Multimillion-dollar garage for sale (oh, with a penthouse too)

We've published moats, slides, magnificently deranged man caves and real-life spy lairs.

But we're pretty sure this is the first garage so extravagant that the owner's asking price frankly values the auto space more than the living space. Almost twice as much as the home itself, in fact.

We first spotted the headline from our partners at Curbed: "Sky-High Apartment Comes With a Subterranean Ferrari Garage." Although the 2,537-square-foot Chicago condo is listed at $3.4 million (including garage), turns out you can buy the garage alone.
For a cool $2.1 million.
So really, it's more like "Subterranean Ferrari garage comes with sky-high apartment" -- which is almost exactly how the listing agent bills it on her agency's website. ("In addition to the spectacular garage, the property comes with a 2,537-square-foot penthouse condominium.")
What kind of a garage is this? Well you might ask! According to its standalone listing on Yahoo! Homes, "12 garage spaces have been thoughtfully converted to a luxury showroom and entertaining space for the most discriminating buyer. With separate heat, AC, air handling & security, this 2,714-square-foot space is a collector's dream come true."
It's owned by vintage-car collector and racer Michael Leventhal, who told Crain's Chicago Business in 2005:
"The building was developed by a friend, and I was able to accumulate 14 spaces. We enclosed 12 of them and built my fantasy garage. It's so special I go there and have coffee in the morning. At the end of the day, when I'm all beat up, Kathy and I have a glass of wine there. We have parties there."

The photos are regrettably low-resolution, but they give you a sense of the Ferrari-red opulence of it all; click on any of them to go to the listing for more photos:We'll update with higher-res photos if we get them.

First Lady Michelle Obama Chooses Thom Browne Dress Inspired by Necktie for Inaugural Event

Michelle Obama is known for launching women's fashion trends worldwide, but it was a menswear that served as inspiration for the first lady during Monday's daytime Inaugural events.

The first lady's custom navy jacquard Thom Browne coat and dress chosen to kick of the festivities in Washington took its cue from the fabric of a silk men's tie, reports the Associated Press. Neckties, of course, are a trademark of her husband's first term.

"It's one of those moments when I just can't believe that happened," Browne told the New York Times' Eric Wilson. Known primarily for his suits, Browne was named GQ's Designer of the Year in the fall 2008, the same year as Obama's historical election to the presidency.

Michelle Obama's new haircut makes bangs trend official

The first lady has been a fan of Browne's dress collections in recent months. She wore a custom gray dress with a black lace overlay in October, during the Democratic National Convention.

The decision to wear Browne was  win for Michelle on Monday, according fashion critics.

@FLOTUS SO CHIC in her #ThomBrowne navy coat," Elle's Joe Zee tweeted.

"The overwhelming response within the fashion community is that she looks fantastic," Fashionista's Leah Chernikoff tells Yahoo! Shine. "Everyone is thrilled she chose such a high fashion designer for today."

Browne can't take all the credit. Mrs. O also called on her own famously high-low fashion sensibilities, pairing her navy coat with an embellished waist belt and port-colored leather gloves from J. Crew.
 

The first family is Inaugural-chic.
The First Lady has made the mass market brand an unofficial designer for the first family over the past four years. Colorful J.Crew coats and gloves kept Sasha and Malia Obama warm during their dad's swearing-in ceremony in 2009.
On Monday, Malia kept the tradition going, dressed in a purple J.Crew wool coat. Her sister Sasha broke the trend with a lavender Kate Spade coat and dress.

But in the days leading up to the inaugural events, all eyes have been on the first lady, a fashion icon who launched the career of young American designer Jason Wu four years ago at the Inaugural Ball. Speculation on her choice of designer this evening remains. But already another sartorial choice is making headlines. At Sunday's private swearing-in ceremony, Mrs. O chose a royal blue cardigan and dress by designer Reed Krakoff. Krakoff also took credit for the winter-weather black suede boots Michelle changed into for Monday's outdoor Inauguration ceremony. (Those silver J. Crew heels she was wearing earlier Monday morning must not have been warm enough!)

