Full Exposure/Part 4

Glass island

For $13.73 million, a glass and steel home in Son Vida on Mallorca, the Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain, offers much to admire, thanks to its windowlike walls.

Palma-ramic views

Secured in a gated community overlooking the city of Palma, the Bay of Palma and surrounding mountains, this home offers security and unrivaled natural beauty.

Martha's old crash pad

Private homes aren't the only way to get full exposure. Renowned architect Richard Meier designed a number of glass-walled apartment buildings that have attracted celebrity interest. A penthouse duplex in his iconic Perry Street Towers in New York is for sale for $13.9 million. It also happens to be Martha Stewart's old crash pad.

From the terrace

This really is life in a fishbowl: The apartment has four terraces and spectacular views of the Hudson River and Manhattan through the 11-foot, triple-glazed and UV-protected glass walls.
The views go both ways. But while neighbors and traffic on the West Side Highway might be able to gaze inside, physical access is restricted by a keyed elevator.

Full Exposure/Part 3

Rebellious roots

This London house overlooks the Victorian-era Highgate Cemetery. Philosopher and economist Karl Marx and punk impresario Malcom McLaren are just two of the famous figures buried in the backyard. 

The windows are almost entirely frameless on the cemetery side, while the street side is a curtain wall of honed black granite, steel panels and opaque glass, for privacy. The house is listed for $7.97 million.



Talk about a skylight!!!!

See-through courtyard

Inside, you'll be dazzled by 4,225 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and bathrooms. The kitchen has a retractable skylight that transforms the space into an open-air courtyard.

Staying cool

Designed by architect Eldridge Smerin, the house replaced a 1970s structure by John Winter. The idea was to design a building with significantly lower energy consumption than the original but with a greater floor area. The home has a green sedum roof, and its temperature is moderated by its stone and glass construction.

Unusual Wine Racks

Perfect Balance

Four bottles fit into place like a puzzle in this wood wine rack. Engrave with a special saying or date for a gift.
Engraved Wine Rack, $55, GiftTree.com

Smooth Finish

Holds up to 12 bottles and folds flat for easy storage when not in use.
Barrel, $21, Umbra.com

Modern Waves

Stackable wine racks can accommodate a growing wine cellar. Each rack holds four bottles so you can mix and match for a colorful assortment.
Wine Lounge, $10, Amazon.com

Totally Tubular

Hand-welded sheet metal forms a sculptural wine rack that’s industrial chic.
Galvanized 12 Bottle Wine Rack, $80, CB2.com

Flea Market Style

Inspired by a French milkman’s carrier, this rack stacks up to nine of your favorite bottles.
Berteau Bottle Rack Antique, $49, BallardDesigns.com

One Size Fits All

For those short on counter space, a wall-mounted wine rack does the trick. A graphic reinterpretation of hanging grapes, this rack holds any size bottle from heavier champagnes to slim dessert wines.
Wall-Mounted Wine Rack, $59, APlusRStore.com

Real Estate Luxury

Las Vegas

1 Hughes Center Drive, No. 1901

• List price: $11.7 million
• Previous list price: $20 million in January 2008
• Reduced: $8.3 million
• Price cut: 41.5%

This two-story penthouse in the Park Towers was listed by Prudential at $20 million in 2008 before being relisted for $15 million in 2009, according to Zillow.com. The price was cut to $13.2 million in February 2010 and then to $11.7 million in September, according to Zillow.com.

The penthouse measures 6,799 square feet and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home theater and views of the Las Vegas Strip, according to Prudential. Park Towers, built by casino owner Steve Wynn and developer Irwin Molasky, opened in 2001.

Las Vegas

2777 Paradise Road, No. 3801/3901

• List price: $10 million
• Previous list price: $16 million in January 2009
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 37.5%

This penthouse offers more than 12,000 square feet of living space, including more than 3,000 square feet of wraparound terraces that provide a view of the Las Vegas Strip. The unit has five bedrooms and nine bathrooms and a dining room with a vaulted ceiling, according to Prudential. Florida-based developer Thurnberry Associates built the property.

Miami Beach, Fla.

800 S. Pointe Drive, PH-A

• List price: $16 million
• Previous list price: $22 million in 2008
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 27.3%

This new luxury condo development, named Apogee, was built by Miami-based developer The Related Group in 2008. The penthouse, which first listed for $22 million in 2008, occupies the top two floors of the building, with 11,000 square feet of terrace and balcony. The rooftop has a private pool and built-in kitchen.

"If (it were) listed for $16 million in 2008, it most likely would have sold by now," says Bryan Sereny, a co-broker for the listing who also represents other sales at Apogee.

New York

812 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $15.9 million
• Previous list price: $36.5 million in November 2007
• Reduced: $20.6 million
• Price cut: 56.4%

This 6,500-square-foot triplex penthouse is on the 13th, 14th and 15th floors of a pre-World War II cooperative on Park Avenue. Sotheby's International Realty listed it for $36.5 million in November 2007, and Brown Harris Stevens listed it in June 2009 for $22 million.

Architect James Carpenter won an award from the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter for his work on this building in 1927, according to Corcoran.

OK, back to earth!!!! I call this my dream tour!!!!

Quick Change Projects

Add an arbor and or brick accent entrance to an outside garden patio!!!

Paint an accent wall design in just hours!!!!


Build your own table base for a unique look!!!!

Add a brick or stone accent wall for a little old world elegance!!!!!

Add a Room without adding on:

Breakfast room to laundry room

The challenge: How do you add space for a washer and dryer without adding on a laundry room?
The solution: Renovate a tiny, unused breakfast nook into a double-duty laundry room and serving area.
By concealing a front-loading washer and dryer in a custom cabinet, homeowners created a multipurpose space. One minute it's a fully functional laundry with plenty of room for folding and hanging clothes. Then, once clothes are put away, it becomes a decorative serving area.
Because the space is in plain view, the owner chose to conceal the washer and dryer within a cabinet. Baskets hide clothing, and a plate rack is adapted for hanging clothes.

Blank wall to bookcase

The challenge: How can you liven up an unused staircase wall while following a development’s design and architecture regulations?
The solution: Add a unique built-in bookcase for style and function in an unexpected place.
Instead of serving only as a path from one floor to the next, the savvy stairwell in this home offers creative storage and display space. To avoid ordinary linear shelves, boxes were built to fill the gap between the steps and the window. “Using random sizes and shapes, you obtain an artistic and visually stimulating stairway.

Closet to compact home office

The challenge: How do you add a home office to accommodate busy family life?
The solution: Take an underutilized hall closet and turn it into a useful and attractive home office.
Here the owners began to think outside the box — and inside the closet. They added shelving and a laminate desk that runs the length of the closet, and installed electrical and phone lines for proper lighting and computer use.
They also livened up the space with vivid colors (aloe green for the walls, blue for accents and accessories), a custom framed bulletin board and a decorative butterfly motif.