When someone mentions that they own a beach house, they often mean a charming cottage with coastal-themed decor and a view of the ocean, a convenient location a block or two from the sunny shore, or a perch just above the strand on a cliff or promontory. This 2,861-square-foot gem, however, takes the notion to a new level, sitting as it does on a rocky outcropping amid the sand itself, where the waves of Matador Beach wash up almost to its very verge. The interiors are a bastion of dazzling light and views as well as clean, minimalist contemporary design—a place where relaxation is paramount and vistas of the coveted serene surroundings take center stage.

The living spaces are remarkably open and bright, the palette refreshingly restrained, with warm, grounding woods offering an earthy contrast to crisp, polished surfaces of white. The corner dining room is wrapped in windows that create a veritable wall of dynamic, cinematic art capturing ocean waters, clear blue sky, the Channel Islands and Point Dume in the distance, and further beyond, the definitive, far-reaching line of the horizon. The space flows directly to an open kitchen with an island, plentiful white cabinetry, new modern tile, refreshed countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. The nearby living room benefits from a similar expanse of glass with a dramatic view, conjuring the feeling of being at sea—or at the very least, somehow magically suspended over the water. The room’s fireplace creates welcoming, comforting warmth on cooler days and nights.

One of four bedrooms, the vast primary suite includes a sitting area, wall-sized picture windows, and sliding doors to a romantic private Juliet balcony. The en suite bath offers a generous dual-sink vanity, heated towel racks, a glass-enclosed rainshower, and a vintage-inspired soaking tub perfectly poised to appreciate views of the horizon. Two additional bedrooms and baths are secluded on the upper level as well, while one guest suite is located on the main level.

Suffused with sea-salt-laden Pacific breezes, the expansive deck is bounded by a glass railing that ensures the picturesque vista of sand, surf, and sunsets remains perennially uninterrupted. From further up the hill, a switchbacking flagstone path descends to the beach and an idyllic sunset cove. The property’s location, in a small exclusive enclave on a private gated road, puts it within a moment’s reach of fine shops and restaurants and all the other allurements and enticements of Malibu.

The Wall Street Journal | E.B. Solomont

A beachfront compound near San Diego has sold in an off-market deal for $44.1 million, according to San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks.

The “monumental” deal is a record for the county, said Marks, who is also the county recorder and clerk.

The compound, on just over an acre, is located in Del Mar, a few houses down from a property purchased by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, for $43 million in 2020, records show.

The seller is a corporation tied to descendants of C.E. Toberman, a California real-estate developer who helped build Hollywood landmarks such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Roosevelt Hotel and the Hollywood Bowl. The buyer’s identity is unknown.

Located on Sandy Lane, the property has a ranch-style main residence, a guesthouse and a detached apartment, with eight bedrooms combined, according to real-estate agent Brian Guiltinan of the Guiltinan Group, who represented the buyer and seller. There is also a tennis court and swimming pool.

“The real significance to the property is it is over an acre on the sand, with 110 feet of frontage” on the ocean, said Guiltinan. It is the largest parcel on the beach, he said.

Toberman built the house in the 1950s, according to Wendy Fletcher Dyer, one of his great-grandchildren. Dyer is president of Investors Leasing Corp., which owns storage facilities in Nevada and California and is the legal owner of the house.

Dyer, who was raised in a house four doors down, said at one point her relatives owned seven houses on the street, all of which have been sold off over the years. She said her late father, Charles “Kim” Fletcher, lived in the house with her stepmother, Marilyn Fletcher, until his death in 2019. Kim Fletcher was president and CEO of Home Federal Savings & Loan in San Diego. After he died, Dyer said, she and her siblings voted to sell the property.

“We enjoyed the house and beach for decades and we made a lot of good memories,” she said, but beachfront properties are expensive to maintain, and she and her siblings have their own lives. “This allows another family to move in and make their own memories, and we’re excited for them.”

Last year, however, Marilyn Fletcher alleged in a lawsuit that Investors Leasing Corp. and its shareholders tried to evict her from the property in order to sell it. Her complaint alleged that the shareholders removed her belongings from the guesthouse, changed the locks and posted a “No Trespassing” sign. In July, a San Diego court ruled in favor of the shareholders.

“It was an unfortunate situation, but it was resolved in ILC’s favor,” Dyer said.

Marilyn Fletcher couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Blog

While most luxury home buyers aren’t world-famous celebrities, the reality is that A-listers do make up a portion of the luxury real estate market.

As a luxury real estate professional, you might dream about one day being able to represent a celebrity that you adore—but even if that dream never comes to fruition, it’s important for all luxury real estate professionals to understand the undeniable impact that celebrities have on the industry as a whole.

Not only do celebrities set lifestyle trends that influence the real estate market, but they also have the power to affect local real estate demand and even generate marketing opportunities.

To take full advantage of these opportunities, luxury real estate professionals need to understand the ins and outs of the market as it relates to celebrity influence.

CELEBRITIES SET LIFESTYLE TRENDS

People already look to celebrities to influence their clothing choices, hairstyles, brand preferences and the like. However, a celebrity’s authority doesn’t end there; A-listers can also have an impact on the lifestyle trends and preferences of affluent home buyers.

Specifically, celebrities’ choice in home location, architectural style, amenities, and other preferences can become aspirational for other buyers seeking a taste of the glamorous lifestyle.

If more celebrities start buying homes with infinity pools or other high-end features, these same features are likely to be sought after by other affluent buyers over time.

By keeping an eye on lifestyle trends and preferences among celebrities, then, you can gain a sort of “sneak peek” into the future demands of your affluent clientele. This, in turn, can give you a more competitive edge.

CELEBRITY-LINKED PROPERTIES CREATE DEMAND

In addition to celebrity lifestyle trends and buying preferences, properties that have some tie to a celebrity can also create a sense of prestige and status symbol that can generate higher demand. Specifically, properties with a celebrity history can become conversation pieces and may even be used as icebreakers at social events.

With this opportunity in mind, affluent buyers may be willing to pay a premium for a property linked to a celebrity. This may mean that the home was previously lived in by a celebrity or simply stayed in as an Airbnb or similar rental.

CELEBRITY TRANSACTIONS OFFER FREE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

When a celebrity buys and/or sells a home, it’s fairly common for that news to attract some media attention. In some cases, the media attention may be significant. Consider, for example, when Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi sold their Beverly Hills home in 2021 for a reported $45 million after they had purchased it from Adam Levine just a couple of years prior.

Aside from the obvious advantages of representing a celebrity during such a real estate transaction, luxury real estate professionals can also take advantage of the free marketing opportunities that this kind of transaction can bring them.

Extensive coverage of celebrity properties can serve as free (and extremely effective) marketing that can help you take your personal brand to the next level.

CELEBRITY-OWNED PROPERTIES IMPACT LOCAL ECONOMIES

Communities with high concentrations of celebrity-owned properties may also inexperience increased tourism and economic growth. This is because celebrity involvement in luxury real estate can attract affluent buyers to invest in the same areas, as they want to live and raise their own families to the same perceived standard as that of a celebrity.

