World's 15 most expensive hotel suites

Read article : World's 15 most expensive hotel suites

Money's worth nothing, until you spend it.

That's the philosophy behind all extravagant luxury goods, and nothing says "senseless overspending" like blowing thousands on a place to sleep, shower and store your clothes while you go about your day.

For anyone with a few hundred thousand to squander, this is a to-do list. For the rest of us, it's a can't-do, won't-do, don't-even-want-to-do list.

15. Peninsula Suite, The Peninsula, Hong Kong

US$10,000 per night

A stay at Hong Kong's grande dame begins at the airport, where you're picked up by a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce, part of The Pen's signature fleet.

Or, if you're feeling really flash (and flush), you can arrive by helicopter -- the hotel has two rooftop helipads for their super-rich guests.

At more than 371 square meters, The Peninsula suite, on the 26th floor, provides the most stunning vistas over Victoria Harbour, along with a 24-hour butler and chauffeur service, mini-gym and fully equipped kitchen.

14. The Sultan's Suite, Çirağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul

US$15,332 per night

Originally built of wood in the 16th century, and eventually the residence of the last Ottoman Sultans, this palace was rebuilt in marble for Sultan Abdülaziz in 1857.

Now a lavish five-star hotel with a guest list that includes Prince Charles, Liz Hurley, Uma Thurman and Giorgio Armani, it has all the trimmings: a gorgeous pool, boat and helicopter service and an amazing breakfast buffet.

The Sultan's Suite overlooking the Bosphorus comes with private butler service, opulent chandeliers, period furniture and fine art. What more could the average oligarch need?

13. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

US$18,000 per night

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ritz-Carlton Suite frame an unparalleled view of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral and Christ the Savior Cathedral.

With classic Russian Imperial furnishings, the 232-square-meter suite comes with a spacious living room, dining area, library, office, grand piano and heated flooring, perfect for bone-chilling Moscow winters.

12. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

US$18,716 per night

There are luxury hotels, and then there's the Burj Al Arab. Since its 1999 opening, the iconic, sail-shaped Dubai resort has been a benchmark of no-holds-barred extravagance that others have tried and failed to emulate.

All of the suites -- the word "room" does not exist here -- are arranged over two floors and have whirlpool baths, living and dining areas and dedicated butlers.

11. Royal Suite, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

US$24,550 per night

There are a pair of Royal Suites at Hotel George V. Both have private terraces overlooking the historic art deco fountain of the Three Graces.

Stuffed with magnificent French antiques, these vast suites are adorned with 18th- and 19th-century fine art. Crystal chandeliers glitter and huge vases of pale pink roses perfume the air.

The master bedrooms have spacious marble bathrooms with steam rooms, sauna and a walk-in dressing rooms.

10. Royal Towers Bridge Suite, Atlantis, Bahamas

US$25,000 per night

This 10-room suite with gold sofas, cushions, gilt mirrors and chandeliers is enough to make minimalists break out in hives. This is shameless glamour.

The grand foyer dazzles the eye with an elaborate floor made of four kinds of marble. The 15-meter-long living room holds a baby grand piano. The vast entertainment center comes with a full-service bar.

Throw in the eye-popping balcony views, and a butler, and this is no ordinary pad.

9. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

US$25,050 per night

At 120 square meters, the Carlton Suite has many of the usual big suite highlights -- Frette linen sheets, an oversized marble bathroom, huge beds, flat-screen TVs and individual rain shower booths.

The clincher is the fact that it tops the tallest skyscrapers in Tokyo and has proposal-worthy views over the Imperial Palace, Roppongi Hills and Mount Fuji.

8. Villa La Cupola Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome

US$30,000 per night

For the ultimate in La Dolce Vita, check into the stunning Villa La Cupola suite in Rome's Westin Excelsior.

One of the largest in Europe, the suite is inspired by ancient Rome, with extensive use of marble, stained glass and frescoes. There's a gorgeous wraparound terrace where you can soak up the sun, a private spa with sauna, whirlpool and steam bath, as well as private cinema.

7. Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala di Volpe, Sardinia, Italy

US$32,736 per night

Perfect for sun-kissed networking, the Presidential Suite overlooks the sparkling brine of the Costa Smeralda. Billed as one of the most gorgeous suites in the world, this three-bedroom luxury pad stands above the rambling towers and pantile roofs of the luxury Porto Cervo resort.

An understated blend of Mediterranean style and sensational bay views, the suite also has its own pool on the private roof terrace, along with a wine cellar and outdoor gym.

6. The Royal Villa, Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens

US$34,356 per night

With a butler, private chef and pianist at your beck and call, there's little need to lift a finger -- except to sip martinis -- when you stay at this three-bedroomed villa.

When you're feeling more active you can also take advantage of an indoor pool, outdoor heated pool and gym, as well as a steam bath and massage room.

There's also a nearby private marina and beach.

5. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa Palms Resort, Las Vegas

US$35,487 per night

The Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, high in the Palms' Fantasy Tower, is fitted out with everything Playboy: racy artwork selected by Hef himself, a huge, rotating circular bed and an indoor pool, branded with the Bunny logo, leading to a hair- -- and libido- -- raising cantilevered spa bath high above the Strip.

This 836-square-meter, two-bedroom pad also includes an orgy-sized bathtub, bar and poker table and an indoor waterfall.

The eye-watering price doesn't include breakfast -- or Bunnies.

4. Penthouse Suite, Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France

US$37,500 per night

On the Croisette, Hotel Martinez has a Michelin-starred restaurant, piano bar and huge private beach.

Decked out in art deco style, you'll have a sitting room, dining room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms with hammam, shower, spa bath, dressing room and sauna at your disposal, as well as a huge terrace overlooking the Bay of Cannes.

3. Ty Warner Penthouse Suite, Four Seasons Hotel, New York

US$41,836 per night

This 400-square-meter penthouse tops the entire top floor of this magnificent hotel, offering a 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline.

The nine-room suite is the brainchild of designer Peter Marino, architect IM Pei and the hotel's owner Ty Warner (the billionaire creator of the Beanie Babies).

It sports fabrics woven with platinum and gold, an indoor-outdoor Zen garden, a stupendous chandelier, the services of a personal butler, personal trainer/therapist and private chauffeur.

2. The Presidential Suite, The Raj Palace Hotel, Jaipur, India

US$45,000 per night

This positively palatial suite was a former Maharaja's residence. At nearly 1,500 square meters, the suite is one of the biggest in Asia, and comprises a four-floor apartment lavishly decorated in gold leaf, stucco, ivory and mirror work.

With a private roof terrace and swimming pool offering panoramic views of the pink city of Jaipur, and its own private museum, there seems little reason to leave.

1. Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

US$65,000 per night

For the security-conscious, or the merely paranoid, there's nowhere better to stay than the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson Hotel, which has panoramic views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

With bulletproof doors and windows, it's the perfect safehouse for visiting heads of state, or privacy-conscious celebs.

Taking up the entire top floor of the hotel, the suite has its own private elevator to whisk guests to an apartment with 12 rooms, which hold a Steinway grand piano, billiard room, library and private fitness center.

Versace Mansion: Inside South Beach's sensational hotel

Read article : Versace Mansion: Inside South Beach's sensational hotel

(CNN) —The world-famous Ocean Drive is one of the most photographed stretches of Miami Beach.

But, with its neon lights and sidewalk cafes serving beer-garitas for two, it's not known for being a high-end destination.

The exception, nestled amid low-rise Art Deco hotels, with streams of tourists strolling past, is the Villa Casa Casuarina -- better known as the Versace Mansion.

What many of those selfie-snapping tourists outside may not realize is that the former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace isn't a museum or private home, but a hotel.

And it's a hotel where guests can sleep in what was Versace's bedroom. Or in the bedroom of his sister Donatella. Or perhaps the suite where Madonna used to stay when she visited Versace in the '90s and helped put the Miami Beach neighborhood of South Beach on the national scene.

If a $1,000-plus-a-night hotel room is out of reach, members of the public can indulge in the villa's Baroque grandeur with a dinner reservation at Gianni's, and an aperitif in the intimate, clubby Onyx Bar, in the space that used to be Versace's kitchen.

