The new skyscraper – Aykon Tower, adjacent to the iconic Thames River in London, will be fifty seven stories high and offer incredible views of London. There will be 360 luxury apartments in total once built. The luxury units will be designed with the “elegance and sensuality” of Donatella Versace.

Get ready for sticker shock. Entry prices for a studio apartment began at a staggering £711,000 (Euro) or $781,056 (US Dollars.) If you think you have time to decide, think again. All units have been sold in a “pre-sales” period.

No doubt there will be luxury amenities galore for a true VIP experience. For example on the 23rd floor of the Aykon Tower, find a private cinema, state of the art gymnasium and spa, plus full-length swimming pool!

The Aykon Tower will be built by one of the largest construction companies in Dubai, UAE. What can residnets expect when they can finally move in and live in opulence? The property’s brochure states, “live the complete Versace lifestyle, a fantasy turned into reality.” It unabashedly proclaims that “Versace is the true celebration of life.”

But don’t expect all the perks to be free. A parking spot for example will cost you £50,000 extra! But don’t stress about the ski-high price. The brochure reads, “Just arrive home and we’ll do the rest”, with concierge and valet services taking care of residents’ needs and whims.” Well there you go.

Even for those whop already purchased a luxury luxury apartments, may be waiting quite a while. Construction completion is not expected until the year 2020. Maybe you can just hang on and flip the property once ready for move in and bank on the expected price appreciation at Aykon Tower over the next five years.

Many Aykon Tower owners are likely interested in renting out their luxury apartment. It’s estimated that rental rates for the entry level studio units bcould be as high as £27,300 a year.

Although the Aykon Tower luxury apartments in London are all sold out, contact us for the latest luxury properties around the world. We work with the best luxury realtors and can help find you your dream home. If you like reading about luxury real estate, follow this luxury blog for the latest news.

Source: The Guardian
Photo (artist impression): JLL Residential Homes

Looking for a luxury mansion in the Mojave Desert, near Las Vegas? There’s a spectacular, contemporary mansion for sale at $12.5 million dollars. This contemporary mansion has five-bedrooms and nine-bathrooms but is not just another gaudy, luxury property. It’s eco-friendly as it produces up to 10 kilovolts of clean energy.

The grander of this luxury home is immediate as you walk up to 13-foot-tall solid teak front door. The home features an angular facade of adobe, zinc panels and steel mesh. This gorgeous, luxury house is filled with an array of luxury amenities.

Offering an open layout that consist of three levels, the Mojave Desert contemporary mansion features floor to ceiling – high-clarity glass that delivers incredible views of the surrounding area.

The property is just outside Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, and only about 17 miles from Las Vegas and everything Sin City has to offer. Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area with about 200,000 acres of pristine Mojave Desert wilderness. This protected, natural area is beautiful.

For fun, take an elevator down to the home’s lower level. It’s an ultimate playground for adults with a 13,255-square-foot bowling alley and lounge, chef’s utopia, billiards room plus a spa and swim retreat. Now that’s living in VIP style.

The contemporary mansion also has a climate-controlled, glass-walled wine cellar that can hold 1,400 digitally cataloged bottles.

Outdoor is just as spectacular. Bring your appetite and try the amazing wood-burning pizza oven. There are several fire features to enjoy peaceful evenings alone or hosting an over the top party. You’ll find cozy seating areas, in addition to a an infinity edge pool to beat the hot summer heat of Nevada.

If you are in the market for a luxury home like this contemporary mansion near Las Vegas, Nevada – contact us today. The Life of Luxury works with the best luxury real estate professionals from around the world. Enjoy reading about the latest, luxury house industry news? Then follow this luxury blog to hear about other luxury properties.

Photo: Trulia

Sounds like after waiting and fighting with the California Coastal Commission, U2 lead guitarist The Edge has finally won the battle. He will be allowed to build 5 luxury mansions in the scenic Malibu coast off California.

The 5 luxury mansions will each range in size from 10,000 to 14,000 square feet. The properties are located in Sweetwater Mesa, in the well known Santa Monica mountains of Southern California. The Edge (his real name is David Evans) is from Ireland and originally purchased 156 acres of SoCal land back in 2005.

The years of haggling involved nearby residents of Serra Retreat who were concerned with the potential noise and traffic from potentially years of construction. In an article by the L.A. Times, both the Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and National Park Service also raised concerns with the project.

What appears to have happened is The Edge agreed to several concessions, including a reduction in the size of the 5 luxury mansions. Additional concessions involved greater efforts related to ecological preservation. 137 acres of his total land parcel must also be dedicated to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

Jack Ainsworth is the senior deputy director of the California Coastal Commission’s panel and was quoted in an interview the L.S. Times, “It would be great if there were no homes. But if you look at this project going from six total lots down to five, reconfigured and clustered, … this alternative is the least environmentally damaging and allows for reasonable economic use of the property.”

