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

51 Degrees luxury thermal retreat in Switzerland

This stunning luxury resort property called 51 Degrees is nestled high in the mountains of Leukerbad, Switzerland has been interior designed by Marc-Michaels Interior Design Inc. This world-class exclusive getaway retreat hotel, spa and private residences features stunning snow-capped valley views of the mountains and trees. Leukerbad, a quaint resort town of only 1,400 is located in Wallis, Switzerland. It has been known since the Roman times for its thermal waters that pour out at 51° Celsius, or 124° Fahrenheit. The concept of the project is to celebrate the famous water both inside and out, starting with the project architect, Michael Graves, building the envelope in harmony with the site and surrounding village.

The interior design embraces a water theme throughout. Private residences enjoy their own personal spa features in each suite. This getaway retreat showcases stylish and contemporary interiors, with an elegant color palette against natural materials such as reclaimed oak, translucent white quartz, charcoal green slate and smoke grey granite. Expansive and airy floor plans reflect modern living tastes, a spirit which is reflected in the oversized proportions of the rooms as well as in the expansive windows in every room opening onto the magnificent Alps.

The residences are generous in size and limited to just 30. Fabulous for entertaining and serene living, the mountain homes offer 137-225m² of opulence. The elite residences are available in one, three and four bedrooms, kitchens with state-of-the-art Gaggenau appliances and high-tech quartz composite worktops, bar with wine refrigerator and generous terraces or balconies. Blending seamlessly into the alpine environment, the elegant homes boast panoramic views of the mountains and valley.

This is the world’s first development featuring indoor and outdoor thermal spas, with water from deep mountain springs tapped directly into each private residence. Each residence has its own dedicated, unlimited supply of Leukerbad’s fabled thermal water and mineral salts.

Each master suite has its very own personal spa facility, with an indoor-outdoor soaking pool, a steam room and an indoor master bathtub, all of which are fed by dedicated water lines directly from the thermal spring. Most sublime of all is what is probably the best bath in the world. Made of heavy, dark wood and situated next to both the suite’s fireplace and the folding glass wall with its majestic view of the Alps, the massive free-standing soaking tub is the ultimate indulgence.

One of the more decadent indulgences is the sumptuous moon bath, an oversized soaking tub set into the Concetto stone slab on every terrace. Designed for either solitary or social use and accessible from both the master spa suite and living area, and equipped with Jacuzzi water jets, this larger tub can accommodate up to six people. With the outdoor fireplace close at hand and surrounded by history’s most fabled mountains, the outdoor soaking tub is the perfect way to relax.

There will be an impressive array of luxury amenities awaiting residents, including a 5-star hotel, 900m² spa with treatment rooms, fitness studio and pool, restaurants, wine bar, private lounge, private wine cave, screening room, game rooms, children’s club, panoramic lobby/salon area, branded boutiques, doorman, ski valet and expert concierge services.

Luxurious Singita Serengeti House in Tanzania

Singita Serengeti House, an exclusive-use retreat designed for families and friends, has opened in the 350,000-acre Grumeti Reserves in the heart of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania. Located on the slopes of Sasakwa Hill with breathtaking vistas of the endless, open plains of the Serengeti, the house is Singita’s response to a growing demand from discerning travelers for privacy and flexibility. Top South Africa design team, Cécile & Boyd’s, crafted the exquisite interiors.

While what lies outside is rather spectacular, the interiors of Singita Serengeti House are also something to behold. Throughout the house, ample indoor and outdoor lounging and dining areas, all with uninterrupted views, provide relaxing spaces for guests to truly immerse themselves in the beauty of the surrounding landscape while enjoying each other’s company. A cool neutral palette of subtle, sun-bleached colors mimics the Serengeti grass plains, bringing the outside in.

The house accommodates eight people in two suites in the main house and two further guest suites on either side of the main house, connected by pathways from a central pool deck with a 25-metre rim-flow lap pool. There is also a private tennis court, mountain biking and archery.

Early morning and late-afternoon game drives may be interspersed with vigorous swims or lazing around the pool with a good book, a game of tennis, a cooking lesson in the private kitchen from the resident chef, spa treatments or mountain biking. Making it up as one goes along is part of the magic of taking up residence at Singita Serengeti House. There is a waterhole right in front of the house, which is a favorite drinking spot for general plains game as well as a breeding herd of elephant.

Mirror is used throughout the house to maximize light and space. Humble materials in natural fibres, rattan, grass matting, polished cement floors, bleached, raw timbers and local stones bring an honest, earthy feel to the understatedly glamorous, boldly proportioned, light-saturated rooms curated with a modern African art collection by Kurt Pio and Sarah Pratt, artifacts and objects, and anthropologically relevant tribal sculpture. All the decorative pieces were designed and commissioned or sourced by Cécile & Boyd’s, including witty eye-catching paper-mâché hunting trophies and leather thong chandeliers inspired by Masai skirts.

