The Solstice Collection

This is a continuation of Susan Kime's article 'Vacation Visions: Exceptional Exterior and Interior Designs of Residence and Destination Clubs'.  The first part is available here or you can skip directly to a specific company by clicking on their name below:

One of the most substantially architecturally significant destination clubs to date is The Solstice collection, as its founder, Graham Kos, has collected some of the most architecturally significant homes in the Destination Club industry. Contemporary architects, like Scott Lindenau, designed one of their Aspen properties, and Al Beadle, a great architect of the 50-s and 60’s, built their new Arizona residence, and Michaelanagelo himself built the façade of their Florence residence, on the Piazza Signoria, near the Uffizi gallery. Shay Kos, was assigned to create interiors at that would rival the grand exteriors, a daunting task.

“Because I was fortunate enough to help sculpt the Solstice vision:  one that encapsulates discovering the most significant homes in the best locations, the interiors had to be done with the same exacting standards from which the vision was created.” Shay comments, “ These interiors were not designed in a day!  It has taken a LONG time, because we do not settle. Although  granted, it would be easier!!”

“ For example,  our Paris residence has some of my favorite objects, many of which were purchased in the Paris Flea Market. I love the iron piece that hangs above the La Cornu Stove ( we have an image of this). I believe it was the decorative part of a gate at a French country home. There are three other architectural pieces  that work so well within this eclectic context:  dormer windows that I had made into mirrors for the dining room that work so well; the pair of 18th century Chinese cabinets flanking  the fireplace., and the antique mannequin arms and hands that I have wrapped around some old books and a candle stick!  The large wall clock in Paris office had to be bolted and hung from a ceiling beam as it was too heavy to hang directly on the wall!  They are all so different, yet all work well together – creating a diverse, comfortable environment for our members.”

Carolynn Rockafellow, a Solstice member, agrees with Shay, especially about the Paris residence. “ Because of its location – on the Isle St. Louis, right across the street from a large church, in such an exclusive area, along with understated, neutral yet elegant furnishings, along with the best cooking utensils available ---  because of all these things, the Paris residence, for me, exudes a certain magic.  Whenever I go there, it feels as if I am coming home, and I always feel, when I leave, that I can’t wait to come back.  And really, in the Paris residence and in all other Solstice locations my family and I have visited, there is not a chair or sofa that is not comfortable”.

Shay understands the meaning of comfort, and how necessary it is for the members to feel at home. “The design of the Napa property was inspired largely by some very comfortable furnishings I found in the Paris Flea Market.  It was funny because I bought the furniture, then Graham designed a house around it!  What he started with was an idea for a typical Tuscan wine country home.  What we are finalizing is more of an industrial contemporary, yet very clean and comfortable home.  The materials for the residence are from a historic Texas stone fort, reclaimed wood floors, metal window & doors,  and concrete floors.”

 “The more I travel, the more I see, the more sources I come across and the more inspiration I have. Everywhere I go I find inspiration. Design is everywhere. It never stops and never gets old. There are always new and exciting things if you pay attention. With every home comes a lesson of what worked and what could have been better.”

Continue to

Quintess
Ultimate Resort
Calistoga Ranch
The Weybridge Collection
The Villas at The Grand del Mar
The Solstice Collection

Articles

Any:
An Introduction to Fractionals

Art:
Fractional art donations prove charity starts at home

Handbags:
25 questions to ask about fractional handbag clubs

Boats & Yachts:
25 questions to ask a fractional boat operator
Fractional Boats in New Zealand
Pushing the (fractional) boat out
Boats & yachts- what's on offer?
Fractionalize This

Classic Cars:
25 questions to ask a fractional car club
Why opt for a 'fractional' classic car?
Classic Car Club Feature
Getting the most out of your fractional ownership experience
Why Not Rent?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Fractional Life hits Le Mans

Destination Clubs:
Lifestyle Asset Group: the best of both worlds
Relationship Selling to Todays Affluent Fractional Clientele
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Focus on the Registry Collection
DCs- Variety is the spice of (fractional) life
Fractional Property Glossary
Aspirational vs. Inspirational Media
Member Strategies For Lean Times
Brand Maintenance During An Implosion
What Goes Up Must Come Down...
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Destination Clubs- an alternative?
Fractional Ownership Heads to Europe
Private Residence Club Perspective Part 1
Quintess
Ultimate Resort
Calistoga Ranch
The Weybridge Collection
The Villas at The Grand del Mar
The Solstice Collection
Vacation Visions: Exceptional Exterior and Interior Designs of Residence and Destination Clubs 
Why the Boomers will change second home ownership in the US
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
Bear Mountain Resort - A View from Paradise
New Association For Fractional Ownership
The New Vacation: A Time to Retune Re-Connect

Consultancy:
Profit Opportunities in Luxury Fractionals - A Summary

Exchange:
The Golden Rules of Fractionals

Racehorses:
A Horse by The Name of Fractional Life
Running Down a Dream

Corporate Hospitality:
So Long to the Suite Life

Aircraft & Jets:
25 questions to ask a fractional jet operator
Top tips for fractional jet travel
Jet Republic pilot applications reach new heights
Focus on Fractional Jet Europe
A closer look at fractional aviation
CoGoJets introduces jetpooling
Joining the jet set
Fly for a fraction of the cost
Flying without Wings
Can't afford that jet? Rent it
How Private Aviation Works

Legal Services:
Fractional ownership: is it timeshare in disguise?

Private Clubs:
A tale of two cities - Private residence clubs in San Francisco and London
The Italian Job: interview with Byrne Murphy of Palazzo Tornabuoni
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
PRCs with added benefits
Northstars 'stay and play ' option
Private Residence Club Perspective
Fractional Property Glossary
What are the ingredients for the ideal Private Residence Club?
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions

Real estate:
Fractional Life in Ireland: For peat's sake!
Fractional Summit USA 2010- Speaker biographies
25 questions to ask about fractional property ownership
Fractional Summit Speaker Biographies
Fractional Property - The New Normal
Gay Community Embraces Fractional Property
Fractional Real Estate Investment Or Lifestyle Purchase?
Fractional Sales: Square Pegs In Round Holes?
Fractional Real Estate Commissions
Urban Fractionals
European Mixed-Use Resort Development in 2009
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Property- the legal issues
Fractional Holiday Getaways
Fractionals-Recession beaters?
State of fractionals
Fractional Property Glossary
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Fractional Property- the legal issues
Fractional Property Regulation
Fractional Ownership? We'll have a piece
Keep The Door Open
Why Fractional Property?
The Benefits of Fractional Ownership in Private Residence Clubs
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
New Association For Fractional Ownership
Saving Homes, Homeowners and Banks Through Fractional Ownership?

Lifestyle:
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Convergence in the Fractional marketplace
The stock market for songwriters

Supercars:
25+ questions to ask a fractional car club
Live The High Life In A Fractional Supercar
Why Individuals Should Join A Supercar Club
Why opt for a 'fractional' supercar?
Focus on Marque II
Eco-road-warriors- How will the supercar club line-up of the future change?
Fresh metal- What's new on the supercar front?
So Why Not Buy?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Supercars- The cars of 2006/7
Let's Take The Lamborghini
Fractional Life hits Le Mans
Ascari Racing Festival Weekend
Fractional Supercars at the MPH Show
GROUP20 The SuperCar Club announce their 2007 Road Show in aid of Children In Need
New supercar club with green credentials

Luxury Motorhomes:
Denver RV show ready to roll

Wine & Spirits:
Wine