Fabulous And Functional: 5 Home Offices That Inspire Productivity
Upper East Side Sophistication
High above Lenox Hill, this six-bedroom duplex condominium is flooded with light and revels in stunning skyline, East River, and Central Park views. Highlights include an open-plan living room with plentiful windows, a formal dining room, an eat-in kitchen, a den, and a gym. A corner office with two exposures enjoys an impressive panorama of the city that never sleeps, while the library has numerous built-ins and another iconic view. Four wraparound balconies offer further opportunities for appreciating the vista.
Greenwich Grandeur
On 8.23 colorful acres, this 18,954-square-foot Georgian estate is a majestic retreat. It offers eight bedrooms, formal living and dining rooms, a Smallbone kitchen, a family room, a wine cellar, a theater, a game room with a bar and concession stand, a dance studio, a gym, a batting cage, an elevator, a dumbwaiter, a five-car garage, a whole-house generator, a resort-caliber pool, and an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and three grills. The mahogany-paneled office includes an upper gallery with a striking brass railing.
Urban Oasis
Wine Country Getaway
Abundant oversized windows and multiple decks allow for enjoyment of gorgeous wine country views from nearly every vantage point of this Sonoma estate. The 7.14-acre property includes a four-bedroom main residence, a guesthouse with a private entrance and driveway, a wine cellar, a freestanding art studio, two detached garages, and a hot tub. In addition to fluid spaces for living, dining, and entertaining, the home features an office or library with handsome wood built-ins and a wide sunny window.
Lincoln Center Luxury
Introduced by a stunning foyer with a sweeping sculptural staircase, this dramatic duplex perched atop Lincoln Center features a great room overlooking Central Park, a dining room with views of the Empire State Building, a bar clad in black marble, and a dazzling kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances. Opaque glass doors divide the primary bedroom and its en suite bath from the sizeable office, which enjoys its own enviable view. Residents benefit from direct access to culture, music, theater, and dance. Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Natural Wonders
THESE STONES ADD A DURABLE, UNIQUE, AND BEAUTIFUL TOUCH TO ANY ROOM THEY’RE USED IN
The innate character, the unique graining, the colors that take their cue from the earth—there’s so much to love about natural stone. Using it throughout your home, whether iterated for countertops, walls, flooring, or accents adds a singular beauty that can’t be replicated. “No two pieces of stone will ever match completely, as veining and color are all made by Mother Nature,” says Gioi Tran, founder and principal designer of San Francisco-based design firm Applegate Tran Interiors.
Each type of stone has a distinctive range of natural patterns all its own. For a cleaner look, you’ll want stones with more uniform or solid backgrounds. For a complex appearance choose stones with scattered veining, says Mary Dimichino, senior designer at Bakes & Kropp cabinetry in New York. “The finish, whether polished or honed, also impacts the appearance of natural stone. It can transform a surface’s texture, color, and reflectivity,” she says.
And because of its inherent imperfections, natural stone is forgiving—the more flaws, the more interesting the look. But perhaps its most useful quality is durability. “Natural stone is hard-wearing and provides a durable surface for flooring, kitchens, and bathrooms while also relatively being easy to clean, hygienic, and nontoxic,” says Maneli Wilson of Maneli Wilson Interiors in New York. And it’s entirely environmentally friendly. “It does not require any artificial processes or chemicals for manufacturing, unlike many other man-made engineered building materials,” she says.
GRANITE
One of the strongest of all-natural stone varieties, granite is a low-maintenance option that’s heat- and scratch-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor and high-traffic spaces such as laundry rooms, mudrooms, and kitchens, Wilson says. Many types of granite are speckled with flecks of color, while others have veining and swirls similar to marble.
Made of many types of crystals, each slab of granite has unique coloring and veining and is often sold in shades of white, beige, black, blue, green, or gray, Dimichino says.
It’s great for kitchen counters and backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, and in tiles as a feature wall, Tran says.
Photo Credit: Chandler Pierce Architecture
“While granite was looked down upon for decades, it is finally having a well-deserved comeback,” says Phillip Thomas, founder and principal of Phillip Thomas Inc., a design firm in New York City.
“I have had a number of commissions lately that specifically ask for granite. New discoveries in granites that have the same qualities of quartz and marble are definitely driving this resurgence,” he says. “It has incredible depth and texture and is warm underfoot.”
Before working with natural stone, Wilson recommends obtaining stone samples to check for color, or actually visiting the stone yards themselves to see the stone in person. “Color, veining, and natural characteristics will vary from slab to slab,” she says. She also suggests having any stone surfaces resealed once every six months to ensure longevity.
ONYX
A type of marble, onyx comes in varying degrees of patterns and a rainbow of colors, including popular hues like jade, mint, light pink, and warm tan.
Tran loves the glamour and translucency of the material and uses it for feature walls, bathrooms, counters, and even furniture. “The veining, variety of colors, and vibrancy make this material genuinely spectacular; it’s perfect to be backlit as either a feature wall, powder room vanity, or even under a bar counter,” he says.
“A unique attribute of onyx is that it’s translucent and can be backlit for a wow effect,” Wilson says. “However, the downside is that it is also very soft and prone to cracking. It should be used selectively to ensure it stays away from areas of high traffic and frequent use,” she says.
It’s typically featured as an accent. “Its translucent quality, warm color tones, and beautiful veining can be stunning in the right application,” says Donna Mondi, founder and principal, Donna Mondi Interior Design in Chicago. It’s pricey, “but perfect for a floating vanity or accent wall insert.”
“It is so beautiful and unique that it’s almost like lining your home in jewelry,” Thomas says. “I love to use onyx in bathrooms because it gives the space a warm, luxurious glow.”
TRAVERTINE
A porous limestone sedimentary rock, travertine has a uniform look and feel with its characteristic pores and pits gracing its surface. Depending on the variety of travertine, these pits can be small and sporadic or very large and frequent. The colors of travertine are more neutral than other types of natural stone, and they range from ivories and creams to darker taupes or browns. “Color swirls and waves throughout [travertine] bring energy to a space and lend a more modern aesthetic,” says Young Huh, interior designer, Cosentino Design Alliance based in New York.
