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A Sneak Peek Inside Kanye West's Apartment

Filed under: Estates

When celebrities decorate their homes, they tend to go all out with their designs. They have plenty of money on hand to do so, of course, but more importantly, these celebs are looking to make their homes into retreats that can serve as a sanctuary in a world filled with paparazzi. Singer Kanye West's brand-new New York apartment, which is being designed by Claudio Silvestrin, is tranquil and minimalist to an extreme degree, with the sort of layout that only a ridiculous amount of money can buy.

Above, a view of the kitchen is shown. More pictures are after the jump.

[via just jared]

$10 Million Don't Buy What It Used To

Filed under: Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Art

The New York Times' writer William L. Hamilton's article "What Money Can't Buy" chronicles these rough-and-tumble times for the city's ultra rich. From Central Park-side real estate to 250mph Bugattis, it seems the recipients of this year's massive Wall Street bonuses may have a tougher time spending their newfound wealth than they may have hoped. Want a new Jeff Koons to grace your foyer? His next dozen pieces are spoken for. John Walker 1805 Reserve? The 45-year vintage (from distilleries that no longer exist) was supposed to be available already but now may never. Trying to get your hands on a "starter" jet – the Eclipse 500 or the Cessna Citation? You may find yourself waiting until 2010. And even if it's not superfluous luxuries you're after, it seems even upper-crust residences are becoming harder to snag; the city's top brokers are noticing that $10 Million dollar apartments are only going to buyers with $100M net worth, as co-op boards are expecting their tenants to be charitable enough to give away what they pay in rent every year. So, sorry Richie Rich, you'll just have to *gasp* wait your turn. Oh, and check out the link for pics of the Bugatti.

Miraval Living in NYC

Filed under: Estates, Spas

When you're at a really posh spa, you feel very removed from the world and, if you're anything like we are, you eventually begin to feel so relaxed that you wish that you never had to return to the real world. In New York in 2008, the Arizona-based Miraval spa will be opening a new complex where you actually don't have to leave. Located at 515 East 72nd Street the project is called Miraval Living and it is the company's first "spadominium," a condo complex where spa-living is a way of life. And for a spa, it's actually a rather intense experience. Each resident will receive a "custom regimen from the hundreds of offered services, from sex therapy to massages to pilates.

Future "spadomiums" are planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami and Washington.

Most Expensive Apartment in Shanghai Sold

Filed under: Estates

Way back in November, I wrote about the ultra-pricey apartments of the Tomson Riviera development in Shanghai, China. Now the most expensive apartment on the Chinese mainland has just been sold for over $16 million. They buyer is from Southeast Asia and the over 3,000 square foot apartment is the first sale in the Tomson Riviera development.

Park Avenue, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Another case of exquisite decoration and a good chance to do some artspotting, this New York apartment is located  in the East 70's on Park Avenue. The corner apartment has a large gallery area, library, dining room and living room and all sorts of elaborate details like the intricate wood floor shown above. There are five bedrooms with bathrooms and large closets. The master suite includes a fireplace. The co-op costs $21 million and there is no terrace. After the jump, is that a Basquiat I see on the wall?

Canyon Ranch Expands to Bethseda

Filed under: Estates

Canyon Ranch, the Arizona-based health spa, is planning an expansion in Bethseda, Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C.. The nearly $1 billion complex will not be a spa, but a residential community with a wellness focus.  is the second of its kind, as a Miami Beach location is already under construction. The property will have a 157 room hotel, 434 condos, 87 apartments and a restaurant, in addition to a 90,000-sq. foot wellness center. Condos will range in price from $900,000 to upwards of $5 million. The opening is expected to be sometime in 2008, but sales of the residences began this year. 

Koch Sells 1040 Fifth Avenue

Filed under: Estates

David H. Koch, number 33 on Forbes Magazine's list of the world's billionaires, is selling up to accommodate his growing family and putting his 1040 Fifth Avenue apartment on the market. The apartment occupies the entire 15th floor of the building and was once owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Koch purchased it in 1995 for $9.5-million and spent and estimated $5-10 million on renovations. He and his wife felt they needed a larger space to raise what will be their third child, though the apartment at 1040 Fifth has four bedrooms, two dressing rooms, a staff room, a library, living room, dining room, conservatory, two terraces, three fireplaces, five and a half bathrooms and a wine room. The family is moving to 740 Park, which Koch says is a duplex twice the size of the Onassis apartment. The asking price is $32 million.

[Photo NYT]

Hugh Hates His Houses

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Apparently, Hugh Grant hates all of the 17 "horrible houses" he owns in London. He seems to keep buying the places, deciding that they are "not very nice" and moving on to buy another. One has to wonder if Hugh knows that there are people in business to prevent this sort of situation. He could call an interior decorator to redesign the homes or a contractor to gut the buildings and start over fresh. He could also call a real estate agent and sell some of the properties. The properties include a $9 million bachelor pad, which doubles as an office for his production company, but it sounds as though he might want to keep that one. 

Brad Pitt Doesn't Like Paris Apartment

Brad Pitt isn’t thrilled with his living situation. While the source of the information, namely a café worker near Pitt’s Paris apartment, might not be the mostly likely candidate for Brad’s confidence, the reasons he cites are certainly valid. According to him, Pitt doesn’t like the high-rise building he shares with Angelina Jolie and their children because there is not enough space for the kids to play. He wants a yard. He wants quiet. He wants to leave Paris. Maybe Brangelina will reconsider the house in Normandy that they were looking into a few months ago, which would certainly offer the growing family more room.

Reports say that the apartment is only 1,300-sq. feet and the building has a “sickly, cabbage type smell.” The high rise is plain and utilitarian, and though it has a view of the Eiffel Tower, it is surrounded by fast food restaurants and is near a noisy metro station. No wonder he wants to leave.

Geothermal town house

Filed under: Estates

This New York town house has the unique feature of a geothermal energy system which provides heating, cooling and hot water.  The energy comes from pipes going 1,400 feet into the earth, which come back to the house to the radiant heating system via all floors of the house.  It is further environmentally sound with double insulation, air filtration and even a snow melting system (no need for salt or breaking your back!). Spread your green-loving family over the 6,000 sq ft with 875 sq ft of terraces including the solarium penthouse which is part of the 4 bedrooms with 4.5 baths.  Limestone and Merbau hardwood floors throughout with a Bulthaup kitchen. Being offered at $7.825 million.

Rent the Real World New York Apartment

Filed under: Estates

The New York Observer reports that the West Village apartment used by the MTV for the Real World's 10th season is now on the market as a$35,000 rental. The surprise isn't the cost (after all the place is huge) but the very posh Tuscan-styled remodel job (they kept some of the architectural details but ditched the candy-colored walls). You can compare and contrast with the pictures of the apartment on MTV's website.

[via Jossip]

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