Contemporary German villa surrounded by forest

SU House is a contemporary villa situated at the edge of a forest in the south of Stuttgart, Germany, designed by Alexander Brenner Architects. The villa has been thoroughly designed down to the smallest detail, built for an art lover and her family. From the architects, “From the piazza at the entrance to the site a silvery garage structure leads past the upper garden with the lake and the “morning patio” with its pebble stone flooring to the entrance on the north side.
Following the entrance hall the large dining table is placed below a two-storey void and lit by a skylight.

The removable floor-to-ceiling glazing opens up at right-angle to the terrace, so that the inside merges with the roofed over outside in the summer months. The kitchen was designed as an eat-in kitchen. It works either as a closed space or thanks to the wide sliding door as a part of the whole. A large, broad fireplace directs to the living area, which was planned as a more secure and intimate place. A full-width skylight at the back sends light beams onto the wall with paintings and sculptures.”

From the southern office- and workspace a narrow sculptural staircase leads down to the studio. This two-storey high, almost sacral area serves to present works of art – a passion of the client. Right next to the studio a storeroom for artwork is attached.

In the upper storey all bedrooms and the corresponding bathrooms are arranged around the gallery. The master-bedroom with fireplace, dressing room and bathroom is designed as an interconnected “private area”. The covered roof terrace, positioned in front of the bedroom offers a mile-wide view to south-west. Even more breathtaking is the view from the overlying roof terrace.

The majority of the garden level consists of the pool and spa area. The part of the sauna and steam bath is an introverted area which is kept in warm red and gold tones all around. The indoor swimming pool on the other hand opens with a floor-to-ceiling glazing towards the lower south-west part of the garden.

Photos: Courtesy of Alexander Brenner Architects

Luxury Chalet Norte nestled in the Swiss Alps

Chalet Norte is an exceptional luxury ski chalet in Verbier, Swiss Alps, Switzerland. Though commanding uninterrupted, breathtaking views over the whole resort, the chalet is incredibly private and a real retreat. Norte is the epitome of elegance and opulence, carrying a regal feel and style up its spiraling staircase from the entrance, all the way up to the beautiful living room. Perfectly placed halfway up the property is the vast wellness area, housing an inviting pool. Not many chalets provide a pool with a view, but floor to ceiling windows at Chalet Norte allow one to feel perched on the mountains edge.

Found throughout the property are numerous works of art, which decorate this incredible chalet to the highest degree. Its luxurious decor and furnishings come courtesy of one of London’s leading interior designers, and floor to ceiling windows provide a constant reminder of the beauty of your surroundings. The chalet staff complete the experience with exceptional service matched only by a 5 star hotel and a traditional twist, not commonly found elsewhere.

Chalet Norte has yet more to offer with a beautiful private cinema, perfect for those winter nights and a wine cave which houses top quality wines to suit all tastes, complete with a peephole window to the depths of the pool. Quite simply, the chalet has everything. Completion was only in 2011, so this truly is a new chalet but with a commanding presence one would expect from a chalet which has seen many a guest come and go.

Delectable fairytale cottage in Courchevel 1850

Sheltering amidst the snow-laded pines, Chalet Gentianes is one of the most sought-after luxury ski chalets in Courchevel 1850, France. This is a ski in and out chic mountain retreat with only a five minute walk away from the buzz of Courchevel. Don’t ski past the turning for your private pathway through the trees as you head down the Bellecote piste, or you’ll have to do the run again.

The chalet has been built in a sympathetic alpine style with wood interiors, beautiful aged oak beams and a huge open fireplace and elegant decor. From the deep sofas, squashy sheepskin stools, large dining table with the finest glassware and china, everything in this property has a feeling of understated class. At the basement level, you will find a private swimming pool, Jacuzzi and steam room, a self-contained gym and a massage room.

As you head upstairs and prepare to discover the private cinema and games room, the sumptuous en-suite bedrooms and spectacular top floor living area. Look out for those special little touches such as fresh flowers and luxury toiletries in the bathrooms as you go, the chalet even has a lift.

Now all of this would be impressive enough, but there’s more. Staying at Chalet Gentianes is like being wrapped in a blanket of love. A team of people attends to your every need, from the highly qualified chef to the chauffeur and minibus at your disposal. Not forgetting the dedicated private ski instructor and the near-constant attention of housekeepers. There’s even a concierge service to fulfill your every whim.

Prices start from 2,095 per person for 7 nights with fully catered services, from here.

