Marlborough Lodge in New Zealand Completes Luxurious Additions

New Zealand’s boutique luxury gem, The Marlborough Lodge, recently completed the property’s third stage of a four-stage renovation. The new additions feature a stand-alone spa, guest entertaining area with a bar, retail store, wine shack and other enhancements.

Just in time for New Zealand’s summer season, the new refurbishments and additions continue to add to the lodge’s unique appeal as a premier luxury lodge in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. One of New Zealand’s newest luxury lodges, The Marlborough Lodge offers the perfect basecamp to discover the bounty of Marlborough, a region rich in culture, nature, food and wine and more.

The Marlborough Lodge’s third stage of renovation centered on converting the on-site 1913 chapel into a small spa, guest entertaining area with bar and retail shop. The renovated chapel measures approximately 592 square feet, and the spa measures approximately 183 square feet. Open seven days a week by appointment, the spa menu focuses on offering massage treatments initially with plans for adding additional wellness treatments including facials, hair masks and other rejuvenation and relaxation treatments based on guests’ needs.

With deep green walls, Moroccan-inspired lighting, candles from New Zealand artisan makers Ashley & Co., and more, the spa interior evokes tranquility from the moment upon entering the room. Angela Dillon, co-owner and managing director of The Marlborough Lodge spearheaded the design and interiors of all the new spaces, taking her inspiration from the variety of textures and colors throughout the main lodge. The refurbished structure has been designed to flow on from the main house and fit with the lodge’s overall aesthetic and theme. Natural tones mix with the original chapel Rimu wood and exposed beams made from 100-year-old kauri wood.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Head Chef Sam Webb oversees the food and beverage offering at the lodge’s The Harvest Restaurant, open to lodge and non-lodge guests. Focusing on fresh, seasonal and locally-sourced produce, Head Chef Webb’s a la carte menus is complemented by a selection of wines with an emphasis on New Zealand, but includes an international selection. Guests can enjoy dining at the Chef’s Bench or taking a tour with the Chef through the lodge’s extensive vegetable and fruit garden, cooking demonstrations and more.

The lodge store carries products made from the Marlborough area working closely with local craftsmen and artisans with items such as bags, caps and clothing designed just for The Marlborough Lodge’s guests, while the new wooden wine shack across the creek offers the perfect space to enjoy private wine tastings from the plethora of extraordinary winemakers in the region.

Photos courtesy of Marlborough Lodge.

January 10, 2019 Leave a comment

Recycling Sunlight for Modern Metropolises

with:Kristen Ordonez

All photos courtesy haberdashery.

As cities grow ever taller, parts of the ground level below become starved of light just like a rainforest floor. Helio Ray, haberdashery’s latest concept, aims to bring the sunshine back in metropolitan areas. The conceptual idea from the London-based design studio is engineered to redirect sunlight from above the skyline and bring it back down the side of buildings.

“Sunlight has a huge effect on our physiology and wellbeing,” explains Ben Rigby, co-founder and creative director. “It influences our circadian rhythms, provides vitamin D and illuminates our environment, bringing the true colour out of the surfaces, architecture and the urban grain. Our ambition was to create a focal point using sunlight in order to reinvigorate areas that had become disenfranchised from the life-affirming effects of the sunshine from way above.”

Mounted on the top of a tall building, Helio Ray is fuelled by light collected from a Heliostat, a mechanized mirrored surface that automatically tracks the sun and gathers it into a concentrated beam. It then abstracts this beam of light when reflecting off a second custom-designed reflector that sends the resulting shafts of light down the side of a building, creating “god ray” effects.

This slow variation in surface provides a slowly evolving pattern of reflected light, whilst perfectly controlling the extremities of the overall light effect so as to only fall on specified building surfaces. The effect comes and goes just like the real sun above, so is a true extension of the actual sun’s reach. It is visible from all surrounding buildings, providing a stunning, calming intervention in juxtaposition to the static, man-made urban grain of most cities.

The studio believes Helio Ray can bring a “sense of wonder and pride back into areas that had evolved into transient spaces lost in shadow, reinventing them as landmark destinations.” Such installations can also help hasten city planning by providing a quicker, less complicated path of incorporating infrastructure projects.

Alternatively, this concept further lends a hand toward haberdashery itself that explores the uses of light and how it can invoke a positive emotional response with the public.

January 9, 2019 Leave a comment

Eye-Popping Furniture for Work

with:Kristen Ordonez

A new line of pop art furniture will brighten your office space.

