Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World

Published on: 01 December 2018 Last Updated on: 27 June 2021

The global housing market is reportedly shifting. Now, some of the most luxurious homes around the world are being sold at a fraction of what they cost a few years ago.

While it may be the dawning of a worldwide seller’s market, there are plenty of expensive homes exceeding the average buyer’s price range.

Even if you can’t fork over mega-millions for a mansion of your own, it’s fun to imagine what it might be like to live in the world’s most luxurious residences.

Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World

Read on for an inside peek at ten of the world’s most stunning abodes!

1. Beverly House, Beverly Hills, California:

Beverly Hills

The Beverly House is within walking distance of the iconic Sunset Boulevard and has been in many major motion pictures. It appeared on-screen in major box-office hits, such as “The Godfather” and “The Bodyguard”.

Designed by the famous architect, Gordon Kaufman, the Beverly House is on the market for a cool $135 million dollars. But, if you don’t want to commit to a mortgage, you can rent the star-studded digs for a mere $600,000 dollars a month.

If you’re looking to move out west, you could always sell your home to Otranto Real Estate. It won’t get you $135 million, but it’s a start, right?

2. Luxury Italian Villa, Otranto, Italy:

Luxury Italian Villa

This luxury Italian villa has stood the test of time since its construction, which dates back to 1840. Perched on the coast, overlooking the sandy shores, and full of charming courtyards and gardens, this one-of-a-kind 16-room property is breathtaking, even in pictures.

It’s currently for sale, but the price isn’t open to the public. The price tag on this stunning display of Italian architecture is available by application only.

3. Buckingham Palace, London – One Of The Most Famous Homes Around The World:

It’s easy to see why this royal beauty is fit for a queen.

As the home of Queen Elizabeth, there’s no chance of buying this castle for yourself. But, you can visit and tour the castle’s grounds. Buckingham Palace is open to the public during specific times throughout the year.

It’s unlikely that you will get around to viewing all 775 rooms. But, many of the staterooms are available for viewing and they are every bit as glorious as you might imagine. In fact, every inch of Her Majesty’s royal homestead is worth the price you will pay for admission to the royal grounds.

While you’re there, make sure that you swing by Windsor Castle, which marks 900 years of royal architecture. If you want to see the actual home of the Queen, you will want to head to Edinburgh where you can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Both are open to visitors all year.

4. Antilla, Mumbai, India:

Mumbai

The Antilla is a 27-story skyscraper that’s owned by the fifth richest man in the world.

Mukesh Ambani, the world-famous billionaire, had the luxurious tower built for his own private use. His wife visited New York and fell in love with Asian interior design, causing him to design the tower for her.

Antilla is the world’s largest and most extravagant residential property. The home cost the businessman around $2 billion dollars.

5. The Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California:

It’s not the original Playboy Mansion, which was in Chicago, but Hugh Hefner’s final party house is bigger and better than the first.

Hefner, known for his partying lifestyle and hosting exclusive soirees, placed his mansion on the market for $200 million. However, the deal included a caveat that he would be able to use the address to party until he passed.

Eventually, the Playboy Mansion sold for half of the original asking price. The Greek millionaire who owns Hostess, the brand that makes Twinkies dessert cakes, bought the home.

6. Fleur de Lys Mansion, Los Angeles, California:

The former home of Mariah Carey recently sold for $102 million dollars, paid in cash by an anonymous buyer. Its spread includes 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. There’s also a 3,000 square foot wine cellar, tasting room, two-story library, expansive ballroom, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a spa.

The Fleur de Lys Mansion, built in 2002, modeled the French castle known as the Palace of Versaille, which had been the most decadent home of its time. The Palace of Versaille was the home of Marie Antoinette, who became famous for her narrow-minded extravagance.

Supposedly, a crowd of peasants once stood in arms outside of her palace complaining that they hadn’t even a crumb of bread to eat. The wealthy Mademoiselle supposedly responded “Let them eat cake”, even though we now know that isn’t accurate.

The socialite’s supposed response, absurd to those hearing it, has defined Antoinette as one of the most out of touch characters to ever grace the pages of history books.

The quote is still cited when referring to the overwhelming differences in thought between social classes.

7. Xanadu 2.0, Medina, Washington:

Owners Bill and Melinda Gates built their sprawling Washington home with many cutting-edge features. As the mastermind behind one of the century’s most notable companies, Gates created the tucked away abode to match his tech-savvy image.

