Striking Baronial Castle in the Scottish Countryside

This striking Baronial castle is on the market with Strutt and Parker and accepting offers over £3,750,000. 

Auchendennan House is set within The Trossachs National Park, a romantic region referred to as  'The Highlands in miniature'. The property spans 55 acres of land, with sweeping views overlooking the southwest bank of the famous Loch Lomond and the mountains beyond.

The turreted Scottish castle was built in 1866 by George Martin, a Glasgow-based East India merchant and designed by architect John Burnet from Glasgow. 

The house was altered in the 1900s, and then again in 2013 by its current owner to transform the castle into a luxurious and modernized private residence, while restoring much of the grandeur and detail of its 19th century heritage. 

New plumbing, electrical, discreet fireproof panelling and fire alarms, as well as an eco-friendly oil central heating system have been installed. Many of the bathrooms throughout have been upgraded with underfloor heating, and many of the reception rooms have wood-burning stoves with heating fans. 

The A-listed sandstone castle has 54 rooms in total, including 8 reception rooms and 15 bedrooms, in addition to separate staff accommodation. 

When you enter the castle, find yourself in a large oak-paneled 20th century vestibule with secret doors in the panelled walls leading to a WC and office, various storage rooms and the staff accommodation. A large reception room has been converted into a gym, with a private garden entrance. 

The stunning vaulted staircase ascending to the first floor, where you find the grand hall with coombed ceilings, which acts as a central gateway to more impressive rooms, like the Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed-library, a designer kitchen and breakfast room, a conservatory, ballroom, and an impressive dining room with a drawing room that boasts its own turret. 

The entire property features a wealth of exceptional detail with intricate plasterwork and panelling throughout, and boasts original flooring and wallpaper. One of our favourite features is the tower room, accessible through a rear staircase, through a hatch, leading to a roof deck offering expansive views over the sparkling loch and mountains beyond. 

The property is accessible through a private road with gated entry, leading to an elegant carriage turning circle, with an attractive water fountain carved with dolphins and shells, and the elaborate Porte Cochere.

A garden wood to the south of the property features rare specimen trees, including a 130-year old Monkey Puzzle Tree (a documentary of trees is provided for the buyer). The gardens are bound by terrace walls, and feature a number of specimen trees and a collection of beautiful Rhododendrons. 

The plants and shrubbery have planted to provide an array of colour year round, and you can even find palm trees on this property, benefiting from the warmer climate of the west of Scotland, as well as the relics of a Japanese garden with an ornamental pond, stone bridge, and a waterfall. 

The property includes former stables used as a workshop and a detached woodshed, land is currently used to graze a small ornamental fold of nine Highland Cattle. 

There is tremendous potential as a grand private estate or elegant events venue. Located in an area of natural beauty and a wealth of amenity and adventure, near the renowned Cameron House Resort, a luxury resort with golf and fine dining. 

Set near a number of villages with rail access (including a sleeper train service direct to London), the estate is just 16 miles from the Glasgow airport, and a 30 minute drive to Glasgow. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Historic Boutique Hotel in the Tuscan Hills

This property is on the market for €13,800,000 listed with Prima Real Estate. 

Originally a monastery dating back to 1587, this grand Italian property is located in the Tuscan countryside near the medieval town of San Gimignano, known as the city of towers. 

In its golden age, there were 74 towers and today 14  towers remain inside the walls of this town. Its historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The 20-room hotel has a restaurant and wine bar housed in the former church. The property has been meticulously restored over the years to carefully maintain the important and historical architectural details, such as the panelled windows, stone framed doorways, cloisters and balconies. 

Set in over 8 acres of rolling Tuscan hills, with formal gardens and a stunning pool complex, this property presents a unique opportunity for a luxury brand experience, only a short distance from Florence, Siena and Lucca. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Italianate Château with Vineyards in Loire Atlantique

This French Renaissance château is listed for 3,500,000 with Jan-Erik Alderlieste of Barnes Propriétés & Chateaux.

The bucolic property consists of 187 acres of parkland, meadows, and vineyards, set in the countryside of Western France, south of Nantes. 

Built in the 19th century, the château is a part of a larger estate, with several original outbuildings forming a large enclosed open courtyard, known as a cour d'honneur.  This U-shaped classical design originates from the Roman theatre stage, and is often found in the great palaces and mansions of 17th-century Europe. 

