The Trump hotel collection introduces it’s latest architectural marvel, Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower Panama.

The Trump Ocean Club is a mixed-development complex with 369 guest rooms and suites, hotel condominium’s and condominium residences.

This 70 story iconic building resembles a  fully deployed sail, sitting above a 13-story base building topped by an expansive platform. Upon this pad, rests a  pool deck, oceanfront dining and an impressive three-story sky lobby.

All guest rooms and suites are spacious, ranging  from 525 to 1,561 square feet and have dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that open to private balconies . European cabinetry, imported granite countertops, marble flooring, designer fixtures, frameless showers and an insanely comfortable bed are standard.

Amenities include a 10,000-square-foot wellness spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, designer shops, island beach club, yacht club, gourmet restaurants, 24-hour in-room dining and an international casino set to open later this year.

World-class architect Steve Hermann took six long years to build this jaw-dropping modern home in Montecito, California. Every detail of this palatial estate incorporates some of the finest materials known to man. From its ultra-elegant interiors to its flawless looking exterior, this home is clearly built to be  legendary and unimaginable.

The Montecito Glass Pavilion sits comfortably on a luscious 3.5 acre lawn and is incredibly spacious at around 13, 875 square feet. It has  five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, an over-sized dining area, a kitchen with a wine room and an art gallery that can hold up to 32 cars. Impressive!

A snapshot of the living room shows the home’s  seamless integration with nature. The green backdrop adds both color and dimension to the serene minimalist style living space.

Hermann skillfully used massive structural steel beams to elevate and support his glass-walled home and give it that “weightless/floating” appearance. He also uses Star Fire glass for all of the home’s glass panels, which  is a very clear-type glass usually reserved for displaying jewelry. The incorporation here is just one example of high quality construction.

The kitchen has a wine room that’s capable of storing nearly 1000 wine bottles.  Varenna Poliform, high-end italian designer, can be credited with some of the kitchen design work seen above.

The magnificent art gallery shown here displays Mr.Hermann’s personal vintage car collection. The space can reportedly hold up to 32 cars within its walnut lined walls.

Pictures Courtesy of D’ete Blackshire

I personally love this bathroom. But, It’s definitely not for everyone. I think the phrase “nature calls” has multiple meanings here. For those that love a view, while taking a shower or “letting go”, this is your paradise. For others, a privacy nightmare. I appreciate the use of Eco-friendly materials.

So, if you’ve got some spare change lying around, keep this home in mind. It’s all yours for just $35 million.

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So, if your looking to splurge on something  fashionable, eccentric, or just different, consider a pair of these multicolor $500 hand crocheted socks! I say that with the utmost enthusiasm.  Sure, it looks very unique.  There’s no denying that. But it offers virtually no benefit. 

The socks are made of silky mohair and soft alpaca wool. Washing it, therefore, is not recommended. The materials used are too delicate and luxurious. Spot wash only.

You can’t wear it more than a few times either because its hole-like structure could cause it to wear down or rip. So $500 gets you a pair of socks that’s more form than fuction. But, fashion lovers with deep pockets would definitely acquire a pair to capitalize on this year’s  fall sock madness and perhaps own something that warrants bragging rights: “I have the world’s most expensive socks! ( atleast according to the New York Post. They call it ”"most expensive socks in the world”

Check out how some people reacted:

Kate and Laura Mulleavy, founders of the U.S fashion brand, Rodarte designed these socks. They’ve won numerous industry awards in the past and are known to create uncommon styles.

According to Elle magazine, “‘The open-toe [shoe with] sock trend is very season-specific, and by the end of the fall, the trend is most likely to look dated or passé.”

(May 3, 2010 – Photo by Robert Gray/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Stefano Canturi, world renowned jewelry designer, was recently chosen by Mattel to create the world’s most expensive Barbie.

To celebrate the launch of the Barbie Basics Collection in Australia, Canturi spent roughly four weeks carefully designing Barbie’s frame, hairstyle, make-up, shoes and black strapless dress. The estimated $300,000-$500,000 price tag, however, comes from Barbie’s unique diamond collar necklace and right-hand ring.

