I just spent a few days at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago (to which I could dedicate pages and pages of luxury blogging). The luxury amenities and services this hotel has to offer are endless - but it was one small luxury that I enjoyed the most: the tea. The Peninsula serves Mighty Leaf tea, perhaps the smoothest and most heavenly tea this mortal world has to offer.  Within one sip of Mighty Leaf’s Leaves of Provence black tea, I had vowed never again to buy my daily cup of Starbucks coffee.  I admit I took a few samples and stashed them in my purse, and today alone I’ve had three cups of various brews - all while surfing through Mighty Leaf’s website.  I am officially a tea enthusiast now.

When you open a packet of Mighty Leaf tea, the aroma hits you at once - but it’s not that manufactured, fake-flavor scent of many popular tea brands.  Whether you’re sniffing the Vanilla Bean black tea or the Chamomile Citrus herbal tea, the aroma transports you to a vanilla plantation in Madagascar or a flower field in Egypt.  I’ve never smelled tea like this. 

When you take the tea pouch out of the package, you notice the silky fabric tea bag (biodegradable, of course) that adds a luxurious aura to the whole experience.  I actually called a friend over to feel the soft tea pouch - we were both impressed.  The leaves and buds inside are so natural and often in their whole form, rather than the shredded manufactured form they often take in big brand tea bags, which often strips the tea of flavor.

 And of course, the taste - the most important sensory factor when judging a tea.  Well, each variety I’ve tried has been fantastic.  Smooth, elegant, no bitter aftertaste.  The kind of taste that turns a coffee addict into a tea drinker instantaneously.  The flavors are subtle yet strong - so a fruitier flavor tastes sweet, but not the kind of over-the-top sweet you might get with a fruit tea from another company.

I’ll stop here before I have a script for a 30-minute infomercial.  But I urge you to try out Mighty Leaf teas - whether you like tea or not.

I’m off to brew my White Orchard tea…

Times change.  People change.  Things change.  Two amazing homes from different eras located in prestigious Highland Park, Texas show that while times may change, luxury living is always in style. The homes are equally exquisite, in the $8,000,000-plus price range, and located just over a mile away from each other.  What they offer is similar, yet different.

The first is a Colonial Revival originally built in 1937 that has been meticulously restored.  Although updated, the home retains its pre-war charm with elegant chandeliers, rich wood paneling and a beamed cathedral ceiling in the kitchen, along with many other features.  The stately columns welcome you home to warmth and luxury. The property also includes a pool house, guest house and greenhouse.

This exceptional custom home, built in 2001, also invites you in through a columned exterior, but the luxury world you enter is quite different.  While taking some cues from an earlier design period (columns, intricate fireplace mantels and moldings) this home has a more modern flair.  In place of the beamed ceiling kitchen is a more contemporary design with stainless steel appliances.  A wine room and game room can be found in the basement.

Both of these beautiful residences listed by Dave Perry-Miller & Associates are treasures of their (or any) time period.

When I first heard the term “BeoVision,” I thought it referred to some sort of keen eyesight needed to defeat Grendel.*  I was wrong (certainly not the first time).  BeoVision 7 is actually a revolutionary entertainment system from Bang & Olufsen, the Danish company that has been creating cutting-edge, high quality products since its inception in 1925.  The BeoVision 7 is sleek and sophisticated, yet powerful enough to exceed your sound and picture expectations.  It comes with an integrated DVD player, choice of loudspeaker, and an HD screen with “VisionClear” technology that adjusts the picture based on surrounding light levels.  The screen itself can be turned and tilted with one touch of a remote button.  No word yet on wether the waterfall in the background of the picture was created naturally or sprung to life after appearing on BeoVision.  Stay tuned.

Check out the Bang & Olufsen site for more remarkable audio/visual products and telephones.

*Yes, that’s a Beowulf reference.

Gil Shapiro, founder of Urban Archaeology, began his journey into home design by searching through the artifacts of homes, hotels and office buildings that were about to be demolished, “rescuing” items such as light fixtures and bathtubs to refurbish them.  The results were beautiful new treasures that could add antique glamour to any home. 

In 1978 Shapiro founded Urban Archaeology to expand his business, and now offers not only vintage pieces, but also beautiful replicas of a number of home items – from mirrors to medicine cabinets and mosaics.

This light fixture is a gorgeous example of Urban Archaeology’s salvaged offerings.  The collection includes statues from Paris, wrought iron gothic gates from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and an antique copper bath from London.

