As I look through the window of my Chicago office and watch the snow fall, I'm reminded of the blasting winds and 10-degree temperature that greeted me on my way to work today.  I absolutely love Chicago, but sometimes in the middle of a blistering winter I wouldn't mind being somewhere about seven times warmer. Current conditions at the Nassau International Airport in the Bahamas are 70 degrees and clear. I think I could handle sitting on a beach somewhere on Paradise Island or New Providence sipping a pina colada right about now. As my fantasy deepens, I wonder what it would be like to live in the Bahamas full-time...and as long as I'm living there in my mind, why not live in an exquisite Bahamian luxury home?

The gorgeous Mediterranean home shown in these pictures tops the list of my dream homes in the Bahamas. It is loaded with all of the spectacualr amenities expected in today's ultimate luxury abodes, including a state-of-the-art kitchen, spa style baths and a home theater; but also has the benefit of being situated on the crystal blue waters and white sand beach of Paradise Island inside prestigious Ocean Club Estates. Residents of Ocean Club Estates enjoy beaches and a world-class golf course, as well as the use of facilities at the One & Only Ocean Club and the Atlantis Resort. As if living on the beach in Paradise Island wasn't enough.

Continue on a tour of fantasy Bahamian homes...

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After spending several impressionable hours of my youth watching old horror movies and Scooby-Doo cartoons, I developed a strong urge to have a secret room in my house that was revealed by either pulling a specific book from the shelf or yanking on a wall-mounted candle holder. While Frontgate's Reversible Media Center doesn't completely fulfill that fantasy, it's a step in the right direction. The wood entertainment center has an articulating mechanism that allows its center section to swivel, showing either bookshelves that are one side, or a flat screen TV that can be mounted to the opposite side. You can watch the game in the afternoon, then quickly adjust the media center to show your book collection and impress your evening dinner party guests. The transformation only takes a few seconds and can be done with one hand (tying the other behind your back is optional). The Reversible Media Center is something that would be very welcomed in my living room...assuming that someday I get a 42-inch flat screen TV or an exciting library of leather-bound books.

Every time I go to the drugstore to buy a new razor or cartridges, I have to find an employee to unlock that highly fortified glass case.  I understand that razors are a pricy item for a drugstore and (used to be) oft stolen; but if my ten dollar razor is kept behind glass, I wonder how Hommage's Monte-Carlo Razor would be stored.  It would probably be in a secure vault that is opened by turning two keys simultaneously followed by the entering of a secret code - something akin to a submarine missile launch.  This $2,500 razor extraordinaire comes packaged in a choice pear wood box that can be transformed into a fully functional humidor. The humidor is a nice bonus, but it's probably not a good idea to smoke a cigar while you shave with the Monte-Carlo, or any other razor.

can - dle [kan-dl] noun, 1. a long, usually slender piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned to give light...At least that's what dictionary.com would lead you to believe.

The proclaimed "ultimate luxury" at $345 each, Jo Malone Luxury Candles [luhk-shuh-ree kan-dls] certainly must be the supreme pieces of wax with embedded wicks. Available in grapefruit, orange blossom and lime basil & mandarin varieties, the Luxury Candle does more than light your home - after all, a single candle is (much) more expensive than my monthly electric bill. The Luxury Candle lights your home...AND makes it smell good.

It would be impossible to have a complete discussion of luxury home markets without mentioning Greenwich, Connecticut. Situated on the shores of the Long Island Sound, it is an oasis of luxury located only 28 miles from Manhattan. Affluence is what this community is known for, as it is one of the wealthiest towns per capita in the world. That wealth is certainly reflected in the rich Greenwich luxury home market. Known as "The Gateway to New England" due to its southerly Connecticut location, Greenwich is a corridor into a beautiful region, and it also provides entry into an exclusive club of prosperity for those fortunate enough to live within its borders.

The home shown in these photos dates back to the 1880s and is on the market of the first time in 125 years. Actually it is more than a home, it is a gated compound situated on a bluff enjoying 270-degree water views and over 1,500 feet of coastal frontage. Enjoy all water activities, or dock your boat in the deepwater dockage while you find a relaxing spot somewhere on the four acres to sit and enjoy the splendid sunrise to sunset views. This remarkable residence is listed by William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services.

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