Luxury Portfolio
Owning a peaceful piece of Provence in France’s Var region
By LISA KLEIN The Var region of France stretches along the cliffs and crags of the Côte d’Azur coastline south from St. Tropez just past the port city of Toulon and into the Provençal hills and mountains beyond – a perfectly picturesque place to purchase a home. With a generally more relaxed atmosphere than Cannes or Nice to the north, homeowners in Var enjoy Mediterranean beaches, sleepy towns and a nature-filled countryside.
Conjure calm at home with a spa-inspired bathroom
By LISA KLEIN When it comes to unwinding at home, a go-to for many is a soak in the tub, although the degrees to which a bathroom transports one to a relaxing spa varies. Luckily the spa environment can be replicated at home with the right design choices, peaceful colors, natural elements and thoughtful finishing touches. “When I’m thinking of a spa bathroom and designing for a client, I’m thinking light and airy,” said Brian Brown, principal designer at Brian Brown Studio in San Diego.
Hop aboard a luxury train to see the sights and travel in style
By LISA KLEIN Traveling by train conjures up romantic visions of days gone by, and today, rail tours are offering up luxury options on every continent so that passengers can continue to take the leisurely route. These five are a good start in exploring all that 21st-century train travel has to offer. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express bar car.
Exclusive society celebrates the spirit of Scotch Whisky
By LISA KLEIN There are plenty of Scotch Whisky lovers, enthusiasts and experts, but some avid drinkers of the spirit reach a higher plane of distilled prestige, being invited into an special society dedicated to Scotch. The Keepers of the Quaich, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, was founded in 1988 by several of the leading Scotch Whisky distillers with a mission to “celebrate the values and image of Scotch Whisky as the world’s finest and most prestigious distilled spirit. ” Spirit guardians Today, Keepers of the Quaich has 18 corporate members and inducts a group of new Keepers twice a year – those working in the industry or writing about whisky who have shown an “outstanding commitment” to Scotch Whisky.
Home quality, longevity back in vogue for affluent buyers: Peter Pennoyer
By LISA KLEIN After decades of teardowns replaced with cookie-cutter mansions and new-build homes without much thought put into them, luxury real estate is looking once more towards quality materials, custom details and master craftsmanship. Perhaps spurred by spending a bit more time at home since 2020, the affluent are paying special attention to what goes into their homes and how long they will last. “People are thinking much more carefully about the quality of their homes,” said Peter Pennoyer, founding partner of New York-based Peter Pennoyer Architects, during a Luxury Portfolio International webinar.
50K
Properties marketed annually
550
Brokerages in the network
$55.8B
Current website inventory
$2.5M
Average property value