No matter your holiday plans this season, being among friends and family is of the utmost importance. For Florida dwellers there is no better way to appreciate this holiday season than with an outdoor celebration amidst stunning views.
Here are five luxury homes across South Florida with private rooftops perfect for hosting family and friends this holiday season:
One Bay Residences (Design District)
Price: $1,150,200
Developed by G&L Real Estate Developers, One Bay Residences is an exclusive enclave overlooking Biscayne Bay. This holiday season, residents can bask in Miami’s envy-worthy winter weather with private 1,636-square-foot rooftop terraces.
“Miami’s celebrated sunshine inspired the design of One Bay Residences’ private rooftop terraces,” says Nicolas Guzman, developer of One Bay Residences and CEO of G&L Real Estate Development, LLC. “We wanted to create a space where buyers can entertain family and friends, especially during the holidays, with ample square footage to accommodate everything from a sit-down dinner to casual weekend lounging.”
“We wanted to create a space where buyers can entertain family and friends, especially during the holidays…”
Photos courtesy One Bay Residences
Regalia (Sunny Isles Beach)
Price: $39,000,000
Referred to as the “crown jewel” of the 46-story oceanfront, ultra-luxury tower, the penthouse at Regalia is truly an entertainer’s dream. The penthouse features a 6,050-square-foot rooftop sun terrace with 360-degree views.
“Regalia’s exclusive Penthouse affords a rooftop in the clouds to enjoy outdoor entertaining year around,” says Kevin Venger, co-developer of Regalia. “Its stone-clad sky bar and lush lounge space, coupled with 360-degree views that span nearly 20 miles, result in the ideal, ultra-luxury retreat to indulge in for holiday celebrations with friends and family.”
Photo courtesy Regalia
Giralda Place (Coral Gables)
Price: $2,900,000
Giralda Place boasts a single, extravagant penthouse equipped with a 6,776-square-foot rooftop, uniquely designed to sustain a rooftop garden.
The incredible space — which includes a 1,000 square feet of covered space — allows for hosting a myriad of guests for a holiday fête. Views of the neighborhood’s lush treetops and glittering city lights set the perfect scene.
“Unmatched by any condo residence in the area, the rooftop offers a picturesque setting for entertaining. With the city lights of Coral Gables and lush treetops as the backdrop, the sprawling area is fit for endless possibilities.” says Cristo Brown, co-developer of Giralda Place.
“With the city lights of Coral Gables and lush treetops as the backdrop, the sprawling area is fit for endless possibilities.”
Photo courtesy of Giralda Place
Adagio (Fort Lauderdale Beach)
Price: Starting at $2,500,000
This serene waterfront community presents the Grande Penthouse, a spectacular home with panoramic views of the intracoastal waterway and 2,234 square feet of outdoor entertaining space across two terraces. This holiday season, guests may enjoy the formal outdoor dining table or lounge on plush seating for after-dinner drinks.
Photo courtesy Adagio
Palazzo Del Sol (Fisher Island)
Price: $26,411,500
On the 10th floor of Palazzo Del Sol sits Penthouse 1, the priciest listing to ever hit the market on Fisher Island.
Its striking wrap-around terrace and private deck offer an array of amenities including an outdoor kitchen, aperitivo bar, massage area, vertical gardens and a negative-edge pool.
Dubbed a mansion-in-the-sky, it’s unparalleled features make it the ideal home for the holiday season.
“Palazzo Del Sol’s PH1 will fully complement any festive celebration with its expansive outdoor space that is inviting and exudes the highest echelon of white-glove features,” says Heinrich von Hanau, Palazzo Del Sol developer and CEO of PDS Development, LLC.
“Palazzo Del Sol’s PH1 will fully complement any festive celebration with its expansive outdoor space that is inviting and exudes the highest echelon of white-glove features.”
Photos courtesy Palazzo Del Sol
Visit 10 hotels famed for creating spectacular festive scenes on the Ultimate Christmas Decorations Trip.
VeryFirstTo exclusively presents the Ultimate Christmas Decorations Trip enabling travelers the opportunity to stay in 10 of the world’s finest hotels and witness their famous decorations over the course of a whirlwind 18-day trip.
The first stop is the Plaza in New York City, a hotel that has played host to many a Christmas movies including Home Alone 2. With its enormous tree, the hotel really embodies Christmas magic.
