The lush oases pictured in Luxury Private Gardens, the newest title in teNeues' brilliant Luxury Books series, veer between the pleasantly inspirational and oppressively beautiful. In other words, while looking at it made us want to rush outside and start planting things, it also made us despair of ever creating anything one tenth as attractive as the private paradises portrayed between its covers. Much better, we feel, to simply sit back, mix a drink, read the damned book and let someone else do the digging, pruning, weeding and whatnot. But we digress.
Even the most lavish gardens in these pages displaying "the highest standards of horticultural excellence" are founded on simplicity, the book assures us: "Stripped down to their bare essentials, they are like a well-cut couturier's gown - nothing but an utterly simple response to the unadorned landscape or the naked human body they are designed to fit." The incredible Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy (where part of Casino Royale was filmed) pictured on the cover, with its elegant, elaborate parterres doesn't exactly scream simplicity to us, but we could stare at it all day. See the gallery for a luxe garden tour.
Knowing that I'm on the lookout for luxury items, my friend Cliff told me that I just had to look at Frontgate. So I did! Now that al fresco dining season is here, I decided to peruse Frontgate's grill offerings and came upon this 405-lb. beauty: the Barbeque Grill Island, made with O.W. Lee craftmanship. The wrought iron body has a black suede finish, the feet are cast iron and ceramic briquettes are included. The cooking-related facts:
Start saving now ($6,667) for the winter gift-giving season, and order early -- shipping takes 8-9 weeks, and the grill is only available online. You might be a little late for Father's Day, but if your grilling guy has a late summer birthday, you might get one in time.
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?
Garden and outdoor company Smith & Hawken is offering, for a limited time, free shipping on its premium teak chaise collection when you order online. That's a savings of 11% of the final price of the item plus an additional savings of $50 per item for the chaises in this collection. This means you can buy an additional piece so the family's not fighting over who gets the teak chaise by the pool. The more you spend, the more you save!
I like the Saranac Chaise. Designed by Frederic Spector, it's fitted with a four-position backrest and three-way under-knee support. Wheels make it easy to move from lawn to poolside, and a pull-out tray holds snacks, beverages or reading material. Ecologically farmed teak will withstand rain, snow and sun. Assembly required; $1,499.
Apparently these stylish indoor wall planters are all the rage in penthouse apartments and cafes in Italy and Paris. We all know the benefits of having indoor plants: cleaner air, increased humidity, aesthetic appeal...so why stop at a few when you could do a whole green wall! These innovative planters feature a hinged panel that cleverly hides the water reserves, and neatly designed planting grids that allow you to easily plan your indoor garden. I love these but I'm not sure hanging them directly behind the couch is the best idea, guests don't usually like leaves in their hair! Available online
I can't wait until the weather gets warm enough here to start sitting outside with my morning coffee, and maybe if I had one of these Rotating Sphere Loungers that day would come just a little bit sooner. It's kind of a "tent meets gazebo" contraption, plus a healthy dose of contemporary styling. Designed as a large sphere made up of 10 individual half circles, it's advertised as not only a lounging area but also a dining and a sleeping area -- and besides offering a comfortable outdoor living space it's sure to catch the eye of your neighbors. £6850
Isn't it a universal truth that the craftsmanship of the 1700s was vastly superior to today? If that's so, then spending nearly $3,000 for what is essentially a tent is a bargain. If not, your neighbors will just be astonished to discover that you just bought a $2,892 tipi. (It's not "teepee" anymore, by the way.)
This lovely outdoor abode is 24' in diameter and, according to lovelifegoods, it will withstand tough weather conditions. The product info is sparse, so I can't say weather or not the cool bed and rocking chair are included. It does come with a rain liner though. Maybe it's just a really cheap house, in which case this post doesn't belong on Luxist at all ...
Last month we picked up on an article in the NY Times on how observatories are a new trend in many luxury homes. An outdoor alternative is the beautiful Porter Garden Telescope from Telescopes of Vermont. The cast bronze reflecting telescope is a bit of astronomical history, it was designed in the 1920s by astronomer and scientist Russell W. Porter. The telescope has a working sundial and the mirror and eyepieces of the telescope can be removed and stored in a custom mahogany box so the telescope can stay outside all year long. Each one is individually cast, hand-finished bronze and stand 70" overall including the marble pedestal. It sells for $59,000.
If your garden needs a posh makeover the pricey pots of Pennoyer Newman are an excellent place to start. The small company specializes in garden pots, birdbaths, statues and pedestals cast in resin stone and based on antique designs. The designs are all weather resistant. One of my favorites is this Parthenon plaque container. The designs are copies of a frieze on the west side of the Parthenon and were made before the practice of taking impressions of the building was banned. This pot measures 20"H X 26"W X 26"D and sells for $750.
Do you want to relax and enjoy a lazy summer day, but you can't sit still for worrying about the environment? In the Sling by Ting, you can satisfy your need for relaxation and feel confident that at least at that very moment, you are part of the solution, not the problem. Made from end-of-the-line seat belt webbing that would otherwise end up in a landfill, the sling is as eye-catching as it is environmentally friendly. Designed by Inghua Ting, this durable and weather-resistant hammock is available in six colors, including my favorite - orange. $578.
If you are looking to create a funky outdoor living space, you probably aren't in the market for traditional wood and wicker. Enter the Botanist Cocktail Table, a funky and feminine alternative to your standard outdoor table. Made from industrial grade aluminum, the piece is powder-coated and outdoor ready. The botanical graphics are cut from the metal using a water jet process which leaves the edges smooth. Available in five finishes, including a beautiful blue, the tables are lightweight, yet tough enough to withstand the elements. If you like the look and want to bring it inside, the table is also available in a wood veneer. $1920 as shown.
Divinities designer Daniel Saenz draws on the pyramid for inspiration for his handcrafted pieces. This freestanding fiberglass and metal planter clearly shows his affinity for the steep angles of the ancient triangle, while giving a nod to modernism with the brightly hued finish. At 60" tall and 58" wide, a small tree would fit nicely in the center, with plenty of room for colorful accents in the smaller recesses. $10,000.
There are many nice outdoor showers out there, but this one, the Waterfall Shower by Jane Hamley Wells, is especially appealing to me for some reason. I'm not sure if it's the fact that it gives the feeling of standing under a waterfall in the tropics or the sheer organic simplicity of the design, but I want one. Standing over 7 feet tall, the teak back panel and base platform is accented only by the single cross-style handle. Add in the sheet of cool water cascading down when the shower is in use and I think it's almost pretty enough to just be appreciated as a water feature, whether you use it to clean off and cool down or not.
In some places gardens and live plants are a luxury that just isn't realistic because they need soil, water, and most of all they need lots of room. In cities especially, where the green would be most prized amidst the concrete and tile, is where plants and flowers are the hardest to grow, right? Maybe not.
Using a system that allows plants to grow without any soil, The Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc allows for natural living beauty in the otherwise most uninhabitable of places: the very walls of buildings, indoors or out. Watering and fertilization are automatic, so it's almost completely hassle free. Patrick Blanc has created customized living walls all over the world.
I wonder how my landlord would feel if I had something like this installed in my apartment?
Jeanne Scandura, landscape architect and founder of Float Furniture, intended her designs to evoke a sensual modernism. Using materials inspired by surf culture, she gives hard surfaces movement by sculpting them into graceful curves. The wave chaise is cast from fiberglass-reinforced resin and is suitable for use inside or out. The chaise is available in several wood veneer finishes for indoor use or with a marine-grade coating in a rainbow of colors for outdoors. Prices start at $3,800.
