What is a Perfect Home for a Taurus?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each zodiac sign? Homebody Taurus craves comfort and ease—and a sizable closet, writes Jill Krasny

Ever wonder why some homes seem to captivate you, while others leave you feeling ho-hum? Your star sign may have something to do with it. Whereas Aries are known for their bold design choices, artsy Pisces are drawn to homes by the water and visionary Aquarians prize light-filled spaces that maximize indoor/outdoor living. Taureans are perhaps the biggest homebodies of all, so as their zodiac season (April 20 to May 20) gets underway, it’s time to ask: How do you design the perfect home for a Taurus? 

“They need a space that radiates comfort and ease,” says Anthony Perrotta, an astrologer and interior designer based in Rhode Island in the U.S. “Taureans love a space that feels like an escape from the world: cozy, but closed off.” 

A 1930 townhouse in a landmarked section of Greenwich Village, New York, fits the profile. The property is situated behind a wrought-iron gate, and architect Adam Kushner’s sensitive design nods to the site’s location above Manhattan’s previously tree-lined, vanished Minetta Brook—note the wood pile. It offers several hideaways that will please a Taurus, from a tidy front courtyard (with room for a Vespa) to an enclosed, foliage-covered balcony, and a meditation room. Of course, the rooftop steals the show with its spectacular views, mini kitchen and light-filled glass gym. 

Taureans are drawn to homes that bring the outdoors in, be it through floor-to-ceiling windows, houseplants or fresh flowers, Perrotta says. So it’s best to avoid dark confining spaces, like subterranean basement apartments and wide-open floor plans that don’t maintain privacy. “A home with a good-size closet and separation from the primary bedroom is ideal,” he says, as is plenty of storage.

A contemporary Wellington home in New Zealand has privacy and views in equal measure. Expansive windows afford natural panoramas from every room, while a walk-in pantry, which cleverly conceals a laundry room and tub, keeps personal mess at bay, which this materialistic yet tidy sign will appreciate: “They may like things, but they don’t enjoy clutter,” Perrotta says. The master bedroom, with its walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom, feels like a private retreat.  

As the sign of abundance and wealth, Taurus loves the good life. But they also understand good value, Perrotta says, and once they find what they like, they tend to stick with it. “They’re an earth sign,” says Perotta, “so anything that feels earthy or grounded is a go for them.” 

Casa Rosabaya, a sprawling villa on Playa Cosón, in Las Terrenas, a resort town on the Samaná Peninsula in the north of the Dominican Republic, epitomizes livable luxury. A tropical garden dotted with palms and sea grapes lines the swimming pool, while local design firm Arkina’s glass, stucco and wooden palette warms up the modern cement structure.

When it comes to color palettes, as might be expected, Taurus loves earthy tones and hues, especially brown and tan, but is similarly drawn to green, pink, white and cream. “They may have a desire to bring in a pop of color,” Perrotta says. But above all, he adds, they like anything that feels like it came from the earth, such as linen, hemp, cotton and stone. 

Ultimately, Taurus wants a home that feels like a sanctuary, where they can unwind in private. “They want it to smell good, feel good, look good,” Perrotta says. “For Taurus, their home is an investment, and one that they will never regret because it will always give them the grounding and joy that they seek. Very few signs love their home more, except perhaps Cancer.” 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How Architect Suchi Reddy Creates Happy Homes

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Her designs are based on feelings and science, with a mission to foster well-being, says Elizabeth Fazzare

Suchi Reddy is a multi-hyphenate in every sense. In the past year, the architect, designer, artist and founder of New York-based studio Reddymade launched her first furniture collection, in collaboration with luxury Indian textile atelier Ekaya Banaras; curated an exhibition celebrating Indian craft at New York gallery Salon Design; created an installation for the world’s largest color library; taught architecture students at Columbia University and still found time to design a variety of residences, boutiques and public projects. Constant experimentation drives Reddy’s prolific practice, but she often describes it with a softer term: feelings.

“Conceptually, that’s the through line,” says Reddy, who established her studio two decades ago. “What are the feelings that I want to be able to explore? What are the feelings that my clients want to feel? And how can we use the environment to amplify that?” Though this approach may seem hard to apply to furnishings or finishes, scientific thought has long provided Reddy with a helpful framework. Using the principles of neuroaesthetics, a field of study that explores how art and beauty can positively affect people’s well-being, Reddy designs projects that not only look good, but make their inhabitants feel good, too. She calls this “form follows feeling.”

