Photo: Adam Johnston
Irwin Weiner ASID - We have a humble renovated farmhouse in Bucks County, PA as our weekend getaway. It features a garden-filled yard with an old 1960s in-ground pool built in the shape of an Absolute Vodka bottle. I must say that it's a far cry from the high luxury found in resort islands like Ibiza, but today I wanted to share with you a video to show you what a brand-new luxury villa looks like in a part of the world more of-the-moment than rural Pennsylvania. The pool is killer. The architecture is solid and suitable to resort living. Swim in the ocean or pool, take a soaking bath to wash away all the sand and grit, then get ready for a night of clubs, dancing, and parties. The furnishings are safe, yet classic contemporary pieces that suit the villa and its vacation getaway purpose. The artwork is colorful - thank heavens something adds a bit of color to the place - and keeps the decor edgy and vibey. All I know is, I could hang out there for a week if I was forced.... Okay ... maybe a month or two. Hang out at The Ibiza Diaries blogsite to see what you'd be experiencing if you hung out at this villa, too!
(OId Westbury Gardens - South Terrace)A long allée bordered by towering linden trees stretches out from the gates to the entrance of Westbury House, framing its Charles II façade. Tall, imposing iron gates announce that you’re now entering a secluded and spectacular estate known as Old Westbury Gardens located in the very exclusive village of Old Westbury in Long Island, New York. Old Westbury Gardens is so picturesque it’s been chosen for the settings of several movies, including Love Story and Age of Innocence.
(Old Westbury Gardens - Front Gate)Westbury House became the home of newlyweds John "Jay" Phipps (son to a partner of Carnegie Steel) and Margarita Grace (daughter of the founder of the Grace Shipping Lines) in 1903. The Phipps family joined the Old Westbury neighborhood whose prominent inhabitants included the Vanderbilts, the Whitneys, and the Winthrops ... to name just a few.
(Old Westbury House - Front)Phipps wanted his homesick British wife to feel at home in Long Island, so he turned to British designer George Crawley to design his home. The result was the Charles II style, an 18th century architecture mix of classical and baroque motifs. Crawley wanted to create a gracious country manor that looked like it had been standing there for centuries. A symmetrical brick façade of classical windows, corniced roof, and center Palladian window surround a baroque entry porch of clustered columns, producing a home that was at once elegant and impressive without being imposing.
Caroline Wolfe Papocchia - Occasionally in our travels we encounter lovely venues for special events and weddings, and a recent visit to the Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, Vermont was no exception. Nestled in the state's renowned green mountains, Topnotch offers an all-in-one travel experience that is as refined as it is rustic, equally ideal for a conference or a destination wedding.
(Topnotch Resort & Spa by Topnotch on Flickr)Most people hear Stowe and think of skiing, skiing, and more skiing, but we were there in June and found plenty of entertainments without the stress and hassle of tourists around every corner - not the least of which were the massive indoor and outdoor pools and the elegantly appointed spa.
For more active guests, Topnotch and Stowe offer a seemingly endless array of rigorous, outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Sarah Van Arsdale - When thinking of last-minute summer travel, Mexico may not be the first place that comes to mind. But consider this, Señora: airfares to Mexico are lower in the summer, and it won’t be any hotter there than it is in northern North America. Whether you actually go there yourself or just want to enjoy a desktop trip, we’ve found Hacienda Las Trancas: a place that is so beautifully designed it would be a pleasure to visit any time of the year. Let’s take a look at how the designers put it all together to create a space that’s welcoming, soothing, and exciting all at once.
(photo: Hacienda Las Trancas)
After all, design this good knows no season. Let’s start our tour at the front of the building, since we know from the wisdom of feng shui that a welcoming entrance to any building or apartment is crucial in that it sets the tone for the entire experience.