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.

Sumptuous modern dwelling in Italy: House M

The project M, a residential building in the center of Meran, Italy is embedded in the quite area of Obermais, designed by monovolume architecture + design. The concept of the design was to play with transparent and solid surfaces, what follows are fascinating insights and outlooks. The interior melts together with the outside space. The terrain flows through the building and finds its renewal in the pool and meadow area. Because of a refined external design and the arrangement of the pool, lawn, garden and house the whole concept seems like a unity with seamless transition.

The ground floor follows the slightly sloping ground like a staircase to get a large garden area. Because of engineering technology considerations the building is conceived as a compact volume with one underground and two upper floors. From the construction point of view the 3,875 square foot (360 square meters) house is built as a concrete construction, furnished with upgraded insulation. The glass-facade, door and window elements are executed as 3 layered glazier.

Photos: Courtesy of monovolume architecture + design

18th century horse stable converted into artist’s loft

T House is the combination of sophisticated elegance of an eighteenth century loft in Milan, Italy and depth of a Japanese house. The design of T House by Takane Ezoe and Modourbano was born from the needs of the client, an artist who prefers free spaces, rooms without a real dividing line between the public and the private and space to work until late into the night.

The functional layout refers to the traditional Japanese buildings where everything is “semi-open” and the spaces are divided with the traditional sliding doors fusuma or shoji, hence the idea of having open spaces and large planimetrically double heights to emphasize the peculiarity of this space in Milan of the eighteenth century, formerly a horse stable. In all the design choices, there was the desire to preserve and enhance the distinctive character of this place, the stone fragments, the arches of the large windows and large wooden beam of gallery.

The house is dominated by the kitchen where the client can prepare meals for a conveniently large number of guests and where to organize social occasions. The living spaces are deliberately lean, characterized by maximum flexibility to freely configure the furniture into it without the oppression of too many “objects”.

The Studio has very specific characteristics: large, bright, comfortable, with the ability to hold meetings with employees and where the artist can move easily between works of great size, but at the same time simple and neutral where you can work without external contamination. In the vicinity of the study was obtained gallery / exhibition space, connected to an archive where to store the artist’s works in a practical way.

The sleeping area, located on the mezzanine floor is an intimate, permeable but inviolable area; the master bathroom, as in Japanese tradition, recalls the thermal baths in stone and wood, characterized by the large pool and relaxing lighting from below.

Italian dream villa reminiscent of a knight’s castle

This inspiring dream home, spotted on Skona Hem, is reminiscent of a knight’s castle with consistently beautiful and vibrant limestone floors and walls. The home is owned by advertising agency owner Morten Angelo and his wife, Tina Horsted who were looking for a summer home, far from the job meetings and daily stress in Copenhagen, but still close enough to go there quite often. Their choice fell on Italy, which directed their gaze towards the northwest Piedmont region. The couple ended up further up the “heel”, which is known for its sweet trulli houses from the 15th century.

The beautiful 3,229 square foot Italian estate was restored by interior designer Charlotte Johnson who saw a no-frills dream house with a colorless theme. She built up a history around the place, with a feeling that would be an adventure to come here. The designer added contrast without color, black and white with the only contrasting color for walls and floors by gentle gradation. Furnishings are modern classics from the 1960’s of a kind which fits most contexts, without disturbing.

Only two of the towers on the conical trullihus-ceilings, typical of Alberobello region, is of older date. The rest of the House is newly built.

Loft in Italy integrating reclaimed pallets into interiors

This stunning home is the work of Florence-based studio q-bic, “pallets loft” is a renovation of the attic space of a nineteenth century industrial building situated on the edge of the historic center of Florence, Italy. Comprised of 1,937 square feet (180 square meters) of living space, the loft has a multi-purpose destination for hosting small events and parties but also acts as temporary accommodation for guests.

The loft has a seamless look with small partitions that have been painted in different hues that marks the space and emphasizes the division of functions. The appearance is poly-functional which led to the choice of pallets for furnishing solutions both for a cosmetic issue and for their intrinsic function, that of ease of handling. In fact, both the beds that the kitchen island and where appropriate, the console housing the sinks in the bathroom, you can move and find a place in other rooms, freeing surfaces and changing the connotation of the place

The two opposite ends are placed environments “night”, separated from the living area by sliding walls central in natural iron. The choice of finishes and materials helps to emphasize the industrial origin of the place, where by contrast a few selected items of furniture, design classics (Eames, Saarinen, Le Corbusier) living with contemporary design elements.

Photos: Lorenzo Nencioni

Stylish summer retreat in Morciano di Leuca

Bosco degli Ulivi is a stylish and contemporary summer house in the town of Morciano di Leuca, Italy. From the main entrance one accesses the open-plan living and dining area, which features large sliding glass doors that open out onto the pool area. To the right is the ultra-modern, fully-equipped kitchen which also has large glass sliding doors accessing the outdoor dining area near the pool. A few steps down from the kitchen is the sleeping quarters, comprising of a master double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a second double bedroom, and a twin, the latter two sharing a bathroom. All three bedrooms have independent access to the terraces and gardens surrounding the house.

Furnishings and fitting throughout are of a very high standard. Polished cement floors, subtle lighting installations, enormous hollowed-stone basins, chic designer furnishings, modernistic wrought-iron wall art and strategically placed horizontal windows all make for a very pleasing aesthetical experience.

