Featured Agent: Tom Landry of Benchmark Maine

Tom Landry

Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate

207.775.0248 | LandryTeam@BenchmarkMaine.com | www.BenchmarkMaine.com
We help clients sell quickly and for the highest price possible because we work with them to price their home effectively, finish any projects that might distract buyers, and provide world class marketing and exposure to buyers in and out of the state. Not all brokers and real estate companies are equal – your home is one of your most valuable assets – you deserve to work with the best.

Listing by Tom Landry

CAMDEN, MAINE

10 Beacon Avenue

The house sits on an a dramatic outcrop of ledge. The landscape design took advantage of the existing features on the site and maintained most of what was already in place, exposed ledges, mature trees and native plants including blueberries and ferns. Even the foundation and steps from an older structure on the property were incorporated into the new design. The lot contains 7.9 acres, providing ample space for a guesthouse or studio if additional living space is needed.
www.10Beacon.com
$4,100,000

Tom Landry originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See his page here.

May 9, 2018 Leave a comment

New Private Luxury Estate Opens in Orlando

with:Unique Homes Staff

Situated in the heart of central Florida, this private estate will enchant you with its local flavor and tropical, vibrant ambience.

Isolé Villas is a brand new luxury private estate with the feel of a deluxe, boutique five-star hotel, yet with the confidentiality of a villa. Its meticulous design encompasses lavish features and posh accommodations providing its exclusive guests an unforgettable, customized stay.
The expansive 25,000-square-foot home boasts 15 stunning suites, including two Presidential Suites and two Ambassador Suites, as well as 11 one-bedroom suites. All are appointed with Frette fine linens, one-of-a-kind artwork and private marble bathrooms.
Ideally located, Isolé Villas is situated within a secure private golf course community in Orlando where the local flavor of central Florida melds with the vibrant, tropical vibe of the Caribbean.

This home comes with a long list of amenities and and activities, including a multi-level salt-water pool that is complete with a 60-foot swim lane and Jacuzzi, a fashionable spa and wellness center featuring full service treatments by ESPA-trained professionals, a Turkish steam room, fitness room and Zen lounge.
This estate also includes a private 19-seat movie theater featuring surround sound and a well-stocked snack bar serving classic movie favorites, an indoor fitness court for basketball, yoga, Pilates or other indoor sports, a cigar lounge featuring the villa’s signature collection of fine cigars and rare labels of Scotch and vintage wines, a piano salon, grand dining room that seats up to 40, sports lounge and game room.

Surrounded by championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer, the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are approximately an hour’s drive away. Numerous nearby inland lakes serve as recreational hubs for boating, swimming and fishing.
This private estate is ideal for couples, families, weddings, groups and corporate retreats looking for a first-class experience close to Walt Disney World and Orlando attractions. The property is staffed full time with an onsite villa manager, as well as a villa concierge who can organize any number of activities — from arranging lavish private dinner parties to scheduling golf outings, theme park visits, shopping excursions and more.

Photos courtesy of Isolé Villas

May 8, 2018 Leave a comment

Featured Agent: Trudy Stambook of Centre City Properties

with:Unique Homes Staff

Trudy Stambook

Centre City Properties

220 West “G” Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92101

619.252.1944 | Trudy@TrudyStambook.com | www.trudystambook.com

Renown for discreet, individualized client service, Trudy Stambook is a key resource for real estate clients and those actively engaged in the business, development and cultural community in San Diego. First named among the nation’s elite luxury real estate agents back in 1995 by Unique Homes Magazine, and recognized annually ever since.

