Sumptuous Morukuru Lodge in Madikwe reserve

Morukuru Lodge tucked away in the heart of the Madikwe reserve and, one of the largest reserves in South Africa, is named after the lofty trees which lend it their shade. Enfolding guests in peace and comfort, three superb villas accommodates families and groups of friends who wish to spend some special time together, far from everything, on an exclusive-use basis. The stone and timber villas are meticulously decorated, and open out onto immaculately preserved luxuriant nature: the perfect place if you want to observe wildlife and the numerous “Big Five” animals on the reserve. Airy bedrooms feature a fireplace for chilly nights and large, insect-screened sliding doors opening on to tree-shaded private balconies.

Spacious bathrooms have deep baths with a view of the bush, and both inside and outside, monkey’s eye-view private showers for an unforgettable bush experience. An additional four junior guests can be comfortably accommodated in the kid’s room, where they have access to recreational facilities. The superbly appointed living area offers fine dining for a complete party of ten, with cuisine prepared to your taste and requirements by your personal chef. Guests can also have breakfast in the morning sunshine to the accompaniment of cackling Wood Hoopoes, lunch ‘al fresco’ in the shaded garden, or dinner by starlight and candles on the broad pool deck overlooking the fast-flowing Marico River.

To stay at this spectacular lodge, prices range from $1,908 – $2,857.81 per night for four guests and $5,618.57 per night with a four night minimum for peak season for six adults and four children, from here.

The heated infinity pool is surrounded by comfortable loungers for relaxing, bush-view siestas after a dip in the cool water. A wooden veranda surrounds the lodge perimeter, providing quiet nooks for the private bush showers, leading to a romantic riverside raised walkway. On moonlit nights, dine around a crackling bonfire in the boma and on chilly nights or lazy days, savor the welcoming peace of the luxurious indoor lounge area, with its deep, comfortable couches, night-time crackling fire and panoramic daytime view of the bush and passing wildlife.

High glamour and spectacular views in Pacific Heights

The clients were not in the market for a new residence but when the wife noticed an open house sign she couldn’t resist checking out this condominium in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, California. One glance over of the light-filled space which occupies one floor of an Art Deco building with views of every San Francisco landmark from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz and they were sold. After purchasing the property, designer Candace Cavanaugh was hired to achieve their vision of a quietly elegant decor that focused on the views and provided for a suitable backdrop for their abstract art collection.

The apartment had not undergone any renovations in almost 40 years. The designer worked in collaboration with architect Gary Jerabeck of Architectural Development and contractor Design Line Construction. The space was transformed, leaving the original footprint intact, the project entailed a complete remodeling including new fixtures, tile, hardware, moldings, lighting and wallpaper throughout. The designer also raised the ceilings in the foyer, living room, dining room and library, creating architectural interest that has been further embellished with hand-wrought detailing and moldings.

Cavanaugh repurposed a guest bedroom into a cozy home library and office for the husband (shown above). The space features a distinct masculine neoclassical theme with custom cabinetry finished in a black wash to allow the wood grain to show through; the library shelving is in a classic X-motif and strong statement fabrics such as the zebra-patterned linen velvet chairs by Ralph Lauren and mohair by Christopher Hyland, have been used to highlight the space.

Color choices were selected by using San Francisco’s legendary sunsets and ethereal rolling fog as a continuously changing backdrop, selecting a quiet palette of soft grays, golds and charcoals and translated them into opulent finishes and textural fabrics, with artworks and accent pieces providing pops of color.

The panoramic bay views are the main attraction in the formal dining room. The other units in the building all feature breakfast nooks in the kitchen, but the architect chose to extend the dining room to provide a multipurpose space that encompasses the view.

The homeowners can pass through from the dining room to the butler’s pantry and into the kitchen where a gallery of satiny-back cabinetry with antique mirrored panels frames a scenic bay view. The designer’s choice of opulent finishes, such as the glossy black subway tiles by Waterworks, imparts glamor, while her deer-leg bar stool design is an unexpected design choice in this space.

Photos: Matthew Millman

Eco-luxury Villa Adamo on Formentera Island

Villa Adamo is an eco-luxury villa located off the road to Cap de Babaria, Formentera, Balearic islands. The villa has a warm and rustic, simple and inviting feeling. The dominant color inside that serves as a canvas, is the pure white walls and ceilings, only tinged with the color of the rustic wood. Sometimes in natural color variations and sometimes in blue, memory of the sea that washes the island. The use of a few chosen pieces of furniture with a special rustic charm of restored furniture and old flavor, sometimes at odds with luxury items, breaks up the outline of simplicity and reinforces it. There are six bedrooms in this holiday home that is available from here. Enjoy this spectacular rustic home!

