Leave it to Italian designers to create the ultimate in luxury rocks for sexy lightscaping around the home.

These remarkable lighted rocks by Oluce look as if they might have been swiped from the lawn of a distant planet. In reality, though, they were created by Italian designers Marta Laudani and Marco Romanelli with Massimo Noceto. Made from weather-tested polyethelene, these lighted Oluce stones glow with the aid of a screw-in fluorescent bulb.

Dont expect to find these luxe rocks in your local hardware or lighting store though. They are available by special order and then only in large quantities–whatever that means. Current prices for the rocks generally run in the $500+ range, while the glowing Oluce table lamp runs over $1700 on Amazon.

I hope to see some of these luminous beauties in San Diego’s luxury homes before too long. They would look lovely sitting on a table or other surface providing soft and romantic accent lighting.

For additional information, you may call ylighting at 866.428.9289 (This is an unpaid, unexpected and unsolicited commercial)

I wonder if these lighted rocks would attract bugs???

Other fun and imaginative luxuries for the luxury home:

D. Porthault Sheets and Linens

The Luxury Blingdex

The Intuitive Luxury Home

As well as other recent luxury reads:

The Snoring Room
The Self Service Spa (Do it at home?)
Long-Lasting Roses
Induction-Cooktop for the Luxury Kitchen
Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath
How to Hide the Bedroom TV
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
SONOS: The Ultimate Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens?
The Overflowing Infinity Tub
Wine Storage for Oenophiles
The Illuminated Bathtub

The post Glowing Rocks for Luxury Homes appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

More and more, we are receiving requests for homes in San Diego that will accommodate all living generations in a family.  It’s an emerging trend and one which might grab the attention of builders in years to come.

The post The Luxury of Multi-Generational Living appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

There may be lots of dismal news about the real estate economy, but there is still lots of interest in the luxury home market–and curiosity about the most expensive zip codes for median home prices.  Ever on top of these things, Forbes.com has compiled a list of the top 500 zip codes in the country and which certainly reach beyond the dominating states of California and New York.

The top 25 most expensive zip codes are controlled by California with 13 and New York with 10. New Jersey and Maryland each have one. Money and wealth, it seems, appear to gravitate toward the West or East coasts.

In the list below, cities are zip code specific and median prices are shown. Note that in some cases ranking may be separated by only a few thousand (or hundred) dollars.

The post 25 Most Expensive Zip Codes appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Years ago, Chef Madelyn in Big Bear Lake offered a $99 peanut butter and jelly sandwich picnic–paired with a bottle of Dom Perignon. It was a relative bargain, considering cost of the wine. It also caused more than a few chuckles among pilots who flew in and out of the little Big Bear Airport, where her restaurant was located.

In London, though, BBC TV chef Martin Blunos has crafted a truffle-infused cheese sandwich on bread that is literally sprinkled with gold dust and carries an expensive price tag that will likely  break a Guinness record of some sort–and for a time is touted as the most expensive sandwich in the world.

According to the Daily Mail, who initially reported the story, the concoction is spiked with 100-year-old balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil and layered with slices of quail egg, black heirloom tomatoes, epicure apple and fresh figs. Salad crunchies consisted of mustard red frills, pea shoots and red amaranth.

It’s the special white truffle blended cheese (crafted by premier cheese-makers Pilgrim’s Choice) that gives the sandwich both its unique flavor and hefty price tag.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1310805/TV-chef-Martin-Blunos-creates-cheese-sandwich-costs-incredible-110.html#ixzz0zEi4Cokc

The post The Luxury of a $170.00 Sandwich appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Sometimes we stumble across unexpected treasures, including articles written a couple of years ago.

This one is too rich not to share again: A Free MIT Education.

Thanks to a web-based electronic publishing initiative, this incredible opportunity from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is being generously funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and MIT with support of the Ab Initio software firm.

It is an opportunity of a lifetime for self-learners and those gifted with spare time and curiosity. There are now over 2000 courses available, ranging from engineering (of course) to foreign languages, philosophy, history, urban and women studies and special offerings from the Sloan School of Management.

How does the system work?

It is a publication of MIT course materials that do not require any registration, attendance or homework. You are on your own and work at your own pace. No degrees or certifications are granted, nor is there access to the MIT faculty.

The cost? Free.

The benefit? Priceless.

See you in class?

The post How About a Free MIT Education? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Most of us appreciate the earthy luxury of a true wine cellar and also see the value of repurposed materials emerging as elements in our homes. But how about a slice from the best of both worlds and have rich wood flooring crafted from old California wine barrels?

I’ve seen serving trays and other novelties emerge from wine barrel tops, but hardwood flooring from the actual wine barrel offers some beautiful possibilities. Fontenay Woods is likely the original source of reclaimed barrel flooring, and handcrafts each plank for custom installation.

Their Vintage Barrel Collection includes three wine barrel sources:

• The Cooperage comes from the outside of the barrel head and displays deep patina, cooper’s stamps and special markings.
• The Wine Infusion represents the inside of the barrel and retains rich infused coloring from aging red wine.
• The Stave displays the outer sides of the barrel where the hoops have been removed–and provides further pattern interest.

Their goal, says Fontenay, is to provide an elegant product that “is guaranteed for life.”

Now, how to recycle all the wine bottles–with least processing possible?

The post Wine Barrel Flooring: The Luxury of Recycling appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

A couple of years ago we were buzzing about the possibility of Slumburbias–where Baby Boomers were abandoning cul de sacs, suburbs and the McMansions battled for a decade ago. Instead, they wanted something smaller, something in a walkable neighborhood, something that didn’t require 100 square feet devoted to lawn mowers, clippers and tools.

