Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury

EurAvia Show will take place at Cannes Airport from the 30th of April - 2nd May 2009

For the 3rd consecutive year the EurAvia Show will take place at Cannes Airport from the 30th - 2nd May 2009.

The exhibition aimed predominantly at the light piston and light jet market will host a number of previously unseen aircraft on the Riviera.

 

With deliveries of the VLJ Embraer Phenom 100 on schedule, the show will boast one of Embraer's larger Legacy 600 aircraft. Other aircraft also expected in the VLJ class is the mock version of the D-Jet, the new Citation Mustang and the Cirrus Jet. These models amongst others will also be on static display at the coming EBACE meeting in Geneva due to take place from 12th - 14th May 09.

 

PROAIR will be represented by Aviation Sales Manager Jonas Rock, who will be happy to welcome you to the EURAVIA show.

Private Jets at the Grand Prix

With the Grand Prix Season well underway, its just over 3 weeks until thousands of followers transcend on the Principality of Monaco. The 2009 season has started unpredictably with surprise front runner Jensen Button & the Brawn GP Team, while expectations of a come back from Lewis Hamilton & the McLaren Team still looks a distant dream!

Most of the teams will be arriving at their hotels in Monte-Carlo well in advance of the race, but most of those visiting to spectate will literally be in and out of the region just for the race. However the influx of visitors that transcend on the South of France bring local airports to capacity, with Nice Airport coping with both scheduled & unscheduled traffic, and Cannes Airport the hot spot for anyone choosing to fly in by Private Jet. Inevitably even those using Private Aviation experience occasional delays due to the mass exodus in and out of the region by air, which is only contributed to by landing slot limitations imposed during the Grand Prix weekend.

There are still slots available at both Nice & Cannes Airport for the Grand Prix Weekend.

St Tropez style WHITE party in San Diego, May 1

May 1st 2009 starting at 9pm @ San Diego SWAY
(located in The Keating Boutique Hotel in Downtown San Diego)

DRESS CODE: WHITE

This Soiree will reproduce the theme of the well known "White Parties" from Saint Tropez in the French Riviera. Celebrities and glamorous people will be rocked by the sounds of the latest house music played live by famous Dj from France "Brown Sugar"

VIP Tables and Room Packages Available
Contact us for further details

This event will be filmed and photographed.

Editorial Review:

Formerly Minus One Ultra Lounge, the new San Diego Sway is an ultra-chic subterranean nightclub, gleaming of elegance and accessible through a private entrance from within the Keating, outside in the bustling Gaslamp District, or from within the merK Bistro. Opening spring 2009, Sway is both intimate and sexy, layered in rich leathers and gleaming design, offering guests an experience unlike any other in California. Relax and indulge with true VIP bottle service, where your personal host shakes martinis tableside while down-tempo tunes provide the perfect backdrop for conversation. The ideal place for an evening of private partying, Sway will set a precedent for elite patrons looking for an over-the-top nightlife experience.

As with the entrance to the hotel, the predominant color throughout Sway is red, creating a rich passionate speakeasy-type atmosphere complete with deep red lighting, deep leather booths, walls painted in vibrant red roses and punctuated by peeks to the original brick and stone, showing the heritage of the building. The single room space feels like a converted loft with an exclusive VIP area divided by floor-to-ceiling panels of velvety fabric, partitioning armless lounge sofas, and rectangular cocktail tables. The main bar, attended by dressed-up bartenders, has a high-tech feel and is made entirely from aluminum and steel.


Editorial Review:

Formerly Minus One Ultra Lounge, the new San Diego Sway is an ultra-chic subterranean nightclub, gleaming of elegance and accessible through a private entrance from within the Keating, outside in the bustling Gaslamp District, or from within the merK Bistro. Opening spring 2009, Sway is both intimate and sexy, layered in rich leathers and gleaming design, offering guests an experience unlike any other in California. Relax and indulge with true VIP bottle service, where your personal host shakes martinis tableside while down-tempo tunes provide the perfect backdrop for conversation. The ideal place for an evening of private partying, Sway will set a precedent for elite patrons looking for an over-the-top nightlife experience.

As with the entrance to the hotel, the predominant color throughout Sway is red, creating a rich passionate speakeasy-type atmosphere complete with deep red lighting, deep leather booths, walls painted in vibrant red roses and punctuated by peeks to the original brick and stone, showing the heritage of the building. The single room space feels like a converted loft with an exclusive VIP area divided by floor-to-ceiling panels of velvety fabric, partitioning armless lounge sofas, and rectangular cocktail tables. The main bar, attended by dressed-up bartenders, has a high-tech feel and is made entirely from aluminum and steel.