Michelle Obama in Reed Krakoff at Sunday's private swearing-in

Fashionista's Chernikoff called the decision to wear Krakoff on Sunday "an interesting choice given that Ann Romney was criticized during the campaign for wearing Krakoff's $990 silk bird-print t-shirt."

Of course, her dresses are trumped by an even bigger style decision in recent days: those bangs.

On Sunday, President Obama called the first lady's new haircut "the most significant event of this weekend." And if there was any question, he offered his presidential seal of approval: "I love her bangs."

Creative converted homes

This is the third-annual collection of residences that were created from buildings that formerly served other purposes. The visionaries who dreamed up and created these homes started off with disused and neglected buildings and transformed them into unusual habitations designed for modern lifestyles. Go to CNBC.com to see the homes that aren't listed here:

Some categories of buildings are favorites when it comes to adaptive reuse. Other homes in this collection were made from unexpected structures. Whatever their starting points, the resulting examples of adaptive reuse range from simple and minimal or rustic to contemporary.

Location: United Kingdom
Locals call it Tracy Island, for its resemblance to the island base in the 1960s TV series "Thunderbirds," according to an article in This is Kent, but the Lime Works is a 1930s modernist former water-softening treatment plant owned by an antiques shop owner and his partner. This far-out facility shut down in 1942, and in the 1960s the water board planted poplars to hide it as it was considered an eyesore, reports the Sunday Times.
The owners bought the derelict plant in 2005 and began transforming it into a spacious residence with four floors of living space connected by spiral staircases (with the master suite taking up the whole fourth floor), floor-to-ceiling windows, a movie theater and gym, two kitchens, a rooftop swimming pool and another roof terrace, and hilltop views of the surrounding countryside. When the pair was 90 percent finished with the transformation, they decided The Lime Works was too big, and it's listed it with Savills for approximately $4,756,000, down from the January 2012 asking price of approximately $6,046,000.

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Hospital
Location: Jersey City, N.J.
The 14-acre Jersey City Medical Center originated in 1882 as Charity Hospital, with other buildings added during the Great Depression as a WPA project, but the complex closed down in 1988.
In recent years, the 10 landmark Art Deco buildings have been undergoing transformation into The Beacon apartment complex, including the restoration of marble flooring, chandeliers, plaster and other decorative features. The suite formerly serving as the mayor's office is now a poker room; a theater is used for events and parties, and many other amenities for residents have been added, such as a sun deck with barbecues and a fire pit, an indoor pool and spa and a daycare facility.
 
Barn
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
In 2001, the Seattle architecture and design firm SHED completed the transformation of this former barn and adjacent garage structure into a modern yet rustic home that's also a guest house and work space. Many sustainable and recycled materials were incorporated, such as the salvaged cedar of the original barn siding for the interior walls, and salvaged wood beams for countertops and benches. A salvaged clawfoot bathtub and other plumbing fixtures were reused.

Church
Location: Bondi, Sydney, Australia
This landmark church in Mill Hill near Sydney's center was reconfigured into two luxury apartments by Baker Kavanagh architects. Rather than just redesigning the interior of the church as many church conversions do, the architects added two contrasting contemporary terraces as well as a pool in illuminated blue. It also retains traditional church elements of pointed arch stained glass windows and vaulted beamed ceilings.
 

Industrial Silo
Location: Loegten, Denmark
As the website for the architectural firm C.F. Moeller points out, disused industrial water towers rise from the center of many small towns in Denmark. This residential conversion is one way to address that concern. Starting in 2004 and completed in 2010, C.F. Moeller in collaboration with Christian Carlsen Arkitektfirma transformed this tower into approximately 33,368 square feet of residential space plus 16,145 square feet for mixed use. That includes 21 apartments that were added to the central silo "a bit like Lego bricks," all of which have views of Aarhus Bay. The silo itself contains the elevators and staircases, and its roof is now a shared roof terrace for the resident.