This is exactly why we see so many affluent buyers looking to purchase homes in places like Hollywood and Los Angeles.

As a luxury real estate professional, keeping an eye on where celebrities are buying (and selling) properties can help you stay on top of what are sure to be some of the most in-demand luxury markets in the coming years.

RESIDE Magazine

People who love art usually enjoy the other finer things in life, such as good food, wine, picturesque landscapes, and elegant architecture. Now it is increasingly possible to enjoy these pleasures all at once. Across the world, owners of historic buildings and vineyards are boosting their potential as tourism destinations by using them as a backdrop for their art collections. From wineries in Chile, Tuscany, and California, to castles in Ireland and Italy, a former monastery in Croatia and a coaching inn in Scotland, they have created immersive spaces where a range of cultural and culinary offerings meet in beautiful surroundings. Some provide luxury accommodation and spas, others are the perfect spot for a day trip. All eight are a feast for the senses.

The Fife Arms’ Drawing Room with Pablo Picasso’s Femme assise dans un fauteuil

(Woman seated in an armchair), 1953, on show

THE FIFE ARMS, SCOTLAND

Hidden in the Scottish Highlands in Braemar, close to the Balmoral Estate—which was bought by Queen Victoria in 1852 and is beloved by the British royal family—the 46 sumptuously decorated bedrooms and suites of this 19th-century coaching inn are inspired by local places and famous visitors to the town. Among them were novelist, poet, and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote parts of Treasure Island while on holiday in Braemar, and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who is now commemorated in the art deco Elsa’s cocktail bar.

The Fife Arms belongs to the art dealers and philanthropists Iwan and Manuela Wirth, co-founders of the international gallery Hauser & Wirth. The hotel incorporates 14,000 antiques and artworks, ranging from the 16th century to modern masterpieces and contemporary commissions. There is a self-playing Steinway piano decorated by Mark Bradford, portraits by Picasso and Lucian Freud, photographs by Man Ray and Hans Bellmer, and a ceiling painted by Zhang Enli. The main restaurant is the Clunie Dining Room, which features a mural by the Argentinian artist Guillermo Kuitca that was inspired by the local landscape. thefifearms.com

The Viña Vik winery, Chile

VIK, CHILE AND URUGUAY

Norwegian financier, investor and art collector Alexander Vik and his wife Carrie founded their 11,000-acre Chilean winery, Viña Vik, in central Chile in 2004. Guests can enjoy award-winning wines while dining on a seasonal organic menu devised by executive chef Rodrigo Acuña Bravo.

A visit to the vineyard and adjacent hotel, Vik Chile, involves an extensive encounter with art. The 22 rooms and seven glass-walled bungalows were each designed in collaboration with architect Marcelo Daglio, enabling guests to stay in an immersive artwork while enjoying 360-degree panoramic views of the spectacular landscape. The futuristic winery building was designed by the Chilean-Croatian architect Smiljan Radic, who designed the 2014 Serpentine Pavilion in London, and the couple’s art collection is spread throughout the building. Works include paintings by Roberto Matta, a light work by James Turrell, and a diptych by Anselm Kiefer.

There are three other Vik hotels on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay, in José Ignacio near Punta del Este: Estancia Vik, Playa Vik, and Bahia Vik. vikwine.com

Daniel Buren’s installation Sulle Vigne: punti di vista, 2001, on the grounds of Castello di Ama

CASTELLO DI AMA, ITALY

A visit to the Castello di Ama vineyard, between Siena and Florence in the Chianti region of Italy, is a sensory feast. Since 1999, the estate’s proprietors, Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, have commissioned sculptures and installations as an offering of thanks to the land and its spirit, which also infuses the philosophy of their wine-making. Artists who have made works include Michelangelo Pistoletto, Daniel Buren, Giulio Paolini, Anish Kapoor, Carlos Garaicoa, Cristina Iglesias, Louise Bourgeois, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Chen Zhen, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Lee Ufan, and Roni Horn.

The latest work to be unveiled is a garden installation by Jenny Holzer, which features heavily scented helichrysum flowers and excerpts of poetry by Patrizia Cavalli and WS Merwin.

There are five bedrooms in the 18th-century manor house, allowing guests to stay and experience the sculptures at different times of the day in different light. The main restaurant is headed by the family’s personal chef. castellodiama.com

Lopud 1483

LOPUD 1483, CROATIA

The history of this former Franciscan monastery on the small island of Lopud, just off the coast of Dubrovnik, is a little hazy. It was built in 1483, but many of its records were lost in the massive earthquake that hit the area in 1667, which largely destroyed the city. The monastery fell into disuse, and while there was still a functioning church on the site in the 1990s, the surrounding buildings were becoming increasingly dilapidated, a situation highlighted by the World Monuments Fund in 1996.

The following year, the collector and philanthropist Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza began what would become a 20-year project to restore the monastery buildings. The 13 monks’ cells have been sympathetically transformed into five suites that fuse ancient and modern. Traditional plaster walls and woodwork are combined with handmade furniture by the Italian designer Paola Lenti and carefully curated works from Thyssen-Bornemisza’s extensive TBA21 contemporary art collection.

Lopud 1483 offers a variety of locations that can be tailored to every taste, from private gatherings to high-profile events, as well as seminars, performances, and concerts. lopud1483.com

The Drawing Room at Lismore Castle

LISMORE CASTLE, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The Anglo-Norman Castle was built in County Waterford in 1185, on the site of a seventh-century monastery within sight of the imposing Knockmealdown Mountains. In the late-16th century the statesman and adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh bought the castle, but had to sell it after he was imprisoned for high treason in 1602. It later became the Irish home of the dukes of Devonshire, who acquired it in the mid-18th century. William Cavendish, the sixth duke, commissioned the Gothic revival architect Augustus Pugin to add a medieval hall, and asked Sir Joseph Paxton, the designer of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, to create the lower garden.

The castle is still owned by the family, and their 15-bedroom residential wing is available for hire, but only in its entirety, rather than as individual rooms. The castle is an ideal venue for a celebration as it can accommodate up to 27 guests. One wing has been converted to house Lismore Castle Arts, which promotes contemporary Irish art and stages temporary exhibitions.

The seven-acre gardens, which are open to the public between March and October, are divided into upper and lower areas. The upper garden dates from the early 17th century and is considered by many to be the oldest cultivated garden in Ireland. The flower borders and lawns coexist with sculptures by Antony Gormley, Franz West, Bridget McCrum, and Eilis O’Connell. The lower garden has an impressive collection of plants that love its acidic soil, including magnolia and camellias. lismorecastlegardens.com; lismorecastlearts.ie; thehallandlismorecastle.com

Gao Weigang, Maze, 2017, Donum Estate

THE DONUM ESTATE, CALIFORNIA, USA

Founded in 2001, the Donum Estate in Sonoma, northern California, is a leader in single-vineyard pinot noir and chardonnay wines. Spread over 200 acres of hillside, it also includes groves of olive and eucalyptus trees and lavender fields.

