One of the most influential names in real estate is once again showing us how it’s done.
Influencer, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and prominent real estate investor Grant Cardone is selling his beachfront mansion in Florida for $42 million.
But throwing cash at the seasoned investor won’t do the trick.
He wants 646 Bitcoin for his one-of-a-kind house in Golden Beach, Florida — which was formerly home to fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who sold it to the billionaire businessman back in 2021 for $24 million.
Cardone, who founded Cardone Capital, a real estate investment firm that manages a portfolio of billions in assets, listed his Florida residence on PropyKeys, a leading blockchain-based platform for real estate transactions.
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The offering: what 646 Bitcoin will buy you in Florida
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
The Golden Beach residence sits on a 0.63-acre oceanfront lot, with its own private beachfront access and 100 feet of pristine shoreline.
Built in 2007, it features over 13,000 square feet of luxury interior space, with 7 bedrooms and 8 baths. Also on the grounds of the property, there is a heated saltwater pool and a private beach cabana.
The house has sophisticated interiors by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard — who was also one of the leading stars of Bravo’s short-lived Million Dollar Decorators — designed the interiors of the $42 million abode.
Bullard, who also decked out the homes of other celebs like Eva Mendes, Ellen Pompeo Kylie Jenner, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Cher, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, to name just a few, is known for his broad-ranging, sophisticated yet eclectic style.
The interiors were designed to accommodate an extensive art collection
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Bullard is the one who fitted the now-famous residence with vibrant spaces filled with patterned ceilings, walls and floors, interesting sculptures, and bright carpeting — meant to highlight the previous owners’ extensive pop art collection.
Previously home to fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Cardone bought the house from fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo, who had been trying for years to land a buyer for their Golden Beach house. They had listed it for as much as $27.5 million, before the 10x Rule author took it off their hands in 2021 for $24 million.
Bold interiors, artsy decor & sophisticated touches hint at its famous past owner
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
While under Hilfiger’s ownership, the Florida mansion graced the cover of many interior design magazines, and was heavily featured in the media — Architectural Digest included.
And it’s easy to see why. Even after the Cardones toned down the interiors slightly with modern upgrades, the house still features dramatic interior touches that include a black marble staircase, chevron-patterned marble floors in the dining room, and reflective ceilings, to name just a few.
It underwent extensive renovations in the past three years
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Grant and Elena Cardone invested heavily in updating the 2007-built mansion.
Since they purchased it back in 2021, the couple has meticulously renovated the property, replacing some of the finishes (like the patterned walls and floors) designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard added for the Hilfigers, and replacing them with designer choices that can appeal to a wider demographic of potential buyers.
The outdoor areas have been spruced up the most
Most recently, in 2023, the two have been hard at work updating the property’s outdoor areas, including renovating the pool deck and bar/grill area and upgrading the landscaping. They’ve also added new ocean-side windows and doors.
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics PhotographyPhoto credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics PhotographyPhoto credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
There’s also a charming beach cabana
Impressive as the main house might be, it’s not the only structure on the property. There’s also a charming beach cabana that neighbors the heated saltwater pool.
See also: Larry Ellison’s house, the $173M Gemini Mansion in Florida
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Cardone is embracing blockchain technology
“We are all in on blockchain revolutionizing real estate! We are leveraging top-tier technology to make transactions seamless and unstoppable,” Cardone said in a statement, providing insight into his decision to list the property via blockchain, as opposed to more traditional platforms.
“This is the future of real estate, and we’re leading the charge,” the Sell or Be Sold author stated.
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
The platform he chose to list his property
As one of the most prominent figures in real estate, Cardone could have partnered with practically any platform. But he went with Propy, a Silicon Valley-based proptech company that’s happy to partner with the seasoned investor:
“It is a privilege to us to be the platform of choice for high-end property sales that we offer to our community of HNWI investors and crypto buyers,” said Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy. “The inclusion of Cardone’s listing in BTC and USD on Propy, minted with our latest privacy deed feature, highlights our leadership in the intersection of real estate and crypto.”
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Also publicly listed with his wife as the listing agent
The Golden Beach house is also up on the MLS, with Zillow and other property websites showing the billionaire’s wife as the agent attached to the listing.
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
An eXp Realty agent, Elena Cardone got her real estate license just a few years ago, per her LinkedIn profile, but has already been making a splash on the Miami real estate scene. An older LinkedIn post shows that Elena and her team had over $840 million in sales volume in 2022 alone.
Rumor has it he’s also selling his Malibu Beach abode
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Over on the other Coast, Cardone owns a $40 million “Castle on the Sand” in Malibu, California a 6-bedroom, 10-bathroom beachfront residence that might have a similar fate to his Florida abode.
The Undercover Billionaire star paid a whopping $40 million for the house back in 2022, which sits in the pricey Carbon Beach area of Malibu, also known as Billionaire’s Beach.
He reportedly wants $65M for that one — preferably in Bitcoin
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
Several news outlets, including the New York Post, have reported that Cardone has been quietly looking to offload his Carbon Beach house for an even more ambitious asking: $65 million, also accepting payments in Bitcoin.
That mansion isn’t being floated on the open market though, and is likely being offered as a pocket listing that only vetted buyers can access.
Who is Grant Cardone?
Photo credit: Elad Elkoubi / Swift Pics Photography
One of the biggest influencers, authors, and speakers in the real estate space, Grant Cardone has made a name for himself as a serial entrepreneur and financial guru. He’s the founder of Cardone Enterprises, Cardone Capital, Cardone Training Technologies, The 10X Movement, and The 10X Growth Conference — one of the world’s largest business & entrepreneur conferences.
He also famously authored several best-selling books, including The 10X Rule, Be Obsessed Or Be Average, Sell Or Be Sold, and Millionaire Booklet, as well as several bestselling business programs.
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Holland America Line’s current fleet includes 11 ships, which are mostly midsize. They visit all seven continents, with stops in the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, Antarctica and more. Its Alaska presence is especially strong, and Holland America claims it has visited Glacier Bay National Park more than any other cruise operator.
Holland America’s parent company is Carnival Cruise Line, which acquired Holland America in 1989. But while Carnival touts offerings like the “first roller coaster at sea” on its flagship brand, Holland America is for folks with — let’s call it — more refined tastes.
Here’s your guide to Holland America, including amenities, costs and how you might save money on your next sailing.
Is a Holland America cruise right for you?
Many ships feature a library. (Photo by Sally French)
Here are some types of people best suited for Holland America:
Travelers ready for relaxation rather than partying
Though open to travelers of any age (infants must be at least six months old to embark on most cruises), Holland America caters to the mature set.
Unlike Disney Cruises or Royal Caribbean ships, which are laden with waterslides, flashy designs and high-energy shows, Holland America is more subdued. Its most lively entertainment includes a casino, trivia nights and live music. Children or adult travelers seeking maximum stimulation might be less enthused.
But relaxed cruisers seeking peace might find it here.
Cruisers who prefer a ship that’s not too big yet not too small
The salon. (Photo by Sally French)
Every Holland America ship has a gym, portrait studio, sports courts, a spa, salon and multiple pools. On a short three-night cruise, you could eat three meals a day at a different restaurant and never hit them all. The largest ship has 10 restaurants, not including snack spots like the café and gelato shop.
Still, Holland America ships are relatively small. While Royal Caribbean’s behemoth Icon of the Seas ship has more than two dozen restaurants and a capacity for 5,610 guests, Holland America’s largest ship, Rotterdam, accommodates 2,668 guests.
Holland America destinations
Holland America covers almost 100 countries or territories and more than 470 ports, including stops in the Amazon and Antarctica.
For its 2025-26 cruise season, Holland America will operate in 11 countries in Asia alone. The primary focus is Japan, where it will dock in 24 ports around the country.
Mexico and Panama Canal cruises are also big. The 2025-26 cruise season adds a new stop at the port of Acajutla, El Salvador, on most Panama sailings. Meanwhile, two ships will offer Mexico itineraries with stops including Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.
(Photo courtesy of Holland America)
The 2025-26 season brings an iconic Pacific Northwest itinerary that hasn’t been offered in decades. Dubbed the “Great Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and includes stops in Ketchikan, Alaska. Expect to see whales, eagles and potentially bears.
Holland America ships
Here’s a breakdown of all 11 Holland America ships, sorted by largest to smallest guest capacity:
Staterooms
Suites feature whirlpool bathtubs. (Photo by Sally French)
The smallest, two-guest rooms are about 143 square feet, though suites are easily double that. The smallest suite, the Vista Suite, ranges from 260-356 square feet. For maximum space (and service), book the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 square feet. High-end suites include frills like whirlpool bathtubs, vanities, dressing rooms, decks and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Holland America also caters to solo travelers by offering single-person staterooms that are as small as 127 square feet.
Whether you choose a lavish suite or an inside stateroom, expect fairly upscale accommodations.
Holland America food
Larger ships have a dozen or more eateries. Some restaurants operate on every ship, such as Canaletto (a casual Italian restaurant) and Lido Market (which serves meals in an all-you-can-eat, cafeteria-style setting).
All you can eat
Meals at The Dining Room are included with your cruise fare — a rare exception for fine dining restaurants on Holland America. (Photo by Sally French)
Most casual restaurants are complimentary and all-you-can-eat, included in your cruise fare.
While most restaurants cost extra, the exception is The Dining Room. Its multicourse dinners feature rotating, elevated menu items (such as lamb loin). As part of a partnership with Masaharu Morimoto, The Dining Room serves dishes similar to those in Morimoto’s restaurants.
No matter your cabin class, 24-hour room service is complimentary, delivering items such as salads and sandwiches.
With beverages, the free stuff is generally limited to the basics like water, tea and coffee. Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails and alcohol cost extra.
What food costs extra?
Aside from The Dining Room, waiter-service restaurants cost extra. Some operate an à la carte model, such as Nami Sushi. There, entrees cost about $15, while sushi rolls run about $5 each.
Others charge fixed prices. For example, dinner at Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse, costs an additional $46 per person. Certain items also have an additional charge (caviar costs an extra $50).
Though the additional charges might be annoying, they can be considered a deal relative to dining at a steakhouse on land.