As diverse as Reddy’s work is, half is rooted in luxury residential projects: designs for ground-up construction, renovations and interior transformations that help homeowners capture desired moods in their most personal spaces. Often, this process involves parsing the references they “love and respond to” in order to create what they are really looking for: comfort.

“The opportunity to design something really tailored that conjures this beautiful sense of being enveloped is a joy to me,” explains Reddy. “I always say we work together [with clients] on our residential projects because we always end up with something that neither one of us had any preconceived notion of.” Balancing her self-confessed “modernist sensibility” with a client’s taste, contextual considerations and lifestyle leads to bespoke solutions. Aesthetically, Reddymade’s portfolio of homes is just as varied as their owners.

For contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, Reddy created a 2,000-square-foot linear extension for his upstate New York weekend house. Hexagonal in section and minimalist in material palette, it provides a new two-bedroom guest wing, each end capped by glazed porches. Strategically placed picture windows along one side offer views over the farm property, while protecting artworks in the central living area where they are displayed among his well-curated selection of antique and vintage furnishings.

In Beverly Hills, California, Reddy transformed the interior of an angular house into a soft, serene family abode, focusing on the opportunities provided by its natural lighting to illuminate different rooms and design objects throughout the course of the day. Integrating plush yet modern furniture with carpeting and rugs crafted an environment that feels cozy and intimate, even when surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glazing.

A pair of actor clients in New York listed their most important requests as “a giant table to read scripts, a projection screen and a big sculpture of a paper horse,” Reddy recalls. She gave them a custom space that incorporated all these elements, functionally and aesthetically, while also providing ample light and air in a setting that could help to inspire their work.

Similarly for Reddy, separation between work and life doesn’t exist—nor would she want it to. She spent this past winter in India where she is currently working on a house for her sister, who requested a covered courtyard and an image of a mandala—a geometric design with spiritual symbolism. Reddy commissioned a wrought-iron version as a shade structure for the courtyard: its intricate shadow reflects perfectly onto the home’s entry once a day.

“It’s that kind of magic that happens when one has a conversation with somebody about something you’re equally passionate about,” she explains. “A lot of architects will say they don’t like the hand-holding it takes to do residential work, but I find there is something in the personal connection that is so appealing. A lot of times in our world we’re left with this kind of generic experience. Your home is the only place you get to really tailor to your expression.”

Like any piece of her creative practice, Reddy sees this area as ripe for experimentation. “Our bodies are always the centerpiece of our homes, so when I’m doing residential work, I’m constantly thinking about neuroaesthetics,” she explains. “I’m thinking about the quality of light in a space; I’m thinking about the color of light; I’m thinking about transition in and out. Even if you create very different looks in different rooms, I’m making sure the transition between is seamless and that it offers wonder and discovery.” From architecture to art and even small details like glassware, these home projects are “incredible opportunities to develop a holistic environment,” Reddy says. “It’s like creating a cocoon for someone; a really beautiful one.”

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Brutalism Is Back: Designing Homes With Drama

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The powerful architecture style is inspiring a new generation of luxury buyers and contemporary builds, writes Riya Patel

Architecture is enjoying another big-screen moment, thanks to “The Brutalist.” Brady Corbet’s epic movie has collected prestigious wins this awards season, not least for its lead actor, Adrien Brody, as the fictional Bauhaus-trained architect László Tóth. For filmmakers, the appeal of Brutalism—the bold architecture style characterized by monumental concrete forms—is clear to see. These head-turning hulks, which first emerged in the early 1950s, were made for drama.

“The reason Brutalist buildings have such a following, and are seen in so many coffee table books, posters and so on, is because they’re kind of photogenic,” says Owen Hopkins, historian and author of “The Brutalists: Brutalism’s Best Architects” (Phaidon, 2023). As Hopkins explains, there are three key elements to the style: “It’s about an extreme truth to materials, which manifested itself as raw, unfinished concrete; an understanding of context, which in Europe after World War II was destruction, rubble and the exposed insides of buildings; and its memorability as an image.”

