers will often stand back and scrutinize the possibilities of extending glass walls to the ceiling so that steam features and functionality can be installed.
What are these luxury buyers seeking? They want oversized shower rooms with a tiled seat and multiple shower heads. They also like the possibility of sharing the luxury shower with others.
Hence, dual shower heads are also popular. On busy mornings or playful evenings, it might be necessary, compelling, or just plain fun to shower in toto.
These days, the luxury bathroom is closer to a luxury spa than the tiled bath with sink, toilet and tub of the last century. Owners now want not only the jetted garden tub, but also a high-performance shower system that can deliver calming massage sprays as well as invigorating jets that might awaken the most sleep-starved soul.
And even if a complete shower overhaul is not possible, there are some alternatives and remedies to consider:
- Consider installing a shower arm extension to raise the shower head. Most older homes assumed that nobody in the home stood over 5² 5³ tall.
- If you are considering relining the shower stall, consider alternatives to the traditional tile. How about travertine or other stone products?
- Is it possible to add a second shower head especially if there is a tub and water supply nearby?
- Be sure to locate shower head products that accommodate your local water pressure. The higher the better.
- Want a steam shower? When remodeling the bath, this might be an alternative to consider especially if the glass enclosure and door can be brought to the ceiling.
Other luxurious appointments:
The Self Service Spa (Do it at home?)
Induction-Cooktop for the Luxury Kitchen
Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
SONOS: The Ultimate Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens?
read comments (0)Kinkos: The Ultimate Business Luxury
But that is a blog for another time.
Pat Kitano has just reported some juicy news that should cause luxury readers to jump with bridled glee:
It is now cheaper to have Kinkos copy, collate and staple ones garden club or horse show announcements (.08) than to do the job by ones self (.49).
Lets keep it a secret, but we thinks soknik might have been calculating things backwards.
God catch, Wizard Kitano!
The Timeless Luxury Home
Sometimes you walk into a home, sense both ageless soul and serenity–and can’t help but smile.
We recently listed such an estate in the beautiful hills of Vista, California. Its current and original owners are a spirited and beautiful international opera singer and her dashing husband, a retired professor of art. With loving attention to detail, it seems nothing was missed in the completion of this luxurious 2003 custom home.
When I first walked into the home, I was struck by the use of old and rich colors, antique woods, the graceful wood and iron staircase, and light classical music that filled the rooms.
At first glance, I knew this home would be exceptional.
The gated hilltop setting offers both ocean and mountain views–as well as quiet privacy. The home’s flexible 4000+ sf floorplan has volume ceilings that carry classical music well, a grand foyer, large living and music rooms, multiple dining areas, and a kitchen Alice Waters might envy.
Upstairs, we discover a substantial master suite with an adjoining study, large dressing room and bath, 
spa tub, and large, organized closets. A romantic trellised balcony overlooks both the mountains and ocean horizon, while the two-way fireplace warms both the bedroom and bath areas. Three other large bedrooms and an open bridge complete the upstairs.
The bones of a home may be magnificent, but inspiring beauty comes from surfaces, windows, doors, lighting, amenities, color and textures. I share clients’ enthusiasm when all of these elements come together.
This home lacks nothing and blends all elements well. It has rich Tuscan colors, art niches and unfluted columns. It beautifully blends the use of stone, iron and woods, and offers contemporary conveniences such as central vacuum and a discreet kitchen vent that captures broom sweepings.
Outdoors is a large covered patio, lawn, gardens and small acreage for hobbies, horses or arborists.
I have often thought that equestrian homeowners in Poway, Rancho Santa Fe and Fallbrook who were displaced by the recent San Diego fires might find this property of interest.
Located on highly-desired Elevado Street in Vista, this estate is reasonably offered at $1.5 million by owners who are anxious to retire in Crete.
We intend to help them accomplish this dream–and look forward to having terrific clients in such a wonderful corner of the world.
Interactive Luxury Home Surfaces?
Much has been written and said about Microsoft’s new surface computing technology.
It is the WOW technology of the year. Sooner than many of us thought possible, this technology will first become a defining feature in luxury homes, and as adoption increases and prices drop, it will likely appear as a builder option in many tract subdivisions.
Imagine interactive coffee tables that wirelessly download photos from your digital camera. Or how about kitchen counters that come to life with not only recipes and schedules–but may also allow you to order groceries, pizzas or Chinese carry-out and pay for it all by laying your credit card on the counter.
Expect to see early adoption of this technology not in luxury homes, but in bars and restaurants.
The possibilities will stagger the imagination.