Since Versace's death -- he was shot dead on the steps of his mansion in 1997, thus the camera-wielding tourists outside -- the property has changed management a couple of times.

However even now, 20 years later, under the ownership of Jordache Enterprises, it retains the designer's over-the-top splendor. (Donatella auctioned off some of the home's contents in 2001, but what remains are the richly decorated walls, floors, ceilings and windows, plus the pool, garden and southern wing.)

The best-known property on Ocean Drive

House-turned-hotel:The former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace has been transformed into one of Miami's most opulent hotels.

The unapologetic opulence of Casa Casuarina made it an obvious location for filming the upcoming TV series "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story", which will air on FX in early 2018.

This May, tourists along Ocean Drive were treated to in-costume sightings of the show's stars, including Penelope Cruz as Donatella, Ricky Martin as Versace's longtime partner Antonio D'Amico, and Edgar Ramirez as the designer -- who appeared on the balcony of Versace's former bedroom clad in a pink bathrobe.

The room is now known as The Villa Suite, and, like the rest of the mansion's interiors, it's as over-the-top on glitz as Versace's collections. The most arresting feature, also available in Donatella's bedroom, the Venus Suite, is a custom-made double-king-size bed.

No longer on show is Versace's $10,000 marble toilet with 24-karat gold-plated seat -- one of the items auctioned off by Donatella after her brother's death.

From flashy home to over-the-top hotel

Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered on the steps of the Miami mansion in July 1997.

Today, Casa Casuarina has 10 hotel suites, plus a restaurant and bar, a lounge that can be used for meetings, a rooftop and an elaborate Mediterranean-style Mosaic Garden, with tiles picturing icons of Greek mythology, chief among them Medusa -- who has a place of honor on the Versace brand's logo.

The most elaborate Medusa can be found in the Villa's 54-foot-long pool, inspired by Versace's "Marine Vanuras" collection and said to be made from more than one million mosaic tiles, thousands of them 24-karat gold.

The Medusa mosaic was crafted in Versace's home town, Reggio Calabria, Italy, and then taken apart and shipped to Miami Beach in pieces, where it was painstakingly reassembled.

Adjacent to the garden, in the "new wing" that Versace built when he acquired the mansion, is The Moroccan Lounge, which used to be his gym, and still houses his eight-person hamam Turkish steam room and shower.

The room where Madonna would stay, the Mosaic Suite, is located upstairs, where the singer apparently enjoyed the bathroom's acoustics and the bird's-eye view of the pool.

The history of Casa Casuarina

Versace purchased Casa Casuarina in 1992, after falling under the spell of the Magic City and the Spanish architecture of the grand house.

Next door was an Art Deco Hotel called the Hotel Revere, which Versace also snapped up, and demolished to make way for his garden, pool and the south wing, which used to house one of his libraries.

An estimated $32 million in renovations over three years transformed the historic property into a manse fit for a style king.

But even before his tenure, Casa Casuarina had a flashy history.

It was built in 1930 by Alden Freeman, whose father worked for The Standard Oil Trust and left him a fortune which allowed him to retire at 27 and build his dream house, inspired by the historic Alcazar De Colon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Freeman lived in a top-floor suite and either housed his friends or rented the 23 remaining apartments.

Many of the architectural details of the house, including the key lime coral floors, the pillars surrounding the courtyard, and the decorative medallions of famous personalities (Cleopatra, Gandhi, Rockefeller and -- more dissonantly -- Mussolini and Lenin) date to Freeman's time, which ended with his death in 1937, when the house was sold and run as an apartment complex.

By the 1980s, the building fell into disrepair, although most of the original fittings and artworks survived.

Mansion mysteries

As with many famous buildings, Casa Casuarina has its share of mystery: There are rumored to be secret doors and passageways throughout the mansion, although a door that used to lead from Versace's bedroom to an entertainment den has since been closed off.

