Luxury Lifestyle

Luxury lifestyle incorporates homes, second homes, travel, food, wine and other luxury indulgences.

La Montage Laguna Beach Sold: Priciest Yet

Montage Laguna Beach
February 1, 2015
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by Roberta Murphy Shattering California state records, Southern Califonia luxury hotel resort La Montage  recently sold foe $360 million–or around $1.4 million per room according to a recent article in the LA Times. Said rooms, by the way, go for around $600 per night each. This purchase price shatters all recent records in California and comes close to matching other pricy sales, which includes the Hotel Del Coronado, which recently sold…

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Luxury Home Digest a Top Travel Blog?

Luxury Homes and Travel
October 20, 2014
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by Roberta Murphy  Imagine my surprise this morning when we   were notified that Luxury Home Digest had   been named a top travel blog in the world– albeit #87 on the list!  Though we’ve written plenty about luxury homes, luxury destinations and favored hotels, more recently we’ve warned about travel to Mexico and Egypt because of political issues and potential dangers to travelers in these locations. And advising our readers to…

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The Luxury of Morphing into a Tree

A forest fed with cremated bodies.
March 27, 2014
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Instead of a cemetery with headstones, imagine a forest full of lush and beautiful trees with birds twittering above…and all fed by the ashes of our relatives. Imagine the power of just one tree. I am personally not offended and have often suggested to sons and family that my eventual remains be fed to the tomato or kale plants in a garden somewhere. Or perhaps a tree. This cremation idea from…

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The Luxury of Breathing

Dust mites on mattress
March 7, 2014
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My Dad Bob Michelson struggled with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder). He, more than almost anyone I know, understood the luxury of breathing. But so do others. Especially those with allergies to dust mites. Long ago, I was holding an open house for a lovely pool home in a gated San Marcos, CA neighborhood. Mid-afternoon, a tall German man walked in and placed a small hygrometer on the dining room…

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The Luxury of Wine on Tap

Wine on Tap
August 27, 2013
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Haven’t heard of wine on tap? If so, you’re not alone. The concept is still foreign to the average beverage connoisseur. In fact, if most people were to walk into their favorite bar or restaurant and notice their wine was being served through a tube, they would do a double-take. However, an increasing number of luxury restaurants and bars across the U.S. are jumping on the trend, and for good…

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The Luxury of a Senior Discount

Senior Discounts
May 22, 2013
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Who doesn’t like a discount when stepping out? Below is a long list of restaurants, stores, grocery chains, airlines , hotels and car rental agencies that offer senior discounts–with minimum qualifying ages ranging from 50 to 65. Many of these discounts are not published or advertised, so you must ask for them. Please print or save this link for future reference, and if you have any corrections or additons, please…

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Taking BMW to the Matte

Matte Gray BMW M3
May 5, 2013
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by Roberta Murphy–I’m not really into the luxury of high maintenance–especially when it comes to cars. But could this this gun metal grey BMW that is otherwise not as the Frozen Gray M3 Coupe be an exception? It’s a sexy, slinky-looking car to be sure, but the exterior maintenance is sure to be a pain. Owners must fill out a special stack of paperwork before taking possession of their new…

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How to Make Your Home Look More Luxurious (Inexpensively)

luxurious
February 17, 2013
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Making Your Home Look Luxurious Without Breaking the Bank When purchasing a home it comes down to price, function and luxury. Most people look for and want as many luxuries as they can get for the right price. In new home purchases, these are often called “upgrades,” and they can run into thousands of dollars. For those who can’t afford a total remodel or who prefer not to spend a…

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The Luxury of a Warm Wood Deck

by Roberta Murphy We once lived in Big Bear Lake and had a redwood-stained deck that meandered as a set of platforms through the pines. During the warm summer months, we would dine outdoors and savor the quiet setting. The only problem with those decks and the harsh winters that buried them in snow is that we had to have them refinished every couple of years. It was no easy…

January 13, 2013
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The Luxury of Expression–and an Audience

Today, I saw two different posts on Facebook from and about two different and unrelated people. Both stopped me in my tracks and had me wondering how much I had missed in life as both an observer–and performer. They are magically and somehow connected, The first is a classic tale, the other a contemporary dance at busy LAX Airport. It doesn’t matter, the free performances are largely ignored by all.

January 10, 2013
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