In addition to fancy restaurants, some casual dining options (including the cafés and gelato shop) incur an extra fee.
🤓Nerdy Tip
For free ice cream, head to Lido Market, where you can DIY dessert at the ice cream station.
Holland America drink packages
On Holland America, you’ll need to purchase a drink package to sip from these soda machines. (Photo by Sally French)
For beverages beyond the basics, buy them individually or through a drink package.
The soda-only package entails unlimited fountain drinks for $8 per person, per day.
The Quench package costs $17.95 per person, per day and includes sodas, premium coffee (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not unlimited, but there’s plenty to go around with a 15-drink daily limit.
For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe at least $55 per person, per day (premium spirits cost more). Again, there’s a 15-drink daily cap.
Is the food any good?
Food quality varies. Lido Market is your run-of-the-mill buffet but other restaurants are generally excellent (just note the surcharge).
For example, dinner at Canaletto costs $25 extra per person and includes pasta and gelato — both made fresh on board.
Holland America also has some food options from famous chefs. The first Morimoto By Sea opened aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, bringing the award-winning restaurant chain to sea.
A spread of items served at a Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)
Holland America activities
The art gallery on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)
Holland America activities are pretty tame, such as live music and wine tasting.
A music venue. (Photo by Sally French)
Every ship features World Stage, a theater hosting entertainment like expert lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships also have at least one lounge or club, such as Rolling Stone Rock Room or B.B. King’s Blues Club.
A shuffleboard court on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)
Every ship has a casino, spa, fitness center and outdoor sport courts, including pickleball courts. After all, Holland America is the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association.
Holland America Kids Club
Most cruises offer a kids club with crafts, video games and scavenger hunts.
Kid-friendly offerings are extremely limited (especially compared with competitors like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t expect many kids onboard. Many cruisers consider the lack of kids one of Holland America’s best features.
Which Holland America ship is best?
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Because amenities are so similar on every ship, it’s hard to pick one best ship. But here are some factors to consider:
If you want the most options: Rotterdam is the largest (and has the most restaurants).
If you want the newest ship: The Rotterdam is also the newest ship, which first set sail in 2021. Newer ships often (though not always) mean better layouts and up-to-date fixtures.
If you prioritize smaller ships: Volendam and Zaandam are the smallest.
If you want to live on a ship: Two ships, Volendam and Zuiderdam, carry out the Grand Voyages and World Cruises, which sail around the world for months. Zuiderdam is slightly larger than Volendam — offering more guest rooms and entertainment venues.
The Crow’s Nest offers a lounge for relaxing and panoramic views. (Photo by Sally French)
Holland America: How much does it cost?
According to a NerdWallet analysis of more than 100 Holland America cruise itineraries through 2024, the average seven-night, inside stateroom starts at $646 per person. That figure assumes double occupancy (so a couple sharing a room would owe about $1,300), but doesn’t account for extra fees, including taxes and gratuities, or optional add-ons like beverages or Wi-Fi.
Suites can easily cost double that (or far more). For example, the average Vista Suite (the lowest class of suites), averaged $1,322 per person for a seven-night trip. The fanciest of the suites, the Neptune Suite, averaged $2,766 per person.
An inside stateroom on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)
Prices can also vary widely by region. Here were the average prices per person for seven-night journeys (assuming inside staterooms with double occupancy), broken down by major regions:
California coast: $349.
Alaska: $413.
Caribbean: $609.
Mediterranean: $909.
Northern Europe: $972.
Other costs
The dessert spread at the Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)
That’s the base fare, but anticipate other expenses, including:
Taxes, fees and port expenses: Holland America passes on fees and taxes imposed by governments or port operators. Expect a few hundred dollars added to your base rate.
Gratuity/tip: An automatic $17 ‘Crew Appreciation’ charge is added per stateroom guest, per day. For guests in suites, it’s $19. Though automatically added, you can adjust the figure upon settling your bill at checkout.
Service charge: Add-ons like beverages, speciality meals and spa services incur an 18% service charge.
Ability to choose your stateroom: For those who want to sleep closest to the best deck on a cruise ship, there’s an additional fee to select your specific stateroom, though prices vary by cruise.
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Some activities: Certain activities incur extra costs, such as spa treatments.
Shore excursions: Upon docking, you’re free to exit the ship and roam around on your own, but Holland America sells curated shore excursions, too, that easily cost more than $100 per person. Prices vary by excursion. In Maui, you can tour a pineapple plantation for $190, while a behind-the-scenes tour of the Maui Ocean Center costs $560. Although you can book excursions through third parties, beware. Benefits of booking through Holland America include early departure and a guaranteed return.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi starts at roughly $22 per day depending on cruise length. More robust Wi-Fi (such as streaming capabilities) costs more than $30 per day.
Specialty dining and drinks: Specialty restaurants — as well as most beverages beyond basics such as coffee, tea and water — cost extra.
Is the Have It All premium cruise package worth it?
For the latter three items — shore excursions, Wi-Fi, speciality dining and drinks — the Have It All premium cruise package may be worth it.
Packages vary depending on the cruise length. Here’s what’s included:
NerdWallet analyzed dozens of Holland America cruise fares. On average, here’s how much money you would save, depending on the cruise length:
In every data point in NerdWallet’s analysis, the Have It All package ended up cheaper than buying all of those things a la carte. But consider what you really need. If you only drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage package probably isn’t worth it.
How to save on a Holland America cruise
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Cruise last-minute: The Last Minute Cruise Deals page lists discounted sailings within the next 60-90 days. However, don’t overlook other costs such as potentially-expensive, last-minute airfare.
Scout out promotions: Holland America’s general deals page is the spot for Black Friday cruise deals or other seasonal promotions.
Refer a friend: Holland America regularly runs a referral program where you might get a cruise credit if your friend enters your name in the referral form.
Become an AARP member: AARP members can earn up to $200 in stateroom credits. Actual amounts depend on room type and cruise length. Considering AARP membership costs $16 annually (and potentially less if you commit to more than one year), joining pays for itself based on the cruise credit alone.
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Should you purchase travel insurance for a Holland America cruise?
Holland America sells a cancellation protection plan, which allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason. It’s called the Holland America Line Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP). Unlike traditional insurance plans that require proof (e.g., a doctor’s note confirming illness) or have tons of fine print around reasons the insurer doesn’t have to pay out, CPP is convenient because it lets you cancel for truly any reason.
Plans start at $79, but can run higher depending on coverage and trip length.
The cheapest plan, Standard, requires you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. The Platinum Plan lets you cancel any time up to departure. Neither gets you a full refund though. The Standard Plan refunds up to 80% of your total cost, and Platinum refunds up to 90%.
The Platinum Plan also covers potential costs such as emergency medical and dental care, coverage for lost or delayed bags and trip delay insurance.
Is the Holland America credit card worth it?
The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card has a $0 annual fee, so it’s hard to knock it. It earns 2 points per $1 spent on Holland America purchases and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else. There are also no foreign transaction fees.
Top travel cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
on Chase’s website
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
on Bank of America’s website
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Annual fee
Rewards earn rate
• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.
• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.
• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.
• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
• 3 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending on Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 1.5 points per $1 spent.
• 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel site.
• 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on supermarkets.
• 3 points per $1 on gas stations and EV charging stations.
• 3 points per $1 on restaurants.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Travel credit benefit
$325 annual credit.
$100 in airline incidental statement credits.
This card does not offer a travel credit benefit.
Still not sure?
Is cruising with Holland America worth it?
The casino. (Photo by Sally French)
Holland America offers a traditional and elegant cruise experience. The emphasis on high-quality dining makes it good for foodies — just note that the best restaurants cost extra. Crowds are mature, which is a pro or a con depending on the level of entertainment, nightlife and energy you seek.
Families or people seeking high stimulation and constant entertainment should skip it. Additionally, budget travelers might find the additional charges aggravating (though additional charges are common across pretty much any cruise line).
In short, cruisers who value sophisticated service, delicious food, and exploration may love Holland America.
Set on the rocky southern tip of Aquidneck Island off Rhode Island, the summer resort town of Newport is also known as the last bastion of America’s Gilded Age.
The wealthy seaside town was once the preferred summer destination of the richest families in the United States, with the Vanderbilts, the Morgans, and the Astors all owning larger-than-life “summer cottages” here.
And while they’ve all started selling off (or downright abandoning) their Newport mansions in the early 20th Century, in the wake of the Great Depression, the New England town’s cliffs are still lined with ostentatious, marble-clad residences that tell the story of a time long gone.
Chief among them is the property at 596 Bellevue Avenue — best known as the Marble House — a neoclassical mansion built as a birthday present for Alva Vanderbilt back in 1888.
Second only to the Vanderbilts’ iconic The Breakers residence, the Marble House was the one to kickstart Newport’s transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent Gilded Age mansions. And since it carries such a long-lasting legacy, today we thought we’d take a closer look at the Newport mansion that started it all.
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It was built between 1888 and 1892 as a birthday present
Photo credit: Jeff Schultes | Dreamstime
William Kissam Vanderbilt, the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, built Marble House as a 39th birthday present for his wife, Alva. Meant to serve as the couple’s summer “cottage”, the sprawling Newport mansion was built between 1888 and 1892.
Marble House was among the first Gilded Age mansions in Newport
Photo credit: Jiawangkun | Dreamstime
Predating most of the other palatial residences that line Newport’s wealthy streets, Vanderbilt’s Marble House is credited with sparking the town’s transformation from a relatively relaxed summer colony of wooden houses to its current image as a resort of opulent stone palaces.
Building costs were the equivalent of over $370M in today’s money
The Marble House in 1895. Photo credit: Frank H. Child, photographer / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
596 Bellevue Avenue was quite a feat of construction, with Vanderbilt having to invest a fortune to build his summer “cottage”. The cost of the house was reported in contemporary press accounts to be $11 million, which amounted to about $373 million in 2023.
It required 500,000 cubic feet of marble
Photo credit: Faina Gurevich | Dreamstime
A big chunk of change was spent on securing the marble needed for the construction. In total, Vanderbilt spent $7 million to acquire 500,000 cubic feet of marble (the equivalent of 14,000 square meters).