It's also said that Versace maintained a pigeon coop beneath the rooftop observatory, and would use the messenger pigeons to send notes to friends. Details are scant on these rumors, but what's certain is that The Villa will continue to intrigue visitors, no doubt even more so when the TV series hits screens next year.

Rebecca Wallwork is a freelance writer based in Miami Beach. She loves dogs, books and hotels and is the author of the 33 1/3 book "Hangin' Tough" (Bloomsbury Academic).

Two European estates in America

Read article : Two European estates in America

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores MI (which brings us a satisfying instance of the –palooza libfix); and the Castello di Amorosa near Calistoga CA (which offers a range of California wines and also Belgian-style chocolate). The first designed to reproduce the vernacular architecture of the English Cotswolds, the second a fantasy re-creation of an Italian castle.

Traditionally, the great estates of America, designed by and for captains of industry and commerce, had European models — castles and great country houses. They also functioned as art museums or had extensive formal gardens or both. Here in California, think Filoli in Woodside (on the San Francisco peninsula, not far north of where I live) and Hearst Castle in San Simeon (on the Central Coast).

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford house, built in the 1920s, is very much in this tradition, which continues to this day: Castello di Amorosa was built early in this century and opened to the public only 10 years ago.

The Ford estate came to me via Geoff Nathan on ADS-L a few days ago, who wrote about the Pollinator Palooza event there, coming up on the 19th (10-2): an instance of the –palooza libfix in a phonologically satisfying name (long, alliterative, with a nice rhythm).

(#1) 2016 event at Franklin Park in Columbus OH

Back in June Castello di Amorosa came to me from Juan Gomez, who visited it with friends and brought me a  raspberry dark chocolate bar from the shop there:

(#2) “Artisanally made by local gourmet chocolatier, Le Belge, exclusively for the Castello”

Pollinator Paloozas. On the playful libfix, see my 12/18/11 posting “Latkepalooza”, with a section on lollapalooza / lallapalooza, the source of the –palooza libfix.

Then on the event at the Ford house. From its site:

(#3) Monarch butterfly pollinating away

Mix and mingle with live butterflies in our butterfly house and learn about Monarch migrations.

Take a peek into a living bee hive and learn what makes them buzz from the experts at Greentoe Gardens.

Check out live bats from the Organization for Bat Conservation.

Learn about gardening for hummingbirds from Wild Birds Unlimited of Grosse Pointe Woods.

The corresponding event at the Franklin Park Conservatory has its own webpage, again featuring Monarchs:

(#4) Monarch on purple coneflower

There are even nurseries that specialize in plants for pollinators — in particular, Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona MN, with its Pollinator-Palooza Seed Mix:

Designed for full-sun to partial-shade sites with medium soils, this shortgrass mix boasts grasses and most wildflowers at 3′, with some flowers reaching 5′ at full bloom. Bloom times progress spring through fall. Our Pollinator-Palooza Seed Mix moves beyond more common pollinator mixes by offering plants that appeal to a broad array of pollinating insects. Included in the 45 species are some not commonly available like Late Figwort and Hairy Mountain Mint. Research shows that inclusion of native plantings near agricultural crops greatly enhances crop yield, attracts native pollinators, improves ecosystems and lessens reliance on already-stressed European-introduced honeybees that annually are transported around the country to flowering crops. Pollinator-Palooza’s blend of flowers and grasses will be equally appealing to humans and insects. We believe this mix will help enlighten everyone to the importance of pollinator habitat.

The Ford house. From Wikipedia, quite a bit from a long and detailed article on the estate:

(#5)

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is a mansion located at 1100 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores, northeast of Detroit, Michigan; it stands on the site known as “Gaukler Point”, on the shore of Lake St. Clair. The house became the new residence of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford family in 1929. Edsel Ford was the son of Henry Ford and an executive at Ford Motor Company. The estate’s buildings were designed by architect Albert Kahn, its site plan and gardens by renowned landscape designer Jens Jensen. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

The Fords traveled to England with Albert Kahn for the concept’s ideas, where they were attracted to the vernacular architecture of the Cotswolds. They asked Kahn to design a house that would resemble the closely assembled village cottages typical of that rural region. Kahn’s design included sandstone exterior walls, a traditional slate roof with the stone shingles decreasing in size as they reach its peak, and moss with ivy grown across the house’s exterior. Construction on the house began in 1926.

