How to Design a Party-Perfect Interior

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Whether you enjoy hosting cozy soirées or grand events, create a welcome haven for guests with luxurious materials, subtle lighting and clever, streamlined design, writes Claudia Baillie

Entertaining at home has become a defining part of contemporary luxury living, with high-end interiors often shaped around moments of celebration and connection. Today’s homes offer a considered blend of style and function that ensures both glamorous parties and more informal gatherings unfold with ease. From spaces that work equally for grand soirées and intimate get-togethers to cozy corners that encourage effortless conversation, the goal is to create environments that are characterful yet primed for hosting at a moment’s notice. In these scenarios, entertaining is not an afterthought, it’s at the very heart of the design.

One of the most visible expressions of this trend is the rise of the home bar, with discerning clients requesting dedicated areas—sometimes entire rooms—that become stylish focal points. “These spaces are where friends and family can gather and enjoy elegant, decadent evenings,” says Felix Milns, founder of bespoke kitchen and joinery specialists Hux London. “Some people opt for a separate bar area complete with stools, but the majority choose a beautifully crafted cabinet that sits flush to a wall or a cupboard integrated into a longer run of joinery. When closed, it blends seamlessly into the room, but when open, it adds an instant sense of theatre.”

Materials and finishes elevate these designs beyond mere utility. Luxurious timber, marble, reeded glass, and foxed or smoked mirrors, combined with adjustable LED lighting, create a subtle ambience or a more dramatic effect as desired. “Together, these elements elevate the simple act of serving a drink into an immersive experience,” says Milns. 

Functionality is equally important: shelves for glittering glassware, decanters and bottles are complemented by closed storage for items that are best hidden, while extra features might include ice makers, coffee machines, temperature-controlled refrigeration or even sinks for stress-free preparation and cleanup.

Alongside bars, wine rooms are an increasingly sought-after luxury feature. “Unlike traditional cellars hidden away in basements, these spaces are meant to be showcased, sometimes with seating and a table for experiential tasting,” Milns reports. An automated, climate-controlled environment is essential, while glass frontage, ambient lighting and bespoke joinery show off the wine, and integrated smart apps help collectors manage inventories and access tasting notes.

Open-plan living and dining areas, too, are being reimagined for the way we live and entertain, and experts like Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at multi-award-winning design studio The Vawdrey House, emphasize adaptability. 

“A room that feels intimate for supper for two needs to expand gracefully to seat 10,” Chapman explains. “Designing for entertaining means designing for real life. We consider how the cook moves, how sociable the host wants to be during prep and whether guests should perch at the island or settle in the living area while the finishing touches happen.” Pantries and sculleries are invaluable for hiding the inevitable mess, she adds, so the kitchen remains calm as guests arrive, while strong extraction is essential for cooks who entertain often. 

Zoning is fundamental. Subtle changes in level, shifts in floor finishes and partial screening help create defined areas without interrupting the openness. Furniture should be positioned with plenty of breathing room, while lightweight freestanding pieces can be moved around as gatherings evolve.

“The dining area typically forms a gentle threshold between kitchen and living space,” says Chapman. “Extendable dining tables allow the room to flex for larger groups, while banquettes offer comfort, maximize seating and add softness through textiles. In living zones adjacent to dining areas, modular sofas provide a spot for guests to gather and lounge without feeling rigid or formal, but we always consider sight lines as no one wants to sit at sofa height staring at a busy worktop.” Layered, adjustable lighting can be used to create a sense of rhythm throughout the evening, as can sensory details such as candlelight, music and scent. 

While flexible, multifunctional spaces often form the core of modern interiors, Milns says there remains a distinct desire for the ceremony and ritual of a dedicated room. “A formal dining room provides a clear separation from the bustle of everyday life. It creates an atmosphere that feels elevated, deliberate and inherently glamorous,” he notes.

Bespoke shelving or a beautifully crafted dresser allows for the display of ceramics, glassware or curated collections, while hidden storage ensures the room remains uncluttered, preserving its sense of occasion. In such spaces, the act of dining itself becomes ceremonial, and every detail contributes to a considered experience.

Ultimately, the best examples of entertaining spaces don’t just accommodate guests; they invite them in while shaping the pace and mood of an event. The payoff of great design is not just in how the spaces look, but the way they make people feel: welcomed, engaged and with a feeling of warmth that lingers long after the evening ends. 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Color Chart: The Joys Of An Orange Home

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into a luxury home? Zingy orange is a palette cleanser—and works well with a dash of greenery, writes Jill Krasny

Ever notice how some homes put you at ease while others seem to jolt you awake? The colors in a design scheme may have something to do with it. Whereas soft shades of pink tend to lower the heart rate, green clears your mind and citrus shades can make you feel energized. For the first installment of our new series on color in luxury homes, we’re examining orange—that zingy, punchy hue that makes a space feel energising, warm and playful.   

“There’s a time and a place for orange,” says Jasmin Reese, an interior designer based in Chicago. “A lot of people think their skin tone doesn’t look good against orange. But I think it gives you a nice glow and it’s a riveting color.” She suggests plenty of ways to harness it, such as painting the underside of kitchen cabinets an Hermès color reminiscent of its gift box; or enlivening a room with orange-colored artwork or throw pillows.

A 1995 adobe house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, looks truly sunbaked and offers a chance to experiment with complimentary hues to orange, like calming blue and green. The expansive living room, with its raw wood-beamed ceilings and coral hexagon tiles, would look smart with a blue accent chair, window treatment or rug, says Reese. “Greenery is always a nice way to bring the outdoors in,” and plants will complement the light orange of the dining area. 

As a secondary hue, orange feels softer than primary colors such as red and yellow. However, it’s best not overused, warns Reese, as it can feel “repetitive and too muddy overall.” Paired with dark floors, it can all too easily scream Halloween.

A striking villa minutes from downtown Papeete, on Tahiti, stands out with its tangerine exterior. The sculptural staircase also makes a statement, as does the living room painted a cheerful orange red. To help the artwork stand out, Reese suggests contrasting the walls bright white. “You may as well just commit,” she says of the azure-colored bedroom.

Meanwhile, a minimalist home in Akrotiri, on the island of Paros, almost blends into the rustic landscape with its terracotta exterior. “You’re kind of enveloped in it,” Reese says of the arresting color, which extends throughout the outdoor spaces and communal areas. Very little is needed to enhance this luxury space, though Reese suggests introducing sheer window treatments in linen or cotton to the sitting room, imagining soft, layered lighting playing across it at night.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Live Like Downton Abbey: An Ode to English Country House Style

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The fairytale allure of aristocratic life continues to captivate on screen and in real estate.

It was the American-British novelist Henry James who praised “the well-appointed, well-administered, well-filled country house” as the most perfect invention of the English, revealing both “their social genius and their manners.” 

James would surely have tipped his hat to “Downton Abbey,” which after 15 popular years on our screens has secured its place among fictional estates as venerable as Jane Austen’s Pemberley, Daphne du Maurier’s Manderley and Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Castle. But while “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” marks the end of an era, the show’s influence on real estate continues, with buyers seeking properties that capture the same aristocratic elegance and country house appeal.

Steeped in tradition and landscape, the English country house style endures on both sides of the Atlantic—in bricks and mortar, as well as on screen. Recent Realtor.com research found “the timeless elegance and romantic charm of Tudor and Victorian architecture” infuses the oldest and largest grand houses in America, particularly those in the northeastern U.S.

The country house vernacular is a consistently popular choice for new homes, too: though barely 20 years old, the Georgian proportions of this house in Zionsville, Central Indiana perfectly capture that old-world charm. 

It’s hardly surprising the English country house has endured so well. The mix of old and new—in furniture, textiles and architecture—makes for a reassuring blend of nostalgia and continuity, while comfortable elegance balanced with tasteful formality creates lived-in sophistication.

For John Goodall, architectural editor of “Country Life” magazine, this combination of comfort and formality is key. “It’s a very different vision of elegance and it’s bound up with country living and sports, but also high culture,” he says of the style. “It’s a place where you can see a Titian on the wall, but the dogs are running around.”

Denham Place, a palatial 17th-century manor house in Buckinghamshire, England, is a fine example, complete with its own cinematic history as a location for the 1973 James Bond film, “Live and Let Die.” Amply set up for equestrian pursuits and bordering a championship golf course, the house’s interior balances luxury and relaxation, from its magnificently restored state rooms and private chapel lounge to both a formal and informal dining room and a fully equipped gym.