A prime example of Beaux-Arts architecture
Photo credit: Demerzel21 | Dreamstime
But the investment paid off, as the stately structure became one of the earliest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States. It’s also one of the most recognizable.
Drawing inspiration from le Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles, the Marble House was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt — the same one who worked on the Statue of Liberty, and built the most famous Vanderbilt mansions like The Breakers, and the Biltmore, among others.
It may not look it, but the mansion has four levels
Photo credit: Jiawangkun | Dreamstime.com
While seeing it from outside might make you think it only has two floors, the Marble House actually has four levels, with the kitchen and other service areas located in the basement, and a third floor concealing the servant quarters.
And a whopping total of 50 rooms
Photo credit: Yingna Cai / Shutterstock
Visitors who pass through the stately mansion’s grand entry doors are led into a world of opulence and grandeur that’s unlike anything we might see today (outside of museums, that is).
With walls, floors, and staircases draped in marble, intricate murals, gilt bronze detailing throughout, and lavishly decorated interiors that bear the signature of Jules Allard & Sons — one of the most notable interior decorating houses of the turn of the twentieth century — each room is a display of incomparable wealth.
Standout rooms include a Grand Salon that doubled as a Ballroom, and a Stair Hall
Photo credit: Tempestz | Dreamstime.com
While I might not have time to go over all 50 rooms inside this palatial abode, I’ve picked a few standout rooms to highlight that you simply can’t find in other houses.
This includes a two-story Stair Hall that features a grand staircase of yellow Siena marble — modeled after the palace at Versailles with a wrought iron and gilt bronze staircase railing and featuring an 18th-century Venetian ceiling painting — and the imposing Allard and Sons-designed Grand Room, which served as both ballroom and reception room.
A Gothic Room with a stone fireplace
Photo credit: By Renata3 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Another unique space is the Gothic Revival-style room where Alva Vanderbilt once displayed her Medieval and Renaissance collection, featuring a stone fireplace that’s a replica of the one in Palais Jacques Coeur in Bourges, France.
The dining room draped in pink marble
Photo credit: xiquinhosilva / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The rich, pink Numidian Marble dining room is dripping in gilt bronze ornamentation on the moldings, fireplace, and ceiling.
See also: Winfield Hall, the Historic Woolworth Mansion in Glen Cove
Mrs. Vanderbilt’s former bedroom has a circular painting of Athena
Photo credit: By Renata3 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Set on the second floor, Alva Vanderbilt’s former bedroom is one of the most visited rooms in the house, drawing tourists with its lavish Louis XIV-style interiors (also known as French classicism) and its circular ceiling painting of Athena, painted by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini circa 1721.
Alva retained ownership in the divorce
Photo credit: lilyputin lilyputins / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
After Alva divorced William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1895, she retained ownership of the Marble House, which was gifted to her on her 39th birthday. She soon remarried another wealthy socialite/politician by the name of Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, who owned another Richard Morris Hunt-designed residence down the street from the Marble House, called Belcourt.
After her new husband passed away, she opened the Marble House to suffragettes
Woman suffrage gathering at the Newport Marble House of Alva Belmont on September 12, 1909. Photo credit: New York Times / Public domain
During her second marriage, Alva only used 596 Bellevue Ave as an extension of her closet, with the house being mostly maintained by servants. But that all changed once the former socialite’s new husband passed away in 1908.
After Oliver Belmont died of appendicitis at the tender age of 49, Alva turned her attention to a cause worthy of her status and influence and joined the Women’s suffrage movement.
She added a Chinese Tea House
Photo credit: Lei Xu | Dreamstime.com
Alva Belmont reopened the Marble House in 1909, and added the Chinese Tea House on the seaside cliff. The Tea House, modeled after 12th-century Song dynasty temples, became a gathering place where she hosted rallies for women’s suffrage.
Sold to the Prince family
Photo credit: Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com
A decade later, Alva decided to completely close the Marble House and move to France to be closer to her daughter, Consuelo Balsan. By 1932, she sold the Newport mansion to American stockbroker, investment banker, and financier Frederick H. Prince, whose family used it as a summer house for the next 30 years.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971
Photo credit: Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com
After three decades of ownership, in which the Prince family used the stately residence for its intended purposes, hosting balls and events attended by New York’s elite, the Marble House was acquired by the Preservation Society of Newport County in 1963.
Eight years later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark on February 17, 2006.
It’s now a popular tourist destination
Photo credit: Darryl Brooks | Dreamstime.com
Nowadays, the former Vanderbilt summer “cottage” is one of Newport, Rhode Island’s top tourist destinations, with visitors from all over the world flocking here to see how the Vanderbilts once lived. It offers guided and non-guided tours, with events, parties, and even weddings held on the grounds of the estate.
Marble House in the movies
Photo credit: Dan Hanscom / Shutterstock.com
The mansion is also quite a popular filming location, with productions like 1974’s The Great Gatsby (starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow), the 1995 miniseries The Buccaneers, Steven Spielberg’s celebrated 1997 film Amistad, and the 2008 rom-com 27 Dresses all being filmed at the Marble House in Newport.
A living memory of what Newport, Rhode Island once was
Photo credit: Jiawangkun | Dreamstime.com
“The rich, famous and fashionable came to Newport to see and be seen, acting out their social pageant against the backdrop of great Bellevue Avenue houses,” reads the plaque outside Marble House. Fittingly, the palatial residence’s imposing structure and lavish interiors live on as reminders of what the Gilded Age elite wanted people to see: unabridged wealth.
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Richie Rich’s house is actually the Biltmore Estate, America’s Largest Home
Historic NYC brownstone that was once home to Gloria Vanderbilt lists for $11.995M
Richly textured, colourful, comfortable and full of character, the country house style – whether you live in a Chelsea mansion flat or a rural farmhouse – has returned to form in 2024. Fuelled by the recent screen successes of Saltburn and The Gentlemen via Bridgerton, there’s a distinctive move away from safe neutrals and neat silhouettes towards an old-money aesthetic of verdure tapestries hung on the walls, layers of oriental rugs on wooden floors, gilt framed portraits in oils and drawing room shelves showing off Grand Tour-style collected treasures.
Country-house tastemakers
Of all the decorators in operation today, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler is recognised worldwide for its art in capturing English country-house design whether the firm is working on a house in London, Oxfordshire or deep in the Catskill mountains of New York state. Ironically, its story began with an American, Nancy Lancaster, who joined forces with rising star of interior decorating John Fowler just before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1938. “John’s meticulous attention to historical detail – scraping back paint to find the original colours of the walls – was tempered by Nancy’s irreverence for grandeur and her ability to make imposing rooms beautiful, and also incredibly comfortable,” explains the firm’s joint managing director, Emma Burns. “At the heart of the country house aesthetic is the opportunity for everyday life to play out uninterrupted – spaces where a stray newspaper or a forgotten cup of coffee doesn’t look out of place but rather fits in perfectly. It’s generous, beautiful rooms that aren’t disrupted when a dog jumps on the sofa or 20 teenagers rock up unexpectedly to chill.” Her must-have elements include deep, comfy sofas and armchairs, updated over time with loose covers and cushions, as well as good lamps, baskets filled with logs, and coffee tables piled high with books. “It’s about comfort first and foremost.”
Emma Burns arranged a lineup of blue-and-white china on the entrance hall’s sideboard to enhance the deep navy of its banister;
Credit: Emma Burns
A well-decorated room must look effortlessly balanced, no matter how much hard work has gone into it,” say Will Fisher and Charlotte Freemantle of Jamb, the Pimlico Road emporium which is a go-to destination for those wanting to achieve the country-house look. “For us, the focal point of the room will always be the chimneypiece anchored on a hearth. It doesn’t need to be flanked on either side by a matching piece of furniture, the balance can be created instead by the proportion and scale being mirrored either side. Colour is equally important. A marble bust and a vellum lampshade could hardly be more different and yet because they’re the same tone, there’s potential in their ability to balance a room.”
This approach is being embraced and tweaked by a new generation of decorators. Octavia Dickinson agrees that comfort is fundamental to country- house style. “I often approach a room like a beautiful painting, combining colours, textures and shapes in ways which delight the senses but never jar,” she says. “I like to make grand rooms feel less grand or vice versa and most importantly, comfortable; it’s home, after all!” Fabrics, too, want to be soft and flowing, with lots of florals and a mix of patterns that feel like they’ve been collected over time, she adds. Use natural finishes such as unlacquered antique brass, which weathers over time.
Henry Prideaux, who worked for Nicky Haslam and others before establishing his own practice, is known for his classic–meets–contemporary style. His approach is to rework the main country- house design tropes of florals, loose covers and antique furniture in an updated way. “Incorporate decorative trims and wallpaper borders to add detail. For example, I use grosgrain ribbon or patterned paper borders applied to frame doorways and embellish cornicing. Modern artwork and decorative lighting are also ways of adapting traditional country-house design for today.”
Henry Prideaux created this maximalist Miss Marple-inspired study for a terraced house in Putney
Credit: Rooz Ahmadian
An escape to the country often conjures the image of a historic property with space to breathe; in old houses, this is particularly true of the bathroom, which is usually converted from a former bedroom. “For a bathroom that meets the brief, think freestanding,” says James Lentaigne, creative director of Drummonds. “Clawfoot baths are perfect for a long soak while gazing out at the garden, while freestanding showers and towel rails are also overwhelmingly popular. They have a certain historical grandeur but – most importantly – they sit harmoniously in the room without disrupting its character.”
Drummonds has also seen an increase over the last year in bathrooms designed for couples; a space to catch up during the morning and evening routine. “We’re increasingly selling double vanity basins, double showers and even side-by-side baths, particularly in country homes.”
The Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler managing director created a rich backdrop to this bathroom using Rameau Fleuri wallpaper
Credit: Emma Burns
Finally, decorating a classic country house today means listening both to it and the client’s needs, says interior designer Flora Soames. “A house in the English countryside often speaks to me more than anywhere else in the world. It sets the boundaries within which you can play. But do push these boundaries with colour, pattern, playing with scale and introducing the unexpected; that is where it starts to become interesting.”