From there it is off the to The Mission Inn in Riverside California. This iconic, AAA Four Diamond award-winning hotel is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Lights this year with a whopping 5 million lights.
The next stop on the tour is the Fairmont Princess in Arizona, considered one of the best and brightest places to celebrate the holiday season. This year is set to be more magical and more spectacular than ever. The AAA Five Diamond resort is transformed into a winter wonderland with a glistening, 4-story tree, Desert Ice skating rink, Princess Express trains, Lagoon Lights, holiday characters, shows and attractions and Santa’s Secret Headquarters.
Dallas’ Hotel Crescent Court plays host to an annual Gingerbread Extravaganza Workshop, which features more than 20 varieties of colorful candy and icing. Kids and adults alike can see, make and taste their very own confectionary cookie-castles.
Each hotel is world renowned for having the boldest, brightest and most impressive Christmas Decorations. This is a trip for those who want to immerse themselves in the joyful decorations of Christmas.
To round up the U.S. leg of the tour, travelers will head to Amelia Island Ritz Carlton. The hotel features a Gingerbread Pirate Ship with pirate characters sculpted from chocolate. A holiday icon, the Gingerbread Pirate Ship provides the perfect backdrop for your holiday picture.
While the Cayman Islands may not have snow, it does offer plenty of holiday cheer. Enjoy stunning beach and pool side views as well as stunning decorations and fun activities for the family.
Jetting into London, the famous Claridge’s Christmas Tree awaits. The tree, this year designed by Karl Lagerfeld, has long been a seasonal landmark and symbolizes the start of the festive season in the capital.
Other highlights of the journey in Europe include a visit to George V Paris, one of Paris’ oldest hotels with legendary decorations. In Zurich, The Dolder Grand recreates the magical, fairy-tale atmosphere of a winter wonderland. Finally, the holiday comes to an end in Prague at the über stylish Hotel Josef.
The exceptional vacation is organized by award-winning, luxury travel specialists Hurlingham Travel.
Alexander James Interior Design Team shares the secrets behind this season’s most stylish Christmas homes.
“The 2017 Christmas style definitely has a playful edge — it’s about capturing the joy of Christmas and having fun in new ways, while also delivering an elegant overall look.”
UK households spend a staggering £2.3 billion each year on Christmas trees, decorations and trips to the pantomime, according to Go Compare. With so much being spent on Christmas décor, it’s no wonder that our festive displays seem to be getting more stylish each year.
Creating the perfect setting within the home is a wonderful way to bring alive the Christmas magic and get into the festive mood. As such, the expert team at Alexander James Interior Design have shared their top tips for making this Christmas the most stylish one yet.
“This Christmas, many are going against tradition for a tropical, contemporary look. No longer confined to the summer months, we’re seeing tropical touches being given a sophisticated twist for the winter season,” says Stacey Sibley, the creative director at Alexander James Interior Design. “The 2017 Christmas style definitely has a playful edge — it’s about capturing the joy of Christmas and having fun in new ways, while also delivering an elegant overall look.”
Stylish tropical touches this Christmas include beautifully woven peacock feather and palm leaf wreaths and stunning centerpieces featuring metallic pineapples and cream and white tropical flowers.
Light Style London – Gold Leaves Battery Style, Harrods
Mini Baubles – Copper, Cox & Cox
Metallics will also be big news this Christmas, with new twists added to the traditional bright silver and gold hues.
Stylish, contemporary touches include warm, soft, reflective metallics in copper, brass and rose gold, to provide a sophisticated glow and add an element of understated luxury.
Copper has been popular in interiors over the summer, thanks to its versatility. It can be teamed with a clock color or with organic materials such as wood to create a variety of feels, from Scandinavian luxury to mid-century cool.
Now, that versatility is being carried through to the festive season, with metallic baubles providing the perfect contrast the earthy, organic tones of Christmas trees.
“The finishing festive décor touch this Christmas is the wreath. No longer restricted to the front door, we’ll be seeing wreaths adorn the home in a variety of ways.”
Liberty has opted for a fan-tailed peacock offering. This year, decorating for the holidays is all about mixing vibrant colors tastefully with more traditional Christmas tones.