Successfully blending period details with the changes demanded of modern luxury living is key to the country house aesthetic, as reflected in the evolution of Downton’s own style.

The Crespi Estate exemplifies the art deco style featured in the latest movie. Built in 1938, this stunning Texas property showcases the same period aesthetic and “is a rare expression of old-world opulence brought to life on Dallas soil,” according to Pogir Pogir, global real estate advisor with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, who emphasizes the timelessness, romance and exceptional craftsmanship that make it chime with its English cousins. 

And for potential homeowners keen to embrace the country house lifestyle, but on French soil, a classic 17th-century château at Pézenas in the Languedoc-Roussillon offers an irresistible combination of opulence and tranquility. 

Airy interiors, with generously proportioned windows, frame a backdrop of century-old trees, ornamental fountains and elegant parkland, a setting as suited to events as it is to relaxation and retreat. In our restless age, the country house lifestyle feels more precious than ever.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

What Is The Perfect Cozy Interior For Fall?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Layering textiles and lighting, plus the rich use of color and pattern, can enhance a sense of autumnal comfort, writes Francesca Perry

It’s not just the natural landscape that transforms in fall. The changing of the seasons outside our windows is often the prompt homeowners need to switch up their interiors, too. Attention moves indoors, where hearty meals are consumed, movies watched, books read and social gatherings ignited. It’s no surprise that U.S. adults repeatedly name fall as their favorite season.

Wherever the autumnal period finds you, there are ways to style a home that maximize coziness, from textile layering to richer colors and warmer lighting. As San Francisco-based interior designer Michael Hilal says, a cozy interior is “a space that invites you to stay—to slow down, stretch out, lose track of time.”

Reflecting the hibernating tendencies of the season, soft furnishings are paramount. Curved sofas and chairs can make an ideal option, even in the sunny fall of southern California. Throughout the five-bedroom Rutherford House in Beverly Hills, for example, lounge furniture is elegantly rounded, inviting residents to sink in for the entire afternoon. 

Cooler temperatures encourage many people to layer their clothing. The same approach can be adopted for fall-friendly interiors: drape throws and blankets over sofas, chairs and beds; add tablecloths or runners to bare tables; and opt for rugs underfoot. Heavier, craft-forward fabrics are ideal to convey both luxury and comfort—think textured wool and cashmere, rather than light cottons and linens. 

“As fall arrives, we bring out our wool and mohair blankets,” say Cy and Genevieve Carter, co-founders of bicoastal interiors firm Carter Design. “We replace our summer throw rugs with sheepskins, layering them on chairs or next to beds for extra coziness.”

Traditional rugs can be seen throughout the Peary Homestead in Germantown, New York, even in the kitchen and bathroom, suiting the natural charm of this 19th-century country manor. And in an impressive mountaintop retreat in Stratton, Vermont—arguably the perfect spot to watch the fall colors unfold—large rugs offset the wooden floors, adding warmth and texture to the interior. 

Rugs are an easy way to introduce patterns, which many designers recommend for a cozy home. New York-based interior stylist Mieke ten Have advises embracing multiple busy prints, while Salt Lake City designer Shea McGee opts particularly for plaids and stripes. 

Patterned wallpaper can also bring this approach to life, with the revival of wallpaper highlighted in Houzz’s 2025 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report. In a historic canal residence in Amsterdam, colorfully patterned wallpaper, upholstery and a large rug come together in the sitting room to create an effective sense of coziness beneath the tall, beamed ceiling. 

The colors of an interior can have a big impact—and are an effective way to make a seasonal change. Rich hues such as russet, forest green, ochre, burgundy, mustard yellow and earthy browns can bring warmth in fall, while creating subliminal connections to the outdoors. This needn’t necessarily involve a repaint: seasonal hues can also be introduced through simple styling. 

“We place large bowls filled with seasonal fruit, such as pomegranates, with their beautiful blush pinks and deep burgundies, on our kitchen counter, while saffron-colored candlesticks find their way to our dining table,” say Cy and Genevieve Carter. Darker colors, too, bring drama, with deep jewel tones trending in the latest Houzz report. 

And in the same way that textiles and patterns can be layered, so can lighting. “Coziness is about building a mood—and light does most of the heavy lifting,” says Hilal. Lamps are key but you can incorporate a range of warm lighting sources: at the Peary Homestead, candles and sconces are complemented by lanterns and fireplaces, while in Vermont, a statement lighting feature above the dining table brings together dozens of tall candles.

With decorating, a more maximalist approach tends to suit the season. Consider putting collections of antiques, homeware and books on prominent display. Cabinetry and furniture can enable this— as seen in the sweeping in-built bookshelves of the Vermont property—hosting artful arrangements of belongings to perfect a comfortable, lived-in aesthetic.

This is a time to celebrate natural materials: think carved hardwood furniture, handwoven baskets, clay homeware, rough-hewn stone tabletops and wooden paneling. This brings a textured, earthy atmosphere to the interior, keeping cozy while maintaining the connection to nature outdoors. 

Finally, with fall comes an increase in indoor gatherings and festive celebrations, so think about schemes that facilitate convivial get-togethers through the grouping of furniture or features such as conversation pits—a space that invites conversation and connection is the coziest space of all. 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Sweet Dreams: Styling A Statement Bedroom

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The audacious use of paint, textiles and eye-catching furniture can create a sense of sanctuary that is as personal as it is impactful, writes Francesca Perry

Of all the rooms in a house, the bedroom is arguably where design choices can be most personal—and, perhaps, boldest. Some homeowners opt for serene, pared-back decor to set a calm mood, but for others, the bedroom’s role as sanctuary comes to life with more expressive choices. 

Since the pandemic, there has been an increased focus on the role of design in supporting wellness—and for those working from home, the need for distinct spaces of relaxation and work, each with their own character. A statement bedroom, sometimes counterintuitively, can give that sense of escape from the rest of the house. From bold color choices to impactful furniture and textiles, there are plenty of options for creating the ideal space.

“Deep tones lend themselves to bedrooms,” says Georgina Wood, founder and creative director of London-based interiors firm Studio Clementine. “Used correctly, they can be much more restful than stark whites or lighter tones. If you’re looking to use bolder colors, opt for naturally restful shades such as blue and green. This creates a cocooning effect.” 

Wood took this approach when working on the bedroom in a London apartment for the British-American fashion designer Harris Reed and his husband. Here, the walls, ceiling and bedspread are all in a deep kingfisher blue, with decorative red detailing matching a luxurious crimson carpet. The wallpaper, designed by Wood in collaboration with Reed and wallcovering specialist Fromental, depicts a “botanical paradise” on moiré silk. “The lagoon background creates a mystical backdrop to the vivid embroidered design,” says Wood. “The goal was to create an all-encompassing room fit for a fabulously fashionable couple.”

The immersive hue of Reed’s London bedroom displays an approach known as “color drenching”—a key interiors trend of 2025, according to Vogue—where a dominant shade is chosen for the decor, extending across walls, ceilings, fixtures and furnishings. The effect can be striking, enveloping the inhabitant in a visually cohesive experience. 

New York-based interiors studio and design gallery Somerset House used the technique for a master bedroom of a townhouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Again, a deep blue was chosen, used across the walls, ceiling and millwork for a strong yet soothing aesthetic. The effect is complemented by a bespoke velvet bed in dark green, with a rippling headboard extending the width of an entire wall. 

Wow-factor headboards or entire beds are a key way that designers can create statements in bedroom interiors. British appliqué artist Natasha Hulse recently collaborated with furniture brand Lorfords Contemporary on a collection of headboards, including “Rose,” a tall, decorative piece with a curling silhouette, covered in red roses. It immediately draws the eye, turning any bed into an artistic flourish in the center of a room. 

For the guest bedroom of a house in Montecito, California, Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors chose a decorative antique bed from British designer and antiques dealer Robert Kime. The elaborately embroidered canopy, in yellow, turquoise and red, evokes a palatial bedroom, fit for royalty. “Kime’s beds are beautiful, timeless and have presence and history. They immediately make you feel part of a story when you climb into them,” says von Stockhausen. “Beds should never be an afterthought: they are, after all, the most important pieces of furniture in the house.”

In the master bedroom, meanwhile, von Stockhausen collaborated with her client to design a wooden four-poster bed, crafted by fine furniture maker Nicholas Walton. “I get a lot of requests for special beds these days,” says von Stockhausen, whose passion for four-posters has seeded her own collection, inspired by antique examples, and set to launch with Oficina Inglesa in 2026.

