Pattern is more than just a point of interest or an aspect of style: it’s one of the fundamental elements of design. As humans, our eyes are naturally drawn to order and repetition—in a tumultuous world, patterns provide the pleasure of orderliness.

Sometimes whimsically detailed but always thoughtfully outfitted with top-tier systems and comfortable seating, these home theatres allow for the celebration of cinema in cozy seclusion.

From the sale of the highest-priced home in the history of Vail, Colorado, to that of an architectural masterpiece in Las Lomas, Mexico, highlighted here are 10 Significant Sales from 2020 represented by the Sotheby’s International Realty® global network.

Amid the coveted confines of Piney Point—perhaps the most prestigious of Houston’s renowned Memorial Villages—Farnham Park is widely regarded and revered as one of the city’s most exclusive communities. On a treasured tree-lined street, this magnificent residence, designed by award-winning area architect Robert Dame, boasts an impressive floor plan of some 15,000 square feet, and while its façade hints at inspiration from English manors of old, it is undeniably and stylishly modern, an exceedingly gratifying home that accommodates the finest contemporary living and entertaining with ease.

Ranging from classically elegant to crisp, clean, and minimal, these staircases are fascinating focal points that create dazzling first impressions.

As temperatures drop in the Northern Hemisphere, homeowners are looking for creative ways to bring their outdoor activities in where it’s warm. From sports facilities to home theaters to spacious places to gather with loved ones, it’s never felt more important to focus on the interior spaces that support year-round hobbies.

With a little ingenuity and creativity, these homes succeed in bringing typical outdoor activities to the indoors, letting homeowners continue to recreate no matter the season.

From a light-filled Parisian apartment to a timeless fieldstone home in Washington DC, these are this month’s four featured notable properties for sale over $5 million.

The dining room is an important hub in any home. It’s where families gather, where friends linger late into the evening after a dinner party, where holiday meals take place and school projects are constructed. The dining room is the space where eating, drinking, and communal living happen, and its décor should reflect both the comfort and significance of connection.

These seven dining rooms range from eclectic and contemporary to classic and sophisticated, each serving as an inspirational space no matter the occasion. Find the room that speaks to you, and bask in the glow of this integral home gathering point.

Most dreams of living “la dolce vita” involve an escape to the Italian countryside, but this magnificent 12,247-square-foot villa in Southern California affords a more approachable stateside version of the sweet life. The centerpiece of the 4.18-acre property, ensconced in the rolling hills of Montecito, is a home of majestic proportions and style, enveloped by stately cypress and native trees and dramatic, colorful grounds.

As the landscape of the world continues to change every day, people are looking closely for investment opportunities. Placing their quality of life at the forefront of their decision making, some of these investments will inevitably mean relocation to a new home – and potentially even a new country. In this continuing series we’ll explore destinations around the world with benefits like residency and citizenship by investment programs, tax incentives, and more, as well as hear from local experts throughout the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand network along the way.

In Paris in 1908, Albert Dupuy revolutionized cooking with his invention of the La Cornue oven. The tradition of excellence and elegance continues today, in ranges made by hand, in labor-intensive processes undertaken by specialist craftspeople. The results are both exceptional appliances and eye-catching works of art.

Whether in the piazzas of Italy or the rushing falls of Niagara, water has the power to draw the eye and set a dramatic scene. From fountains to infinity pools to moats, water features also serve to augment our homes, and it’s the rare property that can’t be improved with the addition of aquatic art. Look to these five exceptional listings that lead by example, making the most of their grounds with architectural fixtures.

A glimpse of the idyllic outdoor spaces that envelop this elegant residence might immediately bring to mind a villa in the French countryside. With their orderly layout, timeless pea gravel, manicured plantings and trees, iron-trimmed French doors, and classical fountain—all overlooked by dreamy balconies—they have a decidedly romantic, Old World feel, but the location is as modern and New World as they come—a desirable thoroughfare in the fashionable Bird Streets of Los Angeles.

As the landscape of the world continues to change every day, people are looking closely for investment opportunities. Placing their quality of life at the forefront of their decision making, some of these investments will inevitably mean relocation to a new home – and potentially even a new country. In this continuing series we’ll explore destinations around the world with benefits like residency and citizenship by investment programs, tax incentives, and more, as well as hear from local experts throughout the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand network along the way.

New York penthouses lead the list of the world’s most expensive and rarest properties. Barely a hundred penthouses number amongst the more than 2,300 upscale NYC apartments currently up for sale. And the prices for these properties are no less astonishing than the views from their terraces; the most expensive penthouse available in New York today is listed for $90M, and 50% of the rest lie within the $30M-75M range.

Australia is famous for its wide-open spaces, its beaches, and its vibrant array of flora and fauna, among many other things. With highly-urbanized and cultural landmarks like Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne, it’s hard to argue that between the natural beauty – and the manmade variety – Australia remains high on the list of sought-after destinations.

Whether the setting is steps from a beach in the Hamptons or the countryside outside Santa Fe, a vaulted ceiling has the power to transform a room into a space filled with volume, drama, and light.

In a state more widely known for relaxed contemporary designs and the historic Mission aesthetic, this distinguished Federalist home designed by early-20th-century architect Frederick Kennedy Jr. strikes a distinctive tone. Enjoying a premier location in Pasadena’s prestigious Huntington Library District and dating to 1923, it has been re-imagined and thoroughly renovated to accommodate sophisticated modern living with every desirable amenity and convenience.

In serene locations from California’s wine country to banks of the Pecos River, these rural retreats enjoy inspiring views, fresh air, interiors that are as enchanting as their surroundings, and plentiful peaceful privacy.

These modern wine rooms go beyond mere function, tackling temperature and proper storage while incorporating eye-catching materials—such as wood, stone, and glass—to create spaces that both practical and alluring.