Unique Perspectives
By Alexandra Gehringer
Recreational Aviation Reaches New Heights
What do you get when you mix a former fighter pilot, a skilled design expert and a team of advanced automotive designers? Apparently, the ICON A5 Amphibious Sport Plane.
Created by Stanford graduates Kirk Hawkins and Steen Strand for recreational pilots to fly from both land and water, the A5’s wings fold backward at the touch of a button so the aircraft can be conveniently towed on a trailer or stored in a garage. Luxury is realized in the cockpit, which draws inspiration from BMW, Ferrari and Porsche.
“People who fly small airplanes don’t fly for transportation; they fly for fun. We designed the A5 from the ground up to be as fun as possible,” says Strand.
Base price for the ICON A5 is $139,000 before customization.
Making Light of Rug Design
British-born and Brooklyn-based textile specialist Tania Johnson recently branched out with Tania Johnson Design, a collection of herown luxury rug creations. Having worked for big names such as Calvin Klein and Vera Wang, Johnson is no stranger to the needs of upscale clients.
“To create a truly high-end product, it is not enough to have an original and exceptional design, it also needs to be executed perfectly,” she says.
The debut pieces boast earthy yet contemporary patterns that explore nature’s own play on light, reflections and shadows. A pitch-perfect combination of superior wools and silks, low pile heights, meticulous color choices and very high knot counts creates a work of art almost too beautiful to walk on.
All Tania Johnson Design rugs are custom-made and sell for $110 to $260 per square foot.
A Slice of Utopia
The Utopia, a lavish residential cruise ship, is currently in design and will bring future residents to exclusive events around the globe. Imagine being in Venice for Carnevale, in Cannes for the Film Festival, in Dubai for the Gold Cup … and having the convenience of your own home at your disposal.
Utopia boasts 200 designer-inspired residences that range from 1,450 to 6,110 square feet in configurations of two, three, four and five bedrooms. Additionally, a casino, theater, world-class spa and countless other amenities will be on board.
“This is a place of awe and wonder, full of restful, yet opulent space that relaxes the mind and conjures up tranquility and permanence in perfect harmony,” says Utopia Chairman David Robb.
Buyers, including the legendary Pat Boone, are already lining up to reserve their spot in Utopia. Residences range from $3.9 million to $25 million.
Elite Reads
In “Selling to the New Elite,” authors Jim Taylor, Stephen Kraus and Doug Harrison reveal how to keep sales up when the economy is down.
They believe that for any salesperson, whether the product is a $10,000 handbag or a $10 million private jet, the key ingredient to a successful business interaction is passion. To be passionate about the company, about the product, about the sale itself — that is the ultimate tool when dealing with high-end buyers.
“Your personal sales success is about discovering the passion within you and choosing and molding your environment to fit that passion. It’s about finding ways to express that passion that fit with your personal style,” say the authors.
“Selling to the New Elite” is available at major book retailers for $27.95.
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