Luxe Rocks for Luxury Homes
Leave it to Italian designers to create the ultimate in luxury rocks for exterior lightscaping.
These remarkable lighted rocks by Oluce look as if they might have been swiped from the lawn of a distant planet. In reality, though, they were created by Italian designers Marta Laudani and Marco Romanelli with Massimo Noceto. Made from weather-tested polyethelene, these lighted Oluce stones glow with the aid of a screw-in fluorescent bulb.
Dont expect to find these luxe rocks in your local hardware or lighting store though. They are available by special order and then only in œlarge quantities whatever that means. The good news? The price has just been reduced from $513.50 to just $316.00 each. Such a deal!
I hope to seem some of these luminous beauties in San Diego’s luxury homes before too long.
For additional information, you may call ylighting at 866.428.9289 (This is an unpaid, unexpected and unsolicited commercial
)
I wonder if these lighted rocks would attract bugs???
Other fun and imaginative luxuries for the luxury home:
D. Porthault Sheets and Linens
As well as other recent luxury reads:
The Snoring Room
The Self Service Spa (Do it at home?)
Long-Lasting Roses
Induction-Cooktop for the Luxury Kitchen
Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath
How to Hide the Bedroom TV
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
SONOS: The Ultimate Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens?
The Overflowing Infinity Tub
Wine Storage for Oenophiles
The Illuminated Bathtub
Wireless Home of the Future?
Imagine a world uplugged!
That future has quietly arrived with the first successful resonant transfer of wireless power over a span of seven feet and carrying enough power to brighten a 60W light bulb.
This humble beginning leads ambitious minds to think of a luxurious home where cell phones, laptop computers, lamps, Roombas and even hair dryers would need no cords to operate.
The Genius behind this exciting development is a wizardy team of scientists from MITs Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies.
They call this concept œWiTricity, which should not be confused with radio waves, which transmits information wirelessly and in all directions. WiTricity, on the other hand, involves using coupled resonant objects. In other words (and as I understand it), the transmitter and the receiver would be operating on the same resonant frequency which would not interfere with other wireless devices.
This might also be what separates it from the Tesla Effect, which allows farmers, for example, to gather electricity via coils of wire laid beneath power transmission lines on their property.
Sometimes astounding discoveries have simple beginnings. The initial inspiration for this development came several years ago when MIT Professor Marin Soljacic grew tired of hearing his phone beeping to let him know he had forgotten to charge it and began to wonder about the possibility of a self-charging cell phone.
And isnt that a frustration we have all experienced?
It is fun to imagine the wireless possibilities in homes of the future–and the technology would likely be seen first in the top end luxury home market (Bill Gates or Larry Ellison’s homes perhaps?)
A tip of the top hat to Bob Nagel for the find and to PhysOrg for the reporting.
Luxury Home Management: Ask for the Butler
The Butler is back in demand-and in short supply.
The worlds growing number of plutocrats with their enormous mansions and expansive lifestyles are actively seeking household managers to oversee the care of their luxury homes and lifestyles. These enormous residences require ongoing care, along with coordination of property and grounds service providers ranging from pool service technicians, to dog groomers and trainers, to maids, gardeners and arborists.
Contemporary butlers, or Household Managers as many are called today, are better educated than their historic peers. Todays servant is likely to possess accounting, computer, and technology skills along with knowledge of property maintenance, home entertainment, menus, cooking, clothing care, and the ability to attend to the care of antiques, fine china, silver, art, automobiles, home and personal security, communications and a score of others details.
A college degree might be helpful, as would specific training in Household Management. One of the better-known butler training programs would be that offered by the Starkey International Institute for Household Management in Denver, Colorado.
Benefits of employment in this home management field might include free room and board at the luxury residence, possible travel, and annual salaries that range from around $70,000 to over $200,000.
A tip of the top hat to Robert Frank and The Wall Street Journal.
You may also wish to read:
Variable Range Pricing for Homes
Easy Feng Shui Tips for the Luxury Home
Aviara's Argyle: A Restaurant for Four Seasons
The Argyle Steakhouse at the Aviara Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad, CA has been a favorite with golfers, locals and visitors since it first opened in 1991. The views over Aviaras Arnold Palmer signature course and the beautiful Batiquitos Lagoon provide additional year round ambience to what is already a very wonderful restaurant. Until December, 2006 the Argyle served only breakfasts and lunches.
It is now much more.
The Argyle had long been a personal favorite for leisurely weekend breakfasts and relaxed business lunches. But now, since 
December, 2006, the Argyle has the added disctinction of being the only chop house in Carlsbad serving dinner with views over Aviara golf and Batiquitos Lagoon sunsets. Soft jazz floats through the dining room, furnished with red leather-topped tables complemented with offerings of Hawaiian red sea salt and Laguiole steak knives.
