Star Island

Villa Stella, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

Villa Stella is a Moroccan fantasy on Miami's ritzy Star Island. This four-bedroom, two-story home on the water has four enclosed garages including two that are fully air conditioned. The formal arrival court can hold up to 15 cars.

Inside awaits a private sanctuary done in a bright yet soft palette. The home's 30-foot ceilings display handpainted murals and skylights by muralist Yves Lanthier and the decor also has Southwestern and Balinese influences. The master and guest suite rooms are on the upper floor and staff quarters and a garden guest suite are on the ground floor. The master suite includes lavish his and hers baths with semi-precious light-colored onyx flooring and vanities, multiple shower heads, whirlpool bath, and heated towel racks. An enclosed rooftop observatory offers a quiet place to enjoy views all around anytime of the day or night. Carved wood and elaborate tile details give this home an exotic feel.

The kitchen has double wall ovens, double Sub Zero refrigerators, two dishwashers and a Viking gas stove with grill. The saltwater keyhole-shaped pool and bayside gazebo with a relaxation bed and summer kitchen offer views across the bay to South Beach. The home has 100 feet of waterfront with a boat dock for a yacht and jet skis. The backyard includes a swing set and doll house. The home's technology includes security cameras 24/7, audio/visual controls, interior and exterior lighting controls in every room. This home is listed at $24 million with Sylvia Fragos of Great Estates International Realty.

Gallery: Villa Stella

Tags: estate of the day, florida real estate, miami real estate, star island

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Shaq Finally Unloads Miami Mansion for $16 Million - to Naomi Campbell's Boyfriend?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Sports

Shaquille O'Neal has finally unloaded his Miami mansion for $16 million - $2 million less than he paid for the place - after nearly five years. The basketball superstar bought the Star Island spread in 2004 for $18.2 million, and first listed it for sale in 2005 for $32 million. The home was listed at $29 million when it was our estate of the day last summer, then the price dropped to $22 million before climbing back up to $25 million, then going back down to $22.5 million. Quite the real estate roller coaster. The Miami Herald reports that the new owner who reportedly coughed up $16 million in cash is said to be a European businessman who plans to renovate the estate. According to the South Beach Real Estate Blog, the buyer is none other than Vladislav Doronin, the handsome Russian billionaire who's dating supermodel Naomi Campbell. The Mediterranean-style main house has eight bedrooms, an indoor basketball court, gym, steam room and sauna. The 2.5 acre grounds include a tennis court, six-car garage, dock, two-bedroom guest house and Shaq's pool complete with Superman logo.

Gallery: Shaq on Star Island

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Tags: basketball, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, Florida, Miami, Naomi Campbell, NaomiCampbell, Russian billionaire, RussianBillionaire, Shaq, Shaquille ONeal, ShaquilleOneal, sports star, SportsStar, Star Island, StarIsland, supermodel, Vladislav Doronin, VladislavDoronin

Shaq On Star Island, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

I've been talking about this estate since way back in 2005. That's when basketball star Shaquille O'Neal first started trying to unload his house on Miami's prestigious Star Island. O'Neal bought the home in 2004 for $19 million soon after joining the Miami Heat. The WSJ's Private Properties column reports that the home was built in 1992 by Heat center Rony Seikaly. The home does have a certain gargantuan scale but that's not unusual in some multimillion dollar South Florida homes. It has eight bedrooms, an indoor basketball court, gym, steam room and sauna. The 2.5 acre grounds include a tennis court, six-car garage, dock, two-bedroom guest house and Shaq's pool complete with Superman logo. The home is lavish but not particularly distinctive, money used to its blandest potential. The price is now $29 million. If I were to take a bet on a final selling price, I'd guess that Shaq's going to have to cut a few more millions off this one. My guess is $23-$25 million.

UPDATE: The home was briefly off the market after a deal in the $19 million range fell through. The home is now listed at $22 million.

SECOND UPDATE: It is now listed at $22.5 million.

Gallery: Shaq on Star Island

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Tags: celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, florida, miami, shaquille oneal, star island

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Star Island Promises Off The Grid Luxury in the Bahamas

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Another Bahamas project has been announced and this one has a sustainable angle. Star Island is a 35-acre island in a protected sound ten minutes by boat from harbor island. The resort will be home to private homes and resort residences with facilities that will include a spa, restaurants, bars, pools, tennis courts and a "no-fuel" marina.

The developers have pledged that each part of the development and operation will be sustainable. This includes everything from alternative energy such as solar, wind and microhydro to shade-grown organic coffee in the restaurants and bamboo sheets on the beds. The plan is to have Star Island be entirely off the grid and 100% energy self-sufficient.

Buildings will be designed to meet LEED-certification requirements and will use technology such as cold-formed steel, insulated concrete forms, LED lighting and geothermal temperature-control devices. The island's water needs will be met by a rain-harvesting system and underground tanks with drinking water purified through reverse osmosis systems. This unique development is planned to be open in late 2009.

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Tags: bahamas, eco-friendly, green, resort, star island, StarIsland, sustainable

Star Island, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Star Island is one of the most exclusive areas in the Miami Beach area. This small oval artificial island is home to a variety of extravagant estates inhabited by folks such as Shaquille O'Neal. Today's estate is a two-story hacienda with a beautiful slice of waterfront along Biscayne Bay with dockage for a large yacht, a pool area, and large exterior entertaining areas. The home has seven bedrooms and there is also a guest house with three bedrooms. Marble, wrought iron and other luxury surfaces abound. This estate is listed at $19.8 million. After the jump, check out the stained glass in the living room.

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Tags: estate of the day, florida, luxury real estate, star island, StarIsland

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