A result of the extravagant, colorful and recognizable signature of designer Karim Rashid, Hook is the newest collection of modular furnishings by Newform Ufficio designed to instill positivity in the workplace.

“The office space should be comfortable and give inspiration like home, only with less distraction,” says Rashid. “An office should give a sense of freedom, personalization and sharing at the same time.” To reflect these ideals, Rashid’s collection incorporates touches of color, pop art work and simple divisions that create a private environment in line with the parameters of the common work space, making small workrooms obsolete.

The desks are the nerve center of the collection around which all the elements are developed. Each desk can be customized in terms of finishes and colors, and can also include a second, entire or shelf-sized top to store files, small books and/or hide cables. Under the worktop it is possible to insert a second, entire or shelf-sized top, to place diaries, documents or files, but the space also useful for managing and hiding cables. There are also drawers, special modules to insert hard drives, shelf systems and small load bearing shelves to replace thin metal legs. To free the tables from any unnecessary clutter, Rashid and Newform Ufficio have created LED lamps that spread a pleasant ambient light of the entire length of the desk.

To create workstations made up of several desks, a series of translucent screens and side panels allow both privacy and collaboration, as well as open up the space between workspaces. “I believe that the fluid, clean and bright spaces promote an active working life and that an office of this kind will lead to a better and more gritty work in return. My collection for Newform Ufficio embodies this spirit,” Rashid adds.

“Design has been the cultural shaper of our world from the start,” he notes. “We have designed systems, cities and commodities…. Now design is not about solving problems, but about a rigorous beautification of our built environments. Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorially, and emotionally.”

All photos courtesy Newform Ufficio.

December 22, 2018 Leave a comment

Northern California’s Newest Water-Centric Residential Community Under Construction

with:Unique Homes Staff

California’s Northern California Delta region can soon expect a new residential community – Delta Coves, a “wildly water-centric” real estate development in Contra Costa County, is currently under construction.

Aimed at celebrating the laid-back boating lifestyle the Delta is famous for, the project will feature approximately 560 waterfront residences with private boat docks, a 230-slip marina and a private club, the Island Camp, a 4,500-square-foot activity hub, complete with a clubhouse, fitness facilities, pool area, event lawn and a picnic pavilion upon completion. Real estate offerings will comprise four product lines, with 1,800-4,000-square-foot single-family homes ranging from $700,000 to $1.2 million. In conjunction with the completion of the first six model homes, sales will launch in spring 2019.

Delta Coves is situated in a prime location, just four minutes from “fast water” at the gateway to 1,000-plus miles of waterways for unlimited boating, fishing and water sports pursuits. The development is an hour east of San Francisco, an hour northeast of San Jose and Silicon Valley, an hour southeast of Napa and 45 minutes east of Oakland by car. Additionally, BART’s new Antioch Station, which is only eight miles away, will offer easy commutes to future homeowners.

The California Delta is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley at the crossroads of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The American, Mokelumne, Cosumnes and Calaveras Rivers feed into the two major rivers. The Delta flows west through a maze of 57 islands and channels, then on to San Francisco Bay, finally joining the vast Pacific Ocean.

In all, the Delta boasts 57,000 acres of navigable waterways. As the largest freshwater estuary on the West Coast of the Americas, this vital resource supplies fresh water to more than 23 million Californians, provides habitat to hundreds of distinct species of wildlife and sustains hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland that produce about 45 percent of the nation’s fruits and vegetables.

Photos courtesy of Claire Marshall.

December 18, 2018 Leave a comment

Holiday Gifts to Delight Design-Lovers

with:Kristen Ordonez

Horizon 2.0 light by Humanscale. Photo courtesy Humanscale.

Design-minded individuals can often be hard to shop for, as style plays a key role in completing the perfect aesthetic. For the design-lover in your life, below are some masterfully crafted pieces that are bound to make the perfect gift this holiday season.

For the Night Owl:

The Table Torch from the award-winning lighting brand Stickbulb makes a great gift for a minimally minded individual in need of a desk or bedside lamp.

Available in 2-foot- and 3-foot-tall options, these sleek, linear LED module lights are elegantly held in place by a simplistic yet high-quality steel base.

The wooden component is offered in sustainably sourced maple or walnut, reclaimed heart pine, ebonized oak, or reclaimed water tower redwood. The metal base is available in powder coated white, slate grey or matte black, hand-blackened steel, polished nickel or brass, or brushed nickel or brass.

Photo courtesy Stickbulb.