Travertine can also be iterated in various finishes from honed and polished to brushed and tumbled. “It’s the most suitable material for damp or humid environments, cladding walls, fireplaces, and bathrooms, since it’s naturally porous and breathable,” Wilson says. “It is also a great choice to use around swimming pools and bathrooms and shower floors, as unpolished travertine does not become slippery when wet,” she says.
TERRAZZO
Terrazzo is a composite material that uses chips of natural stones such as marble, granite, quartz, glass, or shell that are combined with epoxy or cement. And it’s extremely resilient and durable. “Typically poured in place for floors, the price tag is high, but you can find many options of premade terrazzo in tile formats which are a great way to incorporate it into bathrooms and kitchens,” Mondi says.
With its wide range of colors and patterns, terrazzo provides an abundance of design flexibility. “Terrazzo is low maintenance, nonporous, and incredibly durable, making it ideal for flooring applications in both residential and commercial spaces,” Wilson says. Since it’s made of recycled glass and stone chips, it also makes for a highly eco-friendly material option, she adds.
And it can be customized to fit any color plan and precast into a multitude of shapes to create furniture and cabinets, Tran says. “Because it’s a composite material, you can mix in different colors and insert all sorts of stones and metals,” Thomas says.
“Based on 18th-century Venetian pavement, terrazzo has come a long way and can be custom poured, shaped, or even made into tiles that can be chic and elegant for inside pools and bathrooms,” Tran says.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Superluxury Properties Break Records
Call it pandemic purchasing or a change in priorities for high-end homeowners, but the US$30-million-plus home sale is a trend that shows no signs of slowing.
“The gains from the stock market have been so strong over the past decade,” says Jessica Canning, agent and luxury specialist, Sotheby’s International Realty–Carmel Rancho Brokerage. “Plus, a lot of people are evaluating what they want to do with their lives and how they want to spend what they’ve earned. Many are focusing on spending quality time in places that make them happy.”
Here, three agents share more about their US$30 million deals and what homeowners are looking for in high-end properties in these markets
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA: ALL ABOUT THE VIEW
With only 26 oceanfront properties and 52 golf-front properties in the exclusive coastal community of Pebble Beach, that dynamic of fixed supply and increased demand (the ratio of buyers to sellers is currently 10 to 1) has been on full display in the US$30 million second-home market in this area, known for its gorgeous coastline and renowned golf courses.
In July 2021, a 10,000-square-foot residence with views of the Pebble Beach Golf Links and Carmel Beach sold for $32.7 million in a deal brokered by Sotheby’s International Realty - Carmel Rancho Brokerage. A record for California’s Monterey County.
During the dot-com boom 20 years ago, homes were selling in the US$20 million–to–US$22 million price range. Now, that price has been elevated to over US$30 million.
“With 30% of our buyers coming from the Bay Area, we tend to dovetail with what’s happening in that market,” Canning says of Silicon Valley, which is two hours away by car.
The biggest driver of value—and therefore price—of any home north of US$10 million is a house featuring a big kitchen and extensive square footage both inside and out, Canning says.
“Ultimately, buyers are seeking a home with the best conceivable view,” she says. “As well as the most luxurious amenities.”
DORADO BEACH, PUERTO RICO: TAX BENEFITS TO CONSIDER
For home buyers eager to live full time in Puerto Rico, the luxurious homes in the East Beach community within Dorado Beach are a huge draw.
In fact, a two-acre ocean property with a main house and a guest house sold for US$30 million last year, the highest ever for Puerto Rico, according to Oriana Juvelier, president of Puerto Rico Sotheby’s International Realty, who served as listing agent on the sale.
“Home buyers are seeking favorable tax situations,” she says. “They’re also seeking 13,000 to 15,000 air-conditioned square feet, and another 4,000 to 5,000 square feet of outdoor living, because our great weather enables us to be outside year-round, from sunup to sunset. That’s what you’ll get in the US$30 million range.”
And for the US$30 million home buyer, amenities abound, including wellness spaces for yoga, pilates, and cycling, and an at-home spa.
“Home buyers used to want a movie theater or bowling alley,” Juvelier says. “The new luxury buyer wants a full body-treatment space and at-home spa space with floor-to-ceiling windows facing a garden, backyard, or green space of some sort.”
NEW YORK CITY: IT’S ABOUT SPACE—AND DESIGN
In the city that never sleeps, a US$60 million apartment home sold in 2021 was the most expensive co-op sale since 2015.
The triplex penthouse, located next to the Guggenheim Museum, was shown for one day only in May, says Nikki Field, senior global real estate advisor and associate broker, Sotheby’s International Realty–East Side Manhattan Brokerage, who handled the sale.
We queued up seven potential buyers, one after another, for that ‘one day only’ showing,” Field says. “The profiles were all similar: billionaires upgrading in New York that qualified for a socially elite building.”
After two days of competitive bidding, one candidate made an all-cash US$60-million offer.
“Ultraluxury buyers in New York are limited by nothing,” Field says. “Their goals are generally divided into two arenas: uptown or downtown, and ‘move-in ready’ or grand estate with prewar bones.”
In this highest of high-end markets, buyers are focused on views, thoughtful design, and curated amenities.
“All of this delivers the added value they require and that their money can pay for,” she says.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Creating Curb Appeal
PAINTING YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR IS A WAY TO WOW THE NEIGHBORS, WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO INVITE THEM IN
When it comes to first impressions, the paint you choose for your home’s facade matters. “Refreshing, changing, or brightening up the exterior can make a huge difference,” says Cara Woodhouse of Cara Woodhouse Interiors in Roslyn Harbor, N.Y.
Photo Credit: Benjamin Moore
It’s not just about the color; the type of paint you choose is vital. “With exterior paints, durability is key,” says Rick Watson, director of product information and technical services at Sherwin-Williams. “The best exterior paints hold color longer and resist peeling and blistering. Look for paints formulated to resist chalking, mildew, and dirt, which will save you money and time in maintenance,” he says. The company’s new Emerald Rain Refresh, has a self-cleaning technology that washes dirt away upon contact with rain or water, requiring minimal maintenance, Watson says.
