Photo Credit: Aston Martin Residences

Chef Brown did a live demonstration of fine cooking in the Aston Martin Residences Kitchen, featuring Gaggenau appliances and Bulthaup cabinets, for everyone in attendance. The design of the Aston Martin Residences Kitchen by Marek Reichman, EVP and Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin, brings together a balance between the tropical South Florida outdoor climate and the warm indoor kitchen space. 

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

"The equipment is fantastic," said Chef Brown, as he began the demonstration. He prepared and served dishes including Fresh Salmon Confit with Garden Herb Salad (the appetizer at Prince William’s wedding), 10-Hour Slow Roasted Pork Belly (the main course at Prince Harry’s wedding), and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Clotted Cream (a favorite of Her Majesty The Queen). The classic Miami sunshine lighted the Downtown Miami sales gallery of the British carmaker's branded luxury tower.

Jesse Ottley, Sheila Rosario Davey, Alejandro Aljanati, Claudia del Toro, Christopher Davey

 Photo Credit: World Red Eye

“The Aston Martin Residences Kitchen further harnesses the expression of Aston Martin’s design DNA and architectural excellence,” said German Coto, CEO of G&G Business Developments. “Gastronomy will play an important part of the family living experience at Aston Martin Residences, whereby the kitchen often forms the soul of the home for loved ones and friends who come together socially and culturally to share their passion for food. A shrouding of radiance, purity and warmth ensures the kitchen environment is both intimate and inviting for both casual cooks and the most seasoned gourmand, who can enjoy today’s top-of-the-line appliances and amenities with relaxing confidence. The Aston Martin Residences Kitchen pays homage to the Art of Living and our commitment to its indelible imprint of impeccable design.”

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

Chef Brown moved to Miami less than two months ago, after spending over 15 years in some of the UK and Europe's best restaurants, where he worked with culinary icons like Jamie Oliver and Robert Clayton. He has started to infuse South Florida with contemporary and upscale English cooking, which he excels at and delighted the guests during the event.

Photo Credit: World Red Eye 

“I’m delighted to mark my debut in Miami by this most unique collaboration with Aston Martin Residences,” he said. “I chose a series of classic British meat and fish dishes that have been served and enjoyed as favorites of the royal family for generations. I pride myself on engaging the audience with a traditional culinary experience by cooking with authentic ingredients used in recipes taken from England’s southern counties, Victorian London and the Cotswolds region in particular, where the heritage of Britain’s royal family belongs. I also wanted to demonstrate the true character and essence of English culture and how you can really feel at home with your own comfortable style of cooking in the brilliance of an Aston Martin Residences Kitchen.”

For more on Aston Martin Residences, visit www.astonmartinresidences.com.

Patricia Montalvan, Mauricio Perez

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

Chef Justin Brown, Alejandro Aljanati, Maria Eugenia Alvarez Vitale, Daniel Arabia

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

The post Aston Martin Residences Kicks Off Wine & Food Week In Miami With Special Tasting By Award-Winning Chef Justin Brown appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

However, historic homes can also have their drawbacks. Smaller rooms, a lack of storage space, and outdated floorplans are factors that must be accounted for--and sometimes altered, in order to bring a historic home up to today's standards.

For everyone who loves the style of historic homes, but still wants to protect their investment, here are some contemporary considerations when remodeling an older home.

Give Rooms A Modern Twist With Contemporary Art

Many art museum buildings have classical architecture, but the art inside may be abstract and modern. Don't be afraid of the juxtaposition of hanging nuevo canvases in a classic-looking room.

This four-story Victorian house in San Francisco livens things up a bit with a frenetic black and yellow abstract canvas over the mantle and a modern sculpture on the dining table. The waves in the contemporary rug also complement the grains of the old planks, while giving the floor a fresh update.

The right modern touches will actually make handsome period details like crown molding and intricate baseboards stand out more. The home doesn't feel old despite being built-in 1830. The high ceilings and wood-burning fireplace are touches of the past anyone would welcome today.

Use Trendy Hues To Accent Older Walls In Historic Homes

One of the easiest ways to update the inside of a historic home is to use contemporary paint colors on interior walls. Just because a home's build is traditional, doesn't mean that white and gray are the only acceptable paint choices.

One of this year's hottest colors, "nightwatch" (a warmer take on Hunter green) looks magnificent on this traditionally paneled wall. Accenting moldings in slightly lighter or darker shades than the wall is another way of showing off fine craftmanship.

For other fun color ideas, try moody mustards to give rooms a pop of color, or pastel blues and purples to hide wall imperfections and to make older rooms ready for a more minimalist chic aesthetic.

Natural Light Is Timeless

It doesn't matter what time period a house was built. Flooding common rooms with natural light never goes out of style.

Convert exterior walls containing small windows into folding or sliding doors to invite the outside in. The large doors in this historic Houston home's stunning room make for a smooth transition into the well-manicured courtyard garden.

