The blog Big Old Houses marvels at one of NYC's more spectacular residences: a mansion that renowned Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer designed for tobacco baron James B. Duke in 1912. Amazingly, the European-inspired limestone pile, despite its "big honking size," was home to Duke's modest family of three. [Big Old Houses]
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· A truly awesome Dutch houseboat, modern style. [Style-Files]
· Furniture designer Sérgio Rodrigues in his Sao Paulo studio. [The Selby]
· Czech émigré architect Ladislav Rado's 50s house, restored. [Contemporist]
· In defense of the New Brutalist American Folk Art Museum. [Arch Paper]
· Photographer D. James Dee lists $5.75M NYC loft. [The Real Deal]
· Some drama with HGTV star Carter Oosterhouse. [TMZ]
· Here's a bizarre ranch-style nursing home in Bed-Stuy. [Curbed NY]
Loading comment form... Welcome to Design Heat Maps, wherein travel journalist Stirling Kelso—a regular contributor to Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and the New York Times, among other outlets—breaks down that which an architecture and design junkie can't miss in can't-miss cities. Feel free to tack on additions in the comments and recommend Curbed's next destination by dropping us an email.
The seaside city of Charleston, S.C. is awash in elegantly restored historic homes, many dating from the antebellum period, so for historical preservation buffs, it is a must see destination. But lurking beneath the historic surface are a few local movers and shakers bringing modern design to the genteel city. Here are ten must-see stops in The Holy City—so named for the churches that dot its low-rise skyline—combining the famous historic buildings with the best in new school food and lodging, some so new they're not even quite open yet.
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EVERYWHERE—Money magazine has teamed with This Old House—the ultimate home-reno magazine, of course—on Safe at Home: 25 Ways to Protect Your Biggest Investment, a supplementary section that will appear in both Time Inc. titles as well as Real Simple. [Folio]
THE INTERNET—Apartment Therapy has launched a video series that will "attempt to bring posts to life and share with you the people that we've been meeting behind the scenes." [Apartment Therapy]
NYC—Because the more glittery the better, of course: the venerable French crystal firm Baccarat, in partnership with Starwood Capital Group, is breaking into the hospitality game. According to Editor at Large, the Skidmore Owings & Merrill-designed Baccarat Hotels & Residences tower, sited near the Museum of Modern Art, will reach 605 feet tall. Residences will hit the market in early 2013. [Editor at Large]
BOSTON—Former Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon has found someone who likes his Red Sox-themed nursery: his Back Bay penthouse has just sold for $2.825M after first hitting the market for $3.1M. [previously; Curbed Boston]
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Casino kingpin Steve Wynn has purchased a 10,880-square-foot Manhattan condo for $70M, actually a discount because the place, which belongs to Millennium Partners honcho Christopher M. Jeffries, had been listed for $77.5M. Oh yes, there's a "her" dressing room that's more than 800 square feet. Curbed NY has the floorplan. [New York Post via Curbed NY]
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When is a building oh, so much more? In digitally manipulating his pics, Belgium-born photographer Xavier Delory has created a fascinating, if distorted, look at the architectural world. Flavorwire has a closer look at Delory's "conceptual architecture," which "explores the landscape in mutation and the drifts of modern man." [Flavorwire]
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Because everything comes full circle in this crazy wheel of life, the fact that Ellen Degeneres recently bought Brad Pitt's compound in Malibu, Calif., meant that another celebrity would surely swoop in and scoop up the comedian's own palace, which hit the market in October. Sure enough, the stars aligned in such a way that Ryan Seacrest has bought the Beverly Hills, Calif., estate, which Degeneres shares with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
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Sure, there are real estate listings ripped from the pages of Architectural Digest, but then there's one Bethesda, Md., property that is, in the words of the brokerbabble, "Better Than Architectural Digest." Surely that mint-colored faux-finish in the master bedroom would make Arch Digest editor in chief Margaret Russell stand at attention. [previously; Curbed DC]
Loading comment form... Have a nomination for a jaw-dropping listing that would make a mighty fine House of the Day? Get thee to the tipline and send us your suggestions. We'd love to see what you've got.
Location: Laguna Beach, Calif.
Price: $17,900,000
The Skinny: Developed on spec by architect Mark Singer and Tresor Builders, this modern oceanfront manse was completed earlier this year and hit the market for $17.9M. Set in reality-TV-ready Laguna Beach, the modern manse strikes a more minimalist stance than some of its Mediterranean-style neighbors, but doesn't shy away when it comes to price. Those buying on views alone won't be disappointed, as the elevated hillside lot provides panoramic views of the Pacific that are worth many millions on their own. The house itself, constructed of steel, glass, and stone, offers four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a courtyard infinity pool, limestone floors, Poggenpohl cabinetry, and space for eight cars. An entertainer's paradise, this 4,500-square-foot mansion replaced, for better or worse, an exceedingly modest beach cottage.
· 992 Ocean Front [Zillow]
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Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman has found a way to unload part of his $24M estate that was first listed a year ago. He divided his land and just sold off one plot, but still hasn't found a buyer for the house, which is asking only $14M. [previously; Candy'sDirt via Curbed DC]
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Botox treatment and Thai massages, please step aside: the latest in agent incentives are ridiculously expensive cars. The owner of a 1914 David Adler design in Lake Forest, Ill. has promised his 1991 Bentley 8 to the person who completes the sale. The 10,000-square-foot mansion is listed for $4.9M. [previously; Curbed Chicago]
Loading comment form... Here now, From Curbed Marketplace, highlighting an intriguing real estate listing from the many thousands of properties found in the Curbed Marketplace. Browsing the Marketplace and spot a property worthy of being featured? Send it to the tipline.
Jennifer Aniston has notoriously modern taste when it comes to architecture and design. In November 2011, not long after her sleek, Arch Digest-anointed Beverly Hills hideaway hit the market, the actress settled on a gorgeous, gleamingly new unit on Gramercy Park in Manhattan. This January, she doled out generously for a 1965 A. Quincy Jones-designed modern in Bel-Air, Calif. Now Aniston and boyfriend Justin Theroux are paying $40K a month to rent a thoroughly renovated Hal Levitt design in Los Angeles.
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