For the Scholar or Entrepreneur:

A champion of well-being in the workplace, Humanscale’s two new task lights, Nova and Horizon 2.0 utilize advanced LED technology for improved comfort, optimal light output and cost-saving energy efficiency. Now ready to order, Nova and Horizon offer a smarter, healthier choice for offices and the environment.

“As the lines between office and home blur, products need to offer functionality paired with simple, clean aesthetics. Nova and Horizon 2.0 are highly versatile LED task lights that combine industry-leading technology with a contemporary yet timeless design,” says Mesve Vardar, director of industrial design at Humanscale.

Perfect for anyone looking to dress up their desk and enhance their wellbeing at work, the N ova task light offers adaptability and comfort in a striking, sculptural form.

Energy Star 2.0 certified, the inventive, ergonomic design protects the eyes against strain, faithfully renders colors and produces a single shadow on a work surface, so the hard worker in your life need no longer complain about a headache after a long day at work.

Humanscale’s new Horizon 2.0 also checks all the boxes for the eco-conscious individual who loves iconic design and technology. Improving upon the prestigious Red-Dot award-winning Horizon task light from Michael McCoy and Peter Stasis (featured in the MoMA permanent collection), Horizon 2.0 implements the latest LED technology to produce its signature, ultra-thin plane of light with greater efficiency.

Energy Star 2.0 certified, Horizon 2.0 uses only healthy, sustainable materials and is available in five vibrant colors: Bronze Gold, Silver, Jet Black, Arctic White, Twilight Blue and Morning Pink.

Photo courtesy Humanscale.

For the Drink Enthusiast:

True’s Undercounter Beverage Dispenser is ideal for person who appreciates a perfect beer pour. Handcrafted to specifically dispense the perfect draft pour, the company’s advanced airflow technology ensures a consistently frosty, and refreshing flow. The unobtrusive 15-inch stainless-steel dispenser comes with either a single or dual tap and for indoors or out — a true gift that won’t go out of favor or flavor! Also, because of the brand’s TrueFlex® shelving system, the versatile cooler is completely convertible into a wine cabinet.

For the budding sommelier, while a wine cellar might be ideal, True’s Dual Zone Wine Cabinet and storage system is pretty fantastic for wine enthusiasts. Designed to preserve your bottles, independent climate zones allow for separate temperature ranges (from 40°F to 65°F), while glide-out, vibration-dampening racks hold up to 45 bottles and protect that special vintage. TruLumina LED lighting — with 14 different color options — allows for the ambiance to fit your mood.

Left & Bottom Right: True Residential’s Undercounter Beverage Dispenser. Top Right: True’s Dual Zone Wine Cabinet. Photos courtesy True Residential.

For the Wellness Guru:

A stocking stuffer that actually enhances wellness, Hansgrohe‘s newest design, aptly called PowderRain, recently hit the market as the perfect tool to enhance the shower experience while also fitting into any style. Characterized by a “powder-like” micro-fine mist, the eco-efficient spray is designed to completely envelop the body, with thousands of microscopic water droplets cloaking you in a protective oasis of relaxation.

Photos courtesy Hansgrohe.

For the Design Afficionado:

For the most discriminating buyer, Salone del Mobile.Milano is ready for the holidays with the launch of their 6th partnership between SaloneSatellite and the Rinascente Department Store. For 2018, 12 select products, created by 9 international designers, will be on sale through the holiday season at the famed department store.

The selected products place huge importance on the quest for new solutions, both tangible and intangible, always intelligent and sometimes poetic, inspired by traditional craftsmanship and ancient materials that can inform a better future. A plethora of chairs, tables, lamps, trays and vases, fitness equipment and everyday and decorative objects will be on display, all deriving from simple intuition and actions and marrying technology, craftsmanship and emotion.

December 8, 2018 Leave a comment

2019 Interior Design Trends

with:Unique Homes Staff

As we enter 2019, here are four interior design trends to watch, according to today’s top interior designers as told through Ketra.

Technology Brings Another Dimension

photo by Ketra

In 2019, smart home technology will be a must — whether it’s remote lighting control, window shades built for energy savings, or full-home voice automation.

“One of the major advantages to tech and connectivity in the home is the ability to manage the property remotely, with doorbells now doubling as security cameras, wireless thermostats that can be preset or adjusted while away, or programmable lighting and window shades for energy savings and to make it appear that people are in the home,” explains Erin Ruby, founder of Erin Ruby Design, LLC.

“Technology always has something new that peaks a client’s interest,” adds Rendell Fernandez, design director at Pembrooke & Ives. “Voice actuated smart speakers now add another layer of home automation controls that were non-existent just a few months ago.”

