All posts by Mia Ingui

HGTV Crowns Best Historic Home of 2018

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HGTV’s wildly popular online contest, the Ultimate House Hunt 2018, has come to a close, with the 86 finalists from 13 countries receiving more than 880,000 votes. Houses were divided into several categories, included waterfront homes, amazing kitchens and modern masterpieces.   The winner of the contest overall is an incredible oceanfront villa in Sardinia, but there were several standouts from the other categories. Take the winner of the historic category, for example. The 1834 Robert Smalls House, located in the historic district of Beaufort, South Carolina, has all the quaint charm of the past, with its two-story wide front porches and lush gardens.
The Smalls House is the epitome of a southern plantation home, nestled in a half-acre of land with a long history. Smalls was born a slave in 1839, but in the Civil War, Smalls actually gained his freedom: by impersonating the captain of a Confederate transport ship and sailing straight into the arms of the Union Navy. Though a hero in the North, Smalls was nothing but a traitor in the South, and so Smalls returned to Beaufort post-war. His former home was deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
The Smalls House, surrounded by the Beaufort River, is located next to the city’s business district. The 4,264-square-foot, three-level house includes four bedrooms and three baths. Formal living and dining rooms mirror the traditional feel of the house, with family rooms and chef’s kitchen at the rear of the home. The second level has two bedrooms, as does the first level, which also has an office/music room. A family room with beamed ceilings and French doors opens to the rear garden, with lush plants reflecting detailed design. The 1834 Robert Smalls House was listed for sale at $1.49 million, and is now under contract.

Photos courtesy of TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

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Killing the Cubicle: Q&A with ‘White Space’ CEO

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White Space, an innovative service customizing interiors for commercial and office spaces worldwide, is redefining the office experience one space at a time. We spoke to Aytan Litwin, the founder and CEO of White Space, on his favorite projects and vision for the company’s future.
What was the inspiration for you to start White Space?
Over a decade in the furniture business led me to a simple conclusion: The furniture industry needed to be reinvented.  It was dominated by legacy players who were doing the same things for generations, while the hospitality industry was changing dramatically. Hotels and other public spaces were turning into immersive experiences where design and style statements mattered more than ever.  But when it came to furniture, the big players were unable to deliver the quality, speed, and responsiveness that this new world demanded within hospitality players’ budgets.

So, I created White Space to fill this void.

At the heart of our model is a new infrastructure that delivers a custom-built supply chain for every project. We work with — and manage — the factory best suited for the task, no matter where in the world it’s located. This is the big change the industry needed — the ability to manufacture the highest quality furniture, casework, lighting fixtures and flooring with scale, efficiency, and attention to detail.

To put it another way, my inspiration for starting White Space was identifying that there was a white space in my industry — a gap that we could successfully fill.

 

 

What is the big change you’re bringing to office spaces?
We’re eliminating the false choice that existed in the market: that you have to choose between quality and affordability, or creativity and efficiency. Buyers and purchasers of all kinds were resigned to picking out generic furniture from a catalogue, because that’s the way it had always been. Now no one has to make that choice.

Can you share a brief history of White Space?
It really started with the epiphany described above, and the realization that I had the experience to start a company like this. I knew the strengths and weaknesses of so many factories around the world — and I had cultivated the professional connections and knew the projects I brought them would get the focus and effort they deserved.

Those connections also mean that we can bring our own quality-control teams on site: they’re there at every stage of the production process to make sure we’re delivering exactly on our clients’ specs. Because of our ability to deliver the highest quality on time, within budget and at scale, we’ve been able to mature very quickly and work with some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry — from Disney to the Ritz-Carlton.

 

What are some of your favorite projects?
One of my favorite projects is the work we did for the Nakoma Lodge. I feel particularly proud of this — not only because it came out so well, but because it is an honor to be associated with a Frank Lloyd Wright design. That we were able to successfully and seamlessly extend his aesthetic speaks to the power of the system we’ve built, to fully realize even the most complicated and nuanced of visions.

Also, I feel very proud of the work we did with WeWork to open their Tel Aviv flagship. They are clearly changing the workplace and it’s a thrill to be part of that change. They also have high standards and a sophisticated vision for their brand, that’s always extended to the spaces they design, so it was extremely gratifying that they chose us. It’s also always fun to work on such a cool, trend-setting project.