But painting your home isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. It requires upkeep, which can depend on where you live. “It’s all about the weather,” says New York City architect Kevin Lichten. “If you live on the coast of Maine or North Carolina where your house is pelted with salt spray, sand, and wind in the winter, you may need to touch up every spring and repaint every three or four years. In more mild climates, you may only need to repaint every 10 years,” he says. “And remember that the sun can be brutal.”
CUE THE COLOR
When considering the hue, your selection should be driven by the home’s character and architectural style, says Vancouver-based designer Stephanie Brown. “Generally speaking, a simple color palette of one to two colors helps modernize most homes and more complex color combinations of three or more lend themselves to more traditional homes, especially if you are trying to highlight various details and moldings,” she says.
The secret to painting your home’s exterior is more than just finding the right color; it’s finding the right color combination, says Mike Mundwiller, end user product experience manager at Benjamin Moore. “To narrow down your color choices, build an exterior palette around the elements of the house that won’t change, such as roofing materials and stone or brick components,” he says.
Color choice can also be a product of your surroundings. Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, recommends first looking at the colors your neighbors have chosen for their homes and avoid using those exact same shades. “Choose a color that complements—a curb appeal trick that will benefit you and your neighbors,” she says.
Photo Credit: Sherwin-Williams
ALL THE TRIMMINGS
Trims are an important finishing touch—much like an accessory is to an outfit. “They add a layered look to your home,” Woodhouse says.
Wadden advises making sure your accent, trim, and siding colors are varied enough to discern them from each other, unless you’re purposely going for a monochromatic look.
The shades you choose can also impact how big a house feels.
To make a small house seem more substantial, Lichten suggests keeping the walls and trim the same color. “Likewise, a massive hulking house can be made lighter and more delicate with a contrasting trim,” he says.
Homes with the most curb appeal tend to have opposite hues of paint and trim, Mundwiller says. “If your home’s exterior is painted in a lighter hue, consider a trim in a darker color, and vice versa,” he suggests.
PREP TO PERFECTION
The outcome of any painting project is only as good as the preparation you put into it. Everything needs to be washed, cleaned, and sanded and any loose paint or damaged or rotten wood should be replaced before starting.
“A good primer will render the surface more uniform and, because of this, the topcoat has a better chance to adhere to the surface, which ultimately results in longer coating life expectancy,” Watson says.
Timing of the work is important, too. “Check the weather forecast. Paint dries faster in warmer temperatures, lower humidity, and when it’s sunny,” Watson says. For best performance, avoid painting in direct sun, and try for a material temperature above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, Watson says.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
And look at the location. “A dark brown house with green trim would not look great near the beach, but would be very happy in the mountains or a forest,” Lichten says. “Likewise, a gray-shingled house with white trim would not fit into a wooded area but it’s happier by the ocean,” he says.
Grays, whites, and beiges are classics that help the siding of a house look prim and freshen up the curb appeal, Wadden says. But there are other choices too, of course. “Charcoal gray, navy, and hunter green are more popular in areas with pine trees, mountains, and sea access, while terra cotta, burlap, and rust colors dominate areas of the country in the desert,” she says.
Dark, saturated hues, such as Tricorn Black, Iron Ore, and Urbane Bronze, have been trending for exteriors in recent months, Wadden says. “Not only do these colors pair beautifully with a home’s surrounding greenery, they also help create a focal point when used on a front door or shutters.”
And you don’t even need to paint a whole house to make an impact. “Painting your front door is one of the easiest and quickest ways to boost curb appeal.” For a classic and elegant look, Wadden suggests a bold navy blue, or, for a door that really stands out, a jewel-toned blue/green or even a deep pink.
Photo Credit: Sherwin-Williams
ALL THE TRIMMINGS
Trims are an important finishing touch—much like an accessory is to an outfit. “They add a layered look to your home,” Woodhouse says.
Wadden advises making sure your accent, trim, and siding colors are varied enough to discern them from each other, unless you’re purposely going for a monochromatic look.
The shades you choose can also impact how big a house feels.
To make a small house seem more substantial, Lichten suggests keeping the walls and trim the same color. “Likewise, a massive hulking house can be made lighter and more delicate with a contrasting trim,” he says.
Homes with the most curb appeal tend to have opposite hues of paint and trim, Mundwiller says. “If your home’s exterior is painted in a lighter hue, consider a trim in a darker color, and vice versa,” he suggests.
PREP TO PERFECTION
The outcome of any painting project is only as good as the preparation you put into it. Everything needs to be washed, cleaned, and sanded and any loose paint or damaged or rotten wood should be replaced before starting.
“A good primer will render the surface more uniform and, because of this, the topcoat has a better chance to adhere to the surface, which ultimately results in longer coating life expectancy,” Watson says.
Timing of the work is important, too. “Check the weather forecast. Paint dries faster in warmer temperatures, lower humidity, and when it’s sunny,” Watson says. For best performance, avoid painting in direct sun, and try for a material temperature above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, Watson says.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Under The Sea
CAST YOUR GAZE BELOW THE WATER’S SURFACE FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND AQUATIC EXPERIENCE
Global travelers in search of new destinations have increasingly been looking underwater, where a growing assortment of luxury experiences are waiting to be had. Some are offered in conjunction with a beachfront or overwater resort, while others provide intrepid adventurers the opportunity to channel their inner oceanic explorer, plunging below the surface in search of shipwrecks, exotic wildlife, and more.
NEXT-LEVEL EXPLORING
For adventurers who have already mastered the art of scuba diving (or are looking to skip certification), and are dreaming of sinking even further into the great abyss, there’s The Deep Blue Experience by Fraser & U Boat. Guests can explore forgotten shipwrecks and underwater volcanoes throughout the Mediterranean on the U Boat Navigator, a 24-meter expedition yacht that houses a pair of Triton submarines capable of diving 1,000 meters deep; a three-person, custom-built Triton 3300/3—the same model used to film the BBC’s award-winning Blue Planet II—and a smaller, one-person Triton 3300/1 that serves as a support sub. The U Boat Navigator cruises through Malta, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and beyond, aided by a crew of six professionals. There’s even a full dive center with mixing facilities for breathing gases.