-- To make sure to make the list ref: Lorre White
CELL   310.409.6542
Tell them The Luxury Guru sent you!

Decorating your yacht.

The Admiral of Interiors

By Christina Bohnstengel

Photography by Stephen Cridland

Carol Williamson is the designer of choice for megayacht shipyards.

It is every designer’s supreme dream—to work with an open budget, playing with the world’s rarest materials and layering with the finest fabrics for high-end projects in the elite world of luxury brands. Carol Williamson has crafted such a career for herself after nearly four decades in the world of design. And while many professionals choose their niche and stick to a strict profile, Williamson has made a point of breaking tradition by creating interior spaces for an array of mediums. She has designed for a number of corporate venues (Nike World Campus) and art institutions (Abraham Lincoln Museum) as well as high-end residential properties.

Her most recent project to garner headlines was onboard a superyacht from our favorite secret agent. Casino Royale, dubbed the queen of many of this season’s boat shows, is 163 feet and the largest ship to date from Christensen Shipyard. The luxury charter yacht was not built for speed, but for a relaxing sojourn on the sea, cruising at 10 knots with a top speed of 17 knots.

After seven years of designing the luxury interiors of various superyachts, Williamson was a natural pick as designer extraordinaire for the project. She had worked with Christensen in the past on several other ships and met owners John and Jeannette Staluppi (of Millennium Yachts fame) through their mutual relationship with the Washington-based shipyard.

The partnership between client and designer was an easy fit from start to finish. Williamson explains that on this particular ship, which included 6,900 square feet of interior space, the owners were very involved. “They were extremely integral to all aspects of the design and really enjoyed doing it,” she says, crediting the entire Bond theme seen throughout the ship to their creative genius. At the aft of the saloon, the roulette wheel, made by master-craftsman Jeff Homchick, sets the tone of Casino Royale. “The owners requested the roulette rather than the traditional compass rose,” says Williamson. “It works wonderfully because it is really dramatic when you first approach,” she says. The effect of the black stone wheel, which is inset with laser-cut, polished stainless steel, is one of her favorite highlights. Also on her showcase list is the collection of Erte artwork that the owners brought onboard. Each piece uses playing card imagery, emphasizing the Bond theme. The flybridge plays host to two stone tabletops, inlaid with an Ace and Jack of spades. Topping off the 007 concentration is the sweeping central staircase, which is fitted with frosted-glass panels, deftly etched with iconic Bond-girl silhouettes. Sapele mahogany, onyx, custom marble, granite, and Italian glass sconces dominate the interiors of the luxury yacht.

Williamson’s credentials for such a project began at the University of Oregon. She started her studies in pure architecture, but soon recognized her passion for interiors. “I realized that I loved the detail and the more intimate relationship with the client,” she says. She went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in interior architecture, and, in 1984, started her own design firm, Carol Williamson + Associates Limited.

“It has been a very rich existence as a designer,” Williamson says. “I never get bored or stagnant. I’m not known for one type of design or style, and I think that is what keeps it very fresh. Every project teaches me some new aspect of design that I carry with me to the next.”

In 2008, that next project was the 160-foot Primadonna, also from Christensen. She cites the yacht’s skylounge as one of her favorites because of the palettes and the contrast of the dark java-stained, high-gloss furniture, which strikes dramatically against the texture of the chenille that she chose. Jeff Homchick collaborated on this project as well and found a Labradorite stone with brilliant flashes of cobalt blue and teal green. “It looks like the bar is underlit but it’s actually the natural flashes of the iridescent flecks in the stone,” she explains. “We developed the entire palette of the skylounge off of those colors that came out of the Labradorite.”

Williamson describes other design aspects of the yacht. “We went from the very textural chenilles in the saloon to beautiful striped silks on the pillows. And then we did all of the custom furniture in high gloss. We used lots of crystal to reflect light, and the owner loves mother-of-pearl so those accents are also prevalent throughout the yacht.”

Next on the drawing boards for the designer is a 193-foot megayacht by Trinity Yachts that she is working on for a client. “I feel very fortunate. These yachts are like beautiful jewel boxes. I’m so blessed to get to play with the level of materials that I do. From the architectural materials, like the wood and the stone, to the beautiful fine fabrics, to getting to work on custom furniture designs and witness those come to fruition—it’s all so enriching and rewarding.”