World's happiest countries

Norway tops the list of happiest countries in the world

What does happiness mean to you? At its core it consists of being healthy, having enough food to feed yourself and your family and enough to money to do what you want and buy what you want. For most people that entails a nice home, decent clothes, a car or two, cable TV, good times with family and friends.
Furthermore, happiness means being able to speak what's on your mind without fear, to worship the God of your choosing, and to feel safe and secure in your own home.

The World's Happiest Countries:
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Ireland

Happiness means having opportunity – to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What's more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?
With this in mind, six years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because "happy" carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it "prosperity."
The objective of the institute's work (which is part of billionaire Christopher Chandler's Dubai-based Legatum Group) was to figure out what it is that makes happy countries happy – so that the less fortunate corners of the globe might have a benchmark to work toward.
The resulting Legatum Prosperity Index is based on a study of 142 countries comprising 96% of global population. Nations are analyzed and ranked on 89 indicators in eight categories, such as education, government and economics. The inputs for the index are both objective and subjective. It's not enough to just look at per capita GDP or unemployment rates. It also matters how hard people think it is to find jobs, or how convinced they are that hard work can bring success.
The core conceit: Prosperity is complex; achieving it relies on a confluence of factors that build on each other in a virtual circle.
So who are the happiest people in the world, as measured by Legatum? Norway takes the crown, followed by Denmark and Sweden (which leapfrogged Australia and New Zealand this year). Rounding out the Scandinavians is Finland, just a few steps behind in the seventh spot.
Luxembourg is the healthiest nation on Earth. Iceland is the safest. Switzerland has the world’s best economy and governance, according to Legatum.
What’s Norway got that the rest of the world doesn’t? For one thing, a stunning per capita GDP of $57,000 a year. Norwegians have the second-highest level of satisfaction with their standards of living: Ninety-five percent say they are satisfied with the freedom to choose the direction of their lives; an unparalleled 74% say other people can be trusted. It sure doesn’t hurt that the massive Norwegian welfare state is bankrolled by high taxes and big reserves of offshore oil and gas.
Indeed, most of the top 20 "happiest" countries according to the index are in western Europe. So what gives? What do these nations have in common that can somehow explain their prosperity?
Being an electoral democracy is virtually a given – of the top 20 most prosperous countries, only Singapore and Hong Kong aren't democracies. Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it harder for a society to build social cohesion and trust.
What else? They are all borderline socialist states, with generous welfare benefits and lots of redistribution of wealth. Yet they don't let that socialism cross the line into autocracy. Civil liberties are abundant (consider decriminalized drugs and prostitution in the Netherlands). There are few restrictions on the flow of capital or of labor.
So where does the United States rank? It's at 12th place this year, slipping from 10th. According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

Best new tech for your home

The idea of the "connected home" is taking off in a big way, and this year we see even more smart appliances on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). These promising new appliances hope to save you time and money, and help make your life a little bit easier.
Wireless Blender
We saw a bunch of interesting small appliances at this year’s show. Possibly the coolest: Haier was showing off a wireless kitchen countertop blender. This futuristic gadget uses coupling technology to remotely receive energy via a transmitter, so you don’t have to crowd your counter with unsightly wires whether making a smoothie or just leaving the blender on the counter for display. It's only available in Asia for now, but we hope to see this appliance stateside someday soon.
Portable Fridge

Whirlpool's FreshConnect cooling system may be just a concept right now, but we love the idea of portable micro-refrigeration. The setup consists of totable, battery-powered units that can change temperature and humidity settings on the fly (and be customized to contents, like meats, fruits, or frozen foods).
If one is placed outside the front door, it could hold grocery deliveries until you get home. In the house, a compartment could allow you to keep snacks cold in the family room or drinks in the dining room. Whirlpool suggests this could even be a great way to create ideal conditions for growing plants. We're excited to see what other great applications this system could have in the future.

