Massachusetts

BeautifulPlaces Adds Nantucket's Harborview Place to Luxury Portfolio

BeautifulPlaces, the international luxury villa hospitality and experiential travel company, is now exclusively representing Harborview Place, an enclave of prime real estate on Nantucket. "We are pleased to welcome Harborview Place into the BeautifulPlaces villa rental portfolio," says Patrick Smith, CEO and co-founder of BeautifulPlaces. "Nantucket was high on our guests' request list with its unique combination of historical significance, old world charm, exclusivity and modern luxury." Located on the waterfront just two blocks from Main Street and Straight Wharf and adjacent to a secluded beach, Harborview Place consists of ten private waterfront residences (above) which include five-star 'on island' amenities plus a dedicated concierge to see to guests' every need prior to their arrival and during their stay, including complimentary airport and ferry transfers, beach and boat services, spa appointments, and afternoon teas and events plus custom travel itineraries. Each of the traditionally-styled one – three bedroom residences in the compound has a distinctive personalized décor including top of the line kitchens and bathrooms, plasma TVs, wireless internet, iPod docking stations and more.

Tags: BeautifulPlaces, Harborview Place, luxury travel, Massachusetts, Nantucket, real estate, travel, villa

Ltd. Edition Barbour x Rockport Boots

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes, Men's Style

Classic British outerwear brand Barbour has collaborated with Massachusetts-based footwear firm Rockport on a new limited edition capsule collection of men's boots. The boots, which come in three styles ranging from a Chukka to a tall cap toe boot blend Barbour's iconic waxed cotton found in its classic jackets with Rockport's famously comfortable construction. The Rockport x Barbour collection also features Barbour heritage tartans and Barbour hardware as well as an integrated adiPRENE by Adidas footbed, which provides superior shock absorption at the heel strike. Throughout the collection Rockport has paid considerable attention to details including hand stitched linings, fine pull up leathers, and rawhide laces. In addition Rockport has used its patented Walkability outsole, which helps mimic the natural walking stride by assuring a smooth strike and an efficient roll and flex of the foot throughout the walking motion. Prices for the collection range from $180 – $220 per pair.

Tags: Barbour, boots, footwear, leather, Massachusetts, mens style, outerwear, Rockport, shoes, UK

The Classicist: Celebrating the Season in Style with Range Rover at Wheatleigh

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for high-res image gallery. Photos exclusive to Luxist.

Winter can be a long, cold interlude verging on a test of endurance in the Northeast, and it's all too easy to get bogged down by the doldrums. Plenty of people either hibernate by their hearths or hit the beach until the mercury makes its ascent, but there are myriad ways to keep warm with style, verve and panache. We recently gathered some of our favorite accessories of the season at Wheatleigh, the majestic mansion-turned-luxury hotel in the heart of the Berkshires' winter wonderland. Getting us there in style and comfort through anything the weather cared to concoct was the 2011 Range Rover Sport, a luxurious way to see the landscape safe in the knowledge that the elements have met their match. The pedigreed SUV's smooth, refined, performance and rugged good looks mark it as a thoroughbred in all respects, a suitably stylish conveyance for arriving at a desirable destination like Wheatleigh. And we had the great new Olympus PEN E-PL1 compact, versatile digital camera on hand to record it all for your vicarious enjoyment.

Wheatleigh, located in Lenox, Mass. next door to Edith Wharton's famed country manor The Mount, is a grand estate based on a 16th century Florentine palazzo built in 1893 by New York financier Henry H. Cook for his daughter who married a Spanish count. Many of the materials and over 150 artisans were brought from Italy to produce intricate carvings and design flourishes for the grand interiors and facades. Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, was responsible for creating "Wheatleigh Park" on the land surrounding the palazzo. Following a four year multimillion dollar renovation it was transformed into one of the most unique luxurious small hotels in the world. The nineteen suites, guest rooms and baths artfully combine antiques and custom furnishings with original museum quality contemporary art. The baths are finished with English limestone, marble and hand-blown glass fixtures, and most rooms feature fireplaces and Bang & Olufsen TVs. Check out the gallery to see the perfect accoutrements for a stylish seasonal sojourn – from books to watches, champagne to cashmere sweaters, and boots to bags – no matter where your journey takes you.

Gallery: Range Rover at Wheatleigh Dec. 2010

Graf & Lantz wool felt Boat Bag, personalized Tumi Alpha wheeled case.