“People are craving comfort and sanctuary more than ever, and a four-poster or canopy bed immediately offers that, giving a sense of enclosure and intimacy that feels incredibly nurturing,” she says. “Clients are also becoming more confident in wanting something with presence—a bed that isn’t just functional but also makes a statement and sets the tone for the entire room.”

The four-poster in the Montecito project is set against an intricately painted golden antique screen, reflective of von Stockhausen’s design approach. “I want bedrooms to feel layered, inviting and deeply connected to history,” she says. “Antiques are essential: they bring warmth, depth and that sense of permanence which immediately makes a room feel as though it has evolved over time.”

The architecture of a bedroom can also be used to create an impact. For a project in West Orange, New Jersey, interior designer Beth Diana Smith looked to “embrace the beauty” of the master bedroom’s vaulted ceiling, highlighting it with a patterned wallpaper. 

“This creates a striking focal point that the client can enjoy both when entering the room and while lying in bed,” says Smith. To balance the drama overhead, she color-drenched the walls in an immersive purple-brown, which provides both contrast and warmth. According to Smith, this brings “a sense of luxury and intimacy”, a combination that perfectly encapsulates the ideal for anyone seeking to create their own private oasis.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Rococo Revival: From Marie Antoinette To Today

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Luxury homes are taking a gilded leaf out of the historic French style book as they look to 18th-century grandeur for inspiration and escape, writes Aimee Dawson

Maximalism is making a comeback. While many early-2000s interiors were marked by simple lines, sleek materials and minimal details, recent years have seen a revival of romantic and extravagant—even ostentatious—schemes. And no design era did ostentatious better than Rococo. 

Described as the final expression of the elaborate Baroque movement in Europe in the 17th and first half of the 18th century, Rococo was “perhaps the most rebellious of design styles,” according to the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London. “It was exceptionally ornamental and theatrical—a style without rules,” its website explains. 

One person in particular embodied the rebellious Rococo style: Marie Antoinette. The 18th-century French queen was known for her frivolity and excess, from her fashion sense to the interior design of her home in the Palace of Versailles, as can be seen in a newly opened V&A exhibition, “Marie Antoinette Style,” running until March 2026. This follows the “Rococo and Co” show at Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris earlier in 2025.

When you think of Versailles, you think of gold leaf and mirrored surfaces in abundance. But interiors in the Rococo (from the French word “rocaille,” which means rock or broken shell) style also include “asymmetry, natural motifs such as shells and leaves, curved lines and soft colors,” says Danielle Thom, a senior curator at London’s Design Museum who specializes in 18th-century sculpture and decorative arts. 

So why is Rococo having a revival? “In a basic sense, I think it is a reaction against the dominance of muted good taste, whether you call it quiet luxury, minimalism or whatever,” Thom says. “No more beige cashmere wraps and grey sofas, no more algorithm-fueled design decisions. Rococo permits individuality within its parameters.”

As Thom adds: “It also represents a form of emotional and aesthetic escape from the mundane and often brutal realities of life.” In our current uncertain times, one can certainly see the appeal of a Rococo-themed retreat.

While Rococo began as a French fancy, its popularity spread internationally and the design style can now be found in homes across the world. Some examples are authentic to the time period—Palazzo Rococo in Venice, Italy, features original Rococo interiors created (with added Venetian flair) in the mid- to late-18th century. 

Painstakingly restored to its former glory, the eight-bedroom palace with canal views includes museum-quality paintings and has historical connections to the Russian Imperial Court, as well as the literary and cultural elite of Europe (it once hosted the acclaimed French writer Stendhal, best known for his 1830 novel “Le Rouge et le Noir”). 

Other more recently built homes have used Rococo design as inspiration for their elegant interiors. 

This Californian house, named Versailles Topanga, has been created using techniques and materials true to the Rococo era, with new artworks—including a ceiling mural in the double-height living room—commissioned in keeping with the period, as well as plenty of hand-gilded details. “The wrought iron balusters, designed and gilded onsite, are modeled after those in the French Embassy, adding a touch of regal elegance,” explains Sotheby’s International Realty – Malibu Brokerage. 

Meanwhile, an eight bedroom Toronto home—described as a “gilded French Revival palatial legend”—was built in 2007, but its design is straight out of 18th-century France. From an impressive facade of arched windows to the canopied beds of the boudoirs, this house echoes many details from Versailles. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada describes the building as “a collaborative effort involving numerous European artists, artisans, designers, collectors, and gold leaf gilders,” and the home—like Marie Antoinette’s before it—is a trove of antiques sourced from around the world.

The 18th-century Rococo opulence of Versailles can even be found in a luxury villa on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The interior was designed by Francesco Molon, an Italian atelier of luxury home furnishings, in the classical European style.

As well as its palatial aesthetic, the Dubai home comes with royal-style amenities since it is part of the five-star Raffles hotel resort. These include a luxury spa, cigar lounge, fine dining restaurants and 24-hour concierge services. Escapism, indeed.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Luxury Lens: Are Overseas Buyers In The Market For Luxury U.S. Homes?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Are overseas buyers in the market for luxury U.S. homes? In short: yes. Overseas buyers bought homes priced at least US$1M at more than twice the rate of U.S. buyers in the year to March 2025, according to analysis by the National Association of REALTORS(NAR).

NAR’s 2025 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report plus data supplied directly to Sotheby’s International Realty by NAR found that almost one in five (18%) international purchases fell into this luxury bracket compared with just 8% of overall existing-home sales.

“Foreign buyers generally purchase at higher price points compared to the typical domestic buyer,” says Matt Christopherson, NAR’s director of business and consumer research.

As shown below, Chinese buyers spent an average US$1,168,800 per home, with 35% of their purchases topping US$1M. British buyers were the next most frequent seven-figure spenders: 23% of their purchases cost US$1M or more.

And for many overseas buyers, cash is king. Almost half (47%) of foreign buyers transacted in cash over the same period, compared to 28% of all buyers—with the proportion rising to 71% of Chinese buyers, 61% of U.K. buyers and 57% of Canadian buyers.

Overall, international buyers spent US$56B on American homes, up almost a third from the previous 12 months. Almost half (47%) bought homes for use as vacation homes, rental properties or both.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Life as Art: When Luxury Homes Are Living Sculptures

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Extraordinary residences blur the line between art and architecture when daring design meets everyday life, writes Riya Patel

While there are many extraordinary private homes worldwide, only a distinct few can be described as “living sculptures.” Closer to art than architecture, these residences have a purity of form, material, or visual language. Like the greatest sculptures or experimental pavilions, they play spatial tricks to elicit emotion when moving through them. Yet unlike abstract artworks, sculptural homes are made not just to be admired, but to be lived in. The best examples strike the right balance of function and form. 

Dominic Bradbury, author of the ”Iconic House” book series for Thames & Hudson, has come across many architects who have, in his words, “purposefully pioneered a new approach to residential design that is dynamic, expressive and sculptural.” Two examples from the “Iconic American House” are Charles Deaton’s Sculptured House in Colorado (1965) and Simon Ungers’ T-House in New York State (1992). Both took decades to complete “given the complexity of the form and structure,” says Bradbury. 

Then there are houses by artists that are consciously conceived as works of art, such as British and Turner prize-winning artist Grayson Perry’s A House for Essex (2014), designed with FAT Architecture. As a rental home, Bradbury says, it offers “a wonderful opportunity to experience the idea of living in an artwork, surrounded by Perry’s paintings and tapestries.”

Many of these unique homes from the past exist only as museums, but for those interested in owning one themselves, several properties currently on the market lay claim to the “living sculpture” tag. 

In Wyoming, The River House by architect Wallace Cunningham is nestled low among a landscape of river and creeks. From the outside, the building—completed in 2023— appears like a public art gallery, with a shallow arched roof and floor-to-ceiling glazed walls. Inside, stone fireplaces and timber joinery add comfort amid abundant natural light and views into the surrounding nature. 

In stark contrast, the 2016 Rhode Island residence, Brutaliste Sur Mer, is designed to be seen from afar. Like a Rubik’s cube of interlocking concrete planes, this outwardly striking home— a committed example of coastal brutalism—is warmed up internally with teak wall cladding and bespoke features such as a timber-lined dressing room and six-seater home theater. It also has unparalleled vistas of the Sakonnet Passage thanks to its high elevation.

Bradbury believes it takes a certain type of an architect to achieve homes that are so daring. “Through the books, we’ve explored many innovative and experimental architects who like to explore new ways of thinking as well as fresh structural forms,” he says of the “Iconic House” series. Perhaps every generation has them.

