Quiet luxury, also known as “stealth wealth,” is one of the latest trends taking fashion by storm. Now it’s entering the home space.
The minimalist aesthetic can be summed up by the phrase “money talks, wealth whispers.” Quiet luxury replaces ostentatious displays with subtle high-end staples, eschewing gaudy accents and logo prints typically associated with the upper class.
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Gwyneth Paltrow channeled quiet luxury in her court case earlier this year over her skiing accident, while the conniving cast of characters on “Succession” dressed in understated, yet expensive basics by brands like Ralph Lauren, Max Mara and Loro Piana.
The versatility of quiet luxury makes it easily translatable into interior design. Here, WWD explains how to bring the trend to your home.
Color palette
Rather than going for bold shades, focus on neutral tones of taupe or beige, balancing them with lighter shades like white and cream. Darker hues including navy, olive green, brown, gray and black are also synonymous with quiet luxury.
Quiet luxury interior.
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Textures
Embracing comfort is a key aspect of quiet luxury. Cozy fabrics such as linen, velvet and shearling can be incorporated in upholstery, curtains and bedding. Adding some knit blankets to your sleep and living spaces will also get the job done.
For solid surfaces, lean into stone and wood finishes. Textures such as marble, travertine, oak and timber can modernize any space while simultaneously referencing classic aspects of design.
Furniture
Nothing says quiet luxury like quality investment pieces. Rather than giving into current trends, seek out furnishings that will stand the test of time. Crisp, clean lines are a focal point of this aesthetic, so leave behind any standout accents — read: gold leaf and baroque moulding.
Quiet luxury interior.
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Decor
Quiet luxury decor, much like the rest of the aesthetic, relies on simplicity. Pick out simple, abstract prints to cover your wall or accent pillows with minimalistic patterns. To up the comfort factor, opt for soft lighting.
Brands
Retailers like Restoration Hardware, CB2 and West Elm have plenty of furniture and decor options in line with the quiet luxury trend. If you want to get the quiet luxury look on a budget, home lines at Zara and H&M offer simple, yet sophisticated decor options at affordable prices.
Vintage pieces are also a great way to channel quiet luxury. Search for midcentury modern and postmodern styles to achieve a sleek look.
Step into a world where sleek lines, open spaces, and a harmonious marriage of form and function reign supreme.
Mid-century may be a classic style from the mid-1900s, but homes built in this style have a timeless appeal. With their distinct architectural features — which often include flat roofs, horizontal planes, and geometric shapes — they embrace simplicity, functionality, and a seamless integration with the surrounding environment.
Nature and lifestyle were key when designing mid-century houses, so many of them were built with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the yard, sliding glass doors, and many access points to the outdoors.
Incorporating clean lines and basic shapes, simple furnishings, a practical Scandinavian approach with muted color palette, and warm inviting earth tones, simplicity is a notable characteristic of mid-century design. Mid-century modern homes also used spaces efficiently with their split-level design, which makes it easy to see why the this architectural style continues to fascinate with both its practicality and its aesthetic appeal.
Our favorite midcentury modern houses
For those who want to immerse themselves in the world of midcentury beauties, we’ve rounded up our favorites. Carefully restored by their owners while preserving their original character and incorporating modern amenities and technologies, we believe the examples below have done a great job at striking a balance between maintaining the historical integrity of the house and making it functional for contemporary living.
Without further ado, here are 13 stylishly refreshed-yet-classic mid-century modern houses that we’ve covered in the past, many of which had some quite famous owners (or architects).
#1 A secluded mid-century modern home with unique features and views of lush surroundings
There is so much to love about this Santa Clarita property — which was home to ‘Dallas’ Star Linda Gray for almost FIVE decades. Named Oak Tree Ranch after the stunning oak trees that grow on the property, the private California compound has many unique features.
Photo credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The Agency
Designed by acclaimed architect A. Quincy Jones, the mid-century house is unquestionably elegant and captivating. True to the principle of bringing the outside in, the floor is made of heart pine, (meaning the heart of the pine tree), sourced from a New Orleans schoolhouse.
The freestanding fireplace is another unique feature of this property. The kitchen was designed by renowned architect Josh Schweitzer who added beautiful racks to hang pots and pans out in the open, pro-style appliances, and a pizza oven.
