All posts by Unique Homes Staff

Storage that Inspires

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Whether you’re organizing that shoe collection that keeps on growing, displaying your endless accessories, or if you’re striving for a clean, minimalist style and feel, a little extra storage never hurt. Even pricey and luxurious apartments in places such as New York City aren’t offering much space. 

Get inspired with these storage tips and find the perfect place for everything in your home.

Photo courtesy of Lola & Mawu

Photo courtesy of Lola & Mawu

Be bold and embrace your own style. Even if you are working toward a more neutral style with clean lines, it’s okay to introduce a few pops of color. Your storage is the perfect place to try new color schemes and patterns because they are easy to switch out and adjust with your growing taste and the changing seasons.

Portable, movable storage is the best kind of storage. The convenience of wheels should never be overlooked. If you’re hosting an event, entertaining guests, or simply looking for a fresh feel, storage that can be moved make the process of change seamless. Simply wheel a fun, stylish cart into the next room for all of your storage needs. 

Photo courtesy of Lime Lace

Photo courtesy of Melody Maison

There’s no shame in falling in love with storage space that is not the most functional. A few stacked baskets with a playful touch of fringe is a nice addition to your bedroom or bathroom. The layered look adds complexity and style to your room, and it can still be functional for small items and accessories.

When in doubt, try under the bed. The space below your bed was made for storing blankets, shoes, winter sweaters and more. Built-in storage is even less noticeable under your bed and ensures that you’ll always have a little extra room to stash your bulkier items or less used items. These clever built-in draws will help clean up any bedroom.

Photo courtesy of The French Bedroom Co.

Photos courtesy of Melody Maison

Multi-functional is never a bad thing. Side tables, ottomans, benches, and other furniture that offer a hidden storage section is a dream come true. Forget searching for bulky storage options that take up space and ruin your decor. Find a charming side table that serves as a storage unit to declutter any room. 

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Renowned Chef Gastón Acurio is Joining Atlantis, Dubai, in 2020

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One of the world’s leading Peruvian restaurants, La Mar, by renowned chef Gastón Acurio, is announced as the latest culinary addition to The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, set to open late 2020. 

 

 

 

Celebrating the authentic and diverse flavors of Peruvian gastronomy, the restaurant’s contemporary design and elegant interior will provide the perfect backdrop for La Mar’s signature ceviche, freshly grilled anticuchos and pisco-led cocktails.

Renowned for his daring experiments using local ingredients, techniques and recipes, Acurio’s flagship restaurant won the No.1 spot on the inaugural Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013 and has held a place on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2011.

Now with over 50 restaurants worldwide, including three in America, Acurio has won the hearts and stomachs of worldwide food lovers with his unparalleled ceviche, unique Peking-style guinea pig pancake, and desserts inspired by his childhood. In 2018 Acurio was awarded The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award, regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades in the world of gastronomy.

Located at mezzanine lobby level in The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences, La Mar by Gastón Acurio will be the first traditional cebichería in Dubai, welcoming guests to an intimate space devoted to the South American tradition of ceviche and pisco sour. With a casual elegance and easy-going vibe, the signature features of La Mar will include an open kitchen, ceviche bar and an anticucho grill, where Acurio’s team of expert chefs will prepare marinated fish as well as tiraditos, causas and marinated anticucho skewers.

 

Inspired by the design of a ‘Fisherman’s Wharf’, guests will be greeted with a high cane ceiling upon entry with natural light spilling in from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Palm Island via a large open terrace. Natural materials such as iron, cement, wood and stone complement a warm color palette of marine blues, green, sandy grey and beige evoking a sense of the ocean at every turn. Handcrafted and locally sourced tableware will emulate rock, coral, the seabed and shimmering fish scales.

“Dubai is perhaps one of the cities with the greatest gastronomic activity in the world. The best restaurants and the most renowned chefs can be found in Dubai sharing their proposals and concepts with cosmopolitan diners who value and enjoy gastronomy as an activity that unites people and cultures.” — Gastón Acurio.

