$32 Million Contemporary Craftsman in Laguna Beach (PHOTOS)

The Basics: To celebrate Memorial Day, we�re kicking off Summer 2011 with a $32 million 5 bedroom, 10 bath, 8400 square foot beach house in Laguna Beach, California. Southern Californians know Laguna Beach as a seaside resort and artists community about 90 minutes south of L.A. The Pageant of the Masters has been a Laguna summer tradition since 1933 with a hiatus during World War II. The Pageant features tableaux vivants or �living pictures,� groups of costumed models, carefully posed and lit, to recreate works of art. Since 1966, art enthusiasts and collectors have been coming to the Sawdust Festival to purchase the wares of local artists.

On a more low brow note, Laguna Beach was the home of the eponymous MTV reality show starring Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colleti, and Lo Bosworth.



The Details: This spectacular contemporary Craftsman belongs to the exclusive Montage Residences which include access to the Montage Laguna Beach hotel amenties including Spa Montage, Mosaic Pool, dining at The Loft and Studio as well as concierge and housekeeping services. The 150 plus square feet of mahogany and glass doors combine with soaring ceilings to bring the outdoor ocean view setting inside. The lighting, environmental and audio visual systems are fully integrated.



A perfect setting to enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset.



The expanse of glass surrounding the kitchen offers a seamless transition to the outdoor setting.



The living area features custom lighting and a contemporary fireplace.



The sunrise will greet you in the morning.



The master bath features a fireplace and roman tub.



This ceiling woodwork complements the hardwood floors and wall details.

The Bottom Line: An awe-inspiring ocean view home with hotel amenities and sweeping views of the Pacific sunsets in a charming artists community? We are in!

Read more: $32 Million Contemporary Craftsman in Laguna Beach (PHOTOS) | REALTOR.com� Blogs

Home of the Day (NBA All Stars) Miami

The Basics: Balmy Miami is the turf of The Heat�s NBA All Star players LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, All Star reserve Chris Bosh and this dramatic high rise condo on Biscayne Bay, around the corner from sizzling South Beach and charming Coconut Grove.

Located in Miami�s Brickell district, the Wall Street of the South, the Santa Maria Condos were built on site of La Santa Maria mansion which now serves as a private clubhouse for residents and guests. The upscale resort amenties include a floating glass porte-cochere, waterfalls and tropical paths, underground racquetball courts, sea level tennis courts, a 25 meter lap pool and jacuzzi, and 51st floor spa.



See the listing at REALTOR.com.

The Details: This modern exquisitely appointed two story penthouse unit offers floor to ceiling windows and a metallic and glass winding staircase in 10,000 square feet. The one of a kind master suite features a built in jacuzzi and sauna. The piece de resistance is the private pool with sweeping city and water views.

All for $14.9 million, chump change for The Big Three.



The dining room offers waterfront views.



Featuring custom wood cabinets, Viking appliances, and stainless countertops, the kitchen is a chef�s dream.



This living area features panoramic views of the Miami skyline.



A custom wood and marble wet bar is the perfect spot for entertaining.



The penthouse�s private tiled swimming pool overlooks the Miami skyline.

The Bottom Line: It�s a slam dunk!

Read more: Miami Penthouse Offers Private Pool | REALTOR.com� Blogs

Frederick C. Webha Lists A Second Beverly Hills Home For $7.995 Million (PHOTOS)

Real estate investor Frederick C. Wehba is famous in Los Angeles for creating one of the most lavish homes ever to grace Sunset Boulevard. His elaborate dream home hit the market in 2010 for $68.5 million and cost a reported $65 million to build. That home remains on the market for $55 million.

Wehba II, who serves as chairman and CEO of Bently Forbes, a commercial real estate firm, has also listed another more modest (at least by Webha standards) home in Beverly Hills for $7.995 million. This home on the bucolically-named Green Acres Drive features five bedrooms in 9, 163 square feet of space, less than a third the space offered in the 36,000-square-foot Sunset Boulevard mansion.

Wehba appears to have a style: he likes his homes Frenchified and fancy. Perhaps he found some sources of inspiration in this villa located not far from the larger home. This home, built in 1987 has high ceilings, intricate moldings and leaded and beveled glass doors and windows.



The home opens with a dramatic entry with 25-foot ceiling, crystal chandelier and a sweeping staircase with an iron bannister.



The first floor includes a reception room, living room, formal dining room, powder room, and a cook�s kitchen with professional appliances, butler�s pantry and a stained glass skylight.