• Over 30 years of experience as a luxury real estate professional

• Over 20 years of worldwide marketing in 85 countries

• Representing both Buyers and Sellers

• Repeatedly voted Five Star “Best in Client Satisfaction” by readers of San Diego Magazine

Featured Listing by Trudy Stambook

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Pinnacle 3402

Pinnacle 3402 offers a wonderful open seamless layout that easily accommodates multiple entertaining options. Inviting al fresco experiences can be enjoyed on generous outdoor terraces while enjoying truly breathtaking views. Featuring 2 master suites, 3.5 baths, family and living spaces, custom office niche and 3 balconies to revel in the best vantage point in the city! Further indulgences can be enjoyed at The Pinnacle Museum Tower with its full complement of services and outstanding amenities. Take advantage of this premier location with countless restaurants, shopping, cultural and sporting attractions, and miles of scenic pathways just steps from your door. Enjoy a lifestyle that is without parallel…the Pinnacle of your life awaits. Offered furnished.
$4,595,000.

Trudy Stambook originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See her page here.

May 7, 2018 Leave a comment

Featured Agent: John Weber of Royal LePage First Contact Realty

with:Unique Homes Staff

John Weber

Royal LePage First Contact Realty

299 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 100, Barrie, ON L4N 7Y9, Canada
O. 705.728.4067 | C. 705.727.6111
John@WeberTeam.ca | www.WeberTeam.ca

I am pleased to be recognized as being in the Top 2% of Royal LePage REALTORS in 2017 with the Red Diamond Award. I work hard and I truly love what I do. Being good at what I do means keeping up with all the latest developments in my industry, understanding trends, and leveraging the latest technologies. But in the end, it’s old-fashioned service and a keen business sense that I learned from my years at Weber’s on HWY 11 that I believe really set me apart. I am pleased to offer these waterfront properties and look forward to answering your call.

Featured Listing by John Weber

Innisfil, Ontario

This estate was intended for multi-family enjoyment with 2 separate residences. Luxury features include 160 feet of waterfront, an 80-foot dock, 3-level boathouse, 2 detached garages, in-ground saltwater Gunite pool and more. Contemporary design with approximately 4,500 finished square feet in each home. MLS# 30635652 & 30635658

$6,500,000

John Weber originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See his page here.

May 6, 2018 Leave a comment

Featured Agent: Robert Arthur of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty

with:Unique Homes Staff

Robert Arthur

Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty

242.359.7216 | sales@CBBahamas.com | www.CBBahamas.com
Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty, the real estate powerhouse that stretches throughout the Bahamas. We have an international reach, and superior local knowledge of the Bahamas.

The Bahamas offers International Buyers the opportunity to apply for permanent or annual residency status with purchases in excess of $500,000, with accelerated residency status available for investments over $1.5 million. Our tax-neutral environment (which applies to individuals as well as resident corporations, partnerships and trusts), our close proximity to the US, ideal climate and lifestyle, modern infrastructure and being a major financial center with over 400 banks and trust companies, makes The Bahamas a consistent top choice for foreign investors.

Listing by Robert Arthur

HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS

Beachfront Home | MLS #9052

$8,500,000

Robert Arthur originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See his page here.

May 5, 2018 Leave a comment

Six Urban Developments with Sustainability in Mind

with:Kristen Ordonez

Working to develop urban areas around the country is based on focusing on and improving the lives of residents for future years to come. To emphasize these goals, many developments are implementing sustainability methods in design and architecture to benefit the surrounding community and inhabitants.

Urby — Staten Island, NY
Located on the North Shore waterfront, Staten Island Urby is the largest new-construction development in Staten Island that offers specially curated social spaces that encourage natural opportunities for neighbors to meet and interact, including an urban farm featuring farmer-in-residence, Zaro Bates.
The 5,000-square-foot farm is the first commercial farm to be incorporated into an urban residential development. The farm grows over 50 varieties of produce across 5 major categories: greens, summer vegetables, flowers, herbs and roots. The farmers offer workshops to the community and residents including a fermentation series, growing your own herbs and microgreens, and bee-keeping workshops. Produce from the farm is used by the residents, served in the kitchen and sold at a weekly farmer’s market. Zaro’s business partner, Asher Landes, oversees the apiary, which encompasses 20 beehives on the roof of Urby that produce honey.

