Checkmate: 4 Homes With Black-And-White Floors

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A decorative motif since ancient Egypt, the black-and-white checkered floor appears in Masonic temples, the colonnade of the Grand Trianon at Versailles, and countless early-20th-century American homes. The pattern subtly introduces a sense of fun and whimsy while adding depth and dimension—checking all the boxes of thoughtful, timeless design.

A Southern California Classic

Dating to the late 1920s, this seven-bedroom Los Feliz residence combines classical elegance with modern flair and a stylishly minimalist palette. The grand entry opens to a sunny living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, a library, and a cook’s kitchen and breakfast area with an island, stainless-steel appliances, and striking black-and-white tiled floors that are stately and slightly whimsical. Other highlights include a family room, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, and a grassy backyard with a patio, fireplace, pool, spa, and outdoor kitchen.

Idyllic Coastal Colonial

On the banks of a peaceful Long Island Sound cove, this magnificent Greenwich estate is inspiring in its style, scale, and setting. Creating visual interest throughout the 12,492 square feet are—naturally—water views as well as vibrant colors, intriguing textures, eye-catching window detailing and other millwork, wall treatments, and tile—most notably the bold black-and-white pattern in the regal foyer. The 1.6-acre property also offers a refreshing swimming pool, a private beach, a fire pit, and a dock.

French-Inspired Manor in Greenwich

Nearly every room of this light-flooded 9,006-square-foot, six-bedroom manor enjoys an unobstructed view of Greenwich Cove. Beginning with a foyer floored in timelessly handsome black and white tiles, it displays a respect for classicism and an impeccable attention to detail throughout. The equally impressive 1.77-acre grounds feature covered and open-air living spaces, swaths of emerald lawn, manicured gardens, a two-bedroom guest cottage, and a swimming pool and spa surrounded by a terrace perfect for waterside lounging and entertaining.

Sagaponack’s Winnecoma

A mere mile from the beach in Sagaponack, this estate—reportedly one of the area’s first summer retreats—is suffused with the enchantment of a bygone era. The four-acre property includes a delightful Shingle-style home, a guesthouse, a carriage house, a former stable, gardens, and a collection of wild and specimen trees. Designed in 1899 by James E. Ware & Sons of Manhattan, the main residence features a welcoming foyer with checkerboard floors and one of several fireplaces, decoratively detailed windows, and numerous porches and balconies.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Making A Splash: 4 Spa-Like Baths

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A lavish bath is both a bright, inspiring space to start the day and a relaxing space for an evening retreat. Each of these four impressive primary baths—in homes from New York to San Francisco—is tantamount to a peaceful personal spa.

Seacoast San Francisco Home

This majestic 6,335-square-foot residence enjoys an enviable perch on exclusive Sea Cliff Avenue that affords an unparalleled view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach, and the Marin Headlands. Dating to 1920, the home has been carefully renovated to feature grand living and entertaining spaces, a multilevel terrace, and five bedrooms. The generous owner’s suite benefits from the sweeping view as well as two walk-in closets and a spa-like bath with two vanities, a soaking tub, and a shower with an artful stone enclosure.

Jackson Square Jewel

This stylish two-bedroom condominium is a sophisticated modern gem in San Francisco’s thriving Jackson Square neighborhood. Its open great room features living and dining areas, an impeccably appointed cook’s kitchen, and a private balcony. Guest and owner’s quarters are thoughtfully separated and accompanied by their own baths. In addition to a custom walk-in closet, the primary suite includes a chic marble and brass bath with dual sinks, a spacious glass-walled shower, and a soaking tub. Residents enjoy access to a shared “sky deck.”

Light-Filled Manhattan Oasis

High above the intersection of Greenwich Village, the Flatiron District, and Union Square, this 2,324-square-foot condominium home is a stylish aerie with 10-foot ceilings, wide-plank white oak floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows in nearly every room that afford picture-perfect vistas of the sparkling city skyline. The light-filled great room is adjoined by a well-equipped kitchen, and the corner primary suite—one of three bedrooms—boasts a walk-in closet and a striking marble bath with radiant-heated floors, a walk-in steamshower, and a deep soaking tub.

Enviable Houston Haven

Soaring ceilings and plentiful windows create a bright, airy ambience in this 9,280-square-foot Houston villa. Among its desirable spaces are a chef’s kitchen, two family rooms, a game room, a theater, and a study with a cocktail bar. The most luxurious of the six bedrooms, the primary suite includes an expansive marble and plaster bath with a soaking tub, a glass-enclosed shower, and two vanities. The backyard oasis offers a pool and spa, a sports court, dog kennels, and a guesthouse.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Modern Marvels: 4 Homes With Unmistakable Modern Style

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

With their striking streamlined designs, 20th-century luminaries from Frank Lloyd Wright to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson solidified modernist style in the architectural realm. Their influence persists in these homes, artful settings for contemporary living that feature clean lines, light-filled spaces, and a relationship with their surroundings.

Modern Majesty in the Marina District

Re-imagined and rebuilt, this modern three-bedroom San Francisco home is unrivaled for its luxury, efficiency, and comfort. It features a living area with a sound system and a gas fireplace; a kitchen with a La Cornue range; a dining room overlooking the chic backyard garden; a rooftop deck; a wine cellar; a lower-level guest suite; and a garage with a pair of Tesla Powerwalls. A Control4 system manages climate, lighting, blinds, audiovisual equipment, security, and fireplaces.