While construction of the house itself took only one year, two years were spent fitting it with antique wood paneling and fireplaces brought from English Manor houses; interior fittings were in the hands of Charles Roberson, an expert in adapting old European paneling and fittings to American interiors. The Gallery, the largest room in the house, is paneled with sixteenth-century oak linenfold relief carved wood panelling. Its hooded chimneypiece is from Wollaston Hall in Worcestershire, England; the timber-framed house had been demolished in 1925 and its dismantled elements and fittings were in the process of being dispersed. Fourteenth century stained-glass window medallions were added to the house in the late 1930s. Roberson’s barrel-vaulted ceiling for the Gallery was modeled on one at Boughton Malherbe, Kent, England. Paneling and doors in the Dining Room, entirely devoid of electricity, came from ‘New Place’, a victim of early twentieth-century expansion in Upminster, a new suburb of London. The Library’s paneling and its stone chimneypiece came from the Brudenell seat, Deene Park, Northamptonshire, England. Harris suggests that this already once removed paneling had come from another ‘Brudenell seat.’ The Study has a wooden overmantel with the date 1585, from Heronden Hall, in Tenterden, Kent.

Other interesting design elements include kitchen counters made of sterling silver, a “secret” photographic darkroom behind a panel of Edsel Ford’s office, and Art Deco style rooms designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, a leading industrial designer of the 1930s. Teague’s first floor “Modern Room” features ‘the new’ indirect lighting method, taupe colored leather wall panels, and a curved niche with eighteen vertical mirrored sections. He also designed bedrooms and sitting rooms for all three of Edsel and Eleanor’s sons. Teague’s design for son Henry Ford II’s bathroom includes grey glass walls made of the same structural glass as its shower stall.

Furnishings: The house featured an extensive art collection, reflecting Edsel and Eleanor’s status as serious museum benefactors. After Eleanor Ford’s death, many important paintings were donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Reproductions were hung in their place. The classical French-style Drawing Room features two original Paul Cézanne paintings and reproductions of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas works. A reproduction of Vincent van Gogh’s The Postman Roulin hangs in the Morning Room. An original Diego Rivera painting, Cactus on the Plains, hangs in the Modern Room.

(On Rivera at the DIA, see my 6/15/15 posting “Rivera in Detroit”.)

There are also extensive gardens, where Pollinator Palooza will take place.

Castello di Amorosa. From Wikipedia:

(#6) Castle and vineyards

Castello di Amorosa is a castle and a winery located near Calistoga, California. First opening its doors to the public in April 2007, the castle is the pet project of 4th generation vintner, Dario Sattui, who also owns and operates the V. Sattui Winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in San Francisco in 1885 after emigrating from Italy to California.

The winery sits on property that was once part of an estate owned by Edward Turner Bale.

The castle interiors, which include 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground, cover approximately 121,000 square feet (11,200 m2). Key details and building techniques are architecturally faithful to the 12th and 13th century time period. Among many other features it has: a moat; a drawbridge; defensive towers; an interior courtyard; a torture chamber [an especially nice touch]; a chapel/church; a knights’ chamber; and a 72 by 30 feet (9.1 m) great hall with a 22-foot (6.7 m)-high coffered ceiling.

(#7) The great hall of the Castello

In addition to an assortment of wines, the Castello shop offers chocolate. Ad copy for the chocolate bar 4-pack:

Can’t decide which Castello chocolate bar is your favorite? Why not get all four! Enjoy our Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Milk Chocolate, La Fantasia Raspberry Chocolate, and Key Lime Sea Salt White Chocolate bars in this enticing 4-pack.

The raspberry bar was quite tasty.

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This entry was posted on August 14, 2017 at 6:43 am and is filed under Architecture, Language and food, Libfixes, Names. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Cheap Bathroom Makeover

Read article : Cheap Bathroom Makeover

I need help with a cheap bathroom makeover. We're buying a house where the main bathroom has pink floor tile and fixtures, pink and gray wallpaper, and lots of gray wall tile (halfway up the wall all around and all the way to the ceiling around the tub). The tub even has the glass doors etched with swans and cattails. In short, the house was built in 1962 and the bathroom has not been touched since.

