The Osler House, designed by Marcio Kogan, is located in Brasilia, Brazil.
The plan of the Osler house is structured by a ground floor volume, a suspended volume and a deck with an outdoor pool.
On the ground floor we find the rooms that open to the outside using rotating wooden panels, and a small lobby that connects the second floor with a delicate staircase.
On the occasion of the release of the new Bond film Quantum of Solace launches Bollinger of Bollinger & Collectors Bullet 007.
The Bullet was designed by French designer Eric Berthès and includes a magnum bottle of Bollinger Grande Année 1999. The unique shape is inspired from bullet of the Walther PPK, the gun of choice for James Bond in the Quantum of Solace.
The “bullet” is supplied in a wooden coffin. The whole weighs more than 30 kg and costs “around” 4,000 euro ($5,765). Only 207 of these exclusive bottles will be produced, and each of them will be numbered.
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Inspired by the ideas of dualism, Visconti presents the Alchemy Vermeil limited edition of a fountain pen with a dual-end that allows you to add more color to your words !
This limited edition pen is beautifully crafted and capped in 18 carat gold at one end and sterling silver capped on the other. With a red body, the use of gold and silver are meant to underline the significance of Alchemy.
The pen also allows you to write in two different colours but this must mean you would need to refill the ink holder quite often because it would be smaller than in that of a normal ink pen.
Limited to 1,038 pieces worldwide, it’s worth $5,500 (€3,752) – to be used to sign million dollar deals!
Good thing the new iPod Touch and 4th gen Nano come in 24ct and 18ct white gold now. The Nano starts at £349 ($640) while the second generation Touch starts at £449 ($820).
Although you can purchase a brand new gold iPod or iPhone, Goldstriker will also take an iPod or iPhone you’ve already purchased, encase the gadget in gold and get it back to you in 48 hours.
For those with golden parachutes, only !
A few months ago, we mentioned potential plans to change the Paris skyline. Now the first project, is moving into more serious planning stages.
Indeed, Paris council has unveiled plans for a 50-storey glass pyramid following an official decision in July to break the ban on buildings higher than 37m.
Proposals for the Projet Triangle, designed by Swiss architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron (who designed the Olympic stadium in Beijing), include offices, a conference centre and a 400-bed hotel as well as restaurants, cafes and gardens.
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If you are in the need of some new luggage and are looking for something that is a bit out of the normal and attracts attention, then you should check out this new collaboration between Samsonite’s Black Label and Swarovski.
This re-edition of a 1920’s trunk got entirely covered in Swarovski rhinestones that will succeed in grabbing every co-traveler’s attention.
As with any item given the Swarovski touch, it is sure to be expensive, and only a limited few will be able to get their hands on the Samsonite Black Label Swarovski Trunk—there are only thirty available worldwide (available at Colette in Paris).
We would like to briefly introduce a world-class line of decorative indoor/outdoor spherical lights that are colorful, versatile and create an alluring setting for home and garden.
Moonlight globe lights are dramatic, contemporary lights in whole- and half-spheres from 13 to 30 inches in diameter that operate on standard household wiring, extra-long cord, hardwired or rechargeable battery with remote control.
Engineered, developed and manufactured in Germany, Moonlight has won numerous design awards
Shown are the 350 and 550 half-globes with green and yellow filters.
Moonlight Globe lights come in half-globe shapes and can permanently mount to any hard surface. Shown are the 350-mm half globes in Granite-Dark finish, which have been mounted to the sidewalk.
Shown are the floating 350 and 550 mm sizes and the mounted 550 mm version
Shown are the 250, 350, and 550 mm sizes in white.
Moonlight Globes shown in 750 mm size.
For more information please visit the Moonlight web page.
Made by CrossCurrent Marine, the U.23 Carbon is the market’s first rigid inflatable boat constructed of proprietary carbon and Kevlar epoxy composite. Lightweight and ultra-durable, the U.23 Carbon is well equipped for coastal cruising or excursions in open water.
Designed for the elite individuals seeking acquisitions of the highest caliber, the U.23 Carbon is the ultimate in luxury inflatables. Capable of achieving speeds of 45-knots, the U.23 maintains stability and a comfortable ride at high speeds under reasonable load and conditions.