Investments in Meaningful Furnishings

In 2019, there will be a greater value in selecting quality products. “In response to the culture of fast furniture and disposable pieces purchased solely for convenience, more and more manufacturers are offering quality products in reasonable lead times,” Ruby says.

“Even IKEA is making fine crafted products now! Businesses are seeing the value of investing in meaningful pieces, be it furniture, artwork, or lighting, to elevate the experience within their space and offer a more thoughtful representation of their culture and brand.”

photos by 1stdibs

Neutral Hues are the Best Canvas

According to the team at Pavarini Design, 2019 will bring about neutrals grays and pale pastels that contrast early ’80s varieties of pale plums, pomegranates, and violets contrasting dark charcoals.

Benjamin Moore recently announced the Color of the Year 2019 — Metropolitan AF-690, a stylish gray with cool undertones, reinforcing that neutrals are in.

While most colors are driven by client preferences that illustrate the diversity of the full color spectrum, Fernandez agrees that the designers at Pembrooke & Ives stay true to neutral tones and natural finishes.

Photo by Benjamin Moore

Lights that Mimics of the Natural Spectrum of Sunlight

Natural light is a key element to think about when designing a space. “It’s our connection to nature and makes us feel good,” says Charles Pavarini III and J. Randall Tarasuk of Pavarini Design. “The ability to amplify the natural spectrum of light coming through your windows is something we have never had the ability to do before. It’s a breakthrough that is sure to find a growing market.”

“As the quality of lighting technology improves and evolves, this will continue to be an increasingly vital aspect of the built environment,” Ruby agrees. “Any space is only as good as it’s lighting. Lighting dictates how spaces are perceived — warm and inviting, or cold and stark.”

photo by Ketra

December 5, 2018 Leave a comment

Green Bay Packers Official Announce Phase 2 of Titletown

with:Mia Ingui

Approximately 220 residences and an office building will join the year-round, live/work/play community, development accelerating growth in Greater Green Bay.

Green Bay Packers’ real estate development branch, Titletown Development LLC, announced its plans for Phase 2 of Titletown, the mixed-use real estate development in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, located directly west of Green Bay’s iconic Lambeau Field. Highlighted by approximately 220 residences and a four-to-five story office building, Phase 2 adds to the “live” and “work” elements of Titletown’s appeal.

The residences will be built at the site along Brookwood Drive, and include up to 150 units in an apartment building, ranging from studios to three bedroom-units. The remaining 70-90 residences are anticipated to be a mix of three different styles of townhomes available for ownership. The design of the Titletown residences will be a homage to the area’s industrial history and its natural surroundings, while envisioning Greater Green Bay’s burgeoning future.

“Titletown thus far has exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to add the residential component and office building to the development, and to the region,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We’re looking forward to continuing to create a special place for residents, community members and visitors, and this next step in the development will elevate Titletown to a place many will call home.”

Final details of the residences, including cost and available options, are being completed and will be announced later this year. Construction for both residences and the office building is slated to begin in spring 2019. Reservations for those interested in Titletown’s residences will begin later this football season.

“Titletown’s first phase has generated a tremendous about of enthusiasm, both for our programming and our tenants,” said Packers Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Ed Policy. “Now we are going increase the density by attracting more people with high-quality residences and premium office space, with a variety of opportunities for everyone to enjoy in a shared, vibrant community.”

Titletown is the redevelopment of a nearly 45-acre parcel of land that is designed to maximize its unique location to attract visitors, spur regional economic growth, offer amenities to residents and compliment Greater Green Bay’s draw as an excellent location to live, work, play and visit on a year-round basis.

Renderings courtesy of KTGY Architecture + Planning and NBBJ

November 27, 2018 Leave a comment

White Quartz Crystal as an Accent Piece

with:Unique Homes Staff

Due to their gleaming iridescent luster and milky white tones, White Quartz are often used in home design projects by interior designers.

As one of the most abundant stones in the world, White Quartz is often used in its most utilitarian form, serving as base material to build countertops or other solid surfaces. But consider and examine White Quartz crystals in their most authentic, raw formations when extracted from the earth: the variety of shapes and sizes from single to multi-point configurations and their gleaming iridescent luster, White Quartz displays an exquisite style and broad appeal to any interior space.

White Quartz’s universal look proves it works well in a busy maximalist setting or on its own in a minimalist aesthetic. Displaying this high-quality crystal in a foyer or entrance will deliver an unexpected but alluring presence, to be admired as nature’s grand work of art. Position smaller tabletop versions of the crystal on a dining room table or display it as a pièce de résistance centerpiece in any room to command attention. White Quartz’s intrinsic sculptural and natural qualities add a touch of glamour to every space it occupies.