The estate was acquired by the Danish entrepreneur and businessman Allan Warburg and his wife Mei in 2010, and the collectors have spent the past 13 years transforming the landscape with sculptures from their personal collection. Their taste is broad: artists whose work they have acquired include Ai Weiwei, Lynda Benglis, Anselm Kiefer, Louise Bourgeois, Gao Weigang, Ugo Rondinone, Zhan Wang, Keith Haring, Jaume Plensa, Elmgreen & Dragset, Fernando Botero, Richard Hudson, and Yue Minjun.

Warburg first went to China as student, and by the 1990s had set up a joint venture there with the Danish fashion company Bestseller, importing and selling western fashion into a fast-growing emerging market. Bestseller Fashion Group now has about 7,000 stores in the Far East. Warburg now resides in Hong Kong with his wife Mei. There isn’t a hotel at the Donum Estate as yet, but there are daily tours for visitors to taste the wines in a specially commissioned pavilion designed by the artist Olafur Eliasson and the architect Sebastian Behmann. thedonumestate.com

Michele Mathison, Everything and Nothing, 2019, San Basilio, Basilicata

CASTELLO SAN BASILIO, ITALY

This fortress, near Matera in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, was built to protect a monastic community in the seventh century. It is now owned by the Berlingieri family, who have housed their art collection throughout the property for the past five decades. In 2019 the young collector Aloisia Leopardi was invited to start a program dedicated to artistic research, experimentation, and collaboration. The castle is now a project space for cultural exchange between artists, curators, collectors, and arts professionals, which aims to encourage the local communities in the surrounding villages to experience contemporary art.

Visiting the artists in residence and exhibitions is by appointment only; it is also possible to book a suite or room at the nearby agriturismo, Il Filaro del Castello del Castello San Basilio. Basilio alumni include the emerging artists Oren Pinhassi, Lucy Henshall, Michele Mathison, and Sheida Soleimani. The artists for 2023 are Kat Lyons and Anna Perach. castellosanbasilio.com

Photos: Andrea Bosio; Sim Cannetty-Clark; Alessandro Moggi; Lucy Henshall; Robert Berg; courtesy of @vik_wine and @vikchile, The Fife Arms, Lismore Castle and Lopud 1483

Liz Lucking | Mansion Global

A newly constructed mansion in Los Angeles’s tony Brentwood neighborhood with a pickleball court, a putting green and a candy station has hit the market for just shy of $29.888 million.

Dubbed “Allure,” the glass- and wood-clad home was carved into a mountainside, requiring the removal of approximately 680 truckloads of dirt to create over an acre of flat land.

Designing and building the house “was an opportunity to push the boundaries of luxury and design in Los Angeles, to create a property that’s truly in a league of its own,” said Ramtin “Ray” Nosrati, the home’s developer and founder of Huntington Estates Properties.

Inside, the 14,000-square-foot property is full of natural materials that are paired with a neutral palette. There are wooden ceilings and walls throughout the home, plus stone slabs across the kitchen and bathrooms and a sprawling and lush living wall suspended 30 feet above the main living area with four moss varieties.

The seven-bedroom home is loaded with high-end features and amenities.

There’s a gourmet chef’s kitchen with a commercial-grade walk-in refrigerator; a bar and wine room; a home theater has a Rolls Royce starlight ceiling—typically found within the exclusive automobile—with a candy lounge and a wine fridge. Other amenities include an office, a gym and a sauna.

Upstairs, the primary wing spans a sizable 3,000 square feet and has a lounge, a two-sided fireplace, a European stone-clad bathroom, plus dual closet changing rooms, one of which features a walk-out balcony with a fire pit overlooking the grounds below.

Outside, a gated motor court provides parking for 10 cars, and there’s also a dedicated regulation-sized pickleball court, an NBA-sized half-court, a putting green, a cabana with an outdoor kitchen, a 16-person sunken fire pit, a pool and organic gardens. A rooftop deck tops it all off.

The listing, which hit the market on Friday, is being handled by Sally Forster Jones and Nicole Plaxen from Sally Forster Jones Group at Compass; Santiago Arana at The Agency; Shauna Walters of Beverly Hills Estates; and Josh and Matt Altman of The Altman Brothers at Douglas Elliman.

The house embodies “luxury, creativity, and meticulous design in one of LA’s most coveted neighborhoods,” Forster Jones said. “Ray has seamlessly integrated his distinctive touch into every detail, from the epic sports complex to the artistry of his signature living moss walls.”

The underlying property last changed hands in 2021 for $3.5 million, records with PropertyShark show.

Sotheby's Extraordinary Living Blog

Respecting the past while embracing the future, award-winning architect Rich Granoff brought his creative talents to bear at this extraordinary estate in the midst of Greenwich’s glorious greenery. The 16.11-acre property is an unprecedented private getaway and an equestrian’s dream, featuring a five-bedroom 10,800-square-foot residence, a swimming pool and spa with a pool house, stately stables, a guesthouse or caretaker’s quarters, paddocks, vineyards, gardens, an orchard, and a superior-caliber riding arena.

The home feels pulled from the pages of a storybook, a travelog, or Architectural Digest, with larger-than-life dimensions and dramatic finishes. Sturdy woods and striking stone create an ambience at once rustic and refined, in spaces reminiscent of Wild West lodges, alpine havens, French country châteaux, and indulgent spas. Throughout, oversized windows and glass doors admit floods of light and offer verdant views.

An antler chandelier suspended from a vaulted beamed ceiling serves as a centerpiece in the great room, where a stacked-stone fireplace delivers warmth and the rugged character of the Old West year-round. The window-wrapped formal dining room has its own fireplace along with doors to a wraparound deck—accessed via nearly every room on the main level. The French country kitchen is a spectacular space with stone walls, a one-of-a-kind John Yarema wood floor, two islands, a custom collection of four La Cornue ranges. The dining area is warmed by a fireplace and enjoys a clear view of the enveloping greenery through folding glass doors. Steps away is a covetable collection of spaces for recreation and entertaining: a billiards room with two double-door wine refrigerators, which it shares with a lounge and fully equipped cocktail bar. A nearby game room overlooks the breakfast area.

Restful bedrooms and baths arrayed in distinct color schemes—green, orange, and blue—share the main level yet are consummately private. The primary suite is accented by a white Zebrino marble fireplace and includes a bath with a dazzling stone shower wall, uniquely backlit vanities, and a dazzling marble soaking tub. A secluded aerie with a sitting area and rose-hued bath occupies the uppermost level. The busy professional will appreciate the office and a paneled library with a fireplace, doors to the deck, and a western view into the leafy trees—both ideal spaces for quiet contemplation.