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Featured Agent: Eugenia C. Foxworth of Foxworth Realty

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Eugenia C. Foxworth

Foxworth Realty

1524 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 2 New York, NY 10031

212.268.4902 | 212.268.4903 | eugenia@foxworthrealtyonline.com | www.foxworthrealtyonline.com

Eugenia C. Foxworth, Owner/Broker of Foxworth Realty, opened this unique real estate boutique real estate brokerage company in September 2008 in New York City.  During this time, she grew as others closed. Foxworth Realty is local, national and global, specializing in exceptional residential properties for sale and rent in Manhattan, Riverdale, New York, Brooklyn and leisure properties internationally.  Eugenia is known for being out of the box, not having borders and getting the deal done. The office is located in the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the NYWCC Board of Directors.

Foxworth Realty is a member of NAR, REBNY, NYSAR, HGAR.

Ms. Foxworth is a CIPS (International Property Specialist), certified NYRS (New York Residential Specialist), FIREC (International Real Estate Consultant) and is certified as an MWBE with NYC and NYS.

She became an active member of FIABCI-USA (International Federation of Real Estate) in 2003. FIABCI is in 65 countries and the organization has a non-governmental affiliation with the United Nations and is celebrating its 70th Anniversary.  It is Global, Local and Connected!  In 2005 she was elected as the FIABCI-USA’s Local Council president for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and served for 18 months.  She was the first African-American to be elected in 65 years as a Vice-President of the Americas with FIABCI-ORG. In May 2019, she began her term as the first Vice President of the Executive Board of Directors for FIABCI-USA.

In April of 2019, she was recognized as a “Woman of Courage” and received an award from the Harlem Community News and Health First. She also received a Citation from the New York State Assembly District 70th, Assembly Member, Inez E. Dickens and a Certificate of Appreciation from Gale A. Brewer, the Manhattan Borough President in Recognition for her dedication and service to the Harlem community.

She has established a reputation throughout for her leadership, passion for her real estate profession and the community.

 

Listing by Eugenia C. Foxworth

ELMSFORD, NY

Lovely renovated 9-room ranch-style family home, perfectly sited on .69 of an acre in a cul-de-sac offering privacy and the ultimate in suburban living. There are 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2,175 square feet of 1st-floor living space. The renovated basement living space is 2,175 square feet. Also enjoy the 2-car garage and sun deck.

Each room has a view of the well-manicured grounds with majestic trees and seasonal flora surrounding the home. Features include walls of windows, a handsome gas fireplace in the living room, master bedroom with en suite marble bath, wood floors throughout, marble flooring in the basement, sliding glass doors, stainless steel appliances, formal dining room, Jacuzzi, den, laundry, office, tankless hot water heater and high-speed internet.

The home is adjacent to the pristine grounds of the exquisite Knollwood Country Golf Club, that originated in 1894 and remained on the original site. The Club has completed a $1.5 million 18-hole golf course restoration. Become a member of the Club and enjoy the swimming pool, tennis courts, luxury cuisine from a famous chef, lounge, pro gold shop, Bocce courts and stone walking bridges. $950,000

 

Eugenia C. Foxworth originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition. 

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Pimar Wins Award for Restoration of Ancient Italian Walls

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For those looking to travel to Italy this summer, make sure to visit the town of Lecce in the country’s southern Apulia region. Filled with gorgeous cathedrals and historical sites, the city has an “oOld-w World” feel to it — especially now that the Parco delle Mure Urbiche, the city’s ancient walls, have now been restored.

The Italian limestone manufacturing company Pimar recently won first-place for its restoration of Parco delle Mure Urbiche in the city of Lecce during the City Brand & Tourism Landscape Symposium on June 20, 2019.

In the restoration of the ancient city walls located in Lecce, Pimar collaborated with architect Patrizia Erroi from the Historic Center Office of the city of Lecce. Both aimed to enhance the value of an archaeological area in a harmonious relationship with the landscape, while making it fully accessible to the public.