The U.23 Carbon is currently available for order directly from CrossCurrent Marine, and has a boat and motor starting price of $109,000. A list of custom options is available.
After gaining its long fought 35 % majority stake in Volkswagen AG last week, Porsche SE announced its intentions to reward employees at Porsche AG with an increased annual bonus of 6,000 euro ($8,760) for the year ending July 31.
The bonus grows 800 euro compared to last year’s awarding.
The bonus includes a 3,800-euro payment from operating profit, 700 euros stemming from one-time financial gains, and 1,500 euros in honor of the company’s 60th anniversary, the carmaker said.
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One of the most important works by Pablo Picasso to appear on the market over the last several years will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York on the evening of November 3, 2008.
Arlequin dates to 1909, a pivotal moment in the history of modern art; just two years after Picasso completed his watershed composition, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Modeled with luminous shades of jade, rose and amber, this spectacular portrait depicts a harlequin, one of the most poignant motifs in the artist’s oeuvre.
For the last 50 years, this jewel of Picasso’s Cubist production has been a treasured possession of the Surrealist artist Enrico Donati, who died earlier this year at the age of 99. He purchased it in the 1940s directly from Daniel Henry Kahnweiler, the legendary dealer of Picasso and the Cubists.
The painting, which is expected to bring over $30 million, has been consigned by Mr. Donati’s estate. It will be seen by the public for the first time in more than 45 years when it goes on view at Sotheby’s London beginning October 3, 2008. It will then go on display at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art from 16-19 October and Sotheby’s New York from 29 October to 3 November.
Emmanuel Di-Donna, of Sotheby’s, said it was one the “greatest” Cubists to be sold on the open market. He added: “International collectors have not been presented with such a fantastic opportunity to compete for one of the great Picasso portraits since Sotheby’s sale of Dora Maar au chat.
The New Zealand company Arvus has come with an exclusively stylish loudspeakers aptly titled “The Prerenaissance”.
Each pair of the loudspeakers has taken hundreds of man hours each and the result is of course extravagant and almost artistic.
Starting from the bottom up, the plinth is made from hand carved granite. Four chambers house a quasi-five-way design and the sound technology offered is a perfect match for the expensive looks. With 6 channels of amplification, the speakers can make up a total of 3000 watts RMS.
The design was inspired by such objects as a exotic cars, the Coke bottle and musical instruments. The angles were chosen to give the speaker a feeling movement and life.
According to Arvus there are dozens of finishing options, from wood (like you see here), painted, carbon fibre, and even stainless steel.
Each pair of The Prerenaissance loudspeakers costs $140,000 (the price includes delivery, setup, and tuning)
This Wonderful House has 4 bedroom/4 bathroom house in the Paradise Point suburb of Australia’s Gold Coast is for sale at $3.9 million, with most of the furniture and artwork included.
I love the “white” theme and how it flows through the house though :)
Susan Crook is the agent for the home, visit her website
Golf is well known as “a rich man’s sport”. Time and again, opulent blinged golfing gears mushroom up to remind us of the fact.
One of them responsible for introducing these luxury goods, is Sayn Design.
They have come up with a Gold Putter that is dipped in 24 carat gold. The cherry on the icing is the diamond studded Sayn logo on the head of the putter.
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Pictured here is the Chester sofa in white. It is inspired by the elegant and stately Chesterfield sofas, which are in fact a variation of davenports. The Chester sofa looks elegant with its unique leather pattern and the classical design. However, this classical design inspired sofa is quite modern too, thanks to designer Amanda Levete’s postmodernist ideas.
This sofa has been inspired by sculptures as well; she has created a really chic polyurethane shell on which the cushion is placed. The Chester sofa is a cross between classical elegance and postmodern chic.
It’s a limited edition product and measures 39″ x 112″ x 28″. Retailing at $19,344, the Chester sofa truly will help revamp one’s living space.
Gresso introduced exclusive flash drives Enigma, which come in two versions: Constellation and the Labyrinth.
The Gresso Enigma gives you 192 GB of memory because it holds three flash cards of 64 GB each. Cases are made of two-hundred-year old African black rosewood, and, according to the press release “plenty of fancy diamonds embraced in 18K yellow or white gold.”
