Category: Cars

Classic Cars Fit for a Prince

Owning a piece of history has never been easier than it is right now. Over 38 vehicles out of more than 100 from the Royal family of Monaco are up for grabs during an auction from Heritage which takes place today, July 26. You may be wondering why are these irreplaceable rides are on the auction block ….

High Retro: This Porsche 928 is considered the high-lights of the sale, with a reported estimate of $317,000

According to Prince Albert – a huge collector of classic cars – he’s simply ready to “add some new models to a collection which is so very dear to my heart”. What’s great about this sale is that while there are a number of classic cars among the lot, overall, the vehicles on offer are what they call ‘real world’ models which are affordable to the man on the street. The 1925 Citroën (pictured below) is estimated between $15,500 to $19,000. Heritage described the sale as a ‘unique opportunity to acquire a motor car from one of the most well known collections, from the most famous and prestigious Principalities’.

True Provenance: 1925 Citroën 5 HP torpédo Trèfle, Super-culasse from Prince Albert II of Monaco
Photos via Daily Mail UK
Designed initially as a replacement for the Porsche 911, the 928 S has a 4.7-litre V8 engine which Heritage Auctions described as a ‘very fine tourer’. Prince Albert II was quoted as saying: ‘The Princes of Monaco have always been passionate about motor cars. Prince Pierre initiated the Grand Prix in 1929, and competed in it, in a Torpedo. My father, Prince Rainier, took over the development of the race, which has today become one of the most prestigious events in the world.”

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EDITOR’S TOP PICKS
For its first foray into lighting, Kiln Design Studio worked with Bespoke Global to introduce the Derrick Chandelier – inspired by the Studio’s famed vitreous enamel table mobile. The stunning colors of the vitreous enamel are luminous, while the organic form of the Lily Pads are striking against the minimalist hardware.
Available at Bespoke Global



Derrick Chandelier by Kiln Design Studio

C’est si bon!
“Die and Gone to Heaven” macarons from Ladurée NYC
Need we say more?
Bangle Dining Table from Hudson Furniture
High Polished Bronze Finish Base shown with Solid Walnut Slab Top (Natural Finish)
Also Available in Stainless Steel (Polished and Blackened), Statuary Bronze (Light and Dark).
Custom Sizes Available
The Queen’s Favorite
It’s not hard to see why Queen Elizabeth II favors Launer’s iconic handbags. As a whole, the british brand pays great attention to detail to all their handmade bags which bear the same meticulous craftsmanship as the handbags
the Queen has carried for over 50 years.
Vineyards Vacation
The Vintage Inn located in Yountville, California
This sprawling inn is the sort of haven that reminds one of an elegant French country manor which has been deconstructed and dropped into the heart of California wine country.
Nailing It!
The relaunch of Cartier, Juste Un Clou Collection (Unisex rings and bracelets)
There are two sizes of the bracelet and a ring, available in yellow and white gold, unadorned or with paved diamonds. This collection was first introduced in the 1970s, and was designed by Aldo Cipullo, a roman jewelry designer.
The Phantom Series II
Upgrade your life today with the this ultimate horse power from Rolls-Royce
Phantom Series II marks the first significant improvements to Phantom since 2003 and features
several technological upgrades intended to improve the timeless appeal, performance and efficiency of the car.

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The Mini Cooper: Luxury Redux

On April 4th, the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman made its first appearance at the New York International Show. With the updated John Cooper Works powertrain that now includes Valvetronic and the first-ever optional automatic transmission in a John Cooper Works vehicle, this Countryman is proven to be an impressively efficient choice for anyone looking for an equal balance of excitement and practicality.


MINI Convertible Highgate


MINI COOPER: A DECADE OF SUCCESS STORIES
Over the weekend, my husband Michael was reading the March 2012 Robb Report on 12 of the best luxury cars. Included in this elite class were the usual suspects: Aston Martin with it’s V-12 engine 510 hp, etc, the Lotus Evora S, the Mercedes-Benz… I wasn’t too surprised at his interest in those types of cars even through his first love is British Classic Motorcycles. I was challenged to name my number one car, and the reason(s) behind that choice, even though he already knew the answer. Of course, the Mini Cooper S type came into the conversation. This small bundle of extreme horse power, I suspect, will always be my choice. Not only is the mini cooper one of the most beautifully designed car, in 1999 it was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T. Not to be overlooked is the fact that a few years ago, Mini Cooper challenged Porsche to a racing match, and lost by just 2 seconds!
The history of the mini, is a long and illustrious one. This distinctive two-door car was designed for BMC by Sir Alec Issigonis of England.