Stylish Texas Showplace

Surrounded by 1.8 lush acres in the Stallion Lakes community, 40 miles outside Houston, this 6,595-square-foot four-bedroom residence exemplifies refined modern living. Sophisticated entertaining is effortless thanks to spaces with thoughtfully chosen fixtures and finishes: a dramatic double-height living room, a formal dining room, an impressively outfitted kitchen with a breakfast room and two pantries, a game room, a media room, and a covered outdoor living area featuring a summer kitchen and views of the refreshing pool and spa.

Light-Filled California Luxury

Contemporary lines, soaring ceilings, and a minimalist palette are hallmarks of this light-flooded six-bedroom home on a promontory in Calabasas. Among the alluring spaces are a dining room with a full-size wine chiller, a theater, a game room, a library, a study, a gym, and a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry, an oversized island, and stainless-steel Gaggenau and Thermador appliances. Perfect for California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle, the backyard offers grassy lawn, an infinity-edge pool and spa, a fire pit, and an alfresco kitchen and bar.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Raise A Glass To These Four Homes With Stylish Wine Storage

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Both practical and alluring, these unique wine storage solutions go beyond mere function, incorporating eye-catching details or distinctive design.

Waterfront Oasis

In the coveted Riverbend neighborhood of Palm City, this spacious five-bedroom estate allows for the consummate Florida lifestyle, with a sun-washed terrace, a pool and spa, and a fire pit along with access to the ocean via a community dock. Its 5,616 square feet of stylish, light-filled living space encompasses five bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen with a breakfast area and a walk-in pantry, an inviting family room, a loft with a balcony, and a formal dining room with a dramatic wine display wall.

Upper East Side Refinement

Occupying three floors of a stately historic Upper East Side townhouse, this handsome three-bedroom residence has been meticulously renovated while retaining elegant vintage details. Highlights include a gallery with a gas fireplace boasting its original black marble mantel, a living room with soaring ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace, a dining room with original paneling and a period stained-glass window, a kitchen with superior appliances, a library with a wet bar and garden access, and a wine-tasting room with a 1,356-bottle capacity.

High Style in Houston

This chic Houston home encourages alfresco living and entertaining with terraces on three levels, an outdoor kitchen, a pool and spa, a fire pit, and a putting green. Indoor entertaining is equally effortless thanks to a game room with a wet bar and a beverage refrigerator and an open-plan great room that includes a sleek kitchen, a living area with a gas fireplace and a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the pool, and a dining area with a handsome wall of built-in storage and full-size wine chillers.

Luxurious Southern California Living

This modern Porter Ranch residence was designed for sophisticated Southern California festivities. The heart of the five-bedroom home is a collection of diverting spaces that includes a chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, a dedicated home theater, a wet bar, and a wine room ideal for showcasing and sampling from a prized collection. The backyard is a sybaritic delight featuring swings suspended over a swimming pool, a spa, a waterfall, a fire pit, and a sunken outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and a pizza oven.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

An Accent On Style: 3 Homes With Eye-Catching Accent Walls

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Whether they utilize rich hues, bursts of color, or intriguing patterns, accent walls become focal points, infusing a space with style and creating an ideal backdrop for art.

Cinematic Style and Views

Boasting the finest contemporary design, materials, and finishes, this striking gated Sunset Strip estate has an easy, generously scaled floor plan perfect for stylish living and entertaining. Steps above the living room, the formal dining room is anchored by an eye-catching stone wall ideal for the display of art. Disappearing walls of glass on both levels reveal fittingly cinematic views and open to the pool, spa, and terrace. Other highlights include an entertainment room with a bar, a theater or screening room, and a gym. 

Chic Houston Bungalow

A recent renovation of this timeless 1,646-square-foot bungalow in Houston’s vibrant Montrose neighborhood honors the classic aesthetic of its 1930s architecture while exuding unique modern flair. Distinctive design elements—vintage windows, antique doors, period hardware, hand-painted trim, bespoke masonry, and decorative wainscoting—distinguish the interiors. In a creative turn, closets and a media cabinet in the sunroom-like living room are lined in colorful wall coverings that capture the eye. Popular restaurants and shops are minutes away. 

Light-Filled Flatiron Loft

Designed by esteemed architect West Chin, this sleek, chic three-bedroom loft brings contemporary flourishes to a 1905 Beaux Arts building in the Flatiron district. It features a light-filled great room with an accent wall that creates a fitting backdrop for a unique sculptural light fixture, anchors the great room with a cool organic hue, and creates a sophisticated contrast with the minimalist walls, floors, and décor. Other highlights include a chef’s kitchen with oak cabinets and superior appliances, an office, a media room, and a gym.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

These 4 Unique Homes Are One-Of-A-Kind

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Today’s luxury buyers are looking to stand out with homes that are meaningful and expressive of their individuality. Thoughtful clients don’t crave mere ostentation for its own sake, but rather seek out unique properties that are reflective of their priorities, values and style. 

One-of-a-kind homes make a statement by showcasing features like ultra-futuristic tech, sustainability, and cutting-edge design, like these four residences of singular sophistication.

A Refuge Within a Retreat

The primary suite is often the pièce de résistance of the home. But seldom is one as startlingly original as the one in this contemporary Côte d’Azur villa, complete with its own private pool.

Just arriving at this property is like entering another world. Residents can park in the home’s six-car subterranean lot, ride the elevator, and emerge into an expansive interior custom-crafted by an acclaimed French architect.

Natural light is ubiquitous here; all four of the bedrooms—each with its own ensuite—boast glorious views of the Rade de Villefranche, and glass ceilings arch over the central living spaces, enabling the Mediterranean sun to stream in.