A modern country house in London
When a French family relocated from America to Kensington, they appointed the multidisciplinary creative studio OWN London to renovate their outdated four-storey house. The resulting fusion of art, colour and functionality is a fun-filled and updated interpretation of country-house character distilled into an urban format.
OWN London’s renovation of this four-storey Kensington family home features playful country manor touches
Credit: Darren Chung for One Menagerie
Associate director of interior design Alicia Meireles was responsible for the decorative schemes throughout the house. These range from slipcover chairs in a jaunty red-and-blue striped fabric by Studio Atkinson, a banquette upholstered in a Flora Soames design and console tables with bobbin legs by Alfred Newall. In a nod to the country houses of yesteryear, the team introduced a dumb waiter from the kitchen in the lower ground floor to the dining room on the raised ground floor.
Other country house elements which are increasingly finding their way into London properties include what once would have been called “domestic offices” such as laundry rooms, pantries and boot rooms. Typically, these will be located on the lower-ground floor. Nicky Dobree recently designed a boot room and laundry room in the basement of a London house. “It’s a luxury if space allows. We used Humphrey Munson and introduced fabrics to add layers and soften the timber.”
Country homes moodboard
Get stately pile style with rich textures and prints alongside generous fittings and fixtures.
The London Magazine celebrates prime property and luxury lifestyle in the world’s greatest city. Read the latest issue online.
Although the perfect day may not look the same to everyone, we’re pretty confident we’ve put together a great choose-your-own-adventure itinerary for great things to do in Salt Lake City, UT. Whether you’re visiting on vacay or just moved into your new SLC apartment, peruse this guide for having the best day ever. Imagine that classic rom-com music playing (or actually put it on as you go about the day) as you enjoy these 24 hours in Salt Lake City. And who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy our recommendations so much you’ll want to move into a new home in SLC if you haven’t already.
The first step to the perfect Salt Lake City day is by stopping at a local coffee shop and fueling up. We’ve outlined a robust day so you may need some caffeine, but if that’s not your style, a pastry for breakfast never hurt anyone.
In the heart of Salt Lake Valley, Honeysuckle Coffee Co. has two locations to choose from for your morning meal. With their specialty coffee and tea beverages, house-made pastries, and light brunch items, you’re sure to find something to enjoy. The perfect start to your day begins with “relaxing on one of the patios with an iced lavender latte and avocado toast under a striped umbrella, shaded from the sun,” describes owner Jennifer Biffert.
If you’re located in the West Jordan area, stop by Canyons Coffee for your morning sip. “Their outdoor seating is the perfect place to sip an iced latte or espresso tonic as you chat with a friend,” says co-owner Steven Swank. Espresso tonics are extremely ‘in’ right now, but they also have several classics to choose from and enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Canyons Coffee
“Located on the 900 line in Downtown Salt Lake, Loki Coffee is your friendly neighborhood specialty coffee shop serving up your classic coffee & espresso drinks,” says Loki’s Helen. Here you can find an array of pastries, breakfast items, desserts, and seasonal and signature drinks alongside a serving of hospitality and community. If you happen to have more time in your day or don’t see something that piques your interest in this itinerary, consider coming back here for one of their classes, community bike rides, coffee demos, or other community-focused events.
For the first half of the afternoon, pick a Salt Lake City neighborhood and explore! Pop into local shops for a new outfit, gifts for friends back home, or decor for your SLC rental home, grab another coffee (we don’t judge), and really get a sense of the unique character each neighborhood offers.
According to Steven Vargo of Vargo Photography, “Locals know 900 South is where it’s at.” He suggests a walk or bike ride (easy to rent) along the newly paved bike paths to explore all this long street has to offer. His favorites include The Pearl, Water Witch, and Central 9th Market for food or drink, The Stockist, Acre, and Essential Photo Supply for shopping, and Liberty Park, The Whale Art Installation Roundabout, Tracy Aviary, and 9th West Peace Gardens for things to see.
If you’re looking to explore a more “hippie” area with that Salt Lake artisan flair, look no further than the Sugar House District. This area has incredible local art galleries, bookstores, and boutiques to explore – all of which have that diverse and eclectic feel. For a break in between stores or after a little shopping extravaganza, stopping at Sugar House Park is a must. This park features several acres of luscious hills, trees, a picturesque lake, and a gorgeous view of the Wasatch Mountains making it the perfect afternoon spot.
Located in Downtown Salt Lake City, the Historic Trolley Square is a great way to spend the afternoon. Originally the home of the Utah Light and Rail Company’s trolley cars, this area now features several stores while also maintaining the beautiful architecture, nostalgic ambiance, and preserved history of the area. While we of course recommend strolling in and out of local boutiques, we can’t suggest paying a visit to the Trolley History Museum or taking a tour of the Trolley Square Tower enough.
After hours of exploring, it’s time to stop for a break and recharge (yourself and your cell phone). Although there are several sweet little treats and sweet little spots to choose from, try one of the options below!
Sweet sodas
Utah is known for its soda shops, so stopping for a fizzy drink is a must. Thirst Drinks is a SLC staple and has been in the community for over eight years. Located in the heart of Downtown Salt Lake City, this shop not only has mixed sodas, but also some tasty bites like fresh baked soft pretzels, beignets, and popcorn (which is free)!
Photo courtesy of Thirst Drinks
In the walkable Harvard/Yale neighborhood, Crema Coffee & Soda is a hub for residents. This spot serves up infamous Utah dirty sodas alongside locally roasted coffees, espressos, and a variety of treats. “With its cozy outdoor patio and convenient drive-thru, Crema has a combination of offerings that is sure to delight,” says Crema’s John.
If you’re looking for even more of a grab-and-go option, you can pick up SodaBeers at all local grocery stores and head to a park to decompress and recharge for the next activity. These alcohol-free craft sodas are a local favorite that offer a “taste of tradition and community spirit in every sip,” says CEO Ashley Simmons. She especially recommends their award-winning apple flavor to enjoy on your perfect day.
Best (alcoholic) bevies
If you’re more in the mood for an alcoholic beer or cocktail, we have a couple great spots to head to – as long as you’re over 21. These spots are uber fun and the perfect way to enjoy your day the adult way.
Our first recommendation is none other than Kiitos Brewing in Downtown Salt Lake City. Blogger Georgina D’Angelo of Alpacka My Bags notes that Kiitos Brewing is the perfect place to wind down: “with a wide selection of beers brewed in-house and friendly staff, Kiitos offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.” This spot also has a variety of pinball machines to enjoy alongside your brew.
Photo courtesy of Alpacka My Bags
If you’re craving something a little more upscale or want to bar-hop, we suggest stopping by UnderCurrent Bar. Also just a couple blocks outside Downtown Salt Lake City, UnderCurrent is a casual bar with an original and classic cocktail program. “We feature seasonal craft cocktails, a unique spirit collection, oysters, and other small bites,” says general manager Lyssa Story. We especially recommend checking out their Farmers Market Series for drinks and dishes made with local ingredients, but be warned, you may not be able to get your new favorite cocktail again since this menu rotates weekly.
In our eyes, the perfect day includes a little bit of art. After all, art is such a great way to immerse yourself in a city’s culture. Whether it’s taking a class to learn a new craft or catching a show to get a feel of the local music scene, taking a moment for art is a great way to start winding down the day.
Create at a community art class
With several different art options to choose from, The Art Cottage is the perfect way to spend part of your day. Located at the Gardner Village Shopping Center in West Jordan, this charming art studio “provide(s) art classes for all ages, fun paint parties, and delicious gelato to enjoy,” says owner Kayley Miller. They offer a variety of classes like watercolor, acrylic, and clay alongside unique and affordable art, art-related gifts, and art kits if you want to take some of that art magic back home with you.
Photo courtesy of The Art Cottage
Located in the Rose Park neighborhood, the Clever Cucumber is Salt Lake City’s free community art studio. Available to all, they invite you to “come work on any creative project in the company of new friends during Open Studio, or try one of their classes like stained glass or printmaking,” says director and teaching artist Kate Jarman Gates. If a class isn’t your speed for the day, they have a “free makerspace full of unique equipment and supplies, and a professional artist always on hand to help,” making it the perfect place to let your creativity run free.
See a stunning show
For all you music lovers, the Sandy Amphitheater is THE place in SLC for a concert experience. This venue “offers a wide variety of concerts and events not found anywhere else in Utah – from large national tours and music icons, to local music artists, to free community events,” says Elyse George, head of marketing and development. This venue is not only an award-winning outdoor amphitheater, but also has stunning views of the “Wasatch Mountains to the east and…sunset over the Salt Lake Valley to the west.” Whether you’re into rock or indie, you’re sure to enjoy the show as there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Amphitheater
We assume the day’s activities have worked up quite the appetite, so our last stop is supper. We’ve compiled six great dining options below, but feel free to pick two and go to one earlier for lunch instead – after all, it’s your perfect Salt Lake City day.
Our first restaurant recommendation comes from SLC Bookkeeping, a Salt Lake City bookkeeping service. Marketing director Austin Walker raves about Red Iguana on North Temple, especially for large dinners: “Their food is incredible. We purchase mole by the bucket. Even if there is a wait, so what? It’s absolutely worth it every. Single. Time.” Voted the best Mexican restaurant in SLC 25 years in a row, this spot not only serves the especially coveted mole, but also authentic Mexican food and killer cocktails.
If you’re more in the mood for Italian, Caffé Molise in Downtown Salt Lake City is truly one of the best. Great for both lunch and dinner, this place offers “fresh Italian cuisine inspired by the Molise region of Italy since 1993,” according to Caffé Molise management’s Carol. This full service restaurant focuses on regional specialties and uses local ingredients. Whether you’re at a table in the dining room or on the garden patio, we especially recommend hitting up this place on a Friday evening for their live jazz with the John Flanders Trio. You really can’t go wrong with a great Italian dish, a glass of wine (if you’re drinking), and some smooth jazz.
