Some design aficionados may claim that nothing beats the Art Deco buildings on Miami Beach, but push farther afield and you’re guaranteed to find architectural gems in new builds and traditional high rises alike. The Sunshine State is making waves with a crop of waterview condos featuring stunning penthouse suites. Dig into gleaming, streamlined kitchens, refreshing bathrooms with an oceanic feel, classic American comfort in plush living rooms, and long-table dining. Add in endless views of beach and ocean and bright splashes of color, and you may find that the state’s endless summer suits you just fine.

Western Europe is a brilliant kaleidoscope of intertwining yet distinct cultures, all imbued in history, culture, gastronomy, art, and architecture – always a pleasure to visit, even more satisfying to call home. Imagine waking up in Capri to the sound of crashing Mediterranean waves or taking in the incredible Catalonian designs of Gaudí over lunch, or poring over paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt in Holland. With spectacular settings and contemporary designs that seamlessly integrate a touch of antiquity, there is a vibrant, timeless allure to European villas.

The best escapes aren’t always at a five-star hotel. A well-appointed home can be the place you let go, relax, and indulge in the good life in a style perfectly suited to your tastes. With these relaxing design concepts to spark your imagination, it’ll be easy to cultivate vacation tranquility, whether or not you ever leave the house.

With fresh rains heralding the arrival of spring, renewed greenery and blooming trees remind us that our planet is filled with things worth protecting. 

Eco-conscious trends in home design and construction highlight how we can tread lightly on the planet and blend in seamlessly with elegant, low impact homes. From rainwater recovery to green roofs, here are some of this spring's top eco solutions. 

On the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix… We bring you “Life in the Fast Lane” | Motorsport fans often watch the laps of their favourite race play out over a big screen. But why watch from home when you can pull up at your own team headquarters right next to famous racecourses? Here are 10 homes to make your next pit stop a winner.

For First-Time Home Buyers! | We tend to track forward momentum in life by a few key milestones—first job, first car, first home—but in reality, there are no one-size-fits all markers of success. Existence can be far more exciting when we opt to follow our own timelines. That said, purchasing real estate, whether for you, your family, or as an additional source of income, can be a point of pride and something to celebrate. If you’re keen, you may be deliberating over one specific question: when is the right time to buy your first property? Here are a few indicators that you’re ready to take the leap.

Until now, luxury real estate buyers have found inspiration in properties with a sense of grandeur. Whether via a stately brownstone in a major city, a quiet retreat in cottage country, or a tropical paradise somewhere abroad, they’ve opted for spaciousness, for homes that mirror their success.

While equally invested in purchasing an uplifting pied-a-terre, the next generation of luxury real estate buyers are redefining the priorities of home ownership. 

Where you open your eyes in the morning can set the mood for your whole day. Do you wake refreshed in a bedroom oasis, or stressed and harried in the middle of a half-finished project? By selecting a master bedroom design with the perfect blend of light, textures, and tones, you can set yourself up for a fruitful day ahead. If you’re considering a renovation, take inspiration from these five trending master bedroom design ideas.

The state of the restaurant scene has never been more exciting in Canada than it is right now. There are currently 98,000-plus restaurants across the country offering an incredible range of global flavours — an especially impressive number when you consider how notoriously tough it is to run a successful restaurant. In such a competitive business, it takes more than just great food to thrive. The best chef-owners share their hard-earned knowledge — learned through navigating the ups and downs of owning a restaurant — by nurturing young talent and setting the next round of chefs free to spread their gastronomic love.

In 1954, Ernest Hemingway took up residence in Venice’s famed Gritti Palace, the hotel where, several years earlier, he had written parts of his novel Across the River and into the Trees. This time, Hemingway was recovering from a plane crash that occurred while he was on safari in Africa. According to legend, the writer’s convalescence involved copious champagne and indoor baseball, played with a tightly rolled woollen sock in his much-coveted corner suite. When a window was smashed in the room, Gritti Palace management gave Hemingway a 10-percent discount on his bill, on the basis that no one had ever before played baseball in the 300-year-old hotel.

Are you considering purchasing an investment property? The right piece of real estate is a great way to grow your financial portfolio while also potentially earning rental income. However, the recent introduction of a mandatory stress test to the mortgage qualification process means that certain buyers may need to reconsider their options.

A well-designed living room is a social hub. It invites guests and family members to pause and come together, to enjoy a glass of wine by the fire, to curl up side-by-side with the latest best-sellers. A living room is also a reflection of your personality and tastes: do you prefer a cozy, rustic design, or a subtle palette of trendy neutrals? A minimalist, mid-century modern vibe or a dramatic, Victorian-inspired look? Whether you’re redecorating or starting fresh in a new home, take inspiration from these five gorgeous living room design ideas.

As the blue and white tints of winter finally clear, shades of spring can be found rousing from hibernation. Out with heavy drapes and slate greys, and in with a fresh palette of Cinque Terre pastels, statement touches, and a seamless blend of country chic meets modern world.

Your space should evolve with the season. What softens the blow of winter winds and early evenings may hamper the enjoyment of those fresh yellow and green blossoms. So get ready with these home décor trends for spring.

As winter turns to spring, the landscape — and the real-estate market — re-emerges and blooms again. Though not visible to the eye, solid root systems — just like a home’s foundation — are fundamental to growth and endurance.

At Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, we appreciate that the value of a home lies not only in the beauty of its architecture, but also in the strength of its foundation in order to withstand the test of time and become a solid investment integral to your financial future, as well as a place for you and your family to plant roots and flourish.

Vancouver’s Joseph Segal is a self-made billionaire, thanks to the various business ventures that he invested in — from selling fish from his bicycle to property development through his company, Kingswood Capital Corporation. But when it comes to one of his greatest passions — collecting art, Segal values the help he’s had along the way.

Toronto is a city of unparalleled dining options, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, and a multicultural demographic with more than half of its population hailing from outside the country. It even has an airport in the downtown core. One of the biggest benefits for parents, however, is that Toronto is also home to a number of the top-ranked private schools in the country—meaning there’s no shortage of outstanding education options to choose from. In these neighbourhoods, the curriculum, facilities, and mentors are first-class. Read on to discover the Top Private Schools in Toronto by Neighbourhood.

hen it comes to eco-friendly living, tomorrow’s world is already here. A wealth of effortless choices await when looking to revamp and modernize a home into a sustainable, conscious enclave. Why sacrifice style when it comes to sustainability? Here are 4 energy efficient upgrades to invest in your home’s worth and propel it to the top of the market’s must-see listings.

With their endless amenities, ultramodern finishes, panoramic views, and trendy locales, today’s condos offer extensive value to the discerning buyer. Yet streamlining a space can help elevate a condo even further, and these design tips squeeze every drop out of square footage, without compromising on luxury to help you maximize your condo space.

Buzz, energy, boundless choice – that’s the lure of city living. To be in the thick of culture, art, gastronomy, and community; to be in the midst of change and witness the spark of a collective idea; where some see a metropolis as a weighty undertaking, choosing to retreat to the calm refuge of the countryside instead, others revel in the unique energy and character of a city.

If “location, location, location” is at the top of your property search priorities—after all, who doesn’t love close proximity to the best restaurants, venues, and events a city has to offer—consider the new wave of expertly designed or recently refurbished condos and townhouses cropping up across the country.