We have some very exciting news that we wanted to share with you…LuxeChatter® is going online. We understand that you receive a mass number of emails daily and hope this change will help lighten up your Inbox – while still giving you easy access to the latest luxury news.

LuxeChatter® helps you stay on top of the happenings in the luxury real estate world. We highlight global recent sales, interesting properties, and items that you can use as “cocktail chatter."

Instead of sending in a traditional monthly e-newsletter, we will be posting Chatter tidbits on our blog, under the LuxeChatter® category, on a weekly basis. You can sign up to have our blog posts automatically emailed you (the subscribe form is located on the bottom left side of the page). In addition, these informative, interesting and educational posts will appear on our Facebook fan page and Twitter page.

If you haven’t already, please make sure you are connected to us on at least one of these social media spots. This will ensure you on staying on top to the latest Luxury Portfolio news, real estate developments and marketing insights:

Find Us Here:
Subscribe to The Luxury Portfolio blog.
Become a fan on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter.

If you have any questions, please contact communications@luxuryportfolio.com. We hope you as excited about this latest development as we are!

A magnificent soft contemporary home listed by Luxury Portfolio member First Team Estates recently came in at #6 on Top Ten Real Estate Deals’ list of Top 10 Coolest Beach Homes.

Situated above the white sand beaches of Laguna Beach and near the renowned Montage Resort, the amazing luxury home is filled with captivating views of ocean and sky through wall to wall glass windows and a glass ceiling. Private stairs lead down to the peaceful beach.

Reading more details and viewing pictures of this fine home leave no doubt as to why it appears on the list of coolest beach homes – see more on Luxury Portfolio.

Casa Del Cielo (“House of the Sky”) crowns the entire 14th floor of Alhambra Place – an exclusive waterfront boutique building in Fort Lauderdale that houses only 23 residences. The custom penthouse was combined from two units and boasts outdoor living spaces with 360-degree views of the Fort Lauderdale skyline, the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

Inside and out, the home is completely unique, made up of finishes and design elements imported from all over the world. There are Venetian plaster and hand-painted accents, Honduran mahogany moldings, English fireplace mantles, Moroccan tile work, Tibetan and Indian columns and more. The matchless penthouse also includes deeded yacht dockage and three garage spaces.

The House of the Sky is currently listed at US $4,995,000 by Premier Estate Properties.

See more photos and incredible details on Luxury Portfolio.

Since the launch of the Luxury Portfolio blog contest, we have received some wonderful comments, including excellent insights, valulable tips and interesting feedback. Today marks the start of Round Four, so comment today!

The Prize:
In addition to being a world-renowned chef and restaurateur, David Burke also is the creator of Gourmet Pops — delightful desserts that are a play on the nostalgic lollipop, but so much more!

Satisfying both the savory and the sweet — from goat cheese pops (a mix of creamy mascarpone and sundried tomatoes coated in toasted almonds and pistachios) to cheesecake pops (cheesecake dipped in chocolate and covered with such toppings as toffee and peanut butter pieces)  — these hors d’oeuvres make a wonderful gift and serve as the perfect amuse for entertaining.

Our Round 4 winner will receive a sampling of these heavenly delicacies!

The Details:
We are rewarding those who write the most insightful and interesting comments to existing blog posts. It is that easy...

1. Read through some of the blog posts.

2. Select a post that you are interested in or have knowledge/experience in.

3. Type in your information, your thoughts, and comment...that's it!

From the highly visible (and operational) light topping the home to cabinets and exterior and interior lighting modeled after circa 1890s lighthouses, the owner’s admiration for the coastal structures is readily apparent in this truly unique luxury home. The deep water home on Polowana Island is a replica of the 104-year-old Boca Grande Lighthouse on Gasparilla Island, Florida.

The 360-degree widow walk atop the tower of this South Carolina home dubbed simply “The Lighthouse” provides for expansive views across the water and beyond. Douglass fir post and beam construction and old growth hickory floors are showcased within the home’s distinctive shell, along with a remarkable custom built gourmet kitchen.