Paths meander throughout the enchanting grounds. A short stroll from the main residence is a pool house and finely appointed one-bedroom guest apartment with a garage. It accompanies a sun-washed terrace with a stone fireplace, a pizza oven, and a refreshing pool and spa surrounded by tufty grasses and tall trees—with nary a neighbor in sight.

The guesthouse or caretaker’s quarters is a five-bedroom French country–inspired haven featuring an elegant living room with wide-plank hardwood floors, a dining room with a soaring pitched ceiling, a cook’s kitchen, and a generous office. A tack room and an après-riding lounge with a kitchenette complete the compelling picture. The Provençal inspiration persists at the impressive stables, which center around a paver courtyard with an Old World fountain and accommodate up to 12 horses.

The property feels surprisingly self-sufficient, with merlot and cabernet vineyards; an orchard of apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees; dedicated vegetable gardens; a pastoral pond; and coops for all manner of birds. Further afield are the estate’s raison d’être: grassy paddocks with run-in sheds, a laser-leveled dressage arena with dust-free footing, and a stone-paved viewing area. Among the things for which Greenwich is beloved is its historic trail system, easily accessed from the rolling expanses of this peerless property. Giddyup!

Katherine Clarke | Mansion Global

The Butterfly House, an architecturally distinctive home in Carmel, Calif., has sold for $29 million, in one of the priciest deals ever to close in the area, according to a spokeswoman for the buyer’s agent.

The sellers are venture capitalist Kevin Comolli and his wife, Hannah Comolli, who purchased the property for $16.5 million in 2014, records show. In an email, Kevin Comolli declined to comment on the specifics of the transaction, but said the couple was “delighted to pass the baton to the new owner.”

“The home fits so beautifully in with nature, its balance and longevity changed our lives for the better,” he said.

The identity of the buyer, represented by Tim Allen of Coldwell Banker Realty, couldn’t immediately be determined. The sellers were represented by Shelly Mitchell Lynch of Carmel Realty Co.

The Carmel Point property, designed by architect Frank Wynkoop in the early 1950s, is perched on a granite outcropping over the ocean. It was named for its wing-shape roof that suggests a butterfly.

Set on just over half an acre, the house spans about 3,700 square feet, with three bedrooms, an office and a media room. An interior courtyard has a kidney-shape pool and a hot tub. The property also includes a privately owned beach with a swimming cove.

The house was first listed in August 2022 for $40 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. At the time, the Comollis said they had spent about 2.5 years renovating the property, completing the work in 2016. They said they were selling because they had relocated to Beverly Hills, Calif., where they had renovated a 1920s Tudor home.

The deal is one of the most expensive to close in the Carmel area. Last year, actor Brad Pitt bought a roughly century-old, architecturally significant home in the area for $40 million.

V.L. Hendrickson | Mansion Global

A modern mansion at Sonoma Mountain in California wine country hit the market Tuesday for $12.5 million—and you can bet it’s well designed.

That’s because the seller is Gretchen Hansen, the founder of the online design services brand Decorist. Set on 6.5 acres, the Sonoma residence offers “classic modernist qualities—beautiful lines, amazing light and open spaces,” said Hansen, who sold Decorist to Bed, Bath & Beyond in 2017. She and her husband, Lee, bought the property that same year for $4.87 million, according to records with PropertyShark.

“I also love how it embraces its site on Sonoma Mountain so beautifully by bringing many elements of the outdoors in,” she said in an email. “In particular, I fell in love with the giant boulder atrium you see when you walk in the front door.”

Hansen oversaw a makeover at the approximately 6,400-square-foot home, which overlooks Mt. Diablo, the San Pablo Bay and the San Francisco skyline—as well as the surrounding grounds.

“I wanted to keep these classic modern and organic elements and make the house feel very current by bringing in all new materials including marble, limestone, plaster and oak, so it’s now a very fresh take on a classic form,” she said. “It’s a dream to be in this house—you really don’t want to leave.”

No surprise, the house also has walls of windows throughout to frame views and let light in, as well as 13-foot ceilings in the living room. There’s also a limestone fireplace, plus a skylit dining room with a bar, a family room and a sleek kitchen with two ovens and a breakfast bar.

The home has five bedrooms and six bathrooms, and the main suite offers even more vistas, a fireplace and a bathroom with a soaking tub, the listing said. There’s also a sitting room with a wet bar that opens to a deck.

There’s a media room and a 1,500-bottle wine cellar downstairs, while outside features a pool and spa, raised garden beds, a bocce court, several terraces and a shaded ping-pong table.

An entire 5,000-square-foot complex, dubbed the Point, is set up for entertaining with a kitchen, a hot tub and a fire pit.

Plus there’s a one-bedroom guesthouse with a full kitchen and its own garden and driveway.

Caroline Sebastiani and Kristie Eddy of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Wine Country Sonoma Brokerage have the listing. They were not immediately available for comment.

The Institute for Luxury Real Estate Marketing

If you were to ask 10 people about their thoughts on “Biophilic Design,” it is possible that eight of them would respond with a blank stare. Although the term may be new, the concept is already familiar to most of us, and the development of this trend began at least 20 years ago.

Biophilic design simply revolves around the idea that individuals will experience greater happiness if their interior living spaces are meaningfully integrated with the natural world outside. This integration encompasses aspects such as interior light and ventilation, appealing views, as well as the sights, scents, and sounds of the exterior landscape.

It is often described as the inclusion of natural materials and greenery within interiors, not only for visual stimulation but also to enhance air quality. However, it is important to note that the concept extends far beyond these elements.

OLD IDEAS — A NEW TERM

Biophilic design can enhance the sense of comfort that a home provides, benefiting both physical and emotional well-being. In other words, it represents a contemporary approach to the traditional concept of “bringing the outside in” to create a comfortable home environment. Modern homes have evolved far beyond mere protection from the elements.

Many architects and designers are already embracing biophilic design, and it is anticipated that the luxury market will continue to respond positively to this idea. Biophilic design acknowledges the unique connection between humans and nature, and recognizes that nature is specific to its location. As a result, biophilic design can manifest differently in luxury communities such as Palm Springs, Nantucket, Aspen, or Seattle. However, it can be equally applied to high-rise condo units, single-level ranch homes, or estates on extensive properties.

Primary expression of biophilic design centers around the following:

• Environmental features, or “place-based” architecture

• Organic shapes and forms

• Natural and native materials

• Light and space

• The concept of home as refuge

Although proponents may define and describe the principles in various ways, these principles are rooted in the relationship between humans and the natural world. The aim of this evolving paradigm is not to isolate the indoors from the outdoors but to foster a genuine partnership between the home and nature, with the goal of creating the best possible living environment for human beings.

BIOPHILIC DESIGN 101 — A BRIEF OVERVIEW

While sustainability, conservation, and energy efficiency remain integral aspects of biophilic design, this new term offers a more inclusive approach to encompass all these commendable efforts. Think of it as a way to blur the boundaries between the natural outdoor world and the built indoor environment.