I love vessel sinks, but can't figure out how to do that big of an update with such a dated color scheme. I'm open to changing the tile, but not in the short term because of the cost. Ideas?
GG

Cheap? Maybe It's a Retro Bathroom!

My advice would be if the bath is in good condition and functional, live with it as it is. First, consider how much time we spend in our bathrooms. Usually we're not there that much. Second, styles come and go. Many people these days are "updating" their newer baths in the "retro" style of the 1950s and 1960s. You already have what a lot of people want, and you don't have to pay for it! (Check out Craigslist for sale and wanted postings for "retro," "midcentury," "vintage," and "1960s" if you don't believe me.) Enjoy your retro bath and save your money.
HRH

Bathroom Sink photo from Shutterstock

"Art Deco" Ambience Provides Cheap Makeover

I would suggest using some black accents and trying for a retro "Art Deco" type of ambience in the room. You could cover one wall with a black and white vinyl "peel and stick" type blowup of James Dean or a Toulouse-Lautrec poster. Add black or pearlized accent pieces like soap dishes, lotion dispensers, baskets or dishes for soaps and rolled washcloths. Have fun with the project!
Kimberly

Removing Shower Doors Part of Bathroom Makeover

Remove the wallpaper and paint. You can paint ceramic tile if you follow good instructions closely. I believe my bathroom had the same shower doors! I removed them, removed the railings (which are disgusting and collect mold!), and filled in the holes. I use a shower curtain and they are a great way to give color to a bathroom. Plus they are much more sanitary. Just throw them in the wash! Even if you don't replace the vanity, you can paint it. After you do it on the cheap, save up and replace what you can when you can. It will get there eventually.
Fred

Hiding Ugly Parts = Cheap Update

I, too, bought an old house and needed to hide the ugly parts until I could afford to remodel. I chose paint. I had mustard tiles with mushrooms here and there and an olive green tub, toilet and sink. I was broke and couldn't afford to change anything right away.

I used a palm sander and fine sandpaper to buff all the tiles, even in the shower. I used a mold deterrent additive in a can of gloss white latex, and I painted every thing but the floor. I used the same additive in the primer. I used cheap stick on tiles that I got at a sale to cover the old floor temporarily. I updated some of the small things like the faucet and the toilet paper holder, and towel holder when I found them at yard sales. I re-pasted some falling wallpaper, and painted over that too. That was easier and cheaper than removing it. I even painted the ceiling, so it all looked clean.

I bought towels and accessories that incorporated the color of the green tub, toilet and sink. I spent very little money. My bathroom and I got along like that for more than five years. I saved up for a remodel and have redone it as I would have liked with cash saved.
Ally A. in Lake Worth, FL

Some Love Vintage Color Schemes!

Personally, I would be over the moon to luck out with a house with an untouched mid-century bathroom! And I know that there are a lot of others out there like me who value that vintage color scheme. Perhaps GG could post an ad on the Craigslist within a couple of hours distance from her home offering (in essence) her bathroom for sale. The buyer would pay for and remove everything like the fixtures, tiles, etc., leaving (in theory) GG with money to replace the old fixtures. If GG does have a little money to redo her bath and can only find someone who will remove the items (but is unwilling to pay for the items), then this could create an empty space ready for new tiles, fixtures, etc. that she's found inexpensively at, say, a Habitat for Humanity home store. In any event, please advise GG to visit savethepinkbathrooms.com for decorating ideas!
Amy

Glaze Over Tiles

I've seen the designers on HGTV hire tile glazers who come in and spray over the existing tiles. I'm not sure how durable glazing would be on the tub, sink, or around the shower, but they do it. I'd glaze all your tiles white, strip the wallpaper, and paint the walls a neutral color. Cover the pink floor with bath rugs and use interesting wall art or black and white photographs to draw the eye up from the floor. Replacing the shower door might run you $500 or more, depending on where you live, but could be a dramatic update. Or have the door removed and use a "spa" type curtain instead.
Angie

Teach Yourself to Tile

The quickest and cheapest way to redo any room is to start with paint. In the bathroom, you will likely want to use semi-gloss or gloss paint, which will be easy to clean and resist moisture.