Charming blue-shuttered Provençal villa in St. Tropez

Villa Pearl is a charming blue-shuttered Provençal villa that enjoys a privileged location right on the edge of St. Tropez, yet is privately tucked away in the countryside amidst surrounding vineyards. The two story villa offers five lovely guest bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms. Shaded by olive trees and sweet-scented Mediterranean pines and surrounded by vineyards, the garden makes a tranquil and calming escape from the world. A covered terrace runs the length of the house, shading outdoor living and dining areas.  The large pool is set in the private garden and provides lounging areas under over-sized umbrellas.

Indoors, the main floor hosts ample living areas as well as the open plan, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, elegantly furnished in a classic style.  Light and airy, the living areas open directly to the terrace and outdoor living spaces.  A cozy fireplace provides warmth on chillier evenings. The main floor also provides two of the bedrooms, a playroom, TV room, a convenient powder room and the laundry room. The roomy master bedroom is on the upper level, includes a sitting area, and opens to the balcony. The master bedroom hosts an en-suite bathroom.  Two further double bedrooms are on the upper level and share an ample bathroom.  A one bedroom staff quarter is also onsite.

An oasis of calm and tranquility, Villa Pearl is roomy, bright, and secluded, while remaining close to the culture, dining venues, nightlife and beaches of famed St. Tropez. Prices range from $4,668 – $6,785 per night or $29,567 per week, sleeping up to ten people, from here.

43 Gorgeous and inspiring interiors by Meridith Baer Home

Meridith Baer is a renowned home staging company based out of Los Angeles, California who shows her talents through house-staging, furnishings, interior design and event interiors on both the West and East coasts. Her design team has been staging ultra-luxurious homes since 1998 with a clientele that includes about 300 celebrities and billionaires. Baer is a former model, actress and Hollywood screenwriter who fashioned her ultimate plot twist at age 50 by reinventing herself as a niche entrepreneur. She has a talent for being a storyteller by entering a home and imagining who might live in it, telling their story with ease and elegance.

Baer’s team is known for its uncanny ability to hand-select furnishings and objects that are exactly what visitors would own if they lived in the home. The selections are made from the firm’s 135,000-square-foot warehouse and include furniture, art, books, silverware and everything needed to bring a lived in, cozy feeling to what are typically large spaces.

Baer’s staff of 70 includes decorators, movers, carpenters and upholsterers. The firm bills a design and installation fee of varying amounts, plus a monthly rental fee if the house sits on the market. Once the home sells, Baer’s items are removed to make way for whatever the new owner or his decorator chooses.

Baer’s design talents range from traditional, transitional, modern, European, coastal, estates, highrises, condos and lofts; which can be seen in this collection of inspiring interiors that are shown below. Please leave us a comment below and let us know what you think of Meridith’s affinity for selecting the perfect furnishings to make a make a home a showstopper.

Photos: Courtesy of Meridith Baer Home

Luxury villa escape to the sultry island of Paros

 Sunny Side Villa is a brand new luxury vacation dwelling situated on a sandy beach with a swimming pool literally on the sand of Chrisi Akti in Paros, Greece designed by Studio 265 Architecture + Building. This 3,875 square foot (360 square meters) property has been built as a long flat unit and it has a guest house almost attached to it. All bedrooms have sea views and direct access to the pool area and all the comforts of a luxury construction. There is a main house with three bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, large living and dining area and a kitchen. An independent guesthouse has a bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a day bed, dressing room and small kitchenette as well as staff quarters. The land is comprised of 11,000 square meters and is planted with olive trees, fig and pomegranate trees and a vineyard. There is a small vegetable and aromatic plants garden. This unique beach house is ideal for families or a group of couples!

Photos: Courtesy of Studio 265 Architecture + Building

Extraordinary city retreat with eccentric details

Nestled in the quaint, tree-lined South Park enclave, 41 South Park is hidden behind a traditional San Francisco, California facade, which is technically a two-unit building that has just recently been rebuilt and remodeled in a non-traditional and quirky fashion with all the bells and whistles. The Edwardian appeal of the building’s original 1911 facade is beautifully contrasted by its modern and innovative interior amenities, including multiple exposures, textures and outdoor spaces, distinctive finishes and custom fixtures, and stunning floor-to-ceiling windows.

This exclusive 3,600 square foot city retreat features five bedrooms, four and a half baths, a grand entrance that opens to an extraordinary living room — both well designed to showcase a private art collection, and an ultra-gourmet kitchen overlooking a spacious dining room with a soaring glass wall that opens to a private backyard. Additional outstanding design features include, a well-equipped media and entertainment room with a wet bar, a two car private garage/workspace, huge rollaway skylights, and a gorgeous rooftop terrace with a custom spa overlooking South Park.

