All in Country Living

Thorpe Hall Was “an Absolute Wreck” Before it Was Restored

The current owners spared no expense in transforming the Grade-II listed country house back to its former glory, enlisting Yorkshire’s finest craftsmen to authentically restore and repair the 18th century home. The newly appointed grand reception rooms were lavishly decorated by interior designer Mark Gillette. The landscape was transformed as well, with the gardens completely replanted by master garden designer Arne Maynard.

This Tuscan Villa Marked the Beginning of a Great Medici Romance

Set in the heart of Tuscany with views over the Arno River stands Villa La Tana, a majestic Renaissance villa surrounded by formal Italian gardens. The property is located just 13 km from the city of Florence. Built in the 16th century, the property was the setting of a great Medici love story: the Grand Duke Francesco Medici I de Medici, heir to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, gifted the villa to his lover, the beautiful Venetian noblewoman, Bianca Cappello, who he would go on to marry.