All the suites have spacious bathrooms designed as luxurious extensions to the bedroom and living areas, with outdoor showers and private terraces.

Exquisite SoHo TriBeCa loft features must-see details

This luxurious apartment is situated in a 6-year old boutique building that offers a modern European design sensibility in the heart of Hudson Square, just steps away from the vibrancy of Soho and Tribeca, New York.  Residents and guests enter through iron gates into a zen-inspired private courtyard. This loft-like apartment boasts 1,863 square feet of living space on the 8th floor with three bedrooms and two full baths and an over-sized storage/laundry room.

The spacious living/dining room contains floor-to-ceiling glass windows and high ceilings, and features a stunning, hand-applied floor-to-ceiling, edge-to-edge wall of silver leaf and an extraordinary bronze surround for the elevator entrance.  Solid walnut wide-planking flooring has been ebonized for a modern counterpoint to the luxurious finishes. Custom linear diffusers replace standard air conditioning vents with a sleek architectural detail.

The kitchen features high gloss cabinets, state of the art appliances and brushed stainless steel countertops. The intelligent layout affords a whole western wing to the master bedroom, accessible through a hidden door of silver leaf.  The en-suite master bathroom is light-filled with a Duravit soaking tub enclosed in Pietra Sienna stone and a separate walk-in, glass enclosed shower with a river rock floor. There are two bedrooms on the eastern wing. Adjacent to the second bedroom is the oversized laundry/storage room. A second full bath with walk-in shower is located on the eastern corridor.

This incredible apartment is listed for sale at $3,450,000, from here.

Ultimate luxury chalet in Courchevel 1850

This luxurious ski-in, ski-out chalet is situated in Courchevel 1850, France. The thoroughly modern designer chalet is comprised of 5,920 square feet (550 square meters) of living space, extending over four floors to provide its guests with the ultimate in luxury. Sleek design pieces and contemporary artwork give the interiors a bright, contemporary feel, flooded with light from the large windows. The top level of the majestic chalet houses the living room with the dining area, the sitting area arranged around the fireplace, home cinema, billiard area, a terrace with stunning views, professional kitchen and a guest cloakroom.

The main entrance houses the master bedroom retreat with a beautiful gas fireplace and en-suite bathroom, as do the other two bedrooms. A level below the main entrance there are two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a games room for kids, cinema room, ski room with ski boot dryer, glove dryer, sky clothes dryer, shower, water closet and the garage. There is also a fabulous wellness area, which features an indoor pool with bar, Hammam, shower and massage table, gym and laundry room. Outdoors, a huge balcony is a great place to enjoy views over the glistening snowfields that surround the chalet and to breathe in the pure mountain air.

The ultimate in luxury, this catered chalet can host up to 10 people with prices from $156,660/week, from here.

Tropical getaway overlooks breathtaking Kona Coast

Kukio Residence is a tropical getaway overlooking the breathtaking lava-rock strewn Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. A real estate developer from Eugene, Oregon originally built the house along with Maryl Pacific Construction, with the intention of selling it off, but he and his wife ended up falling in love with the spot and decided to keep it for themselves. Before moving to the sprawling, fully furnished property, consisting of 4,000 square feet of living space, with one-bedroom main house and tow two-bedroom guest houses each at 1,800 square feet, they wanted to swap out the furnishings and redesign the interiors to reflect their personal design aesthetics.

They contracted California-based designer Jacques Saint Dizier, who has helped the couple with the interiors of their other properties. The designer set forth on revamping the home from floor-to-ceiling, including the furnishing and even curated an impressive Hawaiian art collection. Using the ocean to inspire his design, he first brought in lavish mother-of-pearl walls and built out from there. The design style reflected the owner’s personalities, casual yet glamorous. The designer used a lot of copper accents throughout the house to play off the stone floor and wood tones. Then he added scoops of blue to correspond with the natural greens hues from the outdoors. He used rough, primitive pieces such as the coffee table to counterbalance with the clean aesthetic of the wood cabinets and clean architectural lines.

The swim-up bar entices guests to spend the entire day in the pool. The area is surrounded by lava formations that, by law, are not allowed to be touched. Incorporating those into the landscape became important to the view.

The living room featured a continental hutch from 1895 that mimics some early Hawaiian antique pieces. Modern furniture was mixed with local art to give this tropical retreat a glamorous comfort. The chairs were chosen for their high backs to create the feeling of an intimate space.

Open to the gardens on one side and the ocean on the other, it’s hard to find a less than stunning view from the Media Room chairs. Though the living, dining and media spaces are all connected, the designer used furniture pieces and a smart layout scheme to make each area feel intimate.

