Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

The first day of summer 2013 in the United States, the longest day of the year, still has less sunlight than northern Norway right now. Territories in the arctic circle have, effectively, 60 first days of summer. The first day of summer 2013 is the year's longest day in terms of sunlight, but it still pales in comparison to the amount of sun in northern Norway. This photo was taken in North Cape at exactly midnight. Courtesy of Saleha Mohsin Today the sun will shine for 18 hours, 50 minutes and 1 second. Now I realize that in December, when the days are short and the imposing darkness begins to wear on me, I’ll regret having said this: I’m tired of the sun. My body needs the kind of peace that only a dark, starry night can provide. At first I was looking forward to being in Oslo on June 21, the longest day of the year. The best remedy for a grim Norwegian winter is the buildup to the summer solstice. But I went on a whirlwind trip with the Foreign Press Association into the Ar

  Did you get a chance to see the supermoon? Don't worry if you didn't. In our gallery of supermoon photos (see below), you can page through scores and scores of spectacular images -- snapped by skywatchers around the world. Many were collected during our supermoon live blog, which has now concluded. But there's still time to submit any photos you might have snapped of the dazzling celestial phenomenon. You can tweet them to us using the #HPsupermoon hashtag, or submit them directly in the gallery. A supermoon is simply a new or full moon that coincides with what astronomers call "lunar perigee." That's the point at which the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit around our planet. Of course, you don't have to be an astronomer to get excited about what a supermoon looks like:

Today Showtime announced the arrival of a special cupcake created in partnership with Magnolia Bakery. The red velvet Dexter cupcake is "spattered with caramel 'blood' and sugar 'glass' shards." I'm including an image, which looks both appetizing and disturbing. If this sounds like it's exactly what your season-premiere viewing party needs, note that you can purchase the cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery locations (in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago) and on Sho.com. They're only available until June 30, so act fast. Dexter's new season premieres June 30 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. Expect lots of blood — and not the caramel variety ...

The Catalan architect's iconic buildings have left an indelible mark on Barcelona as work continues on his masterpiece Antoni Gaudí's 161st birthday is celebrated with a Google doodle. Photograph: Other/Google Google's latest doodle celebrates the 161st birthday of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect whose iconic buildings have left an indelible mark on Barcelona. Gaudí, who met his untimely death under the wheels of a city tram in 1926, took with him to the grave his vision for his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia church. Work continues on the vast Roman basilica and visitors flock to Barcelona every year to see it and his other works, including Park Guell, a steep garden complex with architectural elements and Casa Batllo, a mansion on the city's Passeig de Gracia. Research suggested in 2011 that Gaudí used the garden of a psychiatric hospital as a testing ground for his revolutionary designs, with the patients serving as his artisans. The grounds of the hospital

Remember of The King Of Pop, 4 Years After His Untimely Death Four years have passed since Michael Jackson died, on June 25, 2009, from cardiac arrest caused by a lethal combination of prescription drugs. His death, later rumored to be a homicide, shocked fans and musicians across the world. Michael Jackson was famous since the year 1964, being the youngest member of the "Jackson 5", his family's Motown group. He continued to dominate the music industry with best-selling hits such as "Thriller," "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Dangerous", "They don't really care about us". Jackson is survived by his three children, Prince Michael Jackson II, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson.

Trip Advisor has released its latest TripIndex Cities that ranks the cities on the basis of the expense a visitor would make. Oslo, the Norwegian capital tops the list as the most expensive amongst the world’s key cities. Visitors to Oslo would have to pay an average of $561.26 for a night out in town. The list is dominated by European cities with Sydney being the only exception in the top eight cities. According to the report a night out in Sydney would cost a visitor $445.64. TripAdvisor has calculated the cost for a couple staying one night in a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner with a bottle of wine, and return taxi fare of 3.2 kilometers each way. Sofia, Warsaw and Budapest are the Most Affordable Cities in Europe Sofia, Bulgaria Europe as a continent is the most expensive, but the interesting part is that the least expensive city is also in Europe. The spot is occupied by Sofia in Bulgaria which was declared the cheapest city overall with the visitors e