Biophilic design is not limited to homes alone. It has been convincingly demonstrated that when factory workers have periodic access to the outdoors during their workday, their job satisfaction and productivity rates increase.

Similarly, office workers who have views of green spaces and trees instead of parking lots, and can observe the sun’s movement across the sky, experience less stress, greater creativity, and fewer sick days. These are just two examples of the lessons learned by commercial and industrial architects who are dedicated to improving working conditions worldwide. Want to learn more? Read this article.

The same principles apply to the home environment. Extensive research has shown a correlation between natural light and improved sleep, between the presence of plants or “living walls” and better air quality, and between water features (both indoors and views of pools or fountains in the yard) and a sense of well-being.

This field will undoubtedly attract significant attention as home builders, real estate professionals, architects, designers, psychologists, and mental health experts become more attuned to the principles of biophilic design.

Architectural Digest recently highlighted some impressive elements of this design philosophy, referring to it as a “movement” rather than a passing trend.

If you aim to stay at the forefront of a potentially transformative shift in home design priorities, biophilic design demands your attention. It is expected to have a substantial impact on the luxury home market as discerning buyers become more familiar with this developing philosophy.

It can be seen as an architectural and design evolution that, in some ways, is quite revolutionary. However, its ultimate trajectory remains uncertain.

RESIDE Magazine

Axel and May Vervoordt in their home near Antwerp

Axel Vervoordt is a man with many hats: art and antiques dealer, interior designer, initiator of groundbreaking exhibitions and an impresario of musical, artistic and architectural experiences. Central to all this activity is his long marriage to his wife, May. Their evolving interests have been the guiding thread in their esteemed family business. Whether in their private home, the 12th-century Kasteel van ‘s-Gravenwezel, outside Antwerp, or in their impressive business headquarters, Kanaal—a restored late-19th-century distillery and malting complex on the nearby Albert Canal—their shared aesthetic and philosophical values are expressed in every atmospheric interior and the juxtaposition of carefully selected artworks. It is appropriate, therefore, that as Axel and May celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this spring, they have created a book about their collecting.

What has interested them above all on this journey has been a dialogue between traditions—the exchange between east and west—which is reflected throughout their home and in their exhibition-making. It is also expressed in this new book, which celebrates artworks from contrasting traditions to emphasize continuities of thought and feeling. For Axel, his touchstones include works by Kazuo Shiraga and the numinous Fontana sculpture Concetto Spaziale, Natura, 1959–60. May has a favorite painting—Urbino, 1978, by Belgian artist Jef Verheyen, known for his exploration of light, color and geometry. She also loves the Japanese Head of a Lohan, or Buddhist monk on the edge of enlightenment, in their library: “Every time I see them, I learn something new.”

This interest in Asian art can be traced to their friendship with Dr Jos Macken, a neurologist who was a great friend of Verheyen and a passionate collector of eastern art. Through Macken, Axel became interested in eastern philosophy, especially the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi: the wisdom of imperfection. Axel explains that his mother instilled in him a feeling for “the beauty of simplicity—she liked very humble things”.

A collection of figurines in the library

Axel and May had visited Japan before they married and, from their late twenties, traveled through Thailand, China and Japan, developing a passionate understanding of Zen philosophy, ceramics, sculpture and calligraphy. Furthermore, Axel eagerly discovered the East Asian idea of the “void”—a potent emptiness; a latent creative energy beyond human comprehension.

Through Verheyen, the couple discovered the broad network of European artists connected to the Zero movement in Germany, including the Argentine-Italian Lucio Fontana and the German Günther Uecker, who were exploring similar ideas. Axel remarks: “After the terrible destruction of the Second World War, the idea of starting again from nothing was very appealing.”

The “Oriental Salon” at Kasteel van ‘s-Gravenwezel, with a 17th-century Japanese folding screen by Tan’yu Kano (left) and Fusta i Marró Forodat by Antoni Tàpies, 1972 (right)

These ideas were all percolating in the Vervoordts from the beginning of their relationship. They met when they were very young. May reports that Axel, then aged 21, “was a young antiques dealer,” while her interests, as a student of graphic design aged 18 or 19, “were more contemporary.” One of Axel’s early purchases—an oil painting by René Magritte of his famous motif, La Mémoire, 1948—suggests that he was always looking for a sense of “timelessness, the universal”. In addition, what was evident in their shared preferences was that, “the things we loved and bought, they had a sense of silence. They were never aggressive,” says May.

Axel Vervoordt seized upon dealing as a means of exploring his own interests in art. What he bought was always something that he and May loved: “I had to feel it in my breast,” he says.

The loft in the outer buildings of the castle. An Artempo disc by Axel Vervoordt hangs above painted works by Gutai artist Sadaharu Horio. Signal by Takis, 1958, is on the table.

In 2005, Axel discovered the Gutai artists in Japan. Alongside Fontana, Shiraga in particular is an essential reference for them both. May comments: “You feel strength in this art, but with that, a meditative feeling. You see the movement in a Shiraga painting, but recognize the stillness that came before.”

Both agree that they will never stop collecting. May refers to one of her favorite works, a six-fold Japanese screen from the 17th century, decorated with round stepping stones, black and white, with the motto: “By this way, bring you luck.” Collecting has become a series of steps, May explains. “There is an evolution. You continue to look and to buy.”

Kazuo Shiraga, Suiju, 1985

Photos: © Mari Luz Vidal for Openhouse; © Laziz Hamani; courtesy of Axel and May Vervoordt.

Fang Block | Mansion Global

Cher has relisted her Italian Renaissance-style estate in Malibu for $75 million, a $10 million, or 12% decrease from her ask of $85 million last October.

Sitting on 1.7 acres of land overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the house has 13,126 square feet of living space with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, according to last week’s listing with Drew Fenton and Robert Kass of Hilton & Hyland.

The duo previously listed the property for $85 million in October.

Cher bought the underlying property for $2.95 million in 1989, records show, and had the Italian Renaissance-style villa built in 1999. It features limestone and marble imported from Italy and France, hand-wrought bronze doors, and custom hardware and tiles from Spain and Morocco, according to the listing.

The estate also has a tennis court and a gate house at the entrance, the listing said.

When the home hit the market last year, the singer and actress told The Wall Street Journal that she had entertained often in the home, hosting “intimate dinners in the family dining room” and larger “tented parties in the courtyard and pool area.”

Nicknamed the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher, 76, has owned her fair share of prime Los Angeles-area real estate. In the 1980s, she lived in a Moroccan-themed mansion in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood that sold a few years ago for $16 million. She also sold a much humbler Tudor-style house in Beverly Crest in 2018 for $2.5 million. She also lived previously at the historic Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, which sold for $88 million in 2021.

Cher, as well as the listing agents, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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In the early years of the 20th century, appealing tree-lined streets with grand Edwardian- and Tudor-style estates of San Francisco’s prestigious Presidio Heights enclave attracted an array of local notable families. Today, popular boutiques, trend-setting restaurants, and the Presidio’s alluring greenery, trails, golf, picnic areas, and beachfront augment the appeal. This handsome four-level residence—dating to 1906 and meticulously maintained and updated—is a refined reminder of the classicism of the neighborhood’s early heyday and exemplifies its enduring elegance and allure.