Remove the dated wallpaper and choose a color that coordinates with the gray and pink tile. If the bathroom tends to be dark, consider the lightest color that will work, which will brighten the room. I personally love the look of "nude" or very light gray paint. These are peaceful, restful colors that will not fight the colored tiles.

You can remove the tub doors and replace them with an updated bowed shower rod and modern curtain or with more modern doors, coordinating with your color scheme.

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As you think of your color scheme, look around at vessel sinks. Even if this purchase is some time off, you will want to have a style and color in mind. Perhaps you can have one constructed that would incorporate the same color scheme, thereby turning the dated look into a modern one. Be aware, however, that some types of vessel sinks can be etched by minerals in hard water, turning a lovely sink into a nightmare in a relatively short time.

Finally, consider whether you can retile yourself. A large part of the cost of tiling is in the labor. There are many videos online and books in the library that can teach you how to tile. Using stock tile can also reduce costs. For example, I was able to tile my kitchen for less money than a good vinyl floor would have cost. At the same time, I was able to find floor tile and countertops that worked with backsplash tiles already installed, thereby saving me the work and expense of replacing these as well.
Barbara in CTTake the Next Step: Looking for great deals on all your home decorating needs? Overstock.com is the answer! Could spending 5 minutes reading a newsletter twice a week save you time and money every day? Dollar Stretcher Tips readers think so. Subscribe and find out how many ideas stretch your day and your dollar! Subscribers get a copy of our ebook Little Luxuries: 130 Ways to Live Better...For Less for FREE. For more on how to update a bathroom, please visit The Dollar Stretcher Library . For more information on installing tiles Share your thoughts about this article with the editor

Motor Yacht RM ELEGANT – ‘THE PARTY BOAT’ available for Cannes Film Festival & Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter

Read article : Motor Yacht RM ELEGANT – ‘THE PARTY BOAT’ available for Cannes Film Festival & Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter

Known as ‘ The Party Boat’,  motor yacht RM ELEGANT is the best choice if you are in search of a superyacht to host a large party or a corporate event. This extremely large and spacious luxury vessel is available for €65,000 per day plus expenses during the Cannes Film Festival as well as Monaco Grand Prix. Mega Yacht RM Elegant was built by Lamda Shipyard according to naval architecture by Nafpigiki Hellas and design by L.Poulias. She is one of the few private luxury yachts based in the Western Mediterranean (French Riviera, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain etc.) able to accommodate up to 30 guests overnight in 15 staterooms. RM Elegant is extremely well suited for hosting  parties, birthdays, special events, charity events or anniversaries, with a capacity of 100 guests at anchor and 150 guests when berthed.

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Luxury mega yacht RM ELEGANT

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Charter yacht RM ELEGANT at night

Known as one of the most elite charter yachts, her dynamic and futuristic profile ensures that the RM Elegant yacht is the most unmistakable mega yacht in the world. At 72 m and with accommodation for 30 guests she is indubitably a world leader. This yacht has been created for those who appreciate truly luxurious living and are ready for the sheer joy of life aboard a design masterpiece. Together with her highly trained crew of 31, RM ELEGANT can guarantee that you will be provided with an outstanding level of service ensuring the perfect charter.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Sundeck

It is impossible not to awestruck by the yacht’s vast open deck space. 250 sq m provide an enormous area for both sunbathing and partying. The 12-person spa-pool is serviced from the double sided bar where, alternatively you can sit and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views sipping a glass of champagne. The Sun Deck is accessed by a lift from all the guest decks and there are two shower-rooms on either side of the superstructure.