A few of the unique amenities of Xanadu 2.0 include an underwater music system, a separately-housed swimming pool, and a trampoline park with 20-foot ceilings.

The 66,000 square foot home has 24 bathrooms in all, 10 of which are full baths.

In addition, it also has 6 kitchens, male and female locker rooms, a sauna, and a 2,300 square foot reception hall. The reception hall has a wall-to-wall limestone fireplace and a massive video screen for entertaining. It can seat up to 150 people or accommodate up to 200 guests if standing.

Also interesting is the home’s heating and light system. They are controllable using a pin-passcode that guests can set according to their personal preferences. The house’s sheltered design aids in reducing energy usage and regulating temperatures.

Gates also houses his ancient Da Vinci manuscripts here, which he acquired in 1994 for over $30 million dollars at an auction. He can display additional artwork, stored on $150,000 worth of storage devices, via the $80,000 computer screens adorning the walls.

8. Acqua Liana, Florida:

Florida

This property’s claim to fame is that it holds the title for the world’s most luxurious eco-mansion.

The 15,000 square foot home boasts 7 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a waterfall spa that’s lit with fire, floating sun terraces, and an arched aquarium wet bar. It’s almost hard to believe that such extravagant details could also be eco-friendly.

Still, for any doubters, there are plenty of “green” qualities throughout the luxurious homestead. Acqua Linea has superior air quality, $120,000 worth of solar panels, ultra-efficient appliances, and extra LEED features. This helps the eco-mansion to maintain an energy-neutral setting most days.

Its’ designer created the home, not only to be sustainable living quarters but also as a work of art. His visits to exotic tropical locations such as Bali and the South American rainforests inspired him.

9. Palazzo Di Amore, Beverly Hills, California:

Jeff Greene, an LA real-estate mogul, owns the Palazzo Di Amore, which is Italian for “Castle of Love”. He listed the home for $195 million dollars but has since lowered the asking price by at least $66 million.

The sprawling compound is an entertainment mecca. It features a rotating dance floor, laser light system, and a high-tech DJ booth. There’s also a bowling alley, game room, theater, and parking space that can accommodate up to 150 cars at a time. The hard part is getting your friends to come over, it’s getting them to leave!

10. Kensington Palace, London:

Valued at $222 million dollars, Kensington Palace sits on one of Britain’s most exclusive streets, which also known as London’s “Billionaire Row”.

When the homeowner, Laski Mittal of India, purchased the 55,000 square foot palace for $128 million dollars, it was the most expensive address on the market. In addition to owning the famous mansion, Mittal also owns the world’s largest steel manufacturing company.

Kensington Palace was once home to the de Rothschild family. It’s located near the current home of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton.

Looking Into Buying a Mansion of Your Own?

If you’re interested in purchasing one of the mansions above, you’ll be happy to know that several of these properties are currently up for sale. But, there are also plenty of other homes around the world priced for much less in the event you aren’t prepared to spend millions (or billions) of dollars.

But, before you invest in any type of real estate, there is some crucial information that you need to know.

Ready to start searching for your own dream home?

Check out this post for a list of essential things to know before buying a new house!

Read Also:

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5 Tips to Keeping Animals Away From Your Garden

