Similar to the last project I featured by McLean Interiors, this spec house in Dallas, Texas is also a wonderful mix of light and dark (with dark in the rooms that I loooove seeing dark – the dining room and lounge/media/bar/games room) and an overall warm modern approach that is timeless and full of cozy furnishings. I need a big furry/fleecy chair so damn bad. Builder: Bean Co Homes; Photos: Matti Gresham.

A manor house set within the storied landscape of the Douro Valley, where time seems to stand still and serenity prevails. This project by Lisbon-based interior design & architecture firm L’Élephant thoughtfully brings together a curated selection of pieces, merging traditional and classic elements. Each room unfolds like a narrative, rich with character. The interiors reveal themselves gradually, filled with intricate details and deliberate choices that pay homage to the past while embracing the present. Exquisite!!!

The title of this project is Man, I Love Leather, which I don’t totally understand in the context of these spaces but I’m rolling with it because I found it amusing 🙂 I really love that this home is a blend of dark and light. The best of both worlds. That dark parlour & bar space is SUCH A MOOD! I would spend all winter in that room. Most of the rest of this University Park, Texas new build is bright and airy with soft furnishings which would be perfect in the hot Texas climate. It’s modern, sophisticated but incredibly welcoming. Interiors: McLean Interiors; Architect: Jerry Coleman; Builder: Bean Co Homes; Photos; Lisa Petrole; Styling: Jenny O’Connor.

Set high on Florence’s most picturesque hill, just minutes from Fiesole, this castle for sale in Tuscany boasts nearly a thousand years of history and embodies an unparalleled fairy-tale charm. Its neo-Gothic architecture, framed by olive trees, vineyards and Italian gardens, with its 3,665 sqm of interior space, the property extends over a private park of 14 hectares, including 6.3 hectares of IGT vineyards – capable of producing up to 26,000 bottles per year – and a 4.2-hectare olive grove that confirms its vocation for excellence in production. Inside, the castle houses heraldic coats of arms, 14th-century frescoes from a Florentine chapel and reception rooms that have welcomed nobility and celebrities, including Queen Victoria in 1893. The castle is built around a large paved central courtyard, the architectural heart of the estate. On the ground floor, there are five halls with cross vaults, marble floors and original wooden details. The property includes a group of historic buildings of great value. Among these is a 65-sqm residential tower, spread over four floors, next to the castle stands a 315-sqm farmhouse, next is a second farmhouse of 505 sqm spread over three floors, there is a 50-sqm lemon house, and the old 250-sqm foundry.
I had to share another castello in Italy though with an undisclosed price which is not surprising given how absolutely spectacular this is. HOW IS THIS REAL?! I don’t know that I could stand living among such beauty. For sale via Lionard.

This home required a full refurbishment from top to bottom where the existing space was gutted, and the layout was completely reimagined. The brief was to create something impactful, unique and fun that suited both the adults, and their three children. The space needed to be practical, with plenty of storage and room for the children to grow and have their independence whilst also giving the adults their own oasis of calm in the formal living room and master suite. The client trusted us to create bold and playful schemes in every room which completely transformed the house from a traditional property, to something truly unique. So many of the design decisions in this property are bespoke, and everything about it is personal to the client, resulting in a one-of-a-kind home.
The drama and whimsy, attention to detail in every space, the impactful colours used make this home really unique and full of personality. Designed by Mia Karlsson. Photos: Ben Sage.