Tucked up against a slope just a few hundred metres from Marbella’s Golden Mile and Mediterranean beaches lies La Virginia, an idyllically charming representation of a Spanish village – and one of the prettiest places you will ever see.

Photo by David Toms

Enveloped in greenery, this established residential urbanisation appears as though created on the canvas of a great master. Here, private little cobblestone pathways and squares are lined with beautifully styled Andalusian ‘village houses’ tastefully daubed in tones of white, blue, cream, ochre and peach. Adding to this palette of colours are vines, creepers, flowers and the rich hue of bougainvillaea. (more…)

A chance meeting at the Copenhagen Furniture Fair gave birth to a dynasty of sumptuously styled and crafted furniture nurtured by French flair and Russian enterprising spirit.

Roche Bobois is a name that resounds within the world of fine furniture. Through its exquisitely styled ‘Les Contemporains’, ‘Les Provinciales’ and ‘Les Voyages’ ranges, the firm has built a name for taste and quality as it leads us through a lifetime’s evolution in classical, country, colonial and modern décor styles. Leading industrial designers have made their impact with the creation of Roche Bobois ranges over the years, not infrequently joined by celebrity names from the world of fashion, such as Ungaro and Kenzo, who add their particular touch to new fabrics and patterns, thus creating a brand whose evolving look focuses more on offering a way of life than just a style. (more…)

Remember table football? It was fun, the sort of thing you associate with childhood, but not an objet d’art…surely not? (more…)

In the world of motorcycling Triumph is one of those names that reads like aristocracy. Like its car-manufacturing counterpart, the marque was very much at the forefront of the evolving history of motoring, building itself a legendary heritage in the process. The renaissance of this great old name is therefore every bit as important as the revival of the Bugatti brand was – all the more so because today Triumph once again makes some of the most beautiful bikes around.

Some give us the advice never to look back, saying that in the world of business – motor vehicles included – there is no place for tradition or sentimentality. I disagree. Cars and bikes are not just functional machines that perform a function. They never have been and hopefully never will be. Instead, they form a surprisingly important part of our society, becoming the stuff of childhood dreams, the driver of many aspirational ambitions, the way by which we are measured in terms of success and above all an expression of our sense of style and personality.

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Gibraltar, a British territory at the southern tip of Spain, is not the first place you would expect to find an exclusive members club, but thanks to the enclave’s status as an offshore haven and a leading financial centre it has one of the highest concentrations of millionaires in Europe.

Gibraltar is a true product of history. Captured by an Anglo-Dutch force during the 18th century Wars of Spanish Succession, it has been a British crown dependency ever since. In this tiny territory, perched upon a spectacular rocky peninsula half an hour west of Marbella, a cosmopolitan population of traders and financiers thrive. Property is at a premium, luxury cars a common sight and in the marinas large yachts lie alongside visiting frigates and cruise ships. Drawn above all by its banking facilities and offshore status, Gibraltar is also home to a community of international millionaires. (more…)