Tumi Alpha case; Dom Perignon Tribute to Andy Warhol edition; Private Stock jeans; Graf & Lantz Quiver wine carrier w/ Robert Mo

Tags: Bang Olufsen, Berkshires, Brooks Brothers, Central Park, champagne, Dom Perignon, Edith Wharton, estates, Frederick Law Olmsted, gardens, Holiday 2010, L.L. Bean, Lenox, luggage, luxury hote, mansion, Massachusetts, mens style, New England, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, palazzo, Persol, Ralph Lauren, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, spirits, stolichnaya, sunglasses, SUV, teNeues, The Mount, Tumi, vodka, Wheatleigh, winter

Large Auction Features Many Objects Of American History

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

A treasure trove of Americana is up for auction next weekend when the belongings of Andrew Haswell Green go up for sale. Green, who lived from 1820 - 1903, was known as "The Father of Greater New York", helping to bring together the five boroughs of New York City and to create The American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Bronx Zoo. The collection is a museum's worth of American history, an incredible find that has antique dealers eagerly scanning the sale's catalogs.

Most of Green's belongings have remained boxed up for over one hundred years. The Boston Glove reports that boxes were only opened after the death of Julia Green, his great-great-grandniece and distant heiress. Thousands of documents, antiques and more will be sold in a four-day auction at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts by R.W. Oliver's auction house. The auction includes a printed copy of George Washington's will (only 13 copies are known to exist) and Presidential letters from Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson.

Over 2,000 lots and items will be sold without reserve. They had been passed down through generations, prized, but virtually untouched, sealed and stored until Julia Green's nephew and niece inherited the boxes and decided to have them assessed. In addition to the documents, the boxes contained Tiffany silver, antique toys and games, vintage clothing from ballgowns to flapper dresses, stamps, and coins. Catalog estimates of individual auction items range from $50 to $50,000 and the entire sale could bring in over $1 million.

Tags: a.h. green, americana, andrew haswell green, george washington, massachusetts, worcester

Want to Be a Billionaire? First, Get a Harvard Degree

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Obviously you don't have to have a degree from Harvard in order to become a billionaire – but it certainly helps. According to Forbes' new ranking of universities with the highest number of billionaire alums, Harvard thrashes the competition with a record 62 billionaire grads to its credit – more than double the total of the #2 ranked school, Stanford. A whopping 62 Harvard grads are worth $1 billion or more this year, up from 54 last year. Yale clocks in at No. 5 on the list of the top 10 with 16 billionaire alums, while Princeton barely makes the cut at all, coming out tied for last place with Cornell with 9. Notable billionaire Harvard grads include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Citadel founder Kenneth Griffin, Meg Whitman of eBay and David Rockefeller Sr. Worth noting: an Ivy League degree isn't necessarily better, and Forbes points out that on last year's Forbes 400 list, at least 41 billionaires did not have a college degree at all. Check out the full list of the top 10 after the jump:

Tags: billionaire, billionaires, Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell, education, Harvard, Ivy League, Massachusetts, Meg Whitman, Michael Bloomberg, Princeton, Stanford, the rich, universities, University of Pennsylvania, wealth, Yale

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Plans For Edward Kennedy Institute Revealed

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

The late Senator Edward Kennedy will have his own institute next to his brother's presidential library and museum. The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate will be next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum on the University of Massachusetts at Boston campus. Renderings for the project were revealed this week. The 44,000-square-foot compound was designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. A groundbreaking is scheduled this fall and the institute is set to open in 2013.

The Boston Herald reports that the institute hopes to raise $125 million to cover the building expenses and start an endowment. The Kennedys have already donated millions on top of the nearly $3.5 million given by the late senator's political campaign. Peter Meade, the institute president and CEO, told the Herald that donors have given or pledged $50 million and that the institute floated $60 million worth of bonds to pay for the construction.

The institute has a unique role, it's not a museum or a library but is focused on education. It will have an exhibit hall, Senate Chamber representation, a replica of Kennedy's office, classrooms, digital library and archives.

Tags: boston, edward kennedy, Massachusetts, ted kennedy, umass

Massachusetts Castle, Estate of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

It isn't everyday you see a castle for sale especially without having to cross an ocean to see the open house. In Cohasset, Massachusetts a modest five bedroom, five bathroom home boasting 8,800 square feet and over ten acres of property is currently listed for $2.9 million. This colonial style, single family home built in 1900 includes thirteen total rooms, a three-car garage, four fireplaces and a finished basement. It evens lures a new home owner with nearby walking trails and only a couple of miles to the beach. Located at 211 South Main Street the stone and stucco exterior, dark wood interior, granite kitchen counters and period details throughout make this home at least an intriguing site that may require additional investigation.

(Unfortunately the images are not as large as most 'Estates of the Day' we share with you -- I guess that would be one way they could increase their chances of actually selling the home.)