Animals might be cute, furry, and very pleasing to look at but they can seriously be destructive to your field, some of us may enjoy their company, others might want to kill them instantly! Either way, if you do not take care of who enters your garden, your plants may not thank you. Check out the rest of the article to understand what kind of animals can spoil your garden and how to restrict their movement. Who are these animals? Some of the most common garden animals include chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, mice, moles, rats, and opossums. To learn more about possums, click get rid of possum. These animals dig holes into the ground, eat your fruits and vegetables, multiply or lay eggs in your garden, and generally wreak havoc. Other larger animals include dogs, deer, birds, snakes, etc. Just having them run around the garden can cause large-scale destruction. Ways to get rid of animals in your garden There are several ways to control the entry of animals in your garden. Some are more effective than others. To learn more about these methods, read on. 1. Identify the creature : The best way to control animals is to identify them first. This way you would know exactly how to deal with them by understanding their behavior and ways of living or multiplying. You can then target the animal with exactly the right technique that is needed to get rid of them. It is necessary to identify the animal to learn about its habitat, control them, and devise an effective solution. 2. Make your garden animal proof : By making your garden attractive to animals, you will invite more pests into it. Therefore, certain methods need to be adopted to make sure that the animals stay away. One such method is to cut down on places that can house such animals, like tall grass, bushes, or a pile of leaves. Some animals can even crawl under your deck or porch. Minimize any food sources, like birdbaths and seed booths, where animals like squirrels may come to feed. Moreover, you should cover your compost pile that attracts raccoons and fruit and vegetable patches with nets to avoid dogs, cats, deer, etc. 3. Fences, nets, and traps : Fences are a great option to help minimize the entry of animals. For smaller animals, like rats, squirrels, rabbits, and more, small fences around your garden are enough. But for larger animals, like dogs and deer, larger and taller fences are required. Putting up taller fences can go a little heavy on your pocket, so securing plants is probably a better option. Nets are a great way to prevent animals from actually feeding on your produce, like fruits and vegetables. Just adding a mesh or net around your patches can make a huge difference. Traps can be placed throughout the garden to catch animals with the help of baits. Use some food, like cheese, crackers, or biscuits, to lure animals into the trap, which then slams shut. Animals are also not harmed this way. It’s easy to catch possums, rats, squirrels, etc. with the help of traps. 4. Repellents : Some animals can be repelled using auditory techniques, like certain sounds, and repellents that smell a certain way, thus driving or scaring away the animal out of your garden. Some examples of repellents are - predatory urine, garlic clips, and castor oil. But these repellants need to be applied and monitored on a regular basis to make sure they are effective. Some of these repellents, however, can be toxic to humans, so be careful, which repellents you choose. Auditory repellents include motion-sensitive water sprayers, ultrasonic repellers, and visual scare devices, such as reflective tape. The only problem with these repellents is that pests may become immune to these methods, and therefore they may decrease in effectiveness over time. Make sure you read all the directions given on any repellants or products before using them. 5. Do on the spot management : For example, when moles create boroughs in your garden, you can place mothballs in the holes to repel them. Moles don’t eat your garden produce but their tunnels can cause your plants to die since plants may not find space to grow underneath the ground with enough nutrients. If certain animals have entered your garden, immediately introduce the predator species into your gardens, such as cats and dogs, to scare away the pests. Cats and dogs prey on animals, like mice and rats. In some cases, you can hand aluminum foils with strings in your garden. The shiny material can scare away the animals. Again, the effectiveness of this method may die with time. Pests are destructive to your garden and should definitely be identified and eradicated. However, there’s no need to kill these animals in order to get rid of them. You can also use humane ways to get animals out of your garden. Use the methods given above in order to get rid of animals, including possums, from your garden. This will help you get a more secure and flourishing garden in no time! Read Also : 5 Summer Garden Maintenance Tips And Tactics You Have To Know Grow These Flowering Plants In Your Home Garden To Remove Vastu Related Problems

Great Tips for Picking the Right Moving Company

When the time comes to move, most people don’t really know where to start and how to pack and move methodically. The worst of all is that they don’t know what to look for when searching for a moving company. How to pick the right company to help you move? After all, it’s not like you do that every day. That is why we reached out to professionals at Move Central in San Diego. They share some of the points you should look into when choosing your moving company. Here are Great Tips for Picking the Right Moving Company: 1. Shop Around Some people are quite satisfied to call a single company, get a quote, and immediately accept the deal and go through with the move. Whereas that might save you some time, it may not be so beneficial for your wallet and your overall experience. Most experts will tell you that you should shop around. Ask at least 3 companies for a quote with the same parameters and see what each of them offers. Some may be more expensive, but include insurance or wait times as a bonus, whereas others might be cheap, but not offer any additional benefits outside the most basic transportation service. Once you have your quotes, compare them, determine what your priority is and go for the one which fits your needs the best. If you don’t see what’s out there, you may end up missing out on some perks. 2. Ask Around Americans tend to move a lot more and more easily than most other nations, including Canada. Whether it is job prospects, climate, or something else, you are much more likely to move upwards of 10 times over your lifetime. That gives you a pretty good advantage when it comes to picking a moving company. Chances are that you know people who moved recently. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues about their experiences with moving companies. Online reviews are a great resource, but they can only tell you a part of the story. With your friends and family, you can ask about details that may be omitted in an online review. 3. Insured and Licensed Is the Best Way to Move In order to ensure that your move goes without a hitch and problem, you should only hire reputable moving companies, rather than going for a Craigslist ad or something similar. The reason is simple – reputable moving companies are insured and licensed by The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Whether you are moving out of state or just looking for a local move, it is easy to check if the company is licensed. A reputable company will certainly promote that and offer proof, but if you want to ensure, there is a website to check that manually. 4. Ask for Some Details If you have decided on a company that sounds reasonable to you, you can have them come over and give you a quote. This is an ideal opportunity to ask them for details and observe them working. If they don’t seem professional or aren’t sure of what they are doing, it is possible that they are not as skilled as their online ads suggest. Another big point to remember is that a reputable moving company will certainly have their own moving vans, and likely some uniforms for their workers. That may seem like a small thing, but if the company is serious about the business, they need to be willing to invest in the equipment – in the case of moving companies, it is a moving van, dollies, and similar loading and unloading equipment. Whatever company you end up hiring, have a great move, and enjoy your new home. Read Also: Factors To Consider While Preparing For A Move A List of Last-Minute Things You Should Check before You Move House