Painting doors and trim with a favorite accent color is another great way to give older wood a facelift. Windows and doors often need updating in a historic home--not only for safety but to be more energy efficient as well.

The Kitchen Is The One Room To Not Leave As Is

Homes built over a hundred years ago are often filled with craftsman touches worth keeping, but hundred-year-old kitchens are not one of them.

Update old kitchens with modern appliances and countertops, like this beautiful kitchen inside a historic Coral Rock, Miami home. This newly remodeled kitchen offers all of the functionality and storage required for today's lifestyles, while not clashing with the well-earned warmth of this classic home's style.

Leave The Exterior Intact, But Add Some New Amenities

This historic Greek Revival home in Madison is just an hour from Atlanta and looks very stately with its twin chimneys and tall white columns. Yet, tradition never has to take a backseat to luxury as witnessed by this massive pool.

The old garage to the left was smartly renovated to become a contemporary guest cottage.

Swimming in this backyard will make anyone feel like they are staying at a brand-new resort, but the view of the estate is still mid-1800's.

With a good color palette and some modern touches, any historic home can remain full of character while being fully livable.

The post Improve Historic Homes With Just The Right Amount of Contemporary Updates appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

He’s a reluctant celebrity who’s so low-key, we’re not sure if his star still burns bright enough to qualify for Hollywood’s A or B list anymore (likely the way he prefers it). But his star shines as bright as Aurora Borealis in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” which makes his recent property listing big news back home in the Twin Cities.

The 36-year old St. Paul, Minnesota-native is parting ways with his Minneapolis Lake of the Isles digs, known as the Walter P. Douglas House—a historic four-bedroom, four bathroom Victorian mansion listed for $2.395 million (the same price Hartnett paid for it in 2002).

Actor Josh Hartnett just listed his Lake of the Isle home in Minneapolis for $2.395 million.

The 5,056-square-foot property at 2405 East Lake of the Isles Parkway rests on the eastern shore of the lake’s northern-most point. Built in 1887 and since extensively renovated, it hails as one of the oldest and most prominent residences in the area. The lake itself, which is sometimes used for hockey and skating, covers 109 acres with biking and walking paths.

The modest mansion is big but unpretentious—almost a metaphor for Hartnett’s career and humble personality. It’s aptly described as “modern with traditional Victorian [features]… sophisticated spaces, exquisite finishes, stained glass windows, gourmet kitchen, wine cellar and incredible views” by listing agency Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty. The home boasts a classy mix of wood, stone and glass—transitioning between traditional and modern.

Great room with huge picturesque windows.

Dining room anchored by beautiful stained glass window

The gourmet kitchen

Wood banister with masterfully carved accents

Game room

The residence features beautifully-carved woodwork throughout (especially the wine cellar, window frames and banisters), a grand room, huge picture windows, meticulous moldings, gorgeous fireplaces, sun deck, four-car garage, exercise room, in-ground pool and four bathrooms (three of them full). The property attracts tremendous natural sunlight which perfectly showcases stained glass windows that reveal themselves in the most unexpected locations.

There’s no guard, no gated community, and we doubt there are even security cameras here. Lake of the Isles is an affluent suburb with real neighbors—not famous ones. It seemed to be Hartnett's preferred safe base far from the glare of Tinseltown.

The property is located on the lake.

Hartnett's home features four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The Lake of the Isle upscale neighborhood is just outside the city limits of Minneapolis.

The star of Showtime’s horror cult hit Penny Dreadful is reportedly downgrading size-wise since he doesn’t spend much time at the Lake of the Isles residence. Or could it be the former man-of-the-moment has himself been downgraded from movie blockbusters like Black Hawk Down and Pearl Harbor to a macabre cable television series, so he’s tightening his belt? Or, more likely, his TV show is catching on and his Los Angeles demands are higher (which means his star is burning brighter, and if that's the case, here we go again).

Large wine cellar with exquisite woodwork adjacent to the fitness room.

Either way, Hartnett’s Minneapolis neighbors probably won't miss him, if they ever saw him at all. He’s a humble and serious actor/producer of film, stage, and video. Hartnett once took a break from acting, repeatedly turned down a Superman TV role (and other superhero parts), and publicly shunned chasing fame as a recipe for “unhappiness” (wait, that sounds like a real respectable, person, not a Hollywood hunk). But while the Hollywood machine has a way of spitting actors out, it's also routinely wooing actors back into the game.

At 36, Hartnett has resisted many of the pitfalls of his contemporaries by rejecting fame and superficial acting roles.

Hartnett starred in the 2001 blockbuster movie, Black Hawk Down.

Like the Minneapolis Lakers 55 years ago, the Twin Cities is losing another one of its favorite sons to Los Angeles—someone who could have been anointed a King of Hollywood if his ego had allowed it. But don’t worry Minneapolis-St. Paul, you’ll always have a Prince.

The post Actor Josh Hartnett Lists Minneapolis Victorian Mansion for $2.4 Million appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.