Yahoo Finance Property: 9 dream homes to put on your Christmas wish list
What’s your idea of a dream home? Is it a huge historic house, a state-of-the-art new-build, somewhere cute and quirky or a holiday retreat in the sun? From country estates and modern mansions to cosy cottages and cutting edge conversions, all bases are covered in this selection of knockout properties for sale.
1. Natland, Kendal, Cumbria, £370,000
The Dolls House is a charming detached cottage offering grand country house living on a small scale. Comprising two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room and kitchen/dining room, it’s in the grounds of Helme Lodge, a Grade II listed Georgian mansion that was converted into apartments and houses in 1987. The main rooms are south-facing, and residents have access to a snooker room, gym, sauna and a beautiful five acre garden that someone else takes care of. Via Fine & Country.
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2. Membury, Axminster, Devon, £1.25m
You’ll be the envy of all your friends if you buy 16th century North Greys Farm. A stunner to look at, it’s even more gorgeous inside as it’s currently the home of Elizabeth Hay, a leading interior designer, and her signature style is reflected throughout. The property – consisting of a thatched three-bedroom cottage and a three-bedroom annex – features multiple layers of colourful patterned wallpapers and fabrics in every room, and the furniture is for sale separately should the new owner wish to buy it. Find out more from Jackson-Stops.
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3. Culroy, Maybole, South Ayrshire, offers over £1.75m
Anyone making privacy a top priority should make a beeline for Grange House, a handsome B-listed Georgian mansion surrounded by nearly 30 acres of secluded land. It’s been extensively restored by the current owners and includes an elegant drawing room, a kitchen/dining room, pantry, laundry room, study and five bedrooms, spread over four floors There’s also a separate three-bedroom cottage, and a gym, bar and sauna in a converted outbuilding. From Galbraith.
4. East Sheen, London SW14, £2.95m
Christmas is written all over this Victorian coach house, which looks just like a real-life gingerbread house and has arched windows and doorways and fireplaces wide enough for Santa to emerge from. A grand entrance hall, a kitchen, a huge living/dining/entertaining space, a conservatory, cloakroom, two bedrooms and a bathroom are on the ground floor, with two ensuite bedrooms on the first floor and a media room on the lower ground level. Get the lowdown from Savills.
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5. Olhao, Portugal, 4.995m euros (approx £4.3m)
Oh to say goodbye to the winter blues and escape to a luxury home in the Algarve, where there’s more sunshine than in California. This brand new country estate would do very nicely, boasting five bedrooms, several reception rooms, a basement with enough space for a games room, gym and cinema, the latest sound and security systems and sweeping sea views. The extensive grounds include a two-bedroom guest house, a swimming pool, a driving range and chipping green, and a lake with bridge access to an island that could be used as a helipad. Through Chestertons Portugal.
6. Mykonos, Greece, 8.5m euros (approx £7.3m)
In a quiet location just five minutes from the centre of Mykonos, a small island renowned for its nightlife, this minimalist but sizeable villa consists of a four-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom guest house. The wine room and outdoor cinema are guaranteed to put you in a party mood and the infinity pool, set against the idyllic backdrop of the Aegean Sea, really is the stuff that dreams are made of, Sotheby’s International Realty
7. Chalet Telemark, Villars, Switzerland, 12m euros (approx £10.8m)
Villars’ ski slopes are a few steps from the front door of five-bedroom Chalet Telemark, spread over four levels and regarded as one of the area’s finest chalets. Rooms are well proportioned and traditionally designed with handcrafted carpentry and carvings, and the hub is a magnificent double-height salon with French windows opening on to a wraparound balcony. Get in touch with Savills.
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8. Little Venice, London W9, £11m
There’s a touch of James Bond about this innovative, award-winning two-bedroom house. At its heart is a voluminous double height vaulted room with a sunken kitchen inspired by Frank Sinatra's home in Palm Springs. A huge hydraulically operated door pivots open into the garden, winches and winding gear lower and raise the bespoke lighting, and the TV in the master bedroom – a room accessed via a secret door – can be hoisted up to watch movies in the bath on the mezzanine above. Contact Knight Frank.
9. Marbella, Spain, 12.75m euros (approx £11m)
This eight-bedroom villa is about as luxurious as holiday homes get, sitting on a large plot in La Zagaleta, an uber-exclusive gated private estate with two members-only 18-hole golf courses, a clubhouse, an equestrian centre and its own helipad for those who want to avoid the traffic and arrive in style. The house has panoramic sea views and eight bedrooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, sauna, steam, massage and beauty therapy rooms and a cinema. Through Home Hunts.