 

How is White Space innovating office spaces today?
We’re helping to kill the cubicle — and more broadly, the fluorescent-lit, colorless, isolated environments that employees were almost universally forced to work in a few years ago. A lot of modern corporate offices are taking cues from the hospitality industry, surprisingly enough: the shared spaces that encourage socialization and collaboration are increasingly a focal point in corporate office design, as we come to realize that happy, healthy employees who actually like each other end up more productive. People do more when work when it doesn’t feel like work — and creating that vibe and work ethic starts with the physical environment. It’s the main reason people come to us to make their offices feel less like offices.

 

What are your future aspirations for White Space?
I aspire to continue to expand globally, both within the hospitality industry and within adjacent industries, including co-working spaces. We want to continue to work with creative brands who have expansive visions, and with designers that share these qualities. We’re here to support anyone who has an envelope they want to push.

The system we’ve created is agnostic to the project, and we want to work with people who’ve been boxed in by their previous vendors, that couldn’t deliver as fast and as fully as we can. We help those companies compete through innovative design. Design is a true competitive advantage today.

 

Photos courtesy of White Space

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Park Slope’s Newest Rental, No.223, Launches Leasing

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Greystone Development, a New York-based real estate development company, has commenced leasing at No. 223, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with leasing and marketing handled by MNS. 

Situated near the Union Street MTA station, above Starbucks and next door to Blink fitness, this modern, 13-story building adds 63 meticulously designed rental units, from studios to two bedrooms, to this vibrant neighborhood.

Daniel Goldner Architects, an award-winning firm based in Chelsea, New York, envisioned this truly unique property, one that celebrates the existing red brick architecture in the neighborhood by incorporating the material into a contemporary context. This same consideration to detail is further demonstrated within the property.

The layouts are carefully crafted to optimize light and air. The upper levels of the building are partially set back to create terraces and dual exposures in the living rooms and master bedrooms and introduce a seamless transition between the interior and exterior. The well-planned layouts also maximize usable square footage, allowing for the inclusion of in-home washers and dryers and ample storage including walk-in closets in most units. With an abundance of building amenities, residents may find themselves not wanting to leave home. Building features include: virtual doorman, part-time attended lobby, a double-height resident’s lounge with a designated chef’s kitchen, landscaped roof deck, and bicycle storage.

“This project has been an incredibly fulfilling process from the start,” said Thomas Ryan, Head of Greystone Development. “Our goal was to give this community a residential development that complements the adjacent landmark and contributes to this area’s vibrancy and activity. We are thrilled to see our vision come to fruition.”

Residents of No. 223 will enjoy, on average, 900 square feet in each unit, and approximate rents starting at net effective $2,315. No.223 is centrally located by many popular restaurants and businesses including Whole Foods, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, Brooklyn Boulders, Pig Beach, Blink Fitness, Dinosaur BBQ, and 5th Avenue boutiques.

 

Photos courtesy of Paperfarm

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Inside Rob Lowe’s California Estate, Now for Sale

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Heart-throb actor of screen and television Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl listed their estate in Montecito, California for $47 million in July, and are still awaiting a lucky buyer.

Located in a star-studded neighborhood, whoever buys this home will be living among some of the world’s biggest stars, including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Montecito is a much-favored retreat from the hectic world of TV and film, located 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Montecito boasts spectacular hillside views, nearby whale watching and beautiful weather.

 

Reminiscent of the country estates in Charlottesville, Virginia where he was born, Rob Lowe and his wife recreated a classic East Coast-style estate, a stand-out from the typical Mediterranean architecture of the area, on the market at $47 million. On a little over three acres, the main house of the estate was designed by architect Don Nulty, built in 2009, and is 10,000 square feet.

Included on the grounds are the two-bedroom guest house, one-bedroom pool house with staff quarters and outdoor kitchen, pool and spa, tennis court with observation areas and lushly landscaped lawns, large enough for team sports with mature trees and a vegetable garden. There are two outside fireplaces and terraces for relaxing or entertaining, a water serenade from fountains, and a koi pond. From most any location, one can enjoy sunsets over the Pacific.

Inside the main house are 20 rooms: a huge family kitchen, separate catering kitchen, eight bedrooms, eleven baths, office, library-music room with bar, family room, various conversation rooms and nooks, movie theater, a well-equipped gym and expansive wine cellar.