Life in a Work of Art

Located across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan and Greenwich Village, Jersey City is famed for its former factories-turned-chic lofts—but this one is definitely in a league of its own. The home is defined by creativity, most stunningly with hand-painted murals that grace its walls and ceilings.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that this residence is reminiscent of an avant-garde art gallery, as there is indeed a fabulous gallery located on the building’s ground floor. This property sits high above it, accessed by a freight elevator paneled in clear glass.

Unlike other factory conversions, where the condos may only have one balcony, this home unfolds across a dynamic, three-tier floor plan where every level has its own spacious outdoor patio.

A Realm of Fantasy

Why is this radiant rural sanctuary near Palanga shaped like a wave? The sweep of the architecture is reflective of its seaside location, but the actual inspiration for the design is derived from the legendary Lithuanian love story of Jūratė, a goddess of the sea, and Kastytis, a humble human fisherman.

The home’s gorgeous maritime location is picture-perfect, and the rooms make the most of it with an abundance of sliding doors leading directly to scenic waterfront terraces.

In the legend, Jūratė lives in an underwater palace of gold, diamonds, and white amber—and the architect set out to fashion a modern property that pays homage to this dreamworld, with gleaming marble floors and wooden fixtures so lustrous they almost appear gilded.

An Estate of Stone

This estate opens onto nearly 300 yards of private beach—but that’s not all. Located close to the oceanside resort of José Ignacio, it also encompasses over 118 acres of pristine natural parklands, where four lagoons are nestled amid stands of spectacular forest.

The home is a monument to Mother Nature, with dramatic stone façades that make it seem like an organic extension of the earth it stands on. Its flawless floor-to-ceiling windows present a panorama that extends from the lighthouse at José Ignacio all the way to its counterpart at La Paloma.

No expense has been spared when it comes to the residence’s first-rate amenities. Along with a pool, jacuzzi, gym, and sauna built to rival a world-class hotel, it features an in-home cinema and art gallery, for curating cultural experiences from the comfort and convenience of home.

High-end homebuyers and five-star globetrotters, crave environments and experiences that are unlike anywhere else on earth. One-of-a-kind luxury homes like the four featured here are the epitome of spectacularly singular appeal.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Things Are Looking Up: 5 Homes With Dramatic Ceilings

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

From an idyllic ranch in the expansive Texas countryside to a chic condominium perched on the verge of Central Park, these homes feature dramatic ceilings that create visual appeal or make room for glorious light.

Sophisticated Sculptural Style on Central Park

This singular 3,104-square-foot condominium presents a striking architectural style inspired by legendary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. A sophisticated space for urbane living and entertaining and a showplace for art, the two-bedroom home begins with a stunning jade rotunda with a scalloped ceiling and marble flooring, beyond which a gallery leads to a great room with 16-foot ceilings, rift-cut white-oak floors, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park, and a dazzling vaulted ceiling that echoes Gaudí’s sui generis forms. A 50-foot planting terrace is an enviable extra.

Indoor-Outdoor Harmony

Dating to 1965, this four-bedroom home exemplifies the unique aesthetics of midcentury American design. The heart of the well-designed single-level floor plan is an open living and dining space with a vaulted and skylit beamed ceiling and an eye-catching concrete fireplace. A serene combination of natural materials and a full wall of glass blurs the lines between indoors and out. Other highlights include a chef’s kitchen and an alluring backyard with a pool and spa, a guesthouse, and an alfresco kitchen.

Grand Greenwich Getaway

On the banks of Rockwood Lake, this majestic 10,972-square-foot manor offers a wealth of inviting, light-filled spaces, among them six bedrooms; formal and casual living areas; and an expansive recreation room, gym, and indoor pool and spa. Classical details abound, from a commanding stacked-stone fireplace and soaring vaulted ceiling in the family room to a striking coffered wood ceiling in the dining room. The resort-caliber backyard boasts a pool and spa, a fountain, a stone fireplace, extensive terraces, and colorful landscaping.

Rustic Refinement in Texas

This 73.5-acre ranch in the countryside between Austin and Houston is peaceful, private, and pastoral. An air of rustic refinement prevails thanks to antique doors and lighting, a screened-in porch, wide-plank wood floors, and a soaring 19-foot great room ceiling with handsome beams. Modern comforts and conveniences are accommodated by a media room, an elegant wet bar, a gym, and luxurious baths. The property also offers two guest cottages, a pool and spa, and an outdoor living area with a kitchen and a fireplace.

19th Century Meets Midcentury in Pasadena

Combining a portion of an original 1898 Craftsman home and a 1950s addition, this unique three-bedroom residence is enveloped by lush, flourishing greenery near Brookside Park, the iconic Rose Bowl, and numerous museums in Pasadena. Classical details—among them ornate leaded- and stained-glass windows and stately carved and coffered ceilings—harmonize with pleasingly minimalist midcentury elements and spaces, such as a window-walled family room with an oversized brick fireplace and a pitched beamed ceiling.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Mood Board | Outdoor Living Spaces With Bespoke Wood Features

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Long before homes were built with other materials, they were crafted from wood. And even with modernity’s remarkable technical advances, wood remains exceptional in utility, aesthetics, and sustainability. Because wood is natural and renewable, it is ideal for creating living spaces that holistically bring together indoors and outdoors, uniting the comfort of a home with the beauty of the landscape. There are no limits to what wood can accomplish in terms of application, ambience, and architecture.

Elegant Extravagance

The phrase “less is more” particularly applies to elegantly minimalist wooden outdoor spaces. At this stunning villa in Sardinia, the wooden decks and patios suffuse the property with a streamlined, sun-bleached beauty perfectly matched to its seaside setting.

