Category Archives: Homes

Aerial Views: The Conical Roofed ‘Trulli’ Cottages Of Alberobello, Italy (4K)

Alberobello is a town in Italy’s Apulia region. It’s known for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs. The hilltop Rione Monti district has hundreds of them. The 18th-century Trullo Sovrano is a 2-level trulli. Furniture and tools at the Museo del Territorio Casa Pezzolla re-create life in the trulli as it was centuries ago. Southwest of town is the Casa Rossa, a WWII internment camp. 

Views: ‘S&P House’, Temple View, New Zealand (Video)

Around 15 minutes south-west of Hamilton CBD lies the rural suburb of Temple View, established in the 1950s and home to the Taitua Arboretum—a 20-hectare garden comprising woodlands, lakes and open pasture. It was within this bucolic idyll that husband and wife, Noel and Kylie Jessop, found a hilly, 6500m2 block offering wide-ranging views back towards the city, on which to build their family home. “The position is spot on and the views are amazing,” says architectural designer, Noel. The couple bought the site in mid-2018 and spent the next year fine-tuning the design of their home. “There was no real rush to complete the project at that time and so we had the luxury of really working through ideas and discussing what we required as a family of six—as well as what the site would allow, given its topography. “Kylie said from day one that it needed to be light and bright with an open flow and easy access to the outdoors, especially from the ensuite. We had stayed at a resort where the ensuite led straight out onto the pool area and Kylie was keen to replicate that feel.” Noel says it also needed to have a high level of functionality with six people living in the house. There is a mix of individual spaces and communal spaces and an ever-present connection to the outdoors, even upstairs where the only interaction is via the view through the windows, there is still a sense of being in the landscape. “The secret to successfully fulfilling the functional, financial and aesthetic parameters of the project was to keep the form really simple; just one room wide and to do away with extraneous spaces such as corridors. “There is a simplicity to the home, in terms of its layout and construction, that gives it a sense of timelessness—it functions perfectly as a family home and will function perfectly, years from now, when it’s just Kylie and I living here.” Click here to see the full project: https://archipro.co.nz/project/s-and-…

West Indies Estate Tour: “L’ile d’Anges” On A Private Island, Exumas, Bahamas

In the heart of the Exumas, Bahamas, is a private island like no other. A safe haven paradise, providing perfect tranquillity, nestled within pristine turquoise waters. Heaven on earth.

L’île d’Anges (also known as Goat Cay) has been nurtured and lovingly imagined to provide first class, beautiful, clean and elegant accommodation which embraces and perfectly fits with a tropical living lifestyle.

The island itself extends to some 20 acres with almost 1.3 miles of water frontage. The main residence is at a high point in the centre of the island next to two beautiful white sandy beaches, which connect on either side of the island through the abundant palm trees.

Commanding the high point on the island, the principal residence has the most spectacular panoramic views, whilst giving a feeling of refuge and peace in its elevated position well above the water.

Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 365 islands, also called cays. The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma, by a small bridge. The capital and largest town in the district is George Town.

Home Design: The Art Of The ‘Minimal Kitchen’

Whether it’s a wall of stainless steel cabinets or a row of plywood units, there is something particularly satisfying about a thoughtfully designed, minimal kitchen.

The trick to clutter-free surfaces is to make sure that behind the clean-lined exterior, there is plenty of space to stash away kitchen paraphernalia. Here, we’re sharing our favourite example of minimal kitchen designs – from a monochrome kitchen in north London to a barely-there arrangement of white units in the Cotswolds. 

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Condo With A View: ‘Nob Hill, San Francisco’ (Video)

Commandingly sited on the northeast corner of one of the highest floors within Nob Hill’s premier hi-rise, this spectacularly renovated 2,780 sq. ft. residence delivers panoramic, sweeping views of San Francisco. Iconic views span the serene North Bay to the dynamic Downtown skyline.

Exquisitely crafted under the leadership of renowned architect Andrew Skurman, this rare condominium serves as a comfortable home with luxurious modern amenities that scales to ignite generous entertaining. A private elevator landing opens to a foyer with large walls and an alcove for art. Accented by a stone-clad fireplace in a contemporary silhouette and beauti­­­fully ­­­upholstered walls, the oversized living & dining room features in-laid hardwood floors handcrafted in Italy. Oversized windows and a balcony showcase remarkable views of San Francisco, brilliant by day and vibrantly illuminated by night.