The Edge plans to build one of the 5 mansions and own it himself, along with his wife Morleigh Steinberg. It will be interesting to follow the construction process and see if further delays or legal actions takes place.

Do you enjoy reading about luxury real estate news? Then follow our luxury blog for the latest luxury news announcements. Contact The Life of Luxury if you are interested in purchasing a luxury home or property anywhere in the world. We work with the best realtors and can help find you the perfect home or mansion.

Photo: Wikimedia.org / Flickr – Y2kcrazyjoker4 (Creative Commons)

The Ridge Resorts at Lake Tahoe provides one of the most amazing settings found in the Lake Tahoe region. At an elevation of around 7,500 feet or 2,290 meters, this luxury property is managed by Resorts West and offers breathtaking views of both Heavenly Valley on one side and Carson Valley on the other.

Perched atop a Sierra Nevada ridge in a Lake Tahoe mountain setting of 11 acres, The Ridge Tahoe consists of nine different buildings, including Cascades, Naegle, Plaza, Terrace and Tower. There is also The Ridge Sierra, Ridge Crest, Ridge Pointe and Ridge View are Ridge which are managed properties off the main site. In total, there are 526 full amenity rooms at this alpine hotel/condominium resort. The quiet surroundings are what many vacationers desire, yet The Ridge Resorts is just 5 miles from the casinos and nightlife of South Lake Tahoe and everything the year-round mecca offers.

The Ridge Tahoe is a high quality, 5-star resort complex providing many of the amenities of a first-class vacation getaway. Guests can choose from deluxe hotel rooms, in addition to one and two bedroom condominiums, which have a king size bed in each bedroom, a queen size sofa sleeper in the spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, plus dining room and gas fireplace.

As a year-round recreational resort, guests can enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. As the winter ski season has finished for the year, The Ridge Resorts moves right into the warmer weather with a long list of things to do, especially for families. The list includes the following on site activities – Cooking classes, gaming lessons, wine tastings, yoga and fitness classes, and bingo. Kids will have fun watching a movie, taking art classes, playing ping-pong, pin addition to spending a few hours at the popular Kids Club, which is a complimentary, drop-off, day camp-style program for children ages three and higher.

Other complimentary amenities at The Ridge Resorts include saunas, roof-top jacuzzis, BBQ grills, miniature golf, patio areas, two pool areas, playgrounds, tennis, shuffleboard, racquetball, Eucalyptus Steam Room, plus basketball courts. The resort’s centrally located Club House offers several dining options, shopping, spa and fitness center, ping pong, billiards, and so much more!

There’s an endless list of nearby, Lake Tahoe area activities to enjoy as well. Golfers can try Edgewood Tahoe Golf course plus nearby Golf at Genoa Lakes Golf Course and Carson Valley Golf Course. Head to beautiful Lake Tahoe and have a picnic on the beach, take a boat cruise. There are numerous rental options, such as motor boat, kayak, jet ski, paddle boat and stand up paddle Board. Try hiking, fishing, mountain biking or the exciting zip line at Heavenly and Kirkwood Resort. Get awesome Lake Tahoe views by taking the famous Heavenly Gondola with rides up to the incredible observation deck. There’s countless places to shop including the poplar The Village. Of course you can’t forget the 24 hour a day gambling action and nightlife at one of the many resort casinos.

After a full day of fun in the sun, it’s time to pamper yourself in VIP style. The Ridge Resorts features the full service Elevation Spa, with a variety of relaxing massages, spa packages and skin care & facial treatments. For a truly romantic experience, arrange a couples massage in the privacy of your own guest room.

The Hungry Bear Restaurant was recently remodeled and offers terrific menu choices to enjoy your casual atmosphere, fine dining experience. Choose form a variety of steak, pasta, seafood menu selections and many more. For a quick bite, try the The Mountain Side Eatery which is open 7 days a week. Enjoy either breakfast, lunch or dinner with delicious, mainstream food choices. During our weekend stay, we enjoyed the Omelet Bar offered both Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Saturday night, they offer a Taco Bar for just $9.95.

If you need to get to the casino area for gambling or taking in a show, leave the driving to The Ridge Resorts. They offer routine, free shuttle service down the mountain to South Shore Lake Tahoe, offering multiple drop-off locations.