Photo credit: Marc Angeles, inset DFree / Shutterstock.comPhoto credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The Agency
Sitting on 2.7 acres of lush land, the property has stables for four horses, a tack room/barn, a north-south tennis court, a large swimmer’s pool with spa, organic gardens, koi pond, chicken coop, and an endless lawn to enjoy the outdoors.
#2 This mid-century modern home built by Steele & Van Dyk resembles a semi-secluded paradise
The 8.86-acre property located in the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol is one of the most spectacular (and most lovingly preserved) mid-century homes you’ll find.
It was once owned by Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the beloved comic strip Peanuts and his children have fond memories of the property, which was used by their father as a creative studio.
Photo credit: Jim Nevill Productions courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
There were several lots on the original 27-acre property such as Schulz’ main house, his grandmother’s house, a large pond, a baseball field, a miniature golf course, a large swimming pool, an enclosed entertainment pavilion, and his studio, all surrounded by vineyards and apple orchards.
The family who bought the property after Charles Schulz’ ownership made a few changes to the studio but made sure not to alter the nature of the design.
They renovated the studio and turned it into an inviting one-bedroom home which operated as a licensed vacation rental for a few years.
True to the architecture of mid-century modern houses, the former art studio has clean lines, minimal decoration, and large, flat panes of glass windows and doors which allow a connection with nature.
Photo credit: Jim Nevill Productions courtesy of Coldwell Banker RealtyPhoto credit: Jim Nevill Productions courtesy of Coldwell Banker RealtyPhoto credit: Jim Nevill Productions courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
With the home surrounded by natural beauty, you’ll find a four-hole golf course, Redwoods groves, and walking trails lined with numerous rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, dogwoods, several varieties of ferns, fruit trees, and plenty of flowers.
Photo credit: Jim Nevill Productions courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
#3 One of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s last projects, a mid-century masterpiece
Sitting on 14 acres of protected land in New Canaan, Conn., we find one of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s final projects, built in 1955, just a few years before his death in 1959.
Photo credit: Udor Photography courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
Known as Tirranna — a moniker inspired by an Australian Aboriginal word meaning “running waters”, as the home is cantilevered over a pond and overlooks a waterfall on the Noroton River — the property is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest residential properties.
The architect also lived here while building the Guggenheim Museum and even used some of the scalloped glass windows from the Guggenheim Museum project to complete the home’s south-facing greenhouse.
Clocking in at a generous 7,000 square feet, the 7-bedroom, 8.5-bath home blends geometric complexity with nature’s flowing curves, in typical Frank Lloyd Wright style.
Photo credit: Udor Photography courtesy of Coldwell Banker RealtyPhoto credit: Udor Photography courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
Throughout the home, the architect combined and contrasted soaring ceilings and open living spaces with cozy and cocoon-like mahogany-paneled bedrooms.
Photo credit: Udor Photography courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
The home’s functional wood-paneled and stainless-steel kitchen epitomizes the mid-century modern aesthetic, while each of the bathrooms are spa-like and adorned with spectacular wood panels and unique features.
#4 A Mid-century home in Palo Alto that has maintained the integrity of its original design
This mid-century modern home is so simple that it reads as sophisticated.
It bears the signature of internationally recognized architect and Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Aaron Green. The 3-bed, 2-bath home features extensive use of mahogany, slab floors with radiant heat, built-in beds, desks and dressers, and Formica counters.
Photo credit: David Eichler
With flat roofs, both the exterior and interior have a clean and functional design. Inside the home, there is minimal decoration and the various cabinetry adds depth and variation in elevation.
The large windows give magnetic views of the yard. All in all, a gorgeous home updated for modern living while still retaining its mid-century authenticity.
Photo credit: David Eichler
#5 One of the most spectacular mid-century modern houses with a Moroccan theme and great views of the Coachella Valley
This stylish home is located in a compound in Rancho Mirage’s Thunderbird Heights — a prestigious gated hillside community adjacent to Thunderbird Country Club.
Photo credit: Kris Magenheim, inset CBS Radio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The mid-century home was custom-built for famous entertainer Bing Crosby and his second wife, Kathryn Grant, and was an absolutely perfect fit for its celebrity owner who loved to live large.
Among its most striking features, Bing Crosby’s former home lists a large living room with a stone fireplace and bar, a chef’s kitchen, a movie theater, and a beautiful and spacious 1,400-sq. foot master suite with a stunner of a walk-in closet and a fireplace, as well as four additional en-suite bedrooms.