Photo courtesy of Caffé Molise
The SLC Eatery located in Downtown Salt Lake City has a rotating menu full of flavor. This small local restaurant creates contemporary comfort food like ricotta dumplings, french onion croquettes, and yuzu curd cake to name a few. If you can’t make it for dinner, they also offer brunch with favorites such as their Utah scone, kimchi rice bowl, and tres leches french toast. With their tasty menu, you’re sure to find something you love– and maybe are willing to share with your dinner/brunch partners.
Wherever your day leads you, Taqueria 27 has your Mexican cravings covered with five locations across the Wasatch front. This joint makes a point to use fresh ingredients with their cooks preparing meals fresh to order. We especially recommend checking out their taco bar and peeping at their taco, guacamole, cocktail, and dessert of the day.
Located in the 9th and 9th neighborhood, Pago has been serving seasonal New American Cuisine since 2009. Their innovative farm-to-table cuisine and world-class wine program has earned them several local and national titles like Best Wine Restaurants in the Country (from Wine Enthusiast) and Best Restaurant in Utah (from SL Magazine). This place celebrates small production, local ingredients, and sustainability which can be seen through every incredible dish.
Photo courtesy of Pago
Our last dinner recommendation is none other than Zest Kitchen & Bar located in Downtown Salt Lake City. We especially suggest this place if you subscribe to the vegan lifestyle since they offer healthy plant-based fare made with fresh locally sourced ingredients. If you’re dining alfresco in their outdoor space, owner Rahul Vaidya assures that your thirst will be quenched with their array of freshly squeezed juices or craft cocktails. He also suggests “treat[ing] yourself to our decadent dairy-free desserts,” like strawberry bundt cake or chocolate raspberry tart to finish your meal on a sweet note.
We hope you enjoyed our recommendations and found some things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah. Whether you’ve purchased a new trinket in 900 South, got a sugar rush from a soda, learned a new art skill, or have some dinner leftovers for later, our aim is that your main takeaway was some unforgettable memories. So, if you’ve lived in SLC for ages, just moved, want to (we’d love to help), or were just visiting, we’re happy to have played a role in your perfect Salt Lake City day.
Inside: Here are fun things to do with no money. You don’t have to spend money to enjoy yourself! Plus you save money!
Having fun doesn’t have to cost a fortune! You can have a good time without spending a dime.
But, that is the trap, we find ourselves in. We believe that in order to have fun, you must spend money.
However, we are going to debunk that myth.
It is possible to have fun without spending money. This is something my family does ALL-THE-TIME. There are plenty of places to go when you have no money. There is so much available in our society to explore that you never get bored or run out of ideas. And your wallet and bank account will thank you!
If you are looking for fun things to do when hanging out with friends or fun things to do with kids, your boyfriend, girlfriend, mom, spouse, or anyone in your life, this list is for you!
You will find plenty of activities to do at home, at night, or near you.
Plus the best part… we have tons of memories and experiences from these no money activities ideas!
Today, you will get a glimpse into how you can live differently with your money. Show you fun things to do when you’re broke. Maybe you’re not broke, but choosing to live a frugal lifestyle like us. Either way, you will save money along the way that you can use for something else.
It doesn’t matter if you make $15 an hour or have a 6 figure salary, these tips are for you!
We have found plenty of things to do without spending money.
Today, you are going to learn fun stuff to do that doesn’t cost money.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What Can You Do Without Money?
Honestly, a whole lot.
There are so many free activities available today. You just need to put on a different perspective than the urge to spend money. These no money activities will keep your hard-earned cash in your hands and then you can use it towards your money goal. That is a win! Actually a HUGE WIN!
The question is… are you willing to try something new? In this case, something new would be a money free weekend or maybe a no spend month.
There are so many free fun things to do available to us, but we opt to spend money because that is the natural societal habit. Whatever your reason for finding fun things to do that don’t cost money, you are in the right place.
We are going to cover an extensive list of things to do instead of spending money.
This will make your no spend challenge easier or just a desire to save more money to reach your money goals.
Without further ado, let’s cover the 101 plus things to do that don’t cost money.
Fun Things to Do With No Money
We are going to dive into plenty of things to do instead of spending money. This list might surprise you with how many things to do for free.
For the frugal green person, this is exactly what they want to do.
You will find specific ideas for fun things to do with friends, over here.
1. Call a Friend: Back in the day, we spent many hours on the phone just talking with our friends. (Hint: like hours on end talking). Pick up the phone and call your friends. I am pretty sure you will come up with another fun thing to do next.
2. Bucket List: This is a must-have for everyone! Do you have a bucket list of things you want to do? Use timeframes to help create your list – one month, one year, three years, five years, 10 years, 20 years. Or in your lifetime? Don’t be worried if some of these ideas on your bucket list cost money. That will be figured out later. It doesn’t cost any money to make your bucket list.
3. Head to your Local Library: This is the best way to begin a frugal lifestyle. Libraries are jam-packed with free things – books, music, videos, games, or events. Plus you can find options for physical items as well as digital versions. Many libraries now have maker spaces, interaction labs, and kid play areas. These STEM spaces are available to further your creativity and not to spend money on equipment. Check to see if your library offers 3D printing!
4. Volunteer Usher. This is a great tip for Money Bliss reader, Elizabeth and one many of my friends did recently. By volunteering your time, you are able to check out the hottest concert or play for free. The key is your availability and finding the right contacts.
5. Explore Like a Tourist: Have you explored your own city the way you would if you were traveling? More than likely not. There are so many no money activities available. Just grab a tourist guide and start exploring.
6. Geocaching: Join in on the world’s largest scavenger hunt. It is easy to participate and a free activity. The goal is to catch hidden caches using GPS coordinates. All you need is a smartphone or a GPS device to participate. Time to find your next treasure!
7. Volunteer: Have you a passion? Then, find a local charity where you can volunteer. There are plenty of great organizations that are always looking for additional help to reach and help
8. Games: This is a favorite in our house. Each Sunday, you can find us playing games. Whether a card game, dominos, or board game, the options are endless. This is a class thing to do with friends and family. One of our favorites is Taco vs Burrito!
9. Get Outside: We are blessed to live in such unique and beautiful areas. Yet, we barely manage to step foot outside. As a family, this is one of the best ways we save money. It probably tops my list of the best frugal living tips. The world is full of free things to do for free and explore!
10 Start a Club: Remember your favorite after-school club from elementary school? What was your favorite part about it? More than likely, it was about connecting with your friends with the same interests and spending time together. The same concept is the same as adults. Dedicated time to hang out with your friends with the same interests. There are plenty of clubs that you can start. Here are some ideas: reading club, sewing club, cooking club, fishing club, mom and tots club, etc.
11. Explore the Outdoors: Fresh air is amazing for our bodies. Plus our world is filled with no money activities to do. Get outside, explore, and see your surroundings in a fresh perspective. You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment that comes to mind when wanting to explore nature. Just head outside and follow where your feet take you.
12. We Got No Money Party: When you are looking for places to hang out with friends, look no further than your own place. Gather some friends and have them over for the night. The only ground rule is they can only bring food and drinks from their house. Same goes for games and other fun activities.
13. Teach Others about your Hobby: What is your passion? Teach others about your favorite hobby. Who knows… maybe you can turn it into a side hustle and earn extra cash.
14. Scavenger Hunt: Kids love scavenger hunts and guess what… inside every adult is someone who loves a good scavenger hunt. Plenty of free scavenger hunt ideas with a little Google search.
15. People Watch: This is probably one of my favorite money-free activities to do when bored especially at IKEA. Just head to any local place and people-watch. Many times it is better than TV sitcoms. Grab a friend and you can create stories to attach to those you are observing.
16. Puzzles: When is the last time you have taken on a puzzle? Research shows it is one of the best things we can do to slow aging and diseases like Alzheimer’s. More than likely, you don’t have an extra puzzle lying around. Ask to borrow some from friends. Also, you can get ones for free on Next-door or Buy Nothing Facebook groups.
17. Host a Vision Board Party: This is a trending activity right now! There is no better time to manifest your dreams and goals than with your favorite people. Plus you can create a better life for yourself. Learn how to host a vision board party today!
18. Museums and Zoos: Many of the smaller museums and zoos are free entry. To check out the major museums and zoos, check their website to see when they offer free days. Most local cities are required to offer many free days in order to get funding from the city. Another way to get free admission is with your credit card, business affiliation, or college affiliation.
19. Free Tours: These are places to go when you have no money, especially in a big city. The options are endless on the types of businesses in the area. Some free tours include the U.S. Mint, candy factories, capital building, parks, brewery tours, etc. The list can be endless when finding free tours.
20. Apple Classes: Want to learn how to use your phone and be more productive? Need to cap your kid’s time on their devices? Want to learn how to take better pictures with your iPhone? You can do that in one of the many classes. Look for classes near you.
21. Pinterest Party: Let’s face it… We pin a lot of things that we want to do. Recipes we want to cook. Desserts to book. Crafts to make. Skills to learn. Time to brush off those Pinterest boards and find something to do.
22. Movie Marathon: Time to sit back and enjoy all of your favorite movies! If you don’t already have cable or Netflix, then you can still do this without spending money. Start a free Paramount+ trial (just make sure to cancel it), head to the local library, or swap movies with friends.
23. Learn a New Skill: Another productive way to use your spare time is learning a new skill. With learning, the options are endless. With the library and YouTube, it is easy to learn new skills without paying for lessons. The new skill I want to learn is how to play the drums. What is the new skill you want to learn?
24. Local Events Calendar: Hello free activities! Every city will offer some local activities throughout the year. Just mark your calendar. These events are perfect for hanging out with friends and for local fun.
25. Go for a Walk or Run: This is the ultimate no money activity. Grab your shoes and head outside to clear your head. The fresh air will do wonders and doesn’t cost a thing. Maybe this is the time to challenge yourself for that 5K or half marathon?
26. Go for a Bike Ride: For those who own a bike, it would be time to dust it off and go for a bike ride. This is a great way to exercise without a gym membership. Plus, if you are a spender on the way home from work, then look at commuting on your bike to avoid temptations. Personally, I enjoyed cycling so much that it made sense to upgrade my road bike. There may be a small cost to maintaining a cycling lifestyle, but it brings hours of exercise and I am too tired to do anything later.