The Ridge Resorts at Lake Tahoe is truly a year-round recreational resort and caters to couples desiring a romantic getaway or families wanting a memorable vacation stay. Enjoy a VIP experience at the area’s spectacular Lake Tahoe mountain setting. It offers year-round vacation rentals with panoramic views and luxurious accommodations.

If you have always wanted to visit scenic Lake Tahoe or stay at The Ridge Resorts, contact The Life of Luxury. We can help plan and book your Lake Tahoe getaway. Return to follow our luxury blog and read about other luxury travel destinations and packages.

Photos: The Ridge Resorts at Lake Tahoe

Looking for a luxury mansion in beautiful Brentwood, Tennessee? Now is your chance to buy one – Pickney Manor – at an upcoming auction from Supreme Auctions – supreme-auctions.com

Pickney Manor is located in the heart of Nashville. This amazing mansion was designed by architect Mitchell Barnett and built by Bill Akers.

Built in 2004, Pickney Manor features five bedrooms, six baths, as well as multiple living spaces. The interior of this Nashville mansion was created by interior designer Kathryn Broadwater and showcases intricate design details and exquisite finishes.

For those who love to cook and entertain, this luxury home offers a masterful chef’s kitchen. It comes with high-end, Viking appliances plus gorgeous, custom light cabinets. If you love hosting events, you’ll enjoy utilizing the generous catering area.

Included in the duPont Registry, Pickney Manor has been seen in many television shows. This single family residence is luxury through and through and includes 12,874 square feet of living space. The house resides on three acres and overlooks 700 acres of surrounding, picturesque farmland.

If interested in Pickney Manor, the auction will be held on May 28th, 2015 by Supreme Auctions.

The Life of Luxury works with the best luxury real estate professionals and can assist you with your buying or selling needs. Return to watch for other luxury homes featured in our luxury blog.

Photo: Supreme Auctions

Christie’s International Real Estate released a recent study on luxury real estate and 2014 was a year for the record books. Combining both luxury properties that were either listed or sold, the total exceeding $100 million was the highest ever!

The Christie’s International Real Estate report is clear – $100 million has now arguably become the billionaire benchmark price point for ultra-rich properties. This achievement level was driven by the sharp increase in global billionaires.

The research from Christie’s International Real Estate included the world’s top 10 cities for elite properties. The report also looked at 70 additional regional markets with a goal of understanding the key dynamics in the luxury real estate around the world.

During 2014, large cities such as New York, Paris and Sydney remained very strong but started to stabilize a bit. The leader as the hottest luxury market is Toronto, Canada. Toronto was the only city studied that experienced a 37% year over year increase in luxury home sales.

Dan Conn is the chief executive officer of Christie’s International Real Estate and stated, “Whether for safe storage of wealth, lifestyle upgrades or the pure passion of the investment, the intrinsic recognition of the sheer value of prime property ownership could not be stronger among these consumers.”

Second home resort markets were also sizzling last year. This segment led the luxury property sales growth. High net worth people not only drove strong primary home sales, but also pushed the secondary home markets.

Dubai was the most popular city ranked for second home purchases with 75% of total sales. Also showing strong second home sales were London at 44% and Miami with 40%.

Traditionally, $1 million and higher was the benchmark for the luxury real estate industry. According to Christie’s International Real Estate, this segment was 16% higher than in 2013.

If you want to go for the priciest markets, look to Beverly Hills, California and London, England. $2 million is the average starting price per square foot around the world. But in Beverly Hills and London, that starting price is a lofty $8 million.

Another key measure reported by Christie’s International Real Estate was price per square foot. The highest value found anywhere for a luxury home was in Cote d’Azur. Known as the French Riviera, this gorgeous area of France is found on the Mediterranean coast was the highest at a staggering $22,577 per sq. ft.

Although the real estate market crashed last decade and devastated home owners and economies around the world, it’s definitely rebounded very strongly. Based on the high-end luxury market results reported by Christie’s International Real Estate, money is pouring in like never before.

Looking for a luxury home? Contact The Life of Luxury today. We have partnered with the best realtors in the luxury real estate markets around the world. Let the experts assist with your very important luxury home purchase. Return and follow this luxury blog and read about the latest luxury home news or Christie’s International Real Estate reports.

The Kaanapali Alii luxury condo property is located within Kaanapali Resort, just a three-minute walk from Whalers Village and a five-minute walk from Kaanapali Golf Courses.

The height of luxury, these oceanfront condominium units sit on 8 beautifully, landscaped acres right on scenic Kaanapali Beach on the beautiful, tropical Hawaiian island of Maui

A large outdoor pavilion and patio area with beachside barbecue grills and tables are available for picnics. Guests can also use a fitness room, freeform outdoor pool, children’s pool, and spa tub. It’s a VIP experience on Maui, Hawaii.