 

Now 54, Lowe had a busy career in both film and television, yet is still lighting up the screens. At age 19, he starred in the hit movie “The Outsiders. Binge-watch him today in “The West Wing” reruns.

Photos courtesy of TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

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Sub-Zero, Wolf, And Cove Launch New Showroom In Miami

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The 7,500-square-foot designer space features more than 135 premium Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove products and illustrates product innovation with unique culinary experiences

Now on display in the heart of the Miami Design District, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove open their newest showroom, which showcases premium refrigeration, wine preservation, cooking equipment, and luxury dishwashing.

 

At the center of the showroom is a 780-square-foot demonstration kitchen with 20 active appliances, allowing guests to test out the products’ features and functionalities. The showroom will host an ongoing calendar of programming spearheaded by showroom manager Barbara Barnes and culinary experiences led by executive chef Alex Diaz.

The showroom’s arrival highlights the growing sophistication of the culinary scene in South Florida, providing the company with an immersive experience center to serve the Florida, Caribbean and Latin American design communities, and will welcome consumers, designers, distributors and culinary talent. The Miami showroom is one of 60 exclusive showrooms across the globe in preeminent hubs for luxury design including Manhattan, Costa Mesa, London, Hong Kong and Cannes.

“We are so pleased to open our newest showroom in Miami, and to bring such a broad range of products to this important market. We chose the Miami Design District as the location because of the neighborhood’s commitment to supporting great design, architecture and culinary experiences,” said president and CEO of Sub-Zero Group, Inc. Jim Bakke. “We were able to imagine and build a space that allows us to welcome, educate and host groups and individuals who want to experience the quality and innovation of our products.”

A third-generation, family-owned company, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances have been continuously designed, tested and manufactured using premium grade materials in Madison, Wisconsin for more than 70 years. Developed with and for the design community, the products offer limitless design possibilities and are engineered to last more than 20 years. As a result, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove products are widely known for superior craftsmanship, reliability and longevity. With the opening of the Miami showroom, the company now has 35 dedicated showrooms in the U.S. and 60 worldwide.

Photos courtesy of Sub-Zero Group, Inc.

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TV Producer Begins Global Expedition

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TV Producer Rachael Jerahian plans to visit all 50 U.S. states along with every sovereign nation, and that is just the beginning.

Regardless of sex or financial status, Rachael Jerahian wants everyone to overcome their inhibitions and, “embrace exploration:” desire to tour the world and expand horizons without fear of being alone. Being alone is what initially gave Jerahian the strength to begin her travels, and she hasn’t looked back since. “Overcoming tragedy is something everyone faces,” said Jerahian. “Perhaps, it’s because to experience great highs, we have to know how to conquer terrifying lows.”

Acclaimed producer, Jerahian recently announced her intention to complete the first all-inclusive world travel expedition in history. She began her quest in June, and now plans to stop in all 50 U.S. states, travel to each of the 195 sovereign countries of the world, climb each of the seven continents’ highest peaks, and ski the last degree in both the North and South Poles, all while giving back to the many lives she encounters along her way.  

Jerahian, though no stranger to traveling, is embarking on this trip knowing it is to be the most significant one of her life thus far. After suffering the loss of both her parents to cancer by age 30, Jerahian now embraces the cliche to, “live life to the fullest,” and vows not to let life pass her by. Her path across the globe is her way of doing so. Yearning to be a reporter, Jerahian’s story begins in New York City, where she tried her hand in broadcast, until she finally fell in love with production behind the scenes. She now works as a prominent TV producer for multiple networks, including CNN, Food Network, Travel, Discovery, Viceland, PBS, Spike and A&E. After losing her mother to cancer in 2014, Jerahian and her sister planned a trip to clear their minds to Mexico. Jerahian caught the travel bug, returning to the states just to plan out a list of where to go next.

Her global expedition begins in the U.S., in which she plans to drive to all 50 U.S. states, and admits on her blog that this was easier planned than executed. “So… as I began the (daunting) process of mapping out the driving route of the lower 48 states, it quickly became apparent just how difficult this trip was going to be. I knew this would be A LOT of driving for one thing!” She will first head to Alaska, then to her hometown of Los Angeles, then the rest of the states starting in July 2018 and ending tentatively in February 2019. Traveling outside the country comes next, with the first stops being the Middle East and Africa for Jerahian. This leg of the journey is to start in early 2019, according to her blog. When Jerahian will tackle the seven summits and the North and South Pole are still to be decided.