The château is officially listed as a French historic monument, inscrits sur l’Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques (ISMH), featuring 5400 square feet of living space with 12 bedrooms and several large reception rooms.

A modern orangerie can be found on the property, used for special events and entertaining, in addition to a small-scale winery enterprise—for the production of your own house wine or launch of your boutique brand of Muscadet. 

The property is set in the heart of the Loire Atlantique, in a wine region known for its Muscadet, a bone-dry white wine that pairs well with seafood. Located just 40 minutes to Nantes Airport, and 1 hour to the Vendée coast.

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Villa Peduzzi is the Ultimate Luxury Vacation Home on Lake Como

Renting for €80,000 a week in the high season, the property comes fully staffed with a chef team, villa manager, and housekeeping, with a number of bespoke concierge services available to create the ultimate getaway on Lake Como.

Submit an inquiry to hi@francisyork.com for Villa Peduzzi availability.

2020 marks an unprecedented rise for luxury retreats and bespoke travel, and Villa Peduzzi offers the best of both worlds. 

This exclusive Liberty-style villa offers some of the most stunning blue lake and green mountain vistas overlooking Lake Como, with no neighbour in site. 

Built in 1909 as an idyllic retreat for the Peduzzi family, an Italian engineering dynasty, the villa was fully reimagined into a luxury retreat in 2016, restored by Studio Andrea Meirana. with interiors by Singapore-based architects Studio Daminato. 

Studio Daminato transformed the footprint of the Art Nouveau residence, letting the dramatic views take centre stage. Meanwhile, local specialists in terrazzo, marble, and frescoes  were hired to breathe life back into the home, like Gerso, behind the famed restoration of St Mark’s square in Venice. 

Inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese design, the minimalist decor and finishes were softened with creamy hues, handcrafted wood and marble, linen wall panels, and liberal use of hand-woven textiles like silk, wool, jute, and hemp. 

The 9-bedroom villa has been thoughtfully designed for living and entertaining, with two rooftop terraces, a pool house with green roof, and a 22-metre infinity pool. A stunning yoga / wellness room was carved in the cliffside, set high above the Western shores of Lake Como— 881 metres to be exact. 

Set in 4.5 acres of alpine gardens, it is hard not to feel like you’re floating in a dream when you stay at Villa Peduzzi, but if you do need to come back down to earth, a cable car can take you down to the village of Argegno, just 500 metres from the villa gates.

You’ll also find the villa’s private Axopar Brabus boat moored at the base of the funicular, ready for your lakeside excursions. 

Villa Peduzzi was recently on the cover of AD Germany and a number of other publications which cover stories of immaculately designed high-end properties. It’s one of those dreamy and exclusive vacation properties that will have your friends asking “Hey, how did you find this place?” 

There are properties available on automated booking portals, but it’s the concierge service that can make or break a luxury retreat.

And with many luxury retreats already booked through 2021, don’t miss your chance to experience true luxury on Lake Como with Villa Peduzzi. 

One of the Largest Equestrian Estates in France

This property is listed with Caroline Louboutin.  Price is disclosed upon application with the listing agency, Nantes Sotheby's International Realty.

One of the largest equestrian complexes in France is hidden here, in this reimagined luxury estate at the edge of of Château country, Loire Valley. 

The château retreat and 400-horse facilities (stables, show jumping, and dressage) are set in 316 acres of parkland, with private access (30m mooring) on the River Erdre and a helicopter pad—just 35km from the international airport. 

The almost 11,000 square feet of living space has been completely renovated to enhance the grand spaces with modern and stylish touches.

The château has been upgraded to include luxurious amenities like an indoor pool, steam room, and gym. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Early Georgian Mansion On the Market for £7M—After £12M Restoration

This property is on the market for £7,000,000 with Knight Frank. 

Chicheley Hall is one of the most complete surviving examples of an early Georgian mansion.  The Baroque-style mansion was built between 1719 and 1723 for Sir John Chester, the 4th baronet, built by architect Francis Smith. 

The house has had a colourful past over the centuries, including its WWII use as Special Training School No. 43,  training Czechoslovaks for Special Operations Executive (SOE) parachute missions. 

In 2007, the house was listed for £9M and eventually purchased for £6.5 million by Norwegian philanthropist Fred Kavli and the The Royal Society, the world's oldest independent scientific academy. 

They invested a further £12M in renovating the property, now fit for a number of contemporary uses, including hotel, conference, and ancillary retail uses—there is also the opportunity to create a spa, which could further position Chicheley Hall as one of the country’s leading wedding and conference venues. 