27. Go Hiking: Find a local hiking trail. Before you go, make sure you have water and some sunscreen.
28. Make a Meal: The caveat is you can only use ingredients that you have currently in your house. No running to the store and spending money. Create a meal from what you have available.
29. Go on a Picnic: This is a favorite in our house! Change up your lunch or dinner by eating in a different location. Load uptake food, choose a spot, and go! You can go on foot, on bike, or take a little trip by car. Either way, you have to eat!
30. Write a Letter: When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not an email, text, or social media post. An actual letter that can be given to someone or mailed for a tiny price. Another great idea is to write a letter to someone to open at a future date. Some examples include: to your kids on their 16th birthday or when they get married.
31. Swap Items: This is one of the best ways to not spend money and get something in return!! Go shopping through someone else’s stuff and swap. You can create a host a swap party for items like clothing, toys, games, kitchen supplies, home decor, books, tools, etc. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. This is something that you can do in person or online.
32. Birdwatch: Never been bird-watching? Then, grab a bird-watching book from your local library to make sure you can tell the birds apart and learn a few new facts.
33. Pick up a Book: What do you prefer – fiction or nonfiction? There are plenty of books to keep you entertained for hours. Also, you could ask a friend to read the same book and then plan a time to discuss it. If your local library doesn’t offer what you are looking for, then start a free trial of Kindle Unlimited.
34. Check Out a Local Gym: Almost all gyms want people to check out their place. Many will offer a free class or up to a free week. Try out a new spin class, yoga class, pilates class, or CrossFit. There are so many gyms popping up on every block that this can keep you busy and fit for a couple of months.
35. Photography: We all know that we have one of the best cameras at our disposal, but do you use the camera in your phone to the best of its ability? You can fiddle around with it, check out some YouTube channels, or head to the Apple store for a free class.
36. Photo Shoot: I stopped buying professional pictures of my kids a long time ago. There wasn’t a point in spending the extra money because as a parent I seriously have taken thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) pictures of them. And we have saved tons of money over the years, especially on sports and team photos.
37. Slideshows: Now, that we have tons of photos… what should we do with them? Turn them into a slideshow or some other digital way to view your photos.
38. Nature Walks: These types of walks have a purpose. To explore and realize the nature around you. Typically, in our house, the goal is to find 10 different types of objects (smooth, rough, prickly, big, small, etc.) or look for something with the same characteristics (like various rocks). The list of types of nature walks you can come up with is endless.
39. Go Sightseeing: There are so many beautiful places to look at in our cities. You can head up to the mountains, the beach, or even urban areas. You can plenty of things to do around here. Don’t forget your camera!!
40. Clean Your House: Really? Does this have to go on the list of ways to spend weekends with no spending money?!?! But, what a great way to spend your time especially when bored. Plus you will have something to show for your elbow grease and hard work.
41. Projects You Put Off: Raise your hand if you can think of a project or two (or ten) that you have put off. When you don’t want to spend money, it is a great time to dust off that list and dig in.
42. Make a Budget: If you are broke or struggling with no money, then it is time for a budget. A budget isn’t meant to be constricting. It is designed to help you spend money the way you want to. Manage your money ahead of time. Learn how to make a budget.
43. Take Surveys for Money: Have spare time, then make some extra money by taking surveys. One of the easiest things to do and not spend money. The best surveys to do include:
44. Declutter: This is one of my favorite things to do, but also one of the hardest. Why? I realize all of the money I spend on wasteful items that we don’t even use in the house. Many were impulse purchases or out of boredom. Then, it is hard for me to declutter and get rid of the items because of wasted money. However, living with less stuff means more meaningful time on things that matter.
45. Dive into Basement Storage: You could be doing one of two things. Cleaning out the basement area and getting rid of the unnecessary stuff burdening your life. Or pull out some of your favorite treasures and find a way to use them.
46. Clear Out Garage: This one makes me cringe, too! A great way to make productive use of your time on a no spend day is to clean out the garage. Clean out the unnecessary items and organize what is left. That way you can find a screwdriver the first time you look.
47. Neighborhood Cleanup: Since we are in the cleaning mood, let’s spread out to your local neighborhood. This is a great activity to do with a group of friends. With just a trash bag, you can leave a beautiful area for many to enjoy.
48. Redecorate a Room: What is more fun than a refreshed space? This is easy to do when changing out seasonal decor. Or just move the furniture around to create a whole new look. We did that with our dining room table direction and people would always think we did something massive!
49. Take a Nap: Who doesn’t want a nap (except for that young child who needs a nap)? Take care of yourself and take a step back from the busyness of life. Nap time is a special treat. Plus you can’t spend money when you are sleeping!
50. Video Gamer Competition: You can get free games through your library or with a free trial on Twitch. Just make sure to grab a friend to join you for a little bit of people socialization.
51. Playgrounds: Something that is easy things to do around here is found right in your neighborhood. Head to the local playground and run around crazy after your kids. Play tag and you will wish you had all of the energy they do! Change things up and find a new playground to check out.
52. Dump Debt: I always felt broke when I was in debt. If I spent money, I felt guilty about it. Figure out your debt free date and learn how to pay off debt faster. Use an app called Tally to help you overcome your debt.
53. Play Chess: This is a classic game that everyone should learn how to play. Plus it is one of the best free no no-money activities. Many cities have full-size chess pieces in local parks that make playing that much more fun!
54. Watch a Documentary: This is spare time well spent. A documentary will open your eyes to various views and perspectives. This is a productive use of your time.
55. Dance Party: This is always a hit, especially with kids. You don’t need to worry about where to go when you have no money. You can bring the party to you! There are so many free ways to listen to tunes and no money is spent for moving your body.
56. Delete Unused Apps: Take a few moments and delete any unused apps off your phone. This will help improve phone efficiency.
57. Art Supplies: Gather up all of the art supplies and see what type of creations you can make with stuff that you already have. Double bonus if you create some gifts, too! This is a great idea of things to do with friends! Here are things to draw when bored.
58. Cancel Unused Subscriptions: When you are broke, you need things to do, then look at what you spend money on but don’t use. This is a great money-saving tip! Use a service like Trim or Paribus to help you.
59. Daydream Life Without Debt: Okay, one of the top reasons people are broke is because of debt. We were in that situation too. I would always daydream about life without debt. And then it happened! Read more about our story on why we became debt free. Now, you can start to daydream about life without debt, too!
60. Listen to Podcasts: This is a great way to increase your knowledge around a certain subject or topic. Find your favorite podcast.
61. Post Skills & Make Money: Do you have a specialized skill or service that you can offer? You can post your skills and services on NextDoor, TaskRabbit, or Fiverr. It could be something as simple as shoveling walks or raking leaves. This is great if you want to double $10k quickly.
62. Make Extra Money: One of the best things to do instead of spending money is to be making money. There are plenty of ways to keep you entertained and not bored. Check out this list 20 Genius Ways on How to Make Money Fast. This cannot be stressed enough!
63. Feed the Ducks: Okay, well today, you aren’t allowed to feed the ducks. But, they are interesting creatures to watch and keep you entertained. But, this is somewhere to go when you have no money.
64. Memory Lane: Let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Pull out old photo books, find your keepsake box, and scroll to the of your pictures and videos. Grab some Kleenex and take a walk down memory lane.
65. Visit a Nursing Home: Looking where to go when you have no money? Then, look no further than the closest nursing home. Their residents are always looking for people to interact with. After striking up a conversation or two, you will walk away with golden nuggets of life lessons and a chance to learn from your mistakes.
66. Meal Plan: This one is a productive use of time plus will save you money over the next week. Use this money saving tip and learn how to meal plan like a pro.
67. Mediation: We are constantly on the go. When was the last time, you were just still? Take time and meditate. Start with mindfulness meditation. This is when you learn to pay attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Clear your mind.
68. Try a Budgeting App: This is a great time to stop living paycheck to paycheck and truly figure out where you spend money. Here are some great budgeting apps:
69. Set Goals: When you are asking yourself, “How can I spend weekends with no money?” Start by setting goals. Without an idea of where you go in life, you will be just bobbing along from one thing to another. Get help on making money goals.
70. Bake: More than likely, you probably have all of the baking necessities on hand. Try a new recipe or make an old favorite. Grab a friend or family member to make it more fun! Have too many cookies? Take them to a fire station or a nursing home.
71. Open Houses: In the market for a house, looking to remodel, or just want to redecorate, then check out open houses for ideas and inspiration. There are hundreds each week and a great way to spend weekends with no money. To add more fun, create a persona and a story on why you are looking at houses.
72. Watch a Sunrise: What better way to experience the wonderful beauty of nature! Find a spot to watch a sunrise and soak up the morning rays. Maybe even combine it with a short hike.
73. Watch a Sunset: The sunsets are us can be magical and absolutely colorful. There are so many spots to watch a sunset. Plus no two sunsets will be the same. Maybe even back a picnic.
74. Time Capsule: Make yourself a time capsule to be opened on a big birthday or in a big life year.
75. Craw Dad Fishing: Calling all dads (and maybe moms)! Head to a local creek with some sticks and hot dogs as bait. This is probably my kid’s favorite summertime activity.
76. Build a Fort: This is the only reason I keep so many blankets on hand. Kids can spend hours on end creating a fort with blankets. Pull in the chairs and start building. This will also include STEM learning because it is a science to get blankets to stay up on the fort without caving in.
77. Camp in Your Fort: Yay! Spend the night in your fort and pretend you are camping. This is a great stay-at-home idea for young kids.
78. Play in the Snow:I will admit it is snowing while I type this. All you need to do is head outside and find plenty of things to do without spending money. You can make snow angels, have a snowball fight, color the snow funny colors, catch snowflakes on your tongue, or shovel for extra money.
79. Built an Igloo Fort: This takes me back to feeling like a kid (at least until the soreness kicks in). Building a fort out of snow is so much fun! You can quickly spend hours outside and have a blast. Then, have fort wars!
80. Visit a Farmer’s Market: Learn what fruits and vegetables are local to your area. This is one of my favorite activities especially in small towns.