From civic architecture and cultural centres to huge housing developments around the globe, Brutalism has proved controversial for its attention-grabbing scale and stark detail. But while it divides tastes, the style is undeniably powerful—with a legion of loyal fans. In campaigns of postwar rebuilding, it was intended to symbolize hope and renewal. In parts of the world forging a new post-colonial path or economic agenda, it was a marker of independence and modernity. And in the private home, massive concrete volumes became a way to outwardly express the progressive values of the owner. 

A celebrated example is the Harry and Penelope Seidler House (1967), designed by the Austrian-Australian architect couple as their own family home in the Sydney suburb of Killara. “It’s incredibly boldly sculptural and multi-layered,” says Hopkins of the residence. “Built on a hilltop, it has quite a complicated plan and section, with lots of half levels and views through it that allowed the parents to keep an eye on their children.” 

Because Brutalism was never a dominant style of domestic architecture, exclusive gems from the era are much sought-after by the luxury buyer. Homes of this type often serve as a manifesto, both to more open ways of living and to a robustness that endures. Penelope Seidler still lives in the Seidler House today, with interiors, furniture and art that remain largely unchanged. These residences may be architectural history, but they were built on principles of spaciousness, light and expansive views that remain timelessly desirable. 

Canadian architect John C. Parkin’s 30 High Point Road, currently listed for sale in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood, is an extraordinary example of how the style was used to exude wealth and status. Completed in 1976, the eight-bedroom mansion has a long flight of steps leading to its entrance, emphasizing a grandiose concrete structure that slopes dramatically to the ground. Inside, a four-story atrium floods the house with natural light, giving this home the quality of a museum or gallery more than a domestic space. Curtain walls of glazing—another Brutalist hallmark—make the property’s views of mature trees and landscaping a backdrop for living and entertaining.

In Belgium, a humbler home by architect Marc Corbiau—also currently for sale—can be found in the countryside of Walloon Brabant. Designed in 1972, the house is enveloped by greenery that has been allowed to creep up and over its raw concrete forms. With the appearance of a romantic ruin, it is set low in the landscape, with the house and gardens seemingly merging into one. This softer approach to the architectural style, with details updated by interior designer Catleen le Hardy in 2018, shows a more livable version of Brutalism for today’s buyer, with low ceilings and intimately scaled living spaces. 

Such is the influence of Brutalism, it is now emerging in new expressions. Contemporary homes that build on Brutalism’s legacy are moving away from a dominant use of concrete towards more sustainable materials. However, they still show the same interest in raw surfaces and geometric volumes. Casa La Colina, a luxury family home currently listed in Guanajuato, Mexico, is an example of the style’s lasting power.

The home is organized as an assembly of large boxy forms around an exposed concrete core. Entering the property over a footbridge heightens anticipation of the generous, light-filled living spaces. “It is unique among the Spanish Colonial-style homes of the area,” says selling agent Sheryl Clark. “It’s easy to see how this home can be easily used to entertain, with a large chef’s kitchen, open floor plan, and views out to the yard and pool.” Another dramatic feature is the “long aesthetic hallway of towering slit windows,” she says.

While many original examples of the style are celebrated, others are regarded as eyesores. By the late 1970s, especially in the UK, Brutalist buildings had come to be seen as cold and harsh rather than positive and uplifting.“But with the wheel of taste turning and a generation with no memory of the backlash, maybe we’re now able to look at it differently,” says Hopkins. Brutalism’s energetic spirit awaits its next interpretation. That makes it much more than a style choice for buyers—it’s a chance to be part of its dramatic history. 

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

At Home Outside

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A variety of new furniture designs brings the comfort of indoor living outdoors

Patios and porches have become second living and dining rooms, while gardens are being converted into open-air kitchens and even home cinemas—particularly in summer. And as these outdoor areas are increasingly used as extensions of indoor spaces, luxury manufacturers are responding with fresh furnishings and fixtures that can accommodate this newfound flexibility.

“During the pandemic, people started to focus more on their gardens and transforming these spaces into personal sanctuaries and places to entertain responsibly,” says Los Angeles-based landscape architect John Sharp, who is best known for his work on iconic mid-century Modern homes like the John Lautner-designed Garcia House. As with most innovations born out of necessity, this trend is here to stay.

