Cheval Life

Swedish social media entrepreneur Erik Wachtmeister announced this week the launch of a new social networking site targeting the “top one percent” of Internet users, called Best of All Worlds . The site, which helps users find events and contacts, counted 20,000 members even before its launch. Wachtmeister, 57, created one of the world’s first social networking sites, a SmallWorld , in 2004, the same year as Facebook. He left the company in 2008. Best of All Worlds is targeting the same audience, he said. “The top one percent of the online audience, people who are leaders in their field, investment bankers, PR people, media, fashion, government… It’s not about jet-set or rich people, but sophisticated people who have good taste,” he said. “It’s more three million people than a billion,” he added, a reference to Facebook’s announcement in July that it had more than 950 million subscribers. Best of All Worlds helps users get in touch with each other...

Qatar Luxury Group , owned by Qatar Foundation, is reportedly gearing up to launch its first luxury fashion and accessories brand, announced the HuffPost on August 26.   The launch of the brand QELA will be boosted by the opening of numerous luxe boutiques around the world, starting with Doha, Qatar`s capital city by the end of the year, followed by other shops in NYC, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan, London and Tokyo.   "Since its inception, the goal for our group is to create a fashion brand in Qatar, with the next step being international expansion. We are currently working on the collection," explains Caroline Guillon, marketing director of the Qatar Luxury Group, to the Huffington Post.   The QELA brand will encompass high-end clothing and accessories.   Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments   H/T Luxuo

Situated on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane, The Balcony at Galvin at Windows is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows offering peerless views across Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and London's beyond. Guests have the option to tailor their own menu based on the restaurant's modern French inspired a la carte dining option.   The Balcony is a Michelin-starred restaurant and the menus have been described as "...an exquisite procession of dishes" by Time Out London.   The Balcony offers a semi-private seating setting for 16 up to 30 guests, in a variaty of table settings, perfect for birthdays, wedding celebrations and even press launches.   For more information and reservations, call 020 7208 4021 or email reservations@galvinatwindows.com   Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments

The newest luxury clutch in the world of fashion is an autentic british product. Called the  Burberry Prorsum , is crafted from black lamb leather and measures 11 inches in width, 2 inches in depth and 7 inches in height. It comes with golden cone shaped studs and a prominent, decorative detail that resembles the front of a fox, decked in gold. It weighs roughly 600 grams, lined with black twill, stamped by the designer, a zip fastening on the top and an internal pouch pocket where every feminine accessory would cozily fit. Priced at $3,295, this quite interesting piece comes from the Burberry Prorsum Collection, renowned for the revolutions they’ve started in the world of fashion with innovative and fierce pieces. For more info and the rest of Burberry Prorsum Collection, visit the UK website here .  Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments

Distracting your children sometimes can be hard. Distract them while learning History; some might even say it is impossible. However, children surprise us every day and turns out they do love History if they can see it as more than just words in a book, if they can actually live it.  A great way to inspire your children curiosity and imagination is a trip to the HMS Belfast.  HMS Belfast shows them what it was like to live and work on board a warship. Explore nine decks of amazing seafaring history where sailors once hurried up and down the ladders, and hear their battle stories from the Second World War and beyond - the convoys in icy Arctic conditions, the bombardment of German defenses on D-Day and the 404 days spent patrolling waters during the Korean War. The Gun Turret Experience immerses them in the midst of a battle during the Second World War while the interactive Operations Room puts you in the Captain's shoes as they control a fleet of ships of...

Table Lumière Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester holds 3 Michelin Stars and offers a selection of private dining options, including the intimate Salon Prive which holds up to 12 guests and the Salon Park Lane, which has a glorious view over Hyde Park and can accommodate from 14 to 30 guests.  An exclusive use of the restaurant is also possible and is up to 76 guests.  For a smaller party, up to 6 guests, the restaurant offers the Table Lumière. Cocooned by a luminescent oval curtain, it is surrounded by 4,500 shimmering fibre optics that drop dramatically from the ceiling .  For more info and reservations go to the Alain Ducasse website  or call 020 7629 8866 Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Services Apartments

Laurent-Perrier Champagne was founded in 1812 and has grown into one of the most famous and highly desirable brands across the world. The success of this exquisite Champagne is due to the company’s honouring of traditional values, a respect for nature and wine, a passion for quality and the passion for strong, long-lasting relationships both among the company and with the rest of the world. This high-end celebratory event will be held on Wednesday the 19th September in the breathtaking 18th century surroundings of William Kent House at The Ritz London. This glamorous event will feature a four course champagne pairing menu that has been specially crafted and prepared by executive chef John Williams MBE. The award-winning chef has carefully paired the champagne with each part of the meal. The guests will be welcomed with a canape and champagne reception before indulging in the exquisite menu and will even be guided through the varying styles of the champagne by the chairman o...