Calling a beach the most expensive sounds a little odd, particularly when you are not buying it outright. But in some cases the maintenance and expansion of a public beach requires huge investments making the beach rather expensive. According to this parameter the most expensive beach in America is the Rockaways. The beach has shrunk due to the havoc created by Sandy. The narrower beach will look more crowded this summer. Luckily the US Army Corps of Engineers have taken it upon themselves to replace the lost sand and restore the glory of the beach. The investment involved in the project will make the beach even more expensive. Army Corps Had Moved in Millions of Dollars Worth of Sand The old residents of the area remember both the erosion and the reconstruction of the beach. John Cori, 50, who is a resident of Rockaway remembers the grandeur of the beach when people had to get down 14 steps and jump another 4 feet to get to the beach. He also remembers the fate of the beach when th

New Zealand’s Tokelau Island has become a pioneer in solar energy by being the first completely solar powered territory on the planet. New Zealand has always been known for its environmentally sound policies, and this will become another feather in its cap. The island is made up of three coral reef atolls. Its 1500 odd inhabitants till now were using around 2,000 barrels of diesel every year to generate power. This method of power generation was proving very expensive for the island dwellers, bringing their diesel bills to over $825,000 every year. However, thanks to the Tokelau Renewable Energy project, this island in the Pacific will now meet its energy demands entirely through solar energy. Earlier, a huge chunk of the development funds allotted for the small island were being eaten up by the power demand. This made the future of development in this remote island quite bleak. But due to this project, not only will they be able to cut costs but also have a cleaner source

   Mermaids the new evidence. is the 2nd documentary in a series that explores the possibility that we may be discovering a new species of aquatic life that descended from prehistoric man but evolved in and around water.

Lamborghini , the Italian automaker has collaborated with Car Shoe to make limited edition driving footwear on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. They have completed fifty years in the industry and have established themselves as a leading brand. 50th anniversary is a major milestone in any company’s existence and Lamborghini is making every moment count. They are creating a series of celebratory limited editions. They are also organising special events. Just last week 350 Lamborghinis participated in the Grand Tour in Italy. Now they have got luxury brand Car Shoe to come on board and create a celebratory design that will appeal to the owners and admirers of Lamborghini and add to the anniversary celebrations. The Stylish Moccasins are Made From Calf Leather Car Shoe, owned by Prada, is the celebrated Italian brand established in 1963. They have created a limited edition of their famous moccasin to honour the 50th anniversary of Automobili Lamborghini. A 50th anniversary metal

Though not the most well known of sports car brands, Pagani sure believes in quality and not quantity. Pagani has impressed us again with their latest avatar of Zonda: the Revolucion. At 2358 pounds, this car definitely goes to the feather weight category of sports cars. That is thanks to its carbon-titanium monocoque chassis. Its 6.0-liter V12 engine is capable of an amazing 800 horsepower, while its torque is around 538 pound-feet. Its gears are like a dream. There are a total of six-speed sequential transmission and can be shifted through the cogs in just 20 milliseconds. Another great feature is the drag reduction system, which gives better stability by adjusting two downforce settings of the rear wing. According to the condition, you can adjust it yourself or the auto adjust will do it for you. The current price is 2.2 million Euros or approximately $2.9 million excluding taxes. The company released this car at the 9th Pagani Gathering or The Vanishing Point 2013. The tractio

Thailand has taken huge strides in the field of tourism and has established itself as a perfect holiday destination. Phuket has become popular globally as a destination for exciting as well as relaxing beach holidays. A new addition to a series of luxury resort in Phuket is the Paresa Phuket . Located on a seafront cliff facing the Andaman Sea the resort is the perfect luxury getaway that is surrounded by tropical forests. Paresa is an appropriate name for the resort as it translates as “Heaven of Heavens.” The resort offers rooms, suites and villas with names like Cielo, Dima, Cliff, Aqua, Talay, and Grand Villa. All the suites and villas are sea facing with unique views of the sea and the property. Sea Facing Suites and Villas The suites and the villas also boast of private infinity pools, balconies and decks. In addition they feature several luxury Thai amenities. The Grand Villa is the largest on the property and features three bedrooms. It is ideal for a larg

