Offering 100 feet of private beach frontage on Lake Michigan in Norton Shores, this two-bedroom, two-bath cottage showcases three miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.
“The property is contiguous to the P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, so no one can build to the left of the property — and you can enjoy private walks along the beach, miles of hiking and skiing trails and kayaking in the summer,” says Bradley Wisk of Keller Williams Harbortown who is listing the property for $1.5 million.
The home has been recently restored and features include a teak deck leading to the beach, an open floor plan, a chef’s kitchen with luxury appliances, a bath with a large walk-in shower and jetted bathtub, and a lower level with two bedrooms, a full-bath, and laundry room.
Photos courtesy of Bradley Wisk.
Casa Terracota is a 5,400 square-foot, two-story home constructed entirely of clay — making it the world’s largest single piece of pottery.
From the stairs and walls to the beds and bathroom, every feature of this unique home is made from clay.
Casa Terracota, located within Villa de Leyva in Colombia, was built over the course of 15 years by architect Octavio Mendoza. Mendoza crafted the home one layer at a time, allowing for each layer bake and harden in the sun before moving onto the next.
The structure was built exclusively by hand using only accessible natural resources, which means it does not contain any cement or steel.
Outside, this one-of-a-kind home is surrounded by green farmland and breathtaking views of the mountains.
Inside, bright tile mosaics add color to the baked earthy walls which slope and curve like the surrounding hills so that the home blends in with the horizon. While creating the design of the home, Mendoza aimed to blend the indoor spaces with the surrounding outdoor spaces to create a natural yet livable home.
“I love that the rooftop is a usable and livable part of the home,” explains Paul Drecksler, the founder of Travel is Life and travel blogger who had the opportunity to visit Casa Terracota. “I love being outside, and I feel that most traditional homes waste outdoor space or limit it to a tiny balcony. The architect of Casa Terracota created the roof and outdoor areas as part of the living space, which I really appreciate.”
Inside, the clay cottage also offers some modern features — solar panels for hot water, toilets and sinks covered in colorful mosaic tiles, two floors, and a fully functional kitchen. “In regards to functionality, I was surprised at the home’s livability. It offered working bathrooms, a kitchen, and electricity — which you’d expect in a ‘normal’ home, but my bar was set low for a livable piece of pottery,” Drecksler says.
The kitchen features furniture, as well as utensils made exclusively from clay. Lighting fixtures are crafted from scrap metal, while mugs are molded from recycled glass. “Casa Terracota exceeded my expectations in terms of both aesthetics and functionality. Photos and videos don’t do the home justice because it’s difficult to capture a subject and the environment around it at the same time,” Drecksler says. “Casa Terracota is designed to blend in with its environment, so in order to fully appreciate its aesthetics, you’ve got to visit in person.
“I would definitely recommend tourists add Casa Terracota to their bucket list if they visit Villa De Leyva, Colombia if they have an interest in architecture and enjoy visiting unique homes,” Drecksler adds.
This unique home is now also open to the public for tours.
Photos courtesy of Paul Drecksler at TravelisLife.org
Showcasing fantastic views and deed access to private Grape Bay Beach, Ardsheal Cottage is nestled in a quiet garden setting in Paget, Bermuda.
Only minutes from Hamilton, the immaculate executive home was originally constructed in 1906 and completely renovated in 2013.
“Numerous artisans were engaged during the refurbishment of the home — from the millwork, cabinetry, floor finishes and window treatments, all of which lend to an incredible first impression,” says listing agent Brian Madeiros of Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty.
Upon entering the home, one is greeted by beautiful woodwork, Thibault wallpaper and a custom-designed triple mast schooner crystal chandelier. It also features 6,000 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, four and a half baths and an open-beam covered terrace that transitions from the kitchen to the pool deck with copious seating and a working fireplace.
“This bespoke sophisticated kitchen is perfectly designed for active families,” says Madeiros. “One could comfortably spend hours in this area of the home whilst losing all sense of time.”
Listed for $7.5 million, the home also includes a guest cottage with a full bath and kitchenette above the garage. “Ardsheal Cottage is perfectly suited for an executive and their family,” says Madeiros. “The commute from ones busy city office to the private shared beach to meet your family for an evening picnic is approximately five minutes — Ardsheal Cottage absolutely complements the lifestyle of a busy but adventurous family.”
The Brothers Grimm published Snow White in 1812 and Walt Disney made it a film in 1937. One family loved the story so much they decided they wanted to live in a home like Snow White’s Cottage — and they did!
One imaginative family was so in love with the Seven Dwarfs’ home that they reproduced it as a family home where they lived until 2005. The following owner continued the theme and continued to enhance the interior. After 12 years of living in one of the world’s most magical environments, she has decided to share the home’s joy with a new owner.
Located on 5 wooded acres on a dead-end street behind a gated entry, the magic begins. The sprawling main house of 2,800 square feet with its extreme high pitched and deeply sloped roofs looks exactly like it jumped off the pages of the children’s book. Blended into its wooded background, with twisted wooden bridge and quirky but charming tree house, it’s hard to imagine there are 4 bedrooms and 5 baths inside with every modern convenience.
The interior is unforgettable with stone, stuccoed walls, huge hand-carved beams and the most captivating rounded hand-built wooden doors of various sizes with intricate iron hinges. With no square walls to be had, the interior of the house wraps around you like a big hug. For modern folk, there is a hot tub/spa, patio for outdoor living, RV parking and a creek on the property with garden area and fruit trees.
Now for only the second time since the early 1970s, Snow White’s cottage is for sale, priced at $775,000.
Photos courtesy of John L. Scott Real Estate
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