Gallery: Cohasset Castle

Source

Tags: castle, cohasset, estate of the day, expire-images:2011-5-21, Massachusetts

U.S.'s Oldest Inn Hosts Antique Show

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry, Events, Art

The oldest operating inn in the United States (since 1716) has has seen many events in its time but one thing it hasn't had is an antiques show. The Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts is hosting its inaugural antiques show May 14 through 16 on its grounds. Around 50 antiques dealers from around the country will be display their wares under a 19,000-square-foot grand canopy tent with hardwood and carpeted floors. A portion of the public event proceeds will benefit The Wayside Inn Historic Site. The Wayside Inn expects to see between 1,000 and 1,500 people visit over the course of the event. Longfellow's Wayside Inn is a non-profit Massachusetts Historic Landmark. Money raised will help keep the Inn and its surrounding outbuildings including the gristmill, schoolhouse and chapel in good shape. The 122-acre property has scenic walking trails connecting the buildings.

The Antiques Show is sponsored by Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers and will include fine art, furniture, ceramics, silver, books, jewelry and more. A preview party will be held on May 14 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Fine food, drink and music will be provided and attendees will have access to the show floor and all dealer booths. Tickets to the preview are $125 in advance and $150 at the door. Tickets for the show are $10.

[via Community Advocate]

Tags: antiques, antiques show, inn, massachusetts, sudbury, wayside inn

37 Lancaster, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts was built in 1888 and had been occupied and owned by the same family since 1919. It has been mostly unmessed with, making it as the listing says, one of the most lovely and best-preserved residences in the Boston area. The home was created by the architectural firm of Hartwell-Richardson and epitomizes the Shingle style. The woodwork in this home is simply incredible, beautifully carved and lovingly well-preserved. The home has a Southern exposure across the entire front facade and light streams in from large windows. The home features many intact custom stained-glass windows. There are many fireplaces, two living rooms and nine bedrooms. The third floor includes a billiards room and a cedar-lined storage room. The property also has a two-story carriage house. This home is listed at $4.495 million.

Gallery: 37 Lancaster

Tags: cambridge, estate of the day, massachusetts, shingle style, victorian home

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Willow Road, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is one of the most expensive listings in Massachusetts. This home is in the pricey Boston suburb of Weston. The Arts & Crafts-inspired home was built in 2003 and designed by renowned architect Jeremiah Eck. This huge home spans over 33,000 square feet and has a slate roof, belltower-like chimneys, and a stone and mahogany facade. The six-bedroom home is on 13.5 acres that are adjacent to the Weston Country Club. The rooms are huge but the home manages to maintain a certain cozy feel through the use of dark wood, simplified lines and plenty of windows. Many of the rooms on the main floor are double-height with very high ceilings. The lower level seems to include wine storage and a hot tub room. This home is listed at $24.5 million.

[Thanks, Dan!]

Gallery: Willow Road

Source

Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, massachusetts, massachusetts real estate, MassachusettsRealEstate, weston

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Country Houses, Rural Dwellings & Wooded Retreats

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

Twenty rural retreats spanning the breadth of North America and over a century of architectural and social history are featured in author and photographer Bret Morgan's stylish new book Rustic. Examples include the Ames Gate Lodge, H. H. Richardson's "sublime pile of boulders" in Massachusetts; Camp Topridge, Marjorie Merriweather Post's rustic luxe compund in the Adirondacks; the Arts and Crafts masterpiece Charles Millard Pratt House in southern California; Fortune Rock, George Howe's striking modernist home on the coast of Maine; Robert A. M. Stern's nostalgic Spruce Lodge, hidden high in the Colorado Rockies; and Ledge House, Peter Bohlin's vision of rustic modernism in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. All exemplify an "artfully informal aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of the natural world."

Tags: Adirondacks, architecture, cabin, country house, CountryHouse, lake, lodge, Marjorie Merriweather Post, MarjorieMerriweatherPost, Massachusetts, photography, rural, rustic

NYC, LA Top List of Most Expensive U.S. Cities

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

The list of the most expensive cities in the United States is now out, and unsurprisingly, New York has taken the top spot, with a cost of living that's double its closest follower. Of course, the financial crisis has put a bit of pressure on real estate prices and the cost of goods all over the country, but there are still some places that just cost a fortune.

New York: a two-bedroom luxury apartment (unfurnished) now costs a mere $4,300, off $200 from last year. And, there are other signs that the most expensive city is becoming less expensive, including the shuttering of Café des Artistes and the opening of our first J.C. Penney (ugh).