“Going green” is the trendy thing to do these days, but Italian kitchen company Valcucine has had an environmentally friendly stance since its founding in 1980.  The company quickly established itself in the design world, setting the green standard for the industry by manufacturing products with the lowest possible impact on the environment without sacrificing functionality, ergonomics or safety.  Valcucine also gained recognition for its harmonious aesthetics and innovative technology in kitchen design.  Their graceful designs utilize light and space to express the universal language of art and architecture.  Whether you’re seeking a high-tech contemporary kitchen or a rustic, traditional one, Valcucine is the place to turn - and you can rest assured that your kitchen will be Earth-friendly!

Richmond, Virginia, has been named one of the best places to live in the United States by several sources, including Forbes magazine.  This capital city blends Southern hospitality and natural beauty with urban culture, offering museums, theatre companies, a symphony, a ballet, an opera and more.  After 400 years since its first settlement, Richmond continues to thrive with a remarkably high quality of life.  As residents say, “Richmond is easy to love!”

Luxury homes in the Richmond region abound, and they are as diverse as their residents.  Take, for example, this stately brick home listed with Joyner Fine Properties.  Set on six lush acres, the property offers a tennis court, pool, pond with fountain, and access to the James River and an enourmous park.  (more…)

Thomas Blood, along with two other men, attempted to steal the Crown Jewels of England in 1671 and was captured.  The board game Outrage! dares players to succeed where Blood and his accomplices failed.  The game board depicts the Tower of London, which players must navigate to steal and make off with the historic jewels.  My head started to hurt going through all the rules (I’m more of an UNO guy…nice and simple) so I don’t know all the ins and outs, but I’m sure it’s a fascinating experience.

The Deluxe version of Outrage! holds the Guinness Record as “most expensive board game in the world.”  The board rests on a polished mahogany cabinet with drawer that holds all the game pieces.  The replicas of the Crown Jewels include a miniature St. Edward’s Crown with rubies, sapphires and emeralds; a small 18 karat gold Prince of Wales’ Crown; and Jewelled Sword of Offering with real jewels.  All for 7,995 British Pounds, or about $16,000 US.  At that price, you may want to build your own tower to protect the precious game.

Handcrafted from natural wood, the Madera bathtubs from WS Bath Collections bring a unique sophistication to the modern bathroom.  They are functional works of art that certainly display what WS calls a “pleasure of beauty, design and elegance.”  The wooden tubs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be sculpted from a variety of woods, from beech to walnut.  I just hope there is some sort of no-splinter guarantee (ouch!).

Theoretically, the Madera tubs could also be used to toss an extremely large salad or hold a ridiculous amount of fruit.

The lush Daintree Rainforest in Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia provides the setting for the equally spectacular Daintree EcoLodge.  The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest living rainforest on Earth (yes, even older than that one in South America that magically sends books and DVDs to your home or workplace), and hosts the largest range of plants and animals on the planet.  The 15 villas of the EcoLodge allow you to connect with nature and pamper yourself at the same time.  The spa furthers the pampering with what they call a “mind, body and soul experience” set in a natural environment.

The EcoLodge also embraces local culture, and allows guests to experience it as well.  An abundance of Aboriginal art is on display and Aboriginal influenced cuisine is served up in the Julaymba Restaurant.  An indigenous rainforest walk is an experience to remember.  Visitors are invited to explore the surroundings with an Aboriginal guide who can provide incredible insight into all aspects of rainforest life.

Despite the economy and austerity of his prose style, Ernest Hemingway went out of his way to enjoy the finer things in life and held a deep affinity for Europe. His writings are filled with stories of living or vacationing abroad, most notably describing the Festival of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain in “The Sun Also Rises,” and living as an expatriate in France in his memoir “The Moveable Feast.” He also spent time vacationing in Italy, and now La Commerciale SRL has a home for sale that was inhabited by the great writer on his visits to the country.

This exceptional villa boasts the charm of the Orient, embraced by greenery and facing Lake Bracciano. Hemingway spent his Italian holidays here, and the dwelling was built in around 1850 and includes a master villa and guest house. The property also features two ancient grottoes dating from the Etruscan period, some 3,000 years ago. The home features nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms, as well as a hand-dug well and Zen garden. Completely surrounded by greenery, this home is the perfect sanctuary and yet is near the center of Rome and the airport.