Sophisticated Sustainability

In this stylish luxury compound in Queretaro, beams, frames, and borders made of bright wood are the thresholds and throughlines that connect the indoor and outdoor areas of the home. A high-gloss finish is a striking flourish that is the essence of refined decor.

Harmony by Design

It’s no wonder architects and designers love working with wood when designing outdoor living spaces, in which the landscaping itself becomes an accessory to the home. This ultra-contemporary residence in Calistoga creatively features chic wood floors, walls, screens, and fixtures that feel fully integrated with the stunning scenery.

Creativity in Construction

The strength and versatility of wood make it especially valuable, as it can be integrated into a wide variety of structures. The exquisite support structures found throughout this Montenegro villa demonstrate how wooden accents can imbue unmatched vitality and individuality into indoor-outdoor spaces.

Wood’s resilience is also one of its major advantages; these spaces can weather the elements and stand the test of time—in substance as well as in style. For homeowners, high-quality woodworking is the foundation of outdoor luxury.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

4 Stylish Swimming Pools That Really Make A Splash

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

During the long, sunny days and warm nights of summer, few things are more enticing than a rejuvenating dip, swim, or float. From East Coast to West, these swimming pools allow for refreshing relaxation in sophisticated settings.

Sophisticated Palm Beach Villa

Designed by esteemed area architect Nelo Freijomel, this new five-bedroom villa is a bright, breezy, and sophisticated haven just steps from the beach. Stylish living and entertaining are easy here thanks to a chef’s kitchen with a wine closet, a living room with an underlit seaglass bar, and a loggia with retractable screens, a fireplace, and an outdoor television. A refreshing pool with LED lighting, deck jets, and stars embedded in its floor is surrounded by vivid grass, trees, and flowers.

Long Island Idyll

In an idyllic setting in the hamlet of Water Mill, this enchanting home has a storybook charm and views across a reserve to Mill Pond. In addition to three bedrooms, it features a modern kitchen with marble counters and superior appliances, a living room with a gas fireplace, a dining room opening to an inviting screened-in porch, and an upper-level deck with one of two outdoor showers. The 60-foot swimming pool and its accompanying waterfall spa are enveloped by towering trees that create soothing shade.

Texas Treasure

This magnificent tree-strewn compound occupies 3.3 lush irrigated acres in peaceful Katy, Texas. An elegant 6,193-square-foot residence with a whole-house generator is the centerpiece of a diverting estate that also offers a charming guesthouse, an outdoor kitchen, alfresco living and entertaining spaces with a fireplace, a lighted sports court, a two-stable horse barn with a tack room, and a fenced riding arena. A sunny stone terrace envelops a resort-caliber swimming pool and spa with an artful stone waterfall.

Mediterranean-Inspired Refinement

This impressive seven-bedroom Mediterranean-style residence and its freestanding one-bedroom guesthouse enjoy a prime location surrounded by swaying palms in the prestigious Calabasas community of Mountain View Estates. They share the emerald acreage with a sports court, two levels of alfresco living and entertaining space that includes an outdoor kitchen, and a large refreshing swimming pool and spa with an elegant cabana and a vast vista of rolling hills and majestic mountains.

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Bringing The Heat: 4 Homes With Alfresco Fireplaces And Fire Pits

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit helps create an exceptionally warm, welcoming ambience in any open-air space, whether it’s a rooftop deck gazing out toward the Pacific or a poolside terrace mere blocks from the Atlantic.

Whispering Oaks Vineyard

A gated drive winds through some 10 acres of meticulously maintained vineyards to this four-bedroom modern residence, which harmonizes effortlessly with its natural surroundings. Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the lines between indoors and out and allow for enjoyment of mesmerizing views. The primary suite opens to a balcony with expansive vistas, while flourishing landscaping surrounds a covered patio with a fire pit and a fireplace. The 27.3-acre estate consists of multiple legal parcels and also features barns, a guesthouse, and a serene pond.

Light-Filled Venice Oasis

In a prime location in storied Venice, California—blocks from the restaurants and boutiques of famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard—this light-filled three-bedroom contemporary home is ideal for relaxed living and entertaining. The heart of the 2,920-square-foot interiors is an open living area, dining area, and chef’s kitchen on the main level. The enviable rooftop deck provides a perfect perch for reveling in the panoramic view, dining alfresco, or lounging beside a warm, stylish fire feature.

Palm Beach Paradise

Built in 1924 and rejuvenated to exemplify chic modern minimalism, this elegant five-bedroom Mediterranean-style home enjoys a coveted location just blocks from the water in the estate section of Palm Beach. The 5,210-square-foot interiors boast a thoughtful floor plan; soaring ceilings; a spacious, impeccably appointed kitchen; and five peaceful bedrooms. Towering trees, manicured hedges, and expanses of lush lawn surround the refreshing swimming pool and its sunny terrace, which includes a stylish fire pit.

Warm, Inviting Santa Fe Escape

In the exclusive community of Las Campanas, less than 15 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, this sophisticated three-bedroom residence is replete with the region’s unique charm and beloved aesthetic elements—striking ceiling beams, decorative corbels, salt cedar cabinetry, Saltillo tile, and Anasazi-inspired stacked stone. Many rooms in the 2,724-square-foot floor plan open to outdoor living areas, including a traditional portal with a wood-burning fireplace, a built-in hot tub, and mature trees and gardens.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Feasting Alfresco: 4 Stylish Homes With Outdoor Dining Areas

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Cookbook author Claudia Roden’s assertion that “everything tastes better outdoors” is certainly true at these four distinctive homes with alfresco dining spaces. Every meal is accompanied by views of verdant vineyards, majestic mountains, and other idyllic settings.