Photos courtesy of Ewout Huibers

Residence 2680 – San Francisco, CA
Located in the prestigious Pacific Heights neighborhood, Residence 2680 is the largest single-family home renovation that is built to Passive House standards with Home Platinum LEED certification in San Francisco. Developed by Troon Pacific and built to strict sustainability standards, naturally sourced, low-chemical producing materials like wood, stone and glass were incorporated throughout the home.
“We believe in the inspirational power of natural beauty and use principles of biophilic design throughout our homes to uplift our spirits and enhance health and wellness in the urban environment,” says Gregory Malin, CEO of Troon Pacific. Gregory Malin.
With mental and physical wellness in mind, Troon Pacific incorporates a variety of design features, such as Zen wellness gardens, retractable skylights to provide natural ventilation and clean air, rain chains for natural water filtration, landscaped roof decks, saunas, steam rooms and more.

Photo courtesy Troon Pacific.

570 Broome — SoHo, NY
570 Broome is a new 54-unit luxury boutique condominium that is the latest addition to Hudson Square, which has become a highly sought-after residential neighborhood and go-to destination for retailers, restaurants and businesses.
The material used to build the condominium is a result of a new collaboration between sintered stone slabs and Pureti, an aqueous and titanium dioxide nanoparticle-based treatment. This treatment on the surface of the building is activated through light energy to transform the moisture in the air into oxidizing agents, which destroy pollution-causing particles. For 570 Broome, this equates to taking 2,000 cars off the road for a year or the purifying power of 500 trees.
The overall architectural design references the area’s history through the large framed windows, along with the building’s silhouette evocative of staggered cubes.

Photos courtesy Builtd.

Manitoba Hydro Place — Winnipeg, Canada
Manitoba Hydro Place offers a fully integrated design that capitalizes on Winnipeg’s abundance of sunshine and gusting winds to harness solar and wind energies. The capital “A” form of the tower comprises two wings fused at the north and splayed open to the south. This opening is filled with three, six-story stacked atria or winter gardens that act as the lungs of the building as well as 78-foot waterfalls that humidify/dehumidify incoming air.
The design is 80-percent more efficient than conventional Winnipeg buildings, making it the third most energy-efficient, large scale building in the world. It is also the first large-scale office tower in North America to be LEED Platinum-certified.

Photo courtesy Gerry Kopelow.

Market Square — San Francisco, CA
Market Square, a Gold LEED-certified project, was designed by BCV Architecture + Interiors with sustainability and community in mind. The two-building project transformed the dark, outdated and unused space into a cohesive part of its Mid-Market San Francisco neighborhood.
Natural and recycled materials, including reclaimed wood from one of the building’s earlier additions, are used throughout. Market Square merges state-of-the-art office space with an integrated ground floor community featuring the best of San Francisco’s food and retail purveyors. BCV Architecture + Interiors view sustainability through a myriad of lenses and considers the ethical, cultural, social, economic and historical implication of a project in addition to the technical solutions.

Photo courtesy Bruce Damonte.

12 Warren — Tribeca, NY
12 Warren is a boutique residential condominium nestled in Tribeca developed, designed and constructed by DDG. This development features a hand-laid façade and is an impressive addition to one of Manhattan’s most desired residential neighborhoods.
12 Warren is specifically designed with NYC Energy Code compliance and LEED certification in mind, targeting a Silver level LEED certification. Additional components include a green roof system, accommodating alternative transportation storage, stormwater collection and reuse, reduction of heat island effect with concrete, light grey toned pavers and landscaping elements, construction waste management and secondary tenant-controlled heating elements to reduce overall energy and electrical output. By choosing native and local materials, such as Bluestone from upstate New York, something close to home and natural, helped ensure more sustainable building practices.

Top left photo courtesy of Bruce Damonte. Top and bottom right photo courtesy Robert Granoff.