Luxurious Villa Dorata perched on the Amalfi Coast

Spotted on Italian Villas, Villa Dorata overlooks the scenic village of Positano, Italy and offers spectacular, panoramic views of the sea. This private four bedroom palazzo is luxuriously decorated in high-Baroque style from the elegant jewel tone hues to the ornate chandeliers, lavish tasseled draperies, exquisite frescoed ceilings, vaulted alcoves, and plush-cushioned furniture. Step onto the picturesque terraces and you will be surrounded by lush greenery and fragrant citrus groves, a garden of delights. The terrace offers guests an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view of the colorful houses that line Positano beach and as far out as the exotic Galli islands, completely surrounded by the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea.

The formal living room, adorned with gilt-framed artwork, opens through double doors to a verdant front terrace. Read by the firelight in the nearby study/sitting room, and then adjourn to the dining room, which leads to a grand, professional kitchen highlighted by a full stone fireplace and two pizza ovens as well as a private wine cellar. Downstairs, revel in a full-service private spa offering a Turkish steam bath, hot-and-cold water showers, sauna, Jacuzzi with oxygen-therapy, massage room, and exceptional tiled indoor swimming pool with waterfall and resistance-swimming option.

Step onto the private terrace to enjoy the views and an antique-tiled fountain with massage stones. On the first floor, two master bedrooms with sitting rooms and en-suite bathrooms both open onto a spectacular sea-view terrace. On the second floor, two suites overlooking the Mediterranean (and either Positano or the gardens), both offering private access to gardens with lemon and orange trees.

To stay at this fabulous villa, prices range from $2,824 – $3,766, from here.

Striking six-story townhouse in TriBeCa’s West Historic District

While Wayne Turett of Turett Collaborative Architects had been developing feasibility studies for this site, a charming and well-loved corner of West Broadway in Tribeca, New York, the present owners asked him if he knew of any townhouses they might purchase – and a deal was made. “This building enabled us to build exactly what we were looking for – and then some,” the client noted.

Developers of multi-unit condo towers had long admired the location with its 120′ of frontage, but balked at the limitations in height and use placed on it by the city’s preservationists. The audacity of suggesting that this parcel could become a single-family house is its genius; at almost 11,000 square-feet, it is large but consistent with luxury homes elsewhere in the city. The final plan was approved by the Landmarks Commission with the requirement that TCA meticulously restore the low corner portion of the historic structure, while the less historically interesting southern portion could become a new six-story tower, detailed, fenestrated, and finished to sit comfortably and elegantly in its context.

The home features a two-car loading dock, a 50-foot indoor lap pool, indoor gym, library, screening room and offices for both owners in addition to 6 bedrooms and 11 baths. On the second floor a kitchen, dining room, living room and poolroom overlook a sunken landscaped courtyard with steps up to the larger main garden on the third floor.

Photos: Paul Warchol Photography

Magnificent Chalet Trois Couronnes in Switzerland

Nestled into the mountainside, with spectacular views of the resort and surrounding scenery, Chalet Trois Couronnes is a private Alpine Estate in Verbier, Swiss Alps, Switzerland. This masterpiece finished in 2012 has been lovingly created by a team of highly skilled craftsmen, architects, art connoisseurs and interior designers from across Europe. As you turn the key in the ornate wrought iron lock of this luxury ski chalet, you immediately sense that you are entering a truly special and unique property. Stepping into the vast reception and banqueting hall with vaulted ceiling, complete with exquisite antique furniture, superb art gallery and glass wine cellar, confirms this, and yet, you have barely touched the surface.

Venturing deeper into the three buildings of this exceptional chalet, you can’t help but be blown away by the array of stunning authentic features. The chalet is adorned with antique pieces, fine art, gothic fireplaces, forged iron chandeliers and natural stone fountains and washbasins, old wood paneling and floors and ceilings from the 18th and 19th century. The impeccable attention to detail and quality and the adoption of local historical construction techniques translate into an authentic mountain experience.

The entire ground floor of the chalet’s middle building houses a fantastic spa area with pool, hammam, sauna, relaxation area, and terrace with incredible views and an outdoor hot tub. A 19th century, glass encased lift takes you to a lavish master bedroom, with open fireplace, luxury en suite bathroom and private balcony. Seven other luxury en suite bedrooms, each with unique features and plush furnishings are spread across the three wings, in addition to a massive living area, cinema room, wine cellar and Carnotzet and has underground parking for 8 vehicles. The chalet utilizes solar and geothermal heating and is the largest `Minergie` eco-friendly chalet in Verbier.

To stay at this decadent retreat, nightly rates start at $9,704, from here.

