Posts by Tracy Chait at Luxist

The $2 Million Mobile Home

Posted Oct 10th 2008 4:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Paradise Cove and Point Dume Club are mobile home communities. Albeit, they're mobile homes with a view -- one of the most expensive views in the country: of Malibu beaches, crashing waves and sun-drenched skies. These double wides will also run you about $2 million, though you can still find residence in one of the two parks for closer to $300,000 for a one-bed, one-bath, no view.

Then again, most trailer parks don't come with private beaches, tennis courts, clubhouse and an on-site spa.

[via Los Angeles Times]

Swans Island Blankets

Posted Oct 10th 2008 11:02AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Decor

On a little island called Nash, off the Maine coast, a flock of sheep lives undisturbed, except in June when weavers from Swans Island Blankets come by lobster boat to gather some wool. This year's shearing produced 420 pounds of wool, enough for a year's worth of weaving.

Swans Island started in the early '90s when a pair of lawyers, John and Carolyn Grace, decided to move to Maine, meet some sheep farmers and get weaving. What developed was a company that has produced hand-woven blankets significant enough to warrant a Smithsonian Blue Ribbon for Craft in 1996. Weavers work in an 18th century farmhouse making blankets for summer and winter. Recently, the group started weaving scarves, wraps, throws and pillows, too.

I'm a complete sucker for age-old craftmanship. Add the free-roaming sheep, rustic farmhouse and beyond-cozy blankets, and this company is every New Englander's dream.

The king-sized version of the winter blanket at right retails for $1,125. Everything Swans Island makes can be custom ordered and monogrammed in a hand-done cross stitch.

High Art: Katy Rodriguez Shows at John Lautner's Harpel House

Posted Oct 10th 2008 10:01AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Apparel, Estates, Events

On Sunday evening, a select group of Los Angeles design luminaries will converge at the intersection of fashion and architecture -- Katy Rodriguez's show at John Lautner's Harpel residence. Models and It Gals like Chloe Sevigny and Christina Ricci will be wearing Rodriguez's latest designs and mingling with guests including artists Shepard Fairey and Raymond Pettibon.

Judging from the collection, it feels like the perfect setting -- the clothes have an architectural quality, and they're filled with the rich, subtle detailing that distinguishes good design from the ordinary, or the ostentatious.

The Harpel house has been meticulously restored by Rodriguez's business partner Mark Haddawy. He's spent the past two years removing a superfluous second story and bringing the house back to its original, sublime logic.

Between the high fashion and the cityscape below, the views should be pretty spectacular. Check out the gallery to see a few images of the Harpel house and more pieces from Rodriguez's Spring/Summer 2009 collection.

Gallery: Katy Rodriguez Shows at Harpel House

Evian Teams with Jean Paul Gaultier

Posted Oct 9th 2008 12:01PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Water

Amidst the catwalk flurry at Paris Fashion Week, a new collaboration made its debut: Evian and Jean Paul Gaultier. In the second of its designer series (the first pairing was with Christian Lacroix), Evian announces its release of two bottles designed by the Hermès creative director.

Gaultier has fashioned the Prêt-à-Porter bottle (interlocking snowflakes, oversized lettering) and the Haute Couture bottle (only seven produced worldwide). The Prêt-à-Porter version is available for pre-order on shopevian.com at $13.95 a bottle.

Gallery: Evian

Vintage Clothing Sales Surge in Bad Economy

Posted Oct 8th 2008 5:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Apparel

Designer vintage clothiers have always boasted a discerning clientele -- it takes a certain skill to identify and hunt down the fashion highlights from seasons past. In the current economy, high-end vintage outlets like The Way We Wore and Decades tell the LA Times that business is hotter than ever.

As Jared Paul Stern reported earlier this fall, Christie's is about to auction some of the 20th Century's most amazing vintage finds, a collection amassed by the bicoastal favorite Resurrection, a pioneer of designer vintage during the last economic downturn.

Vintage prices are indeed wallet-friendlier. Consider the Oscar de la Renta gown at right. Original retail: $14,000. For sale via eBay for the buy-it-now price of $3,500.