Los Angeles: this is where you go if you can afford only half the cost of living in New York. Unlike the most expensive city in the country, it makes sense to have a car out there, but get a nice one: you'll be spending a lot of time in it. LA has some of the longest commutes in the country.

Washington, D.C.: in this part of the country, take advantage of a 3.8 percent unemployment rate for the metro area. That's a hell of a lot better than the nationwide 9.8 percent (expected to break 10 percent early next year).

Source

Tags: boston, boston massachusetts, BostonMassachusetts, cafe des artistes, CafeDesArtistes, california, hawaii, honolulu, honoluluhawaii, los angeles, los angeles california, LosAngeles, LosAngelesCalifornia, massachusetts, new york, new york city, new york new york, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NewYorkNewYork, ny, washington, washington dc, WashingtonDc, white plains, WhitePlains

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Chiofaro and Luxury Building Cut Down to Size

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

The next luxury condo building in Boston is going to be closer to the ground than expected. ~~Local windbag~~ controversial real estate developer Don Chiofaro has been fighting a losing battle over the new building and is finally yielding to pressure from the community. The $1 billion plan involves two towers, with commercial space in the shorter sibling of the residential tower.

A decorative arch atop the residential building (which would also include a hotel) would push the building from 690 feet to 780 feet. Removing the arch and cutting the size brings it down by 155 feet – to the 625 feet that the Massachusetts Port Authority will allow. Anything higher, Massport says, would get in the way of nearby Logan International Airport's air traffic.

Chiofaro tells the Boston Globe, "I have no problem with 625 feet, if that's where [we] end up," leaving room for a small victory that would put this Icarus a touch closer to the sun. Given how scarce his friends were when he nearly lost his International Place towers a few years ago, I'm betting he isn't likely to get much above the Massport cutoff.

When the building is finally finished, residents will get fantastic views of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, along with unbeatable bragging rights.

Source

Tags: boston, boston globe, BostonGlobe, greenway, luxury condo, luxury condos, luxury real estate, LuxuryCondo, LuxuryCondos, LuxuryRealEstate, massachusetts, rose kennedy, RoseKennedy

Ames-Webster Mansion, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A couple of readers sent me the Boston Globe story on one of Boston's biggest properties. The Ames-Webster mansion in Boston's pricey Back Bay neighborhood is at 26,000 square feet, one impressive building. The mansion, which was built in 1872, has 50 rooms including 28 fireplaces. The property is currently owned by Reality Realty Trust and could be used as a single family home, multiple units or commercial office space. Right now it is full of office suites.

Details include a stained glass skylight by John La Farge and murals by painter Benjamin Constant and a high arches of intricately carved wood. According to the Globe article, Landvest, the real estate company with the listing, is hosting a cocktail party for brokers in town for Christie's Great Estates 2009 Annual Conference to show off the property. It is expected to sell for between $18 million to $25 million and the listing has a bid deadline of December 15.

Gallery: Ames-Webster Mansion

[Thanks, Tim and Chris]

Source

Tags: ames-webster mansion, Ames-websterMansion, boston, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, massachusetts

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Calling All Estate Tour Lovers, Answer This Question

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Do you love house tours? I do and so does one of our readers who has asked about great estate tours in New England. I can think of a few, which are listed below, but I'm hoping you will weigh in too with suggestions in the comments.

Hammond Castle in Gloucester, Massachusetts is a medieval style castle built in Gloucester, Massachusetts during the 1920s. This is one of those homes that only ego, imagination and unbridled wealth could create. It's open as a museum and includes displays of armor. This unique property is only open on weekends.

The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, is the home of Edith Wharton and offers a great look not just at a writer's home but at classic American style. The home and grounds are open for tours.

Nearby The Mount is Ventfort Hall, shown above, an Elizabethan Revival mansion that showcases Gilded Age style in Lenox, Massachusetts. Sarah, the sister of J. Pierpont Morgan, purchased the property in 1891, and hired Rotch & Tilden, prominent Boston architects, to design the house in the most lavish of styles.

Gore Place in Waltham, Massachusetts is one of the most beautiful examples of the Federal period in Massachusetts architecture. The historic house and estate of Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore has been "the Monticello of the North" and offers tours and a variety of special programs.

In scenic Newburyport, the Cushing House Museum is open for tours from May 12, 2009 through October 31, 2009. The rooms showcase collections of silver, furniture, portraits, clocks, needlework and more. The grounds include a 19th century garden, an herb garden, fruit trees, a summer house, cobbled yard and carriage house.

Tags: answer this question, AnswerThisQuestion, estate tours, EstateTours, massachusetts