81. Learn a Foreign Language: With so many cool apps and websites, you can teach yourself how to speak a foreign language. Maybe you just need to brush up on those high school classes. Then, you can volunteer at a local community center to practice!
82. Find a Pet to Love: Head to your local animal shelter and love some pets that need to be rescued. This is a great way to not spend money and help the community. Maybe donate extra blankets to help out the rescue.
83. Figure Out Your Net Worth: This one hasn’t been popular with many of my readers. But, your net worth has to start somewhere (even if it is negative). However, we have been working to increase our liquid net worth this past year. If your goal is to become a millionaire next store, you have to start somewhere.
84. Dress Rehearsal. This one may be harder to find, but an awesome idea if you can. Some venues will allow people to attend their dress rehearsals for big shows. You won’t have the same experience as the real show. At the end of the show, you will save lots of money and may be asked to provide feedback.
85. Sound Checks: Is your favorite bank headed to town and you can’t afford to go? Then, go a couple of hours before the start of the concert and keep your fingers crossed they are doing sound checks. This works really well for outdoor concert venues. I have a cousin who has become a pro at this!
86. Get on a Realtor’s Mailing List: Realtors are always marketing their services and vying for attention. Many realtors will send out mailers with local activities that you can explore for free. Others may invite you to special events that are really fun and totally free for you!
87. Minute to Win It: Play this game against the clock which will have you laughing for hours. Most of the minute to win it games are with items you can find all throughout your house. This one is a winner to hang out with friends, kids, or families!
88. Find Grand Openings: This is where to go when you have no money. Search for grand openings in your local area. Many times you will walk away with freebies and other goodies! Plus more than likely you will have a story to share about your experience.
89. Free Exercise Routines: No need for a gym anymore! You can download apps for plenty of workouts to keep you fit and healthy. Scroll YouTube for yoga classes. If your goal is to lose weight, then try Healthywage and get paid for losing weight.
90. The Bad Gift Exchange: Plan a party with friends and tell everyone to bring the worst gift they got from the previous holiday. Hold a funny white elephant exchange and laugh at what people spend money on.
91. Free Class at Community Colleges: Check out your local community college for the free classes they are offering. You should be pleasantly surprised at how many free classes you can take.
92. Free Classes at Stores: Hitting up stores may seem backward on where to go when you have no money. However, many stores offer free classes or projects. The goal for stores is to get you in the store in hopes that you will buy one or two things while you are there. Resist the urge to buy something and go for the free projects. Stores I know that offer free classes, projects, and crafts: Ikea, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Joann’s, Michaels, and smaller mall stores.
93. Favorite Recipes List: Too many times we forget some of our favorite recipes and they go un-made for months. Create your go-to recipes that everyone in your family loves. This will make your meal planning much easier and faster. Even better… convert your recipes to a digital file.
94. Research your Genealogy: If you want to know more about your family history, then you can spend hours learning more on the various genealogy websites. Even better, call the family historian to learn more about your heritage.
95. Fly a Kite: Don’t worry about having to buy a kite in order to have fun! Get creative and make your own. This is something my kids have figured out how to do on their own with store grocery bags and string.
96. Invite Your Kid’s Friends Over: Kids always want time to hang out with friends. They can always find something to do with their friends. Then, you can get some quiet time. You don’t need to spend any money for everyone to have fun. It is a win-win situation.
97. Get Your Personal Finances in Order: This is one of the most important things to do. Yet, it always slips to the bottom of your list. Learn how to organize your personal finances and make sure your wills are up to date.
98. Make a To-Do List: There is no better time to power through your to-do list. It is a great idea to not spend money and be productive. You may have to DIY projects or save money to finish them another day. But, you can tackle the hard stuff.
99. Last Text Message: Scroll all the way to the bottom of your text message list and find that friend you haven’t talked to in a long time. Invite them over and have a conversation.
100. Free Apps: There are so many free apps available. You can learn a new skill, play a game, organize your life, sharpen your brain, and connect with friends. The options are endless on this one!
101. Local Festivals or Events: Once again, there are so many free activities. Check out your local area for weekend activities. Bonus hint: pack your own food and snacks so you aren’t tempted to spend money with the food vendors.
102. Camp in Your Backyard: You don’t need to drive anywhere to camp. My kids love setting up the tent to camp right here at home. The tent gets more use and the bathrooms are mighty convenient.
103. Check Newspapers. From Money Bliss reader, Elizabeth recommends checking the local newspaper as they list out all of the local events in the community. Her money saving tip is to use the library’s copy for free. Also, the online digital version may have the same info.
104. Free Trials: When you are looking for things to do for free and that don’t cost money, then look no further for free trials. The options are endless because people want to try out their product. At a bike event, I was able to do a free trial for a road bike. It was a great way to check out what I liked and not spend any money.
Ideas for possible free trials:
Just make sure to cancel before the trial ends!!
105. Count Your Blessing: Too many times we take for granted everything that we have. Take the time a start writing a list of everything you are grateful for. These blessings have enriched your life. Find ways to enrich someone’s life.
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The popular book of coupons is now a downloadable app!
The Entertainment® Book and Digital Membership offer 2-for-1 and up to 50% off discounts, all conveniently accessed on our mobile app, online or in the book.
Great way to save money on local restaurants, activities, hotels, adventures, and more!
Groupon’s top deals updated daily.
Discover and save on thousands of great deals at nearby restaurants, spas, things to do, and more.
How do you have fun without spending money?
Now, we have covered an extensive list of things to do with no money. Hopefully, you have learned that you don’t need to spend money to have fun.
You can enjoy your time and not spend money. You can be productive when bored.
You will always have an answer to what do you do for fun!
There are so many ideas to help you through your no spend days.
That should be a smile on your face (and your bank account).
You can figure out what should I do today.
The less money you spend each day the more money you can save for one of our money saving challenges. That is one of the best things you can do for your finances.
Don’t Miss… 90+ Fun Things to Do on Christmas Day
What are your favorite places to go with friends when you have no money? If I missed one of them, please tell me in the comments.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
A glossy coat of black paint and some exotic new fabric gave these dated tapestry chairs new life. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
The move was risky. And I don’t regret it one bit.
I’ve always thought animal prints were for other people. That was then. I now have two zebra-striped chairs in my living room. With the blessing of a designer I trust, I tapped the animal within. Now I wonder what took me so long.
A few months ago, I realized my adjoining dining and living rooms looked tired. I wanted to update them, make them come alive, but I couldn’t afford to start over.
So, I called Los Angeles designer Christopher Grubb, whom I’ve known for years, and asked for a consult. I would do all the legwork, if he could just tell me what to keep, get rid of or revamp. We agreed I would keep the traditional dining table, but replace the stodgy tapestry dining side chairs with more modern ones. And keep the two dining room armchairs but reupholster them in a more contemporary fabric and move them into the living room.
Before: These 30-year-old armchairs felt dated and stodgy. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
I gathered nine fabric swatches to test drive and sent photos to Grubb. Then, before he could answer, I narrowed the selection and sent him a picture of the finalists, eliminating a bold zebra print I grabbed on a whim but ruled out. (It’s for other people.)
“What happened to the zebra?” Grubb asked.
“Oh, it seemed a little, well, wild.”
“It would look fantastic on those chairs,” he said. “And paint the wood glossy lacquer black.”
Designers take risks where the rest of us fear to tread. My little heart turned a somersault.
Next day, the tired tapestry armchairs, seven yards of zebra fabric and I were exuberantly off to the upholsterer, who took one look at the project, raised his eyebrows and said, “That will be fun.”
When the chairs came back, I sent Grubb a photo.
“Dang!” he said. “You turned them into not just useful pieces of furniture, but pieces of art.”
Many homeowners have furniture pieces that would look great flipped, but they just don’t see it. “They have heavy Mediterranean furniture they are trying to bust out of to make their homes more contemporary,” he said. “Then we give it a twist. Maybe we paint a humdrum brown end table robin’s egg blue and turn it into a fun and functional accessory.”
Worried it will “ruin” the piece? “You don’t like it anymore as it is, so what’s to lose?” he said.
“I’m a big fan of doing what you did,” said Dean Stills, co-owner of Stills Upholstery in Longwood, Fla. “I love to see people repurpose old furniture to make it fit their homes today by recovering it with more modern fabric and changing the finish. It’s so much better than taking it to the curb.”
Grubb encourages DIY decorators to work with designers the way I did. “Do the legwork, then hire a designer to consult for an hour or two,” he said. “People don’t take risks, so we walk through room after room of beige and grey.”
None of us wants to be that person.
If you’d like to add some pizzazz to your home, here are some moves Grubb and Stills suggest you consider.
Use the power of paint. A glossy fun color on brown wood furniture is an inexpensive way to modernize it and turn it into an art piece. (It’s also easier than refinishing.) Consider painting a chest a glossy lime or a mirror frame bright orange. When Stills painted my wood chairs glossy black, he used Crystal Conversion Varnish, because it creates a tough, hard finish that holds up.
Change the hardware. Switching out distressed iron knobs or ornate vintage pulls for sleek ones in brushed gold or polished chrome can instantly and inexpensively enliven old furniture.
Refresh fabrics. Before retiring a piece of upholstered furniture, think about recovering it. Older furniture, Stills said, is typically much better made than newer furniture sold today. Upholsterers can also replace and repair worn inner springs and foam.
Add a wow fixture. Chandeliers are a great place to take an expressive risk, Grubb said. “These standalone accessories don’t have to go with anything. They could be covered in feathers and look great.”
Incorporate some Lucite. Because it leans contemporary, just one Lucite piece, such as a chair, end table or bar cart, can bridge old and new looks, Grubb said.
Mix in some metal. Shiny metallic finishes also feel contemporary. Adding chrome table lamps, bookends or side tables can modernize an otherwise traditional room.
Reframe the art. Traditional art doesn’t need a traditional frame. Put an old painting in a contemporary frame or eliminate the frame altogether.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including the new “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Reach her at [email protected].
