Until now, luxury real estate buyers have found inspiration in properties with a sense of grandeur. Whether via a stately brownstone in a major city, a quiet retreat in cottage country, or a tropical paradise somewhere abroad, they’ve opted for spaciousness, for homes that mirror their success.

While equally invested in purchasing an uplifting pied-a-terre, the next generation of luxury real estate buyers are redefining the priorities of home ownership. 

Where you open your eyes in the morning can set the mood for your whole day. Do you wake refreshed in a bedroom oasis, or stressed and harried in the middle of a half-finished project? By selecting a master bedroom design with the perfect blend of light, textures, and tones, you can set yourself up for a fruitful day ahead. If you’re considering a renovation, take inspiration from these five trending master bedroom design ideas.

The state of the restaurant scene has never been more exciting in Canada than it is right now. There are currently 98,000-plus restaurants across the country offering an incredible range of global flavours — an especially impressive number when you consider how notoriously tough it is to run a successful restaurant. In such a competitive business, it takes more than just great food to thrive. The best chef-owners share their hard-earned knowledge — learned through navigating the ups and downs of owning a restaurant — by nurturing young talent and setting the next round of chefs free to spread their gastronomic love.

In 1954, Ernest Hemingway took up residence in Venice’s famed Gritti Palace, the hotel where, several years earlier, he had written parts of his novel Across the River and into the Trees. This time, Hemingway was recovering from a plane crash that occurred while he was on safari in Africa. According to legend, the writer’s convalescence involved copious champagne and indoor baseball, played with a tightly rolled woollen sock in his much-coveted corner suite. When a window was smashed in the room, Gritti Palace management gave Hemingway a 10-percent discount on his bill, on the basis that no one had ever before played baseball in the 300-year-old hotel.

Are you considering purchasing an investment property? The right piece of real estate is a great way to grow your financial portfolio while also potentially earning rental income. However, the recent introduction of a mandatory stress test to the mortgage qualification process means that certain buyers may need to reconsider their options.

A well-designed living room is a social hub. It invites guests and family members to pause and come together, to enjoy a glass of wine by the fire, to curl up side-by-side with the latest best-sellers. A living room is also a reflection of your personality and tastes: do you prefer a cozy, rustic design, or a subtle palette of trendy neutrals? A minimalist, mid-century modern vibe or a dramatic, Victorian-inspired look? Whether you’re redecorating or starting fresh in a new home, take inspiration from these five gorgeous living room design ideas.

As the blue and white tints of winter finally clear, shades of spring can be found rousing from hibernation. Out with heavy drapes and slate greys, and in with a fresh palette of Cinque Terre pastels, statement touches, and a seamless blend of country chic meets modern world.

Your space should evolve with the season. What softens the blow of winter winds and early evenings may hamper the enjoyment of those fresh yellow and green blossoms. So get ready with these home décor trends for spring.

As winter turns to spring, the landscape — and the real-estate market — re-emerges and blooms again. Though not visible to the eye, solid root systems — just like a home’s foundation — are fundamental to growth and endurance.

At Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, we appreciate that the value of a home lies not only in the beauty of its architecture, but also in the strength of its foundation in order to withstand the test of time and become a solid investment integral to your financial future, as well as a place for you and your family to plant roots and flourish.

Vancouver’s Joseph Segal is a self-made billionaire, thanks to the various business ventures that he invested in — from selling fish from his bicycle to property development through his company, Kingswood Capital Corporation. But when it comes to one of his greatest passions — collecting art, Segal values the help he’s had along the way.

Toronto is a city of unparalleled dining options, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, and a multicultural demographic with more than half of its population hailing from outside the country. It even has an airport in the downtown core. One of the biggest benefits for parents, however, is that Toronto is also home to a number of the top-ranked private schools in the country—meaning there’s no shortage of outstanding education options to choose from. In these neighbourhoods, the curriculum, facilities, and mentors are first-class. Read on to discover the Top Private Schools in Toronto by Neighbourhood.

hen it comes to eco-friendly living, tomorrow’s world is already here. A wealth of effortless choices await when looking to revamp and modernize a home into a sustainable, conscious enclave. Why sacrifice style when it comes to sustainability? Here are 4 energy efficient upgrades to invest in your home’s worth and propel it to the top of the market’s must-see listings.

With their endless amenities, ultramodern finishes, panoramic views, and trendy locales, today’s condos offer extensive value to the discerning buyer. Yet streamlining a space can help elevate a condo even further, and these design tips squeeze every drop out of square footage, without compromising on luxury to help you maximize your condo space.

Buzz, energy, boundless choice – that’s the lure of city living. To be in the thick of culture, art, gastronomy, and community; to be in the midst of change and witness the spark of a collective idea; where some see a metropolis as a weighty undertaking, choosing to retreat to the calm refuge of the countryside instead, others revel in the unique energy and character of a city.

If “location, location, location” is at the top of your property search priorities—after all, who doesn’t love close proximity to the best restaurants, venues, and events a city has to offer—consider the new wave of expertly designed or recently refurbished condos and townhouses cropping up across the country.

The warmer months of spring and summer are when the real estate market spikes and buyers are hot on the trail of a new home. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile to list your home in the new year—after all, winter offers sellers less competition with fewer properties on the market. Plus, once the cold sets in you have a chance to pull out all the stops to make your home feel comfy and cozy. Here are some tips to ensure you’re set up to wow potential buyers during the snowy season.

he new year brings resolutions, a new outlook, and a fresh start—and what better way to kickoff 2018 than with a home that inspires tranquillity and peace of mind. People in countries across the world have unique ways of living simply, happily, and in harmony with their surrounding environment. From the Scandinavian concept of hygge to the Chinese philosophy of feng shui, each culture’s practices offers valuable lessons—and the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing is no different.

Turquoise waters, breezy sea air, sun soaked beaches and lush greenery are part and parcel for the idyllic island jaunt, but there are tropical escapes, and then there are tropical escapes.

Once you decide to own a slice of paradise, the details of island living become that much more nuanced. It becomes about sun and shade cycles, open-air living, a welcome dose of privacy, and views whenever possible. Warm wood adds a beach-hut feel, sweeping white walls offset pops of topical color, and washed stones evoke nearby shorelines. Couple those trappings of good taste with resort-like amenities and you may never leave the island.

Your home serves as the outward expression of your inner-self, something of a vessel for your spirit. To capture that essence, clear structure, a thoughtful palette, and ambient lighting hold key roles; but it’s what you display in this space that makes it unique. Curating art for this blank slate is what makes a home uniquely yours.

From delivery robots and autonomous trash collection, Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs (sister company to Google) plans to build its first digital city in Toronto