The first floor also features a maid�s room with bath, wine storage, a gym with a bath and sauna and the lovely rotunda breakfast room which is a charming spot to begin your day as a real estate mogul.



The second level is where you find the master suite with dual closets and a large bathroom as well as three additional family suites and a media room with a bar area.

The .61 acre lot includes a backyard with a large patio, built-in barbecue, fountain, pool and spa. No word yet on where the real estate investor will hang his hat next but it�s certain to be spectacular.

More Photos:













Read more: Frederick C. Webha Lists A Second Beverly Hills Home For $7.995 Million (PHOTOS) | REALTOR.com� Blogs

Stunning Steve Hermann Design in Beverly Hills (PHOTOS)

The Basics: A mid-century modern rebuilt under the stewardship of design whiz Steve Hermann is listed for $10.9 M. Boys and girls, pay attention to today�s lesson in geography and design in the Hills of Beverly. Extra credit available.

In Beverly Hills, north of Sunset means you�ve got bank. Trousdale Estates is an enclave located � you guessed it � north of Sunset, home to A-listers who appear in Forbes and People. Developed in the 1950s, Trousdale Estates quickly became a Who�s Who of almost every L.A. mid-century starchitect, from Wallace Neff and Paul R. Williams to A. Quincy Jones, Harold Levitt and even Frank Lloyd Wright. So, you�ll get an overview of L.A. architecture on your AM powerwalk. You�ll probably even wave to a few celebs.



The Details: We�ve covered geography so let�s move on to design. Steve Hermann is a self-taught designer whose talent and taste moved him into the (virtual) Rolodex of stars, movers and shakers around the world. Hermann has worked on properties purchased by the likes of Xtina, Cox and Arquette, even Frankie Muniz and Byron Allen! If you decide to bid on this best of the best view home, you�ll be in good company. During the extensive three year rebuild, Hermann filled this estate with Boffi, Polioform, Vantage, and BTicino, a lexicon of high end kitchen, bath, and lighting appointments imported from Italia.



A contemporary water feature at the entrance leads to walls of glass which embrace the lights of L.A.



The sunken living area references the mid-century architecture of the home�s original design.



Walls of glass bring the jetliner views and swimming pool inside.



We could get used to gazing at the twinkling lights from our Pratesi enveloped bed.



The master bedroom is a glass box set above the hills.



The L.A. skyline, a glowing pool. This scene just begs for a nightly cocktail.



Some call it a media room; others call it a theater. We prefer �screening room.� This one has space for thirty.



One of the home�s 4 sleek bedrooms which feature high end design elements.



The Euro-appointed bath showcases attention to design and high end furnishings.



We�re thinking Hockney.

The Bottom Line: Location. Architecture. Design. Appointments imported from Italy. Jetliner views. Extra credit all around!

Read more: Stunning Steve Hermann Design in Beverly Hills (PHOTOS) | REALTOR.com� Blogs

Stunning Beverly Hills Architectural For $25 Million (PHOTOS)

Los Angeles-based architect Rob Wellington Quigley created this splendid wood and concrete home on the prestigious Beverly Park Drive in Beverly Hills listed for $25 million.



The award-winning seven-bedroom estate sits on approximately two acres of flat, park-like grounds with the guard-gated community of North Beverly Park.

The Beverly Park area is home to many celebs including Sylvester Stallone and several of the stars of �The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.� The community was also involved in a bit of a legal fracas a few years back when the North Beverly Park Homeowners Association were pitted against South Beverly Park Homeowners Association in a battle over road access.



Exotic wood-framed windows and skylights create frames for the dramatic entertaining areas, including the large first floor living area with adjacent indoor and outdoor dining rooms and a family room with a kitchen.



The downstairs also includes a theater, a large 1,000 square-foot gym, sauna and a massage room.





The terraced master suite offers mountain views and has an intimate seating area with a fireplace. There are three additional bedrooms upstairs as well as a study and an office.

A detached two-story guest house has a pair of master suites, a kitchen, living room and a private garage.

A separate secluded pool house also as a guest apartment and the grounds also include a swimmer�s pool, spa and basketball court.

Correction: This post originally referred to the opera director David Alden as owner. We cannot independently confirm the identity of the owner and have corrected the post

Read more: Opera Director David Alden Lists Beverly Hills Home For $25 Million (PHOTOS) | REALTOR.com� Blogs