Join us for a free, virtual event series — “Rightsize Your Life and Live Well Now” — hosted by author, speaker and award winning nationally syndicated home-and-lifestyle columnist Marni Jameson on April 25 and May 23. Register at https://extras.mercurynews.com/events/.
A stunning private estate in Weston, MA, has just been listed for $15 million, offering a rare opportunity to own one of the area’s most luxurious properties.
This magnificent Boston-area mansion sits on over 8 acres of conservation land, ensuring that no future neighbors or developers will be changing the current landscape — or causing a ruckus in the future.
Custom-built in 2010, the 14,620-square-foot home has been meticulously maintained by its current owners, who purchased the land back in 2008 for $1,675,000.
Now, for the first time in 16 years, this exquisite home is available for discerning buyers looking for a grand estate in one of Weston’s most exclusive south side neighborhoods — with Jamie Genser of Coldwell Banker Realty holding the listing. And since Jamie was kind enough to give us all the deets on this remarkable property, we’re going to take you on a quick tour of the suburban Boston mansion.
A custom-built, stately mansion
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The current owners bought the land back in 2008 for $1,675,000 and built their dream home in 2010. With over 14,000 square feet of living space, 6 bedrooms, and 11 bathrooms, and amenities that range from an indoor basketball court to a massive pool pavilion, the custom-built mansion is made for grand living and entertaining.
Luxurious living spaces
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
There’s no shortage of eye-catching spaces throughout the house’s generous 14,620 square feet, and most feature elegant finishes like hardwood flooring, French doors, recessed lighting, and coffered ceilings. So let’s take them one by one.
Formal living room
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The formal living room, with its elegant arched doors, opens into an expansive dining room capable of seating up to 24 guests. Featuring a custom coffered ceiling, large bay window, and 24-inch mahogany wainscoting, this space is perfect for hosting grand dinners.
Ultra-elegant dining room
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
Featuring show-stopping design details like coffered ceilings, an arched doorway with double pocket doors to the living room, a custom bay window, and 24″ mahogany wainscoting, the formal dining room seats 20 people and can be extended to seat 24.
It also connects to a butler’s pantry and a back hallway, ensuring seamless service during gatherings.
Chef’s dream kitchen
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The kitchen is a chef’s dream, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and exquisite finishes.
See also: In Brookline, MA, a stately $24.5M mansion has a storied past, an Olympic-sized pool, and a 60-foot underground tunnel
The family room
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The adjacent family room, with its circle wood-paneled dome ceiling, includes an oversized gas fireplace and a custom room divider. This room overlooks the pool and opens onto a three-season porch with a herringbone mahogany ceiling and bluestone floor.
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
Primary suite and additional bedrooms
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The serene primary suite offers a sitting room and two dressing rooms, providing a luxurious retreat. Each of the additional five bedrooms comes with its own en suite bathroom, ensuring privacy and comfort for all family members and guests.
Standout entertainment and leisure facilities
While no corner of this house is what we’d call “ordinary”, it’s the entertainment level that truly makes it stand out.
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
Featuring everything from a game room with a movie theater to an indoor lap pool, indoor basketball court, gym & spa, and a bunk bed room, this level is like a playground for adults.
Indoor lap pool and spa
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
One of the estate’s standout features is its incredible indoor lap pool.
The 25-yard pool features a jetted hot tub, a waterfall with a mahogany bridge, and a kitchen area with quartz counters and high-end appliances. Access to the pool is available via the lower level or a stainless-steel staircase leading to the family room.
Like being in a snow globe in the winter
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The pool area, described by listing agent Jamie Genser as feeling like a “five-star hotel,” includes cathedral greenhouse units with venting skylights, limestone flooring, and Venetian plaster walls.
“I adore the pool area. It feels like a 5-star hotel,” Jamie tells us. “The moment I walk into the pool area, I feel relaxed and calm. I can only imagine what it would be like in the winter. It’s cold and snowy and you are in a snow globe.”
Game room, gym, and movie theater
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The entertainment level also includes a game room with a theater, a gym overlooking the basketball court, and a movie theater with fabric sound-absorbing walls, surround sound, a projector with an 8-foot screen, and cove lighting.
The gym features triple impact-resistant windows, adding to the space’s functionality and safety.
The bunk room
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
The bunk room, which sleeps nine, includes an en suite bathroom with frameless glass showers and mosaic tile accents.
See also: What happened to Aaron Hernandez’s North Attleboro mansion?
Exclusive neighborhood and outdoor features
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
Situated in one of Weston’s most exclusive south-side neighborhoods, this estate offers the perfect blend of privacy and convenience. The property is located on a private road, surrounded by conservation land and the MWRA reservoir, which offers miles of dog walking and hiking trails.
Despite its secluded feel, the estate is just a short distance from the elementary school, town center, and highway access.
Insights from the house’s real estate agent
Photo credit: Drone Home Media / Coldwell Banker Realty
Jamie Genser, the real estate agent representing this property, highlights the estate’s exceptional design and thoughtful amenities, while also emphasizing the property’s prime location — that offers privacy, convenience, and proximity to top-notch schools and the town center.
In Genser’s words, “This custom-built home on over 8 acres of land surrounded by conservation land is pretty incredible. The house is large but feels very homey. The materials used in building the house were all top of the line, with thoughtful design throughout.”
More stories
Traditional on the outside, distinctly modern inside: A stylish Cambridge, MA house lists for $18.5 million
In “Knives Out”, two Boston-area estates helped create the sprawling Thrombey Mansion
All the luxe houses MrBeast toured in his “$1 vs $100,000,000 House!” viral video — including $30M Massachusetts estate of the late Yankee Candle founder
The most simple use for the KRUBBET is to put it on your living room island or side table to designate a place for your phone while it’s not being used so it never gets misplaced. You could also use it to decorate your nightstand, where it would become the ideal holder for your phone while you drift off to sleep. However, this item can also come in handy anytime you’re using your phone but can’t just hold it. For instance, you could keep it in the kitchen for when you’re cooking and need to reference an online recipe. Or, if you use multiple devices while working from home, place the stand on your desk in your office, where it can always be propped up and in view.
In your craft room, while your hands are busy molding sculptures, sewing throw pillows, or painting artwork, your phone could have a place to sit beside you. Perhaps you like to follow makeup tutorials while getting ready in the morning, in which case the KRUBBET could be a perfect addition to your bathroom vanity. Since it’s made out of powder-coated steel, it can be exposed to moisture without getting damaged. While enjoying a meal in the dining room or at the kitchen island, if you want some entertainment, use the KRUBBET to hold up your device so you can watch a YouTube video or TV show while eating.
The prospect of a dinner party prompted this mini dining room makeover. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
The prospect of hosting a dinner party at my house filled my heart with panic. I had been wanting to update my dining room. Suddenly, I had an incentive — and a deadline.
The dinner party wasn’t my idea. A few months ago, a friend hatched a plan to auction off a dinner for eight at my house for an Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra fundraiser.
“You know how your column is At Home With Marni?” was how she framed it. “Well, this would let people actually be at home with Marni. Get it?”
Oh, I got it. If I’d known when I started writing a home design column what all I’d be getting myself into, I would have become a pet therapist. People assume I live up to my words! Before I agreed — and because no one should pay to eat my cooking — I called a chef I knew to see if he’d help. Chef Angelo Bersani generously agreed to donate his time to prepare and serve dinner, if I paid for the groceries. Done! Chef and I became a package deal on the auction block.
I live in the real world, so redecorating does not mean tossing all my furniture and starting over. It means working with what I have and making small refinements to get, ideally, big results. The trick, however, is knowing what those small moves are. So I called Los Angeles interior designer and long-time friend Christopher Grubb for help, asking if he’d call the shots while I did the legwork, which included shopping for materials, gathering samples and coordinating workers.
With a chef and a designer on board, I could feel my lungs fully expanding, my blood pressure dropping. Over the next eight weeks, we exchanged dozens of texts, photos and a few sobbing emojis, and made the following small refinements, which yielded big results, and just might do the same for a room or two in your home:
Added lampshades: Although I had replaced the dining room’s dated light fixture a few years ago, I had not “finished” the fixture off with chandelier shades, which Grubb advised. I test drove three shade styles, ordering one of each and returning the rejects, before settling on a black tapered shade. Because black shades direct light down, not out, they can make lighting more dramatic.
Filled in the art niche: Art niches in walls can be difficult to work with, as they limit the size of art you can hang in them. The niche in my dining room’s accent wall was 5-feet square and 3-inches deep. Until recently, a large tapestry hung over the niche and covered it. But, as part of my attempt to make the space more contemporary, I sold the tapestry and now had this, uhh, hole in the wall. “Art niches just make you ask why?” said Grubb, who recommended having a drywaller fill it in.
BEFORE: A shadeless chandelier, dated chairs and a wall niche that limited art options. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
Put up wallpaper: To make the open room feel cozier and more intimate and to distinguish the alcove from the entryway, Grubb suggested covering the now smooth back wall and ceiling with sea-blue grasscloth, which added character and texture to the room.
Replaced mirrors: Although Grubb liked the idea of two mirrors flanking the art on the main wall, he suggested replacing the existing round ones with larger, vertical mirrors to make the room appear taller. Since we were moving toward a more transitional and less traditional look, we kept the frames simple.
Updated end chairs: Although our goal is to replace all the tapestry-covered dining chairs with more contemporary seating but keep the existing table, here we hit an impasse. I couldn’t find any chairs I liked that would also be available in time for my dinner party. Rather than compromise, I bought the chairs I wanted and accepted the fact that they wouldn’t arrive until September. Darn that supply chain. Meanwhile, I recovered the table’s two armchairs in a bold zebra-print fabric and painted the wood lacquer black. These chairs, which I wrote about a few weeks ago, are now fixtures in my living room, but for dinner parties they double as end chairs.
Added ambiance: With the new furnishings in place, all I needed to do was add the finishing touches — a fresh centerpiece of pale roses, patterned table linens, crystal and silver, candles and, of course, illustrious guests — to make the room come together like a symphony.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including the recent “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Contact her at [email protected]. Join her on May 23 for a free, virtual event, “Rightsize Your Life and Live Well Now.” Register at https://extras.mercurynews.com/events/.