House in Russia with a sumptuous indoor pool

The brief of this incredible project was to transform the interior of a house that was a concrete minimalist box into a warm but still contemporary home in Russia. Taking on this design task was Moscow-based Olga Freimann’s architectural bureau. Freimann used exposed timber and timber veneer as well as dark accents of color in the furniture and decoration to fill the space with a sense of warmth and comfort. The house is surrounded by forest and Freimann has made use of this natural source of color and texture by using large floor to ceiling spans of glass that provide amazing views out into the surrounding landscape, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out. The most impressive feature in this home is the incredible indoor pool that features a double height ceiling. With stunning light fixtures and floor to ceiling glass that looks out to the forested landscape beyond, one feels like they are one with nature when taking a dip in this heavenly pool.

Extravagant mountain chalet in Courchevel 1850

This luxury ski chalet in Courchevel 1850 high up in the French Alps, France is the perfect retreat for those who appreciate art and design. The theme of Art Chalet is creative extravagance, and the place is heaving with beautiful works of art and limited edition designer furnishings.

Everything about Art Chalet is spectacular, from the waterfall swimming pool surrounded by four flat screen TVs, to the grand piano in the music area. With seven floors, this luxurious chalet offers total indulgence at your disposal, including a private nightclub with state-of-the-art DJ equipment, sleek glass elevators, a team of staff including a private chef, spa, cinema room and even a casino-style room complete with roulette wheel and card tables.

Climb aboard your private, chauffeured Mercedes 4×4 to be transported to your mansion at the side of the Bellecote piste, among the trees above Courchevel. Let the attentive team of live-in chalet staff pamper you with Champagne and canapés as you take in your magnificent surroundings. Relax in sublime comfort as your private chef prepares an aromatic meal and the manager makes all your arrangements.

Art Chalet may look fairly traditional (in a supersized way) but the metal sculpture by the door offers a clue to the flamboyance within. Sculptures, paintings, lithographies and drawings by artists such as Picasso and Warhol are liberally scattered throughout Art Chalet. Even the light fittings are art installations, and the Japanese toilets are a stylish touch. Secretly, you will be glad of a bad weather day when you can stay home and play in your fabulous mountain mansion.

To stay at this spectacular getaway that sleeps 16, rates start at $211,398, from here.

Opulent Georgian terrace home in London

This luxurious home in Kensington, London was given a completely fresh interiors scheme for a new-build, six storey house by SHH Design. The property is a contemporary take on a Georgian terrace, set within a classic square. The client’s brief was simple it had to meet the needs of an international family with six children, combining all the conveniences of modern living with state-of-the-art AV and comfort cooling. The look had to be: ‘Cream, off-white and funky’. Layers of differing tones and textures allowed this simple directive to bear fruit in a cool, dramatic and elegant scheme.

The 12,000 square foot residence is comprised of a very generously proportioned reception room, large formal dining room, family room, cinema and pool room, all located on the lower three floors. The entire first floor is occupied by the master suite, with the remaining two floors taken up by five further bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. The house is entered at upper ground level, which consists of a double volume entrance foyer, a free-floating staircase and the principle reception room. The garden is reached via the main staircase and is comprised of a passage leading into the family room at the back and the dining room at the front, both of which can be accessed through the centrally located internal kitchen.

The dining room, with is formal proportions, uses a minimalist Italian table and chairs from Minotti to great effect against the spectacular backdrop of a cross-combed polished plaster fire breast. The pool and leisure level is located in the basement of the house and encompasses the cinema, utility room, large pool, leisure room, plant room and staff quarters. The standout bedroom is the first floor master suite, entirely done in off-white. Together with the dressing room, the walls here have been hung in a delicate genuine mother of pearl wall tile, ingeniously hiding the tile joints, making the whole area ‘seemingly seamless’.

Contemporary home showcasing inspiring details

The Forester House is a private residential house in upstate New York designed by Roman Leonidov Architects. The home rests on a 1500 square meters plot of land surrounded by pines trees. The house consists of two blocks of residential space and a basin with a sauna and gym combined with each other at a wide angle. There is a common terrace projected in the form of a semicircular podium open to the surrounding landscape.

Decoration of the cottage incorporated only natural materials, in particular, wood and stone, creating a natural charm, of which is highlighted through large-scale glazing. A traditional duo-pitch roof with a large overhang rests on elegant thin columns, which contributes to the visual lightness of the house and emphasizes modernity of architectural solutions. Wood and stone was intensely utilized in the facade, which plays a key role in the interior decoration as well. In particular, the walls of two-storey living room and stairs are decorated with the same natural stone, and wood lath is used for ceilings and floors throughout most of the residential premises.

Planning of the floor is a crossing of two main axes: one corridor connects an entrance door and hallway area with a living room and another one perpendicular to it is two stairs leading to the second floor. Shared block with a hallway, cloak-room, home theater and living room divides the residential space into two wings. In the billiard room the architect utilizes small bricks and cubes with a brass cover, in the two-storey living room there is natural leather wrapped around the central pier.