Hong Kong opened a large cruise terminal that has come up on the old international airport site. It is perhaps the best example of redevelopment as what used to be the runway will now be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world. The berths in the new cruise terminal have been built to handle liners of up to 220,000 gross tons. Built at a cost of $1.1 billion, the terminal hopes to become Asia’s hub for luxury liners. It was the site for Kai Tak International airport that connected Hong Kong to the rest of the world. Even in its new avatar it will continue connecting Hong Kong to the rest of the world. The only difference is that it will now connect through the seven seas. Mariner of the Seas was the First Liner to Dock at the New Terminal The commissioner of Tourism, Hong Kong, Philip Yung was present at the inauguration of the terminal and was excited about the possibilities it had opened. The new facility has enabled Hong Kong to receive mega cruise ships an

Most expensive suit may come up from the most unlikely place. Hong Kong is known for its expensive real estate but a tailor in the city has produced a suit that he claims to be one of the most expensive in the world. When you think of expensive suits, the names that come to mind are Saville Row or Ermenegildo Zegna who custom make suits in some of the most premium and exclusive material. Of course there are designers who create one off pieces and embellish them with precious stones and metals to claim the honor of being the most expensive in the world. Suit Stitched With Gold Thread Has Gold Buttons Encrusted With Diamonds Stuart Hughes of Manchester, England has created a bespoke suit that carries a staggering price tag of $892,250. He has no doubt used premium material like cashmere, wool and silk but the price has been pushed towards a million dollars by embellishing it with 480 individual pieces of 0.5 carat, color G, vs2 quality diamonds. The Hong Kong tailor has used 22 cara

The Oberoi Group opens its first property in UAE, The Oberoi Dubai. The India based Oberoi group has created a niche for itself with some ultra luxurious properties who have even won awards. Their Vanyavilas Ranthambore provides luxury amidst nature and was voted the best in the world by industry peers. The Udaivilas and the property in Gurgaon have also been admired by the industry and guests.  It is not just the property but their service has also been applauded and they have been able to consolidate their position right at the top in luxury hospitality. The group is expanding its presence in the Middle East in a planned manner and has now opened their first property in UAE. The Hotel Offers a Total of 252 Rooms and Suites The Oberoi Dubai boasts of a premium location as well. The hotel is housed in the Oberoi Center which is quite close to downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall. The hotel offers a total of 252 rooms and suites that overlook the iconic Burj Khalifa. All the rooms o

Marchi Mobiles, known for their premium vehicles have released their latest and the most expensive motor home which is perhaps the ultimate luxury vehicle, the eleMMent Palazzo. Their eleMMent series has been created to address the needs of the super rich who love the extraordinary. It is a new class developed in the ultra premium segment. The futuristic design of the Palazzo makes it look like a space age vehicle. It is also larger than an average motor home and definitely more expensive as it carries a price tag of£2 million. The eleMMent Palazzo has been made available for sale in Dubai. The motor home is obviously targeted at the oil rich sheikhs and that’s why it is being showcased in Dubai. The State of the Art Mobile Home Washes Itself After a Day’s Drive It is a large motor home with an enormous master bedroom. The luxury amenities on board include a 40-inch TV, on-board bar, fireplace and even its own rooftop terrace. However, the highlight of the luxury vehicle i

Gamers are speaking with their wallets following E3 2013, a show that was dominated by Sony PlayStation 4 in the next gen battle. Amazon has already sold out of the $400 PlayStation 4 launch edition of the next gen console, which will be available on day one of Sony’s launch. Sony is still selling PS4 as a $400 Standard Edition, but is not guaranteeing when gamers will receive that version this fall. PS4 is also being bundled as a $500 bundle with two different versions, one including Electronic Arts’ Battlefield 4 and PS Plus and one including Guerilla Games’ Killzone Shadow Fall and PS Plus. There are also two other bundles retailing for $460, one including Sony’s Knack and the other including Ubisoft’s Watch Dog. The Xbox One Day One Edition is still available for $500. Amazon is not currently selling any Xbox One bundles. Microsoft MSFT -0.91%’s Forza Motorsport 5 is the only Xbox One game in the Top 20 bestselling games list on the site. Sony has three PS4 games (Watch Dogs, Batt