Modern Elegance in Houston

Inspired in design, this modern six-bedroom home in Houston’s Bellaire community is ideal for peaceful day-to-day living and festive entertaining. A grand entry leads to spaces finished with Venetian plaster walls, walnut floors, cathedral ceilings, and cedar beams. The oversized estate site affords room for a swimming pool and spa, a guesthouse, a sports court, and a covered patio with a summer kitchen and a perfect space for alfresco dining. The numerous contemporary conveniences include an estate-wide generator and a security system.

Sonoma Serenity

Occupying some four acres surrounded by grape vines and mountains, this enchanting wine  country compound boasts a 6,035-square-foot home, an alluring pool and spa, a barn designed for entertaining, and a versatile two-bedroom guesthouse. The main residence offers four bedrooms, an airy open-plan great room, and numerous outdoor living spaces, including an alfresco dining area with stately stone walls that frame a vast view of the pool and verdant vineyards.

Santa Fe Contemporary

Northwest of Santa Fe in the exclusive community of Las Campanas, this exemplary 3,600-square-foot contemporary home enjoys singular views that sweep from one mountain range to another. The floor plan features three bedroom suites; an open-concept kitchen, dining area, and living area; a butler’s pantry; a media room; and a two-car garage with electric-vehicle chargers. One of the two covered patios features a built-in grill, a pizza oven, a water feature, and a gas fire pit, making it perfect for gatherings and meals outdoors.

Montecito Magic

This five-bedroom Mediterranean-inspired villa nestled amid the enchanting greenery of the Santa Ynez Valley is a stylish haven in the heart of Montecito. The kitchen opens to a covered outdoor dining area with romantic vine-draped archways giving way to a sitting area with a fire pit tucked beneath a shady tree. The alluringly colorful grounds also offer a bocce court, a pool and spa, and a courtyard with a fireplace, a built-in grill, and additional space for alfresco meals.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Seamless Style: 4 Homes Ideal For Indoor-Outdoor Living

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

In coveted locales from Santa Fe to San Francisco, these four estates are perfect for the long, lovely days of summer, effortlessly blending outdoor spaces with easy access to indoor comforts and conveniences.

Incomparable Escape in Pacific Heights

Near the Presidio in prestigious Pacific Heights, this light-filled six-bedroom home is stylish, welcoming, and impressively scaled. It features a chef’s kitchen; formal and casual spaces for living, dining, and entertaining; a study, hobby room, or recreation room; garaging for three cars; a gym; a wine cellar; and a versatile pentroom. Outdoor living is easy, with decks and a rooftop terrace offering iconic vistas and a backyard oasis providing a patio, a fireplace, a pool, and a spa.

Palm Springs Paradise

In the highly desirable gated community of Parc Andreas, this sleek, chic modern smart home was designed for enjoyment of the quintessential Palm Springs lifestyle. Walls of glass in two of the three bedrooms and the great room—which features a striking contemporary gas fireplace, a home theater projection screen, a cook’s kitchen with a Calacatta marble island and superior appliances—open to a lanai with a fire pit and an alluringly lush backyard with citrus trees and a dazzling saltwater swimming pool and spa.

Stunning Style in Santa Fe

Minutes outside Santa Fe in the exclusive community of Las Campanas, this striking contemporary residence captures majestic mountain views. Highlights include an eye-catching chef’s kitchen with walk-in pantry, a media room, a library, an owner’s suite with access to an alfresco hot tub, two luxurious guest suites, and a three-car garage with a large workshop. A great room opens through 18-foot glass panels to an outdoor sitting area with a fire pit, two water features, and unobstructed vistas.

Houston Hideaway

This impeccably remodeled midcentury modern residence is tucked amid tall trees in Houston. The public spaces—formal living and dining rooms, a welcoming family room, and a streamlined chef’s kitchen—have an ideal flow for entertaining. Nearly an entire side of the home is composed of glass, giving way to extensive deck and terrace space. Beyond, nearly two verdant acres unfurl. A lighted private boardwalk meanders through the property to a shady sitting area with a fire pit and the picturesque Buffalo Bayou.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Spring-Summer 2023 Pantone Colors Of The Year

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Whether it accessorizes a person or accents a place, color carries so much meaning. That’s why interior designers, decorators, and architects pay attention when the Pantone Color Institute publishes its forecast trends for the fashion industry. As the leading authority on the palettes to watch for in the New York Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2023 collections, Pantone knows that hues make a huge impact, whether on a wall or a catwalk.

This season, Pantone notes two parallel trends that are divergent yet complementary, opposite yet apposite. People are embracing contrast and exaggeration through novel and unexpected colors, and in doing so, conveying a sense of excitement. Bold tones evoke freedom and invite a spirit of play. At the same time, understated, utilitarian essentials are as trustworthy and in demand as ever—yet even they have been updated with their fair share of unique, creative twists.

Chic Shades That Stand Out

The pops of color provided by these poufs add visual intrigue to what’s already an inspired indoor-outdoor promenade. They show off Beetroot Purple, a vibrant fusion of fuchsia and magenta. But what truly brings this look to life is a backdrop that beautifully blends some of Pantone’s so-called “core classics”—in this case, the neutrals of Macchiato and Vanilla Cream.

These warmth-infused basics also help to brighten a light-filled kitchen, but the character of the space comes from the Blue Perennial and Summer Song seen in the seating, while a fun juxtaposition of Skylight, Tangelo, and Love Bird manifests in the artwork. Meanwhile, the near-iridescent backsplash channels Gray Lilac or Vanilla Cream, depending on how the light hits.