Offering 35,000 square feet of accommodations, the 48-room property offers 14 bedroom suites in the main mansion, and a further 34 bedroom suites in two Grade II* listed former stable blocks. 

The coach house has been converted into a conference centre with 2 large conference suites and a meeting room.

Set in 75 acres of pastoral parkland with landscaped gardens, a 3-sided lake, walled garden, woodland trails, farmland, and a Grade II* dovecote. 

A unique turnkey property just 50 miles from Central London. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Luxury Medieval Villa in the Hills Around Florence

This property is listed for € 6,000,000, on the market with Prima Real Estate Advisory.  

Can you imagine living in a medieval villa?

Dating back to the 15th century, this historic villa was built around an existing watch tower in the hills around Florence. 

Set on 56 acres of Tuscan countryside, the villa is ideally positioned to become a boutique hotel or trophy retreat. Surrounded by Italian-style gardens, amenities also include a pool and tennis court. 

The villa features incredible period detail throughout, notable in the columns and coffered ceilings, stone fireplaces, and terracotta floors.

With 21,000+ square feet of interior living space, the villa offers 15 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and several large halls and reception rooms for entertaining in style. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.

A 14th Century Château Set in a 12-Acre Walled Park

This property is on the market with Mark Harvey of Knight Frank for €12,500,000. 

Business Insider reported that Knight Frank inquiries are up 50% for country estates in the South of France—which means this dreamy château won’t be on the market for long! 

the 12-acre walled property is set near the medieval village of Bar Sur Loup—halfway between Grasse and Vence, and just 50 minutes from Monaco. 

Château des Valettes offers over 8600 square feet of living space with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and several elegant reception rooms. 

The 14th century property has been lavishly restored to showcase its frescoed ceilings, original flooring, and boasts a cavernous wine cellar. 

The outdoor spaces have been meticulously landscaped and designed for entertaining, featuring an expansive pool terrace in addition to a shaded clay tennis court. 

The property covers 12 acres of cyrpus-filled grounds (there’s also a beautiful water feature to complete the ambiance), with sweeping views over the village of Gourdon

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Dewlish House: The Most Beautiful Country Home in Dorset

This property is listed with Rupert Sweeting and Will Matthews of Knight Frank Country Houses Department for £9,250,000. 

Dewlish House was built in the Queen Anne/Georgian style in about 1702. The Grade I listed property is set in 134 acres of picturesque parkland with farmland, forests, and a private lake.

The elegant 12,800 square foot house features 6-bedroom, 6-bathrooms, and 6 elegant reception rooms. Amenities include a swimming pool and tennis court

The estate includes several outbuildings, stables, and 2 cottages.

All photos belong to the listing agency.

A Scottish Mansion With a Glorious Palm Courtyard

This property is listed for £1,500,000 with Fiona Gormley of Savills.

Tillycorthie House’s central Palm Courtyard has a soaring pitched cantilever style glass roof, filled with tropical greenery.

Functioning as a unique reception hall, the Palm Courtyard is flanked with French doors which connect it to the central corridors on the main floor. 

Built in 1911 for James Rollo Duncan, a Bolivian tin magnate and partner of Penny & Duncan Bolivia, the property has been described as a “bewildering amalgam of the high-tech and the sub-baronial” by architectural writer Ian Shepherd. 

With classic Scots Baronial details throughout, Tillycorthie House is the first mansion in Britain to be entirely constructed of concrete. 

Set in just over 9 acres of countryside in Aberdeenshire, a region known for its natural beauty and as the home of the Queen’s Balmoral Castle, the mansion has been meticulously restored by its current owners with much energy and expense to revive the house to its former glory. 

All of the original ornate fireplaces are fully functional, and there is an abundance of intricate detail in the moulded ceilings and cornice work, especially notable in the ceiling roses. 

Original oak parquet flooring is seen throughout the house, which boasts several grand formal and informal living rooms on the 1st floor, including a Christmas Room, garden room, dining room, and a central bespoke presentation kitchen.

A grand sweeping staircase leads to 11 bedroom suites—but there are also other staircases in the home, like the spiral staircase in the east wing that leads out to a tower and rooftop vista of the surrounding countryside. 

On the ground floor, find ample storage space, a catering kitchen and 3000-bottle wine cellar. 

All photos belong to the listing agency.