Spread over 1.36 acres of land, the phenomenal home has approximately 6,700 square feet of living space that extend into the outdoor areas.
Photo credit: Kris Magenheim courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Kris Magenheim courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Kris Magenheim courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Kris Magenheim courtesy of The Agency
The home’s most famous guests, though, were definitely Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy. In honor of their stay there, the two-bedroom attached casita has been named the JFK Wing.
#6 An architectural gem with mesmerizing views of its lush surroundings and direct entrance to Rustic Canyon Park
Set in Los Angeles, this mid-century home designed by notable architect David Hyun has formerly been the residence of prominent entertainment lawyer Gary Concoff and his wife Jean.
The house dubbed ‘the Modern Tree House’ has large floor-to-ceiling windows which provide scenic views of the century-old trees that surround it and encourage a sense of harmony with the outdoor spaces it’s built around. The combination of the large windows and open floor plans let in a lot of beautiful natural light into the two-story home.
Photo credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The Agency
Notable features on the lower level of the house include an eat-in Eggersman kitchen, a full-service bar, a formal powder room, and three bedrooms. The distinctive spiral staircase leads to the primary suite upstairs fitted with generously sized closets as well as two separate offices and a large den/media room.
Photo credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Marc Angeles courtesy of The Agency
The massive backyard of the nearly quarter-acre property features a large swimming pool, a unique area for dining set amongst the trees, and a gate directly into Rustic Canyon Park, said to be one of the best parks in Los Angeles.
#7 The lovely mid-century modern house Richard Neutra designed for his secretary
One of the most impressive celebrity homes on our list, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea’s house is made out of two architecturally significant structures: The first is a modern heptagon-shaped house designed by AD100 architect Michael Maltzan and the other is a lovely midcentury-style house built by famed architect Richard Neutra in the early 1950s.
Photo credit: Cameron Carothers courtesy of Compass
Clocking in at 1,350 sq ft, the midcentury-style home has 2 bedrooms, and one bath, and is surrounded by walls of glass.
The home was built by Richard Neutra for his secretary, Dorothy Serulnic and her husband, George, back in 1953. Neutra, one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century, made sure that his secretary’s home is as livable and comfortable as it is visually appealing.
He designed several built-ins including a sofa system with a record player and concealed speakers, multiple desks, shelving systems, a dining room table, and a sliding breakfast nook, which are still present in the house today (or, rather, were still there when Flea tried offloading his La Crescenda compound a while back).
Photo credit: Cameron Carothers courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Cameron Carothers courtesy of Compass
Architect Michael Maltzan then built a dramatic, seven-sided house on the property half a century later. The spaceship-like house is surrounded by seven exterior walls (some made out of glass) and is anchored by an open-air courtyard that sits right at the center.
A small cabin built by artist and craftsman Peter Staley provides a little extra space for guests and an eye-grabbing feature.
#8 Master architect Richard Dorman’s award-winning home, the Seidenbaum Residence
Tucked away down a long private driveway into a quiet, secluded compound we find architect Richard Dorman’s Seidenbaum Residence.
With its timeless appeal and unique design, the home is nestled in the Hollywood Hills on Mulholland Drive, overlooking outstanding views of the San Fernando Valley and the Hollywood sign.
Image credit: The Agency
Spanning 3,198 square feet, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home has two peaked roofs and clerestory windows that capture the California sunshine inside the main living area.
Boasting an open-concept layout, the home blends mid-century and modern designs. From the dining and main living areas to the kitchen, the fluid design captures a sense of tranquility amid the walls of glass that draw in the natural light.
Providing warmth and intimacy, the see-through, double-sided fireplace is a show-stopper in the great room.
Image credit: The Agency Image credit: The Agency Image credit: The Agency
#9 This elegant home with a zen factor beautifully remodeled for modern-day living
Originally built in 1955, this home offers a fresh, contemporary take on the timeless midcentury style. Esteemed architectural firm OWIU (which stands for the only way is up) updated the property, building on its mid-century modern legacy.
Photo credit: Justin Chung courtesy of The Agency
The 1,516-square-foot home is in Mount Washington, a historic neighborhood in the San Rafael Hills of Northeast Los Angeles. It has bright, warm interiors, and is filled with the natural finish of attractive light oak wood.