Check out the making of the World’s Most Expensive Barbie Doll.

The neckpiece is created out of 3 carats of exquisite white diamonds coupled with a 1 carat square emerald cut pink diamond in the center. The pink diamond has a purplish pink hue and is known to be extremely rare. It was sourced from the Australian Argyle mine, which produces most of the world’s pink diamond supply.

Colored diamonds, in general, are usually said to be more unique and rare than white diamonds. The pink diamond, is one of the world’s most rare diamond, fetching costs north of $250,000 per carat.

Barbie’s jewelry accessories clearly reflects Canturi’s signature cubism collection and for good reason. Canturi said “I wanted the jewelry design to pay homage to Barbie’s modern yet timeless style, this is why I applied my Cubism design concept to her look; it is perfect for her,”

The Canturi Barbie is a featured item at Christie’s famous Auction, “Jewels: The New York Sale”, which will be held today. 100% of the doll sale profits, however, will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On June 7th, 2010, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc in partnership with TEMES S.A., officially announced the opening of The Romanos, a luxury collection resort in Costa Navarino, Greece. It is the first luxury hotel to open in this area.

The picturesque lobby above shows a world-class view of the deep blue Ionian Sea. According to Starwood Press Club, the luxury resort is located on a beautiful 130 hectare site called the Navarino dunes,which would be used to develop interesting facilities such as a 4000 square meter spa, numerous restaurants, lounge areas, retail and entertainment options, and the first signature golf course in Greece. The site’s location is ideal for those seeking true rest and relaxation while enjoying the natural beauty and outdoor activities.

It is a rare treat, in my opinion, for someone who is looking for something new and different. A place that offers uninterrupted views of the sea and surrounding indigenous trees, without thousands of people walking the beach is something unheard of today. Resorts like the Romanos remind us that luxury does not have to cost a fortune.

Set amidst lush olive groves and crystalline waters, the Romanos offers a total of 321 guestrooms and suites. All of them offer views of either the sea , landscaped gardens or both. The smallest rooms are the Deluxe, which measure at around 460 sq.ft and the largest are the Premium Grand Infinity Suites, which come with an individual infinity pool(23-35m2), state of the art home cinema system, hardwood floors and extended terrace with a BBQ area. They have a separate lounge and dining area as well.

If you’d like to step it some more, the Resort also has three different types of Villas. They are the Grand Infinity villa, lthomi and Sapienza Villa, and the three- bedroom Koroni Royal Villa. The Romanos signature beds are fitted with 250-thread count sheets and include arctic down or hollow fiber pillows.

The Romanos marble bathrooms have a separate bathtub, dual vanities, walk-in rain showers and Anazoe Spa bathroom amenities.The bathrooms conveniently  have fog-resistant and lighted magnifying mirrors as well. Very thoughtful. Ladies would appreciate the weighing scales and salon style hairdryers.

All in all, a very clean contemporary bathroom design with some great features. Don’t you just love those pure cotton bathrobes and slippers shown above? I always want to take those home.

A picture of the Grand Suite living room shows contemporary furnishings, a 42 inch flat screen TV, hardwood floors and a dining area. I really do like the way that front wall has been designed. Looks very elegant.

Check out some more pictures of the resort in the gallery below. I’ve included a number of them to help you get a better idea of the location and resort facilities. I haven’t been here yet. If anyone of you has visited this place or plans to in the near future, feel free to share your experience with us. We would love to hear all about it.

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Like fresh air? Visit Tasmania, an island state of Australia known to have the purest air in the world. That’s right, folks. I’m not making that up. Its supposedly one of Australia’s best kept secrets. So, its not surprising to see new hotel development projects or openings like the Saffire-Freycinet. This luxury resort is located on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula. It offers 20 beautiful suites with views of the Hazards Mountains and Great Oyster Bay.

