The way my kitchen is set up, I have to uncomfortably crane my neck while cooking in order to see the TV.  A petty quibble for sure, but one that could be corrected with a stylish VELA LCD TV Rangehood from ILIVE.  My eyes could easily travel from the steaming vegetables or pots of pasta up to the 10-inch flat LCD monitor built into right into the range hood.

The VELA is the creation of Italian designer Marco Valerio Agretti and combines form and function.  Not only sleek and contemporary, the range hood is powerful enough to remove the most intense cooking fumes.  It is a great addition to the modern kitchen that is the heart of the home.

Not so long ago, being environmentally conscious seemed to be synonymous with minimalism.   With technological advances, a concentration on sustainable materials, and a greater desire of consumers to become eco-friendly, "going green" no longer has to mean huge sacrifice.  In fact, those used to the finer things in life are now demanding the finest things in green living to incorporate into their luxury lifestyle, pointing towards society's growing environmental awareness.

Modern luxury homes are at the forefront of the green movement.  One such example is a spectacular home in Boulder, Colorado dubbed "The Next West Home." The groundbreaking Boulder luxury home is the first LEED platinum, Net Zero Carbon residence in America.  Utilizing the latest green technologies, the home features hybrid solar, geo-exchange heating and cooling, a direct plumbing system, closed cell foam super insulation and LED lighting.  Sustainable materials used in construction include FSC harvested wood, low and no VOC paints and 100-year-old recycled brick.

The home beautifully combines its sustainability with a commitment to quality and luxury.  The top-of-the-line kitchen appliances are Energy Star rated, custom wood doors and floors are crafted from FSC certified American walnut, and the heated garage is pre-wired for an electric/rechargeable car.

This landmark property shows what can be accomplished when luxury comes together with an emphasis on green building and renewable energy sources.  It is currently listed at $3,400,000 by Colorado Landmark, Realtors.

There's a chill in the Chicago air and all around are signs of season change.  Browning leaves are tumbling to the ground and windows that had remained open the previous month are now sealed.  The cold of the tile floor in my bathroom penetrating the bottom of my feet this morning served as a reminder to break out the slippers and consider a change to the currently packed away warmer bed sheets.

Maybe if my bed were covered with Charlotte Thomas Bespoke sheets, the thought of changing bedding would never enter my mind.  The luxurious 'Bespoke' collection is handmade with 22 carat gold thread woven into the fabric.  Thousand-count Egyptian wool makes the sheets singular in their elegant feel and look.  Each order is made for the individual customer and can take 12 weeks to complete while the rare fabrics are collected.  The time it takes is certainly worth it, as the careful craftsmanship leads to luxury bedding that will be treasured in any climate at any time of year.

Bathrooms, like most every other room and feature in the modern luxury home, have gone high-tech.  Mirrors with LCD television screens, LED light displays in the tub and showers with multiple heads massaging as you bathe are a few of the latest remarkable innovations.  While these advancements are amazing design features, some choose a more traditionally elegant or natural look for their luxury bathroom.

For those who wish to add a unique element to their bathroom that recalls the traditions of skilled craftsmen, the Japanese Furo project offers two distinctive luxury bathtubs. Furo has collaborated with two designers to create pieces that harmonize with nature and a rich cultural history.  The Hinoki cypress tub is cut from a block of wood from trees that are over 300 years old.  Cypress was a material used to create revered Buddhist structures, including statues and temples.  The bathtub echoes the immaculate craftsmanship, while showcasing a timeless elegance that both refines and simplifies the luxury bathroom.

Also in tune with nature is the Urushi lacquer tub.  The smooth wood tubs are covered in ecological lacquer created from tree sap for a natural look.  Time-honored Japanese elegance can be seen in the red and black color scheme that makes a bold statement of sophistication. 

Read more about these Furo tubs and matching bathroom collections here.

All luxury home furnishings are an extension of the homeowner's personality and characterize their definition of luxury style.  What better way to show that style than with beautiful and basic displays of the classic elements of fire and water? 

A clean looking fire that be integrated into any architectural environment, The EcoSmart Fire is an environmentally friendly innovation that creates an open fire without a utility connection.  This technology is on display in the striking Fire & Ice Coffee Table, featuring a sliding platform that can be moved to reveal the flue-less fire on one side, or a recessed compartment on the other - perfect for storing a patch of grass or ice to chill your favorite drink.  Once the slider is moved on top of the flames, they are automatically extinguished.  Certainly recommended for the most responsible luxury home owners (who perhaps leave the fire off while enjoying the chilled beverages stored on the other side).

