Category Archives: Homes

English Estates: ‘Hillfield House, 1860’ – Gloucester

Hillfield House was once home to Gloucester’s Trading Standards officers — not that you’d know it to see the place today. Toby Keel takes a look.

This Grade II-listed building, in the Wotton area just north of Gloucester’s centre, was built in the 1860s and is filled with period touches, from the fireplaces and ornate cornicing to stone pillars and the extraordinary stained glass windows.

Just as grand is the first floor, accessed by a stone staircase, lit from a skylight above and ringed by an ironwork balustrade that looks out onto the space below. All your fantasies of hosting a Bridgerton-style ball can finally be fulfilled.

For all this grandeur, the living rooms themselves do offer cosier, more intimate nooks. Off the main hallway and the corridor beyond are a drawing room, sitting room, study, kitchen-breakfast room and seemingly-endless series of reception rooms.

Read more

Scotland Estate Tour: Georgian Manor With Gardens In Edinburgh

In just under 1 acre of beautiful gardens and a stones throw from the city center, this stunning period property has almost 6,000 sq. ft. (547 sq. meters) of accommodation and a separate 3 bedroom coach house. Considered Edinburgh’s finest private home this highly prized Georgian mansion is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and arguably the very best family home in Edinburgh.

The house is located in the affluent and prestigious Murrayfield area, especially sought after for its close proximity to world-class schools for every age group. This outstanding property dates back to the 1800’s. In the late 1990s, acclaimed Scottish architect Lorn Macneal enhanced the property with a skillful remodeling of the west wing, synthesizing flow, space and light, whilst retaining the detailed majesty of the original design.

Contemporary, prosperous, and rich in history, Edinburgh is undoubtedly the UKs’ second cultural capital and comes with a lifestyle that boasts unrivalled access to urban and country life. Scotland’s highlands are within easy reach of the house, offering majestic and untouched scenery amid lochs and mountains, while air and rail access to the UK and rest of the world is only around a 15-minute drive away.

Home Tours: Classic San Francisco Near Golden Gate Bridge (HD Video)

A rare offering. French-style façade with outstanding curb appeal. Exquisite 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home perfectly situated on a flat block in prime Cow Hollow. Extra-large lot (Approx. 32.5 sq. ft. by 137 sq. ft.) with glorious terraced backyard and mature trees for ultimate seclusion. Enjoy indoor and outdoor living and garden views on every level with kitchen patio and upper story slate decks. Dramatic grand foyer with elegantly curved staircase and wrought iron balustrade. Expansive living/dining room with French doors opening to fresh-air balconies overlook the picturesque, tree-lined street. On the south garden side, the stunning, gourmet kitchen/great room showcases beautiful Calacatta d’Oro marble counters. A family room beside the kitchen, top-floor family room/gym and wet bar, and a cozy sitting area with fireplace in the major bedroom offer options for gathering and relaxing. The sublime major suite features a fireplace, window seat, and a luxurious, spa-style bath. 2-car side by side garage with interior access.

English Estate Tour: Corn Mill Farm, Lower Kilcott In The South Cotswolds

Situated eight miles from Tetbury in Gloucestershire, it’s an idyllic small country estate in the scenic Kilcott Valley, nestled between the Cotswold Hills to one side and the Berkeley Vale to the west.

Penny Churchill, January 21, 2021

The property’s focal point is an impeccably restored 17th-century former ‘gryst mill’ set in 107 acres of ring-fenced farmland — a mix of ancient pastureland, meadows and deciduous woodland rising from the bottom of the valley to the top of the escarpment, with glorious westerly views towards Wales.

The land flanks the house to the north, east and south, adjoining the Midger Wood wildlife sanctuary to the east and, to the far south, the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton estate.

The enchanting, 5,206sq ft Cotswold-stone house was comprehensively restored and extended in the early 1990s by its then owner, Trevor Reeves, one of Margaret Thatcher’s advisers and speech writers, with guidance from local architect Robert Hardwick.

Read more

Venice Palazzo Tour: Castello On Canal (Video)

Five minutes from the Ponte di Rialto and Piazza San Marco, elegant restored apartment on the first floor of a 17th-century historic palazzo in the Castello district, Venice. The property (85 sqm) is made up of an ample living room with cooking corner, a studio/bedroom, double bedroom, and bathroom. The building was recently restored and improved with the restoration of the private bridge, the porta d’acqua and the beautiful entrance hall.