One 1970s visionary is French architect Savin Couëlle, whose Corsican home is remarkable for its raw and rustic use of local materials. Spread across several split levels, it is anchored by a central staircase carved directly from the waterside granite. A more futuristic take on the idea of life inside a sculpture can be found in the jungles of Tulum, Mexico, where four luxury condos shaped organically and designed to be in tune with nature are on the drawing board.

Living in a sculptural home requires commitment to the vision. The more extreme examples, like Deaton’s elliptical mountaintop home in Colorado, are built to be lived in by their architects, who use them as prototypes to test out new ideas. Success can also arise where an architect works in close collaboration with a client of an artistic persuasion.

Among the stunning homes in Bradbury’s next book, focused on the Nordics, is Studio Bua’s Artist’s House in Iceland (2021), which transformed an abandoned farm outhouse. The home combines old and new: an existing rough concrete base with a gabled timber volume above. Those looking to buy an art-led home at the more liveable end, might also look to warmer materials, touches of nature or places accepting of a personal touch to feel more familiar.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How To Design the Perfect Home Cinema

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Oscars season is the cue to upgrade your viewing experience with a bespoke movie theater, writes Claudia Baillie 

With the 97th Academy Awards just days away, it’s an exciting time for movie lovers around the globe. Celebrating cinematic excellence and honoring the best of the best in the film industry, the Oscars are a must-watch spectacle, full of glamor, suspense and iconic moments. They also bring the magic of a home cinema into a focus as sharp as that of any Hollywood blockbuster. Who wouldn’t like to enjoy an award-winning drama or box-office smash from the comfort of their own custom-designed theater? 

“These days, a home cinema is something clients want, and indeed expSOURCE: Sotheby’sect, in any luxury property,” says Aaron Reid, a real-estate agent at New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty. “Perfect for date nights or family movies, a big screen is also ideal for hosting social occasions that revolve around big sporting events.” 

What’s non-negotiable, according to Reid, is a dedicated room rather than a multi-purpose space. He cites the state-of-the-art set-up in a luxury warehouse conversion in Grey Lynn, Auckland, as an example. Designed by a movie director, the 12-seater cinema with art deco detailing looks every bit the part. “Buyers have been unanimous in saying it is the best home theater they’ve ever seen,” says Reid.

Marie Cloud, founder of Charlotte-based interior design studio Indigo Pruitt, wholeheartedly agrees with this sentiment on going bespoke. “A home cinema is all about immersion. It should feel transportive and pull you into the experience,” she says. “Comfort is of course paramount: motorized recliners allow users to find their ideal viewing position. In terms of upholstery, velvet is luxurious and sound-absorbing, while leather is durable and low maintenance.” Built-in features such as cup holders, USB ports and heated seats will enhance the viewing experience, Cloud adds, and combining recliners with deep, sectional daybed-style seating or beanbags creates a more loungey, laid-back vibe.

While full soundproofing isn’t always necessary, sound control is essential. Acoustic or fabric-wrapped panels, upholstered walls or even velvet or suede wallpaper help contain sound while at the same time preventing harsh reflections. Similarly, wood paneling—as used in the luxe but understated media room of this contemporary estate in Ross, California—can add visual interest and improve sound absorption, while dark-colored or matte walls reduce glare and help keep focus on the screen. “When it comes to the ceiling, starry sky fiber optics create a dreamy effect,” suggests Cloud. “Another option is acoustic ceiling tiles, which improve sound quality and can become an interesting architectural detail.” 

Crucially, lighting should be layered and adjustable—think dimmable sconces, wall washers that provide soft light, recessed spots on dimmers and cove or perimeter lighting for depth and ambiance. LED step lights guide movement without disruption and lighting that syncs with the beginning and end of the movie will give an authentic theater feel—that goes for outdoor cinemas such as this scene-stealing screen setup in McLean, Virginia, too. 

“Now smart voice or app-controlled systems allow effortless adjustments to lighting as well as temperature and sound,” says Cloud. “And don’t forget fun additions such as built-in bars, mini fridges and even display storage for cinema themed collectibles. These are the finishing touches that make a space feel truly special.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The Rise of Home Libraries in a Screen-Saturated Era

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Having a space for books is the ultimate stamp of personality that enriches your living environment, writes Riya Patel

No matter how many bookshelves a home may have, there’s something special about a dedicated library. Who hasn’t dreamt of curating their own shelves, dusting off old favorites and getting lost for countless hours between the pages? The popularity of the personal library as a luxury home feature seems to have increased over the past few years, perhaps as a reaction to the pervasive presence of digital consumption. In the online era, a room of books is a regular reminder to reconnect with the pleasure of reading, to surround yourself in words with personal meaning, and to define a space that’s screen-free.

While studies and home offices imply the drudgery of work, a library can be something much more whimsical—and this is reflected in design approaches. “They provide endless opportunities to add a personal touch,” say designers Clémence Pirajean and James Lees of London-based firm Pirajean Lees. Indeed the recent “bookshelf wealth” trend points to the power of expressing oneself through the books and items on home shelving. For a 2023 townhouse project in London’s Marylebone neighborhood, Pirajean Lees included a library as an “inviting, quiet retreat—a relaxing space perfect for a morning coffee or a Sunday read.” Layered with the owner’s collected novels and titles on art, fashion and design are pieces of framed art, sculptural vases, and decorative objects that reflect his life story. 

Compared to the neutral color scheme for the rest of the townhouse, the library sets a different tone with bookcases painted in the rich and nostalgic “Hague Blue” by British paint and wallpaper company Farrow & Ball. The compact space has several touches that work together successfully: a deep-seated armchair, a variety of lamps, a handcrafted rug and a wood-paneled ceiling that adds warmth, while absorbing sound. 

A glamorous Toronto home designed in 2023 by leading American interior designer Kelly Wearstler also offers a small library as a place of escape. Like a castle turret, this dramatic wood-paneled room has a circular plan where shallow bookshelves sit between slot windows. The family’s large-format books are the crowning glory here; the front covers face outward, displayed as they might be on the shelves of a shop, allowing their designs to be fully admired. Instead of a chair, a glass table in the center of the room is the place to leaf through anything that takes the reader’s fancy. 

Families are particularly keen on imaginative library spaces as they draw members together, away from the allure of personal devices. In a 2022 remodel of a California residence for actor Samira Wiley, writer Lauren Morelli and their growing family, a generous three-seater sofa is the central feature of the classically styled library. LA-based designer Stefani Stein set the statement furniture piece in a nook surrounded by bespoke joinery, painted in a deep green with a gloss finish, and filled with books and decorative objects. A large artwork behind and wall-mounted lamps with pleated fabric lampshades make a clear invitation to linger and enjoy the space. A low coffee table set up for playing chess or board games also marks this room out as a place for the family to entertain guests or enjoy time together. 

New York-based architect Frederick Tang has another theory about why we love to make books a feature of our homes: to impress. “Whenever I go to someone’s home, whether for the first time or the twentieth, I always spy on their shelves,” he says. “Book collections are the clearest window into someone’s preoccupations and always an opportunity to establish the point of view of a space.” 

Quarry Loft, a New York apartment designed by Frederick Tang Architecture in 2022, features an adaptable library that can also function as a sitting room, guest room, office or entrance hall, thanks to a timber and fluted glass sliding partition. It’s a light and contemporary rendition of a classic library that makes the most of the small footprint. The white oak shelves are minimally arranged rather than stacked full, and the room’s barrel-vault ceiling does the job of lending the space its distinct character.

In French designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s 2024 conversion of a quintessentially Parisian apartment, the main hallway also functions as a library. It’s a nod both to the book collector who formerly owned the home and the aspirations of the couple who live there now, who wanted to combine period charm with a modern expression. Curved walls are fitted with slim bookshelves that surround doorways, maximizing the capacity of the small space to store and display books. Much more than just a room to pass through, the library features a playful ceiling fresco by artist Matthieu Cossé, a table by collectible mid-century designer Jean Royère, and thick textured wood surfaces that give it the feel of solidity.

In homes both contemporary and classical, the library is showing serious staying power, helping us feel both grounded and connected to bigger ideas. “Books always elevate a room,” says Tang. “On a purely visual level, a surface of perfectly aligned spines becomes a living wallpaper. On an intellectual level, a giant coffee table with big art catalogues and monographs projects one’s curiosities and inspirations.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

What Is a Perfect Home for an Aquarius?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each zodiac sign? Visionary Aquarians need a room with a view—and a dose of eclecticism, writes Jill Krasny

Every sign of the zodiac is said to have its own character. So what kind of homes match up with people based on astrology? Wise Capricorn’s eye for detail serves them well when house hunting, and Sagittarians prize spaces that feel expansive and unique. Aquarians are known for their independent streak, so as their new zodiac season gets underway (January 21-February 18), it’s time to ask: How do you design the perfect home for an Aquarian? 