At roughly US$80,000 per week, the package—which accommodates up to 11 guests for cruising—is ideal for amateur explorers who are passionate about world history, shipwrecks, or geology. The U Boat Navigator can be chartered either as a stand-alone explorer vessel or as a shadow vessel for someone’s principal charter or their own yacht. Fraser creates bespoke itineraries based on the interests, including shipwrecks, dive sites, Mediterranean volcanoes, underwater cinematography, and more.
Marine biology enthusiasts looking for a new snorkeling experience are venturing to Thailand for a one-of-a-kind Swim Reef at The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui. The largest man-made reef pool in Southeast Asia teems with more than 50 species of injured fish rescued from local fishermen, and advanced filtration systems ensure that pollutants, jellyfish, and suspended solids in the seawater are removed, resulting in a consistently temperate and safe environment throughout the year. Strategically placed artificial coral reef structures allow for optimum fish viewing. While enjoying immersive snorkeling discoveries and supervised fish feedings, guests are able to view cat sharks, hold sea cucumbers, and try an ad hoc spa experience by letting tiny cleaner wrasse fish swim up and nibble dead skin off their outstretched arms.
MALDIVIAN PLAYGROUNDS
Renowned for its overwater bungalows and endless blue waters, the Maldives has become a preferred aquatic playground for the global jet set. In November 2018, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island debuted The Muraka (“coral” in Dhivehi, the local language), a luxury suite submerged more than 16 feet under the water’s surface. Nestled on the Indian Ocean floor, the two-level structure has an above-water living area, sitting over a main bedroom with an 180-degree curved acrylic dome, windows in the bathroom and walk-in closet, and a dedicated tunnel viewing theater that doubles as a personal aquarium. With rates starting at US$10,000 per night (depending on the season), the suite, which can accommodate up to nine people, includes an infinity pool, a gym, a private bar, and 24-hour butler service. Junior explorers can go glamping with the fishes, as staff will set up a tepee in the undersea suite.
Photo Credit: Justin Nicholas
Huvafen Fushi, a luxury resort located in North Malé Atoll, has placed its spa below the water’s surface—the first and only spa of its kind in the world—to deliver next-level calm and relaxation. To make the most of the hypnotic refuge eight meters below the water’s surface, a SpaQuarium experience is offered every evening. Guests enjoy Champagne, canapés, and petits fours while the resort’s marine biologist provides commentary on the nocturnal predators (sharks, rays, eels), bioluminescent plankton, and pristine corals illuminated by UV light torches. Also offered is a bespoke underwater dining experience.
The Maldives has seen several other notable properties open underwater facilities and attractions recently. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas—located in Baa Atoll, a renowned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve housing some of the richest diversity of marine life in the world—offers SEA, an underwater restaurant and wine cellar featuring the country’s first certified wine education. Patrons can expand their wine knowledge and earn a globally recognized WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification during their vacation. (The resort’s wine collection is valued at more than US$2 million.)
Guests enjoy an array of underwater activities, most notably the Snorkeling with Manta Rays program; the waters are home to the world’s largest natural manta ray feeding region from June to November, allowing visitors to get up close and personal while swimming with hundreds of the gentle giants.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives, whose entire spread, including a pair of private islands with 134 spacious villas, can be rented out for $130,000 per night, is home to Subsix, the world’s first underwater club, located six meters below sea level. If lounging with drinks while gawking at bioluminescent activity doesn’t appeal, the subaquatic space also hosts private chef dinners, wine tastings, and events.
LUXURY RESORTS, SUBMERGED
One of Dubai’s most iconic resorts, Atlantis, The Palm, is home to a three-story underwater suite. (The master bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling windows look directly into the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium.) Starting from around $5,500 per night, the suite includes 24-hour butler service and full access to the resort’s myriad attractions. One such attraction, the Lost Chambers Aquarium, hosts underwater yoga, pilates, and meditation classes, with a backdrop of 65,000 marine animals.
Photo Credits: Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
The resort’s newest underwater thrill is the Aqua Trek Xtreme experience, in which intrepid explorers descend a ladder 10 meters to the bottom of the Ambassador Lagoon, while wearing an Aquatrek helmet. Once guests reach the bottom, they embark on a guided underwater walking tour of one of the biggest open-air aquariums in the world, coming face-to-face with sharks, stingrays, and schools of multicolored fish.
Resort World Sentosa, situated just off the coast of Singapore on the island of Sentosa, offers 11 two-story Ocean Suites with direct access to the resort’s massive aquarium. Each unit includes a scenic outdoor patio and Jacuzzi on the upper level, with underwater views of the aquarium’s 40,000 fish on the lower level. A daily highlight is feeding time, when guests can watch as divers go below the surface to interact with marine life.
Photo Credits: Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Off the coast of Zanzibar is Pemba Island, which is home to The Manta Resort. A two-minute boat ride from the beach, the resort’s Underwater Room is a three-level suite offering coral reef views from its submerged bedroom. After lounging on the roof to take in the night sky, guests decamp to the bedroom to view Indian Ocean wonders illuminated by underwater spotlights.
UNDERWATER SOJOURNS
Journey Beyond, which owns and operates 13 tourism brands across Australia, attracts serious divers to Queensland’s stunning Whitsunday Islands, home to the company’s Reefsuites. Opened in 2019, the first underwater accommodations in the country offer unprecedented access to the dazzling underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Moored offshore on a pontoon at Hardy Reef, 40 nautical miles from Airlie Beach, the Reefsuites offers a plethora of aquatic adventures, and guests can take a scenic helicopter flight to see the famous Heart Reef.
