Decorati is the online home to finds like hand-crafted pieces from Cliff Young or Tucker Robbins's side table ($660, above), which was recently featured in a scene on Gossip Girl. The aim of the site is to replace the staggering piles of design catalogs lying around and keep inspiration flowing once the showrooms have closed for the day.
Founder and interior designer Shane Reilly launched the site when she was shuttling between coasts working on multiple projects and wishing she could shop the showrooms after hours.
We've all heard stories when we were kids about far away kings and queens that were so rich they never went anywhere without having rose petals (or some other lavish item) sprinkled beneath their feet as they walked. But as much fun as it is to imagine living like that it's not something that really realistic, is it? Pietra Firma thinks it is, and for the perfectly realistic (*cough*) price of just $1,000,000 per square meter they offer floor tiles not made of roses but instead each featuring over 1000 genuine diamonds, along with thousands of insets of precious materials like mother of pearl, abalone, and black onyx.
So ... they are beautiful. I wonder how many square meters they've sold and to who?
Gallery: Pietra Firma LuxTouch Diamond Floor Tiles
The legendary Italian design house of Salvatore Ferragamo will design the interiors of Trident International's new Dubai-based Pentominium (where expansive penthouses meet the convenience of condo living). The tower for which Ferragamo will design is slated to be the tallest residential building in the world at over 500 meters high. Each floor will comprise one penthouse unit, measuring a luxe 6,500 square feet and offering expansive ocean views.
The building itself will offer a Davidoff-inspired cigar lounge, rooftop observation deck, Swarovski-crystallized grand entrance, indoor pool and spa and fully functional business center. Not that you'd need to leave the tower, but if the need arises, Pentominium residents have use of a fleet of Rolls Royces and Azimut yachts. Residences are expected to be finished by 2012. Though standard units will start at $5.3 million, penthouse list prices have yet to be disclosed.
A really great, oversized design book with beautifully-reproduced images can sometimes actually transport you to another place. Such is the case with a new volume titled New Seaside Interiors, edited by Angelika Taschen, which is anything but a mishmash of coastal clichés. Forget what you think you know about nautical décor; with examples of brilliant seaside design on all five continents, from Iceland to Chile, the architecture in this book harmonizes with the ocean in ways that go far beyond sprinkling a few seashells around the guest bath. From fashion designer Pierre Cardin's Bond villain-style floating house in St. Tropez to Dolce & Gabbana's eye-popping seaside villas in Italy, this is the né plus ultra of seaside style. See the gallery for more.
I came across this gem while browsing pictures of unique children's rooms. Named The 1984 Fishbowl, this revamped design by Danny Cheung putts a modern twist on the age old glass fish bowl. It's quirky shape is eye catching, the windows are made of magnified glass providing a detailed look at your goldfish, while the opaque walls provide refuge. I love the retro look of this funky little fish bowl, it would make a stylish addition to any room, and I imagine kids would go nuts for it. Available online for $430.
Ralph Lauren's flagship store on Madison Avenue (pictured above), aka the Polo Mansion, is probably the most luxurious retail outlet in the world. Not surprisingly, it made Naomi Leff, the interior decorator who created it out of a gutted shell, into a household word in design circles. The Monacelli Press presents a long-overdue compendium of her work in the alluring new book Naomi Leff: Interior Design. "To me it's the most beautiful store in the world," Lauren said upon the Mansion's completion in 1987, "the details, the world it creates, the textures. It's a store that has an emotional impact. I've watched so many people come into it and be dazzled when they enter." Leff went on to design several more stores for Lauren and stunning spaces for Giorgio Armani and private clients as well. See more of her work in the gallery.
Master interior designer Tord Boontje is renowned for his decorative pieces that combine the whimsical beauty of nature with the latest technology. Ornate layers and vivid colors are his trademark, his work is breathtaking and quite often his designs look like they belong in a museum. Tord tries his artful hand at kid's decor with this beautiful shadow light, the perfect addition to any baby's nursery or older child's room. It features scenes from nature that are projected in multi colored images onto surrounding walls. I imagine any child would fall in love with a nightly light show featuring animals! The Tord Boontje Shadow Light is available online for $359.
The immensely talented, couture jewelry design duo at Erickson Beamon, have created the most fabulous chandelier ever! This exquisite handmade work of art is called the Glam Rock Chandelier, and it looks like it belongs in a castle (it has in fact had a permanent home in a few museums). Completely covered with Japanese glass pearls and Swarovski crystals it still manages to look timeless and classy not gaudy. I adore it, too bad it costs $22,500! Available on vivre.com.
Bring the woodsy outdoors charm into your home with this limited edition unique find. It's called the Meteor Table, it's made by Christa and it's an actual teak tree root that's been coated with bronze. Definitely a conversation starter in any home! I guess you can't rush such a ginormous and heavy package (750 pounds) via mail so it takes 6 months to arrive. Tree tables don't come cheap, this purchase will set you back $55,000! Of course I'm trying to figure out how I can start making these things! It's available on vivre.com, a very cool decor site.
