An Ultra-Luxe Private Island in Miami

An Ultra-Luxe Private Island in Miami

Just off the shore from South Beach, Fisher Island offers total seclusion to roughly 800 families

Fisher Island is only 7 minutes by ferry from Miami, but the 216-acre island is worlds away from South Beach. Perhaps that is because its history is so unique. In 1905, to provide better seaport access, Miami cut through the barrier island that today is known as Miami Beach. This created an island that business tycoon Carl Fisher purchased in 1919 but traded to William K. Vanderbilt II in 1925 in exchange for Vanderbilt’s 265-foot yacht. After Vanderbilt died in 1944, the island—on which Vanderbilt had commissioned famed architect Maurice Fatio to build him a Mediterranean-style compound—changed hands until development began in the 1980s. Today, about 800 families from more than 40 different countries inhabit this uber-private oasis, where life revolves around the Fisher Island Club, which opened in 1987 on the site of the Vanderbilt Mansion. Residents—a mix of highflying CEOs and entrepreneurs—drive around in golf carts, send their children to the Fisher Island Day School (which offers Mandarin classes) and use amenities such as the community’s own medical clinic and safety department.

 

Event of the year

The Yacht Rendezvous, which benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, is one of the world’s biggest annual superyacht social gatherings. Each fall, guests spend three days participating in events such as yacht open houses and a silent auction. More than $30 million has been raised in its 32 years.

Advice for the buyer

Know what scenery you want: Residences facing the Atlantic Ocean have expansive vistas during the day but no view at night; city-facing units don’t look out at the ocean but they do enjoy a city skyline and a Biscayne Bay view.

Membership to have

Belonging to the Fisher Island Club isn’t a requirement for residents, but if you aren’t a member, you won’t have access to the club’s facilities, including a beach club with a private beach.

Notable stops

The Fisher Island Hotel and Resort

This 15 room boutique hotel is made up of courtyard villas, 1930s-era cottages and guesthouse suites that near the Vanderbilt Mansion.

The Fisher Island Aviary

William K. Vanderbilt II loved tropical birds, and this 800-square-foot sanctuary is an ode to his passion. It houses more than 15 exotic winged animals, ranging from cockatoos and cockatiels to macaws and Amazons.

The Vanderbilt Theater

The adaptable event space is a hub of activity, hosting everything from concerts to lectures to movie nights.

Victor Arsidi Observatory

On its own tiny island across a wooden bridge, this sky-viewing hideaway was built in 1990. The white stucco building has a custom silver Ash Dome and professional telescope equipment, including a 4-inch refractor scope and a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain.

 

Listings

$5.7 million

At 3,690 square feet with South Beach views, this residence in a concierge building with 29 units. The master suite’s bathroom has two vanities and a separate tub and shower; the closet has built-ins. There are marble floors, Miele kitchen appliances, and Baccarat lighting. Outside, there is a terrace. The unit comes with two parking spaces, one golf cart, a golf cart space, and a large private storage unit. Agent: Elena Bluntzer, One Sotheby’s International Realty.

 

More Listings Here

via@mansionglobal

 

10/01/2020No comments,
The DBX is the Family-Friendly Aston Martin

Aston Martin chose to debut its first SUV, the DBX, last November in both Los Angeles and Beijing. Launching in China makes total sense, because the Chinese now have the biggest auto market in the world, and they’re in love with both high-end luxury cars and SUVs.

Introducing the car, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO Andy Palmer pointed out, “DBX is a car that will give many people their first experience of Aston Martin ownership.” That’s true for the 107-year-old British marque, and also for other supercar companies venturing (out of necessity) into SUV land—Maserati and Lamborghini included.

“With the introduction of the DBX we’ve radically extended the versatility of the Aston Martin brand,” says Aston public relations head Nathan Hoyt. “We expect the DBX to significantly broaden the number of potential buyers, bringing in people who couldn’t fit a two-door, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer into their lifestyle or the environment they live in. Our first SUV can work as a true, seven-day-a-week option for buyers.”

The DBX will be built at a new Aston Martin plant in St. Athan, Wales, which will also be home to the electric cars that are in the brand’s future. The DBX will reach U.S. customers later this year, priced at US$192,986 (including a US$3,089 destination charge).

“We anticipate the U.S. to be the biggest market for DBX,” Hoyt says. “Other key volume markets will be China and Europe.” Stateside, the company’s strongest markets are on the west and east coasts, plus parts of the south and southwest.

The SUV form has inherent styling limitations, but that said, the DBX definitely carries on the family tradition, especially in that classic grille that dates back to the DB 2/4 of 1953. It became iconic with the DB5, a.k.a. James Bond’s car. The side profile is nice, too, giving the impression of the company’s trademark fastback coupes, though rear-seat passenger headroom could suffer. The rear end, which a lot of people in lesser machinery will be seeing, isn’t its finest hour.

The DBX, with a body of bonded aluminum, is impressive on paper. The twin-turbo four-liter V8 is shared with the DB11 and Vantage models, and produces 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, channeled through a nine-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system. Fuel economy numbers for the U.S. haven’t been released yet.