Candles, naturally, should also form part of the Christmas décor. Stunning glass and metallic lanterns add to the overall sophistication of this year’s style.
“The finishing festive décor touch this Christmas is the wreath. No longer restricted to the front door, we’ll be seeing wreaths adorn the home in a variety of ways,” says Robert Walker, the managing director at Alexander James Interior Design. “Contemporary elegance can come in the form of real branches interwoven with LED lights, or more modern wreaths made of twisted wire with tiny twinkles throughout. Once more, we’re seeing metallic come into play, bringing modern elegance to this Christmas tradition.”
With the home interior looking perfectly stylish, all that remains to be done is to give it the ideal festive scent. The White Company’s Winter Botanical Large Pillar Candle will help to capture the spirit and scent of the season.
Winter Botanical Large Pillar Candle, The White Company
Fan-Tail Peacock Decoration, Liberty London
Photos courtesy of Millgate Homes
As ever, the perfect lighting is also key to creating a magical Christmas ambience.
Far from being limited to the Christmas tree, this year lighting will feature throughout the home, from garlands to tumbling showers of LED lights to table centerpieces.
If it’s not sparkling delicately, it should be! Anything from a pile of gifts to a simple tree branch can be brought to life with the right lighting.
Understated twinkles spread throughout the home can create a truly stunning overall impact.
Decorating for Christmas is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for the festive season. With these styling tips in mind, every home can create a stunning, elegant Christmas ambience that brings the magic of the season alive.
Offering seasonal tastes and gifts to shoppers in the run up to the big day, these markets provide a delightful experience that contrasts to the usual high street madness that is Christmas shopping in the UK.
Research by the Nabma ROI team has shown that Christmas markets bring significant benefits to the towns that host them — generating more than £250 million in visitor spending at the markets, as well as positively impacting spending in other stores within the town. They can also have a positive impact on the local property market.
“There are many factors that make a town or city a desirable place to live and this includes the range of amenities. Once a location establishes itself as offering an enticing Christmas market each year, that becomes part of the overall attraction to the area — and the more attractive an area, the more success those investing in its property market can enjoy,” says Jean Liggett, the CEO of Properties of the World.
Jonathan Stephens, the CEO of Surrenden Invest, agrees.
“Homes by Christmas markets always attract keen interest at this time of year, whether they’re investment properties or those for sale to owner-occupiers,” he says. “Christmas markets give these properties a little something that other homes don’t have and many buyers are keen to take that into account when making their purchase.”
In light of the arrival of Christmas markets on the UK scene once more, we’ve included a round-up of the top properties near each market. We’ve even thrown in a couple of examples across the Channel, for property buyers looking for a French take on the festive season.
The Alps
Of course, for some, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a good helping of snow. The Christmas market at Courchevel offers a snowy winter wonderland for shoppers looking for beautiful decorations and seasonal delicacies.
Property buyers looking to pick up a home in Courchevel will enjoy these luxurious ski apartments available through SkiingProperty.com: 14 two-bedroom apartments with communal pool, just 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest shops and slopes. Prices start at £660,591.
Photo courtesy SkiingProperty.com
London
London offers a range of Christmas markets, from Winter Wonderland to the stalls of the South Bank. This year, Hampstead Village will host its first Christmas fair, transforming the entire high street into a magical Christmas experience.
Those looking to pick up property as well as presents should check out Four 5 Two from Bellis Homes: 13 superb, balconied apartments with park views in a prominent Hampstead location. Prices start at £1.1 million.
Photo courtesy Four 5 Two
Manchester
With an extensive market in front of the town hall that attracts millions of visitors each year, and a large ice rink for seasonal frolics, Manchester certainly can’t be accused of not getting into the Christmas spirit.
When it comes to homes near Manchester’s Christmas markets, it has to be Danforth Apartments from Properties of the World, just minutes from the city centre: 113 stylish homes within the village-like environment of Fortis Quay. Prices start at £124,995.
Photo courtesy Properties of the World
Birmingham
Already a mecca for shoppers, Birmingham ups its game each December with the largest German market located outside of Germany or Austria. Mulled wine, craft beers and Christmas crafts are the order of the day, as visitors soak up the festive atmosphere.
Property investors can enjoy the well-located B5 Southside development from Surrenden Invest: contemporary rental apartments just five minutes’ walk from New Street Station. Prices start at £155,000.