Though it will always have strong overtones of colonialism, going on safari in Africa these days isn't about imposing country club comforts on the untamed wilderness or making a dent in the local wildlife population. That's only fitting in an era when more people come to photograph the animals than shoot them. That's not to say there aren't plenty of elegant luxury lodges in Southern Africa where you can be waited on hand and foot; it's just that the emphasis now is on "organic glamour," a more ecologically-minded, indigenous approach that doesn't sacrifice anything in the way of comfort or style.
In The New Safari: Design, Décor, Detail, just out from Quivertree Publications, we get a tour of 17 of the best and most unique of these lodges, from the diaphanous Singita Lembombo in the Kruger National Park to Namibia's Little Kulala with its blend of earthy and contemporary elements. Be sure to check it out before you book your own excursion.
William (Bill) Stubbs, a Houston-based designer and one of Architectural Digest's top 100 designers, shares his knowledge and philosophy in 13 half-hour episodes of the new PBS series A Moment of Luxury. Presented nationally by WLIW New York, the series premiered nationwide this month (check local listings for your channel and broadcast time). Its aim is to make "the experience of luxury -- excellence, comfort and high quality -- accessible at any budget with transformational tips inspired by international locales and top experts. The website has lots to read, such as an episode guide, a list of Stubbs' travels and of course, a blog, so you can "create your own interaction with luxury." Don't we all want that?
Life in the aristocratic Piedmont region of rural Virginia from Middleburg to Charlottesville, known as "Hunt Country," is of course mainly centered around equestrian pursuits. However, the preservation both of open land and historic architecture are of equal importance. Foxhunting has been popular in the area since the late 1740s, when the young George Washington rode to hounds, later establishing his own pack at Mount Vernon.
In a beautiful new book called Hunt Country Style, Kathryn Masson escorts us through some of the prettiest purlieus, including the seat of the Orange County Hunt, with which Jackie Kennedy often rode. While these days (as in any other desirable locale) there's been an influx of new money, for the most part the emphasis is still more on tradition than ostentation.
Click on the gallery below to take a tour of Hunt Country. Tally-ho!
When I think of folding screens, I envision them in a large luxurious loft defining spaces and adding depth and texture. And of course they are extremely functional in large spaces, but they can be just as functional in smaller spaces. Featured here is Cottage & Bungalow's Folding Screen made of solid cane and woven rattan. It has a truly eclectic feel and depending on your personal style, could easily take on any look you want – modern, tropical, classic American, etc. The folding screen would look exquisite in front of a window or in an otherwise boring corner. And by adding a voluminous plant, you've added a hint of color and texture. Seen here in dark chocolate, it is also available in a wide assortment of colorful options. Measures: 60" W x 72" H. Price: $1340.
What a dream for a little girl or boy to have a bedroom modeled after their favorite fairytale or movie! Of course the rich and famous can afford to give their kids whatever they want, and they aren't hesitating to do just that when it comes to bedroom design and decor. One designer says "if you can draw it we can make it," which is resulting in every creation you can imagine -- from a $47,000 pumpkin-shaped carriage bed (Cinderella) to a Tom Thumb room consisting entirely of over-sized furniture.
It's not unusual for these designer bedrooms to end up costing $50,000 to $100,000 by the time they're complete. Would you spend that much on your child's bedroom? Especially considering they'll probably grow out of the theme and want something new in a year or two?
Decorator showhouses are often a mixed bag. Beautiful but sometimes a hodge podge of decorator styles. This one, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2006 manages to maintain a uniformly luxe look. Perhaps because they had such a post framework to start with. The Beaux-Arts Mansion was originally built in 1902 for Nelly Mason and was totally rebuilt in 1928 by George Wagner, whose firm built San Francisco City Hall. The home has six bedrooms, an entry foyer with a sweeping three-story staircase, living room, a formal paneled dining room, gourmet kitchen with adjacent family room, a master suite with sitting room, a home office, a recreation room with adjacent media room and a wine cellar. There is also a carriage house and garage on the property. The home has views of the Golden Gate Bridge and has been 'smart-wired', with a Lutron lighting system, a monitored security system and cabling in comtemplation of whole-home audio, video and CCTV capabilities. It is listed at $14.25 million. After the jump, for once too many decorators don't spoil the pot.
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I came across this gem while browsing pictures of unique children's rooms. Named The 1984 Fishbowl, this revamped design by Danny Cheung putts a modern twist on the age old glass fish bowl. It's quirky shape is eye catching, the windows are made of magnified glass providing a detailed look at your goldfish, while the opaque walls provide refuge. I love the retro look of this funky little fish bowl, it would make a stylish addition to any room, and I imagine kids would go nuts for it. Available 
Life in the aristocratic Piedmont region of rural 
