One luxury that has skyrocketed in popularity over the last year and a half is pet ownership. Many people have expanded their families with four-legged companions during the pandemic. And while a gourmet kitchen, landscaped grounds, or a swimming pool may top the list of personal must-haves when considering the purchase of a new home, it’s important to accommodate dogs and cats as well. Here are seven features to look for in your next home that pets are sure to appreciate.

Each of these stylish compounds—from Connecticut to California wine country—would make an ideal private retreat to enjoy swimming, stargazing, sports, or simply relaxing indoors and out.

The past year has called for adaptation, and we’ve seen the ripple effects in how and where we do our fitness routines. The home gym or workout area is now just as ubiquitous as the home office, and for good reason.

The ability to cater your workout space to your own fitness needs—whether your practice includes yoga, online bootcamps, or elliptical training—allows for a better work-life balance, leading to more flexibility in your day. These five properties offer an inspiring glimpse into how different fitness activities can take place right at home.

No matter how familiar and comfortable a home may be, there will always be opportunities to make the space even more unique. Spending additional time at home has inspired innovative solutions for working, entertaining, and relaxing—and these four luxury homes do an exceptional job of transforming common areas into creative spaces that make everyday living even more enjoyable.

Countless art lovers are captivated by the visionary artists Diego Rivera, Augusta Savage, and Camille Pissarro. To cut through the mystery and gain an appreciation and understanding of these masters, one must visit the cities that facilitated their talents. Each is a joy to visit in its own right; add in these stops and you’ll come away with a newfound artistic education covering some of the art world’s biggest names.

In keeping with the motifs of its inspiration—the hôtels particuliers of France—this stately manor in Pacific Heights is gracefully positioned “entre cour et jardin”—that is, between a refined entry courtyard and a glorious backyard garden. Its undeniably classic architecture and influence notwithstanding, the residence is a perfectly modern milieu, at ease with contemporary fittings and furnishings as well as technological comforts and conveniences. Its generous scale, lofty ceilings, expansive wall space, and thoughtfully placed lighting create the ideal environs for art.

Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) set a new record for April and amounted to more than quadruple that from April 2020 – the first full month of the pandemic. Bucking the regular seasonal trend, April 2021 sales actually declined month-over-month. A similar trend was noted for the number of new listings reported.

Water features have the ability to transform an ordinary property into something extraordinary—they become a locus for both drama and history. From idyllic ponds to antique fountains to entrancing infinity pools, an architectural water feature sets a striking scene, no matter if you’re in California or Paris. These four exceptional listings prove that a water statement is a powerful—and memorable—architectural move to make.

With warm sunshine and fresh air just steps from an array of covered comforts and conveniences, these five homes—from the Hamptons to Malibu—boast indoor-outdoor spaces just right for the long, languid days and nights of summer.

A truly inspired interior isn’t just something pretty to look at, it’s an immersive experience felt through every sense—including touch. The plushness of a shaggy rug underfoot, the splendor of running your fingers through a faux fur hide, the cozy lure of a hand-knit ottoman—by incorporating texture and tactility into your design, the look and feel becomes interactive. “Careful and thoughtful layering of a space makes a room come alive,” says Rome, Italy-based architect and designer Achille Salvagni. “Alongside color and materials, tactile elements are extremely important. These are the details that can complete a room and transform it from a clinical, sterile environment into a warm and inviting space,” he says.

Egypt is a nation celebrated for its preservation of artifacts and antiquities; however, no one museum has ever highlighted such a comprehensive collection as the Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, which broke ground in 2012. After numerous delays due to construction, finance, logistics, and the global pandemic, the long-awaited opening will occur this year.

Bugatti’s legacy would be assured, even if the dormant nameplate hadn’t been revived for awesome supercars circa 1991. That’s because, before World War II, the company, under founder Ettore Bugatti, produced a series of exquisite and winning racers, plus elegant and mechanically advanced road cars bodied by the world’s premier coachbuilders. Restorers who dismantle Bugattis discover that every part, down to the smallest nut and bolt, is beautifully designed.

There’s nothing like a Steinway & Sons piano. Or so say the virtuosos who insist on playing this American-made instrument. Steinway & Sons pianos have dominated concert halls all over the world since the company introduced its first piano 167 years ago, and pianists from every genre, from Lang Lang to Billy Joel, are known for the special relationship they have with this maker.

Bohemian design has a piecemeal quality—as if every accent, object, and furniture find was picked up along a storied journey through time. Yet the beauty of it is that everything has its rightful place in a well-worn tapestry. Crafty and colourful, worldly, and eclectic, the carefree look is also homey.

“Less is more.” That was the edict of one of modern architecture’s patron saints, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and is still a guiding principle for many contemporary practitioners. Geometric shapes, a lack of ornamentation, open, efficient floor plans, and seamless indoor-outdoor living are hallmarks of modern masterpieces. But above all, materials—glass, steel, and concrete—shape the designs.

High housing costs, especially in urban centres, continue to place middle class and low-income Canadians under huge financial pressure.

A long-term plan for a faster-growing Canadian economy must include housing that is affordable for working Canadians, especially young families. Stable housing is critical for communities and for a strong middle class.

Blending sustainability with stylish design, these four distinctive homes prove that reducing a home’s carbon footprint doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury.

We can all use a little more light in our lives, and the same is true for our homes. A well-designed sunroom, solarium, or conservatory is a coveted space for anyone looking for a blend of indoors and outside.

Whether it becomes the spot for relaxing with a morning espresso or basking in the final rays of the day, a sunroom offers a special way to enjoy nature in comfort and style. Here are five elegant luxury properties around the world with sunrooms that shine.

An extraordinary work executed in 1982, when the artist was just 22 years old, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Versus Medici will star in the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York on 12 May, where it will be offered with an estimate of $35–50 million.

When it comes to décor, paintings and photography will always enhance a home. But if you’re looking for an even bigger impact, consider a mural or fresco. These are by no means contemporary art choices—murals have been found in caves as far back as 30,000 BC, and frescoes are credited to ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Minoan civilizations—but they are currently enjoying a renaissance.