The DBX can reach 181 miles per hour and, despite its 4,940-pound bulk, zero to 60 comes up in just 4.3 seconds. The five-passenger SUV is the most practical Aston Martin ever, with 54 cubic feet of storage with the second row of seats down, and 22.3 cubic feet with them up.

The DBX is, of course, opulent inside. There’s a nod to Tesla with a full-length glass panoramic sunroof, and it’s coupled with frameless door glass to produce a light and airy cabin. The Scottish firm Bridge of Weir, which supplied Aston cars beginning in the late 1960s, plus Saab, DeLorean, and the Lincoln Continental Mark II, does the full-grain leather seats.

Storage space is usually at a premium in supercars, so Aston was determined to make the DBX different. It has a long covered center console (optionally wood framed) for valuables and also deep door pockets. There are two screens, 10.25 and 12.3 inches. The 800-watt Harman/Samsung sound system boasts 14 speakers.

Early birds get more than a worm in this case. The first 500 customers will benefit from the “1913 Package,” including sill plaques and fender badges, plus a personal inspection and endorsement from Andy Palmer himself. That kind of exclusivity pays off at resale time.

Also keeping value up is loading up on the option lists, and Aston has a full range of accessory packages. The US$33,700 Event Pack includes a fold-down bench built into the rear bumper, a modular picnic hamper and (as in Rolls Royces) umbrella storage. The US$31,375 Field Sport Pack includes an aluminum gun cabinet and a “shooting stick.”

More down to earth and probably more popular is the US$1,825 Essentials Pack, which includes a center console organizer, heated front cup and (for the kids) tablet holders in the second row. The US$3,400 Pet Pack features a partition for keeping the dog in the back, a rear bumper protector to save the paint job, a dog accessory pack, and a battery-powered portable dog washer.

And don’t forget the Snow Pack, which adds a ski rack, tire chains, and boot warmers. If you keep checking boxes, you’ll end up with a bespoke car cover, child seats, locking wheel bolts, a surfboard holder, a bike rack, and a six-piece luggage set.

In 2015, Aston announced that it raised US$307 million in an equity issue, designed to fund “its expansion into crossovers,” according to Reuters. The DBX is one result of that gamble on new models. Also coming from Aston—and another big departure—is the Rapide E, the company’s first electric car. Total production will be 155, a number that doubles as the car’s top speed.

The Rapide E, with 602 horsepower from its twin, rear-mounted electric motors, rockets to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. Range from a big battery pack will be more than 200 miles. “The car is still under development,” Hoyt explains, so no release date yet. There’s also no final price, but Hoyt says to expect it to be in excess of the US$239,000 you’d pay for the Rapide AMR.

via@Barrons

10/01/2020No comments
Ellen Pompeo Sells Her Custom-Built Modern Farmhouse in the Hamptons for Nearly $3M

After the arrival of her third child, Ellen Pompeo realized the family had outgrown their summer retreat in Sag Harbor, NY. She listed the Hamptons hideaway for $3.8 million. Two years later, the stylish farmhouse was sold for $2,995,000.

The actress bought the place in 2011 for $925,000, property records show. After tearing down the existing cabin, she built this exquisite 2,400-square-foot home in 2013. It’s rustic on the outside and refined and modern inside.

This incredible three-story, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with a pool sits tucked away on more than 8 acres.

Highlights of the interior spaces include a double-height ceiling in the living room, cozy fireplaces, and a roomy country-style kitchen.

So what attracted the new buyers to this property? Their representative, Martha Gundersen of Douglas Elliman, says they simply fell in love.

“The buyer loved the privacy and uniqueness of the house,” Gundersen explains. “They wanted something beautiful and turnkey. They had initially been looking for something close to the ocean, but this property was too special to pass up.”

Pompeo recently signed on for two more seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy,” which was unsurprisingly renewed for a Season 17 by ABC, making her the star of one of the longest-running shows in TV history.

Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery have bought and sold an impressive portfolio of real estate, including an oceanfront retreat in Malibu, CA, a mansion in L.A.’s Los Feliz neighborhood, and a Spanish-style villa in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills, which was sold in June 2018 for $2,765,000, according to property records.

 

via@realtor.com

10/01/2020No comments
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Race Car Phenom Danica Patrick Zoom Into a Malibu Mansion

It appears that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and retired race car driver Danica Patrick were victorious in their bid for a celebrity-pedigreed beachside spread in Malibu, CA, according to Variety. The power couple paid $28 million in cold, hard cash for a 3,592-square-foot home with the famed Pacific Coast Highway on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Real estate records show the home was sold in November.

They purchased the property from British pop star Robbie Williams and his wife, Ayda Field, after renting it from the couple over the summer.

Williams snapped up the property in 2018 for $20.25 million, netting a nearly $7 million profit in a little more than a year. Rodgers and Patrick must have really loved that summer rental.