The smallest rooms are the deluxe suites at 861 sq ft and the largest are the premium suites at a little over 1500 sq ft. Breakfast, lunch, mini-bar, selected beverages, internet access and a 60 minute spa treatment are also included in both the deluxe and luxury suite rates. Premium Suite guests get a 120 minute spa treatment. Dinner, however, is additional. All room types have a private courtyard and deck with outdoor lounge. The premium suites have a plunge pool and private suite kitchen as well. An ipod music system is available in all rooms and is a must for such scenic beauty. I mean, I love trance and house music. So, its a great blend for me. Gotta have it!

What does all this luxury come with? A frightfully expensive price tag. I’ll tell you that. The range is between $1,250-$2,550 Australian dollars a night, depending on what kind of suite you book. But, its definitely worth a trip in my opinion. Rare beauty comes with a price, and not many know of this place. You won’t find hundreds of people sharing a pool, crowding the lounge or screaming their lungs out every night. I definitely feel it will be an intimate and relaxing experience. I am planning to check this place out in October. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll keep you posted.

This is a picture of Saffire’s new restaurant, Palate. What’s special about this are the views of the Hazards from the floor-to ceiling windows and the home grown produce used in every meal. The Chef will even attempt to prepare your favorite dish using the freshest ingredients available. Not bad right?

The Park Hyatt-Chicago is a luxury hotel that has truly mastered the art of guest satisfaction. Their Water Tower suite is arguably one of the most well designed suites in the country. At an astonishing 1,850-sq.ft, it ‘s got a separate living  and dining area, office, kitchen, wet bar, marble bath and a bedroom with a great view. No compromises or shortcuts here. Just true pampering for the luxury traveler.

The living room is split into two seating sections. One created for conversation and the other for TV entertainment. That’s at least how I perceive it. Situated along the entire length of the living room are some cleverly designed windows with attached seats that have stunning views of Lake Michigan and Watertower Place. The hard wood floors and cherry brown wood finishes give this suite a rich and vibrant look. It could very well pass for a high-end condo in Gold Coast Chicago.

The Bathroom has got an incredibly unique feature that should put a smile to just about any guest’s face. Its got a sliding privacy door to the right of the tub, that lets you get a glimpse of those stunning Lake Michigan views while taking a bubble bath. Convenient and Innovative. Dual marble vanities are  always a plus no matter where you live. There’s a powder area and separate shower as well. Check out the gallery pics if you want to see that.

A snapshot of the dining area can be seen above.   They’ve got a large enough table for a full course dinner. Just a very spacious and comfortable feel to it. A lot of luxury hotels have suites that fail in this area. Either their tables are too small or spacing is an issue. I do like those arm chairs at the back as well. No particular reason.

The bedrooms at the Park Hyatt Chicago make check-out a regrettable moment. Its tough to leave folks!  The  beautiful views, lovely attached bathroom with the sliding door, an incredibly soft mattress, wide-screen LCD TV and that awesome grass texture covered wall is sure to win anyone’s heart. I’d have to say that the Park Hyatt Chicago wins hands down for the best suite in Illinois. In many ways, it sets the bar for what comfort should be. According to TripAdvisor, it is ranked #1 for business in Chicago with about 92% positive traveler recommendations. That’s not an easy feat.

If you decide to stay here, I’d suggest going with one of their suites. Lynne Bredfeldt (Director of Public Relations) and Gavin Graham (Director of Rooms) are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Their friendly, down to earth and very attentive. Lynne, especially has to be the best Public Relations director I have ever come across. She’s got a great personality. I firmly believe that the Park Hyatt-Chicago wouldn’t be the same without them.  If you have a few minutes, try and meet them. Its worth it.

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What you see above, ladies and gentlemen, is the premier gold coast suite living room at the Elysian-Chicago. Very tastefully decorated. The fireplace looks grand. The black sleeper sofa and arm chairs are chic, sexy and ultra-comfortable. I didn’t want to get up. The framed art work is rather interesting. I definitely like the black, white and pink play of colors. But, I’ve yet to understand what it means. Ladies would love those beautiful white and pink roses on the glass tabletop. The sofa pillows are to die for. I wanted to take those home with me. The suite is around 1264 square feet. Very spacious for the gold coast neighborhood.