French cruise line Ponant, known for its world-class service and gastronomy, has launched the world’s first multisensory underwater lounge, Blue Eye, which enables guests to see, hear, and feel the sights and sounds of the ocean. Offered on each of the six Ponant Explorer ships, Blue Eye was designed by Jacques Rougerie, a French architect who specializes in underwater habitats, and was inspired by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
Located seven feet beneath the water line, Blue Eye resembles a submarine attached to the ship, albeit one made from 19 layers of clear steel, making it stronger than the ship’s hull. Digital screens adorn the walls projecting images filmed live by three underwater cameras strategically placed to capture spectacles, and the sound system, developed by a music composer and sound design expert, broadcasts a natural symphony across a three-mile radius using underwater microphones. Capping off the immersive experience, “body listening sofas” discreetly vibrate in unison with the streaming aquatic acoustics to create an underwater encounter guests can see, hear, and feel.
Perhaps the planet’s most notable underwater restaurant, Under is located on Norway’s craggy Lindesnes coast. The architecturally striking complex is angled 18 feet below the icy waters of the North Sea. Head chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard’s Immersion tasting menu features nearly 20 seasonally inspired dishes, with a focus on locally caught Norwegian seafood. Sustainability is built into the restaurant itself, as the rough concrete exterior attracts limpets and kelp, gradually forming an artificial reef. Diners and visiting researchers study the biology and behavior of the abundant cold-water marine life via panoramic views of the North Atlantic seabed.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Haute Home Happy Hours
HOW TO STYLE AN AT-HOME BAR-—FROM CLUBROOMS AND COCKTAIL LOUNGES TO TAPROOMS AND TAVERNS
As if we need another reason to love life at home, the home bar is enjoying a renaissance. Haute happy hours are the new splurge.
For decades, home bars have routinely taken over basements, displaced spare bedrooms, and usurped garages. But they’ve evolved, says Deirdre O’Connell, chief executive for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Bars are enjoying greater prominence in our homes. “They’ve moved from the basement to the main level,” she says. They’re now front and center in living rooms, family rooms, and busy hallways.
Imbibing in style starts with imbuing the space with warmth and hospitality. Some home bars channel the vibe of a favorite lounge, taproom, or saloon. Others take design inspiration from their surroundings. On the Gold Coast of Long Island, N.Y., the sophisticated yet welcoming bar of a Cold Spring Harbor estate is an open-concept entertainment destination. It includes a glass-enclosed wine room, home theater, card table, pool table, and even a massage room. “Anything you need to be entertained is there. It’s extraordinary,” O’Connell says.
Regardless of whether the aesthetic is playful, whimsical, retro, or dramatic, the goal is the same: to create a functional, flexible, and inviting spot to wind down with a glass of wine after a long day, or entertain a roomful of guests with their drinks of choice.
Good design enlivens the space, elevates the experience and is “reflective of lifestyle,” O’Connell says. “And that’s even more important now, when home has become a destination as opposed to just the place to lay your head.”
HARDING TOWNSHIP NEW JERSEY
Beechwood is a 30,000-square-foot residence set on 15 acres of private land in the secure hamlet of New Vernon, with features including a carriage apartment and pool house. Designed by WESketch Architecture, its classic “butterfly plan” provides elements of constant discovery for the observer and ensures the remarkable size remains a surprise for visitors as they make their way through it. Spaces include an oval-shaped great room, three-room wine grotto, and an English pub on the main level, the inspiration for which was derived from two copper pendants picked up on a trip in London. Bold selections of Jerusalem limestone floors, Roman-brick ceilings, cashmere wall coverings, and 13 imported fireplaces from Italy and Portugal, selected by designer Frank Delle Donne, are carefully woven throughout to portray quiet elegance. Located just 35 miles from midtown Manhattan, Beechwood is a work of art created with brick and mortar.
LAS VEGAS NEVADA
This is a stunning property in the MacDonald Highlands community, which offers seamless indoor/outdoor entertaining: A central great room opens to an expansive resort-style patio and pool with a swim-up bar overlooking the golf course. Another star feature is the full-size old world pub-style bar, perfect for entertaining.
Two grand primary suites and four all-inclusive guest suites give everyone ample private space. The carriage yard features climate-controlled garages to accommodate 11 cars and a recreational vehicle. This hotel-inspired villa is only minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, two airports, and an abundance of outdoor attractions.
This is a stunning property in the MacDonald Highlands community, which offers seamless indoor/outdoor entertaining: A central great room opens to an expansive resort-style patio and pool with a swim-up bar overlooking the golf course. Another star feature is the full-size old world pub-style bar, perfect for entertaining.
Two grand primary suites and four all-inclusive guest suites give everyone ample private space. The carriage yard features climate-controlled garages to accommodate 11 cars and a recreational vehicle. This hotel-inspired villa is only minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, two airports, and an abundance of outdoor attractions.
NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
Over the span of a decade, Jimmy Fallon and his wife, Nancy Juvonen, combined and renovated four apartments over three floors to create an eclectic home like no other in New York City. Perched atop the southwest corner of Gramercy Park East, it celebrates the structure and architecture of that historic landmark while transforming the space into a unique home, with the original window frames, casings, and hardwood floors restored throughout.
With 4,950 square feet of space, including six bedrooms and five bathrooms, the pièce de résistance is the saloon room. This spectacular entertaining space features a custom-designed and fully equipped wet bar, with a vintage stained glass barback and a gas fire with stone hearth.
NICASIO CALIFORNIA
A one-of-a-kind American Sukiya is available for the first time in bucolic Nicasio, West Marin. A labor of love, the estate and winery are a convergence of Japanese philosophy and California wine-country living at its finest. Consisting of a 3,000-square-foot main residence, a 2,200-square-foot guesthouse, a wine cave, a separate barn, and a 50,000-gallon spring-fed pool, West Wind Estate sits on 32 acres and serves as a functional winery. One standout feature is a 2,400-square-foot climate-controlled wine cave, the only one of its kind in Marin, that has 12-foot ceilings, a custom wine bar, an event space, and a prep kitchen ideal for catered gatherings.