As an air sign, Aquarians naturally gravitate to light-filled rooms where their minds can wander, says Anthony Perrotta, an astrologer and interior designer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Retractable doors that maximize indoor/outdoor living have great appeal, and Aquarians may happily spring for a bright and airy five-bedroom house in the tony Bosques de Santa Fe neighborhood in Mexico City. Here, every room seems to flow elegantly into another—and the home brings nature inside with a tree rising through the stairwell. Large windows let in natural light and offer sumptuous views outside. The sunny terrace, which overlooks the clipped yard, leads to a private park. 

Homes that feel stuffy in every sense of the word turn off Aquarians. They’re a cutting-edge sign, says Perrotta, so somewhere traditional with time-capsule features like galley kitchens, window muntins, and dark corridors will make them feel cloistered. Designs that feel more of-the-moment, with open floor plans, rich materials, smart home technology, and ample gathering space, are more their speed. The picture-perfect Hesperus estate, on the northern coast of the island of Crete, sets the stage for get-togethers for this sociable sign. A wraparound terrace leads to a private beach, while a former artist’s workshop in the garden is now a magical sanctuary for overnight guests. 

Aquarians have a knack for blending old and new designs in inventive ways. As visionaries, eclecticism is often their thing, says Perrotta, and they’re not shy about breaking the rules. A sprawling adobe compound in Scottsdale, Arizona, melds southwestern style—dark wood beams, terracotta tiles, and a kiva fireplace—with contemporary gestures like pendant lighting, minimalist ivory walls and sleek material finishes. “You can’t expect [Aquarians’] design tastes to stay in a box,” says Perrotta, and this home defies conventional style silos. The glass on the wood-framed front door riffs on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, a home-studio in Wisconsin that exemplifies the Prairie School style of architecture. Meanwhile, the kitchen’s colorful LED lighting shifts playfully according to the owner’s mood. 

Aquarians want a home that stands out, so they’re drawn to offbeat jewel tones or “deep space colors” like indigos, violets and emeralds, says Perrotta. Lighter shades may also attract them, as would cool metals, given their penchant for cutting-edge tech. “They aren’t afraid of color or going out on a limb either,” he says. In terms of furniture, anything oversized, traditional or clunky won’t be for them, so “leave the La-Z-Boy at home,” says Perrotta. Low-slung sofas and loungers are worthwhile investments, as they help them stay literally grounded. 

“If I were to take Aquarius away from the ultra-modern or futuristic elements, I would put them in a home that feels quirky and vintage,” says Perrotta. “Almost like a movie set from the 1970s with ‘modern for the times’ accents.” A London home on a quiet, tree-lined street in St. John’s Wood is defined by a retro-meets-contemporary vibe. Standout features include distinctive wood paneling and palm-tree-shaped lights in gathering spaces such as the bar, a pool lounge, and carpeted sunroom. As Perrotta puts it, “there is a kitschy, playful vibe that [Aquarians] can’t deny.” 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The Trends That Will Define 2025

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

From sustainable architecture to community connections, home trends for 2025 are all about spaces that nurture well-being, writes Mandi Keighran

With the new year arriving, interior design and architecture trends look set to emphasize intentional living, driven by an ongoing cultural shift towards wellness, sustainability and meaningful connection with both community and nature. Beyond simply surface-level aesthetics, these trends embrace a more holistic approach. Homes are increasingly designed as sanctuaries that integrate nature, mindfulness and technology in innovative ways, enhancing everyday life. From calming retreats that offer an alternative to open-plan living to walkable neighborhoods that foster active communities, these five home trends for 2025 center on restorative and meaningful environments.

Spaces for retreat

The concept of wellness in the home may not be new, but 2025 will see this evolve from resort-style amenities to embrace holistic wellbeing. A desire for dedicated retreat spaces—such as meditation rooms and reading nooks—is set to increase, offering sanctuary from our digital distractions and fast-paced world. Wynddon Estate in Phoenix, Maryland, features a beautifully crafted reading alcove, framed by wood paneling and large windows overlooking the lush grounds. Such an example showcases how even the most luxurious of homes are thoughtfully integrating spaces for quiet contemplation. 

Hybrid inside-outside properties

In climates that allow it, people are finding more ways to blend indoor comfort with the beauty of nature, creating spaces that open up into the outdoors. These designs feature seamless transitions that allow abundant light, fresh air and greenery—all proven to support wellbeing—to flow into living spaces. “Architecture that dissolves boundaries between inside and outside is all about adding value—both to property and everyday life,” says Emil Neumann, director at London-based Paul Archer Design. “It’s luxurious to be connected to nature. Nothing is more thrilling than being exposed to the elements in an unusual way—from a retractable roof above the shower to an outdoor kitchen or a spa zone that flows from inside to out.”

Casa Lomas Country Club, on the outskirts of Mexico City, is a stunning showcase of this approach. Designed by architects Manolo Mestre and Lorena Vieyra, the home integrates feng shui principles with expansive spaces that open to verdant forests. With an interior characterized by enormous sliding glass doors that lead to spacious terraces, the home blurs boundaries to create a tranquil, immersive retreat.

Dark opulence

The new year sees a growing desire for interiors featuring deep, dramatic colors and sumptuous textures—a boldly sophisticated palette that defies minimalism’s stark neutrality. This trend signals a shift towards moody environments that exude elegance. At a historic home in Weston, Massachusetts, a wood-paneled lounge envelops the occupant in a kind of glamorous, dark opulence. The space is anchored by a striking black marble fireplace that is complemented by jewel-toned textiles—including emerald-green drapes and ruby-red cushions—while art deco lighting adds timeless flair.

Smart yet passive homes

Sustainability will continue to dominate design in 2025—and as eco-consciousness rises, homes that utilize passive cooling and heating strategies will set the standard for future living. These residences emphasize low energy consumption through shading, natural ventilation and materials with high thermal mass (the ability to absorb, store and release heat)—all of which reduce the need for carbon-emitting mechanical systems. Both traditional craftsmanship, drawing on elemental design strategies, and advanced technologies—such as sensors that can automatically shade windows in direct sunlight—play pivotal roles.

A striking example of this is Nest House in Berkeley, California, designed by Artifact Collaborative. Bridgett Shank, the firm’s co-founder, notes that as the need for climate resilience grows, employing passive design strategies “should be the first priority. These strategies can also inform the design and be expressed in ways that enhance our connection to the environment.” At Nest House, a concrete wall anchors the east side of the home and acts as a thermal mass. Throughout the day, light interacts with its textured surface—imprinted with the grain of wooden planks used to mold it—creating a “dynamic visual display that marks the passage of time,” says Shank.

Walkable neighborhoods

As people increasingly value proximity to local amenities and social connections—particularly in the wake of the pandemic—so walkable, community-driven neighborhoods are more sought-after. With everything on your doorstep, such mixed-use developments, blending residential, commercial and recreational areas, help foster a sense of belonging, while reducing residents’ reliance on cars, in turn promoting a more active lifestyle and protecting the environment.

Sixth & Blanco Homes in Austin’s historic Clarksville neighborhood embodies this vision. Co-developed by MML Hospitality and Riverside Resources, this five-story project by renowned architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron features 10 luxury residences, alongside curated retail, restaurants, a bespoke hotel and spa. Built using a sustainable timber structure, the design prioritizes pedestrian connectivity—with courtyards, terraces and greenery—creating a vibrant, walkable urban hub.

“We’re witnessing a profound urban transformation where location is no longer just about geography, it’s about connection,” says global real estate advisor Kumara Wilcoxon, who is offering a four-bedroom property at Sixth & Blanco. “Post-pandemic, buyers are seeking neighborhoods that are ecosystems of experience. Walkable communities have become the new luxury, offering convenience, interaction and a sense of belonging.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How to Design the Perfect Kitchen

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

At-home entertaining hits its peak with the holiday season. For a space that rises to the challenge, it pays to get personal, writes Elizabeth Fazzare

With the holiday season upon us, kitchens have to perform at their best. Recent research has shown that personalization is key. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2024 Kitchen Trends Report, “innovative personalized designs”—supported by customizable appliances, bespoke cabinetry and integrated storage—are among homeowners’ top requests for the room. Certainly, in our post-pandemic lives, the kitchen has become much more than just a place where we cook and eat; it is a key gathering space within the house, where everything from entertaining to remote work now happens. To accommodate the room’s new roles, its design must follow suit.