The seasonal Alii Kid’s Club at Kaanapali Alii provides supervised programs and special offers throughout the Kaanapali Resort available only to Alii Kid’s Club participants. Yoga classes are available to hotel guests every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (surcharge).

Three lighted tennis courts are on site, and guests have select privileges at the Kaanapali Golf Courses, located within a five-minute walk of the hotel.

Self parking is complimentary on the condo grounds. Valet parking is also available at this luxury Maui property offering luxury, oceanfront condominiums. The Maui property is close to numerous shopping, fine dining restaurants, outdoor recreational activities.

Kaanapali Alii offers four, 11-story, oceanfront towers that house 263 one- and two-bedroom condominium residences, each with separate living and dining areas and two full baths.

The condo units have private, furnished lanais with views of the Pacific Ocean, the West Maui Mountains, or the resort’s landscaped gardens.

Fully equipped kitchens at Kaanapali Alii have refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, dishwashers, cookware, and dinnerware. Other amenities include VCRs, washers and dryers, and in-room safes. You can also utilize the full service concierge services available to condominium owners.

If you are interested in buying a luxury Kaanapali Alii condo on Maui, Hawaii or booking a reservation for a luxury Hawaiian vacation, please contact The Life of Luxury. Return to follow this popular luxury blog and read about the latest luxury real estate and travel news.

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia offer owners the ultimate in luxury living in the City of Brotherly Love. The luxury, residential skyscraper is located in Center City in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The contemporary building is 48 stories high and at 518 feet, is currently the tallest residential tower in Philadelphia. The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia offers 270 luxury residences.

For owners, the luxury property provides all the amenities of a high-end hotel. For example, get pampered at the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s luxury spa, 24-hour valet parking in the underground garage, 7,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness center with an indoor pool, 24-hour concierge, chauffeur-driven S550 Mercedes-Benz house car, private waterfall garden with Wi-Fi, as well as a residents’ lounge and media room with a gorgeous outdoor terrace.

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia provides whole-ownership, luxury living for those who want the very best. The Tower building provided awesome views of the city and looks out toward William Penn atop City Hall.

Conveniently located, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia is close to theaters, high-end shopping, scenic parks and much more! The property’s staff is top notch, including the concierge service to help with restaurant, sightseeing and all travel requests.

If you would like more information about purchasing a luxury condominium at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia – please contact The Life of Luxury today. We can help you research and buy luxury real estate in almost every country in the world. Return to read this luxury blog and follow the latest, luxury industry news.

Photo: The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

When celebrities travel, they love to go first class. But there are times when traveling by private jet is not always an option.  Instead of a traditional tour bus, some celebs go in luxury style.

Music diva Mariah Carey rides in an amazing, two-story 1,200 square foot, mobile estate that will blow your mind. It comes equipped with a luxury living room, custom make-up area and a stunning second level dance club!

This ultra-luxury mobile estate used on-set, comes with 3 levels was designed by R.J. Anderson of “Anderson Mobile Estates” who calls it a “skyscraper on wheels.” Don’t miss the video clip below.

The living area alone is 600 square feet and perfect for Maria Carey, hew crew and guests to have a fun time. There’s a luxurious 15 foot, custom couch, a 65 inch, Samsung 9000 TV and an awesome surround-sound system.

Mariah’s mobile estate was designed with 2 tons of marble and stone. The custom kitchen is top-notch with a custom stove-top, convection oven and even a hideaway Sub-Zero refrigerator.

After climbing the granite staircase, you arrive at the second level dance club! This space was custom lighting and a 35 foot wrap around couch. There’s enough seating for up to 35 people and be entertained with two 60 inch TVs.

Price tag for Mariah Carey’s mobile estate is $1.8 million.

If you enjoy reading about famous celebrities like Mariah Carey and the latest technology trends, then return often to follow this luxury blog.

Video shot by Great American Country

Italy has long, rich history of culture and incredible castles. Dozens of private castles across Italy are now up for sale.

Dimitri Corti is the CEO of Lionard Luxury Real Estate, and says his firm currently has 37 castles for sale, but there are over 70 throughout Italy in their portfolio.

So what’s driving the abundance of private castles? Corti states, “The high maintenance costs and the increasing tax burden on properties have convinced many owners, whose properties have often been in the family for generations to evaluate sales opportunities aimed at the foreign market.”

Prices for a private castle ranges from €1,200 to €8,500 per square metre for properties of great charm and value, in perfect condition,. Some tof the castles for sale are already being used as a tourist accommodation, or as a farm.

