Full Exposure/Part 3

Rebellious roots

This London house overlooks the Victorian-era Highgate Cemetery. Philosopher and economist Karl Marx and punk impresario Malcom McLaren are just two of the famous figures buried in the backyard. 

The windows are almost entirely frameless on the cemetery side, while the street side is a curtain wall of honed black granite, steel panels and opaque glass, for privacy. The house is listed for $7.97 million.



Talk about a skylight!!!!

See-through courtyard

Inside, you'll be dazzled by 4,225 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and bathrooms. The kitchen has a retractable skylight that transforms the space into an open-air courtyard.

Staying cool

Designed by architect Eldridge Smerin, the house replaced a 1970s structure by John Winter. The idea was to design a building with significantly lower energy consumption than the original but with a greater floor area. The home has a green sedum roof, and its temperature is moderated by its stone and glass construction.

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Full Exposure/Part 2

I designed one house in the woods like this, it felt like the ultimate tree house! There is something soooo serene about looking into the sites of nature that bring  a true sense of calm and meditation to your life.

Cameron's house

Remember the Highland Park, Ill., house of Ferris Bueller's uptight buddy, Cameron Frye, in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Well, the iconic house is on the market for $1.65 million — crashed Ferrari not included.

The Ben Rose Home

Cameron's house is known as the Ben Rose Home, after the noted photographer who owned it. It was designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid and built in 1953.

Into the woods

The ultraswank house is dramatically cantilevered over a ravine. It's also set on more than an acre of gorgeous wooded property.

Star-worthy style

Here, you'll find 5,400 square feet of living space, thanks to the enormous dining room, bedrooms and living rooms. Surrounded by glass, this exquisite home has Hollywood style to spare.

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Real Estate Luxury

Las Vegas

1 Hughes Center Drive, No. 1901

• List price: $11.7 million
• Previous list price: $20 million in January 2008
• Reduced: $8.3 million
• Price cut: 41.5%

This two-story penthouse in the Park Towers was listed by Prudential at $20 million in 2008 before being relisted for $15 million in 2009, according to Zillow.com. The price was cut to $13.2 million in February 2010 and then to $11.7 million in September, according to Zillow.com.

The penthouse measures 6,799 square feet and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home theater and views of the Las Vegas Strip, according to Prudential. Park Towers, built by casino owner Steve Wynn and developer Irwin Molasky, opened in 2001.

Las Vegas

2777 Paradise Road, No. 3801/3901

• List price: $10 million
• Previous list price: $16 million in January 2009
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 37.5%

This penthouse offers more than 12,000 square feet of living space, including more than 3,000 square feet of wraparound terraces that provide a view of the Las Vegas Strip. The unit has five bedrooms and nine bathrooms and a dining room with a vaulted ceiling, according to Prudential. Florida-based developer Thurnberry Associates built the property.

Miami Beach, Fla.

800 S. Pointe Drive, PH-A

• List price: $16 million
• Previous list price: $22 million in 2008
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 27.3%

This new luxury condo development, named Apogee, was built by Miami-based developer The Related Group in 2008. The penthouse, which first listed for $22 million in 2008, occupies the top two floors of the building, with 11,000 square feet of terrace and balcony. The rooftop has a private pool and built-in kitchen.

"If (it were) listed for $16 million in 2008, it most likely would have sold by now," says Bryan Sereny, a co-broker for the listing who also represents other sales at Apogee.

New York

812 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $15.9 million
• Previous list price: $36.5 million in November 2007
• Reduced: $20.6 million
• Price cut: 56.4%

This 6,500-square-foot triplex penthouse is on the 13th, 14th and 15th floors of a pre-World War II cooperative on Park Avenue. Sotheby's International Realty listed it for $36.5 million in November 2007, and Brown Harris Stevens listed it in June 2009 for $22 million.

Architect James Carpenter won an award from the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter for his work on this building in 1927, according to Corcoran.

OK, back to earth!!!! I call this my dream tour!!!!

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Expensive Homes in America

America's most expensive homes


By Francesca Levy of Forbes



$150 million

The Manor

Holmby Hills, Calif.

The home that Candy Spelling, widow of television producer Aaron, put on the market in 2008 outprices every other property in the U.S. The 56,500-square-foot English-style mansion has a bowling alley, wine cellar, rooms for gift-wrapping and silver and china display, a library, gym and media room. Its 4.6 acres include pools, a spa, landscaped gardens, a waterfall and parking for more than 100 cars. Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland Real Estate and Sally Forster Jones of Coldwell Banker Previews International have the listing.

$125 million
Fleur de Lys

Beverly Hills, Calif.

This 35,000-square-foot home, listed in 2007, is said to be modeled after Versailles, and the mansion makes no attempt at understatement. Its 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, 50-seat screening room, Italian marble and gold-embossed leather walls ooze wealth. Owner Suzanne Saperstein hasn't compromised on the price in three years. After all, it's a relative bargain compared with the manor, just a few blocks away. Shari Chase of Chase International has the listing.

$100 million

Tranquility Estate

Lake Tahoe, Nev.

Tommy Hilfiger co-founder Joel Horowitz's 210-acre spread features the third-highest price tag in America. The 20,000-square-foot main house has extras like a cigar lounge, art studio and sports gym, while its grounds feature a golf course, boathouse and views of Lake Tahoe. A staircase in the home replicates the stairs of the S.S. Titanic. The home has been on the market for almost four years. Shari Chase of Chase International has the listing.

$80 million

Kaiser Estate

Honolulu

Separately, the three coastal parcels that comprise the former estate of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser wouldn't make this year's list, but together, the 5.5-acre property becomes one of the country's most expensive. The island getaway offers coastal views and a sleek, midcentury-style 15,000-square-foot home, extensively landscaped tropical grounds and a 12,000-square-foot boathouse and marina. Tech tycoon Fred Chan and his wife, Annie, put the home on the market in January 2009. Mary Worell of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

$75 million

Humming Bird Nest Ranch

Simi Valley, Calif.

Though it's named after the tiniest of birds, this property spans 123 acres. In addition to a 17,000-square-foot Spanish-Revival-style main house, six guest homes and 10 town houses grace the estate, as do a fully equipped equestrian center and parking for 200 vehicles. If driving doesn't suit you, there's also a helicopter pad. It has been on the market since late 2007; Joyce Rey of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

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Chateau Lyon

Introducing......Chateau Lyon. Ancient craftmanship in a modern masterpiece. Incredibly ornate details, from the Biblical Stone in the Grand Foyer to the imported French Limestone walls. Hand carved Mexican pinon stone surround all exterior windows/doors. Pecky Cypress eaves and ceiling on the Loggia and Grand Salon, Palm Court, kitchen, master bath and morning room. Upper level flooring is of 250 year old heart pine. Antique European Roof Tiles. Centuries-old hand carved restored doors. French Boisiere style adorns this magnificiant estate. Italian chandelier in the Palm Court, zinc coated copper roof flashing, hand forged Mar-a-Lago balcony, hand cut Texas Limestone foundation walls, original iron balcony grill from the 1880's, all compliment this 5 bedroom 6 bath work of art. Timeless in design, but completely modern in terms of efficiency and upgrades, as there are 13 heating/cooling zones, Generac generator, and equiped with Creston Home Control and Automation Solutions.


This beautiful home is located on Lake Norman close to Charlotte NC. This listing can be found through Sotheby Real Estate.

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Serious Real Estate

This is some serious real estate folks!!!!!!!!!! Just for your viewing pleasure!!! If you enjoy a LOT of glass and a contemporary feel this simply says, "WOW"

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