“We like to think about the kitchen as a hub or epicenter,” says architectural designer Abigail Turin, the California-based co-founder of design firm Kallos Turin, which has offices in San Francisco and London. “No matter how much you cook, the kitchen tends to be where family members interact the most, where guests gravitate, and where the to-do lists that keep a household running are kept.” Designing the perfect kitchen, therefore, requires strategic thinking about daily routines.

For many contemporary homeowners, an open-plan kitchen is a safe bet. Keeping sightlines clear to the adjacent living and dining rooms allows the chef, professional or otherwise, to observe and engage directly with surrounding activity, whether that’s young children playing in the common area or guests sitting at the formal dining table. In a sprawling Healdsburg, California home by Swatt Miers Architects currently on the market, the open-plan kitchen also makes a playful design statement. This double-height space uses primary colors, including bright yellow paneling on the pair of kitchen islands, and a swath of irregularly hung light pendants to create visual contrast with the rest of the wine country wood-and-concrete architecture.

Because the kitchen is ultimately a workspace, materiality is an important consideration. Turin usually recommends natural materials for countertops, noting that harder stones, such as basalt, granite and quartzite, prevent visible etching and staining. But for those not bothered by “the marks of time and use,” Turin suggests limestone and marble. “We have done a few kitchens entirely in stainless steel and love that as well,” she adds. “The first scratches always look like outliers until it becomes a beautiful patina of use over time.”

Whatever the chosen material, for serious home cooks, ample counter space is a necessity—and dedicated square footage for specialty appliances might be, too. “We always love a U- or L-shaped counter around a large island,” says Turin, adding that the space between the counters should be wide “so people can easily work back-to-back.” Built in 1940, this historic Hudson Valley farmhouse in upstate New York has maintained its separate kitchen layout, with plenty of space for home cooks to maneuver. However, its renovated interior now offers new cabinetry with stone countertops, integrated appliances and storage that wrap around a central island.

For hands-on hosts who prefer more casual daytime or evening gatherings, a dedicated coffee station or wet bar might be the kitchen’s focus, while a breakfast nook or seating at the island allow intimate interactions. But for those who don’t do the cooking themselves, having a prep kitchen behind the main space helps mealtime run more smoothly, such as in this Dubai villa, where German company Bulthaup designed the open-plan show kitchen (with an incredible glass floor) to flow into the dining room and take advantage of island vistas. High-tech appliances for all cookery needs are tucked out of sight, in the spacious prep kitchen.

No matter the homeowner’s envisioned lifestyle, some things are universally desirable. “It is not the size of the kitchen that matters nearly as much as the light and the layout,” says Turin. “There’s nothing quite like making your morning coffee with sunlight streaming in.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Are Rugs the New Artworks at Home?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The design of what’s underfoot has gotten bold, colorful and creative, writes Helen Parton

“I was inspired by what was outside: the grasses, the clouds, the color of the skies,” begins photographer Douglas Friedman, describing the view from his desert retreat in Marfa, Texas, which formed the basis of his Atlas collection of rugs for the design studio of Kyle Bunting. The collection plays with the idea of circles and rectangles in its striking patterns. The colorways, influenced by the desert landscape, range from creams and burnt oranges to green, black and dark blue. 

With the collection, Friedman joins a burgeoning raft of artistic visionaries expressing themselves through the canvas of rug design. Far from blending in underfoot, these rugs form bold artistic statements in the home, using graphic motifs and dramatic color palettes.

Thousands of miles away on a quiet north London street, Sonya Winner runs her eponymous design studio. “Rugs have a massive effect on a room,” she says. “When you open the door to my home, the first thing you see is this statement of yellows, crimsons, reds, purples; lots of clashing colors.”

Her Sonia and Sonya rug collection perfectly embodies her design ethos, which in this instance took its cues from the colorful artwork by French artist Sonia Delaunay, co-founder of the early-20th-century orphism movement. Winner’s pieces feature circular motifs in bright hues of pink, blue, green, and orange, giving a sense of movement to an interior. “Some of my designs have more than 80 colors,” she says. “I’ve learned how to request a certain twist of yarn, so that it reflects the light in the way I want, even experimenting with tufting or knotting. I feel as if this is a crossover between art and design.”

CC-Tapis, an Italian design company producing handmade rugs, has been working with artists and designers for more than 20 years. Among its notable collaborators is Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola; one of her many collections for the company, Venus Power, is characterized by cartoon cloud-like shapes with thick border lines, in color combinations of blue, pink and green.

Harlequin, a series of rugs by textile designer Kangan Arora for London-based company Floor Story, is dominated by a bold repeated diamond check pattern. “The starting point was an obsession with the geometric Indian cosmic yantras (astrological diagrams), the ‘Ichimatsu’ check pattern I learnt about during my travels in Japan, and the eye-catching graphics of modernist op art,” she says. “The color application is where things get interesting, with the ‘regular’ pattern deconstructed and reassembled.”

Garden Maze, a design from studio Campbell-Rey for Swedish textile firm Nordic Knots, features a grid-like pattern creating a three-dimensional play on perspective; an optical illusion in bold blue or green. It is one of three designs that the studio, run by Duncan Campbell and Charlotte Rey, has created for the company, taking cues from Nordic neoclassicism and expressing these in jewel-like colors. “Rugs offer everything you can possibly want in an artistic scheme—they sit at the intersection between art, craftsmanship, materiality and color,” says Campbell.

Rugs are increasingly not just reserved for floors, making a statement elsewhere in the home, too—displayed on walls or even used as headboards. “Some of our clients have started asking for a vertical solution,” says Kyle Bunting. “You might approach a rug from different angles, passing by or looking straight at it; it’s a completely different dynamic.” Winner also points to the positives of rugs as wall hangings: “They are really good for soaking up sound, something you don’t get with a piece of art. Rugs also have that beautiful tactile quality to them.”

Freed from the constraints of neutral colorways or regular shapes, contemporary designers have let their creative energies flow with the modern rug. Whether laid on the floor or hung on the wall, rugs are now artworks in their own right, bringing a sense of intrigue and fun to the home—perhaps in unexpected ways.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Art Deco Makes an Elegant Comeback

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The glamorous, decadent aesthetic of the 1920s and 1930s is enjoying a welcome revival, writes Claudia Baillie

There aren’t many artists who encapsulate the essence of art deco as magnificently as Tamara de Lempicka—and this fall, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are presenting her first major US retrospective. Renowned for vibrant, captivating portraits of the wealthy and famous, the Polish-born painter’s highly stylized works helped define the art deco movement, which flourished throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. While landmarks such as the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building remain as architectural monuments to the glamorous style, its sleek interior aesthetic is now making a comeback, a century after its emergence. 

“Art deco immediately transports you to a bygone era of drama, intrigue and fun,” says Bryan O’Sullivan, the acclaimed Irish interior designer responsible for a host of elegant spaces including London’s Claridge’s hotel, where his reinvention of its infamous restaurant embraced art deco inspiration throughout. “I love the sense of indulgence associated with the era, particularly the curves, which really draw you in. We use it as a reference point throughout many of our projects, and we often pull in geometric shapes, jewel tones and layered lighting, all of which make a project feel elevated and decadent.” Such an approach can also be seen at The Astor, a luxurious London apartment in a Grade II-listed 1920s building that celebrates its art deco heritage through newly designed interiors.

Though the style may be a century old, its relevance feels fresh even today. “Art deco celebrated all that was new, youthful and optimistic,” says Lucy Derbyshire, co-founder of London-based interior design practice Studio QD and co-author of new book “Interior Style: Art Deco.” “The interiors are visually captivating and full of life. Art deco-inspired spaces exude a sense of luxury and an aspirational appeal. It also gives designers a lot to play with, as you can very easily pluck elements and layer them into your work without fully recreating a 1920s or 1930s interior.” 

This enduring style is what makes 159 East Walton Place in Chicago a standout property. Occupying the entire premier floor in the city’s iconic Palmolive Building, originally masterminded in 1929 by esteemed architectural firm Holabird & Root, the three-bedroom apartment overlooks both the glittering Magnificent Mile and the waters of Lake Michigan. 