Two, great historical figures from Dante’s Divine Comedy are Farinata degli Uberti (c. 1212-1264) who was one of the damned souls in Hell, and the Sienese noblewoman Sapia Salvani (c. 1210 -1278), who was one of the envious souls in Purgatory. Both these characters are associated with two castles in Tuscany – Castello di Sapia near Siena and Castello di Tavolese near Florence. Now you can purchase one of these famous castles and become part of history.

Piedmontis the city where yo uwill find the best value properties. For example, one of the most eye-catching castles in the Monferrato area is surrounded by a park with age-old trees, 5,962 square metres of perfectly-restored indoor space, and a sixteenth century guesthouse. The asking price for this castle is about €7 million.

Another example is Acquabella that is located in the gorgeous setting of the Vallombrosa Nature Reserve, near the Abbey of the same name. The castle has been restored to perfection, boasting a total of about 5,000 square metres of indoor space.

An early 20th-century castle found on the coast between Livorno and Castiglioncello, provide stunning sea views. This castle has 700 square metres of indoor space over four floors and two crenellated towers. The castle property features a lush park with palm trees, oaks, age-old pines and exotic plants.

On sale for for €2.5 million is another property – Castello di Sapia. This castle was named after a main character in an episode of Canto XIII of Dante’s Purgatory. Located near Monteriggioni, Italy, this castle is nestled in the timeless countryside, but does need a complete restoration.

For those with a bigger budget and wanting a luxury castle, there were several that range in price between €10 and €20 million or more.

In Lombardy, you’ll find several manor houses for sale, including an impressive castle near Milan. This luxurious castle (photo above) is surrounded by a circle of medieval walls, protected by a typical moat, with six crenellated towers, the castle has 8,800 square metres of indoor space with adjoining stables, chapel and private cemetery. The property features a beautiful, Italian-style garden, in addition to a large swimming pool set in a nineteenth-century bath.

One impressive is castle is Castello di Tavolese. This amazing private castle once belonged to the illustrious Farinata degli Uberti and Canigiani families, Petrarch’s mother belonging to the dynasty of the latter. The castle offers 7,676 square metres of indoor space and 62 hectares of parkland. There are also other buildings on site such as a church and several farmhouses.

If you are interested in learning more about these private castles for sale in Italy, please contact The Life of Luxury. Return to follow this luxury blog to read about other luxury real estate news and luxury properties for sale.

Now is your chance to own a luxury property in beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Up for sale is an amazing golf and spa resort.

Located on one of Scotland’s most important privately-owned historic castle estates, you can purchase outright ownership
and fractional ownership properties in the unique Highland Tay Retreat development.

This investment opportunity is an ideal real estate investment in Perthshire in the Scottish Highlands. Property investors can enjoy on-site facilities plus spacious, luxury properties.

The Highland Tay Retreat is found in one of the most beautiful areas in the entire British Isles. It’s only minutes north-east of the picturesque village of Kenmore in Perth and Kinross and just over an hour from the historic city of Edinburgh.

Here is a a summary of what is available at the historic Highland Tay Retreat Taymouth Castle
– 13th Fractional Ownership of a freehold property
– Located within Taymouth Castle
– Own a luxury hotel suite in Taymouth Castle’s East Wing
– Outright Freehold Ownership of a property in Highland Tay Retreat
– Each owner receives a rental return of 10% of the purchase price per annum for 2 years from completion
– Impressive onsite facilities for full relaxation and enjoyment of the splendor of the Highlands
– Rental returns paid from solicitor’s escrow account
– Alternatively, you can use your property for up to 4 weeks per year.
– Facilities including an 18-hole golf course designed by James Braid (who created Gleneagles, which hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup), fishing on the River Tay and much more, including a world-class spa.

Inside the castle, Francis Bernasconi who is known as the greatest designer of fine plasterwork of the era, created a central staircase that rises up 100 feet through all four stories of the central tower. In addition, many of the castle’s ceilings were painted by Cornelius Dixon.

The scenic River Tay is the longest river found in Scotland and is famous for its Atlantic salmon. The river runs right through the castle grounds, making it a terrific place for great fishing.

So now you can own a property within the walls of a legendary Scottish castle along with an incredible hotel suite.

Pre-launch pricing for the Scotland’s Highland Tay Retreat Taymouth Castle is:
Property outright starts at £357,500 instead of £390,000
Fractional membership starts at £27,500 instead of £30,000

If you are interested in learning more about purchasing the Highland Tay Retreat Taymouth Castle in Scotland, please contact The Life of Luxury today. Be alerted to other luxury real estate announcements by following this popular luxury blog.