When designing sofas, chairs, tables, and lamps that are as suited for intimate outfits inside as they are alfresco settings, it all comes down to implementing durable materials and accounting for adaptability—but also introducing bold aesthetics, to enhance exterior environments with statement pieces. Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos’ Bombom collection for Roche Bobois, for instance, is colorful, modular, playful, and amorphous in shape while incorporating sturdy, cutting-edge fabrics. The candy-like sofas are joined by equally maximalist carpets that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

“We’re seeing the boundary between interior and exterior become more fluid,” says Chicago native Stephen Burks. Developed out of Burks’ decades-long collaboration with German outdoor furniture brand Dedon, the Kida lounge chair is as much a testament to carefully considered ergonomics as it is to craftsmanship. The cradle-shaped settee’s organic form is defined by an open metal frame wrapped in a thickly-textured and multi-colored fiber cord by dedicated artisans in Cebu Island, Philippines. A soft cushion insert adds an additional layer of comfort. The new design joins the much-celebrated Kida hanging chaise.

“Outdoor spaces invite us to connect with the natural world and our exteriors, which can also mean our communities,” says Burks. “Consider the porch for example. It’s where you might spend an evening in a swing soaking in the last rays of sun and listening to the breeze in the trees. A porch is also the place you might share an intimate conversation with neighbors accompanied by a cool beverage. Designing for the outdoors requires a heightened sense of generosity.”

Heritage Danish design brand Fritz Hansen has joined the outdoor game with the release of the versatile Povl B Eskildsen-designed Tradition sofa system, produced using FSC-certified core teak and championing graphic simplicity. “As much as form and materials are paramount to good design, so are the ways in which we live—how we use furniture in our everyday lives,” Eskildsen says. “I have created a lot of outdoor furniture and can see how the way we use it differs across countries and cultures, as well as over time.” The seating system can be added to or reduced easily to accommodate gatherings, small or large.

Long gone are the days of cheap plastic or brittle wicker pool chairs. Developed by South African talent Haldane Martin for his namesake label, the Contour outdoor daybed comprises a particularly plush, circular bed with a layered rim backrest and a canopy with fabric crafted in a basket-weaving technique. The indoor-outdoor Fiji upholstery used, from Spanish brand Crevin, is UV-resistant and easy to clean.

Translating an existing design for outdoor use is more and more common. Boutique Los Angeles furniture brand Kalon Studios recently launched its first outdoor Material Studies-Rugosa collection. Building on its pared-back Rugosa series—geometric armchairs and side tables—practice co-founders Michaele Simmering and Johannes Pauwen switched out sustainably harvested western sugar pine for powder-coated aluminum, bronzed glass, and GreenGuard-certified, outdoor-rated textiles. Utilizing long-lasting and durable components is as important as responsibly sourcing regenerative and low-carbon-footprint materials. Holding on to furniture for as long as possible is essential. 

Sustainability is a key factor, but one that doesn’t have to come at the expense of luxury or creative expression. Celebrated Spanish-Italian designer Patricia Urquiola recently launched the biodegradable yet water-resistant Alder collection with Danish brand Mater. “It features simple, three-dimensional objects that can also be used as stools and tables,” she describes. “We wanted to give the blend of Matek—a mixture of upcycled sawdust, coffee bean shells, and binding bioplastic—a certain texture, which makes the material more agile, clay-like, and natural. Alder is a family of trees that feature simple conical lines, so we’re referencing nature and geometry in equal measure.” The durable outdoor/indoor products come in beige, brown, light green, and terracotta hues.

Meanwhile, Belgian producer Ethnicraft recently introduced 100% solid, black-tainted, and brushed teak to its gamut of outdoor tables, including the Quatro series. This finish is a sophisticated alternative to other natural materials, maintaining sustainability while offering sleek elegance. 

What would an outdoor dining room be without light? Up-and-coming New York studio In Common With recently released the Dune Table Lamp, which works as well outdoors as it does indoors. Available in five weather-resistant finishes, the dim-to-warm LED fixture has a whimsical yet sophisticated quality. 

As summer invites us outdoors into luscious gardens or sleek terraces, innovative and elegant furniture designs like these enable us to blend the boundaries between inside and out—with flair. 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

4 Homes Perfect For Wine Tastings

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Those who presume that wine is just another beverage are missing the point, and missing the potential—for as any connoisseur knows, it’s so much more. Wine can be a collector’s item and an investment; it can be an invitation to a celebration, or the centerpiece at a chic soirée. Of course, it can also be an individual indulgence—a treat, and a retreat—to be savored in sophisticated solitude.