Luxury Brands need to "court" their customers much like a man persuing a lover.That is why many luxury brands are turning to luxury consultants like Lorre White of White Light Consulting, to know how to reach and maintain their exclusive clients.

The State of the Luxury Retail Market,

Excerpts from a speech to The Retail Marketing Society by Greg Furman, The Luxury Marketing Council

The best customer is still where this market is. What we've seen from a

Council's standpoint across all industry groups is the exodus of what

the media called the aspirational or symbolic luxury buyer, folks with

household incomes of $250 to $500k that audience has vanished.

I'm a trout fisherman. and if you put the fly down on the river in the

wrong way they spook. That's what happened to the aspirational luxury

buyer. They're gone and nobody knows when they're coming back.

I thought, I have three sisters and they have always been practical,

strong and intelligent women. One of the trends we've seen a long time

coming that has radically enhanced the old wisdom, "she must be obeyed,"

where women accounted for somewhere from 70% to 80% of the purchase

decision making. I think this is now approaching 90%. I recently heard

someone call it the "gimlet's eyed" shopper and I thought what a great

phrase because it explains how women look at the luxury experience, the

luxury marketplace, the feeling of engagement in which brands court

them, and the value equation. She must feel more courted by luxury

brands than ever before.  Not Frugality, but a Quest for value

This sense of the new frugality, I see it as a quest for value, a quest

for the unique, the ability to tell the story about a great product or

experience. I think hiding products in brown bags is ridiculous. Last

year Cap-Gemini said there were 3.2 million people in the US with

investable assets of a $1 million or more. That community will be never

be browbeaten by luxury shame. They will be extremely influenced by the

fluctuations of the market. When I was at Bergdorf Goodman, you could

literally set your watch by an uptick or downtick in the market.

Conscience would set in for half a day, this is a much longer

correction, but it will track the market.

Stanley Marcus, who was a mentor, used to talk about the impact of the

hand. His definition of luxury was the "best that the mind of man can

imagine and the best that the hand of man create." What is bespoke, what

is special, what is couture, will always remain of value. Even in a

rough market, people that have money.

Time to "Court" the Consumer

Robert Frank's book talks about lower Richistan, with and liquid

portfolios of $10 million. Middle Richistan, of $30 million and Upper

Richistan of $100 million and up. Those people are still there and have

discretionary ability. But they need to given a reason to shop. They

need to be engaged, to be courted, almost in a traditional, medieval,

courtier sense. Marketing initiatives need to be directed to court them.

That's a key part of the strategy for luxury brands.

All the academic literature says they're totally price insensitive, they

have the depth of pocket. They refer more if asked and when rewarded for

referral. Very few companies still reward best customers in some

symbolic way for coming into the store. They're willing to partner with

you. However, few luxury brands still have customer councils where they

will take the top 15 people off site.

I don't care whether you are a boutique jeweler. Neiman Marcus has a

council that meets once or twice a year, at a nice lunch around a

comfortable table, where they ask what can we do to accelerate our

service, to heighten the value of service, etc. Retailers that do get an

earful. They're starting to employ that tactic more and use it to engage

and to get referrals. Customer councils are examples of best customers'

willingness to partner.

Forget the conventionalism wisdom that you can't get people because

they're too busy. It's not true. They will come if asked. They want you

to succeed because they love you and the brand. They'll forgive you any

mistake if you fix it correctly. They can deliver better word of mouth

by a country mile before they are not price sensitive. If you look at

the metrics of investment and cost of acquisition per customer, it's

cheaper to keep them, and the longer you have them, the more profitable.

What to do in NYC while your visiting......

What’s Haute Tribeca

By Cheryl Clark

RESTAURANTS

Megu
62 Thomas Street
212.964.7777

During the almost two-week extravaganza of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, silver screen aficionados can dine on the delicacies of Megu’s organic and sophisticated cuisine. The 13,000-square-foot restaurant incorporates a blend of traditional and modern, with established and emerging Japanese fare. A tasty array of the finest sushi is presented using umibi aburiyaki, a purifying grilling technique that adds an exceptional flavor to the food. But that is not the only way Megu stands out from the restaurant crowd. Upscale lounges like M by Megu and the Living Room in the Megu New York and Megu Midtown locations, respectively, have transformed the brand venue into a unique restaurant with a popular nightlife milieu. With its flair for international cuisine, it seems fitting for Megu, which imports a majority of its ingredients from Japan, to have opened a third restaurant, Megu Hong Kong, in 2007. Porcelain columns made of intertwining rice bowls and sake vases drape the interior of Megu New York in Tribeca. Megu also has a vast selection of more than 600 wines and 60 varieties of sake along with its eye for style and lavish locales.