The house — which has retained its original charm —is all about comfort, timeless design, and an approachable elegance.Kane Lim from the popular reality show Bling Empire was once the owner of this beautiful property.
Photo credit: Justin Chung courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Justin Chung courtesy of The Agency
It has all the standard features of a mid-century home and then some,with floor-to-ceiling windows, clean lines, breathtaking views, and a deck in the primary suite that leads to a Japanese-style garden with bonsai and maple trees.
Photo credit: Justin Chung courtesy of The Agency
The house’s exterior has fresh pathways and gardening beds, a gate that leads to the lower portion of the property, and a large open space that has a sculptural staircase and custom wood bench surrounding a fire pit.
#10 A charming, thoughtfully updated former celebrity home on a quiet hilltop
On a quiet hilltop right above the famed Mulholland Drive sits a 4-bedroom hilltop hideaway once owned by power couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski.
The secluded, single-level mid-century home has a large open plan design and walls of glass that allow light to enter rooms from multiple angles.
With soaring, beamed ceilings, wide plank hardwoods, and original stonework, the living room is as eye-catching as it is inviting and features a gas fireplace.
The primary bedroom suite is one of the main highlights of this home and it looks and feels like a retreat in itself. With its vaulted, beamed ceilings, and massive windows inviting the outdoors in, a sitting area, custom built-ins, a walk-in closet, and a marble-clad ensuite bath with a soaking tub and steam shower, it truly is a stylish and elegant space.
Photo credit: One Shot Productions courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: One Shot Productions courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: One Shot Productions courtesy of Compass
The flagstone patio is surrounded by mature oak and olive trees and features a bubbling fountain, making it a great place to relax and soak in the picturesque views of mountains, the canyon, and the slivers of the city skyline.
Photo credit: One Shot Productions courtesy of Compass
#11 A spectacular stilt house with jaw-dropping views and a unique taste of Los Angeles history
Nestled in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, this is one of 17 unique homes propped up over the side of the Beverly Glen Canyon. The mid-century house was tastefully modernized by its previous owner, acclaimed architect Donald M. Goldstein. It’s undoubtedly a part of architecture history in Los Angeles.
Photo credit: Andrew Orozco courtesy of The Agency
Known as Neutra’s Platform Houses because they were originally designed by legendary architect Richard Neutra, these gravity-defying homes are incredible. Also known as the Stone-Fisher Speculative Houses (as they were built for the Stone-Fisher development company), the unique abodes were later completed by architect William S. Beckett.
The one-story home creates the illusion of a floating vessel in the sky. The unique structure has a rectangular form, horizontal emphasis, long balconies stretching the full width of the house, and large windows to display magnificent views of the San Fernando Valley.
Photo credit: Andrew Orozco courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Andrew Orozco courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Andrew Orozco courtesy of The Agency
Some of the notable features of the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home include pyramid skylights, raised ceiling and roof lines, a 300+ bottle wine cellar, a Roman soaking tub, and its black metal exterior is coated with a 24-gauge Kynar finish.
#12 A classic mid-century house in a prime location with a long list of past celebrity owners
The star-studded Los Angeles Tree House — carefully tucked away from prying eyes in the famous Mulholland Drive — has attracted names like Ellen DeGeneres, Heath Ledger, and Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson as its owners.
Image credit: The Agency
The charming home with its lush surroundings is as serene as it is private. Inside, the clean mid-century modern style is warmed by a blend of natural textures, with walls of glass opening the home to the beautifully landscaped outdoors.
Image credit: The AgencyImage credit: The Agency
The home’s most extraordinary feature is its expansive 2,500-square-foot outdoor deck which is pretty phenomenal.
Image credit: The Agency
It overlooks the leafy treetops illuminated with ethereal lights at night and is furnished with an outdoor grill, lots of seating areas, and an open-air screening room with a retractable projection screen.
#13 A two-story mid-century gem in Bel Air with artsy appeal
Set in a quiet cul-de-sac, the 5,134-square-foot mid-century modern home features 5 bedrooms and 4 baths and has been fitted with everything from stone counters to auto window shades, radiant limestone floors, and high-end SS Thermador appliances.
Image courtesy of Compass
The two-story Bel-Air home features dramatic vaulted ceilings that soar over the living, dining, and family rooms.
With its seamless indoor/outdoor living, scenic surroundings and the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that are popular in mid-century modern houses, the house is flooded with natural light.
