If Howard Hughes had known about this place, without a doubt, the recluse-loving billionaire would have put in a bid.
The property sits on Marrowstone island -- an island located off Seattle that's populated by a chosen few (a mere 837 people according to the 2000 Census). The compound, known as Morning Tide by the Sea, has come on the market for the first time in more than 25 years at a listing price of $7,796,000. The 6,000-square-foot home has 825 feet of beach front on Admiralty Inlet and sits on 112 pristine acres.

This is a second home for its owners, who are a bit on the reclusive side themselves but are said to have been early investors in Starbucks. They certainly made sure all their favorite amenities were included: They installed an 18-hole golf course on 82 acres (it follows the shape of the island and is modeled after famed Scottish courses), a writer's studio, a 2,500 square foot greenhouse in which they produce magnificent flower baskets from Barclay's seeds, and a horse barn with four stalls. There is also a frame guest house with a recording booth. The property is sited on rolling lawns on the bluff side and has sea views to Mt. Rainer.

The four bedroom, four-bath main residence, evocative of East Coast cottages, blends antique tiles, Tiffany glass work, and a master wing with a fire place and glass dome, according to the listing.

The island itself is reachable by ferry and a bridge from Indian Island. There is one market, the Nordland General Store, which if you blink, you may drive right past it. The island was plotted in 1889, and settled by families newly immigrated from Norway who saw its similarities to the Norwegian fjords. Many of the descendants of the original families still live on the island.

Suzanne Charnos of Windermere Realty in Seattle is the listing agent.

Click Wine Group, the privately held, Seattle-based company that owns and imports wine from around the world, has a standout collection of vintages in $10 - $13 range, starring Root: 1 from Chile and the indefatigable Fat Bastard. Their Global Wine Collection consists of signature varietals from world-class appellations with easy to pronounce (and sometimes amusing) names and appealing, consumer friendly packaging aimed at taking the intimidation out of wine. They have something for virtually every palate and autumnal occasion. To meet growing consumer demand, Root: 1 recently added two new varietals to its lineup: a smooth, richly flavored Carmenere and a crisp, fresh Chardonnay. Carmenere is Chile's signature varietal, a deep colored, full-bodied wine that offers the charm of Merlot and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Produced in Colchaugua Valley, Root: 1 Carmenere is deep red in color with gentle tannins and rich flavors of plum, blackberry and spice. Root: 1 Chardonnay is not the heavily oaked kind that has become a wine snob's cliché, but rather a fine balance of fruit and acidity. Grown in the cool, coastal Casablanca Valley, renowned for producing the best white wines in South America, Root:1 Chardonnay is fresh, expressive and balanced with melon, honey and toasted hazelnut flavors. Also well worth trying is the Root 1: Sauvingnon Blanc, a crisp wine with citrus notes and a fresh, clean finish. The ungrafted rootstock produces a bright, tropical fruit flavor that pairs perfectly with salads, seafood and creamy pasta sauces.

Love the crab-catching action on "The Deadliest Catch?" The Edgewater Hotel in Seattle is offering a package that includes a tour of the Sea Star, one of the fishing boats used on the Discovery Channel show. The 104-foot boat is docked near the hotel. Guests who check in by September 6 can board the boat, check out the crab pots and pilot house and sit in the captain's chair. Local crew members of the Seattle fishing boats from the series serve as tour guides. The Edgewater package includes overnight accommodations for up to two adults and two children, the Sea Star tour, logo tote bag and souvenir Sea Star photograph. Packages start at $223 plus tax.

[via USA Today]

The building that houses some of Seattle's most expensive condo units is planning to give potential buyers a little relief. The Seattle Times says that The Four Seasons Private Residences is planning to cut prices in response to the lackluster real estate market. The article says that is has been nearly six months since a sale closed at the Four Seasons. There are 36 condos spread out over 11 stories above the 10-story Four Seasons Hotel downtown. So far 11 condos are still unsold including a two bedroom currently priced at $8.706 million. The amount of the price reductions or when they will take place hasn't been released yet. Bellevue Towers in downtown Bellevue, Washington also recently reduced prices an average of 20 percent because just 45 of the project's 539 condos have sold.