Best Low Maintenance Plants To Buy In 2024

I have always enjoyed gardening, spending time in nature, and a general affliction towards plants. However, once professional commitments started taking up too much time, I was left with 'no time to stand and stare'. Whatever time I had left, most of it went behind work, and my plants started shriveling up. Do you relate? If this sounds relatable, then keep reading to find out what I did to change things and give my plants the time they need. Well, for starters, I started investing more in low-maintenance plants. These plants can easily thrive well under low lights and can quickly bounce back in case of one or more missed watering. So soon, I was able to spot the change! 10 Best Low Maintenance Plants To Buy In 2024: It was a discovery that I thankfully stumbled upon. It made things so much easier for the anthophilous inside me that I was motivated to write about it. If you are also planning to purchase a few low-maintenance plants, then scroll down to find out more on the same! 1. Cacti If you have long and irregular work schedules, then Cacti is probably the best low-maintenance indoor plant. Cacti plants can thrive well in light that’s natural and requires water only once every week during summer and spring. During winter and fall, you just need to water your cacti once in three weeks. Price: 18 dollars (for four) Why Do We Love It? Can be grown easily Can be cared for easily Great option as a gift 2. Air Plants Air plants are great alternatives for low maintenance plants - they do not even need soil for survival. All that you have to do in this case is dunk these plants in the water for 2 to 3 hours, once every ten days. Now is that not perfect? This is entirely doable every 10 days while you spend your afternoon sunk knee-deep in work. Price: 14 dollars (for five) Why Do We Love It? Easy to maintain Very affordable Saves time 3. Pothos Pothos is also referred to as Devil’s Ivy and is one of the best types of low-maintenance house plants. The best part? These plants can thrive well in both light and darkness. So if you keep it in your low-light cubicle, the plant will survive, and the same goes for brightly lit areas. Also, it can survive when you forget to water the plant. Price: 18 dollars (for five) Why Do We Love It? Air-purifying properties Value for money It comes in a grower’s pot 4. ZZ Plant The ZZ Plants thrive the best in brightly lit rooms, but that does not mean they cannot survive in moderate or low lights. Just like cacti, you don’t need to water them every day. Moreover, it’s a pretty sturdy plant. When you notice that the leaves are falling off, simply water it properly, and you will soon notice the plant from bouncing right back. Price: 26 dollars Why Do We Love It? Can thrive in both natural and artificial light Sturdy and durable Great option as a gift 5. Spider Plants Spider plants are pretty great options if you are looking for low-maintenance plants. These spidery plants tend to dry out in between two watering sessions. In addition, spider plants thrive pretty well under indirect light, and as a result, these plants can flourish well even inside windowless, dark offices. Price: 12 dollars Why Do We Love It? Can thrive well in both natural and artificial light. Air-purifying properties. Great option as a gift for apartments, office cubicles, dorm rooms, and the like. 6. Snake Plants There are low-maintenance plants, and then there are Snake plants. These are not just great as low-maintenance outdoor potted plants but also as plants for low-lit indoor cubicles. Simply put, snake plants are great alternatives for those offices where you get just thirty minutes for grabbing your lunch - let alone watering your plants. Price: 38 dollars Why Do We Love It? Has higher carbon dioxide absorbing efficiency and releases oxygen at night. Has premium air-purifying properties. Versatile - can be planted in a pot or directly into the ground. 