Wine is versatile, with countless vintages and varieties. Beyond the classic reds and whites, there are oranges and organics, sparkles and rosés; appreciating their nuances is a skill that requires cultivation, as much a science as an art.

Naturally, there are certain homes for wine lovers that cater to the pastime in different ways. Here are four glamorous wine tasting properties with features and amenities that raise the standards, and raise a glass, in demonstrating what a luxury wine home can include.

A Home With a Wine Cellar on a Whole New Level

Some tasting rooms are on an entirely other level—and that’s literally the case at this mountainside masterpiece, where the subterranean cellar and sampling area are on full display through the transparent glass floor. It’s not just a visionary architectural flourish, either; temperature is everything when storing wines of varied vintages, and the controls in this space are state-of-the-art.

This isn’t the only area to make a vibrant statement with glass. Floor-to-ceiling windows grace the front of the home with views of a fresh mountain tarn, and open onto an garden and outdoor living area where homeowners can bring a favorite bottle and luxuriate in the beauty of the alpine foothills.

Host Happy Hour in a Five-Star Wine Bar

What could possibly be more pleasurable than enjoying a gorgeous glass of wine in an elegant, high-end cocktail bar? How about if the cocktail bar is in the comfort of your own home? That’s one of the many benefits of this majestic country wine estate home. Owning your own private establishment is as exclusive as it gets; you decide the wine list and the guest list.

Of course, the wine bar is located in just one of several dwellings on the expansive acreage. Besides the historic architectural marvel that is the main house, there also happens to be a parcel of land dedicated to a thriving winery—with production and bottling facilities accompanied by a two-bedroom apartment and a private tasting room.

Creating Unique Wines Through Vineyard Real Estate

Indeed, luxury homes with vineyards hold special appeal for wine lovers, and true aficionados pay special attention—and often pay premium prices—for properties with intriguing and inimitable varieties. Such is the case in this astonishing villa, where the terraced hillside vantage, plentiful sunlight, and abundance of fresh water grant the grapes a sumptuousness that’s difficult to duplicate.

The onsite winery is designed to produce and age wines of unparalleled uniqueness and quality. But just as impressive is the property’s immersive wellness spa, where wine is the ideal complement to a lavish day of self-care.

A Showcase in Every Sense of the Word

Another reason to appreciate wine: a spectacular selection is the ultimate understated status symbol. In a residence like this contemporary seaside getaway, the wine storage is as functional as it is fashionable, wowing guests with its avant-garde geometries of glass and light without you having to say a word.

With pools, a hammam, and a sauna all surrounded by lush greenery, there’s a plethora of places to sip a glass of wine and bask in the afternoon warmth. And as this wine country home has space for up to 10 bedrooms, it’s superb for accommodating friends and family.

There’s a thriving real estate market for wine enthusiasts, but there are rare paragons that redefine what a wine tasting home can be. These four—with their tasting rooms, custom cellars, and winemaking facilities—are the types of properties that will dazzle even those with the most discerning tastes.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Wellness At Home: Self-Care Amenities To Incorporate Into Luxury Properties

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

A home is meant to be where you feel the most comfortable and comforted, the most cared for and carefree. Put simply, your home is where you should feel the most at home—so there’s something inherently paradoxical if you have to leave it in order to access the wellness amenities that enable you to feel your best.

For luxury buyers, it’s imperative that wellness features be found on the property, whether through the world-class facilities offered in an upmarket condo development or the top-of-the-line amenities provided in stand-alone homes.

From classic spa bathrooms with clawfoot tubs and rain head showers, to futuristic health- and mood-boosting installations such as infrared saunas, luxury home amenities span a wide range and are suited to different purposes. But these four categories are increasingly in-demand by the most discerning wellness real estate clientele.

Fitness Centers Equipped for Elite Athletes

Self-care home ideas often begin with the perfect gym experience. State-of-the-art technology, no queues or crowds competing with you for weights and machines, and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can admire a swath of sunny, stunning scenery while you exercise. It sounds like you would need an exclusive and expensive membership for such a place, but some properties come with them built in.

In many cases, these are luxury condos with shared amenities for residents. However, on rare occasions—such as Dubai’s famous Palm Jumeirah—facilities of the highest caliber are fashioned for singular homes or apartments.