1170 Sacramento, known as The Nob Hill, overlooks the beautiful Huntington Park on San Francisco’s Nob Hill amidst the famous Fairmont, Huntington & Mark Hopkins Hotels, the majestic Grace Cathedral and the stately Pacific Union Club.

Ocean View HOmes: St. Martin Island (Video)

From its dramatic cliff-top location, on the northern coastline of French St. Martin in Terres Basses, villa Falaise des Oiseaux enjoys sublime water views across the ocean to the neighboring island of Anguilla on the distant horizon. Just recently completely refurbished this lovely two-bedroom home sits on nearly five acres of land in total privacy and offers a private pool, two king-size bedrooms with en-suite baths, and an open-plan living room and kitchen. A veranda running the entire length of the property enjoys incredible 180° views over the ocean and provides covered areas for outside living and dining. Steps lead down to a sun terrace with a free-form pool and comfortable lounge chairs and further areas for outside dining. Large glass sliding doors open from the veranda into an open-plan and light-filled interior space comprising a living room with natural wood and white linen furnishings and a pristine, brand new kitchen with white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and marble countertops. The two bedrooms can be accessed from the living room or from the veranda and offer spectacular water views, relaxing neutral décor, widescreen TV’s and brand new en-suite bathrooms with glass-surround rain showers. Villa Falaise des Oiseaux offers complete privacy in a beautiful and tranquil setting and is just a 10-minute walk away from the lovely natural beach of Plum Bay. The village of Cupecoy in Dutch St. Maarten, for restaurants and grocery shopping, is just a 10-minute drive from the villa.

English Country Homes: ‘Wilby Hall’ In Norfolk

Wilby Hall is believed to have been built by Sir Thomas Lovell and lived in, among others, by Sir Robert Wilton, a friend of Oliver Cromwell, who is thought to have stayed at Wilby Hall during a visit to Norwich.

Of special interest to lovers of historic houses is the fact that, throughout its existence, successive custodians — including Russell — have taken care to conserve the many original features of the 6,183sq ft hall, which offers accommodation on three floors, each room having a specific purpose.

Of particular note are the impressive drawing room, the delightful sitting room with its distinctive wallpaper and handsome fireplace, the cheerful kitchen/breakfast room and the charming library.

Wilby Hall is approached from the east along a sweeping, tree-lined gravel drive that allows tantalising glimpses of the splendid brick-built house. To the north of the main building is an Elizabethan walled garden, formally landscaped with box and yew hedging, yew topiary, herbaceous beds, a pond and ornamental trees. A south-facing garden comprising a large expanse of lawn stretches to the moat that borders the lawns from east to west, with mature broadleaf woodland beyond.

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Desert Homes: Rancho Mirage, California (Video)

Masterfully renovated while holding true to its Frank Lloyd Wright architectural influence, this inspiring contemporary estate is situated on a prime south-facing lot spanning near an acre off historic Clancy Lane. If you’re an enthusiast of geometric design, long driveways, wrap-around covered patios, numerous banks of windows, spacious mature grounds, and direct mountain vistas from the interior this is the residence for you.

Additional features include: owned solar power system; forty foot long saline pool with automatic cover; elevated ceilings and smooth plastered walls; strikingly conceived fireplace wall; sleek open kitchen concept with stainless steel Sub Zero appliances and drop down range hood, custom built in cabinetry throughout, large wine storage cooler, and perfectly framed mountain view setting; master retreat with true indoor/outdoor living and private patio area, and an enormous tiled focal wall in the well-appointed bathroom; ideal bedroom separation with three upper bedrooms and two lower; all bathrooms throughout have been exquisitely remodeled; open air Zen atrium; sizable putting green; porcelain tile with ‘cement look’ flooring, expansive misting system, and ample parking options including three car garage.

Mark Hagedorn is the residence’s esteemed architect, and he was trained by Wright’s chief draftsman John H. Howe, who was aptly nicknamed ‘the pencil in Wright’s hand’.

Italian Villas: ‘Camogli – Portofino Peninsula’

Located in a quiet residential area in the upper part of Camogli, with a beautiful view over the sea of Liguria, 600-sqm Liberty style villa with ample garden. The property, restored in 2015, offers a total of 6 (up to 11) bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and features beautiful living rooms with rich decorations. The villa could easily be split into two independent residential units.

Camogli is a fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso in the Riviera di Levante, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy. As of 30 April 2017 its population was of 5,332.