HOTELS

Tribeca Grand Hotel
2 Avenue of the Americas
212.519.6600

The floor-to-ceiling windows of the Tribeca Grand Hotel Grand Suite and Rooftop Terrace capture an awe-inspiring view of the Manhattan city nightlife. This panoramic venue tempts guests with even more luxury to add to the splendor of the already striking hotel upon which it is perched. The suite’s terrace, which is twice the size of the interior space, adds a significant backdrop for entertaining. Not to be outdone, the suite itself boasts rich textures of wool carpeting and grass cloth wall coverings with organic colors from designer Bill Sofield’s vision of lavish rooftop living. The Grand Suite features high-end amenities like flat-screen plasmas, the iMac G5, and a state-of-the-art SoundDock digital music system by Bose, putting to shame amenity lists from competing hotels. A pillar-laden, Zen-like pergola tops off the elegant features of the Rooftop Terrace, which is only accessible from the Grand Suite staircase, and provides a comforting escape with a limitless view of the downtown scenery.

FILMS

The Girlfriend Experience
2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Wednesday, April 29, 8:00 pm
SVA Theater (333 West 23rd Street)
Theater 2

Director Steven Soderbergh ventured into rarely chartered territory when he cast adult actress Sasha Grey as the lead in his indie flick, The Girlfriend Experience. However, it is an appropriate role for the porn star’s first foray outside of the flesh film industry, as her character is a $2,000-an-hour upscale Manhattan prostitute. This film is garnering attention for reasons other than garter belts though. Brian Koppelman and David Levin, of Ocean’s Thirteen fame, wrote the screenplay, while Marc Cuban and Todd Wagner financed the film through their HDNet label. The plot follows call girl Christine throughout five days, cutting between her business-life and boyfriend-life. Some are describing it as a period piece due to themes related to the economic woes occurring in 2008. After the showing, Soderbergh, along with lead actors Sasha Grey and Chris Santos, will share their thoughts and experiences about making the film.

RESTAURANTS

Chanterelle
2 Harrison Street
212.966.6960

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Chanterelle has been one of the most inviting and highly acclaimed dining hot spots in the city since its move from Soho to Tribeca. David Waltuck and wife, Karen, own the elegant French eatery. He prepares the mouth-watering cuisine, including his signature Seafood Sausage, and she handles the esteemed front of the house service. Located in the 19th-century Mercantile Exchange Building, Chanterelle blends its grandiose cherry wood pilasters with a friendly environment of welcoming and knowledgeable staff members. Its fine dining encompasses a novel cuisine of 400 international selections with a changing à la carte dinner menu. Also on hand are the talents of a pastry chef, a fromager, and Roger Dagorn, a sommelier with a commanding expertise of 5,000 bottles of wine ranging from small wineries to reputable Bordeaux. This three-star restaurant adorns its menus with artwork by contemporary American artists and distinguished works by Francesco Clemente, Roy Lichtenstein, and others. Be sure to stop by for Sunday Salons where the Chanterelle family will share their knowledge of various cheeses, the best of wines, and even chocolate and flowers.

LOUNGES

Brandy Library
25 North Moore Street
212.226.5545

With a staff full of “librarians” and oak bookshelves complete with rolling ladders, the unique concept of the Brandy Library might seem like it transforms into a stuffy reading room, but the atmosphere is quite the contrary. The posh lounge has an extensive collection of beer, wine, cocktails, brandy, and more than 1,500 bottles of whiskey. Both wine connoisseurs and novices alike have whet their palates with the exclusive spirits from around the world and the delectable tapas that showcase foie gras, sushi, and American mini burgers. Cozy up with a 66-page leather-bound menu as you make your selection while sommeliers entice you with wine tastings. The Brandy Library also offers Cognac Week, Peat Week, and Whiskey Week where guests can meet distillery owners and brand aficionados. Private parties, tasting sessions, and the ingenious lounge ambiance have made Brandy Library a Tribeca staple since opening in October 2004.