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The aft saloon deck - Mega Yacht RM ELEGANT

Mega Yacht RM Elegant‘s  covered outdoor dining area has four round tables convertible into two large oval tables for a total of 30 guests. Should your party be but  a handful we do not want you to feel lost, therefore the ability to have this flexible seating arrangement allows for intimate dining. The area is serves by a fully equipped bar and has direct access to the galley from where, our four first class chefs, produce the most delectable menus.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MAIN SALOON

Effortlessly elegant, the Main Saloon exudes a sense of luxury, while simultaneously giving an informal atmosphere. The room is finished in light colour, thus emphasising the triptych painted by the renowned artist Katerina Georgantas that adorns one entire wall. Equipped with a boudoir grand piano, a games tables and a 55 inch plasma-screen television, it is indeed the ideal place to relax and perhaps indulge in an after-dinner aperitif.

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Mega yacht RM ELEGANT - INTERIOR DINNING

For more formal dining aboard RM ELEGANT superyacht  it is definitely worth experiencing a meal in these superb surroundings while you indulge in an exceptional culinary experience. The style here is modern and clean with an art deco ambience. The innovative kidney shaped dining tables each seat 15 guests and there is a cozy corner where a further 5 guests cab enjoy an intimate meal. Cleverly separated from the rest of the room by curved wall and deep sofas is a fully equipped bar where our crew are ready to serve you the drink of your choice.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Owner's Saloon

The Owner’s saloon is an extremely attractive room with a library atmosphere, leather sofas and a fireplace. Although classic in looks, the entertainment system is right up to date with another large plasma screen television and full cinema surround system.  The yacht’s extensive DVD and CD library are housed here. As this room backs on to the Diamond Suite it cab be closed off for exclusive use.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASTER DIAMOND CABIN

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASTER Diamond Bathroom

Diamond Suite is the Owner’s Stateroom and is located on the Bridge Deck just aft of the Bridge and occupies the full width of the superstructure, thus providing ample space for searing area, desk and vanity table. It is extremely appointed in copper tones with oak panelled marquetry and sand blasted glass with copper leaf inlay. The adjoining immense bathroom is equipped with both a circular shower and full-sized spa bath overhead Swarovski crystal fibre optics setting the scene for a very romantic bath time.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - VIP RUBY CABIN

The VIP suite on board luxury charter yacht RM ELEGANT is called the Ruby Suite and is made up of a main bedroom, a small sitting room and a large bathroom with full-sized spa bath and shower. Like all areas of the yacht everything cab be regulated by Creston remote control. This includes the adjustable lighting with which you can set the mood in your stateroom. Both the Diamond Suite and Ruby Suite have their own lap top computers.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Cabin

The staterooms aboard the charter yacht RM ELEGANT are all similar in size but vary in colour schemes. Designed with oak panelled marquetry and mirrored walls, they each incorporate a seating area, have a small desk, a full entertainment systems including an LCD screen and a safe. Each room has direct dial telephone and internet access. All the beds convert from king sized to twin. The most interesting aspect of these staterooms is the curved glass panels decorated with silver leaf that separate the main bedroom from the marble finished en-suite bathroom.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - BUSINESS

There is also a Business Centre set up in order to facilitate the business man. The computers, fax machine and printer are all for the guests’ use. Video conferencing is also available and an LCD screen can constantly transmit the news or stock markets via satellite TV. Internet is accessible from this centre but also from all areas of the yacht.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASSAGE

The fitness centre on the main deck of RM ELEGANT is equipped with professional CYBEX equipment televisions and music system. The sauna is there for your use and the yacht’s on-board beauty therapist will be happy to give you a relaxing massage. Also available to guests is RM ELEGANT’s professional hairdressing saloon.

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Water sports - Luxury yacht RM ELEGANT

When it comes to the water sports, there is a direct access to the sea from the extendable aft swimming platform. From here boarding tenders is made easy. The three jet skis and the mass of toys are all at the guests’ disposal.

RM ELEGANT is only one of many luxury yachts available for charter during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival as well as the Monaco Grand Prix. Our team at CharterWorld will help you to choose the best yacht to suite your needs and expectations. We have a large list of  charter yachts available in Cannes or the Mediterranean in general, within several price ranges in different size groups, being it for a small private charter or large corporate functions.