The Denon AH-D7100 headphones have been recently revealed by Denon. These stunning gadgets boast with a huge level of elegance, exclusivity and style. They are crafted from a mix of plastic materials with mahogany and feature a strengthened headband plus somewhat squarely ear cups. Denon’s Music Maniac ™  Artisan Headphones offer a reference standard personal listening experience, thanks to an ergonomically-perfect fit and acoustically transparent, studio quality audio performance. Featuring Denon’s 50mm “Free Edge Nano Fibre” drivers, real mahogany wood ear cups, these headphones deliver the finest acoustic performance irrespective of the genre of music you’re listening to.  Differing from the previous AH-D7000s headphones, the latest AH-D7100 encompass detachable cables, linkable to the ear cups, a feature that comes to highly satisfy audiophiles worldwide. They are priced at  £ 1,000 per pair. For more info and to locate a resealer go to  Denon Offi...

Harrods Tasting Room is an exclusive dining room dedicated to the appreciation of fine wine. Nestled discreetly within the Wine Shop on the Lower Ground Floor of Harrods, The Tasting Room boasts full conference facilities and evokes a traditional wine cellar ambience – in which up to 16 people can be seated for dining and 18 for wine tasting. Wine amateurs and connoisseurs alike can take a seat around the room’s grand dark-wood table, sip exceptional wines from stemware provided by the world-renowned glassware brand Riedel, and take advantage of an array of delicious dining options, from informal charcuterie boards to multi-course fine dining menus. For corporate occasions or private hire, wine and food can be tailored to suit the specific event's requirements, with full access to The Wine Shop's range of over 3,000 lines, including many of the world's finest wines and spirits. Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments

Designing a luxury automobile is easily as much about the cabin space as it is about the exterior styling.   Mercedes-Benz   knows that very well, and as if to showcase what its design department can do outside the confines of a modern automobile, the German automaker is launched a collection of furniture at the latest Milan Furniture Fair. A collaboration between the Mercedes-Benz Style division and furniture manufacturer Formitalia, the collection includes items as varied as sofas, dining tables, home theater systems and beds. The pieces are all crafted out of familiar automotive materials like aluminum, glass and wood, with styling details borrowed from automotive design. Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments

Recently offloaded by Nokia, luxury phone brand Vertu  has launched the super-luxurious Constellation Black Neon. Handmade from leather, carbon fiber and rubies the Black Neon lays in an opulent exterior that is “Modern and masculine” and “reminiscent of a luxury sports car.” Made by a single craftsman, the Black Neon is decorated in perforated leather with neon colored accents over PVD stainless steel, with a polished sapphire crystal 3.5-inch touchscreen. Available in neon blue, neon orange, and neon silver the phone also has an intricate ruby surround on the shutter key for the 8-megapixel camera.  Vertu owners receive 24-hour access to a service they can call for expert assistance, recommendations and priority bookings. The Vertu Concierge can arrange anything from gifts to “money-can’t-buy events and experiences”. Recommended by Cheval Residences - Luxury Serviced Apartments

For a few weeks from now, we will dedicate the one post a week to show the best Restaurants in London that offer private rooms for dining. Tempo offers contemporary Italian cuisine in the heart of Mayfair with a cozy, relaxed and intimate feel. The menu is influenced by the chef’s time in Sorrento and features cicchetti (Italian small plates) and many sharing dishes. The wine list is a small, eclectic selection of 65 wines, primarily featuring top small producers from Italy. One of Tempo’s most striking areas is the stylish first floor bar, with its large floor to ceiling windows overlooking Curzon Street. The private room is suitable for breakfast meeting, lunches and dinners, seating up to 24 people or 40 people for receptions and private parties. The room can also be combined with the Bar next door for exclusive use of the first floor. Tempo’s head chef, Yoshi Yamada just won the first Pasta World Championship, held at the Academia Barilla in Parma. For info and...

The Barbican Gallery in London hosts an exhibition of design and style between 6 July and 5 September, celebrating 50 years of the spy James Bond in theaters. Tickets cost between £ 8 and 12 pounds. The house shows posters of 007 movies, replicas of weapons and cars, and wax recreations of the actors who embodied the secret agent. The exhibition is based from the first movie Dr. No to the newest appearance of the spy, Skyfall. Visitors can meet a full-size version of the actor Sean Connery, known to be the first to play Bond in the movies. The agent James Bond, known by the code 007 was created by British writer Ian Fleming in 1953. Almost ten years after gaining fame in literature, the spy starred his first feature film in 1962. Since then, several directors have turned Fleming’s books  into theater success. It is also possible to go to the Martini Bar and experience the 007 lifestyle for real. Recommended by Cheval Residences - London Serviced Apartments

A new show is coming to Chelsea next year especially designed to exhibit products and services in the luxury travel, lifestyle events sectors. The new show titled simply “The Luxury Show” will be held in the Saatchi Gallery and will run for two days on the 1 st   and 2 nd   of May 2013.  Organizers claim that this new annual event is set to change the face business. The show will bring opportunity to various brands and services including cruise lines, spa resorts, yacht charters to villa operators.  Exhibitors will be given pre-built and fully fitted designer suits for the event.  The exciting event will not only give visitors the opportunity to learn of luxury products and services, but will also gain the opportunity to network within the gallery grounds.  In addition the event encourages discussion focussed on innovation with a series of seminars throughout the show.   For more info go to  www.luxuryshowlondon.com/venue.html   ...