They still long for the freedom to lock and go, the freedom to travel, the freedom from having to care and climatize square footage they don’t even visit for weeks at a time. Kids have either moved on or are hanging on and something without a grand staircase sounds mighty inviting to knees that remember prior injuries.

Today, CNBC reports that the McMansions, Starter Castles, Garage Mahals and Faux Chateaus–or whatever you want to call them —are history. These days, few are seeking 4000 square foot  two-story boxes that sit 15 feet from their neighbor’s Plan II Tuscan with 3800 square feet–each with granite and stainless kitchens, epoxied garage floors and mind-numbing sameness. The article goes on…

Just 9 percent of the people surveyed by Trulia said their ideal home size was over 3,200 square feet. Meanwhile, more than one-third said their ideal size was under 2,000 feet.

“That’s something that would’ve been unbelievable just a few years back,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia. “Americans are moving away from McMansions.”

We are seeing much the same in our San Diego real estate practice. There is great demand for single story homes, neighborhoods where one can walk to a store, where life can be simpler and more easily managed.  And, of course, it also helps if this downsized San Diego home has the luxury of sitting on the beach–or fronting the golf course at La Costa, Fairbanks Ranch or Rancho Santa Fe.

You may also wish the read:

7 Bargaining Secrets for Luxury Home Buyers

Homes for Baby Boomers: What Do They Want?

The post Adieu to McMansions? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

We are making reservations now to attend the National Association of Realtors NAR NARDIGRAS, which will logically be held in New Orleans, November 4 through November 8.  We are arriving a couple of days early to attend a two day Cyberprofessional meeting and will spend the balance of our time in unspecified meetings–but will additionally be taking photos and reviewing lodging, restaurants and local “catches.”

Time will understandably be limited.

Can any of our readers suggest an interesting Bed and Breakfast or small Inn in the French Quarter or Garden District in New Orleans? Something picturesque? Maybe even something haunted?

Mostly, Scott and I are seeking something to capture in the viewfinder–and some stories to tell. Reviews are guaranteed!

We welcome your suggestions and will happily publish relevant links.

The post Seeking New Orleans Bed and Breakfast or Inn appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

And the kids in Afghanistan desperately need our help.

Many schools throughout the country have been destroyed and teachers have been executed–resulting in a literacy rate that is one of the lowest in the world. Some American soldiers, cooperating with locals, are assisting in trying to reopen some of these schools and our assistance is required.

Desperately needed are pencils, pens, sharpeners, world maps, notebooks, colored pencils (no melting crayons!), chalk, chalkboards,  all kinds of paper, rulers, stickers, backpacks and anything else you would normally provide for school children. Free boxes can be picked up at US Post Offices and measuring 12x12x5.5 that can hold a substantial number of supplies. Postage should run $12.50 or less regardless of weight.

My first box is already packed–and marked “school supplies.”

Here is the plea (and mailing address) from Chaplain Capt. Joseph DuWors:

Some have asked about possibly supporting local schools or children. If you are still interested, the time to begin collecting is now. Due to the challenges of this area, many timess, if there is a school building, there may not be a teacher. Or, if there is a school and teacher, there may not be supplies. Many of the schools have been damaged and teachers driven off by the Taliban more than four years ago.

Our presence and influence here is aimed at providing security for the legitimate government of Afghanistan. We hope that security will enable schools to once again reappear. Our long-term plan for regional stability includes schooling for Afghani children.

We do have some resources locally to obtain the necessary supplies. However, we could really use some help. So, if anyone is interested in sending care packages of humanitarian aid for schools, below I am listing basic school supply items that would be helpful.

I will be consolidating all school supplies for distribution, and, if my boss allows, I will go with the soldiers to distribute it so I can send you pictures and video or your school supplies reaching the children.

The mailing address remains the same as regular care packages. Thanks again for not just thinking of us, but of those whom we are here to support as well.

Writing Materials is the primary need:
Pens
Pencils & Sharpeners
Erasers
Paper pads
Notebooks
(Any kind of paper is useful)
Please no crayons (they will melt)
If you want to send markers for drawing that is okay
chalk and erasers
rulers

You may also consider:
school backpacks
chalkboards
floor matts for sitting on
world maps
soccer balls

Again, Thanks!!

CH (CPT) J. Joseph DuWors
HHT, 4/2 SCR
FOB SPIN BOLDAK
APO AE 09355

The post The Luxury of….Schools in Afghanistan appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

It’s interesting to study living costs in the most expensive cities in the world–at least as tabulated for 2009. According to Mercers, who tabulate these statistics for expatriate living, the 10 most expensive cities (based on housing, food, entertainment, clothing and transportation) are:

1. Tokyo

2. Osaka

3. Moscow

4. Geneva

5. Hong Kong

6. Zurich

7. Copenhagen

8. New York

9. Beijing

10. Singapore

Mercer’s, in their studies for expatriate cost of living, tabulates these costs for 143 cities in 65 continents and published their results each year. New York is used ars the base city and is given a score of 100. Using that base, Tokyo, for example, scores 143.7 and is almost three times as expensive as Johannesburg, which has an index of 49.6 and is one of the most reasonable places to live.

The top 5 most expensive cities in the Americas are New York City (8), Caracas, Venezuela (15), Los Angeles (23) White Plains (31) and San Francisco (34), while Asia and Europe dominate the worldly top ten list.

Now, we await the Mercer;s Most Expensive Cities list for 2010–especially in light of volatile currency swings.

The post Most Expensive Cities in the World appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.