The home’s interior is stylishly refreshed with inviting warm-toned furnishings providing a relaxing and enriching experience, with art and pops of color accenting its midcentury aesthetic.
Image courtesy of CompassImage courtesy of Compass
Midcentury modern houses continue to captivate and inspire with their timeless charm and architectural elegance. From their clean lines and expansive windows to their innovative use of materials, these houses represent a design movement that has left an indelible mark on the world of architecture, one that will continue to attract homeowners and renovators for years to come.
Especially since, as we’ve seen with the examples listed above, updating these midcentury gems creates true masterpieces.
The boho style is perfect for gals who want to be comfy, casual, and just the right amount of colorful. Although this style is typically categorized by incorporating natural materials into the home, you can also mix in louder, more eclectic pieces within the home as it makes sense. The easiest way to cement your boho style is to pick up an area rug that ties your room together. The key to a successful boho home is to make everything seem laid-back and inviting like you’re always ready for either a candle-lit dinner party with close friends or to pack up your life on a whim and hit the beach.
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Boho is a curated home decor style, but the magic of it is that you can make it entirely your own. By incorporating larger pieces like rugs and furniture with unique vintage finds, you can curate a chill and colorful space that reflects your personality. If you need a little help getting started, we’re rounding up the best boho area rugs available online so you can start at the center of your room and build the boho style of your dreams around it.
Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Urban Outfitters is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Jasper Brushed Rug
This rug is pre-distressed so it looks worn in without the fragility of a vintage rug. Boho style is all about mixing the old with the new and a new rug that looks old but will last for years is the perfect way to try out this trend at home. Plus, this rug is on sale for 30 percent off.
$132.30
189
30% Off
Indoor Geometric Shag Woven Rug
Add a wicker coffee table on top of this geometric-style rug, and you’ve got the perfect mixed-media boho chic setup of your dreams.
$130 and up
nuLOOM Catrine Bohemian Diamonds Shag Area Rug
Rugs that have a neutral-colored background and a bright pop of color in the stitching are perfect for accentuating the boho style. Pair this one with a tan leather sofa and a cozy throw blanket; you’ll never want to leave your cozy abode. It could work well as a fun bohemian kitchen rug under a midcentury modern dining table.
$45 and up
Artistic Weavers Odelia Vintage Bohemian Area Rug
As mentioned above, the boho style lends well to mixing vintage pieces with brand new pieces. Even though this rug
is new, its vintage style definitely has the “just picked this up at the thrift store” feel. Consider this the perfect bohemian living room rug for your space.
$52
$220
76% Off
Artistic Weavers Cintia Indoor/ Outdoor Bohemian Stripe Area Rug
A singular color on an area rug lets you get creative with the rest of your space. Want a multi-patterned couch? This rug is the perfect complement. Want to go wild with accessorizing the room with oversized plants, wallpaper, and vintage trinkets? This rug will let the rest of your room shine.
Pro dancer Cheryl Burke, best known for her long-running stint on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars,” is waltzing away from her contemporary Los Angeles home.
The urban oasis, which Burke had purchased in 2009 for $1,295,000, is now listed for $2,199,000.
With 2,100 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms and three baths, the midcentury modern abode is gorgeous and boasts amazing views of the mountains and city.
Built in 1957
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Amazing views
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Sitting area
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Kitchen
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Living room
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Post-and-beam construction is the draw here for architectural buffs, while the setting in the tony section of Hollywood Hills will cement the deal for others.
Glass walls and windows bathe the rooms in natural light and treetop views. Also featuring views are the double-decker balconies on the exterior.
The newly renovated kitchen is equipped with bright white cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances. The dining area and a wet bar are nearby.
The main bedroom includes a walk-in closet and spa bath, complete with double vanities and a soaking tub. The living room is cozy with a fireplace and wide-plank wood flooring.
The home comes with a two-car garage and a lounge space and fire pit out back.
Bedroom
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Bath
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Fire pit
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After 26 seasons on “Dancing With the Stars,” Burke earned many feathers in her cap, which include making it to the finals several times, being the first female professional to win the dance competition, and the first pro to win twice—doing so consecutively.
In 2008, Burke opened a series of dance studios, and she has a clothing line called Cee Bee. Burke also works as a motivational speaker and mental health advocate, and she hosts a podcast titled “Burke in the Game.”
