Posted: Mar 11, 2016
We all strive to live in a space we love: one where art meets function. To some, the creation of perfect harmony comes naturally. The rest of us might need to buy a home where it has been done for us. Here are 10 properties for sale (from £43,000 to £13m) around the world, with inspirational interiors.
1. Lyndhurst Terrace, Hampstead NW3 £5.5m
The central section of a Gothic mansion, this Hampstead house is bursting with spectacular period detailing. Arched windows, stained glass, barrel vault ceilings and parquet flooring all feature. They all create an inspirational interior. There are six bedrooms and four impressive reception rooms.
2. Costa Azul, Petropolis, Brazil From £43,000
Petropolis, about 40 miles inland from Rio de Janeiro, is popular for its pleasant climate amid the forested hills. It has excellent transport links and is quickly becoming a sought-after location. These two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments sport contemporary décor and stylish appliances. They have enormous picture windows with spectacular views. The communal areas, a bar, a pool, a gym and a spa, complete the five-star experience.
3. Walton House, Walton Street, Knightsbridge SW3 £3.7m
This loft-style lateral apartment sits at the top of Walton House, a listed building designed by architect Norman Shaw in 1882. The original features are enhanced by bespoke joinery and a quirky decorating talent. The flexible space could instead offer two reception rooms with a bedroom suite on the upper floor. Few homes have such luxurious bathrooms.
4. Lia, Mykonos, Greece £2.32 (€3m)
Whitewashed minimalism is the essence of Cycladic style. Dazzling chalky-white houses set against an azure sky and sparkling water, in a landscape dotted with olives and splashes of brilliant pink bougainvillea. This smooth-edged modern villa features exposed stone and beams. It overlooks Lia Bay on the eastern coast of Mykonos with views over the Aegean Sea. There is an infinity pool and a separate beach house.
Sphere Estates; 020 3617 1360; (www.sphereestates.com)
5. Britton Street, London EC1 £7,999,950
On the outside, this is a demure Georgian town house in a quiet street in trendy Clerkenwell. Go inside, however, and 300 years flashes by, as you step over the threshold. The interiors are as modern as you can get. There are period features throughout, such as fireplaces and stripped wood floors. These merge seamlessly with the high-tech, light-filled entertaining space, the cinema room and the swimming pool. There are three roof terraces and six bedrooms. The glass floor in the kitchen/dining area gives this home an aspirational twist. And you are just a mile from St Paul’s.
Sandfords; 020 7224 4994; (www.sandfords.com)
6. Saint Germain Beaupre, Limoges, France POA
This refurbished fortress is surrounded by its moat, and 41 acres of land. It’s a 12th century castle offering 21st century luxury. Polished oak floors and flagstones, marble bathrooms and kitchen worktops, huge granite fireplaces and 6ft-thick walls all add their atmospheric weight to this ancient chateau. There are hand-painted 17th century murals and stained glass, carvings and ornate plasterwork. Some of the furniture is available by separate negotiation.
Vladi Private Islands; 0049 4033 8989; ( http://www.vladi-private-islands.de)
7. Buck Island, British Virgin Islands POA
If you own a private island in the Caribbean, you can expect the views to be the main selling point. The interior of the mansion on this island, however, rivals those. The clifftop eyrie is a dramatic mix of luxury and minimalism with statement stone walls, floor to ceiling glass and a spiral staircase based on the shell of a nautilus. Designed to create a village effect, there are a number of separate buildings, with a master bedroom cottage, five guest cottages and a further one-bed apartment. There is a tower with a cinema room at the top, surrounded by a wraparound balcony. Oh, and another house on the mainland, too.
8. Via Solferino, Florence, Italy £1.93m (€2.5m)
This is certainly a room with a view or, rather, a whole house with a view. Once home to the fashion designer Emilio Cavallini, this penthouse is spread across the top three levels of an elegant building in Florence. It has 360 degree views of the beautiful Renaissance city. It is being sold fully furnished, so all you have to do is move in. There are four terraces for al fresco lunches, with a large spa bath to refresh you.
9. San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Tuscany, Italy £13.3m (€17,150,000)
A short distance from Florence, this Tuscan estate is in the heart of Chianti country. The main villa dates from the Renaissance and the traditional interior has been brought up to date in the local style with close attention to historical detail. Latterly home to a famous Dutch artist, Karel Appel, the property is divided into several apartments. There are numerous swimming pools on the estate, which extends to nearly 25 acres. The olive groves and forest surround the formal gardens and there is a chapel dating from 1647.
10. Vall D'Incles, Canillo, Andorra £4.64m (€6m)
This fabulous Alpine chalet isn’t in the Alps. It’s in the tiny, independent principality of Andorra, squeezed into the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. The region boasts, on average, 300 days of sunshine a year. Better still is the tax system, which is very low. And if you’re going to reside here, where better than this Nordic-style villa, full of pale wood and windows. There are three bedrooms, a large terrace and a springwater pool.
