Ranging from classically elegant to crisp, clean, and minimal, these staircases are fascinating focal points that create dazzling first impressions.

Imagine, if you will, the perfect winter home. What does it look like? Is it a classic colonial with a foot of snow on the roof and smoke spiralling from the chimney? Perhaps the interior is crisp and bright, with sunshine streaming through the windows, blankets to warm cold toes, and a hot drink steaming on the stove. With a few thoughtful touches, any home can feel welcoming and warm, despite the chill outside.

It’s that time of year again—time to say hello to luxurious throws, steaming hot chocolate, cozy rustic decor, and rich, warm colour palettes. It’s also time to embrace hygge, the Scandinavian concept of taking pleasure in life’s simple joys, like the presence of gentle and comfortable things.

The living room is the heart of your home, and it’s also your most versatile space. While kitchens are for cooking, dining rooms are for eating, and bathrooms and bedrooms are self-explanatory, the living room is the only space dedicated entirely to relaxation and enjoyment—whether that’s decompressing with a good book or entertaining company.

From a light-filled Parisian apartment to a timeless fieldstone home in Washington DC, these are this month’s four featured notable properties for sale over $5 million.

In desirable settings from West Coast to East, these distinctive, expertly appointed home bars prove that sometimes, the best spot for a festive nightcap is home sweet home.

The dining room is an important hub in any home. It’s where families gather, where friends linger late into the evening after a dinner party, where holiday meals take place and school projects are constructed. The dining room is the space where eating, drinking, and communal living happen, and its décor should reflect both the comfort and significance of connection.

These seven dining rooms range from eclectic and contemporary to classic and sophisticated, each serving as an inspirational space no matter the occasion. Find the room that speaks to you, and bask in the glow of this integral home gathering point.

Most dreams of living “la dolce vita” involve an escape to the Italian countryside, but this magnificent 12,247-square-foot villa in Southern California affords a more approachable stateside version of the sweet life. The centerpiece of the 4.18-acre property, ensconced in the rolling hills of Montecito, is a home of majestic proportions and style, enveloped by stately cypress and native trees and dramatic, colorful grounds.

In Paris in 1908, Albert Dupuy revolutionized cooking with his invention of the La Cornue oven. The tradition of excellence and elegance continues today, in ranges made by hand, in labor-intensive processes undertaken by specialist craftspeople. The results are both exceptional appliances and eye-catching works of art.

Whether in the piazzas of Italy or the rushing falls of Niagara, water has the power to draw the eye and set a dramatic scene. From fountains to infinity pools to moats, water features also serve to augment our homes, and it’s the rare property that can’t be improved with the addition of aquatic art. Look to these five exceptional listings that lead by example, making the most of their grounds with architectural fixtures.

New York penthouses lead the list of the world’s most expensive and rarest properties. Barely a hundred penthouses number amongst the more than 2,300 upscale NYC apartments currently up for sale. And the prices for these properties are no less astonishing than the views from their terraces; the most expensive penthouse available in New York today is listed for $90M, and 50% of the rest lie within the $30M-75M range.

Health-minded homeowners are converting basements and garages, and allocating square footage in their houses to state-of-the-art workout space. And for equipment choices, the options are endless.

What makes a house truly feel like a home? Aside from the events that take place between its walls, much of a home’s personality is found in the materials, textures, and accents that bring it together. While it can be time-consuming to keep up with the latest design trends—especially the perennials that come in and out with the seasons—incorporating the latest high-end materials into your home is an easy way to give a space an instant, luxurious update. From cozy fabrics to rich metals, here are seven futuristic materials to freshen any room.

These modern wine rooms go beyond mere function, tackling temperature and proper storage while incorporating eye-catching materials—such as wood, stone, and glass—to create spaces that both practical and alluring.

Great interior design harmoniously blends form and function. Lighting is a perfect example of this balance in practice: the shape and construction of a light fixture can be just as important as the intensity of its shine. The options when it comes to illuminating a room are practically endless, but for those who enjoy a rising trend, a few lighting styles are having a moment in today’s interiors. The five exceptional properties below feature fashionable lighting used in inspiring ways, with the potential to spark unlimited bright ideas.

The surrounding city lights, fine dining on your doorstep, and a short commute to the financial district—condominium living is chock-full of conveniences. But when it comes time to refresh your space or put it on the market, it can be a challenge to know where to focus your efforts. For those looking for a return on investment, these condo upgrades are worth the effort.

Your home is an oasis, a place perfectly appointed to suit your personal tastes. Which is exactly as it should be—until it becomes time to list your home and move on to the next dream.

Buyers aren’t looking for a home that appears too lived-in. They’re looking for a space they can customize to their own styles and preferences, with enough of a starting point in place that they can envision their future life. Selling your home is about showing its potential without too much of anything distracting the eye—and the solution is staging. Before you show your home to prospective buyers, you have to take steps to depersonalize it, without draining it of all personality. It’s a balancing act; and if done properly, it can be the difference between closing a beneficial deal or having your home languish on the market unnecessarily.

Fall heralds an unmatched refresh. Back-to-school excitement lingers and the season vibrates with a warm, soft potential that even New Year’s Eve can’t match. Now there is no frenzy, no internal guilt following summer’s long days that you must make the most of; just an efficient transition into a colourful new season.

Whether you’re looking to simply trim the deck with warm bulb lighting, add a new slope to your landscaping or rock garden, or linger in the private expanse of your beautiful backyard, here are some design tips to bring your home into autumn and refresh your outdoor space for fall.

Country style isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s an ethos, a route back to nature and simpler living. Get inspired to leave the city behind with these five gorgeous rustic homes, complete with spacious lots, exposed beams, generous wood-burning fireplaces, and plenty of room for daydreaming under starry skies.

For the wine connoisseur, enjoying a glass is about more than just relaxation: it’s about transporting oneself to far away terroirs through taste, being moved by tradition and innovation, and, sometimes, finding inspiration in the way the light hits the wine. The vineyard doesn’t have to be the only place where the wine lends inspiration, either.