You know a design style is truly a classic when it inspires incredible, new work for decades beyond its origin.
That’s exactly what Los Angeles restaurateur Beau Laughlin and his actress wife, Lindsey Gort, achieved in Palm Springs. The pair built a brand-new, midcentury modern-style masterpiece from the ground up, with the help of prominent Palm Springs architect Sean Lockyer, of Studio AR+D.
After entering the market in early June for $5.1 million, the five-bedroom, five-bath home caught a buyer’s eye and is in contingent sale status.
Desert modernist home in Palm Springs
(Realtor.com)
Desert modern design
The home features the traditional single-story, clean lines, and organic materials prescribed by the original masters of classic desert modernism. But this beauty also boasts the most current technology for a thoroughly modern dwelling.
Laughlin and Gort employed a timeless design technique before building began—they spent hours on the property, observing where the best light fell at different times of day and considering the views from each room.
They situated the structure on the nearly half-acre lot, so the sweeping mountain and desert vistas could be enjoyed at all times.
One example of the view-centric design includes Fleetwood glass, pocket sliders that face the iconic San Jacinto Mountains.
Great room with mountain view
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The guest suite, dubbed “The Mountain Room,” faces a small mountain where the famous Palm Springs bighorn sheep can occasionally be seen.
View from The Mountain Room
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Bedroom
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To maximize the landscape views, the building team constructed the home with two wings connected to the main living space by a double-sided, glass breezeway. This striking feature overlooks the pool, surrounding desert, and outdoor entertainment spaces.
View from the breezeway
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The home is built primarily of durable and sustainable materials, including concrete, wood, stone, and steel. Natural stone is particularly prominent in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Kitchen with natural materials including wood and stone
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One of five bathrooms
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Built with ecology in mind, the home is kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter by high-density, eco-spray, foam insulation. In addition, solar panels offset approximately 80% of the home’s energy needs. Tankless water heaters also conserve one of the desert’s most precious elements.
Luxe outdoor amenities include a resort-sized pool and spa, a fully outfitted outdoor kitchen, a conversation area surrounding a fire pit, tasteful desert landscaping, wood decking, and a cantilevered pergola.
Backyard
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Fire pit
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Ideal for the privacy-minded buyer, the 4,185-square-foot home is situated on a corner lot in the upscale Parc Andreas neighborhood and has just one adjacent neighbor. A six-foot privacy wall surrounds the property, and a double gate opens to the front motor court.
Evening view
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Laughlin designed and served as general contractor on a number of award-winning Los Angeles restaurants, including The Hudson, The Churchill, Clover, and Fifty Seven.
Gort is perhaps best known for playing Samantha Jones in “The Carrie Diaries” but has also had prominent roles in TV series such as “Impastor” and “All Rise.”
A 1959 home in Los Angeles that was given a stylish face-lift just scored a buyer.
The sellers are the L.A. design team of Hollis Jordyn Design, and they picked up the midcentury modern gem in Nichols Canyon in May 2022 for $2,750,000. They updated the home and listed it in November 2022 for $3,850,000. The price was reduced to $2,999,999 by May 2023, and it was sold on June 21 for $2,825,911.
The three-bedroom, three-bath home spanning 2,500 square feet was originally designed by Edward Fickett. Fickett’s notable projects include Edwards Air Force Base and Dodger Stadium (both in Southern California) and the Sands Hotel (in Las Vegas).
Dubbed the Ophelia House, it’s named after one of the designer Jordyn Blum’s children, whom she shares with Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters.
Blum’s design firm, Hollis Jordyn Design, which she owns with Hollis LaPlante, revamped the home while adding new air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing.
Living room
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Fireplace
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Dining room
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Kitchen
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One of the bedrooms
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One of the baths
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Carport
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“It hasn’t been on the market for over 50 years,” says listing agent Tim Gavin, of Coldwell Banker Realty. The sellers “retouched everything. They preserved what they felt was special and necessary to keep.”
This includes a stone fireplace, terrazzo flooring in the foyer, a pass-through window, wood paneling, and a cinderblock wall in the primary suite. The kitchen cabinetry was updated with new hardware.
Modernizing the home meant adding marble countertops to the kitchen as well as new windows and sliders, and updating finishes in the three baths.
“We were seeking a celebrity buyer to some degree, with either a music or entertainment background, or a successful entrepreneur or someone with a creative background,” Gavin says.