Spa Spaces for Restoration and Relaxation

If you were to imagine the ideal spa getaway, the location would be just as important as the features and services. Breathtaking beach panoramas that inspire a sense of serenity and calm, triple-glazed west-facing windows to guarantee flawless climate control and fabulous sunsets, and perhaps a prized location perched atop a seaside bluff, with terraces carved into the natural stone.

This could easily describe a dream boutique hotel. But for a lucky few, such tranquility can be found in their residence—with home spa features that include hydrotherapy baths, cold plunges, and saunas, outfitted with thoughtful touches such as underfloor heating and cooling systems beneath fine finishes of organic wood and stone.

Areas Made for Mindfulness and Meditation

While high-end wellness trends may change over time, what remains consistent is that they’re both a state of being and a state of mind—and more than ever, the need for mental health is even more prominent than physical health. Having luxury wellness spaces in the home to rejuvenate the spirit is as essential as having places to heal the body.

Tranquil gardens and ample green spaces filled with a variety of vegetation are highly valued. So too are natural light, fresh and fragrant air, open skies, and gorgeous views. Tasteful décor of materials such as teak and rattan, along with neutral and natural fabrics, create seamless continuity with the outdoors.

But more than anything, peace and privacy are paramount for meditation, and properties optimized for such practices should have spacious grounds, multiple patios, and secluded pavilions where homeowners and guests can find solace when needed.

Kitchens Catering to Healthy, Holistic Living

Healthy eating is foundational to healthy living, and one of the most sought-after home wellness features in luxury real estate is the type of kitchen gourmet chefs fantasize about.

That means the types of appliances showcased in only the most illustrious architecture and design catalogs, along with refined, streamlined storage that can be both ubiquitous and unobtrusive. But it also means spacious surfaces for food preparation, and capacious pantries and refrigerators to house all the greatest ingredients.

It also means clement weather and easy internal-external connectivity, so that organic herbs and spices can be grown at home. And of course, it demands diverse serving and dining areas, to ensure meals aren’t just made to the highest standard, but enjoyed to the highest standard as well.

You shouldn’t have to leave your home to seek a self-care sanctuary. At the high end of the real estate market, wellness features and self-care amenities are increasingly indistinguishable from what you would find at a sophisticated five-star retreat—except now your refuge can be your rooftop, your ensuite, your basement, or your balcony. Homes such as these are redefining what wellness at home entails.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

The Bold And The Beautiful: 4 Homes With Vibrant Interiors

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Choosing a bold, eye-catching shade for any surface is an easy way to transform a room from mundane to mesmerizing. Whether in the heart of the city or steps from the coast, these homes use vivid hues to add vitality and verve.

Sophisticated Modern Beach House

Enveloped by some 40 acres of peaceful preserve land, this 2,850-square-foot haven combines the rustic charm of a well-loved beach house with the sophisticated aesthetics of an Easthampton getaway. Wide-plank hardwood flooring, ceiling beams, wood-paneled walls, and multiple fireplaces contribute to a calming classic ambience, while the den’s captivating mineral-blue tone recalls the sky above and the sea not far away. Other highlights include a well-equipped cook’s kitchen, a three-season sunroom, a deck, an indoor-outdoor shower, a firepit, and a pool and spa.

Colorful Creativity on Fifth Avenue

Color is used to stylish effect in this chic condominium home in a Emery Roth–designed prewar building on Fifth Avenue. Cool living room walls bring to mind blue summer skies with wispy clouds, a boldly bright red floor enlivens a handsome kitchen with rich wood accents and a built-in dining area, and a vibrant yellow ceiling in one of the five bedrooms creates a cheerful way to start any day. Plentiful windows allow for enjoyment of lovely natural light and enviable Central Park views.

Charming Coastal Colonial

Highlights of this 1920s Colonial include five restful bedrooms, a sunroom, a screened porch, and a two-car garage with an electric-vehicle charger. The formal dining room trades subdued shades for a jewel-like teal that contrasts intriguingly with the home’s warm woods and serene white and cream tones. A kitchen that feels both charming and purposeful gives way through double glass doors to a sunny patio enveloped by hedgerows. Beyond is a refreshing saltwater pool ringed by picturesque fencing, flowers, and greenery—with an outdoor shower nearby.

