Inside Sophisticated Living

Cincinnati Edition
July/August 2008

Beluga

Going to Beluga and not venturing past the sushi would be a mistake. Not that the award-winning rolls are not top-notch (which they are), it is just that you would be missing out on an array of flavorful entrées that assimilates the best aspects of cuisines from around the world.

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Natural Selection
A high style “cabin” in the woods is filled with elements of nature

A cabin in the woods. That was the directive given to award-winning architect John Senhauser by the former owner of a heavily wooded three-acre site in Indian Hills. Given complete creative license, Senhauser, best known for his striking contemporary designs, created his version of a “cabin,” a 3,600-square foot steel and cypress residence that complements the choice setting.

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The Toys of Summer

Featuring:

  • Karma
  • Sea Ray 55 Sundancer
  • 41 Super Leggera from Outerlimits
  • Bourget Motorcycles
  • 1953 Chevrolet Corvette

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Chippendale
The most illustrious name in antiques

Without question, the most famous name in antique furniture would certainly have to be Chippendale. The name Chippendale is synonymous with antiques and period English furniture. From the sophisticated decorative arts collector, to the novice antique furniture lover, or even the man on the street who has no interest in antique furniture what so ever, the name Chippendale is effortlessly identifiable with antiques and furniture.

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Health Through Water
Terme di Saturnia

At first, I could not tell if the plumes of steam rising and curling toward the horizon were just an optical illusion: we had been awake for more than 24 hours, and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Were it not for the constant shifting required to keep our Fiat grounded on the twisting and turning roads that led away from Rome, along the coastline, through the mountains and into the straw-colored landscape of Tuscany, I would have been sleeping as soundly as my traveling companions. The distinct aroma of sulfur let me know we were close. Rounding a sharp corner, I saw scores of people sitting under a cascading waterfall, the naturally warm water providing Mother Nature’s ultimate massage.

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The Story of a 1966 Bordeaux

Some dogs bring their masters newspapers; my dog brings me priceless Bordeaux. The bottle and a few others were enthusiastically drunk with some close friends. The wine was absolutely exceptional, a perfect example of world class wine at perfect maturity. While we drank the wine, the story of Caymus fetching the wine certainly added to the great pleasure of the evening!

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Sculpture in the Garden

A garden is usually not complete until it possesses a piece of art, a man made creation that can inspire, provide beauty, tell a story or provoke discussion. A garden after all is just that, a man-made creation utilizing nature as the medium. Sculpture in the garden reinforces this relationship between man and nature often mimicking nature in form and medium, or providing a strong juxtaposition between nature and a man.

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ABC's of Family Friendly Summer Travel

Today’s families are looking for unique ways to spend their precious vacation time. Following is our A-to-Z guide of ideas for creating memorable summer adventures.

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Cameos

Arguably, Italian cameos maintain the strongest association with a sense of place. These beautiful, hand-carved scenes or portraits of people or animals in three-dimensional relief made from agate (layered glass), coral or shell, have worked their magic for thousands of years as sentimental souvenirs, valuable jewelry and tiny works of art. Today, cameos are most often thought of as something from grandma’s jewelry box, but fashion trend forecasters are predicting that cameos are on the verge of a big resurgence. Whether you have a nostalgic interest or would like to get ahead of the trend, knowledge is important before purchasing. The more you learn about cameos, the more likely you are to fall under their spell.

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Art is Hot

Art is hot, so hot it’s sizzling.  A tidal surge of energized, electric interest is kick-starting art awareness, buying and tourism around the world.  Cities continue to re-invent themselves around art.  From mega Art Basel in Switzerland, referred to by the New York Times as “The Olympics of the Art World,” to the newer, explosive, hot, hot, hot Art Basel Miami Beach – “the most important art show in the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas” – art is changing the way people travel, invest and view the world.

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Victorian Grandeur
Interior designer Ben Small of Bittners recreates a Victorian-era home with refined country charm

When Ben Small undertook designing the interior space of what would become a grand country home, little did he know that the project would take nearly four years and become one of the most rewarding of his career. The result is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century home that gently reminds guests of another time, while accommodating the modern needs of an active family.

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