Click Wine Group, a privately held, Seattle-based company that owns and imports wine from around the world, features a great selection of recession-friendly vintages with average prices of between $10 - $13. Their Global Wine Collection consists of signature varietals from world-class appellations with easy to pronounce (and sometimes amusing) names and appealing, consumer friendly packaging aimed at taking the intimidation out of wine. They have something for virtually every palate and summertime occasion.

Fat Bastard Chardonnay:

To craft Fat Bastard Chardonnay, grapes are sourced from all over France's Languedoc-Roussillon region. The golden yellow wine with pale-green tints has expressive stone-fruit aromas with soft floral undertones and well-balanced citrus and acacia notes. Soft oak gives warmth and balance to the palate. Serve with fresh crab or shrimp, or with a roasted pork tenderloin and vegetables. Try also: Rosé.

2 Up Shiraz:

Named for a popular game of chance in Australia, 2 Up is an elegant, intense and exceptional quality Shiraz that is hand-crafted from a blend of grapes carefully selected from highly prized local vineyards. According to Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate, 2 Up represents "the type of wine value that simply can't be found in California." Goes well with Italian dishes, ribs, and grilled meats such as aged beef and lamb.

Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon:

Chile is one of the very few grape growing regions in the world where original European rootstocks have survived, producing the intense fruit flavor and authentic varietal character of Root: 1 wines. Rich ruby color with aromas of ripe berries and soft plum are followed by tastes of black cherry, soft vanilla and dark chocolate characterize their Cabernet. Artfully accompanies grilled meats, ripe cheeses, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and chocolate. Try also: Chardonnay.

Henrybuilt, the American high-design company known for its sleek, hand crafted lines, has just launched a series of closet designs that will be custom to each client and built to order in the company's Seattle workshop.

Weaving together its trademark modern design with unsurpassed functionality, these "closets" (it seems they should get a new, much fancier name with all the included bells and whistles) feature wooden valet trays, leather-lined storage compartments, hand crafted leather pulls and an integrated lighting system -- so you'll be sure to look as good in whatever's in your closet as the closet itself.

Prices available upon request from Henrybuilt, which has a New York studio in addition to its Seattle shop.

Today's listing takes us to a 1932 brick home in the pricey Mercer Island area of East Seattle, Washington. This home is on 1.37 acres and has a beach, a dock with boat lifts, a two-bedroom guest house and a carriage house that has three office spaces. The main home has been completely rebuilt and expanded. It has lost some of its vintage charm but does retain some details like beamed ceilings and leaded glass windows combined with a more modern open floor plan. Rocks surround an indoor pool which has a waterslide and spa. The home also has a game room, sports court and home theater. it is listed at $29.95 million.
Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Whole Foods stores in Portland and Seattle recently participated in Community Giving Day, agreeing to donate 5% of the day's sales to Farm Aid, a non-profit org that supports local farmers.

The total came to $30,000, money which will help farmers produce and market their food.

"We appreciate [Whole Foods] customers who value family farmers and the food that only they can grow," said Carolyn Mugar , Farm Aid's executive director, in a press release.

As an adjunct to their just-released annual list of the 400 richest Americans, Forbes has included a special report on the homes of some of the billionaires who made the cut. Capping the account is of course Bill Gates, who tops the 400 with his $57 billion fortune. It's hard to say exactly how much his high-tech 66,000-sq.-ft. house on Lake Washington near Seattle is worth. The property includes a 60-foot swimming pool with an underwater music system, a domed library with two "secret" bookcase doors and a 1,000-square-foot dining room, the mag notes.

Also featured: the historic seven-story Duke-Semans mansion (above) in Manhattan owned by cab driver-turned-mogul Tamir Sapir (net worth $1.9 billion), who bought it from Doris Duke's relatives for $40 million after a single walk-through. He's now said to be spending $10 million on renovations. And then there's Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's (net worth $27 billion) 23-acre estate in Woodside, Calif., "reminiscent of a 16th-century imperial Japanese palace" which reportedly cost over $100 million to build. You can see a slideshow of these megamansions and more here.

HenryBuilt -- the design team long favored by discerning architects and their customers -- has recently launched its Whole House Line, essentially sleek-ifying every niche of your home from the library to the laundry room. The custom line is all rift-cut oak, walnut, stainless steel, teak: rich woods in a classic modern style.

The pieces aptly synthesize engineering and craft, meaning they can live in your home for a lifetime. Feelgood bonus: HenryBuilt uses a wide range of renewable or recycled materials.