 MINI Baker Street
MINI Bayswater
Photos Courtesy Mini Cooper
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman Interiors
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
Photos Courtesy Mini Cooper

Despite its utilitarian origins, the classic Mini shape had become so well known that by the 1990s, Rover Group —the heirs to BMC—were able to register its design as a trade mark in its own right.”Number One Classic Car of All Time” (Classic & Sports Car magazine 1996) and “European Car of the Century” in a worldwide Internet poll run by the prestigious Global Automotive Elections Foundation in 1999. The original Mini achieved second place for “Global Car of the Century” in the same poll (behind the Model T Ford). In April 2010 Kelly Blue Book included the Mini Cooper as one of its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010. Earlier this year, Motor Trend magazine tested the Honda CR-Z, Valkswagen Beetle, Hyundai Veloster, Fiat 500, Scion tC, Mini Cooper, which of these “Kings of Quirky” do you think made the grade, and had the best value? The Mini Cooper, of course. The Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist Dan Neil has suggested that, with the introduction of the Countryman, Mini had pushed the marque beyond relevance by making a car so long, wide and tall it forsook the inner logic of the brand: excellent handling in a tiny size.

Tangerine Tango – The 2012 Color Of The Year

Time To Tango

As an interior designer, I understand fully the importance of color, not just the ones I favor, but the ones my clients are drawn to. Due to an individual need for complete sereneness, muted and understated tones are the color of choice.
Alice Red & Orange Wallpaper by Marcel Wanders. Graham & Brown




But when clients needs that extra umph, they veer toward colors that excite and invigorate their personalities at home. Imagine how pleased I was to read back in December, that Pantone announced Tangerine Tango as their Color of The Year. A good choice by far. Color is important to us all, and as a culture, we embrace color as it means different things to each one of us. What does Tangerine Tango means to you? For me, it represents power, plus it stimulates the senses. It’s also a sincere, and thoughtful color. And now more than ever, I believe that this world needs to embrace those virtues. Here’s what the folks at Pantone had to say about their selection: “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Spring 2012
La vie du Grand Nord
Affordable & Stylish
Furniture & Rug from Layla Grayce
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, with tangerine leather

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KIS – Keep In Shape
Crocodile Sport Gloves
Also available at OC Concept Store 
Red Leather Stripes Side Table 
The Impossible Collection of Cars by Dan Neil
Royal-Oud for men and women, the new sensation from the house of CREED
Fluorescent alkyd and epoxy paint on shaped canvas
from Frank Stella Conway II, 1965
Bilou Bilou Chairs
From the Winter 2011 Collection, Beige brown wool double grand Prince of Wales double breasted polo coat
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1950s Fashion

Ann Gunning by John French

Vintage Verner Panton
1962 Mini Austin Cooper
Not quite from the 1950s, but since Mini Cooper was founded in 1959, 
this classic beauty is the best looking one that we’ve found that was close to that period.

We love the 1950s’ style, and wanting to be constantly reminded of this glamorous era, 
last week, we brought this calendar through www.retrocalendar.com.

Junghans Kitchen Clock 1950s

Andy Warhol’s Pop Art
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Classic Cars

Speed Thrills

From a classic to the latest luxury automobile, loud noises, such as the revving of an engine, are likely to have an arousing effect on an individuals physiology. This summer, we will go all out to begin our conversations about cars – classic cars that is.

James Bond’s Aston Martin


We are very fond of them (especially the English types) because for the most part, these old luxury vehicles were completely streamlined, fashionable – from the city to the country side. What makes a great car a great car? Each one of us may come up with a different answer, but one thing for sure, a great car contains this fait accompli, instead of the “xerox copy models” that most of us have to contend with.  Some may go further and say that when it comes to classic cars, what they truly admire about them are the curves, the arousing sounds, or the car’s originality.  And that would be true.  At the end of the day, we will always go for originality, especially when it comes to luxury items.  And despite the global downturn, wealthy car lovers have not been deterred from ordering even the latest luxury models.

 1961 Ferrari Convertible
 1966 MGB, and a 1962 MGA
Aston Martin circa 1950s
Maserati A6G 1955

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