The designer wished to bounce light off the table so it shines upward on guests’ faces. An old trick, it helps to get rid of dark shadows underneath people’s eyes, making everyone look beautiful. The table has a bronze copper-finished lazy Susan in the center.

The corner game table is often used for breakfast and reading the morning paper. It’s views of the Pacific are unobstructed.

Ebonized wood creates a wonderful contrast to the shimmering Mother of Pearl paneled walls in this Bedroom. Vintage lamps with custom shades give it a playful touch.

The garden becomes a part of this tropical Guest Room. The walls are covered in woven fiber.

Tropical gardens surround the Master Bedroom with it’s mother of pearl paneled walls.

The designer found this painting in someone’s garage in Bali, covered in dirt and ripped. “I could only see the woman’s face, and I was so charmed by it. I had to restore it.”

The Master Bath opens to a lush tropical garden. A copper soaking tub sits on black ili ili stones, which conceal a drain, so the need for an overflow valve is obsolete. It is the central visual feature and also a great place to relax and enjoy the sweet Hawaiian breeze.

Guest House Entry with a wood trunk bench carved in Bali.

The simple, almost primitive entry gate belies the glamour of the expansive estate that lies behind it, allowing the house and its views to unfold in a restrained progression.

Photos: Mary E. Nichols

Balinese-influenced Villa Kishti in Anguilla

Villa Kishti is a meditative, Balinese-inspired private retreat in Anguilla, British West Indies, designed by Toronto architect Frank Alfred Hamilton, who spent four years on the project (2005-2009). The residence challenges traditional notions of shelter and nature as separate domains, with interior and exterior blurred in a seamless interplay of interior design, architecture and landscape design.

Villa Kishti’s tripartite design is composed of a central hub, master suite and three self-contained villas, arranged in fan-like plan. The central hub contains the principal gathering spaces of the residence – the living-dining area and kitchen – which flow into each other in a unified palette of natural materials, tones and textures. Spaces are uncluttered and carefully calibrated to enhance site lines. The living-dining area is detailed with custom furnishings and edited accessories while the kitchen is fitted with custom millwork and integrated Corian counters and backsplash. Toronto-based interior design firm Cecconi Simone Inc. was hired by the client for the selection of furnishings, finishes and fixtures.

The master suite, accessed internally from the living-dining area, contains a sleep area, lounge with outdoor terrace and en-suite with indoor and outdoor showers. The suite is appointed with custom millwork, custom furnishings and subtle Balinese accents.

Across the central hub from the master suite, each of the three self-contained villas encompasses a lounge area with outdoor deck, kitchenette, powder room and master bedroom with en-suite. Custom furnishings, custom millwork, finishes and accessories harmonize with the subdued, contemporary, Balinese-influenced expression of the rest of the residence.

Luxurious Chalet Spa Blanche in Verbier

Feast your eyes on this luxury ski chalet packed with fabulous spa facilities, high tech gadgets and sumptuous furnishings. Chalet Spa Blanche is a delightful timber chalet that blends in well with the alpine scenery, nestling in the smart Swiss resort of Verbier. This residence combines a bright, high tech contemporary interior with a traditional wooden chalet design. Everything about it is hyper-luxurious, from the Bose sound system and home cinema room to the mirrors that turn into TV screens at the touch of a button. With four bedrooms, the chalet can accommodate up to nine people.

In the living room, located on the top floor, the central fireplace adds to the room’s very modern feel thanks to its mantelpiece decorated with mirrors. It has a hearth that is level with the floor. The living room, with a superbly equipped open-plan kitchen, opens onto a large covered terrace furnished with magnificent sofas and a table that can seat up to 10 people. Zen artwork and sculptures enhance the magnificent design of the chalet. The chalet has the exclusive use of the spa, with treatment room, sauna, steam room, plunge pool, hammam and a fully-equipped gym area, offers a large bay window overlooking the terrace with a large jacuzzi with “swim against the current”.

Rates start from $33,011 per week, from here.

All four beautifully furnished bedrooms have en-suite bathroom facilities and two of the bedrooms can connect.

The chalet is equipped with a lovely cinema and games room with a dart board and European billiards table.  The fabulous wine cellar adds a superb finishing touch.

Out on the enormous covered balcony, you can round off the evening on comfy chairs with a warming Cognac, looking out over the twinkling lights of Verbier. You might even be tempted to slip into the huge swim spa on the decking below.

Stunning modern update to Berlin’s Das Stue Hotel

The Das Stue Hotel in Berlin, Germany was recently reinvigorated by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola who gave this hotel a major modern facelift, designing all public spaces such as the lobby, cocktail bar and restaurants. LVG Arquitectura finished the project by implementing their own final touches in the interior rooms and suite designs. The color combinations of amber, burnt orange, and deep teal are combined in just the right amounts to create beautiful harmony. The hotel is a stunning merger between contemporary and classical, creating a very inviting space that will make you feel right at home.