COLD SPRING HARBOR NEW YORK
Located on Long Island’s famed Gold Coast in the picturesque waterfront community of Cold Spring Harbor, this estate offers resort-style living in the solitude of 6.2 acres and a beach with mooring rights, yet is within easy striking distance of New York City. Every room is designed for elegant entertaining: a palatial dining room, an elegant living room, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and an adjacent great room with stone fireplace create an effortless flow. To wind things down, decamp to the movie theater or retire to the sumptuous master suite with fireplace, sitting room, private balcony with hot tub, and a pair of indulgent master bathrooms. When the outdoors beckons, there’s a pool with a slide and waterfalls, and a tennis/sports court.
BOSQUES DE SANTA FE MEXICO CITY
The use of stone, wood, and metal as the main design components add an organic harmony and subtle elegance to this property, built by architects Bernardi & Peschard, with windows that open onto a forest setting. Among its features are mafi floors and high wood-covered ceilings.
The window walls of the open-plan living space, which includes a lounge, dining room, and bar area, integrates the inside with the magnificent gardens and extraordinary views.
SUNDANCE RIDGE ST. KITTS
The Sea for Miles estate is the embodiment of natural beauty, with views of the island of St. Kitts and the Caribbean Sea. Located in the private Sundance Ridge community on the island’s southeast peninsula, the 16,000 square feet of luxury living space includes an 80-foot infinity pool and expansive outdoor covered and uncovered seating and sunken lounge areas, which extend the entertaining space from within through retractable glass doors and shutters. The wine cellar and tasting room design is reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy.
BEVERLY HILLS CALIFORNIA
Luxury and tranquility meet in this captivating reimagined single-story four-bedroom sanctuary, situated behind private gates in Beverly Hills. Indoor-outdoor harmony is meticulously defined by the open-floor plan leading to a spacious pool and garden grounds. An artfully placed open-air glass atrium showcases a Japanese maple tree and oversized solid oak front door offering breathtaking curb appeal. The massive great room features Italian limestone flooring as well as high ceilings, both bathed in natural light from multiple skylights, and the bar area seats five.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
27 Audubon Place | SOLD
27 Audubon Place, New Orleans, LA | List Price: $3,200,000
SOLD IN 1 DAY!
Audubon Place, considered by many to be the most beautiful street in New Orleans, was originally developed by George Blackwelder in the late 1890’s. Intended as a millionaire’s enclave, the community was lined with the finest residences New Orleans has to offer.
This legendary street lies just beyond the soaring Audubon Place arches and two turreted stone gatehouses. It lies adjacent to Tulane University and across St. Charles Avenue from the city’s lush Audubon Park. The neighborhood boasts 28 spectacular residences, most of which were constructed in late Victorian and Neo-classical revival styles.
Built in 1927, this preservationist’s delight at 27 Audubon Place is 8,200 sq ft with 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. The residence is loaded with ornate tile, original details, and an abundance of character.
5 BEDROOMS | 5.5 BATHS | 8,200 SQ. FT.
Dorian Bennett SIR Agent Contact
Ernesto Caldeira
Phone: 504.944.3605
Mobile: 504.450.8991
PC Studios. (n.d.). Rare Dream House Listing on New Orleans’ Most Legendary Street Creates Major Real Estate Buzz. PaperCity Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/new-orleans-audubon-place-18-neighborhood-house-legendary-street/
History of 18 Audubon Place. (n.d.). 18 Audubon Place New Orleans. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://18audubonplace.com/history-of-audubon-place/
Creole-Style Houses Offer Eclectic Architecture
FROM COZY COTTAGES TO NEW CONSTRUCTION, HALLMARKS OF THIS TRADITIONAL STYLE REMAIN A STAPLE IN U.S. GULF COAST HOMES
Classic New Orleans homes have an instantly recognizable style, with their intricate ironwork and grand galleries. But if you’re looking to define what, exactly, counts as Creole architecture, the answers get more complicated.
“Creole is a word used in many different countries and cultures around the world,” says Danielle Del Sol, executive director of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. “The way it is most commonly defined in New Orleans is about being born here [to parents from somewhere else]. That includes Europeans, Africans, free people of color who came by way of Haiti. It really runs the gamut.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Creole homes, then, have been historically defined not just by their architectural style, but by location, and the people who lived in them.
“If you date back to the late 1700s and early 1800s you can try to classify something as Creole depending on where it’s located in the city, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Creole cottage or Creole townhouse,” Del Sol says. “In the late 1700s the Creoles really settled in the downtown areas of New Orleans—the French Quarter—and the outgrowth of that was the Creole suburbs, which we know as Marigny, Treme, and Bywater.”
That said, Creole cottages and Creole townhouses are the two most commonly seen examples of this type of architecture. As the names would imply, one offers more modest family quarters, and the other confers a certain level of status.
"Creole cottages are pretty much the earliest common type of housing [in New Orleans],” Del Sol says. “We really saw them come into prominence around 1790, and they’re the oldest existing structures still in this city. They were very space efficient, and a typical cottage was set up like a square with four equal rooms, with four bays—meaning a front and back door, and windows at the sides.”
As with their larger townhouse counterparts, cottages often had courtyards in the back that could be used as kitchens, gardens, and a space to do laundry and raise livestock. And both types of homes were designed for entertaining guests as much as possible.
“A mark of good Creole architecture is great entrances, fabulous stairways, beautiful parlors, sometimes two or three parlors [on the main level],” says Ernesto Caldeira, an agent with Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty in New Orleans. “Some townhouses might have three parlors across the front; it’s half the house.”
But the most recognizable features of Creole townhouses are found on the exterior. “The classic features are the big, stately columns in the front, deep gallery-style porches in the front and back,” says Rachel Solar, an agent with Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty-Central Houston Brokerage. “They tend to have oversize windows, lots of ornate ironwork, and indoors, tall ceilings and narrow, long floor plans and lots of natural light.”
“Stylistically what makes Creole townhouses easy to identify is that the openings on the front will be arched,” Del Sol says. “They’ll often have French doors, and the windows that are round at the top and fit into those arched openings.”
Some of these traditional elements are on display at 623 Allston Street, B, a three-bedroom home currently listed in Houston, where even in some new construction, traditional Creole design has made its way over from neighboring Louisiana.