From fire to soothing water and the Ripple Series by designer and aerospace engineer Lee J Rowland.  These gorgeous tables come in several shapes and sizes and incorporate the calming effect of concentric ripples falling towards the table's edges.   A 3-dimentional machining process is used to create the one-of-a-kind design on the sheet metal, and just looking at the table transports you to a stream where a droplet of water has created a calming ripple that seems to stretch on and on. 

Equally fashionable, these stunning tables help illustrate individual visions of luxury as contrasting as the elements themselves.

I try to keep my closet organized, I really do.  Behind the large sliding doors are shoe racks, tie and belt racks, shelves, organized clothes hanging on wooden hangers, et cetera, et cetera.  Inevitably, however, there will eventually be a balled up t-shirt on the closet floor or a wire hanger from the dry cleaners pressed against the wall behind the tiered rows of footwear.  Perhaps I need some guidance from a qualified member of the National Closet Group.

The NCG is a professional association comprised of top independent closet companies throughout the United States and Canada offering innovations in their field.  While I could certainly benefit from their expertise, the NCG caters to everyone, including the luxury home owner.  The Luxury Siena Collection is offered exclusively by NCG members and was born through a desire to create a closet system combining advanced engineering with exquisite design.  Available in many styles from traditional to contemporary and accompanied by a wide selection of finishes and design elements, The Siena Collection can be completely customized to meet the needs of anyone looking to add luxury to their closet. 

To search for a National Closet Group member near you, click here.

Now that summer has officially arrived, I have been looking for exterior furnishing to spruce up my backyard. The Porter Garden Telescope certainly surpasses any outdoor "accessory" I have ever encountered. Originally designed in the 1920's, the talented and dedicated team at Telescopes of Vermont has passionately worked to recreate this stunning masterpiece. The spectacular instrument stands 35" high with individually cast, hand finished bronze and stands on a classic pedestal of Vermont Danby marble. While the telescope is clearly a work of art, it was also created to allow the owner a great amount of flexibility. The telescope sustains all types of weather and can be left outdoors all year long, it can easily be removed from the pedestal and housed elsewhere and Telescopes of Vermont will personally work with your architect or designer to create custom landscaping and installation solutions. In addition to its aesthetic beauty, the telescope also embodies suburb scientific elements. With 21st century optics – designed by military satellite optical engineers - it can be used during the day and night. Weather you reside in high-rise penthouse or a country estate, the Porter Garden Telescope will transport you to 'places' you never imagined and is truly a luxurious piece that any affluent homeowner would be overjoyed to own.

I guess this does away with the old 'tie a rubber band around the sink sprayer and watch as someone get sprayed when turning on the faucet' trick. Well, I guess Kohler's new Karbon does more than that.  Much more, actually.  The contort-able faucet brings a new level of functionality to the kitchen sink with the ability to extend in length and into different angles.  The unique design and 13-inch reach allows you to work from deep within the sink to the top of the counter with ease.  In addition to its pliability, the Karbon faucet is constructed of carbon (logically) fiber material to enhance strength and also features a variety of spray options, effectively destroying the old rubberband-the-sprayer prank.  The things we sacrifice for form and function...but in this case I think it's worth it.

At its two locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Beckmann MooreYaki Studio displays the ultimate artistic expressions in lighting, textiles, upholstery, artwork, rugs and accessories.  Their top of the line items can be customized to meet any specific needs for the luxury homeowner looking to upgrade their spacious interiors.  Almost as impressive as their artistic creations is the studio's list of clients which stretches around the globe and includes the Ritz Carlton in Beijing, Four Seasons in Costa Rica, Auberge du Soleil in Napa, and several of the top luxury resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

One manufacturer that certainly caught my eye was Barbara Beckmann Designs.  Their textiles are a mixture of creative ingenuity and luxurious materials; and their system for hand-painting fabric has been developed over two decades, allowing for unusually beautiful results in coloring.  The photo above is an example of their fabulous Textile Jewel Collection.  Slightly higher quality than the "bed in a bag" I bought at the local big-box store.

The crisp wintertime air that has been howling through Chicago the last week or so has been enough to suck the breath right out of lungs of the city's citizens.  In a very different way, the crisp, cool and contemporary design of the Iceberg Table will also leave you breathless.  The table was designed by Montreal-based Periphere; perhaps drawing inspiration from the frigid Canadian winter.  Unique in every way, the laser-cut steel table is a functional piece of art. It is available for purchase (for a cool $3,500) at Generate.