This singular luxury property is currently on the market and listed at US $1,100,000 by Lowcountry Real Estate.

See more photos and details on Luxury Portfolio.

We are pleased to announce our Round Three blog contest winner: Liz Murphy of Harry Norman, Realtors.

Thank you Liz for contributing your insight on the Smart Facebook Marketing: Frank Howard Allen’s Property Trilogies post. We loved hearing about how Harry Harmon is utilizing Facebook.

Liz will receive a scrumptious sampling of products from the  Lush Cosmetics. Stay tuned for details about Round Four!

Green entertaining is becoming the norm among elite hosts. Utilizing sustainable standards can delight guests, while also contributing to the good of the planet.

It all starts with the invites. Checkerboard, a family owned company whose clients have included Bill Gates and Bob Hope, creates invitations of unrivaled artistry and design that are also sensitive to our environment. From summer parties to winter celebrations, the company offers an array of colors and styles that help set the perfect tone for your get-together.

This product and write-up were featured in a recent issue of Luxury Portfolio’s LuxeTrends® newsletter that focused on eco-friendly entertaining. LuxeTrends® is a monthly eNewsletter that covers luxury real estate trends, home design, luxury gifts and more. The current issue, posted today, identifies a new “it” color utilized in luxury design. View and subscribe to the newsletter here.

A historic home in a great setting, this charming luxury estate in the highly desirable Old Floresta neighborhood of Boca Raton, Florida, remains true to the vision of architect Addison Mizner, who established the enclave in 1920.

Entering the gates into the lush tropical surroundings is like travelling back to the charm of a different time. Sited on just under an acre with two oversized lots, there is magnificent old growth canopy landscaping. The park-like setting offers a large, undeveloped parcel in a historic neighborhood close to shopping, restaurants and beach. This is a rare opportunity in an amazing location.

The one-of-a-kind estate is currently listed at US $ 1,875,000 by Premier Estate Properties, Inc. For more information - from original Mizner creations to thoughtful and luxurious updates - see the property detail on Luxury Portfolio.

Situated near luxury high-rises and recognizable Dallas, Texas icon Mansion on Turtle Creek hotel, this Dallas luxury home is unlike any other in “Big D.” With Spanish and Algerian architectural influences and spread over three-quarters of an acre backing to Turtle Creek, the gated property is a true sanctuary. This is the largest private gated estate near the downtown area.

Stepping into the home, it is as if you are being transported from the heart of Texas to a fashionable boutique luxury hotel where relaxing indulgences await. The focal point of the stunning luxury residence is a natatorium with a sparkling and serene pool. Upstairs, a full service spa (yes… a FULL SERVICE SPA) offers a steam room, soaking tub, grotto, pool, waterfall and additional commercially-inspired comforts.

Home automation perpetuates the feeling of being waited on, as the push of a button activates spas, fountains, music, fireplaces, custom lighting and more.

This one-of-kind luxury home is currently listed at $7,900,000 by Luxury Portfolio member Dave Perry-Miller & Associates.

See more details of the home on Luxury Portfolio.  For more information and pictures, visit the Web site at casabellamini.com.

Lush is a brand synonymous with creating handmade, innovative products from the freshest organic ingredients available. In addition, Lush has been committed to protecting our environment through responsible packaging and green catalogs. Their extensive product line includes hair, skin, bath and face items that not only smell intoxicating, but are specifically created to invigorate the mind and sooth the body.

Lush is sponsoring Round 3 of the Luxury Portfolio Blog Contest, and the winner will be awarded with a sampling of their coveted bath products – suitable for men and women.

Here is how the giveaway works: we are rewarding those who write the most insightful and interesting comments to existing blog posts. It is that easy...

1. Read through some of the blog posts.

2. Select a post that you are interested in or have knowledge/experience in.

3. Type in your information, your thoughts, and comment...that's it!

The contest is ongoing, with a new giveaway monthly.

Round 3 of the contest starts today and runs through September 25!