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The Search is On for HGTV’s Ultimate House 2018

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HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt 2018 has teamed up with Luxury Portfolio International for the seventh consecutive year, kicking off the quest to find the ultimate luxury home in several categories, including waterfront homes, curb appeal, homes with history, and more.
Voters browse a list of some of the world’s most luxury homes and vote for their favorites, and then they are officially entered in a $10,000 sweepstakes. Each category features spectacular properties, and these three are just a few examples.

Amazing Kitchens
This kitchen is arguable the most important spot in the home, for gathering to share a meal and making memories cooking alongside loved ones. These state-of-the-art kitchens are nothing short of gourmet and stunning.

Mountain Views Kitchen in Avon, Colorado
$13,750,000
This six-bedroom home has unobstructed views of the mountains from its high-end kitchen.

Farmhouse Kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia
$2,675,000
A kitchen that combines modernity with rustic comfort, the exposed beams, vintage cabinetry and clean marble countertops make for a truly unique kitc

Waterfront Homes
Each property in this category showcases a beautiful waterfront retreat, from Sardinia to to Boca Raton. Some of the properties are:

Seaside Villa in Sardinia, Italy
Price Available Upon Request
The villa is secluded, tranquil, and utterly breathtaking, off of the Costa Smeralda.

Luxury Beach Home in Boca Raton, Florida
$11,500,000
This massive 10,780-square-foot mansion is move-in ready, surrounded by 202 feet of waterfront. 

Modern Masterpieces
These homes were designed without tradition in mind, from the architecture to the finishes.

River Views in Quebec, Canada
$1,245,626
This property provides panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River from all three floors.

Sustainability in Dallas, Texas
$3,500,000
Each element of this home was locally sourced, so homeowners can be sure the environmental impact of this home was minimal.

Photos courtesy of Luxury Portfolio International

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The Future of Luxxu Luxury Lighting

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Luxxu, hitting the market of luxury lighting in 2015, is looking to bring unique Portuguese design to the global market. CEO of Luxxu, João Barros, discusses what is coming next for this brand and why this is a project of which he is proud.

Barros defines Luxxu as a luxury lighting brand, which later expanded into the luxury furniture market. “Today, the brand is separating the two concepts in two different brands, Luxxu Modern Lamps and Luxxu Home,” he said, a huge move for the company.

In a sea of luxury interior design brands, Luxxu is defined by its unique aesthetic. “Thanks to the timeless aesthetic that does not follow trends, the brand is gaining its place in the luxury furniture market,” said Barros.    

Though Luxxu is a very recent brand, it has several defined bestsellers, most coming from the Empire collection. There are several other projects that Barros is very proud Luxxu has completed, from designs in Victoria Secret’s Bali to Four Seasons Beverly Hills.

Luxxu also collaborated with well-known luxury brand Swarovski to incorporate its crystals into some designs. Teaming up with this established brand is great news to Barros. “This exclusive consumer can consider us a trustworthy brand,” he said, “This partnership has a lot of unexplored potential that we will explore for Luxxu Modern Lamps.”

Reaching 3 million euros in sales as of last year, Luxxu’s value is exceptionally high for a new brand. Barros attributes the success to the marketers, the large focus on target markets, and the available customization options for clients. “Hours spent studying of the best strategies to grow in the design world have helped us to bring our unique designs to such an exclusive target,” he said.

In the future, Barros predicts many new releases for both branches of the brand. “In 2020, I foresee that the brand will reach high values in sales very superior to those we hit last year,” Barros said. “I also see in the future of the brand, stores or showrooms fully decorated by Luxxu. The entire Luxxu team sees the brand with a strong position in the luxury market.”

 

Photos courtesy of Luxxu

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The Best Luxury Residences with Space for Soccer

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Soccer is now the third most popular sport in the U.S., and real estate developers are beginning to take notice.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup, the most-watched sporting event in the world, just kicked off in Russia, and all over the globe fans and non-fans alike are getting in the soccer spirit. But the soccer frenzy isn’t just growing with the start of the Cup.
Some properties in New York City are being designed to accommodate residents who play soccer and want to do so without leaving their home, with the inclusion of indoor and outdoor fields, simulators, and more. Here is a round-up of the most lux properties with soccer amenities.