A New York fixture since 2001, HenryBuilt has just opened a new showroom in Seattle, where the company first began. If you're Pacific Northwest bound, check out the goods at their opening party on September 18. 997 Western Ave., Seattle. Their NYC shop is at 79 Grand Street.

Arrive just 15 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart. Take off from a private terminal. Avoid TSA shenanigans altogether. Protect conservation land in the Pacific Northwest. The four previous statements more or less define the mission of Portland-based SeaPort Air, a new airline that's trying to bring the jetset experience to the masses (at least if they're flying between Portland and Seattle). To mitigate its fuel consumption (the new "carbon offset"), it has as of yesterday announced its partnership with the Columbia Land Trust, noting the company is determined to give back locally to an environmental organization that will have a lasting impact on the Pacific Northwest. With any luck, SeaPort will initiate flight service near the rest of us.

Deliciousness comes to Seattle on July 13th in the form of the Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon. The show takes place at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The show will include a variety of chocolatiers and confectioners include Amano Artisan Chocolate, Kekau Chocolatier, Cocoa Chai Chocolates, Petit Noirs, Guittard Chocolate, Theo Chocolate,Alma Chocolate, Lula's Chocolates, Dilettante Chocolates, Posh Chocolat and more. The event will also include chocolate demos by local talent. The salon will also hold the Luxury Chocolate Salon Awards and members of the tasting panel include Seattle food and city journalists Molly Wizenberg (Orangette, Bon Appetit), Eric Scigliano (Seattle Metropolitan Magazine), Viv (Seattle Bon Vivant), Ritzy Ryciak (Conscious Choice Magazine) and Dana Cree (TastingMenu.com, Pastry Chef - Veil Restaurant). Tickets are $20 for adults at the door or $17.50 in advance.

The Seattle Aquarium Society is about not only supporting the Seattle Aquarium but also educating people about and preserving the Puget Sound and other marine habitats. Money donated goes towards researching marine species like the six gill shark and the giant Pacific Octopus, training "Beach Naturalists" who volunteer to teach beach visitors how to enjoy themselves without hurting the environment, or even simply helps feed the otters. High level memberships of $300-$5000/year get you additional goodies like behind-the-scenes tours and invites to special wine tastings, Presidential dinners, and the Splash! Reception that happens each year.

The world of luxury eco-friendly housing was shattered this week by the news of the arson fires at the Street of Dreams homes in Snohomish County, Washington. The five homes were part of what's called a "rural cluster development" and were built "five star BuiltGreen" standards. The homes were all unoccupied and listed for sale at prices from approximately $1.6 to $.19 million. The Seattle Times reports that federal investigators are trying to determine whether a group of radical environmentalists known as the Earth Liberation Front, are responsible for the fires. A spraypainted message from the ELF was left at the scene. It said: Built Green? Nope black! McMansions in RCDs r not green. ELF." Law-enforcement officials wonder if the fires were timed to coincide with jury deliberations in the trial of an alleged ELF member accused of a previous fire.

Monday's fires did $7 million total in damages. The homes had a variety of "green" features such as energy-efficient appliances, native-plant landscaping, high-efficiency insulation and the use of recycled materials. The homes had video-surveillance systems and alarms but they were turned off because they weren't consider to be needed and the homes were for sale and real estate agents were concerned about setting off the alarms.

The declining real estate market has been particularly tough on the condo market with many people afraid to buy a condo for fear that six months or a year later someone else will buy the same size condo in their building for a lot less money. At the Olive 8 hotel condo/hotel project in Seattle, the developer is seeking to allay that fear by offering prospective buyers the type of guarantee that we usually see electronics and furniture stores offer. The developer has said that If someone buys an Olive 8 condo now and later someone else buys a unit in the building with the same floor plan for less, the developer will reduce the first buyer's price down to the lower amount at closing.

Olive 8 is currently under construction at Eighth Avenue and Olive Way and will have 230 luxury condos on 22 floors above a 17-story Hyatt hotel. The hotel is slated to open in December and condo owners will move in after that. The sales are a testimony to the dramatic shift the real estate market has taken. About a year ago the developer had sold 175 of the 230 units but since then they've sold less than 10 more. Remaining condos in the building start at $750,000.