Halifax
The recently renovated and re-opened Piece Hall in Halifax will this year host a spectacular Christmas extravaganza, including a carefully hand-picked festive market packed with local Yorkshire retailers and gourmet food providers.
Property investors need look no further than the nearby Martins Mill from Property Frontiers: a selection of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments in a stunning, 6-story converted mill. Prices start at £64,950.
Photo courtesy Property Frontiers
From California to Texas, families and friends around the country will gather to celebrate Independence Day. What better way to celebrate than with stunning views and a spacious backyard?
By Alyssa Gautieri
Turn on the grill, slip into your swim suit and grab your sunglasses — it’s the Fourth of July. Independence Day is more than a day off from work. It is a great time to celebrate the summer, gather with friends and family and show off your beautiful backyard. Here are only a few stunning luxury homes with backyards perfect for summer barbecues and social gatherings:
Corpus Christi, Texas
Represented by: Jodi Schultz
This unique Mediterranean-style waterfront home is a prime location for a fourth of July celebration. Stunning views, a luxurious swimming pool and comfortable outdoor seating — all the essentials to make your holiday special.
Tucson, Arizona
Photos courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
With designs that reflect the High Desert — Pueblo, Spanish Colonial or Arizona Ranch — The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain offers an outdoor living area perfect for entertaining guests. Its unique patio and beautiful fire pit make this yard a perfect location to commemorate Independence Day.
Austin, Texas
Represented by: Mary Lynn Gibbs
This Texan home creates an outdoor paradise with its 2,000-square-foot patio, a cabana, luxurious pool with a fountain and outdoor see-through fireplace.
Malibu, California
This modern rustic farmhouse with stunning ocean views features a vegetable garden, fruit trees and a professionally designed tennis court — making it the ideal property to accommodate visitors and guests. It is also surrounded by lush gardens and situated in a private, secluded location.
Bel-Air, California
Represented by: Ron de Salvo & Chris Cortazzo
This dramatic Tuscan villa sits on nearly 1 acre of land. With panoramic city-to-ocean views, total privacy, 6 fireplaces and a pool, the Palazzo della Figlia creates a great space for an outdoor gathering.
Miami Beach, Florida
Represented by: The Jills, Danny & Hillary Hertzberg
Miami Beach is a great place to spend the holiday, and these two Miami Beach homes each offer exceptional views and ample space to relax.
Sandy, Utah
Represented by: Shelly Tripp
Constructed with entertaining in mind, this backyard features a saltwater pool, hot tub, fire pit, sports court, a gas grill and tiki lights that achieve the ideal ambiance.
VeryFirstTo.com presents the perfect gift for your father, an action-packed 16-day journey throughout Europe and the U.S.
From flying a WWII plane to cage diving with sharks, this trip will test your father’s imagination and adventurous spirit.
The trip will begin in Las Vegas at the world famous luxury Wynn hotel and casino.
Then, it will jet you up to San Francisco to cage dive with one of the world’s most feared predators, Great White Sharks. An instructor will lead the way as your father gets up close and personal with the sea creatures.
Also in San Francisco, your dad can enjoy a day tour in tech mecca, Silicon Valley, including the opportunity to test out unreleased products from Android and see the full Apple product line-up.
Then, head off to Nappa for a private luxury wine tour and tasting at the most famous vineyards in America.
“This exceptional fortnight allows one to dispel the myth that mums get the best gifts. Amongst the amazing experiences, you will give dad the gift of flight, firstly allowing him to pilot a T6 Texan WWII plane in Florida, then watch him channel his inner Bond with a Jet Pack flight at the famed Kitty Hawke in Carolina,” says Marcel Knobil, founder of VeryFirstTo, Superbrands and Cool BrandLeaders.
This luxurious Father’s Day trip is organized by the luxury travel company, Hurlingham Travel.
Other highlights of the 16-day voyage include driving a supercar on Germany’s speed-limitless Autobahn, perfecting his BBQ skills at the Grill Academy in London, Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh and a luxurious massage at Asofya Hammam.
The trip, which totals $80,490 per couple, may be taken at anytime during the year. Depending on the month, alternate arrangements may be made.
To view the full itinerary or to find out more, click here.
Photos courtesy of VeryFirstTo