SALONS

Edris Salon
430 West 14th Street, 3rd Floor
212.989.6800

Not far from Tribeca, Edris Salon provides an oasis of beauty in the midst of the Meatpacking District. The salon’s many offerings can help any film festival-goer prepare to walk the red carpet. Edris landed on the style radars due to the acute creativity of its namesake owner, stylist Edris Nicholls, and makeup artist Landy Dean. Together their work has appeared on the heads and faces of a myriad of celebrity mugs and on the pages of the world’s top fashion glossies. The Caribbean-born stylista was trained at the best beauty venues, including Warren Tricomi, before taking the shears into her own hands and opening Edris. The salon is billed to combine uptown expectations of supreme service, with an eccentric, multicultural approach that makes it worthy of its trendy Meatpacking District address. Their service menu includes everything to tend to the various funky fashions found on the streets of New York.

FILMS

Whatever Works
2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Wednesday, April 22

The world premiere of Woody Allen’s new comedy, Whatever Works, is the talk of the town, not only because it has earned a top spot at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, opening the event on April 22, but also because it marks the quirky director’s return to New York, after several European settings, including England in Match Point and Spain in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Larry David leads the cast, starring as an eccentric New Yorker who decides to leave behind his luxury lifestyle in order to embrace the ways of bohemian living. Evan Rachel Wood plays his Southern belle love interest, alongside Ed Begley Jr. and Patricia Clarkson. With Allen and David at the helm of this film, it comes as no surprise that the storyline is filled with a series of unpredictable escapades. The film is expected to receive rave reviews, so Sony bought the distribution rights and will release it in June 2009.

ART

Tribeca Issey Miyake
119 Hudson Street
212.226.0100

A titanium Frank Gehry sculpture snakes its way through this creative downtown Manhattan shopping venue, which sets the tone for all of the Miyake collections housed in this couture boutique. When Miyake first approached Gehry, he requested that he transform the space with his unique vision, using unusual materials to create movement, light and energy. While Gehry’s young protégé Gordon Kipping became the architect on the project, Gehry created the titanium sculpture or “intervention” which threads through the lofty 15,0000-square-foot space. This flagship store, house in landmark cast-iron building, not only holds Issey Miyake Fete, watches, perfumes, A-POC, HaaT, Me, and Pleats Please, but also serves as a unique setting for artist collaborations, exhibitions, and events.

Lorre White loves the south of France.

Allure of Côte d’Azur

By Shandana A. Durrani

Cannes may be most famous for its yearly film festival, but the region offers even more for gourmands and lovers of luxury.

It’s as glittery and as posh as one would assume. The beautiful people stroll down La Croisette in their Brioni suits and Christian Lacroix dresses, Chanel bags swinging in the soft breeze. Sailboats drift peacefully in the distance as the sun sets on the horizon. What was once a sleepy Mediterranean village is now the heart and soul of the Cote d’Azur. Cannes is a magnet for sun worshippers, cinema buffs, well-heeled Europeans, and expats with private yachts.

After being discovered by Lord Brougham, an Englishman, in 1834, Cannes soon became the winter vacation destination for much of the English aristocracy. It’s no wonder when one considers the paradisiacal landscape and affable people. The city gained international renown a century later when Jean Zay, the French Minister of National Education, and Philippe Erlanger, a fine arts attaché, launched the Cannes International Film Festival, in 1946. Since then, thousands of actors, producers, directors, journalists, and wannabe starlets have flocked to the red-carpeted steps of the Palais du Festival to witness the most prestigious movie competition in the world. But more than just movies abound on these sophisticated shores, and sojourners often indulge their fancies with shopping, fine dining, and, of course, cruising aboard megayachts.

La Croisette, the most famed street in the city, runs parallel to the pier and is a veritable mecca for high-end fashion aficionados. From Bottega Veneta and Valentino to Escada and Brioni, one can spend a day trolling the abundant shops, soaking in the heady ambiance of luxury brands, and investing in the best look for the remainder of the stay.

While casinos dot La Croisette as well, it is the array of haute hotels that make the statement of elegance that defines the French city. The historic InterContinental Carlton, built in 1913 and site of Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, affords its affluent guests gorgeous suites in muted shades of gold and yellow with spectacular vistas of the sea. The hotel boasts close ties to the film festival and serves as the venue for many posh parties during the course of the May event. The Carlton’s seventh floor is host to seven expansive luxury suites, all with sweeping terraces, named after famous stars from Sir Sean Connery to Sharon Stone to Sean Penn.