DIY Home Monitoring
It's easier than ever to set up your own home surveillance system as web-enabled cameras and arrays become less expensive, easier to install, and more feature-rich. ClearView's IPPTZ-87 camera records in high definition for clear streaming video and features two-way audio capabilities (for chats with loved ones while you're on the road). You can set it up with a motion sensor if you don't want ongoing video and monitor your home via the web or Clearview's app for iPhone, iPad, Android, or Windows Phone. The camera will be available in the first quarter of 2013 and retail for $399.
Wirelessly Controlled Lighting

Up to 25 percent of the energy used in your home can be consumed by lighting, according to GreenWave; their new Energy Star certified LED bulbs are one easy solution to cut those costs through smart management. These lights come with Internet connectivity built in to connect seamlessly with your phone, laptop, and even your TV (if it has Web capabilities). Using GreenWave's app, you can merely turn the lights in your home on and off, or program them to adapt to outdoor light levels, motion sensors, or even adjust the color of the lighting based on the time of day.
The bulbs were announced in late 2012 and are available in Europe now (with a U.S. release soon to follow).
Smarter Washing Machine

 

Ever wish your washer could fix itself? You're in luck! LG has expanded its Smart ThinQ product line to include its latest line of washing machines. The new models are equipped with LG's Smart Diagnosis, which will alert you to technical issues and allow you to run diagnostics on the appliance without a technician present.
The new washers are also outfitted with a handy Smart Adapt technology, so you can "download" new wash cycles as your laundry needs change (like a "Baby Sanitize" cycle for a new little one in the house). And with Smart Access you can turn your machine off remotely (though not on, for safety reasons). The new units are smart grid-ready as well, to help you save money.
Plant Communicator

Take the guesswork out of watering with Moneual's Smart Communicator Plant Care SC3000. This monitor plugs right into the soil and keeps tabs on moisture and sunlight levels, and the plant's general health. You can hook it up to social media (Just think, a tree that tweets!) and it will alert you via the device's display screen or text message if your plant needs a little TLC.
Touchscreen Deadbolt

Keypad locks are nothing new, but Schlage's Touchscreen Deadbolt takes the technology to the next level. The touchscreen in this lock is capable of storing up to 30 custom codes that can be tailored to specific times and days of the week or set to expire. The unit's built-in alarm technology will alert homeowners if someone tries to tamper with the lock or force the door to open, and users can lock and unlock the door remotely with Schlage's app or via Nexia's smart home hub. The deadbolt will be available mid-January for $199-$299.
Flexible Refrigerator

It never seems like you can have enough fridge or freezer space when company's coming over. Samsung is hoping to make hosting a little easier with the 32 cu. ft.-capacity T9000 four-door refrigerator. This model is a French-door refrigerator on top, with dual compartments on the bottom — a freezer, and a flexible section that can be used for fresh food storage or as additional freezer space.
The fridge is also outfitted with a display for apps and recipes. Expect to see this premium model in stores in spring 2013, retailing for $3,999.
Home Healthcare

Whether it's watching your own vitals or keeping tabs on a loved one, the ability to monitor your healthcare without having to see doctor can be a real time (and worry) saver. Bosch’s Health Buddy allows care providers to keep track of the most crucial patient statistics remotely via user-friendly device and simple-to-navigate desktop application. The health management programs cover a range of range of conditions from chronic illnesses to post-discharge recovery and pair health education and position reinforcement with symptom review and vital-sign monitoring. Information can be transmitted to care providers multiple times a day.
Connected Home Hub

Smart appliances are less helpful when you have to have a different app for every device in your house. Companies like Nexia are looking to fill that need with a single hub to manage all of your home tech. Nexia's system lets you integrate a broad range of compatible devices using their straightforward online and mobile dashboard as a home command center. Right now, the smart home system covers services ranging from door locks and video surveillance to heating and cooling systems and lighting, and Nexia is continuing to bring on more partners.

Starter kits are available now and subscriptions begin at $8.99 per month.