The stimulating contrast of Blue Perennial and Tangelo finds its fullest expression in this living room, where they enhance each other through contemporary carpeting and avant-garde seating, as well as in the abstract cushions. But that’s not the only rug-chair combo to make a statement; this home also leverages Fiery Red on the floor and Classic Green in the furniture to great effect.

New Takes on Calm Classics

Speaking of warm neutrals, it’s not just Vanilla Cream and Macchiato that are beloved by this season’s trendsetters. Gray Lilac is another dreamy, multidimensional shade that brings a surface of simplicity but a depth of complexity to a space. See it here in the concrete flooring, and notice how the transparent bar stools introduce bright colors like Peach Pink and Tangelo in gentler, subtler ways.

In this expansive, luxuriously furnished layout, Peach Pink Crystal Rose may be the more expressive Pantone colors—but the soft elegance exuded by the core classics Vanilla Cream and Macchiato create their own effervescence. These tranquil neutrals give the room a sense of easy comfort.

Neutrals are often associated with whites and grays or browns and beiges—but natural colors can also serve as gorgeous groundings for an interior. Here, the Leek Green accent wall is the perfect anchor for the other earth tones in the space, including Tangelo and Macchiato, and facilitates a seamless continuity with the garden beyond the window.

All of these homes showcase how the separate aesthetic streams of the Spring-Summer 2023 color trends converge in a single, harmonious flow. The five core classics serve as a canvas upon which the ten seasonal standouts can cast off conformity and inspire people to find fun, unconventional ways to flaunt their individuality.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Beautiful Brick: 4 Stately Brick Homes

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Sturdy and stately, brick residences can trace their origins back to 3500 B.C., when the first fired brick allowed for the creation of permanent structures. Simultaneously durable and beautiful, brick homes have a special allure due to their environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, easy maintenance, and enduring style.

Cotswolds-Inspired Classicism

Inspired by the cottages of the English Cotswolds, this stately home in Los Gatos features such timeless elements as a thatched-shingle roof, dormer windows, wrought-iron fencing, a cobblestone-paved drive, and a handsome redbrick façade. These trappings belie the fact that the residence has been impeccably updated for contemporary comfort and convenience, with an alarm system, well-positioned lighting, a built-in sound system, a backyard fire pit, a cook’s kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and granite counters, and a water-filtration system.

A Handsome Manor in Houston

This five-bedroom Houston residence enjoys a prime location on a sizeable corner lot. Beyond its dignified brick exterior, it boasts formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with top-tier stainless-steel appliances and a breakfast area, a family room with surround sound and a built-in projector and screen, a wet bar with a wine cellar, and a game or media room. In the private backyard, brick also surrounds the saltwater pool and spa and forms the arches of the covered outdoor dining area and summer kitchen.

Classical Los Angeles Oasis

A refined classicism pervades nearly every space of this singular home, which has been featured in numerous publications, including House Beautiful magazine. Among the many highlights are a paneled library with a bar, elegant living and dining rooms, a spacious kitchen, a family or great room, and five bedrooms—all with vintage-inspired architectural elements and detailing. A freestanding guesthouse affords additional privacy for visitors. The brick exterior contributes to a fittingly regal, commanding presence.

Timeless Manhattan Townhouse

On a tree-lined street in the heart of West Chelsea, this historic brick-clad townhouse is distinguished by its high stoop, paneled front doorway, tall windows, fine ironwork, other well-preserved period details, and a versatile floor plan that makes it ideal for entertaining. The home offers six bedrooms, three baths, light-filled living and dining rooms, an impressive eat-in kitchen, a den, a library, a peaceful terrace, and a basement with a 5,000-bottle wine cellar and ample storage.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Making A Splash: 4 Homes With Lovely Water Features

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Whether dramatic or demure, a water feature brings calming sounds and natural visual appeal to any home. Each of these four properties—from East Coast to West—uses water to turn an outdoor area into an oasis that can be both striking and serene.

Lush Brentwood Beauty

This serene sanctuary occupies two lush acres in the heart of Brentwood. In addition to a stylish contemporary residence and a pool house with a bar and a sauna, it includes a tennis and sports court, a gazebo perfect for alfresco dining and games, expanses of green lawn, a dedicated flower and vegetable garden, a pergola with a fire pit, paths that wind through the acreage to a yoga and meditation platform, and a waterfall that links the relaxing spa with the swimming pool below.

Eye-Catching Upper East Side Style

On a lovely tree-lined street between Lexington and Park Avenues, this impeccably renovated 7,200-square-foot townhouse offers an ideal flow for sophisticated living and entertaining. Highlights include five bedroom suites, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a wine cellar, a new elevator, a modern security system, and a spacious, shady arbored garden with a peaceful fountain. The 1899 building is a designated city landmark steps from popular restaurants and shops as well as Central Park.

Modern Masterpiece

Perched on the verge of the Brentwood Country Club, this irreplaceable 5,598-square-foot residence exemplifies chic contemporary style. It boasts a spacious primary suite with walk-in closets, a chef’s kitchen with Miele appliances and a butler’s pantry, and a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen, a spa, and expansive golf course views. In the open living area, sets of Fleetwood doors offer a wide, picturesque view of the colorful backyard and its tranquil water feature and pool.

Distinctive Houston Hideaway

The light-flooded contemporary interiors of this distinctive 6,139-square-foot Houston home are ideal for entertaining and displaying an art collection. The residence features four spacious bedrooms, living and dining spaces, a wet bar, media and family rooms, and an elevator. Overlooked by the living room, family room, and superior kitchen through oversized windows, the striking swimming pool is accompanied by fire bowls, a summer kitchen, and dramatic deck jets.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Guiding Light: 5 Homes With Natural Light

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

These five bright and beautiful residences use plentiful windows or full walls of glass to maximize natural light and make the most of their singular settings, from Southern California to Central Park South.