Castello, Venice, covers a large vibrant area, with one section bordering St. Mark’s Square and dotted with luxury hotels. Farther from St. Mark’s, the neighborhood gets more laid-back, with casual bars where locals stop in for a glass of wine. Shops and eateries catering to all budgets line buzzing Via Garibaldi. In alternating years, the Giardini della Biennale park hosts the Biennale exhibition of contemporary art. 

French Estate Tour: ’12th Century Abbey Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (Video)

This beautiful former abbey has been restored to a high standard and comes with 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms served by a central stone spiral staircase. It also offers beautiful views, land and 2 stocked lakes. Located 100 kms from Bordeaux, 30 kms from Angouleme (TGV to Paris under 2 1/2 hrs), near Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (one of the prettiest villages in France) in a quiet location down a no through road.

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is a commune in the Charente department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. It has been officially listed as “One of the most beautiful villages in France” since 1993. Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is also well known for its Church of Saint Jean, an underground, Monolithic Church.

Visualization: Modern Villas Overlooking The Pyramids In Egypt (Video)

A Visualization of Modern Villas Overlooking The Pyramids Of Egypt.

Visualized by VanillaStudio: http://www.vanilla-studio.com/

Architecture by IMAM Architects: https://www.imamarchitects.com/

Home Tours: San Miguel De Allende, Guanajuato In Central Mexico (Video)

Set in a quiet enclave in Centro, Casa William is one of San Miguel’s most stunning properties. Stone arches and walls, high, wood-beamed ceilings, generous room proportions and wood and stone floors evoke a gracious style from generations past. As soon as you step into the barrel-vaulted entryway, you know you are about to be treated to something very special.

A large, professionally-landscaped garden with refreshing pool and jacuzzi, mature vegetation and multiple lounging areas is an invitation to socialize with friends and family or simply indulge in an afternoon siesta or invigorating swim. Located just a few minutes flat walk to dozens of restaurants, shops, art galleries, high-end hotels and the Jardin, Casa William is a gem designed for the discerning buyer looking to live the gracious, luxurious yet easy lifestyle for which San Miguel de Allende is famous.

San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in Mexico’s central highlands, is known for its baroque Spanish architecture, thriving arts scene and cultural festivals. In the city’s historic, cobblestoned center lies the neo-Gothic church Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, whose dramatic pink towers rise above the main plaza, El Jardín. The Templo de San Francisco church nearby has an 18th-century churrigueresque facade.

Guanajuato is a city in central Mexico. It’s known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. Its network of narrow streets, alleyways and tunnels is typified by the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), so named because the balconies are close enough for a couple to reach across and kiss. In a former granary, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas is an art and local history museum with pre-Columbian exhibits.

Island Home Tours: ‘Villa Violetta’, Porto Rotondo On Sardinia, Italy

The property sits on a peninsula with direct access to the beach in Porto Rotondo. The villa is gated and located in Punta Volpe, one of the most exclusive spots of Porto Rotondo always highly patrolled due to the importance of its residents. It has generous spaces both inside and outside, perfect for families.


Its five comfortable rooms are distributed around the house, providing lots of privacy for the guests. The house has a beautifully kept garden, a terrace on the rocks with 270° view on the Mediterranean and a private access to white sandy beach. A new swimming pool and a guest house have been recently added.

Tropical Home Tours: Hanalei Bay, North Shore Of Kauai In Hawaii (Video)

Enjoy the relaxed lifestyle at Hale Haena on the North Shore of Kauai. With quaint one-lane bridges and just steps across the deeded beach access to the crystal blue South Pacific ocean, life slows down here. This meticulously maintained home offers wonderful floor plan with living area and primary bedroom upstairs, private from two guest suites downstairs.

Hanalei is a small town on the north shore of Kauai, in Hawaii. Its crescent-shaped beach on Hanalei Bay features the Pine Trees surf area at Waioli Beach Park. Forested hills back nearby Lumahai Beach, a location in the movie “South Pacific.” East of town, the Hanalei Valley Lookout offers views of mountains and taro fields. Within the valley, Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for rare water birds.