One of the most spectacular estates on the East Coast of the United States was added to Luxury Portfolio in late January. Known as Long Point, the estate is situated in a unique and prime location on a private peninsula surrounded by the Navesink River in Rumson Borough, New Jersey.

Behind the entry gates is a landscape created by Peter Cummin, who specializes in residential and estate gardens and has breathtaking work on display in 25 states and Canada. The shingle style residence at the center of the property was deigned by the acclaimed firm of Shope Reno Wharton, a member of the U.S Green Building Council, to take advantage of the extraordinary setting along the river.

Luxury Portfolio member Turpin Real Estate, Inc. is currently listing Long Point for $29,900,000. Discover more features and see more photos.

A stone mansion built in 1915 in Bedford Hills, New York has recently sold. The luxury colonial home was designed by Walter Cook, former President of the American Institute of Architects.

The former owner, from Bangor, Ireland, brought in 10 Irish workmen for a magnificent modern renovation that took only four months. New features include an expansive entertaining space and a state-of-the-art country kitchen. Though now thoroughly up to date, the home retains original period details.

The buyer of the home is a New York billionaire who rented the home for two months before purchasing it as a weekend house. Luxury Portfolio member Houlihan Lawrence last listed the property. See more photos and details.

Looking for a unique way to display affection for your favorite drink? Take a look at BevShots – microscopic images of beer, wine and cocktails that are photographed and blown up into striking art prints.

There are prints for every budget and taste, including customizable fine art pieces that add exceptional style to any décor and serve as a great conversation spark. Several spirits are available: numerous beers, wine, champagne, whisky, vodka and more. I’m a fan of the Belgian Lambic beer – the drink and the print. See them all at BevShots.com.

With 100 feet of sandy beach on Crystal Bay, a private pier and two buoys, the luxury estate known as Stone Gate is a true Tahoe retreat.

The perfect positioning on the lakefront is matched by the magnificence of the home itself. A stunning wood and stone exterior is an introduction to a wealth of fine finishes including Douglas fir beams, stone masonry, reclaimed hardwood, hand-crafted European ironworks and much more. Modern-day conveniences such as a Crestron home automation system blend with the architectural beauty.

Recently added to LuxuryPortfolio.com, Stone Gate is currently listed at $19,950,000 by Chase International.

See more photos and detail.

Featured in a previous post on the Luxury Portfolio blog, an innovative home in Boulder, Colorado has recently sold. Known as The Next West Home, the residence blends luxurious and sustainable living with features that include solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, gray water and direct plumbing systems. One of the first LEED platinum certified, Net Zero Carbon residence in America, it marks exciting progress in luxury home construction.

Joel Ripmaster, President and Owner of Luxury Portfolio member Colorado Landmark, Realtors, successfully closed on the home. “With this house, we are really building for the future,” says Ripmaster. “The quality and workmanship, the ability for the house to take care of itself off the grid, appropriate size and livability, the Next West House is truly a look into the future. In 50-100 years, people will look back at this house as the beginning of a new age of building, and as evidence that our generation finally ‘got it’.”

See more photos and details of The Next West Home on Luxury Portfolio here.

The new LuxeTrends^® newsletter highlights some simple home updates for the New Year. Suggestions include kitchen accessories, light fixtures and unique mirrors to hang on the wall – uncomplicated alterations that can make a big difference. Perhaps seeing these examples will help inspire your own personal home design changes.

See the latest version and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter here.

A look at the photos of this beautiful traditional luxury home in Dallas makes it easy to see the stunning quality of the home’s design. From the Pennsylvania blue stone porch, to the striking entry doors and all throughout the interior, professional design is evident in every detail. A pecky cypress ceiling treatment in the entry, museum finished walls and art lighting, and custom doors, hardware and more are a few of the amazing features.

The current owner of the home is an accomplished designer with experience that includes serving as Creative Director of interior design for Neiman Marcus for ten years. That skillful touch is readily apparent throughout this exquisite residence.

Luxury Portfolio member Ebby Halliday Realtors is currently listing the home at $2,999,000. See more details and incredible photos.

In yesterday’s Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram, Luxury Portfolio member Ebby Halliday Realtors had full page ads featuring luxury homes shown beautifully decorated for the holidays. The two homes were adorned by Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events – a high-end Dallas florist and event company. Decorations were put up through a full day of hard work at each home in order to get the fabulous holiday photos…and were taken down as soon as the perfect shot was captured. There are, however, interesting behind the scenes videos that remain to document part of the process.

The first home is a gorgeous traditional located on prestigious Deloache Avenue in Preston Hollow. See the property details on Luxury Portfolio and watch the video.

Sited on Lake Arlington, the second home is an exquisite Mediterranean with a formal living room that looks stunning decked in holiday ornamentation. See the property details on Luxury Portfolio and watch the video.

The team that worked on these homes did a fantastic job. The photos are amazing!

I’ve always been a fan of burning candles in my home; they can help create the atmosphere any time of year – from light, airy scents that refresh to the pine and cranberry scents common during the holiday season.

A great place online to find the perfect candle that fits your personal style is Laguna Candles - where you can order fashionable, eco-friendly candles that complement any luxury home décor and individual taste. Headquartered in Laguna Beach, California, the company offers designer soy and natural beeswax candles that add ambiance to your home while remaining environmentally conscious. Check out the selection of products at LagunaCandles.com.

Also noteworthy is the company’s “Light the Way to a Cure” campaign, committed to promoting awareness and donating proceeds to cancer research. Read more.

The digital version of the brand new Luxury Portfolio lifestyle magazine is now available!

Tour noteworthy luxury homes, see the latest luxury trends, learn more about Luxury Portfolio’s global reach, get insight from design experts, and more. We hope you enjoy our latest magazine – click through the pages here!