Guests at a recent reception held at a newly constructed home in Highland Park, TX included Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and his wife, Laura – pictured at right. The event was hosted by the partners of Luxury Portfolio member Briggs Freeman, Robbie Briggs and Charles Freeman, and offered a first glimpse at the beautiful property. The home was built using innovative methods and features classic Mediterranean architecture. Read more on the event.

See more details of the property on Luxury Portfolio.

Today marks the 40th Earth Day, and awareness of environmentally conscious products and materials has never been higher. From consumer products to construction of modern luxury homes, great emphasis is being placed on thinking green.

One place where you can find quality married with sustainability is the furniture of Vermont Woods Studios. They offer a unique line of furniture created from locally grown, sustainable woods and even utilize reclaimed wood materials from dismantled New England barns. An example of their intriguing work is the Modern Pop-Up Media Console with rounded doors and a remote control that raises a flat-screen TV from the back of the entertainment center. See more.

Locally owned and operated in Marin County, California since 1910, Frank Howard Allen Realtors recently released data predicting what 2010 – their 100th year - holds for real estate in the North Bay. First Quarter data shows encouraging signs of a significantly stronger marketplace this year, including increases in average and median sales prices in both Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Read more on the statistics and how Frank Howard Allen Realtors is marking their momentous centennial year.