San Francisco, California | Blair Heath, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage

Amid the impressive 6,100 square feet, the residence offers numerous original architectural details, rooms generous in scale, and a rare combination of formal finery and an ambience of modern ease. Timeless elements of Tudor style are prevalent: diamond-paned leaded-glass windows, deeply hued wood rafter beams contrasting with soothing white walls, high ceilings, and old-growth quarter-sawn hardwood floors. Beyond the inviting foyer is a light-filled living room with a stone fireplace, a formal dining room with a leaded-glass bay window, and a streamlined kitchen with a full complement of stainless-steel appliances—including a wine chiller—and a charming breakfast area. A door gives way to a delightful balcony perfect for open-air lounging and dining with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance and the formal garden below.

A stately stairway with carved wood balustrades links all four levels of the home. On the two upper floors are six serenely stylish bedrooms with palettes that encourage restful relaxation, ample closets, and baths—many en suite—with vintage-inspired fixtures and finishes. The chic primary bedroom boasts oversized windows admitting lovely light and gazing out over neighboring treetops and rooflines toward the Golden Gate Bridge, a sizeable walk-in closet with abundant built-ins, and an elegant spa-inspired bath with a jetted soaking tub and steam shower. Expanding the options for recreation and entertainment is a warm and welcoming family room with a painted brick-framed fireplace, striking beam work, hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves and cabinets, and a discreet bar closet. Steps lead to a window-wrapped office with a wall of built-ins and a clear iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the waters of the bay, and the Marin headlands. One of the versatile top-floor bedrooms could easily function as a home gym or a second office.

The brightly lit lower level offers a wine cellar and tasting room, an additional bedroom and bath ideal for staff or long-term visitors, a half bath, a spacious laundry room, the home’s garage, and a recreation and game room with a wet bar and French doors to the idyllic backyard garden. Secluded by fencing and privacy hedges, this delightful oasis features meticulous landscaping and a spiraling staircase that rises to the patio off the kitchen. The backyard is lined with an allée of ginkgo trees—cherished for their long history and eye-catching beauty, making them the perfectly fitting flora to accompany a residence prized for similar traits.

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At first blush, this singular home and its verdant surroundings could easily be mistaken for a remote retreat, a consummate contemporary escape with nary a neighbor or thoroughfare in sight. This serene space of seclusion, however, is tucked into swaths of mature trees and other flora on a Malibu bluff, not far from seemingly countless boutiques, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other attractions—not to mention sandy beaches and the cool blue depths of the Pacific.

Malibu, CA | Jacob Dadon, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

The 14,429-square-foot residence at the heart of 2.48 acres gazes out at the mesmerizing ocean and horizon. Pervasive are an undeniable sense of loftiness and light and blurred boundaries between indoors and out—a quintessential quality of the Southern California lifestyle. The property is thoroughly integrated with its environment, perfectly positioned as it is amid hundreds of native coastal oaks, Monterey cypress, and pine trees as well as hives for bees that pollinate the organic fruit orchards and a Tuscan-inspired vegetable and herb gardens. It also encourages outdoor enjoyment with its alfresco kitchen and dining pavilion, saltwater swimming pool and spa, bocce court, putting green, driving range, and sports court.

But the dedication to nature here is more profound than mere appreciation of views and diversion amid fresh sea breezes. Known as Zero One, the estate is one of only a few unique residences that comprise the cutting-edge 80-acre MariSol Malibu community, where homes are fully ecologically responsible, eliminating emissions and generating renewable energy. This premier property was designed by award-winning architect Doug Burdge and constructed with intention from sustainable timber and recycled concrete and steel. With the help of Tesla batteries, solar panels, water vapor fireplaces, and electric vehicle charging capabilities, the home creates zero carbon emissions. The first of its kind, it earned a Zero Carbon Certification from the illustrious International Living Future Institute.

None of this should suggest that creature comforts are not fully attended to. The core of the residence is an expansive 4,250-square-foot great hall with two striking climate-controlled glass-walled wine rooms, soaring 20-foot Accoya acetylated wood ceilings, Forest Stewardship Council–certified American white oak floors, dramatic oversized skylights, disappearing walls of glass, a bar, and an impressive kitchen with Miele appliances and Caesarstone countertops. Beyond are six tranquil bedrooms, nine baths, a theater, and a well-equipped gym. A gated drive, a security system, a Josh voice-controlled home-automation system, and water and air filtration systems provide peace of mind that accompanies an assurance of superior quality and attention to the Earth and its future.

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Recognized for their impact on the architectural landscape of Los Angeles, Mehdi and Mandi Rafaty of the lauded firm of Tag Front create homes with a unique modern aesthetic, incorporating refined textural and sculptural details that bring complexity, simplicity, and functionality into stylish harmony. A singular construction, this one-of-a-kind 20,000-square-foot residence unites soothing surfaces of blonde hardwood with aluminum, steel, and expanses of glass, resulting in bright, airy interiors and a façade that seems to disappear amid sunsets, clouds, and sky from its perch on one of the finest estate sites in Los Angeles. Interior design by the esteemed César Giraldo furthers a sense of home as both a sophisticated hideaway and a veritable personal museum.

Los Angeles, CA | Chantel Mehrabanian, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

A dedication to distinctive design is immediately apparent in the organically curving roofline. At the home’s entrance, a manicured pathway leads beside a lush living wall and across a water feature, introducing views of the ocean, Catalina Island, hills, and canyons. Indoors, the creative inspiration continues in clean lines, geometric shapes, and eye-catching angles. A striking bespoke light fixture formed from a constellation of glass globes descends at the center of a winding, spiraling staircase that becomes a veritable art installation hovering above the living and entertaining areas.

One lofty, relaxed space is warmed by a multi-sided contemporary gas fireplace, while the formal dining room is wrapped in glass. Separated by an artful assemblage of open shelves are a lounging area giving way through a disappearing glass wall to a chic verandah and a casual living space adjoined by a bar with a sculptural wall. Nearby is a streamlined Poliform kitchen with a breakfast area and discreet caterer’s galley—all sure to satisfy the aesthetically minded as well as cooks of all skill levels.

In the impressively spacious owner’s suite—one of nine bedrooms—the curved architectural roof creates an oversized skylight on the edge of the suite’s soaring ceiling. Also included are a sitting area, a fireplace, two walk-in closets with numerous built-ins, and a sleek spa-like bath with tubs, a glass-walled steamshower, and dual vanities. A private glass-railed balcony gazes out toward the hills and horizon.

Leisure and wellness are easily accommodated on the lowest level, which includes a theater with eye-catching ceiling sound baffling, a Technogym-equipped gym with a mirrored wall, a sauna, and “wet room” with a soaking tub and open rain shower, and a contemporary wine lounge with capacity for a collection of more than 1,100 bottles.