The international design recognition is promoted by the National Board of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservation Architect and International Magazine PAYSAGE TOPSCAPE, in collaboration with the Milan Triennial, which hosted the inauguration ceremony its Hall of Honour.

Within the framework of the rehabilitation of urban space, Pimar stood out for being a “well thought-out requalification project focusing on the restoration of the historic city walls, which unveiled an unprecedented scenery in Lecce.”

The restoration of the Mura Urbiche made exclusive use of Pimar natural stone. Thanks to the restoration works, the walls are now perceived — together with the moat and the rock outcropping unearthed by the archaeological dig — as a single stone landscape having intrinsic figurative and formal qualities. The restoration work performed on the 16th century fortress also brought to light a Roman road, dating to between the 2nd and the 3rd century BC, which continued to be used until the 16th century.

The detailed and laborious process granted Pimar the first-place award at the symposium. With this recognition, the association reasserted its commitment to the promotion and development of landscape architecture on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the first course of studies in Landscape Architecture.

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Property Spotlight: N3 Cattle Company

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For the nature lovers and equestrians alike, the iconic N3 Cattle Company — the largest land offering in the state of California — is back on the market. Featured in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and more, the ranch sustains a vital way of life that is disappearing from the California landscape. 

The $72 million dollar property has 50,500 completely private acres that have been uniquely preserved over the years. With over 80 square miles of flora, fauna and terrains, the property is a nature lover’s dream. Its location — just south of Livermore, east of Oakland and San Jose, and easily accessible from San Francisco and the East Bay — creates the perfect balance for the owner to enjoy the serene property while also visiting the bustling city life as well.

The Ranch is completely private and uniquely preserved, healthy and wild as it has been for hundreds of years. N3 has been a working cattle ranch for 85 years and offers a rare look at a way of life quickly disappearing. 

With four bedrooms in the main home, a one-bedroom annex and four homes for employee housing, one can live comfortably and luxuriously on the thousands of acres around them that are filled with nature and beauty.

Here are some more features of the property:

80 square miles of diverse terrains, flora, fauna, and important watersheds and creeks

200 miles of private roads that are ready for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and ATVing

Can accommodate 650 cow/calf pairs year-round, 1500 cow/calf pairs seasonally or 3,200 stockers seasonally

14 hunting camps located throughout all with cabins, water, propane, & skinning sheds

Enrolled in Williamson Act and has no conservation easements

Photos courtesy of California Outdoor Properties

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California Is Calling!

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887 Flintridge Ave, La Canada Flintridge, California

 

California is calling! Are you looking for the perfect home for you and your family? 10 minutes from downtown Pasadena, this home is located near some of the most popular eateries and shops in LA County. 

This absolutely exquisite Spanish Colonial Revival estate is located in the heart of Flintridge, California. The home is listed for $6,195,000 by Rochelle Maize, the executive director of the luxury estate division at Nourmand & Associates. The stunning estate combines a mixture of styles and unforgettable details that comes together to create a dream-like home in the ideal location. 

$6,195,000 * 6 Bedrooms * 7 Baths * 9,386 Square Feet

Interior

The home’s interior is a blend of modern and traditional finishes that will make this your new favorite place to entertain guests or relax on a quiet afternoon.

Features include: prohibition-era walls, 2 separate basements, a 3-car garage and an updated grand master suite, with 2 walk-in closets, a spacious shower stall and soaking tub. Enjoy the property’s modernized kitchen, highlighted by original Batchelder tiles, which lead you to the grand living room with its unique and imposing 12-foot fireplace.

Exterior

The home is nestled at the base of the Angeles National Forest, situated on nearly 2 acres of park-like, flat land originally owned by former Senator Frank Putnam Flint. Enjoy limitless patio area for gracious indoor-outdoor entertaining year round and an elegant, flower-lined pool and picturesque landscaping.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Barcelona

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Featured Property: Tranquility in a Connecticut Cottage

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Nancy Dolan & Lynn Dolan

William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

251 Main Street, Southport, CT 06890

(203) 258-2303 | (818) 620-0554 | ndolan@williampitt.com | ldolan@williampitt.com

Nancy M. Dolan and Lynn Dolan are top producers in Connecticut’s Fairfield, Southport, and Westport markets. They are with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in the Southport Harbor Office. Nancy’s 30+ years of experience and membership in many professional real estate organizations, as well as her appearance in Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, contribute to her success. “Be considerate, flexible, honest, and genuinely caring at all times. I love what I do!” Experience is our best asset!