Contemporary Beauty in Bel Air

This light-flooded contemporary farmhouse boasts impeccable attention to detail, the finest fixtures and finishes, and an array of amenities. Highlights include living and dining rooms; a butler’s pantry; a chef’s kitchen and family room with a bar; a lounge, study, or gym; six bedrooms; an office; and a verdant backyard with a dazzling pool and spa. Plentiful windows, soaring ceilings, a lofty openness, and light organic shades allow nearly every space—with the obvious exception of the state-of-the-art theater—to feel suffused with a glorious glow.

Mediterranean-Style Majesty

On a prestigious street in the Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club, this majestic 5,506-square-foot residence is distinguished by its pervasive minimalist palette and stately classical details. Each of the five bedrooms is perfectly peaceful and accompanied by its own bath. In the primary living spaces, Palladian-inspired windows admit light from multiple directions, admitting views of the impeccably manicured grounds and the Dunes Preserve while creating an impressively bright and airy ambience.

Cape Cod Charmer

On the banks of Vineyard Sound, this shingled charmer exemplifies the timeless appeal of Cape Cod, complete with a private beach. Nearly every room enjoys an alluring view, from the delightful kitchen and breakfast room to the three restful bedrooms. In the comfortable living room, a stone fireplace adds warmth and rugged character, while oversized windows and doors turn ocean vistas into dynamic art and flood the space with lovely light. A two-car garage and a basement are welcome extras.

Chic Escape Above Central Park South

Cinematic vistas and glorious light are hallmarks of this chic three-bedroom condominium occupying half a floor above Central Park South. Created by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and designer Thierry Despont, it features a great room enjoying an iconic view through oversized windows and a stylish kitchen with striking surfaces, Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, and more exceptional light and vistas. The building offers an indoor pool, a gym and spa, a sports court, a roof garden, a theater, a game room, and a wine-tasting room.

Timeless Santa Fe Compound

On a colorful hilltop on Santa Fe’s historic Eastside, this timeless 6,104-square-foot compound—a main residence and a two-bedroom guesthouse—combines traditional Pueblo and Territorial styles to in a unique setting for sophisticated Southwestern living and entertaining. Abundant windows, skylights, and French doors fill the home with the distinctive, pervasive light for which “the City Different” is loved. Generous proportions, graceful arches, tall beamed ceilings, diamond plaster walls, and a chic light-toned color scheme further the enchantingly lofty feel.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Workin’ It: 4 Fabulous And Functional Home Offices

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

For the busy professional, an office at home is often non-negotiable. With designs that are both efficient and elegant, these quiet, contemplative spaces may well increase productivity and inspire new ideas.

Contemporary Beauty in Bel Air

On a serene Bel Air street, this new light-flooded contemporary farmhouse boasts impeccable attention to detail, the finest fixtures and finishes, and every modern amenity expected in a home of its caliber. Highlights include a living room, a dining room, and a butler’s pantry opening to a chef’s kitchen and family room with a bar; a state-of-the-art theater; a lounge, study, or gym; six bedrooms; and a dedicated office with built-in bookshelves. Enveloped by mature trees, the verdant backyard offers a dazzling pool and spa.

Central Richmond Charmer

Combining period details and modern updates, this early-20th-century home in the Central Richmond district is charming, bright, and inviting. It features a living room with glass-front bookcases and a fireplace, a spacious dining room with a built-in hutch, a kitchen with new quartz counters and stainless-steel appliances, three bedrooms, and a garage. A window-wrapped office gazes out on neighboring rooftops and the redwood that stands stalwart over the backyard terrace and gardens. Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Land’s End, shops, and restaurants are all nearby.

Hamptons Hideaway

This 1.47-acre Hamptons getaway encompasses an 8,721-square-foot main residence, a refreshing pool and spa, and an inviting pool house. Designed for superior living and entertaining, the home includes a great room, a family room, a dining room with a butler’s pantry, an eat-in chef’s kitchen, two wet bars, a gym, and a theater. On the upper level are a generous primary suite with a gas fireplace and a balcony, three substantial guest suites, and a peaceful, spacious office with a striking bay window.

Warm and Welcoming

Blocks from the popular shops and restaurants of Rice Village, this 4,512-square-foot home was designed by an award-winning architect. Its stylishly welcoming spaces include a dining room, a cocktail and wine bar, an open kitchen and family room with a fireplace and a breakfast area, an upper-level game and media room with a wet bar, and a covered patio with a grill and a wine chiller. The busy professional will appreciate the office, with its wall of built-ins, eight-foot-tall window, and double glass doors.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Perfectly Patterned: 4 Rooms With Eye-Catching Wallpaper

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Carefully chosen wallpaper—whether timelessly botanical or whimsical, abstract, and modern—can transform an everyday space into something extraordinary.

A Connecticut Classic

Enduring in style, this six-bedroom clapboard Colonial home sits atop a gentle hill in a desirable Greenwich neighborhood. Exemplifying New England elegance as well as modern sophistication, it is replete with delightful details, including antique wide-plank wood floors, exceptional millwork, Venetian plaster walls, vintage fireplaces, and striking wallpaper in the grand foyer. Beyond are a refined formal living room, a well-appointed kitchen, two family rooms, a conservatory with a wet bar, and a dining room with lovely Gracie wallpaper and a discreet china cabinet.