“With us being so close to Louisiana, we’ve had a lot of people come from New Orleans, and they’ve certainly influenced our architecture,” Solar says. “There’s a particular neighborhood in Houston called The Heights—it’s one of the oldest neighborhoods—where only certain types of architecture are allowed, and Creole is definitely one of them.”
The Allston Street property “has that old world charm, even for new construction,” Solar says. “Builders in this neighborhood do a great job of striking a balance, doing a lot of rich molding, original hardwoods, and those big windows, and also having [modern updates like] functional storage and insulation.”
Historic Creole townhouses have been known to get modern updates as well, as is the case at 1040 Chartres Street in New Orleans, a townhouse that has been converted into luxury condos.
“It’s an 1820s or 1830s building, and [represents] the current state of a Federal-style Creole townhouse,” Caldeira says. “These townhouses are one of the most important versions of Creole architecture, and mainly found in the French Quarter. They were built by very socially conscious older families.”
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Ernesto Caldeira/Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty
The urge to update historic Creole homes, as well as to build new versions, is hardly a new one, and one of the biggest hallmarks of this catchall Southern style is its adaptability. In fact, some of the features that have come to be known as classic Creole or New Orleans style architecture have been added to buildings over the years, the better to align with whatever design trend was in vogue at the time.
“These buildings were being built well into the 19th century, so you had the influence of the Greek Revival movement, and people in the 1830s who wanted to be fashionable would slap some Greek Revival details onto the house,” Del Sol says. “If a house has Greek Revival columns, those could date back to certain decades when they were really popular, and if the overhangs have lacy ironwork, you could date that back as being added at some point when it was popular.”
“All the [details] you see in the French Quarter really came into fashion later on, and were kind of added to buildings that were already there,” Del Sol adds.
In addition to being endlessly adaptable, original Creole homes were built to last. “These homes were typically constructed of really heavy woods, like sinker cypress,” Del Sol says. “It’s resistant to everything—water, termites.”
“These homes have been here for 250 years, through so many hurricanes,” Del Sol says. “They’re amazingly resilient.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
More Buyers Turn To Exurbs
With more companies offering extended remote-working options for their employees, home buyers are pushing out farther and wider into once-rural exurbs far from city centers.
TENNESSEE
The exurbs around Nashville have been particularly busy since March 2020.
“We’re seeing the biggest growth in exurbs in Williamson County,” consistently ranked among the 20 wealthiest counties in the U.S., says Jenny Telwar, managing broker, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty based in Nashville. “It’s one of our most active markets.”
“This is where we’ve seen our craziest market—the houses selling in a day or a weekend with 30 offers, the US$200,000 over-asking bids, and buyers waiving everything under the sun,” she says. “It’s like a faucet was turned on, and it’s never stopped gushing.”
Williamson County, which is 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, “has always had demand, but we’ve never seen a market like we’ve had in 2021.”
One recent buyer closed on a new-construction home in April 2021 for US$1.6 million and turned around and sold it in a day for US$2 million in July.
Nashville has seen a steady stream of national companies looking for an expanded presence in the city, she says. “Most of the buyers I’ve worked with are from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, and throughout New Jersey. We expect to see even more.”
Tennessee’s Trousdale County is another high-performing Nashville exurb. Prices there rose 17% from January 2020 to August 2021, Telwar says, and pending sales in Hartsdale, the county seat, shot up 63% in the same period.
Trousdale, which is about 90 minutes from downtown Nashville, “isn’t a commuter pocket,” she says. “It’s more retirees who want to be close to good health care.”
Other Nashville exurbs with strong recent sales include the Tennessee cities of Columbia, Franklin, and Murfreesboro. From January 2020 through August 2021, pending sales rose 23% in Murfreesboro and 50% in Columbia, “which is a rural, rural area,” Telwar says.
She expects 2022 to be another strong year. “The buyer drive is still very, very strong,” she says. “People love Tennessee—the low taxes, the green spaces, the slower pace.”
Plus, there’s a lot of land still to be developed. “The entire Middle Tennessee corridor has a ton of potential. We’re optimistic.”
TEXAS
The greater Austin, Texas, market has also been thriving. Since the suburban market is so competitive, people have been moving further afield, says J Kuper, a third-generation agent and broker/owner, Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty.
Exurbs around Austin that are doing quite well include Lakeway, “which has been hot for some time;” Dripping Springs, which is due west of Austin; and Cedar Park, which is due north, he says.
Not long ago, the Dripping Springs and Cedar Park markets were both considered “very small subsets” of the outlying area, but “now they are borderline considered part of the Austin market,” Kuper says.
New builds have been big in Cedar Park, Kuper says, driving up prices. And residents of Dripping Springs feel like they live in a small town, but are still very much connected to Austin, he says.
For the greater Austin market, sales are up almost 15% compared with September 2020, and “that was a record-setting month then,” he says. Year to date, sales are up almost 21%, and the average price is up almost 25%.
Like Nashville, many corporations have moved to Austin in recent years, he says. “Their workforce is completely happy to be part of the greater Austin community. They are OK with living 30 or 45 minutes from town and being a commuter,” he says.
NEW YORK
In New York’s Hudson Valley, the center of which is about 100 miles north of Manhattan, New York City residents eager for office and outdoor space have flooded the market.
“It hasn’t really slowed down,” says Raj Kumar, agent, Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty who works primarily in Columbia, Dutchess, Ulster, and Greene counties. “Our team is seeing bigger- and bigger-ticket buyers. It’s a strong and steady market now. The frenzy that we saw during Covid is no longer there.”
The company had record-breaking sales in a few Hudson Valley communities this year, including a US$1.1 million sale in Greenville and a US$2.2 million sale in Barryville.
Last year, he had a US$3 million sale on the city of Hudson’s Warren Street, its main thoroughfare, a record for the street.
In May, Columbia/northern Dutchess and Greene counties saw a 37% year-over-year increase in median price, he says. Other communities with a lot of traction include Germantown, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Ghent, Kerhonkson, Millbrook, and Chatham, says Kumar, who lives in Hudson.
Most of Kumar’s buyers are New York City residents looking for a second home, “but we’re seeing more first-home buyers,” he says.