Just outside the main level, the home’s lustrous glass rear façade is mirrored in the smooth surface of the alluring infinity-edge pool and spa. Beyond, seemingly suspended over the canyon, are some 1.6 acres encompassing lush lawn, a lanai, and a patio area with a gas fire pit set amid verdant grass and privacy hedges—a serene sanctuary high above bustle of the city.

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Liz Lucking | Mansion Global

Combining Italian Romanticism with some medieval style, a touch of fantasy and a healthy dash of imagination, a more than 15,000-square-foot castle-like estate has hit the market in Beverly Hills, California, for nearly $22 million—and it’s no ordinary La La Land abode.

Spread across the seven-bedroom home are features including a great room with 35-foot-high, triple-vaulted ceilings and a giant replica of the iron throne from HBO’s “Game of Thrones;” arched windows; stately fireplaces; a “Harry Potter”-themed apothecary cabinet; a jungle room with verdant, faux plant-covered walls; and a backyard inspired by “Alice in Wonderland.”

“Regal, luxury and fun,” is how listing agent Joshua Altman of Douglas Elliman described the unique home.

The property also boasts a custom bar room, a family room, a chef’s kitchen, a pool and spa, a sports court and 6-car subterranean garage, according to the listing, which Mr. Altman shares with his Douglas Elliman colleague Sam Collins.

“Not everyone wants a modern box and not everyone wants a castle. The best part about houses is you can always make them your own once you own them,” Mr. Altman told Mansion Global. “It keeps it fresh, fun to show something like this, but at the end of the day, I look at it as a 15,200 square foot beautiful estate in a guard-gated community.

“I don’t look at it as a castle, it’s Mediterranean-style with a little more flair,” he added.

The house, which is tucked away in the heavily star-studded Beverly Ridge Estates, is being sold by Robert Rivani, a real estate and hospitality investor, and his wife, Krystal, who bought the home in 2019 for $13.765 million, records with PropertyShark show.

“Being ‘extra’ is everything to us,” Ms. Rivani told The Wall Street Journal in October, when the couple made the home available to rent for $150,000 a month. “It makes life fun and interesting and memorable.”

“My client has put millions into it since he bought it,” Mr. Altman said, adding that it has been transformed from a four-bedroom home into a seven-bedroom spread.

He’s already received multiple calls from interested parties.

“I guess there’s more people than you think that want to be the king of their own castle,” he said.

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By the time renowned architect Addison Mizner arrived in Palm Beach in 1918, he had spent time in Guatemala and southern Europe, where he acquired a knowledge of and love for the local architectural styles. He sensed that homes in Palm Beach—itself a tropical island tucked between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean—should more closely resemble the villas and palazzi of the Mediterranean and other warm climes rather than the traditional homes and townhouses of the American northeast. That intuition led to a career that helped define Palm Beach style. Mizner’s calling card became his legacy and that of the city itself, respected and replicated by architects for decades to come.

Palm Beach, Florida | Heidi Wicky, Sotheby’s International Realty – Palm Beach Brokerage

This magnificent modern Mediterranean-inspired estate bears the hallmarks of Mizner’s influence, featuring rooflines clad in terra-cotta barrel tiles, thriving colorful gardens, dramatic arched windows, ornate wrought-iron balconies, and loggias. It makes the most of its rarefied location with some 117 feet of direct frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway and a private 100- by 40-foot dock that encourages enjoyment of all manner of water sports and diversions.

The foyer offers a fittingly elegant introduction, with its stone tile floors, soaring ceiling, and gracefully curving staircase accented by an ornamental iron railing. Perfectly scaled for grand living and entertaining, the formal living room features a pecky cypress ceiling, an oversized fireplace, and three tall arched doorways affording a view of and access to the lush lawn and sparkling water.

Nearby is the formal dining room, which boasts a water view and a striking ceiling treatment. Eye-catching ceilings continue in the relaxed family room, which is warmed by a fireplace and has arched windows and doors offering a coveted coastal view—an outlook also enjoyed by the library, which is equipped with a wall of built-in bookshelves. The cook’s kitchen offers ample handsome cabinetry, a farm sink, granite countertops, a suite of superior appliances, and a sunny breakfast area. Facilitating festivities year-round are a capacious wine cellar and a lofty loggia with an outdoor kitchen and an enviable view.

Among the private quarters, the owner’s suite is a refined retreat with a sitting room, two luxurious baths, and two well-appointed walk-in closets. The four guest bedrooms are restful, sophisticated spaces in their own right. Outdoors, loggias give way to a sun-washed terrace and an alluring swimming pool and spa—all perched on the brink of the water, beneath beautiful blue skies and towering palms. This is the epitome of luxurious island living, surely just as Mizner must have envisioned it a century ago.

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Scott Carvill – Carvill Sotheby’s International Realty

Located about 2,500 miles from the U.S. mainland, Hawaii’s remote location makes it the ideal escape from the pace and pressures of ordinary life. Each year, tourists clamor at the chance to experience the verdant landscape, vibrant flowers, white-sand beaches, and balmy temperatures in efforts to replenish the mind, body, and soul.

But what if such tranquility was the norm, rather than a deviation? The opportunity to enjoy perpetual respite exists on a property like this premier beachfront estate on O’ahu, the most populous Hawaiian island. Nestled between a lush mountainous backdrop and the ocean, the eight-bedroom, 10-full-bathroom residence is not only a veritable resort, but an eco-friendly, LEED-certified home as well. A tour through the property sets its status as a special slice of paradise for those who are lucky enough to inhabit it.

Mindful Sustainability and Renowned Design

At first glance, the beachfront home is naturally stunning due to impeccable landscaping, a crown-jewel swimming pool, and the exquisitely designed interior. However, its distinction is derived from the intention behind its construction, where careful consideration is given to the impact of living amidst tropical bliss.

Designed by award-winning Gast Architects of San Francisco, the home has been awarded the gold certification from LEED. Evaluated on a points system, LEED-certified buildings are synonymous with sustainability, and their design addresses factors such as carbon footprint, energy consumption, and the management of water resources. On this property, notable environmental features include Voltaic solar energy use for hot water, sustainable heating and cooling systems, and electric-car charging stations.

Smart Features for Effortless Living

Smart home features provide similar innovative aspects alongside the home’s impressive eco-friendly elements. Almost every functional aspect of the home has been elevated, including energy-efficient lighting, a whole-home water filtration system, and climate-controlled pantry and wine storage. Other smart home features, like the swimming pool heating, security, an elevator, and even a backup generator, help automate and alleviate any concerns that could challenge the peace Hawaii’s natural splendor provides.

Acclaimed Beachfront Access

Location is paramount to any property, and the location of this home epitomizes utopia. Privately gated, it’s situated on 125 feet of beachfront with soft, white sand stretching for miles, and turquoise sea views as far as the eye can see. It’s a stunning spot for activities such as strolling, swimming, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding—or simply basking in the island’s sunny embrace. The home’s layout is also perfectly designed for taking in sunset views, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house when the day comes to an end.