May 5, 2018 Comments Off

NYC Rooftop destinations provide residents unbeatable views

with:Brielle Bryan

196 Orchard and One West End, two highly anticipated developments, are dedicated to providing rich outdoor areas and amenities for homeowners.

By Brielle Bryan

196 Orchard
This development is a limited collection of studio to four-bedroom condominium residences, featuring a 4,100-square-foot landscaped rooftop terrace with sweeping city views, a sky lawn, cabana seating, two chef’s tables and two Alfresco kitchens. The 11-story building also features private courtyards and terraces that are up to 1,634 square feet.
“The Lower East Side has never seen anything like this,” said Jordan Brill, a partner at Magnum Real Estate Group and the developer of 196 Orchard. “We have exposed cement ceilings, but we have beautiful European hardwood floors and top-of-the-line finishes — it’s a direct expression of what we view the Lower East Side to be, which is deep-rooted in great authenticity.”
The building has oversized, dramatic metallic bronze industrial-styled casement windows with imported hand-laid Gilded Bronze glazed Spanish brick surroundings, and is crowned by private rooftop gardens.

One West End
Located on the corner of 59th Street and West End Avenue, this pre-eminent residential tower offers a 12,000-square-foot rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River and architect Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center. Developed by Elad Group and Silverstein Properties, this 42-story building is comprised of 246 light-filled one- to four-bedroom residences, with two stunning penthouses.
“It was important to create a quiet, welcoming and relaxing environment,” said Samantha Sax, the chief marketing and design officer of Elad Group.
Fine craftsmanship touches every aspect of these homes, from the bespoke cabinetry to a brushed bronze newspaper box on the entry door. “One West End brings together a roster of distinguished leaders in architecture and design to seamlessly offer resort-style living to residents,” Sax said.

Additionally, there is a two-story, 30,000-square-foot Equinox Fitness Center and Spa with a private entrance, which occupies the second and third floors of the building.
“We were always designing a roof, but when we were able to sign Equinox as our tenant, and they put in a flagship gym, we decided to expand on that and create a lifestyle for our residents — not just another simple amenity,” Brill said.
The Equinox Fitness Center will include a yoga and Pilates studio, juice bar and lounge in addition to all of the other training and cardio features the gym has to offer.
This building is located near iconic restaurants, which makes this home perfect for anyone seeking a luxury lifestyle.
“The Lower East Side has really maintained its identity and anybody looking for a real New York experience is attracted to our building,” Brill said.

One West End is the first and tallest condominium to welcome residents within Riverside Center, and offers a wide variety of amenities, including an expansive fitness center with studio space for yoga, Pilates and personal training, spa treatment rooms and a swimming pool.
“The building has over 35,000 square feet of amenities that are all located above-ground, which is quite unique for a property in New York City,” Sax said.
The property is debuting a 12,000-square-foot terrace this spring, and it will include beautiful landscaping and cabanas, as well as space for grilling and entertaining.

Photos courtesy of Williams New York

May 4, 2018 Comments Off

Premier Vail Area Property Listed At $3.695M

with:Unique Homes Staff

47 Lost Bear Trail in Wolcott, Colorado is on the market for $3.695 million, listed by Mac McDonald of Keller Williams Mountain Properties.

The property at 47 Lost Bear Trail is located in the community of Red Sky Ranch in the heart of the Vail Valley. This beautifully designed custom home sits on 12-plus acres and features 7,538 square feet of living space, seven bedrooms (including two guest rooms), eight baths, a main-floor master, three fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen with breakfast nook, hearth room, lower-level recreation room with kitchenette, custom wine closet, two laundry rooms, three-car garage, outdoor hot tub, large beams, vaulted ceilings, reclaimed oak floors, high-end finishes, top-of-the-line appliances, and approximately 1,400 square feet of decking to enjoy the panoramic mountain views, “red sky” sunsets, and abundant wildlife that roams the property.