Listings by Nancy Dolan & Lynn Dolan

COTSWOLD COTTAGE 

 

Gardens, terraces and panoramic views surround this English Cottage. Built in 1914 and completely renovated in 2016-17 incorporating exceptional top-of-the-line materials/mechanicals while maintaining its charm. Set high on Sasco Hill, it offers views of Southport Harbor, the golf course and Long Island Sound from all rooms.

$2,495,000.

 

 

Nancy Dolan & Lynn Dolan originally appeared as Elite agents in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition. See their page here.

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Engineers of Emotions

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Running completely on electricity, the Mirage Air is elevating the standard of eco-friendly yachts.

 For those with a heart for being eco-friendly, renowned yacht builder Frauscher Shipyard has launched a sleek, silent, electric version of its 740 Mirage Air powered by Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 100i. 

Owners can cruise silently at 10 km/h for more than 10 hours, appreciating both the natural world and the yacht’s spacious, centre-console layout, distinctive design and extraordinary quality. 

The fully electric 740 Mirage Air further enhances tradition with innovation, high-tech features and eco-friendliness. Installed with a Deep Blue 100 kW electric inboard motor and two lithium batteries with BMW technology (i3-type), the 740 Mirage Air is the ideal day cruiser.

“At Frauscher Shipyard, we see ourselves as ‘Engineers of Emotions,’ and we always want the owners of our boats to have a great time on the water. With the powerful 100 kW drive system, we are entering an entirely new dimension of electric mobility on the water,” says Frauscher Shipyard’s managing partner Stefan Frauscher.

The 7.47-meter yacht was designed by studio KISKA and Thomas Gerzer, alongside hydrodynamic expert Harry Miesbauer. Although the dynamic lines are suggestive of luxury car design, inside you’ll find all the comforts one could desire: a silent, environmentally friendly electric drive, refrigerated compartment, high-tech yet easy-to-use controls and displays, large sunbathing area, electric windlass, and a bow thruster for foolproof docking.

 

 

 

The whisper-quiet engine used in the Frauscher 740 Mirage Air is specifically designed and constructed to power planing motorboats. The system’s reliable and easy-to-maintain design delivers extraordinary performance at its full power range, with up to 2,400 rpm and incredible torque delivered at low rpm.

 

The 40 kWh Deep Blue batteries installed in the 740 Mirage Air bring the latest in automotive-grade lithium-ion technology from the famed motor works of BMW. The batteries feature industry-leading energy density and a comprehensive safety system. Torqeedo has tailored the characteristics of the Deep Blue battery to make it suitable for the marine environment and is offering up to a nine-year limited battery capacity warranty.

 

 

“The Frauscher 740 Mirage Air provides a quiet and powerful luxury yachting experience for boats that operate in sensitive areas and those with a heart for nature,” says Torqeedo CEO Christoph Ballin. “With an industrially engineered, fully integrated electric drive system and the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Frauscher Shipyard, this electric yacht will attract the eye of discerning owners worldwide.”

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Christian Brecheis

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Inspired by Surprise: Italian Design Firm Spagnulo & Partners

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Based in Milan, Spagnulo & Partners has been one of the forerunners of architecture and luxury interior design not only in Italy but throughout the world. Federico Spagnulo, the founder and senior partner of the firm, shared his insights on the recent trends in design and his experience in the industry.

Where are you from and where did you learn design?

I was born in Milan where I studied by the Politecnico, University of Architecture. I also lived in Berlin in the 90s and worked by the architectural office Steinebach & Weber.

What is your style, and what makes you stand out among other designers?