Fifth Avenue Finery

From its perch above Fifth Avenue in a full-service prewar Rosario Candela–designed building, this regal 5,947-square-foot residence enjoys views of Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Manhattan skyline. A floor plan for festive entertaining and comfortable everyday living—which keeps the five bedrooms secluded for privacy—begins with an elegant foyer with dazzling wall coverings and inlaid flooring and continues in a the magnificent great room, a media room, a colorful chef’s kitchen, and a formal dining room with classically inspired floral wallpaper.

Texas Treasure

In the exclusive environs of Houston’s lush Tanglewood neighborhood, this striking residence recalls Old World refinement. Highlights include formal living and dining spaces with custom finishes, a renovated kitchen with an island and a breakfast area, a study or office, a game room, and a loggia with a summer kitchen. The primary suite—one of five bedrooms—includes two impeccably outfitted walk-in closets and a chic bath with surfaces of marble, a soaking tub and shower, and wallpaper that is at once sophisticated and whimsical.

Hamptons Hideaway

On 1.47 verdant acres, this quintessential Hamptons getaway impresses with its 8,721-square-foot main residence, refreshing pool and spa, and inviting pool house. In addition to a great room, a family room, a dining room with a butler’s pantry, an eat-in chef’s kitchen, two wet bars, a gym, and a theater, the home features a generous primary suite with a balcony overlooking the pool, two walk-in closets, a marble bath, and a serene sleeping space with a gas fireplace and subtly stylish wallpaper.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Morning Glory: 4 Charming Breakfast Areas

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Designed for effortless day-to-day dining, these delightful breakfast areas adjoin expertly outfitted kitchens and feature built-in banquettes, bright windows with enviable views, and distinctive styles that make them appealing morning, noon, and night.

Sutton Place Sophistication

Supremely stylish and wonderfully bright, this condominium home in the Grand Beekman features inviting living and dining rooms perfect for entertaining and three bedrooms, including a primary suite with a Juliet balcony, a dressing room, a custom-designed walk-in closet, and a marble bath with a soaking tub and a glass-enclosed shower. The kitchen boasts appliances from Viking, Sub-Zero, and Miele; a 42-bottle wine chiller; Carrara marble countertops; and a breakfast area with a large window and French doors admitting westerly light.

Houston Haven

This elegant new five-bedroom residence in Houston’s leafy landmark neighborhood of River Oaks offers a rare combination of Old World style, expert craftsmanship, and contemporary comforts and conveniences. The floor plan features five bedrooms, a light-filled “salon,” a formal dining room, a contemplative library, and a true chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry and a delightful breakfast area overlooking and opening to the bucolic gardens, lush lawn, and chic swimming pool and spa.

Grand Greenwich Manor

On 1.1 acres on the banks of Greenwich Creek as it widens toward Indian Harbor, this distinctive 6,753-square-foot manor dates to 1936 and was recently renovated to offer new appliances, hardwood floors, and landscaping. In addition to five bedrooms, it features numerous spaces for formal and casual living and entertaining and a spacious kitchen with plentiful cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances. Adjoining is a window-wrapped breakfast room that gazes out toward flourishing trees and the water.

Upper East Side Elegance

Esteemed architect Steven Harris helmed the three-year renovation of this light-flooded seven-bedroom residence, which boasts six levels accessible by elevator and windows facing all four cardinal directions. Highlights include two dens, a sunroom, an office, living and dining rooms, a wet bar, a gym, an indoor pool, a window-walled room overlooking a Japanese garden, a rooftop garden, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar. A kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances gives way to a cheerful breakfast room with built-in seating and French doors opening to an idyllic terrace.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Top Shelf: Four Homes With Enviable Closets

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

From East Coast to West, these homes feature impressive closets that provide a proper place for carefully curated clothing collections, providing a proper place for practically everything.

Madison Avenue Aerie

In this 4,193-square-foot residence above Madison Avenue, no detail has been overlooked, from its chevron-patterned white oak floors to the Waterworks and Kallista fixtures. Highlights include a great room with a fireplace and wall of west-facing windows; an eat-in kitchen with Christopher Peacock cabinetry, a marble-topped island, and superior appliances; a library with Midtown skyline views; and a primary suite featuring a lavish bath and two walk-in closets—one with a dressing island, an array of top-tier built-ins, and windows filling the space with light.

Chic Lakefront Contemporary

On the banks of Sherwood Lake, this chic contemporary residence is a sophisticated haven with dazzling views. The heart of the home is a great room with a deck, a fireplace, a dining area, a 650-bottle wine room, and a kitchen with a breakfast area and a butler’s pantry. The upper-level owner’s suite includes a private balcony, a fireplace, a luxurious bath with a mountain vista, and two sleekly outfitted room-size walk-in closets. A private dock completes the idyllic picture.

Fashionable Flatiron Cooperative

Generous entertaining space, 11-foot ceilings, oversized south-facing windows with iconic views, a uniquely designed chef’s kitchen, gallery-like art walls, and an enviable balcony are hallmarks of this stylish, light-filled three-bedroom loft in one of Flatiron’s fashionable cooperative buildings, located at the crossroads of Union Square and Greenwich Village. The generous primary suite includes a spa-like bath with a soaking tub and a shower and a custom boutique-inspired walk-in closet and dressing area.

Downtown Sophistication

This sleek, chic full-floor penthouse at a prime downtown San Francisco address has a well-considered floor plan that accommodates both quiet private living and grand-scale entertaining. In addition to stylish interiors, it offers a rooftop deck with lush plantings, a pond, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, an alfresco theater area, a bocce court, a hot tub, and skyline views. One of three spacious bedrooms, the primary suite includes a lounge, a fireplace, a spa-inspired bath, and opulent walk-in closet and dressing areas.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s