The community of Red Sky Ranch offers homeowners an active lifestyle throughout the year. In the summer, Red Sky homeowners enjoy two nationally-ranked golf courses at Red Sky Golf Club. In the winter, homeowners enjoy all that the world-class ski resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek have to offer. Red Sky Ranch is a Vail Resorts Signature Club community located in Wolcott, CO. This low-density private community features 87 homesites over 880 acres, a Ranch Manager, gated security, two clubhouses, a fitness center, and over three miles of hiking trails.

This property was recently featured as the cover property for the Spring 2018 issue of Keller Williams Domain. See the full digital issue here!

May 3, 2018 Comments Off

Canadian Country Estate Offers Refined Living Fit for Royalty

with:Unique Homes Staff

Overlooking the beautiful countryside in Calgary, Alberta Canada, this exquisitely appointed country estate home sits majestically atop an escarpment with views of the Rocky Mountains.
“This home feels like an English country manor where family royals escape to relax in the warmth of magnificent space,” says Rachelle Starnes of The Starnes Group with Coldwell Banker Complete Real Estate who is listed the property.
Features include over 9,000 developed square feet, 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, an art gallery central hall, intricately designed iron staircase railings, walnut flooring, a living room with a central wood-burning fireplace, a custom kitchen with a breakfast nook, floor-to-ceiling windows, a six-diamond master wing covering the entire upper west side and a main-floor guest room.
The home, listed for $3.575 CDN, also features a lower level with a media room, bar area, wine cellar and exercise room.
“This property is perfect for those who seek refinement in a country setting,” says Starnes.

May 3, 2018 Comments Off

Sales launch at Manhattan Residential Building

with:Unique Homes Staff

Architect SOO K. CHAN’S LATEST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING provides expansive panoramic views of Manhattan’s High Line.

Sales have launched at Five One Five, a new luxury residential building in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood. Located at 515 West 29th Street, the building is the only property in Manhattan to be framed by the renowned High Line park on two sides.
The 15-unit development was designed by acclaimed Singaporean architect Soo K. Chan, founding principal of SCDA — a multi-disciplinary firm engaging in architecture, interior, landscape and product design. The building’s distinctive design and construction features, including an intricate exterior made of curvy glass fins that give the façade a rippling appearance, reflects Chan’s signature fluid style that seamlessly coalesces with its surroundings. Chan and SCDA have designed and built residences, hotels and museums around the world, with Five One Five being their second project in New York.

Forum Absolute Capital Partners, a New York-based, privately-owned real estate investment platform with approximately $400 million in equity under management, is the owner and developer of the project. FACP and CORE, New York City’s leading boutique real estate brokerage firm, are leading sales and marketing for the development.
“Five One Five is a truly remarkable residential development because it is one of the few buildings that overlooks the High Line with unobstructed views over the Hudson Yards plaza,” said Shaun Osher, founder and CEO of CORE. “The unique building design and generous layouts are sure to generate strong interest in this boutique project.”
Five One Five has world-class amenities that come with it, including a gym, 24-hour attended lobby, direct keyed elevator access to each residence, roof deck with a kitchen and ample storage. The development is located just steps from multiple transportation options, including the West Side Highway, the 7, A, C and E subway lines and access to interstate rail-transit via Penn Station.
Five One Five also includes a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments, including a five-unit penthouse collection with expansive panoramic views of the High Line. All units feature bright, spacious Bulthaup kitchens with Gaggenau appliance packages and built-in multipurpose islands that are great for entertaining. Additionally, each unit features light oak floors, Molteni millwork and closet build-outs, door hardware by Franz Schneider Brakel, as well as Delta LED light fixtures and mobile-controlled Lutron Homeworks QS System for electronics, temperature control, shades and lighting. Prices at the 11-story building range from $4.3 million to $8.5 million.

Photos courtesy of CORE

May 3, 2018 Leave a comment

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