Luxist

After reading my article on this amazing Gaveau grand piano, a devoted Luxist reader told me about his Virtual gaveau Museum project. Oskar Janssen set up the group so that fans and admirers of Gaveaux can look at them in one place. The elephant grand is undoubtedly the centrepiece, but there are many wonderful pianos to feast your eyes on.

The Ashes cricket series has been a televised success, bringing millions to their TV screens to watch tantalising cricket. If your style vision was turned on, you would notice that every player on the field is equipped with a sleek pair of Oakley M-Frames. This apparently, has led to a boom in sales for the model which was once only considered by competitive sportsmen. Whilst they may not be everyone's cup of tea, their unique lens shape and flexibility make them perfect for the more active punter, while a broad range of lenses is available. They're also great for golf.

The Times has named Sandbanks, Dorset as the most expensive seaside property location in England. The average price for property there is an eye-watering £531,280. This is over £200,000 more than second place Lymington, Hampshire, which levels out at £318,831.

I want to know what you think; would you buy a seaside house in England, whose weather is at times tempremental to say the least, for that kind of money? Or does the peacefulness and rurality of the Land of Hope and Glory tempt you? Please do comment.  

Okay, so they're no haute couture, but training shoes are essential items of the wardrobe for your sporting interests. NikeiD gives you the opportunity to design a pair of Nike trainers, personalised just for you in case someone else in the country club has a pair almost similar. While you can make an appointment at NikeiD in Manhattan, it's probably easier to do it all on their website.

Your own pool, maximum privacy and no tan lines- that's the experience that Phuket Pavilions is trying to convey. Opening in September, Phuket Pavilions is comprised of 30 pool villas, and a second-to-none experience with al fresco dining under the stars and an in-villa massage being just two of the many services at hand. There are also villas going on sale, starting at 21 million Thai Baht, in case you want to be in paradise permanently.

Not being a very serious "podder", I seeked a basic case for my iPod Mini. Despite Deidre's abundance of advice on the world's finest cases, I opted for a tan leather model from a company I had never heard of, Covertec. I wasn't expecting a lot; the name suggested that it came from a factory in Taiwan, but they proved me wrong indeed. My tan leather iPod mini case, handcrafted and all, came in a luxury presentation box- a nice touch- and was made of soft nappa leather. I was pleasantly surprised with its bespoke quality, and would wholly reccommend their cases to business users.

Anyone remotely interested in BMW will have received their customary "BMW Season" information by post or email. In case you have been too busy reading Luxist, here are the main events they are promoting: the Goodwood revival, which conveniently occured on 16-18 August; their FineArt Driving Tours (look out for a more in-depth review on that); and the BMW Oracle team's participation in the Louis Vuitton through September and October in southern Europe.

Yet another high-quality schedule from BMW- which event would you most like to see and why?   

Having found out that iPods aren't invincible, I set about looking for a case. The first place I turned to, of course, was Luxist, as Deidre has covered some awesome designer cases already. Here is an alternative; A.B. Sutton's custom range of cases for the iPod, iPod mini and even the shuffle. Each is lined in silk imported from India, and sumptuously stitched with high-quality leather. The colour options are endless- you can even choose what shade you want your stitching to appear in. Expect to pay a three-figure sum for most of the cases, and wait a few weeks, as they're made to order. A nice touch is that each is individually numbered.

As if it could get any better, Bombardier's Learjets are all, I think it's fair to say, luxurious. The Learjet 60 Special Edition performs like a rocket, and the cabin is well-equipped and very roomy, with acres of stand-up and width space. Submersed in wood and leather, the cabin is perfectly designed for long flights. Although its modern componentry significantly reduces maintenance, Bombardier includes a whole host of warranty and finance options.

When Alan Brind's 265 year-old English violin was stolen last year, he never expected to find it. However, the copped violin was offered at a Bonham's auction in London- and he got it back. This special reunion meant that Mr. Brind, a member of the Londond Philharmonic Orchestra, could starting playing his £20,000 violin once more. He said that losing it was like "going into moruning or splitting up with a girlfriend." (Image shown is not the real violin- rumour has it he's not lending it to photographers for shoots anymore…)