Lively Living Lenox Hill

In this meticulously renovated sunlight-flooded prewar condominium home, rich, spirited colors appear in places beyond the oak flooring, carefully curated art, and well-chosen furnishings found in the corner living room, the chef’s kitchen, and the four bedrooms. Capable of accommodating a dozen hungry guests, the formal dining room has stylish walls that echo the wine that may find itself generously poured there, while the library’s walls and custom bookshelves are awash in a soothing blue-gray hue sure to encourage quiet contemplation.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Timeless Design Trends To Elevate Your Home

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How many times have you perused high-end design tips in a glossy lifestyle magazine or an esteemed architecture editorial, only to notice that those trends are passé in a matter of months?

Some styles have mere moments to shine before fading to obscurity; while other trends demonstrate a recursive pattern, returning cyclically across the years or decades. But there are also certain aesthetic sensibilities that, viewed holistically over time, have not only held their value but augmented it. And homeowners ought to take note, whether they plan to sell their property one day or hand it down to posterity.

So as designers identify top trends—as they did in Sotheby’s International Realty’s annual Luxury Outlook Report, where five professionals at their top of their field singled out visual styles they’re currently paying attention to—it’s prudent to remember not all of them are “trends” in the typical sense of the word. Yes, they might be in vogue, but chances are that they will remain so in the foreseeable future. 

Classic Furniture Trends for Inspired Interiors

Designers and their clients have turned towards more maximalism in their luxury interior ideas recently, but not because of a “more is better” mindset. It’s because the true trend is a growing desire among homeowners to imbue their spaces with art, furnishings, and finishes that incite invigoration, imagination, and sensory interest and stimulation.

And while the distinct personality infusing these spaces risks making their appeal subjective, it can also have universal charm when the right approach is employed. For instance, hardwoods are some of the most durable home materials, and furniture made from varieties such as mahogany, walnut, and oak can last for generations while also showcasing the unique, authentic craftsmanship that modern luxury properties have come to prize.

Marble and stone also keep well, and make gorgeous surfaces—in luxury flooring trends, timeless kitchen designs, and high-end bathroom ideas—that give texture, tone, color, and character to a space.

Along with this growing desire for distinctiveness is a demand for comfort. Interiors should invite calm even as they spark joy, and this extends from elegant lighting solutions to luxury home textiles and seating. Having plush and illuminated spaces to gather, talk, read, and relax have gained popularity among owners and creators of luxury properties.

Decor and Design That Endure for Decades

Paradoxically, sometimes the most timeless design trends are those that embody time itself; even when properties are brand new, many luxury architects and designers are embracing the old. Because by imbuing a sense of memory and antiquity into a space through reclaimed wood, stone, and textiles, there’s also a sense of longevity. Historic structures that are still standing were obviously built to aspirational standards.

We’ve seen how there are many ways to incorporate modern classic design through surfaces and materials—but is there such a thing as a timeless color scheme? While contemporary layouts may be tapping into maximalist trends, the neutral wall colors of classic minimalist design luxury—from creamy tints to sandy shades—remain as fashionable today as they were yesterday.

But more than just being neutral colors, these are natural colors. Soft greens, blues, and other organic hues make for mood-boosting palettes that align with luxury homeowner’s growing need for greater integration between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Features to Help Increase Your Home’s Value

The enthusiasm for indoor-outdoor living has given glass a special prominence in modern luxury properties. Clear views of grounds and gardens, along with strategic placement of windows and skylights for passive heating and cooling, are investment decor ideas that add value to any home. Top designers also note that as windows and skylights get more innovative in their placement, they’re also becoming more innovative in their manufacturing, with modern glass being optimized for greater durability, versatility, and sustainability.

Indeed, sustainable luxury design is sure to be top-of-mind for generations to come, with architects and decorators embedding it into homes as seamlessly as possible. Technologies such as rainwater and wastewater purification systems, photovoltaic and geothermal energy generation, and internal climate control solutions—including motorized blinds and shades—have come to define smart home luxury.

These elegant home decor features are thoughtful ways to increase value, while also improving both beauty and functionality. And the same can be said for timeless design trends in general; they differentiate properties with distinctive flourishes that enhance their originality, while being simultaneously simple and subtle enough to remain desirable in any era.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s