When the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin was celebrated in July with a display at London’s Kensington Gardens, much of the focus was on cars ranging from the earliest production models to the DBR1 that won at Le Mans in 1959—not to mention the DB5 of James Bond fame. But perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of Aston’s history is its long association with Italian coachbuilders, most notably the Turin-based design house Zagato, which unveiled two all-new customized Astons commissioned specifically to comme…

The new Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu opened this month, steps from the Temple of Confucius, the Mansion of Confucius, and the Cemetery of Confucius, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites in the great philosopher’s birthplace, Qufu, China. The hotel has 325 rooms and suites, many of which overlook the Yi River, the old city wall, or the Temple of Confucius. There are two restaurants—one that serves Cantonese and Shandong regional cuisine and one that serves international fare—and a tea lounge in the l…

Chances are you may have noticed some new fixtures on the back bars of your favorite cocktail lounges. No, we’re not referring to lights or libations per se, but rather to wooden barrels—relatively small, 3-liter ones, as compared to the larger oaken casks normally used to store aging spirits and wines. These bar-sized barrels contain premixed cocktails that are developing increased depth, flavor, and finesse. And it’s all accomplished by the relatively simple process of premixing a large batch of cocktails an…

The Four Seasons opened a 183-room hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia, this summer, situated next to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Winter Palace, and the Hermitage museum (from $450 per night). Built in 1820, the building is known for the twin lions at its entryway, which were described in Alexander Pushkin’s 1833 poem The Bronze Horseman, and for housing the city’s elite. The hotel now features two restaurants, a tea lounge, a bar, and a four-level spa complex that includes a gym, indoor pool, and sauna. The Four S…

In Robb Report Home & Style’s September/October issue, which will be out later this month, the City Style section features hotels, restaurants, fashion houses, and shops in Stockholm, all of which are notable because they are well designed or because they offer exceptional designs. However, Sweden’s capital city offers far more in the realm of home and style than we were able to include in the magazine’s pages. So here we continue our guide to the best antiques shops, museums, and galleries that Stockholm …

Starting September 19, the Ralph Pucci showroom in Los Angeles will showcase the work of designer Jim Zivic, whose self-described “industrial-luxe” furniture is made from materials such as steel, leather, coal, and aluminum. All of the Jefferson, N.Y.–based craftsman’s pieces, which include tables, chairs, and accessories, will be permanently available at the showroom through special order. Standouts include the Leather Link Hammock ($42,000), 100 percent pure coal tables ($15,000 to $22,000), and a leather-an…

Following a 14-month renovation,Cambodia’sHotel de la Paix reopenedthis month as the Park Hyatt Siem Reap—Hyatt’s first hotel in Cambodia. It has 108 rooms (from $280 a night), which feature dome-shaped ceilings modeled after those of the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. A restaurant, lounge, gym, and patisserie are also onsite, as are a six-treatment-room spa with a steam room and rooftop space and two swimming pools surrounded by lush greenery that mimics the natural landscape. The town’s larges…

Lincoln has embarked on an ambitious program to remake itself, turning away from such traditional fare as the full-size Town Car and banking on a new generation of midsize cars and crossovers with new styling and advanced technology.
The first all-new entry for the revamped Lincoln Motor Co. is the MKZ, a four-door sedan that is similar in size to the successful Ford Fusion but sports a dramatically different exterior. Add its winglike front grille, fastback rear window, and one of the largest glass sunroofs …

Miami’s latest condo project is not inspired by the sand, the sea, or even the skyline, but rather by Great Britain’s most famous fictional secret agent. Upon its completion in early 2016, the Bond tower will rise 44 stories above Miami’s Brickell Financial District, with 328 residential units ranging from studios to three-bedroom offerings, as well as lofts and duplexes. The residences will feature Italian-style kitchens and bathrooms and glass-walled balconies, while suede walls, tufted sofas, mid-century fu…

Three full-floor residences in the neo-Georgian-style Whitman building on Madison Square Park have sold, but the historic structure’s penthouse is still available. Priced at $25 million unfurnished, the home offers 3,106 square feet of private outdoor space and a recently finished interior design scheme by the emerging designer Jeremiah Brent. Brent’s interiors, with furnishings that he describes as “the new traditionalist,” complement the unit’s light oak floors and white marble counters. Vintage pieces from …