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4 September, 2025
Behind the scenes at the Elysée Collection with Alyson Morgan
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10 Design-led homes where style comes as standard
Published
28 November, 2025
Edited
2 December, 2025
Say goodbye to cookie-cutter rentals - if there’s one thing we admire, it’s a home designed with intention. Architecture that doesn’t try too hard, furniture that looks curated (because it is), and art that feels more private collection than placeholder. These ten homes? Not a hint of boring. Here's a curated collection for those who understand that where you stay can be just as important as the destination.
Modern eco design
Modern eco design
Casa Bautista - Wallpaper Design Awards' Best Retreat 2020, sits on the edge of Tulum's UNESCO-protected Sian Ka'an Biosphere. A modern design with confidence to spare, angled wood and stone walls frame striking views. A spiral staircase leads to the rooftop pool, the home’s undisputed showstopper, where protected coastlines stretch as far as the eye can see - and where you’re encouraged to feel a little smug about your choice of stay.
London in full colour
London in full colour
Tucked away in a calm corner of Belsize Park, this three-bedroom home wears its designer host’s confidence well: bold colour, crisp lines and personality in all the right places. The bay-windowed sitting room plays up the architectural detailing, balanced by an elegant blend of contemporary and antique finds. Each bedroom claims its own colour palette - because here, colour isn’t chosen, it’s curated.
Where play meets polished
Where play meets polished
Akashi Residence doesn’t choose between luxury and fun - it commits to both. Alexis Dornier’s Bali villa pairs warm teak with sleek finishes and jungle views. Floor-to-ceiling glass frames a sculptural waterslide that drops into a 17-metre pool, complete with sunbeds and a roofed lounge for those who take relaxing seriously. Six bedrooms feature walk-through dressing areas and ensuites, while the master suites add terrazzo tubs and direct pool access. Private paradise, meet grown-up playground.
Classical grandeur, modern ease
Classical grandeur, modern ease
Dorata makes its classical pedigree obvious, without feeling stuffy. Stone arches and frescoed ceilings bring the grandeur, while tiled floors and carefully selected antiques keep it grounded. The traditional kitchen (stone fireplace and twin pizza ovens included, of course) adds warmth and welcome. Classical structure meets contemporary ease, and yes, it knows how good it looks doing it.
Effortless minimalism, maximum style
Effortless minimalism, maximum style
High in the Hollywood Hills, St Ives Modern pairs striking design with the kind of LA cool that looks effortless (when it's anything but). Paul McClean’s clean lines flow from a dramatic living area to sleek bedrooms overlooking the canyon. Outside, an infinity pool, spa and al fresco kitchen make the hillside a grown-up playground. Sleeping six across three suites - including a master with a walk-in closet worthy of its own zip code - the villa balances glamour with effortless style.
Artful living, Roman style
Artful living, Roman style
Piazza Mattei is Rome distilled: history, art and luxury all wrapped into one home. Ceiling frescoes by the Zuccari brothers and a billiards room by Cavalier d’Arpino provide flair, while terracotta floors and gilded coving keep the interiors rooted in period grandeur. Five bedrooms, including a master with a stand-alone sauna, sleep up to 12, with living spaces that make entertaining effortless. Beyond the doors, iconic squares beckon - if you can bear to leave.
Where design meets desert calm
Where design meets desert calm
Sprawled across 22 acres in Todos Santos, Rancho Cuatro Patas is Baja luxury at a scale most homes only dream of. Two casas and four casitas sleep up to 20, styled with locally sourced décor and furniture. From the pool to the pergola and fire pit, communal spaces are warm and inviting. Beyond the gates, beaches, surf and whales await - but let’s be honest, you'll spend most days right here.
Rustic structure, with a modern touch
Rustic structure, with a modern touch
Lavender fields provide the backdrop, but Bastide Saint Remy is the star. Rustic Provençal charm meets modern design, with earth tones, sleek furniture, and carefully chosen antiques shaping two living rooms, a sunlit kitchen, and seven ensuite bedrooms. Outside, an 18-metre pool, pétanque court, and shaded terrace invite lingering, because why rush? Provence with polish, charm, and just enough restraint to let the landscape do (most of) the talking.
Mid-century modern, elevated
Mid-century modern, elevated
Villa Barbra doesn’t just sit above Lake Como, it owns the view. Gio Ponti’s mid-century design is layered with vintage Formanova tables, a 60s bar, bold furniture, and striking art. Five sunlit bedrooms and terraces showcase the lake and gardens, with every detail thoughtfully chosen. Effortless, elegant, and quietly enviable - Italian living, curated to perfection.
All in the details
All in the details
Who says city living can’t come with room to breathe? Tribeca Terrace has 1,500 square feet of outdoor space to prove otherwise. Set in a converted 19th-century warehouse, a striking staircase anchors interiors accented with Peter Lik photography, exposed stone, and rich-toned wood. Three bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own terrace, provide calm above the city, while the rooftop makes it very clear why Tribeca remains New York’s most coveted ZIP code.