Of course, there’s quite a bit to love. It has only three bedrooms and three baths, but every square inch is stylish and pristine. It’s set on a bluff overlooking the ocean, so high tides are not an issue, and the beach below can be accessed by either a staircase or the property’s own, quaint funicular. There’s no need to schlep their own towels, lounge chairs, snacks, and drinks down to the sand.

The sporty couple can enjoy a victory lap in a sparkling pool with a spa while grilling burgers and dogs on the built-in barbecue. The compound also features extensive decks overlooking the sand and surf.

Massive glass doors open to the decks, enabling indoor-outdoor living space. One of the decks features built-in seating, creating a conversation area with spectacular views.

Interiors are mostly white, with some cement and wood flooring providing low maintenance and high style. Floor-to-ceiling disappearing doors throughout the house give many rooms, including bedrooms and baths, access to more balconies and decks. Generous, modern casement windows allow in even more light.

The main house features an open floor plan with a lounge and game room on the basement level.

The property includes a neatly appointed two-bedroom guesthouse and a three-car garage, which may or may not accommodate all of Patrick’s speedy vehicles.

While $28 million may seem like a massive amount even for such a posh property, rest assured that this athletic A-list couple can well afford it. Rodgers, a 36-year-old California native, has a Super Bowl ring to his credit and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Proof of that came in 2018 when he signed a record-setting, four-year, $134 million contract extension with the Packers.

Meanwhile Patrick, 37, the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, officially retired in 2018. She has had advertising partnerships with companies such as Secret, Nationwide Insurance, Tissot, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Hot Wheels, GoDaddy.com, and Lyft, and has appeared in numerous films and TV shows. And last August, she launched a weekly podcast called “Pretty Intense.”

10/01/2020No comments
Michelle Pfeiffer Sells Her Silicon Valley Compound for $22M

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer and her TV producer husband, David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies,” “Ally McBeal,” “The Practice”), finally unloaded their spacious estate in Woodside, CA, according to Variety. The property was sold for $22 million—about $7.5 million less than their original asking price, property records show.

The luxury compound was initially listed in spring 2018 for $29.5 million. It is located about 30 miles south of San Francisco in one of the wealthiest communities in the U.S., which has included residents such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and finance guru Charles Schwab.

Despite the discounted final price, the off-market sale is still one of the biggest transactions in the San Francisco area for 2019. The $22 million transaction was apparently all cash from a “mysterious buyer,” according to Variety.

Set on 8 acres at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, the Mediterranean-style main house measures 6,000 square feet and has four bedrooms and 4.5 baths. The main level includes a great room with seating areas, an elevated media and library area, and three sets of French doors to the main terrace.

The estate has at least five satellite structures, including three detached guest or staff apartments (each with its own bathroom and kitchenette), a guesthouse with office, and a separate gym.

The grounds feature a gated pool and spa, tennis court, main terrace with fireplace, and a cedar hot tub. The property includes an apple orchard, three fenced and covered vegetable beds, natural grasses, meadows, and a formal lawn. There’s also a historic octagonal barn with 10 stalls, as well as a fenced paddock for horses.

Pfeiffer continues to have a resurgent career at the age of 61. The actress recently starred in “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”

via@realtor.com

10/01/2020No comments
Dr. Phil Lists Bonkers Beverly Hills Mansion for $5.75M

Self-help guru and TV personality Phillip McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, is selling the Beverly Hills, CA, mansion for $5,750,000 where his rocker son, Jordan McGraw, had been living with his bandmates. And it’s quite an eyeful! Part playhouse, part Tim Burton homage, the outrageous, high-dollar design and questionable taste have sparked some big-time controversy on the web.

Ever since the Los Angeles Times first published the photos from the listing, social media has had a field day poking fun at the unconventional—dare we say, crazy?—interiors that only a 20-something with unlimited funds could have dreamed up.

In summer 2016, a then-28-year-old Jordan offered The Daily Mail a tour of the estate. “The idea is kind of Tim Burton threw up on a canvas, and it turned into a house,” he explained.

Regurgitation isn’t usually a design aspiration for a nearly $6 million Beverly Hills mansion, but, hey, Dr. Phil’s kid clearly had a vision for interior decoration that’s unique. He dreamed up the wild wonderland with the help of L.A. design firm Mogul, according to the Mail.

As you enter the property, which the listing calls “eclectic,” there’s a snake fountain, a reference to “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” giving guests just a hint of the acid trip to come. In the foyer, there’s the bedazzled bar at the bottom of the entry, which is meant to look like the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland.” And the showstopper? It’s the jaw-dropping, glassed-in wall of guns adorning the dining room.

Some of the photos, including one of the wall of guns, have been removed from the listing after receiving tons of social media criticism. The home’s listing agent, Billy Dolan of Hilton and Hyland, didn’t return a call and email for comment.

Black velvet wallpaper aside, the five-bedroom, 6,170-square-foot estate sits on a gated half-acre just minutes from the Beverly Hills Hotel, and has plenty to offer potential buyers willing to take on a remodel.

For his part, after leaving his stamp on the decor, Jordan has left the property behind to tour with the Jonas Brothers.

10/01/2020No comments