Thanks to the two sets of wall-size sliding glass doors in the living area and kitchen and the French windows in each of the three bedrooms, the indoor/outdoor lines become blurred. This impression is reinforced by the use of clean, neat design outside: the soft brown hues of the house’s dry-stone cladding and the cream paving give way to the rigorously tidy decking around the inviting pool. An age-old olive tree, from which a large designer light fitting dangles, gives shade to the large al fresco, dining table which is served either by both the indoor kitchen and a small outdoor one, complete with barbecue. An external fireplace adds to the sense of style and comfort of the outdoor living areas. Beyond, the dry-stone walls, brown earth and green leaves of the olive groves act as a buffer to the outside world, affording guests a privileged sense of peace and tranquility.

To stay at this stunning retreat, prices range from $3,539 – $7,497 per week for up to six people, from here.

Inspiring restoration in Italy: Loft Sangervasio

This urban flat called ‘Loft Sangervasio’ is located in a restored building of an old industrial district in the town of Brescia, Italy. This incredible 2,690 square foot (250 square meters) space has been designed by architecture studio Massimo Adiansi Architetto, the project respected as much as possible the history of the building, which was once a garage. This has been done by the selection of materials such as wood, bricks, iron, stone as well as the fixtures and furnishings. The wooden floor is of particular interest, as it is made from old wine oak barrels, perfectly mixed with material such as the slate in the bathrooms, the iron spiral staircase and the brick walls.

Ultimate Italian vacation home nestled cliffside

Domus Civita is a unique 14th century medieval home nestled in the pristine medieval village of Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy set into carved volcanic rock by two rivers. Entering the old town by walking over its footbridge and going through its Etruscan gateway is like stepping back in time 600 years to rediscover the beauty and peace of a different way of life. The home is set on top of 2,600 year old Etruscan caves and tombs and a beautiful 2,000 year old Roman water cistern, all of which are accessible from inside the house and spill open onto a beautiful hanging garden that is four stories down and through the cliff.

The owner wanted took the ‘soul’ of the house and re-expressed it by contrasting it with modern interventions and furnishings, adding a touch of romanticism and humor. Preserving the original and beautiful details of the home, a new stairwell was added to connect all three levels. Left all white with soft and delicate details, there are accents of brass, gold and grey with bursts of bright color throughout. A simple and serene ambiance chalk full of wonderment and romantic touches.

The residence has three bedrooms all with private baths and a study with extra beds. The home can host up to eight guests. There are two kitchens, one inside the house and one in a cave that opens onto the garden. There is a heating swimming pool with Jacuzzi inside one of the largest caves and a unique wine cellar for guests inside the Roman water cistern. All the other caves, which there are nine in total, are devoted to art installations and storage. The house also has a formal Italian garden with an old fountain, an outdoor living room and a gazebo with barbeque for outdoor dining.

Domus Civita is available on a weekly basis from Saturday to Saturday year round, with prices ranging from $2,950 – $4,950, from here.

Elegant and luxurious retreat in Tuscany

Bask beneath the Tuscan sun on the grounds of the recently built Bravo Holiday Residences, Villa Marchesa, an elegant and luxurious Italian mansion nestled in a wooded area along Tuscany’s Maremma Coast not far from Florence. Villa Marchesa offers the idyllic setting for multi-generational gatherings, vacationing couples or singletons who want to experience Italy with an entourage of friends. With the ability to house 18 people, the two-story manse features nine bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms plus a separate annex with an ample-size bed, en-suite bath and fireplace.

While the construction is new, the feel of an aged Tuscan retreat prevails with reclaimed wood and textures that add interest. The villa is lofty with open living spaces, a dining room with a table that seats 18, and a fully-equipped kitchen. The outside loggia can also seat 18 for meals plus there is an infinity-edge pool and a pool house for additional entertaining, a dozen oversize sun beds and stunning scenery as far as the eye can see. In addition, the Villa Marchesa has its own gym, pair of Jacuzzis, and beautiful views and absolute peace and tranquility. A stay within the villa’s confines still has you on holiday mode as maid service, a welcome dinner, access to a private golf club and tennis courts are all included.

To stay at this beautiful Italian retreat, prices range from $1,978 – $3,097 per night, from here.

Stylish 18th-century dream home in Italy

Just a short drive from the coast and charming towns, Villa Elia has recently been restored and refurbished to exacting standards in Puglia, Italy. The interiors feature a very stylish blend of local, ethnic and contemporary pieces, many of which are originals from Brown’s Hotel in London. The house is surrounded by ancient stone walls, acres of garden, fruit and olive trees and plenty of outside living areas for dining and relaxation. The pool, situated just beyond the original well, has a fully equipped pool house with showers.

The impressive monumental arch over the main entrance leads directly to a huge, vaulted living area which continues right through the house to the garden. Also on the ground floor are two large bedrooms (one with a mezzanine level, and an en-suite bathroom, the other with a fireplace and a bathroom off the living area), a second living room, a huge country kitchen with open fire, a cinema room, a billiards table in the restored chapel, and a Turkish bath with relaxation room.

The original stone staircase, worn considerably by hundreds and thousands of footsteps over the centuries, leads first to a single room with bathroom across the staircase, then up to the “dormitory” style quad room, with en-suite bathroom and large, panoramic terrace. On the same level as the quad, there is a large apartment with three bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms, a kitchenette and a central living area. Finally, the stairs narrow and take you to a small bedroom with en-suite bathroom and, further still, to the large roof terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

This historic villa ranges in price from $4,940 – $17,460 per week, depending on dates and sleeping accommodations, from here.