Someone looking for a property in the US$600,000-to-US$700,000 range “used to be considered a good buyer,” Kumar says. “Now that buyer is looking in the US$1.5 million–to–US$2.5 million range.”
Kumar predicts “a strong market for many years to come…Land is still inexpensive and plentiful.”
FLORIDA
The exurban markets that ring Orlando, Florida, have also been hot.
“What you get for your money here is unbelievable, and the other story is our low taxes,” says Carrie Prieto, managing broker for four Premier Sotheby’s International Realty offices in central Florida.
Californians and Midwesterners have joined the traditional buyers from the Northeast.
In Ocala, which is about 65 miles north of Orlando, the average price in August 2021 was up 46% year over year, and active inventory was down 32%, she says. New construction is booming, with 7,000 permits for new construction backlogged in the Ocala Building Division.
“The prices are lower than Orlando, and people are okay with the one-hour drive to the city,” Prieto says.
On the west side of Orlando, “Lake County has seen tremendous growth,” she says. Average prices are up 24%, with active inventory down 34%.
The Clermont area of Lake County has become very popular over the last 10 to 12 years, she says. “It was all country there previously.”
In exurban Orange County, the Horizon West master-planned community is bringing more than 40,000 residential units (mostly single-family and townhomes), Prieto says. “The schools have had trouble keeping up,” she says.
In Osceola County, south of Orlando, “St. Cloud was a small, sleepy city until the last four or five years,” she says. “Now there are big land sales and a lot of communities being planned, with big national building companies coming in.”
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.
Squaring Away Your Walls
USING GEOMETRIC SHAPES TO GIVE YOUR INTERIORS A BOOST OF STYLE
When walls collide with geometric shapes, an uninspired space can suddenly have a strong point of view. Whether iterated as patterned wallpaper, mirrors, or artwork in shapely frames, the effect can be subtle or statement making. “Geometric shapes are very dynamic and carry a lot of visual weight,” says New Jersey-based Jennifer Matthews, co-founder and creative director at Tempaper, a line of removable wallpaper. “If they are small, they can add textural interest, whereas larger shapes create bold movement in a room.”
“When mixed with more traditional motifs, they lend a freshness to the designs,” says Los Angeles-based designer Stefani Stein. Meanwhile, the repetitive nature of geometrics lends an organization to a room, so there’s an automatic symmetry.
“Don’t be afraid to use geometric shapes, regardless of your overall style direction,” says Tulsa, Okla.-based designer Mel Bean. “An all-neutral space with limited layering of geometric shapes and patterns is an entirely different experience from a colorful, complex, extensive use of pattern and color.”
SHIFT SHAPES
Combining different shapes creates an interesting tension, Matthews says, like pairing oval sconces or circled mirrors with scalloped wallpaper and a diamond rug or bold-tiled flooring. New York-based Barbara Karpf, founder and president of DecoratorsBest, an online retailer for high-end textiles and wallpapers, recommends mixing different geometric patterns together when they have varied scales. “A small, tight pattern works well with a large open geometric—one pattern could have a touch of a color that is prominent in the other pattern,” she says.
WORK WITH WALLPAPER
The easiest way to apply pattern to walls is by using wallpaper. “Geometric wallpapers range in effect from youthful to sophisticated,” Bean says. “The iconic Hicks hexagon wall covering is an elegant classic. And for a bold, modern approach, I love Cole & Son’s Geometric II paper,” she says.
“A wallpapered statement wall can form foyers from simple hallways, home offices from cozy corners, and separate dining areas from living spaces,” Karpf says. Keep in mind, a small, repetitive pattern works everywhere, whereas a big, bold pattern will work best on an accent wall, she says.
And, when considering color, generally, the lighter the hue, the subtler the experience, says Newton, Mass.-based designer Liz Caan. “Geometric patterns with high-contrast colors will always veer into bold and graphic territory, so be mindful when choosing your palette.”
Using geometric prints has another benefit: They can hide a multitude of sins. For one project, Manhattan-based designer Timothy Brown used a multicolor tonal stripe to hide some millwork he didn’t want to remove but also didn’t want to highlight. They also “allow you to control the direction and flow of a space, whether you want to cast focus on an area or guide the eye away from a less savory spot,” he says.
MIX MEDIUMS
Combining geometrics with other patterns adds interest and can balance out the look. “A stripe or geometric pattern on a printed grasscloth wallcovering can soften the crisp nature of a bold print,” Stein says. She suggests trying a variegated stripe, monochrome geometric, or tonal variation for a dramatic backdrop that won’t overpower the other elements of the space. Caan prefers to play with “opposites” when it comes to wallpapers, such as mixing a bold stripe or geometric with a floral. “When the colors are copacetic and the scales are varying—creating some relational value—the end result can have a dramatic effect, but one with a softer edge thanks to the floral balancing the sharp lines of the geometric,” she says.
THINK BEYOND WALLPAPER
There are other mediums in which to shape your walls, too. “Our favorite method, which introduces rich texture and architectural interest, is through applied moldings,” says Chicago-based designer Tom Stringer. “We’ve used a repeating geometric motif at various scales in applied moldings, and then again in other areas in carved screens to layer pattern and texture into a stark white interior.”
Stringer has also utilized painted designs, which he achieved by taping off patterns and then painting in contrasting colors to create geometric motifs on walls.
Geometric shapes, when applied to upholstery, help create depth, says Chicago- and San Francisco-based interior designer Alison Pickart. “I’ve used ceiling-mounted drapery in hallways that have utility and closet doors that needed to be concealed yet still be accessible,” she says. She also loves to use tiled geometric patterns, whether on kitchen walls or bathroom backsplashes to incorporate interest.
STRIKE A BALANCE
“The biggest impact comes from either using them in excess or very thoughtfully in small, understated doses,” Caan says.
Brown considers every aspect of the room when working with geometric shapes to create an overall symmetry.
“Any room is a mix of geometric shapes—from added furniture to the decisive lines of windows and doors. Focus on the scale of any pattern or shape so that it all works together,” Brown says.
Originally posted by Sotheby's International Realty.