Based in Venice, California, Mystic Journey Crystals is recognized globally as the purveyor for extraordinary, investment-quality crystals and geodes for residential, commercial and hospitality spaces.

Founder Jeffery Segal established the company in 2008 with the opening of Mystic Journey Bookstore and the intent to spread his growing passion and appreciation of large, sculptural crystals and the metaphysical properties they possess to the community.

November 20, 2018 Leave a comment

The World’s Smartest Wallet?

with:Kristen Ordonez

Ekster, the world’s largest smart wallet brand, recently launched its third-generation product line with over $1 million gained from its crowd-funding campaign.

This time they have engineered both the slimmest and the first voice-activated smart wallet to date. With a collection of smart products designed for an efficient and secure everyday carry, Ekster’s products help to safeguard your daily accessories in the most stylish manner.

The first voice-activated smart wallet, Ekster’s products are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This means you can now locate your wallet or phone using your smart speaker or even just use voice command on your phone using either of the two apps. “This is the first solar-charged smart wallet on the market, which means you won’t ever have to charge or replace your tracker batteries,” says Ekster co-founder Richard Canneman. This patented solar-charging solution does not require direct sunlight to charge and only requires three hours of charge time to last two months with full worldwide tracking functionality.

Partnering with Chipolo, a creator of the world’s slimmest and loudest tracking devices, owners can ring their wallet, find it on a map or make use of the widespread community to help locate their missing belongings. Each tracker has a unique QR code that links it to your smartphone like a fingerprint. If your wallet is lost and someone finds it, by scanning this QR code a message will be sent to you, immediately letting you know where the wallet is. Seamlessly designed with luxury in mind, these wallets are made with handcrafted premium leather available around the globe, sourced from LWG gold-rated tanneries who serve only top-of-the-line luxury leather brands.

Ekster was first brought to life in Rotterdam by Canneman and two other Dutch founders who shared a frustration with the everyday carry products offered in the market. Today, the company finds itself as the largest smart wallet brand worldwide, with products available in hundreds of stores ranging from Macy’s to Selfridges. Though their reach extends across the globe, no expense is spared on even the smallest detail. Every product that makes it through the company’s detail-oriented design process adheres to five criteria that distinguishes these products from the others on the market: efficiency, safeguarding, innovation, quality craftsmanship and style.

“We named our company Ekster after the Dutch word for ‘magpie,’ a bird who often hides its high intelligence, and has a taste for finding and protecting shiny objects,” says the brand. “Just like this bird, we wanted to create classically attractive leather products jam-packed with hidden technology to easily access and protect important everyday valuables.”

Photos courtesy Ekster.

November 17, 2018 Leave a comment

Capture One of Mountain Shadows’ Remaining Condos

with:Mia Ingui

They’re going fast! Mountain Shadows’ new resort condominiums and suites are flying quickly off the market, with only 13 of the 42 units remaining. These brand-new condos in the luxury wing of Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley, Arizona mark the completion of the $100 million new-build resort in March 2018.

Sitting at the foot of Camelback Mountain, Mountain Shadows Resort Condominiums is the first three-story resort residential building in Paradise Valley, designed for those seeking “lock and leave” resort-style living. Direct access to the entire Mountain Shadows resort encourages owners to take advantage of incredible amenities and resort perks, such as housekeeping, valet and concierge services, access to the wellness-centric Citizens Club and juice bar, and access the only 18-hole, par-3 golf course in Arizona. The Mountain Shadows Resort Condominiums offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, ranging from 1,000 to 3,410 square feet and priced from $840,000 to $4.1 million.

Designed by Scottsdale-based Allen + Philp Architects, each condo and suite at Mountain Shadows Resort Condominiums is a personal retreat for residents to rest among the best of mid-century modernism and contemporary design.

An icon of the desert, Mountain Shadows is an upscale boutique resort, with its roots in 1950’s modernism. The original property closed in 2004, replaced by a $100 million new-build resort by acclaimed developers of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa and Hotel Valley in April 2017. A brand new fitness center and outdoor pool unveiled during the opening, called The Citizens Club, a high-tech fitness center offering an array of 60-minute classes, and two 75-foot pools, connected by a modern waterfall feature and dramatic views of Camelback Mountain and the surrounding desert beauty.

Photos courtesy of Mountain Shadows

November 9, 2018 Leave a comment

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