Producer alleges that the series will include only 99 items and they sell for 5,000 euros each (average cost of usual flash drives is $300-$400 ^_^ ). Each comes with a rubber strap so it can be worn as a pendant.
Rothschild & Bickers combines traditional techniques with cutting edge design. The ideas to “combine a contemporary free blown form with sumptuous fabric tassel” are inspired by Victorian opulence and can be used “equally well in both modern and period interiors.”
Made in one of the last glass workshops in the United Kingdom, these decorative lighting fixtures are inspired by both the past and the future.
Find a special corner of your home to welcome one of these truly precious lights – then contact Rothschild and Bickers in the London workshop. Via Trendir
Tassel LightInspired by Victorian decadence, these lights combine a contemporary free blown form with sumptuous fabric tassel. By blending these elements the Tassel light sits equally well in both modern and period interiors.
Black NouveauThis opulent range of black glass is made using traditional free blown techniques to create elegant fluid forms with a shiny rich reflective quality. The open frill comes with a chrometopped bulb, which illuminates it internally and allows it to be viewed from below.
Opulent OpticThis light combines classic form and rich vibrant colours to infuse an oriental flavour. The optical glass has a precious jewel quality that emanates diffused shadows of colour through out the room.
Vintage LightThis flamboyant light is made from free blown glass with a lavish cascade of fringe.
This design embodies a sense of vintage grandeur that emphasises the flowing form.
Barely had the crown of most expensive champagne settled on the special edition Perrier-Jouet champagne, it’s time to revive the decision as Boërl & Kroff is out with a stiff contender. In general, champagne is believed to be the costliest wine to produce.
However, companies like Boërl & Kroff are augmenting this luxury drink’s exclusivity by launching the first print run of champagne millésime 1996. Nothing much has been revealed about this champagne except that each bottle contains 1.5l of the drink.
What’s unique is that, the bottle will be packed in a lacquered wooden box to make it look more elegant. The champagne is expected to retail at a steep price. Interested to take a sip?
Talk about auctions, this wasn’t one that can be compared with the ordinary! Not for the way the décor was done, but it was about the most valued Ferrari getting all it was worth as the hammer went down. The most admirable of them all, the Ferrari 250 GTO shattered all records by fetching €20 million.
We would not get into the intricacies of judging whether the money spent by the unnamed Englishman was logical, for it is simply a timeless ruby that eventually turned valuable.
A rare pick for the early ’60s considering those 302 horses under the hood, and a top speed of 283km/hr, it is a desirable gem that wouldn’t surprise us even if someone pays double the amount the next time around.
All of us would want speakers that symbolises the wealth we posses. Fret not, there’s the Grande Utopia EM! It is an awesome speaker that takes up the responsibility of showing how grand a lifestyle you really want to live. The 4-way floorstanding bass-reflex loudspeakers are enough to make your visitors and guests feel puny and less endowed.
The Grande Utopia EM crosses the limits of decadence by offering an audio quality that is unsurpassed. It offers a mechanical adjustment in order to optimize the “Sweet Spotâ€, which is apparently the G-Spot of perfect listening. The drivers are another unique feature, with unmatched technology and science going in to each one of them.
If all these specifications were not enough, even King Midas would frown upon you. The speakers retails at a “loud” $180,000.
Dubbed “American Iconâ€, the glittering MINI is the work of CrystalArt and it’ll be on display at the upcoming National Stationery Show, May 20-23, at NY City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
The car features over one-million Swarvoski crystals in 50 different shades of color to represent the 50 states. Each stone was meticulously placed by hand and took four people almost 6 months to complete.
The car depicts America’s most revered iconic scenery and symbols including The Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, The White House, The American Flag and the Eagle, among others.
Cate Adair, the Emmy-nominated and award-winning costume designer for Desperate Housewives, has collaborated with Kwiat, the 101-year old luxury jewelry and diamond company, to create the ultimate accessory, the “Platinum Clutch.”
The one-of-a-kind purse, valued at more than $500,000 debut at the Platinum Guild International (PGI-USA) Annual Emmy Awards Red Carpet Jewelry Preview that took place September 18-20, in Beverly Hills.
The bag features genuine pure Platinum design elements set with 60 carats of Kwiat diamonds, in honor of the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
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