The lovely art deco Hotel Martinez is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. A home away from home for many celebrities (Jean-Paul Belmondo of Breathless fame was in residence when I visited the property in March), it plays host to one of the most expensive and luxurious multi-room penthouse suites on the Riviera. Themed celebrations for the 80th anniversary include a delicious 80-euro repast at the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred La Palme d’Or restaurant and an 80-euro spa deal. For readers who prefer something more modern and funky, a stay at the Le Grand Hotel Cannes is in order. Set a bit back from the sea behind its own private lawn, this unique oasis is the site of many summer soirées. The newly refurbished rooms are colorful yet chic, with ostrich leather vanities and Italian linens. The suites on the top floor feature garden terraces and are marketed as the perfect gathering place for families and large groups.

Many of the best activities in the city revolve around film, from train-car cinema tours to walking journeys of the city’s movie murals. (I ventured four miles just to gaze upon the painted beauty of Alain Delon, one of my favorite actors.) A visit to the top of the Musée de la Castre shouldn’t be missed as the entire city is on glorious display, from the old town to La Croisette, from the mountains near Nice to the coastline near St. Tropez.

Strolling at a casual pace through the old town affords explorers a true sense of the authentic Cannes. Streets are narrow as is the norm in the Cote d’Azur, with three-story homes awash in hues of pink and yellow dotting the winding avenues. Here, the pace is much slower than on La Croisette and one is more likely to see locals sipping on coffee at a café than tourists gazing wide-eyed at the fashionable local beauties. Stop at Jean Luc Pelé for some decadent chocolate or rose-flavored macaroons, which are a local favorite. Don’t forget to visit Cannes’ famous Marche Forville; the market is bustling in the summer months with fresh produce, flowers, cheeses, and local fish. I tried sea urchin, a local delicacy, for the first time but found it to be a bit too salty and runny for my palate.

The sea urchin couldn’t quell my love for French food, however, so I decided to take a cooking class at Les Apprentis Gourmets. Trained at Alain Ducasse in Monte Carlo, Chef Digiusto teaches budding top chefs how to cook flavorful dishes, and at only 15 euros, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more inexpensive meal. The chef can also cater private dinners aboard your yacht or in your villa.

The sea beckons and I heeded the call to hop on a ferry to visit the nearby Lerins Islands. Each is distinctive but offers much of the rocky beauty that makes the Cote d’Azur famous. Saint-Honorat is home to an ancient abbey that was modernized close to 80 years ago. The local monks sell homegrown honey, lavender, and excellent wine and liqueur. Nearby Sainte-Marguerite is best known as the 17th-century prison of the mysterious man in the iron mask, said by some to be the twin of King Louis XIV.

Travel to Cannes is easy. Air France flies daily from New York to Nice, which, on a good day, is only around 30 minutes by car from Cannes. Monaco is a short hop away and glitzy St. Tropez is not far either. Contact www.franceguide.com and www.airfrance.us for more information.

Green Luxuries....how about a green mattress.

The Essentia mattress is completely adhesive and chemical free.  Made up of two parts, the top is 100% natural memory foam, while the core is made of 100% natural latex.  Both the memory foam and the core are 100% biodegradable taking just three years to biodegrade when exposed to the elements (wind, sun, rain).

 

The lifecycle of an Essentia mattress is 25 years – far longer than conventional spring mattresses (8-10years) which are clogging landfills nationwide.  In addition, the Essentia mattress is 100% recyclable (where facilities exist).

 

Essentia is at the forefront of the healthy sleep movement, continually striving to improve its environmental standards through in-house development of environmentally friendly technology.  Essentia’s manufacturing facility in

Canada

releases no toxic emissions and 80% less waste than most mattress manufacturing facilities.

 

The price points for Essentia mattresses run from $1,299 to $4,437.  www.essentiadirect.com

 

You can also check out a recent link from eco-blogs Planet Green http://planetgreen.discovery.com/buying-guides/buy-green-mattresses.html

Riva Home Couture

By Cheryl Clark

The famed Italian boat company enters the home goods sector with luxury items fit for fine watercrafts and homes.