Your feelings about Reaganomics aside, the vintage trend has had successful trickle down: sales are up at Goodwill and Salvation Army, too.

[via Los Angeles Times]

Antique Bugatti Sells for £2.5 Million

Posted Oct 8th 2008 10:01AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

A 1928 Type 35B Bugatti has sold at auction in London for £2.5 million. It is believed to be the highest price paid for a Bugatti of this type, which in its day raced the first Monaco Grand Prix. Amazingly, the rare Bugatti still has all its original components, perhaps due to its move to Switzerland during the Second World War.

Auctioneer Chris Routledge was clearly impressed by the car. "It is an extraordinary piece of engineering," he said. "When you open the bonnet it is like looking inside a Swiss watch."

Its prior owner was the notorious former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee, who earlier this year was under investigation for using company funds and later found guilty of financial wrongdoing.

[via Born Rich/Telegraph]

Neiman's Unveils 82nd Christmas Book

Posted Oct 8th 2008 8:01AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Holiday Guides

Christmas comes early in Dallas. Neiman Marcus has just announced its unveiling of the legendary Christmas Book, full of the rare and exceedingly unusual items that become so many holiday wishlists.

A couple of examples: the entire end zone for you and your friends at a Dallas Cowboy's game, including tailgate party with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, and VIP touches at every turn ($500,000). His-and-hers life-sized Lego sculptures by artist Nathan Sawaya, who claims he can "brickalize" anyone ($60,000 each).

The biggest ticket item in the book? Your own stable of a dozen or so thoroughbreds, trained and managed by Three Chimneys Farm over the next four years. Any race day winnings will be yours, but you'll pay $10,000,000 for the privilege.

Perhaps what Santa hears the most requests for? A Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. In your backyard. He'll come meet with you, work with his design team to create the course and throw in a bag of clubs, too. Then he'll come play the first round with you and your buddies. For $1,000,000, not including construction.

Gallery: Past Neiman Holiday Catalogs

Prince Charles Turns His Attentions to "Sustainable Urbanism"

Posted Oct 7th 2008 10:02AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Big Givers, Real Estate Developments

Prince Charles has recently focused his efforts beyond Buckingham Palace to communities throughout the UK and as far reaching as Rose Town, Jamaica and Freetown, Sierra Leone. He's done so as part of his efforts to promote "sustainable urbanism" (the same concept known as New Urbanism in the U.S.), a model developed in the early '80s to encourage ecologically sound development that would create diverse, walkable neighborhoods.

His Foundation for the Built Environment is the charity through which he's able to spread this message and attempt to teach others the values of sustainable design, which he believes will lead to affordable housing -- in ever higher demand in the UK -- and improvements in public health.

The foundation is one of several the Prince of Wales oversees and which receives some of the estimated £110 million he raises annually for his charities.

Christie's to Auction Rare Lucian Freud Portrait

Posted Oct 6th 2008 7:01PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Auctions, Art

Christie's has announced it will offer one of the two Lucian Freud portraits of Francis Bacon in its Post-War and Contemporary Art auction in London this October. Pilar Ordovas, Christie's Head of Post-War and Contemporary art, calls it an "intimate portrait" that is a testament to the relationship between arguably the two "most important British artists of the 20th century."

The piece is estimated to reach bids of up to £7 million, though if last May's sale of Freud's Benefit Supervisor Sleeping is any indication, it might go for more -- that painting sold for $33 million.

Massimo Ferragamo's Members-Only Tuscan Estate

Posted Oct 6th 2008 2:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Estates, Journeys

In the Val d'Orcia region of Italy, Massimo Ferragamo is restoring a 4,500 acre property called Castiglion del Bosco, known also as how my mind spent its summer vacation. The 800-year-old estate boasts two 14th century chapels, Gothic ruins, fields of deep red poppies, a macchia forest and vineyards where some of the best Brunello first grows. It's where parts of The English Patient were filmed. And soon enough, you can stay there, too.

Part of Ferragamo's restoration is to create an unparalleled travel experience, as he oversees the creation of 20 villas on the property and 26 additional hotel-like suites. A Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, restaurants, infinity pool, cooking school, 12,000 square foot spa and library are either underway or in the plans, as well.