“The owners did a complete two-year renovation that was finished not long ago, so it’s turn-key perfection,” says Tim Salm, senior vice president of sales at Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago. “They really embraced the art deco aesthetic and put a modern spin on it with high-end finishes, so it’s a perfect meld of past and present.” Examples include a custom marble medallion on the entryway floor, a lavish powder room complete with Lalique sconces, contemporary art deco-inspired light fittings by New York-based lighting studio Apparatus and, in the chef’s kitchen, fluted lacquered cabinets with walnut interiors. “Buyers are becoming burned out by cookie-cutter modern design,” says Salm, “so this feels incredibly special by comparison.”

The desire to push beyond the ordinary is something that Derbyshire has also noted among her clients. “Now, it’s all about making a statement, and the only way to stand out is through creativity, which naturally leads back to the principles of art deco,” she says. “These focus on craftsmanship, quality materials and sophistication—things that will never go out of fashion. Alongside its unending versatility, they are elements that ensure art deco remains relevant to this very day.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Explore 5 Stunning Latin American Homes in Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, explore five stunning homes for sale across Latin America, each reflecting their region’s rich culture, beauty, and history.

Mexico – Casa Nido

Located within the exclusive Gated Community of Casa Nido, this stunning residence is one of just nine luxurious homes in the area. Upon entering the residence, visitors are greeted by a welcoming hall that leads to a spectacular library with hardwood floors and a sculptural black marble fireplace, setting the tone for the rest of the house. The main floor features a multifunctional area for an office or guest room, while the kitchen, equipped with top-of-the-line Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, is designed for culinary mastery. The dining room, complete with a wine and cigar refrigerator, opens to the central garden and terrace, which feature a fire pit and grill.. Upstairs, the master suite offers views of a mature tree canopy, a luxurious dressing room, a bathroom with marble finishes, and a jacuzzi. Two secondary bedrooms can be joined or separated by a retractable wall, each with its own bathroom, dressing room, and private terrace.

Dominican Republic – Four Seasons Tropicalia

The Four Seasons Private Residences Tropicalia in the Dominican Republic is home to a luxurious three-bedroom flat designed by Isay Weinfeld, one of Brazil’s most renowned architects. Blending tropical modern design with materials inspired by the island’s native and colonial history, this residence offers flow-through interiors, stunning ocean views, and a private plunge pool. Residents enjoy full access to the amenities of Four Seasons Resort Dominican Republic, including concierge services, world-class dining, a spa, fitness facilities, racquet courts, and a yoga pavilion.

Chile – Vitacura Residence

In the exclusive Vitacura neighborhood of Santiago de Chile, renowned architect Jorge Figueroa has designed a luxurious home that offers panoramic views of the city and an adjacent golf course. Spread across three levels, it includes a living area, office, wine cellar, cinema room, and sauna. Outside, the beautifully illuminated garden surrounds a pool with views over the golf course, complemented by a barbecue area and pool house—ideal for outdoor gatherings with family and friends.

Costa Rica – Ocean View Residence

This newly constructed luxury home takes full advantage of breathtaking ocean views from its top two levels. On the second floor, an open-air pool patio that perfectly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living. This level includes the main suite, complete with an ocean view, and two additional bedrooms offering comfort and tranquility. On the top floor, a spacious kitchen and living area are designed to maximize sweeping ocean vistas. The expansive outdoor patio is ideal for entertaining guests, with the oversized kitchen island serving as the centerpiece for gatherings. Another bedroom on this floor offers ample room for relaxation. The bottom level of the home presents a blank slate, ready for customization.

Brazil – Casa da Luz

Located on a cliff at Praia do Espelho, Bahia, Casa da Luz, “the house of light,” is a stunning blend of nature and modern design. The home preserves the local environment with its separate blocks connected by a central atrium. Featuring a sand garden and royal poinciana tree, the atrium serves as the heart of the home, which boasts glass walls, a veranda, pool, and jacuzzi. The bedrooms overlook native trees and face the sunrise, offering a peaceful retreat.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Gardens Worthy of the Impressionists

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

150 years after impressionism changed the art world, the painterly gardens that inspired its famous artists continue to influence architects and designers, writes Mandi Keighran

Claude Monet’s waterlily paintings are among some of the world’s most celebrated impressionist works. To the artist himself, however, they weren’t his greatest achievement. Rather, it was the garden in Giverny, France, where he lived and painted for 43 years. “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece,” he once said. It has been 150 years since the radical exhibition in Paris that launched impressionism on the world—celebrated by the National Gallery of Art’s new show, “Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment”—but impressionistic gardens remain as appealing as ever.

The gardens the impressionist artists painted were considered just as radical as their works on canvas. In contrast to the formal geometries of the classical gardens that dominated Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, the impressionists celebrated a less structured approach. Luxurious homes, contemporary and historic alike, continue to embrace this style today—think ponds and pools nestled within gardens dominated by vibrant splashes of seasonal color and texture. 

Take, for example, a home currently on the market in Santa Rosa, California. Situated on 13 acres in the rolling hills of Sonoma Wine Country, the lush gardens feature winding paths and cascading beds planted with native grasses and wildflowers that frame a swimming pool—showcasing how an impressionistic garden can complement the clean, architectural lines of a contemporary home.

Caragh House in Kildare, Ireland, meanwhile, has a similarly impressive garden, set around a charming historic country abode that was built in 1880. Here, rose bushes wrap around patio supports and adorn the picturesque white walls of the home, offering splashes of brilliant color within the landscape. The interior borrows this view, with enormous windows that frame the garden and large doors that open out to dissolve the line between inside and out.

Award-winning British garden designer Jo Thompson is renowned for her impressionistic approach, which embraces romance and imaginative color combinations. “Planting is soft, relaxed in manner and painterly in style,” she says of her gardens. “Houses are allowed to settle into their space, while nature settles in all around.”

To create a garden worthy of the impressionists, Thompson advocates retaining a “touch of mystery” to offer moments of surprise and delight as the garden reveals itself. “You can do this even in a tiny courtyard by abandoning the standard rule that high planting goes at the back and low at the front,” she explains. “Bringing a flower bed closer to the window and filling it with tall plants that have ‘naked’ stems—such as the spindly, purple-flowered Verbena bonariensis—will create a gorgeous haze that forms a veil over the rest of the space beyond, softening the immediate impact.”

In long, narrow gardens, she often staggers hedges and flower beds along the space, meaning the garden must be explored to be fully appreciated. “The concept is always the same: Keep in mind the sense of enigma and surprise,” she says.

Lands End Manor in Locust Valley, New York, creates this sense of joyful wonder by layering wildflower gardens against swathes of lawn and sweeping ocean views. The gardens, designed by famed American landscape architect and journalist Frederick Law Olmsted in 1920, also incorporate a walled rose garden, vegetable gardens and grapevines trained up arbors, all woven together in harmony.

As Thompson says, “The key is a gentle approach. In any garden—whether a city courtyard or a countryside landscape—I use local materials that sit in harmony with the vernacular. It is more natural and creates a garden that feels as if it should be there.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How Well-Chosen Art Can Enhance a Home

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

With high art maximizing the value of high-end residences, it might be time to become a collector

The relationship between high art and noteworthy buildings is as old as civilization itself: think of the celebrated sculptures that once adorned the exterior of the Parthenon in Athens, or Michelangelo’s magnificent ceiling frescoes for the Sistine Chapel in Rome. And when it comes to residential properties, nothing enhances an extraordinary home like a carefully crafted art collection. Virtually every cover story in Architectural Digest illustrates this point: important paintings hanging on the walls of a Park Avenue apartment or a French Riviera mansion signify beauty, taste, and style, elevating the perceived value of a home. 

Art’s power to enhance an extraordinary residence has been proven again and again over decades of high-profile sales, in which Sotheby’s International Realty offered the homes of collectors whose art was also brought to auction through Sotheby’s. 

A few cases in point: in 2013, the Modern art collection of Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt, headlined by a rare Paul Cézanne still-life, sold for a total of US$99 million across 23 auctions in New York and Paris, far above the presale estimate. Likewise, their New York townhouse, sold by Meredyth Hull Smith, senior global real estate advisor and associate broker, Sotheby’s International Realty—East Side Manhattan Brokerage, achieved US$8 million, while their Sands Point Long Island estate, represented by Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty went for US$17 million. 

That same year, Jack Cotton Jr, real estate advisor, Sotheby’s International Realty—Osterville Brokerage, sold Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon’s Cape Cod estate for a record US$19.5 million. Mellon was one of the greatest art collectors and philanthropists in the U.S., and a sale of “masterworks” from her collection at Sotheby’s created a sensation in November 2014, when the single-owner auction flew past its estimate to bring in a total of US$159 million, while her jewelry achieved US$45 million, more than doubling expectations.

