As we reported earlier, Kensington & Chelsea Council was poised to grant approval for scheme to reconstruct the 17th century mansion of Russian billionaire last week. Roman Abramovich has won a three-year battle with planners for permission after making a series of compromises, which were forced on him by neighbors anxious at possible loss of light and increased traffic. His US$ 15 million plan to refurbish the mansion has been met with fury from neighbors who have described the proposal's approval as "bad news". Particularly hard-hit will be residents of nearby apartments, whose complaints about losing their views of the Thames were airily dismissed in the committee's report. The businessman aims to excavate beneath the Grade II-listed house, which was once home to artist James Whistler, to create a two-storey basement. He is also going to convert part of the building into an art studio to house his collection of valuable modern paintings that he has bought along with his 31-year-old partner, Dasha Zhukova.

Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich is set to realize a three-year dream to renovate a historic property overlooking the Thames - including a new art studio to show off his priceless collection. The 17th century building was once home to artist James Whistler. Now the Russian billionaire, 46, promises to transform its front garden to resemble one of Whistler's paintings of the Thames embankment at night. Kensington and Chelsea council is poised to grant approval next week for a US?$ 15 million scheme to restore three linked Cheyne Walk properties into a super-home. The project, which began in November 2010, has sparked concerns from a number of neighbors who fear they will suffer a loss of light and views and have their homes put at risk by plans to excavate a two-storey basement. According to plans drawn up by architects 6a, Mr Abramovich wants to transform the Grade II-listed property into a "beautiful and meaningful contemporary home". A report by the council's executive director of planning said the basement would not harm the "special architectural and historical interest" of the two surviving houses, dating back to one built in 1521 by Sir Thomas More. The proposal would see a garage block demolished and replaced with a "bespoke" art studio "with a particular focus on the quality of light and display of artworks" for the collection of priceless modern paintings he has amassed with partner Dasha Zhukova, 31. One property would be separated from the main home to create a "secondary building for staff and guests". Grand drawing rooms overlooking the Thames would be restored in the main house, with oaks replacing the lime trees in its front garden. The main property has access via a private side road. Work is unlikely to be finished for three years.

Russian billionaire, the chairman of Board of Directors of Capital Group, Vladislav Doronin, has built a futuristic mansion for his girlfriend Naomi Campbell in Moscow's suburban area known as Barvikha. The house for the supermodel looks like a spaceship. The unusual house was designed by famous British architect Zaha Hadid. The Russian entrepreneur plans to present the house to the famous British model when they become husband and wife. The house of 8687 square meters is called "Capital Hill Residence". The building consists of two 20-meter-high towers and is designed in Eco-style - a mixture of modern technologies and natural forms. The white mansion stands aloof amidst pine trees. The planning of the house is impressive. The basement will house a Finnish sauna, a hamam (Turkish bath) and a Russian bath. A huge gym is next door. The basement also houses a guest room. On the upper level, there is a reception hall, an indoor swimming pool, a dining room and a kitchen. The house has two children's rooms. The interior of the house is designed in Eco-style. The designer was inspired by the work of legendary Barcelona architect Antonio Gaudi, who did not accept straight lines and liked to use wood and glass in interior decoration. As for real estate, which Vladislav Doronin gives to his girlfriend, Naomi Campbell already has a penthouse in Brazil, not far from Sao Paulo. Doronin bought it for $18.5 million. In 2011, Doronin financed the construction of the Eye of Horus villa in Turkey for Naomi. The building was built in the form of the right eye of the Egyptian deity. The building, designed by young architect from Spain, Luis de Garrido, became a birthday present for Naomi.

The Palm Beach, Florida mansion, that once belonged to the best known American gangster Al Capone, is due to be put on sale for US$ 9.95 million. The mansion has changed hands several times since "Scarface" died there in 1947, and the latest owner Peter Corsell dedicated a significant amount of cash and more than a year to restore the property to its former glory - or notoriety. It has verandas, a recreation room, private dock, ornate plasterwork, and a black-and-gold Art Deco powder room that looks the same as when Capone used it. Corsell, a history buff, restored bathrooms, bronze lamps and original wall sconces, a two-story pool house, and a front gate house added by Capone for his armed guards. Capone bought the home at the height of his power in 1928 for just US$ 40 thousand. The buzz is not only for the house, but for its connection to Capone lore. The master criminal held lavish parties and fishing expeditions at the island home, which also served as Capone's alibi during some of his gang's famous killings, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. Soon after, Capone was convicted - on tax evasion charges - but held onto his island paradise through a nearly decade-long sentence at Alcatraz.

The New Jersey mansion that was the setting for Whitney Houston's well publicized drug problems and her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown is being sold with an asking price of US$ 1.75 million, reported The International Business Times. The property at 22 North Gate Road in Mendham Township, N.J., was first listed for US$ 2.5 million in 2009, but lingered in the post-recession market. The 1170 square meters mansion has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a rounded facade, on five acres of land. It appeared in 2005 in the short-lived Bravo reality series "Being Bobby Brown" featuring the then-married couple. According to another publication Dailymail, the home itself is designed with an open plan layout in mind, with the dining room providing space for 12 people. The kitchen features white units and red tiling with a breakfast bar in the middle of the room, while the sumptuous bathroom boasts glass brick walls and a round bathtub. The living room features a skylight and floor to ceiling windows with an exposed brick wall, while the bedroom features an open plan layout with a bed on a raised platform in the centre. Outstanding features include curved window-walls, domed skylights, a gracefully flowing floor plan, and walk-out lower entertainment level allowing for contiguous enjoyment of superb tiered terraces and lawn.