16 of the 26 suites are complete, but you can't simply book a night or two at the estate. Instead, you'll pay a fee to be part of a membership club that bestows visiting privileges. The 120 memberships have been estimated at close to $4 million each and are by invitation only. See the gallery for the breathtaking views, an original Lorenzetti fresco inside the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo and images to induce every kind of wishful thinking.

Gallery: Castiglion del Bosco

Herman Miller's Embody Chair

Posted Oct 5th 2008 7:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Decor

Herman Miller has just unveiled its latest style-meets-ergonomics piece: the Embody Chair. Designed by the late Bill Stumpf and completed by Jeff Weber, this piece claims to improve lower body circulation, mind-body connection and office productivity.

The company decided Embody would make its first appearance at Germany's Orgatek show, which is where the company's iconic Aeron chair debuted in 1992 -- it landed in the Museum of Modern Art soon after.

The Embody chair retails for $1,595.

[via Apartment Therapy]

Patchwork Pâté Comes to U.S.

Posted Oct 5th 2008 4:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Dining

Londoner Margaret Carter has been making pâté for over 25 years but has only recently opened operations in the U.S., making use of local ingredients in rural Pennsylvania.

The gourmet spreads include such combinations as Bourbon Blueberry Chicken Liver and Welsh Dragon, which features venison livers and chipotle chilies. Carter insists on organic chicken livers and sautés them in fresh butter from her creamery.

Available at igourmet.com for a very reasonable $8.99 per 8 oz.

Design Within Reach Opens Tools for Living

Posted Oct 4th 2008 11:02AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Decor

Modern furniture haven Design Within Reach has launched the second of its two new stores, Tools for Living. The first opened its doors in SoHo last week, and the second has been drawing crowds to Santa Monica leading up to opening day on Thursday.

CEO Ray Brunner describes Tools for Living as a "modern general store" where you can pick up a heavyweight tape dispenser ($60) alongside a Stanley thermos ($42).

The LA location is inside DWR's existing mecca for oops-I-just-blew-rent-on-a-side-table at 332 Santa Monica Blvd. The New York outpost is at 142 Wooster St. Bonus: DWR's semi-annual sale -- including Tools for Living items -- is going on now and runs through Oct. 14.

[via Racked LA]

Millennial Hipsters Outpace Gen X in Buying Power

Posted Oct 4th 2008 10:02AM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Wealth

The new generation of twenty-something hipsters are creative, counterculture and serious consumers. Part of their ability to support the indie brands they love (Urban Outfitters, Steven Alan) is due to parentage: these hipster-ish Millennials are baby boomer kids, and baby boomers boast annual spending power of $2 trillion, much of which goes to offspring wants and needs. And there are about 70 million Millennials -- about one and a half times the population of Gen X -- with their collective eye trained on Vice's Dos and Don'ts.

[via Forbes]

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Hobo, Handbag of the Day

Posted Oct 3rd 2008 5:03PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Handbags

Nancy Gonzalez's Large Crocodile Hobo, a shape ironically in vogue at the moment, will leave no doubt that your portfolio is recession-proof. Made from Colombian crocodile, the shoulder bag features hidden magnetic closures and outer pockets for stashing key items like phones and PDAs. It measures 20 x 16 x 7 1/2 inches, and handles drop 8 inches. The bag is available at Vivre and retails for $4,350.

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The $2 Million Mobile Home

Swans Island Blankets

High Art: Katy Rodriguez Shows at John Lautner's Harpel House

Evian Teams with Jean Paul Gaultier

Vintage Clothing Sales Surge in Bad Economy

Antique Bugatti Sells for £2.5 Million

Neiman's Unveils 82nd Christmas Book

Prince Charles Turns His Attentions to "Sustainable Urbanism"

Christie's to Auction Rare Lucian Freud Portrait

Massimo Ferragamo's Members-Only Tuscan Estate

Herman Miller's Embody Chair

Patchwork Pâté Comes to U.S.

Design Within Reach Opens Tools for Living

Millennial Hipsters Outpace Gen X in Buying Power

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Hobo, Handbag of the Day

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