What an awesome terrace folks!  Very spacious to say the least. Its a great place for a barbecue, drinks , a good conversation or maybe just some quiet-think time.

The bedroom is cozy, intimate and memorable.  Simple yet classy. A very comfortable bed with some of  the softest pillows around. The thread count on these linen sheets, I believe are 460. Some more beautiful roses for you ladies. There’s a 42 inch LCD HDTV in here as well along with an ipod docking station.

This is another shot of the living room. Again, great looking armchairs and a charming fireplace. I thought the 42 inch LCD TV was very well set. A dining table that sits three and a nice work station can be seen here as well. I’ve got a better shot of that in the gallery.

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The majestic Trump international hotel & tower holds the throne, in my opinion, for the absolute best view in Chicago.  Soaring 10 ft floor-to ceiling windows  showcase the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with some beautiful high-rises along the coast. A truly memorable scene for anyone that books this suite.  Black, White and shades of Grey define the color scheme in the living area. The sofa sleeper and arm chair feel grand with its velvet-like texture. There was a pair of binoculars on a little table by the windows. I thought that was very cool. With views like that, who wouldn’t want one? I could just picture myself checking out all the tour boats in the distance.

This is a shot of the living room in the grand deluxe suite, but I’ve got a great one of the view in the gallery. You have to check that out to really see what I’m talking about. I love suites with a fireplace. So, to see one here was definitely a positive.

Folks, the Trump always impresses in the area of sleep quality. Their beds offer some of the finest linens available, making their sheets ultra-soft and smooth. We’re talking 500-thread count here! Most luxury hotels work between 250-350.

A soft pillow top mattress with an edge support system provides for some quality sleep time. The Chaise lounge at the corner of the bedroom is just a fantastic place to chill and have a drink. You could just glare at the views all day long and listen to some music on that Bose wave music system. For those that don’t know, Bose is no joke. Their speaker systems cost a pretty penny and are some of the very best in the world. There’s a 42 inch LCD HDTV in the bedroom as well.

A complete kitchen that silences the most serious of critics. What I’ve always loved about the trump in general, is their attention to detail. Let’s face it, how many luxury hotels do you know invest this heavily in their guest room/suite kitchens? Forget luxury hotels, this kitchen beats out most residential ones.

Their stainless steel appliances include a Miele Cooktop, GE profile microwave, sub-zero refrigerator and a miele dishwasher. I love the Granite counter tops and Snaidero Italian wooden cabinetry as well. Nice Island.

Custom dual vanities with an in-mirror TV portal. Very Cool! Those bathrobes are great. Believe me, I wanted to wear it for dinner at the time I stayed here. But, that’s just me. There’s a separate shower and deep soaking bathtub as well. You can check that out along with the second bathroom in the picture gallery below.

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Upon first sight,  it is  quite easy to be overwhelmed with the size, decor and location of the suite. The bedroom above is huge. Very Huge. There’s two chairs, a couch, drawer, two lamp stands and still place to fit a baby elephant. Impressive. The comfortable bed, lake views, and that all important flat screen TV makes it a perfect 10 in my book. What more can one want really. Would suck to switch off all those lamps though. There’s about 4-5 in the bedroom alone. There’s  an attached bathroom as well which i failed to take pics off.  Apologies there. I love some green so that little tree at the corner was a nice touch.

The living room has that old world charm look and feel to it. Its elegant, antique and European. Lake Michigan views once again. Nice drapes. I loved that grandfather looking clock all the way at the back. The grand  fireplace with the gold framed mirror and statues above it adds a warm-cozy touch l. I also like to sit in all the couches when i do reviews just to measure comfort level and these were sink-in soft. Two thumbs up for that!

This is the dining room. Nice chandelier. There’s also a sofa at the other end. Check out the gallery if you’d like to see that.

Another part of the living room from another angle. See that tucked in space behind the pillars? That’s a neat little space with a couch and TV in front of it. Almost like a second living room if you will. There’s more pics in the gallery if you want some close-ups.

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