We have a tailored approach to the Interior Design Project. In our mind, every project should be different depending on the aim of the place, the cultural context and the client’s needs. Like a tailor, I love to customize our projects and to face them as it was the first time. Thanks to this approach, the style is shared on each new project, changing every time to create a unique and custom-made experience.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a designer?

My father was an artist. He taught me and my brother, our art director, that the only way to be really free is simply to love our job. To be an architect is fantastic.

What are some recurring trends that you are seeing in 2019?

The most important new trends are some subject matters which are not strictly referred to the architectural and design world. A lot of influence is, for instance, coming from the contemporary art experience and from the cultural aspects related to India, China, Russia etc. That’s why I consider the real new trend in our job as the capacity to hear and to watch what’s coming from the outside world.

The real new trend in our job as the capacity to hear and to watch what’s coming from the outside world.

— Federico Spagnulo

What 2019 trends surprise you the most and why?

The last exhibition of Marina Abramovic in Florence. The courage to provoke a new way of thinking is always a generator of a concept. It doesn’t matter if positive or negative, but it’s always in the direction of a new beginning.

What are you working on right now?

We are involved in two new 5-star hotel projects in Dubai with 200 rooms and Doha with 300 rooms. We are also involved in the restoration of one of the most important antique palaces in Florence, Palazzo Portinari Salviati, which will be completely transformed into a luxury residence with about 40 flats. We are involved in a new architectural project of 110,000 square meters for a co-living house, offices, 3 theaters and vertical farms in Taipei, Taiwan; two new fine dining restaurants in London; two Villas on the Como Lake, and in Tuscany.

What is the most challenging part of your job and why?

To respect the client’s needs and expectations within the cultural and styling choices coming from the aim of the place where the project is located. I don’t like to continually propose the same approach to our projects, as we always work in different places and situations. This means that every time we start from scratch to invent a new story.  

What does Italian design mean to you?

Just three important elements: hundreds of years of history; an incredible capacity of workers, artisans and small companies; and good architects able to talk with the first two elements and understanding that that alone it is not possible to reach good results. 

Explain your process when beginning a new project.

We always start from the place and from the cultural aspects of where we are working. This analysis is combined with the client’s requests and becomes a concept that contains the strategic, cultural styling and practical elements that are the main pillars of the entire project. We spend a lot of time and effort on this phase, providing sketches, stories, videos, materials, music, samples and all that is necessary to create the right starting point for all the rest.

What inspires you?

If you are able to hear and watch what is outside from your usual context, it will be possible to catch real unexpected suggestions. The real inspiration, for me, is the surprise. 

Photos courtesy of Spagnulo & Partners

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Featured Property: The Revitalized Spanish Winery Home

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Engel & Völkers | Mallorca West

Archiduque Luis Salvador, 1, E-07179 Deià, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

+34.971.636.363 | deia@engelvoelkers.com | www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca-westcoast

On Mallorca, the West Coast where the Sierra de Tramuntana is located has recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, remains one of the most authentic and sought after areas of the island. The Engel & Völkers real estate team will be pleased to present you with the best properties in this region, both those seeking a second home for the summer and those who have decided to reside here permanently.

Listings by Engel & Völkers | Mallorca West

A GEM ON THE WEST COAST OF THE TRAMUNTANA 

 

IThe origins of this extraordinary estate date back to the 13th century. In 1983, the former winery was awakened from its slumber. The impressive entrance hall leads into the living room with its imposing archways ­— a spacious, luminous room was created. There is an open-plan studio area with a dining and a conference table, a gallery and a library. On the ground floor, there is also the Majorcan-style, fully fitted kitchen and on the same level as a charming covered terrace. On this floor, there is also a cozy guest wing with a private terrace with sea views. The entire 1st floor accommodates 5 bedrooms with private baths. There is so much to say about this extraordinary property ­— only a personal impression will convey the true atmosphere. This is a unique, premium home in the Sierra de Tramuntana, which must be viewed.

E&V ID W-02BEEL. €16,500,000.

 

 

Engel & Völkers | Mallorca West originally appeared as an Elite company in the Unique Homes Spring ’19: Elite edition. See their page here.

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