The new evening menu, created by Chef Kurtis Habecker, offers a variety of fine seafood and fowl, with a primary focus of beef from noted sources, including the highly-marbled American version of Kobe beef named Wagyu. Side dishes are delightfully traditional and a wickedly decadent dessert menu is available for the courageous. There is also an extensive complementary wine list.
Lunches range from $12 to $25 and dinners from $25 to $78.
The Argyle at The Four Seasons at Aviara is located at 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad, CA and reservations may be made by calling 760 603 6908.
Luxurious Intuitive Homes
Peering into the future, it is nice to imagine a home that is smart in every sense–and inviting to all.
Sunset Magazine and Popular Science recently team-conceived the Idea House, the House of Innovation , in Alamo, California. This intelligent $5 + million home provides a trajectory of design and technologies that will end up in homes of tomorrow. It is loaded with sustainable materials and innovative ideas. This Idea House has drywall that is paperless and prefinished plank hardwood flooring that locks into place for fast, glueless and nail-free installation.
What do we like best?
- Air quality filtration system systems that filter particles down to one micron.
- Windows that turn translucent with the flip of a switch.
- Wine vault that maintains a bar-scanned inventory of both wines stored and wines comsumed.
- Family Center (just off the kitchen) with informal dining table invites gatherings, homework, projects and snacks.
- Kitchen as a news-gathering center and meeting spot. Web-accessed security monitoring views the entrance path, pool and patio areas. There is a family computer in the corner and a dedicated counter-mounted computer dedicated to foods.ot
- Robotics that vacuum the carpeting, mop the floors and mow the lawn. (Can you say FUN???)
Trends in decor?
- As a counter-balance to the high tech functionality of the home, nature inspired hues dominate throughout. Look for colors ranging from tawny summer yellows to taupey jute to deep sunset purple.
- A return to dining rooms that are visually separated from the kitchen, tied together by dark hand-hewn floors.
- Bringing the outside in and vice versa. Look for enormous glass doors that slide inconspicuously into the wall, turning the great room into an extension of the rear garden. The garden, in turn, offers casual seating and additional room for entertaining.
- In the master suite, look for vanity mirrors mounted above translucent windows to provide for private natural lighting.
It is a worthwhile journey to go through both sites and see for yourself this remarkable home! Unfortunately, it is no longer for sale and has been sold. It was listed by Peggy Cortez with Alain Pinel Realtors and closed just before Thanksgiving to an undisclosed buyer. The 6500 square foot luxury home was offered at a price close to $5.3 million and exchanged hands for an amount reported by the agent to be close to the asking price.
Sleeping under the Stars
by: Roberta Murphy
in the luxury of your own bed and awakening to blue skies and scattered clouds.
Sounds like heaven to me.
And it might be a reality for a luxury camper, or someone clever enough to commission magical artwork from a talented artist such as Rip Read.
Sleeping under the stars is now a possibility because StarMurals Startist, Rip Read, has returned to Southern California from his sojourn in Cabo San Lucas. The only artist in the world creating these amazing effects, Rip has now introduced his new Day & Night murals that are an ideal enhancement to the sleeping area(s) of the luxury home, yacht or one-of-a-kind luxury passenger jet. Or how about bed and breakfasts, childrens rooms and living areas? The possibilities are limitless.
The Day & Night Sky is Rips original design: A beautiful blue sky and clouds by day that transforms to a clear desert or mountain starlit sky that glows subtly all night. The stars are invisible by day (just like the real thing), and then come to life at night with thousands of hand painted stars that bear Rips signature twinkling and movement effects.
All of Rip Reads starry skies have this element of œmovement resulting from his five-dimensional painting process. The results allow one to rest in bed and have that delicious sense that the ceiling has been removed revealing a clear and starry night sky beyond.
Rip Read is a self-taught artist and former entertainer. His enduring fascination with astronomy and art and extensive research into painting technologies, have resulted in a remarkable technique and process that accurately mimics the real night sky as it might be seen in ideal conditions.
Rip Read can be reached, seen and heard via his website or:
Ofc: 310.691.2359
Cell: 310.498.5778
Email: rip@starmurals.com
For additional reading about terrific products, ideas and luxury home finishes, read:
Gotta-Haves for Luxury Homes
The Snoring Room
The Cooktop That Cannot be Ignored
Totally Hide the Bedroom TV
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
Sonos: The Expandable Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens
The Venetian Plaster Master
What is a Luxury Home?