The name Riva is synonymous with the utmost levels of sophistication and luxury, and discerning yacht owners have been looking for a way to capture the allure of the water-bound brand in the home. As an answer, the company introduced the Riva Home Couture collection at the end of 2008. The line consists of fine leather bags, cashmere pillows and blankets, silk and cotton sheets, fur rugs, wood and stainless steel boxes, and small pieces of furniture.

Created by Milanese designer Odilia Prisco, each piece in the line is made-to-order in Italy. The items were inspired by the clean, sophisticated look of the Riva yachts, and are meant as a perfect accompaniment onboard or off. The epitome of chic, the leather beach bag is lined with linen printed with archival Riva images from the golden era of the Italian Riviera, when Brigitte Bardot owned Rivas. Only one home couture collection will be introduced each year.

Arnage Vs. Maybach

By Sean Ballent

The Bentley Arnage Final Series and the Maybach 62S Landaulet effortlessly deliver the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication.

The increasing popularity of super luxury sedans has forced automakers to roll out a new generation of innovative and powerful driving machines that go beyond the extraordinary. The Bentley Arnage Final Series and the Maybach 62S Landaulet effortlessly deliver the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication. Suitable for an evening out or a morning drive through wine country, these four-door sedans will make you feel like royalty while delivering dynamically breathtaking performance.

Maybach 62S Landaulet

The 2009 Maybach 62S Landaulet concept is beyond extraordinary. Based on the Maybach 62S sedan and powered by its 612-horsepower Biturbo V12, the Landaulet is what some like to call “business class on wheels.” The front seats are fully enclosed and separated from the rear passenger compartment by a removable divider. While the chauffeur’s section has the workings of most high-end luxury sedans, it is the rear section that inspires awe.

The most noticeable feature is the sliding soft roof. Controlled from the driver’s compartment, the roof takes only 16 seconds to fold and allows passengers to enjoy the clear blue sky. When fully descended, the retractable roof hides behind the back seat allowing for maximum trunk space. Even under adverse climatic conditions, two ultra-modern climate control systems ensure a pleasurable open-air experience.

Thanks to a liquid crystal membrane embedded in glass, the partition between the driver’s cabin and the passengers’ section can be turned opaque at the push of a button, allowing passengers to sit back in privacy. Fully reclining armchair seats allow even the tallest passenger to lounge in first-class comfort. The Landaulet features exclusive seychelles white leather, white fabric, and white velour, which are accented with either black piano lacquer trim or black granite with gold detailing. The entertainment system includes a DVD-player, six disc CD-changer, cooler compartment with its own electric compressor, and an intelligent system that holds glasses, goblets, and champagne bottles safely in position.

Despite being labeled as a concept, the rumored 20-vehicle production run of the world’s most exclusive luxury car is near an absolute lock.

Arnage Final Series

Since 1998, the Arnage has combined first-class luxury and exquisite design, making it the four-door flagship of the Bentley range. Over the last decade the car has undergone constant refinement in order to maintain its position at the front of the luxury market. By combining the performance of the 500-horsepower Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R, the 2009 limited edition Bentley Arnage Final Series is the grand finale of the grandest Bentley.

The Arnage Final Series is one monster of a super-luxury sedan. Its twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V-8 boasts 500-horsepower at 4200 rpm. A six-speed ZF automatic transmission channels power to the Arnage’s rear wheels, propelling the car zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

Muscular lines and discreet exterior cues enhance the luxurious appearance of the car’s exterior. While 20-inch alloy wheels are awash in chrome, the overall “bling” of the sedan’s exterior is minimal. Key ingredients of the car’s distinctive appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator and lower grille with a retractable flying-‘B’ hood ornament.

The interior of the remarkably spacious cabin is made of superb, handcrafted quality, giving a feel of exclusivity. The Final Series is trimmed entirely with the customer’s choice of 25 different colors of leather hides. Bentley adds custom contrast stitching to the seats, including a hand-embroidered Bentley emblem on each seatback. Unlike previous editions, the sedan adds chrome to the doorsills, speaker grilles, and inlays the material within the custom wood trim. Stored neatly in the seatback compartment, which doubles as a seatback table, is a limited-edition chrome flask accompanied by two shot glasses.

The Final Series’ surprisingly advanced audio system not only employs an iPod interface, but a receiver that reads digital files from an SD card. A 1,000-watt amplifier powers high-end Naim speakers, rounding out the system. Production of the hand-built Arnage Final Series is limited to 150 cars, and the vehicles will be priced around $249,000 each.