41 South Park has been listed for sale at $7,650,000, from here.

A media room with a wet bar graces the ground floor.

A gourmet kitchen now overlooks the dining room with a double height ceiling, from which swings, not chairs, that surround the dining room table are hung.

Atop the building, a new rooftop terrace with spa discretely overlooks South Park.

Luxury fantasy getaway to the Dusit Thani Maldives

Dusit Thani Maldives blends graceful Thai hospitality with the unparalleled luxury setting of the beautiful Maldives. Encircled by white sandy beaches, a rich house reef and turquoise lagoon, the resort on Mudhdhoo Island hosts 100 villas and residences. The resort features Beach Villas, Beach Villas with Pool, Lagoon Villas with Pool, Ocean Villas with Pool, and the exclusive Ocean Pavilions and Beach Residences, all offering a haven of modern sophistication with luxurious amenities and technology.

Dusit Thani Maldives fuses a fine selection of restaurants with uncompromising service and spectacular views. Retreat from the midday heat to enjoy poolside snacks. The Sala Bar is perfect for watching the sunset or star gazing. Elevated in a grove of coconut palm trees, Dusit’s signature Devarana Spa is one of a kind in the Maldives. Devarana Spa features six tree-top treatment pods nestled in to enhance the spa journey.

Located near Hanifaru Huraa, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve renowned as a feeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks, Dusit Thani Maldives offers guests diving and snorkeling; a 750 square meter swimming pool – the largest in the Maldives; fully-equipped fitness studio with personal trainer and yoga instructor; resident marine biologist; children’s play area and club facility; library with internet stations; and island boutiques.

The Fortress fantasy villa overlooking the Hollywood Hills

This striking, one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece is one of the most unique villas in Los Angeles, California. Designed by David Lawrence Gray Architects, Sunset Plaza Mansion sits on a privately gated half-acre plus promontory overlooking the Hollywood Hills. Part contemporary palace, part concrete fortress, this 10,369 square foot fantasy villa is unlike anything else in the neighborhood. The home belongs to DJ and producer Val Kolton, and has been coined the “King of the Hill” and has also been referred to as “The Fortress”. Inside the elements of steel, glass and concrete have been masterfully incorporated throughout the mansion.

The home boasts floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that captures 270-degree jet liner city views from downtown to the Pacific Ocean. A glass staircase escorts you over the voluminous, 60′ grand entry and into the lavish master bedroom suite, richly appointed with burl wood details and an opulent dual master bathroom. Additional features include a professional stainless steel kitchen designed by the Porsche Design Group, five bedrooms in the main villa, and two more in the detached gate house (which also has its own living room), a large screening room with a full-sized bar, billiards table, motor court, gym, Koi pond, motor court and a private outdoor swimming pool with a 12-person spa. Stunning any time of the day or night, The Fortress is truly an unparalleled architectural trophy.

This incredible mansion can be rented with prices starting at $3,500/per night, from here.

Modern Palazzo del Mare Residence on Fisher Island

This exclusive modern apartment called Palazzo del Mare has been designed by Miami interior designer Pepe Calderin Design. Pepe and his talented design team demonstrate their flair for creating uber luxurious interiors in this magnificent Fisher Island residence in Miami, Florida. The entryway to this lavish apartment features Calacatta floors, stainless steel and a stone water fall on the right, mirrors on the left and a satin glass ceiling with LED lights suspended with metal rods. The double doors are from Lualdi porte and on each side of the entry doors there is a dolma light from kreon lighting.

Here you can see the effect of glass ceiling and the dolma light on the wood panels. The red wall is a custom glass wall created especially for this unit by the design firm.

In the dining room you can see the red custom glass wall. On the left there is a glass with LED lights
and a wood grid to simulate a window.

The kitchen is comprised of wenge wood and calacatta marble.

The master bedroom retreat features Peter Link photo ceiling details, satin mirror to the left and a B and B lounge chaise.

This custom built media unit features back panels made of leather with a glass shelf. The unit is made of wenge wood and the two speakers are Ferrari.

The master bathroom boasts an Infinity tub by Kholer, blue custom mosaic pattern, ceiling coffer with LED and wenge wood.

The powder room boasts white calacatta floors and a gradient of red to white mosaic light ceiling detail and a custom macassar top with Toscoquattro sink and faucets.

The rug is a custom area rug. You can see the ceiling detail with LED lights.

Photos: Courtesy of Pepe Calderin Design