7. Succulents Succulents are amazing not because they can be easily maintained but mostly because it has thick leaves that store water. As a result, these plants needed to be watered once a week. Also, these thrive well in dry air and sunlight. No wonder succulents are the best low-maintenance outdoor potted plants. Price: 19 dollars (for five) Why Do We Love It? Easy to grow and maintain Very affordable Perfect for DIY or doing your home decor 8. Bamboo Considered to be a lucky plant, Bamboo needs some light for thriving. This technically means Bamboo plants are great for those cube desks at work. If anyone is starting a new job, it’s best to gift them a bamboo plant wishing them good luck. Also, these plants give any workspace a Feng Shui boost. Price: 28 dollars Why Do We Love It? Easy to grow and maintain Value for money Ideal gift for everyone You May Also Like This: 9. Peace Lily Peace lilies look beautiful, and they also happen to be very easy to grow and maintain. All you need to do is keep misting the leaves and moisturize the soil regularly. However, make sure you are not overwatering the plant, and you should keep the plant away from direct sunlight. Price: 24 dollars Why Do We Love It? Thrives in indoor light Has health benefits Easy to maintain and care for 10. Red Aglaonema Did you know that the Red Aglaonema is new and happening presently? The leaves are all reddish-pink, while the stems are pink. This low-maintenance plant simply amps your cubicle’s personality a few notches higher. Naturally, these will appear brighter in well-lit rooms, buts they can also thrive well under low light. Price: 21 dollars Why Do We Love It? Sturdy and durable Adds texture and color to different spaces Ideal for dorm or room decor 11. Dusty Miller Often called silver ragwort, this icy-looking plant can withstand shade but prefers bright light. The distinctive, silvery leaves become more green-gray in shaded areas, which is also a visually pleasing effect. Its foliage is the main attraction, though it produces small, bright yellow blooms in midsummer. 12. Ribbon Grass Because they spread easily, these variegated blades make an excellent ground cover option. They do not mind shade or sun, but they do love moisture. When planted as a border in your garden, they create a charming link between the grass and the garden. Just make sure to use your shovel to create a sharp trench to keep it from getting into your flowers. 13. Cosmos The name "cosmos" comes from the Greek word for "harmony" or "ordered universe," and Mexican priests gave these happy little flowers this name due to their perfectly arranged, uniform petals. You'll have blooms from spring into autumn because these annual flowers reseed and grow well in full sun. 14. Butterfly Bush Some of the longest-blooming shrubs are these sun-loving plants. They are drought- and insect-resistant and have a vibrant range of colors that are perfect for summer. The plants will naturally draw a large number of hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the fall season. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):- Q1. What Is The Most Low Maintenance Plant? Ans: The most low maintenance plants are,⦿ Aloe vera⦿ ZZ plant⦿ Snake plant⦿ Spider plant, and⦿ Cast-iron plant Q2. What Are The Easiest Plants To Take Care Of? Ans: The easiest plants to take care of are,⦿ Cast-iron plant⦿ Snake plant⦿ ZZ plant⦿ Spider plant⦿ Aloe Vera. Q3. What Is The Most Durable House Plant? Ans: The most durable house plants are,⦿ ZZ plant⦿ Snake plant ⦿ Chinese money plant⦿ Bromeliads⦿ Chinese Evergreen Plant. Wrapping Up: Remember that it is always a good idea to check the resources available through your local extension service, even if the plants you choose are designated for your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and the light and soil conditions of your site. By taking into account factors like wind, humidity, rainfall, and more, you can determine what grows best in your area. It's worth noting that not all plants labeled as "deer-resistant" will withstand deer damage. Are you looking for additional strategies to work in the garden more efficiently rather than more laboriously? Invest in a base of well-established evergreen shrubs; you'll be grateful for it come winter. Fast-growing vines can make a big difference for an ugly fence or garden wall without requiring a lot of work. Additionally, check out container plants and outdoor hanging plants if your garden is limited to a patio or balcony Low-maintenance plants are pretty popular presently. Mostly because they are easy to grow and maintain. So what are you waiting for? Invest in some low-maintenance plants today, and let us know which one are you buying first. Read Also: Planting & Harvesting Mint List of White Flowers in the world All You Need To Know About Resurrection Plant and its Facts

Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World

Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World