Natural Finishes that Reflect the Land

Inside the home—which consists of 11,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space—a neutral and calming color scheme reflects the breezy, beach aesthetic found outside. Natural wood finishes are placed throughout as rich complementary accents, such as the ceiling beams, elegant furniture, and expansive kitchen cabinetry. And to add to the property’s authenticity and commitment to sustainability, much of the wood has been salvaged from tropical hardwoods.

Resort-style Living at Every Turn

Stepping onto this beachfront property feels like coming home to a private resort each and every time. Outdoor amenities include a sprawling pool surrounded by palm trees with ample space for lounging, a grotto with a waterfall curtain, and a rejuvenating hot tub after those long days spent in the sun—or after a session at the personal gym, complete with barre.

Offering the unique opportunity to own a gold-certified LEED home, this O’ahu property proposes an outstanding, secluded lifestyle on one of Hawaii’s most desired beaches. And, as Honolulu International Airport is a mere 20-minutes away, it can be an equally relaxing and convenient getaway. For most, island living is used as a trope used to mitigate life’s constant demands—at this property, it’s woven into the foundation.

Mansion Global | Liz Lucking

Russell Westbrook, point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, has just dropped $37 million on a lavish new home in the city’s Brentwood neighborhood, directly across the street from his teammate LeBron James, Mansion Global has learned.

Mr. Westbrook, 33, quietly bought the property in an off-market deal from Formula 1 racing heiress Petra Ecclestone.

Given the off-market nature of the sale, details on the property are scarce.

When Ms. Ecclestone bought the home in 2019 for $22.7 million, Mansion Global wrote that the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom pad sits on a half-acre lot with canyon views and has a home theater, a wine cellar and a spa. Outside there is a four-car garage and a private pool.

Sam Palmer, David Kramer and Barry Watts with Hilton & Hyland represented Ms. Ecclestone and Morgan Trent of Compass represented Mr. Westbrook in the sale.

Mr. Westbrook, who couldn’t be reached for comment, has played for the Lakers since last year. He’s a nine-time NBA All-Star and earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2016–17 season, when he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

His teammate—and new neighbor—Mr. James, who has played for the Lakers since 2018, bought his Brentwood pad in 2017 for $23 million.

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Known as the heart of Napa Valley, St. Helena is a picturesque community that is home to some of the region’s pioneering wineries, superlative restaurants, and delightful shops as well as the Auberge du Soleil resort and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. For those who choose to transcend the occasional vacation and live here, it offers a balance of quaint vintage homes along with larger luxurious estates—this captivating newly constructed compound among them.

St. Helena, California | Hillary Ryan, Sotheby’s International Realty – St. Helena Brokerage

The property makes the most of its site and location, featuring a chic four-bedroom 3,979-square-foot home, a serene guesthouse, a refreshing swimming pool and spa, several alfresco living areas, raised garden beds, citrus and olive trees, a freestanding two-car garage, and environmentally sensitive modern landscaping. The main residence presents a rare combination of exceptional contemporary elements—superior-caliber appliances, custom wall treatments, smart LED lighting, and built-in speakers—and a convivial farmhouse ambience conjured by board-and-batten cedar siding and other carefully chosen organic materials. Abundant windows and glass doors fill nearly every room with natural light and allow for the effortless enjoyment of California’s enviable indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

A centerpiece for entertaining, the great room features built-in speakers, a striking fireplace with hand-cut vertical wood paneling, space for a generous dining table, and a retractable wall of glass opening to an open-air lounge with a warming fire pit and, beyond, the pool and lush lawn. Cooks will appreciate the kitchen, which boasts appliances from brands preferred by the chefs at the illustrious French Laundry, temperature-controlled wine storage—de rigueur for the locale—dazzling marble countertops, and an island with additional seating.

On the main level, the peaceful primary suite features in-ceiling Bose speakers, two walk-in closets, a spa-inspired bath with both a soaking tub and a walk-in shower, a private patio, and views of the pool and gardens. Nearby is a guest suite that easily serves as an office. The two additional guest suites are secluded on the upper level, where they are joined by a versatile loft space perfect for a fitness area. Longer-term visitors will appreciate the similarly stylish guesthouse, which sits beside and overlooks the pool. It offers a welcoming living area with a soaring ceiling, an impressively appointed chef’s kitchen, two restful bedroom suites with handsome baths, and its own terrace.

This idyllic gated getaway is a sophisticated oasis on the east side of St. Helena, where it enjoys a feeling of being remote and removed while remaining a short distance from popular attractions. The setting is as quintessentially Northern California as its architecture and ambience, and with thoughtfully selected amenities and grounds that echo a boutique resort, it constitutes a consummately private, ultimately inviting destination in its own right.

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The clear blue skies, majestic mountains, and theatrical sunsets of Santa Fe, New Mexico, are legendary, as are its distinctive architectural style with earth-toned, softly organic silhouettes, curvaceous kiva fireplaces, eye-catching ceiling beams known as vigas and latillas, and generous use of stone and wood. Located in a coveted enclave high in the hills above the historic city, this sophisticated 6,540-square-foot estate uses the uniqueness of its Southwestern setting and design to their most elegant effect. Windows and glass doors are plentiful, creating an easy, dynamic flow between the interiors and outdoor living spaces designed for enjoyment of the region’s four glorious seasons and picture-perfect natural scenery.

Santa Fe, New Mexico | Neil Lyon, Sotheby’s International Realty – Santa Fe Brokerage

As the result of a very extensive recently completed renovation, the home pays homage to Santa Fe stylistic traditions in the context of a modern aesthetic while adding the contemporary amenities expected in a home of this caliber. Dramatically perched on a hillside, the multilevel home benefits from sweeping, breathtaking vistas.

The floor plan features numerous spaces for living and entertaining, including a great room with a romantic two-sided fireplace shared with a sunset-facing portal; a media room with built-in bookshelves, a cozy fireplace, and a private portal; and a kitchen with custom cabinets, superior-caliber appliances, an adjoining wine room and butler’s pantry, and a center island offering counter seating. An interior courtyard, perfect for lounging or outdoor dining is surrounded by the kitchen and the main-level guest suite.

Of the five bedrooms, the owner’s suite is an elaborate retreat with a lavish bath that offers dual vanities, striking artisanal tilework, a private water closet, abundant built-in storage, a spacious shower, and a soaking tub.

Finally, the central portal with its alfresco fireplace, infinity-edge swimming pool, and terrace with expansive views is truly the showpiece of the property. Encased in artisanal tiles, the pool literally dazzles under the bright New Mexico sun, with the spectacular landscape mirrored in each of its iridescent tiles. This is easily one of the most distinctive homes in the area—favored not only for its remarkable form but also for the priceless advantage of its spectacular backdrop.

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