We continue to see the marriage of art and real estate in today’s homes. Michael Carucci, executive vice president, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston, Massachusetts, credits “the fusion of fine art and luxury real estate” as central to his success in selling some of the most valuable properties in New England. “It is very typical for owners of homes worth US$10 million and higher to be collectors,” Carucci says. 

He often invites artists to show their work in properties he is representing, transforming residences into galleries. In 2020, he commissioned celebrated Boston artist Giovanni Decunto to create a suite of paintings for One Dalton Four Seasons Private Residences; the eventual purchaser of the US$7.2 million apartment fell in love with the paintings and bought them as well. Carucci is currently offering a US$10.9 million Boston penthouse at 1 Franklin Street; its owner is a well-known mega-collector, which has already sparked high buyer interest.

Like Carucci, Tania Toubba, real estate advisor, Sotheby’s International Realty—San Francisco Brokerage, recognizes the uncanny power of art to sell a home. “There is no better way to create environments that resonate with discerning buyers than to showcase a carefully curated art collection,” says Toubba. She recently sold a sensational 8,000 square foot oceanfront residence in the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco, California, for its full asking price of US$26 million. 

To show the house to its best advantage, she brought in artist Paul Rusconi to curate a collection of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper by blue chip masters including Robert Rauschenberg, Elaine de Kooning, John Chamberlain, and Damien Hirst. The launch event was treated like a gallery opening, attracting top-tier brokers, architects, designers, and builders. “It was a bold move that paid off,” says Toubba. “Our guests were blown away. The profound reaction to the installation affirmed that individuals develop a deeper emotional connection to a property when showcased with art.”

As with real estate, the fine art market experiences ups and downs. Education is key to understanding the market, and there are now more resources than ever before to judge its value. But regardless of its investment potential, great art has an uncanny ability to elevate a home—and add immeasurable pleasure to the lives of its occupants.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The Art of Blending Historic and Contemporary Design

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Crafting the perfect interior often means mixing the old with the new, writes Mandi Keighran

When it comes to interiors, considered contrast between dramatically different styles and eras can work like magic. The period charm of an ornate historic property, for example, is artfully emphasized when juxtaposed with bold, minimalist furniture; the nostalgic appeal of a vintage find becomes all the more apparent when paired with cutting-edge technology; and contemporary artworks set amidst antique furnishings throws the unique beauty of each period into stark relief. In short, it’s all about creating moments that surprise and delight. 

Just ask London-based designer Sarah Peake, founder of Studio Peake, who is known for crafting richly layered interiors with unexpected details, and combining modern and traditional style with joyful abandon. “It’s objects that contrast or jar slightly which bring a room to life,” Peake explains. “It might be a lovely tonal scheme but it’s not finished until you throw in that final oversized lamp or big piece of contemporary art.”

Stratford Place, a handsome, heritage-listed townhouse in London’s prestigious Marylebone —which is currently being offered by United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty—is a remarkable case in point. The original home dates back to the 1770s, and the current owners undertook a full refurbishment when they moved in. The awe-inspiring spaces and exquisite period details—including intricate cornicing and ceiling molding, a grand stair and floor-to-ceiling windows—have been restored, and are complemented with bold contemporary finishes, sculptural lighting and plenty of modern amenities. As prominent collectors, the owners also set striking contemporary art against the period backdrop. 

“Stratford Place has a real ‘wow’ factor and is a great example of a home that retains its historic integrity and period charm, while being up to date with modern standards of living,” says the agent, Zach Madison. “When people buy a heritage home like this, they are effectively buying a piece of history. Adding contemporary design features while preserving the period character celebrates that history in a modern way.”

The Solarium Penthouse at 555 West End Avenue, New York, meanwhile, is another impressive showcase of how a historic building can be transformed through a contemporary reimagining. The property is a former private school, completed in 1908, and has been meticulously restored and updated by local architecture firm Tamarkin Co. to accommodate 13 luxury residences. The penthouse is a study in how the architecture of historic buildings can be elevated to breathtaking effect, most notably in the original school gymnasium, which has been reimagined as a dramatic living space with soaring 20 ft-high ceilings punctuated by a new steel-framed skylight and floor-to-ceiling windows.

While Stratford Place celebrates bold color and unexpected texture, The Solarium takes a different approach with an elegant palette of neutral tones and natural materials that evokes the popular minimalist design trend “Japandi”—a portmanteau of Japanese and Scandinavian.

It’s a subtle yet dramatic approach, similar to that taken by British architecture practice Bindloss Dawes, which is also known for its sensitive modernization of period buildings. “When transforming heritage properties, we should be mindful of a building’s past, protecting them for future generations, but also making them vibrant and freshly relevant for our time,” says director George Dawes. “This requires a thoughtful balance, at once preserving the essence of the historic fabric while infusing it with innovative design that resonates with modern life.” 

Properties such as these show how combining historic and contemporary styles can be a catalyst for dramatically different results—but always with the element of surprise that the balance between old and new creates.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The Evolution of Luxury Home Staging

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A high-end property is almost ready to be put on the market. But before buyers ever set their eyes on it, sellers and their real estate representatives consult with luxury interior designers and decor rental companies to re-envision the home, and set the scene in a way that will capture the interests and imaginations of those who may want to live in it.

This is the aptly named process of home staging; and though it seems second nature to many agents and sellers now, there was a time when it was a novel concept — albeit one that would revolutionize the world of real estate.

A Paradigm Shift in Marketing Properties

Why is the term “staging” so fitting? It’s because Barb Schwarz, a relatively new real estate agent in Bellevue, Washington, previously had a career staging musicals for off-broadway productions. She realized the skills she had cultivated in that industry could be translated to real estate to make her marketing initiatives more effective and in 1972, she coined the concept of home staging.

Before that, agents would simply advise their clients to present their properties as attractively as possible in accordance with current styles. Aesthetics such as minimalism, mid-century modern, and Scandinavian design were popular back then, and would become mainstays in showcasing tidy, trendy homes into the present day.

When Schwarz invented staging, more eclectic and bohemian styles were in vogue. But the essential philosophy of staging — to show an idealized version of the home that clients could still project their own visions onto — remained true.

The Professionalization of Home Staging

The 1980s saw new styles dominate the luxury interior design magazines and influence the still-nascent real estate staging industry, with bolder prints and patterns and a “country chic” finish. At this time, the idea of staging was growing in popularity and gaining momentum, but it wasn’t until the 1990s — a period that saw a resurgence of the functional, minimalist aesthetics that are hallmarks of modern home staging — that it would truly go global.

In 1998, House Doctor premiered on Channel 5 in the UK with the iconic Ann Maurice, launching a new era of television programs that would introduce home staging to a worldwide audience. And in 1999, the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) was established.

Luxury Realty Makes Amazing Reality TV

House Doctor was just the beginning. In the 2000s, reality television truly took over the world, and series that focused on designing, renovating, marketing, and acquiring beautiful homes proved to be some of the most popular features for networks like HGTV and TLC.

With home staging trends and luxury real estate entering the mainstream through the media and entertainment industry, aesthetics at this time tended to feature internationally influenced styles, frequently with industrial accents such as mixed metals and exposed brick. Another milestone for home staging was reached in 2007, with the creation of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).

Through the 2010s, home stagers stayed true to the design principles set during the 1990s and 2000s — sleek, chic, and simple, though with the addition of rustic or organic finishes. By now, the benefits of home staging were well-known. Not only was it a thriving and diversifying industry, but the prevalence of increasingly sophisticated digital technology introduced the value of virtual staging software.

Top Home Staging Tips and Trends Today

Now, in the 2020s, home staging has become a real estate best practice. According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 81% of buyers’ agents agree that staging enables clients to more easily envision a property as their future home, and 58% report that staging meaningfully affected clients’ perception of potential homes.

Moreover, 48% — almost half — of sellers’ agents have noted that home staging reduced properties’ time on the market. And 23% — nearly a quarter — always stage their clients’ homes before listing them.

New innovations and integration with technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) continue to expand the horizons of how immersive staging experiences can be created for buyers. And in terms of aesthetics, sustainability holds immense appeal — such as energy-efficient appliances, recycled and repurposed materials, and smart home devices to automate lighting and heating controls. So too does a maximalist approach to personalization that brings excitement and expression, interest and inspiration, into the interior environment.

While consumer preferences will continue to shift and evolve, it’s quite certain that the demand for luxury home staging will not.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s