Is bigger really better? If you take the constant attempts to build the world’s largest building as any indication, then yes, bigger is better. Azerbaijan is now joining in on the tallest tower building endeavor seen both in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. It has become one of the most competitive, expensive and popular building “competition” ever – the race to build the world’s tallest building. In hopes of topping Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, Azerbaijani businessman, Haji Ibrahim Nehramli, president of Avesta Group, has enlisted the help of his architecturally talented employees to build the Azerbaijan Tower. Construction on the tower is expected to begin sometime in 2016-2017 and the plan is to build the next world’s tallest building on one of Avesta Group’s artificial islands in the Caspian Sea. Known as the Kazar Islands, the artificial floating metropolis will serve as a hub for both commercial and residential purposes. Estimated to cost $100 billion to dev

Elizabeth Taylor was an iconic figure in life and now in death. Her famous jewelry collection was auctioned by Christie’s and fetched quite a handsome amount. This time around Christies is auctioning off her first wedding gown as part of their Pop Culture sale. The pre-sale estimates are around $45,300, but the actual final bid could go much higher. The highest bidder will get a provenance and picture of Taylor wearing the gown at her wedding as a complimentary document. The auction will be held on June 26. Taylor wore this silk gown to her marriage to hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr., son of Conrad Hilton, the founder of the Hilton Hotels and the great uncle of the current Hilton heiresses Paris and Nicki. The wedding was the first for both and lasted less than a year. Hilton was married one more time while Taylor went on to marry seven more times. She was just 18 years old when she wore this gown. This stunning silk satin gown was designed by Helen Rose, the chief costume design

If you thought that the French automobile giant Bugatti was only famous for creating the world’s fastest production car, Bugatti Veyron? Then think again! As it happens, Bugatti is also the creator what is now officially the world’s most expensive car, a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. This vintage exotic ride is considered to be the holy grail for auto enthusiasts and is extremely rare with only two models of the vehicle in existence as of now.  The first Type 57SC is in the possession of the world’s leading fashion designer, Ralph Lauren, while the second model of this fabulous piece of vintage automobile specimen resides at the Mullin Museum, in Oxnard, California. The last of the Type 57SC Atlantic was sold off at an auction organized by Gooding & Company in the month of May last year, where the vehicle was sold off to the museum for a mind blowing sum that hovers between $30 million to $40 million. This particular figure puts everything back in the line, in

A 1931 painting by Russian artist and philosopher Nikolai Roerich has become the most expensive Russian painting ever after it fetched £7.9 million (equivalent to approx. $12 million) at an auction at Bonham’s in London on Wednesday. It is a Madonna Laboris which is part of a series of works depicting the Great Female Deities of the World. Roerich was spiritually obsessed and it resulted in this masterpiece. For a long time, the painting was believed to have been lost until it was rediscovered in a private collection in the US. Yelena Harbick, director of Russian Art at Bonham’s considered it a significant work of art and was confident that it will attract the interest of international collectors. The Market for Russian Art has Grown Rapidly in the Last Decade The painting was definitely the highlight of the day at the auctions and was acquired by an unnamed telephone bidder for a record price. The dominant color in the painting is blue as it shows Virgin Mary inside the b

She may be “Maid in Manhattan,” but Jennifer Lopez loves the Hamptons enough to spend $10 million on a chic 3-acre spread in Water Mill, NY. First reported by the New York Post, Lopez, along with her young boyfriend Caspar Smart and her twins Max and Emme, were seen multiple times touring the property before Lopez officially dropped $10 million for the 8-bedroom, 7.5 bathroom, 8,500 square foot custom home. Lopez’s new purchase is the perfect summer retreat with every amenity she and her family need, including a sparkling pool, pool house, theater, sauna, steam room and covered porches. The light, bright Hamptons beach house is perfectly private and situated on a secluded cul-de-sac. The property features the gorgeous main home, as well as room for J-Lo to build a guest house and tennis court, if she’s so inclined. This news comes on the heels of news that ex-husband Marc Anthony just spent $2.5 million on a new home in Encino, CA. Coast-to-coast, the former duo is buying up some high