180 East 88th Street

Situated in the Upper East Side’s Carnegie Hill neighborhood, 180 East 88th Street is a condominium inspired by New York during the 1920s-1940s. Featuring 48 graciously-appointed private residences designed and developed by DDG, this is an ideal spot in NYC, including a twist: residents have access to a partially indoor soccer pitch. Residents can feel free to practice their penalty kicks at any time, making this space ideal for soccer lovers.

Waterline Square

Waterline Square is a three-tower development in NYC, intentionally designed with expansive indoor soccer fields. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, Richard Meier & Partners Architects, and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, this waterfront development is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and features 263 luxury condominium residences. The property includes several sports and fitness spaces, specifically an indoor soccer field with lots of turf-playing surface.

Madison Square Park Tower

The 63-story Madison Square Park Tower designed a “Simulator Room,” where residents can play any sport of their choosing virtually, including soccer, without ever leaving the building. Madison Square Park Tower is also the tallest residential building between Midtown and Lower Manhattan at 777 feet.

Missoni Baia

Missoni Baia is certainly suited for soccer super fans who would be ecstatic to share an address with a professional soccer star. This 57-story luxury condominium lies in Miami’s popular Edgewater neighborhood and is home to Miguel Borja, forward for the Brazilian club Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, participating in the FIFA World Cup for 2018 in Russia. Notable features include five swimming pools, including an Olympic-sized lap pool.

Photos courtesy of Noe & Associates with The Boundary, March Made for DDG, missonibaia.com

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Architectural Adventures Across the Globe

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Architectural Adventures, the official travel program of the American Institute of Architects, is home to several immersive tours and travel excursions to many extraordinary architectural structures across the globe. These are a few off of Architectural Adventures’ upcoming lineup, with fascinating tours in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Along the Rhine River
7/4/18 – 7/12/18, starting at $3,195
This cruise sails through the heart of Europe to Germany, France and the Netherlands on an eight-day journey with Architectural Adventures. This tour combines old and new architectural movements by traveling through historical towns, like Breisach and Speyer, to lively cities, like Strasbourg and Amsterdam.
Highlights of this tour include ageless illustrations of European architecture, such as the Freiburg’s Münster (a Gothic cathedral), historical Römerberg in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Notre Dame Cathedral in France, alongside modernities such as the urban design of Amsterdam, also known as the, “Venice of the North.”

Photo courtesy of Sergey Ashmarin / Wiki Commons

Scandinavia
7/27/18- 8/6/18, starting at $3,995
On this 11-day intensive tour, discover the astounding architecture of three Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark and Norway. This journey tours the streets of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo to explore how past architecture meets the present and uncover the rich history of Scandinavia. The tour includes behind-the-scenes access to award-winning opera houses, cultural centers and public spaces to truly delve into the region’s architectural innovations.
Highlights of the tour include the Turning Torso, the tallest building in Scandinavia, National Aquarium Denmark, Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, the Oslo Opera House, and Snøhetta, one of Norway’s largest architectural firms.

Photo courtesy of Benoit Derrier / Wiki Commons

Detroit
9/25/18- 9/29/18, starting at $2,995

Detroit, Michigan, is a major player in architectural innovation for the United States, and has been since the 20th century. History is captured in the architecture of the cityscape, with beautiful 20th-century mansions, Art-Deco skyscrapers, alongside some mid-century modern innovations. This tour follows the Motor City’s architectural revival as well as discuss the works of famous architects like Eliel Saarinen, Daniel Burnham, and Cass Gilbert.
Highlights of this adventure include a private tour of Eero Saarinen’s General Motors Technical Center, the recently restored Fox Theatre and Detroit Opera House, and discusses community renewal with Stephen Vogel, FAIA, distinguished professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Photo courtesy of Corbis

Japan
10/27/18 – 11/8/18, starting at $5,995
Discover the wide range of tradition and modernity within Japanese architecture on this incredible 13-day tour. Move effortlessly from the contemporary innovations of Tokyo to the fascinating traditional culture of Kyoto throughout this tour in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Highlights of this tour include the incredible Nomura Family Residence, a 16th-century castle in Takayama, the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Tokyo National Museum, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the prime place to capture beautiful shots of Mt. Fuji.

Photo courtesy of Franciso Diez / Wiki Commons

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