Tucked into Nichols Canyon Colony, the locale, is “very private,” Gavin adds. “You’ve got wider streets and more of a neighborhood vibe.”
An eye-popping structure in Glastonbury, CT, that appears to be floating among the trees is this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.
The Cedar Bridge House was designed by architect Wilfred Armster and appears to hover some 50 feet above the wooded lot, anchored to a steel support structure above the garage.
Other offerings you clicked on this week include an affordable tiny home in Colorado, a retro residence in Vermont, and the former home of the Galveston Wedding Chapel in Texas.
For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling.
Price: $829,000 Why it’s here: This Normandy-style Tudor features many period details: casement, boxed-out windows; stone parapet walls; exposed-beam ceilings; preserved hardwood flooring; and even a window seat.
Offering five bedrooms, this petite castle was built in the 1930s. The living room comes with a stone fireplace and built-in seating.
On the market for just 11 days, the home is already pending sale.
Old Saybrook, CT
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Price: $210,000 Why it’s here: This adorable and affordable tiny home boasts a modern interior.
Built in 2021, this two-bedroom abode is part of a small-home community. Offering just 670 square feet of living space, the home is bright and airy and features many modern amenities. A floor-to-ceiling electric fireplace can be found in the combined living-dining area.
The first-floor primary bedroom has direct access to a patio. A spiral staircase leads to a second bedroom/loft area. The property is pending sale.
Silt, CO
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Price: $149,000 Why it’s here: What a deal! This modestly priced farmhouse needs some TLC, but there’s a lot of charm and character.
The three-bedroom home was built in 1878. Period details include wide-plank floors and arched ceilings. Recent updates include a new metal roof and a modernized kitchen with lots of cabinet space.
The 2.6-acre lot comes with a detached barn with a workshop. The property is pending sale.
Baldwinsville, NY
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Price: $499,000 Why it’s here: The bland exterior of this home hides a surprising log cabin interior.
The three-bedroom home was custom-built in 2015 on a 10-acre wooded parcel. The two-story living room features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and the large windows let in plenty of natural light. Out back, there’s a hot tub.
The home is pending sale.
Tyler, TX
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Price: $4,900,000 Why it’s here: This enormous, seven-bedroom estate comes with a brick-walled wine cellar, cozy bar, spa with indoor lap pool, fitness center, and home theater.
The 10,159-square-foot floor plan boasts custom millwork and six fireplaces. The wood-paneled library has a coffered ceiling, built-in bookshelves, and a fireplace with an ornate mantelpiece.
The 16-acre lot also features six garages, a carriage house with two apartments, and a tennis court.
Windham, NH
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Price: $625,000 Why it’s here: Inspired by midcentury modern style, this home was designed by architect Charles Marks.
The home was built in 1974 on a 14-acre parcel in the Green Mountain State. The bright living room is lined with windows and built-ins, and features a fireplace. The 3,000 square feet of living space includes a dining area with a raised ceiling and sliders that open to a bluestone terrace with an in-ground pool.
The primary suite has a fireplace, built-in bed, and bathroom with cedar walls. The property is pending sale.
Brookline, VT
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Price: $510,000 Why it’s here: This large, log cabin comes with a matching, four-car garage.
The three-bedroom home features vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. The great room boasts a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and the spacious kitchen comes with a curved island with seating. Two en suite bedrooms are upstairs, and the third is located on the lower level.
The 1.4-acre lot is private and wooded.
Portage, IN
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Price: $799,900 Why it’s here: This fabulous farmhouse on 6 waterfront acres overlooks the Clinch River. The spot is ideal for launching a boat, kayaking, or fishing.
The three-bedroom, 1,857-square-foot home boasts a two-story family room with a stone fireplace and a kitchen with custom cabinets. Two bedrooms are located on the main level, and the primary suite with a private balcony can be found upstairs.
Clinton, TN
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Price: $799,500 Why it’s here: Here comes the chance to live at the former site of the Galveston Wedding Chapel!
While the wedding business itself is not for sale, all of the furnishings of the turnkey place are negotiable, according to the listing.
The waterfront property offers Gulf views from the top floors. The chapel is on the main level, and two bedrooms are upstairs.
The 2,211-square-foot interior also includes a formal parlor for cocktails, an elevated area for ceremonies, and an outdoor gazebo for photos.
There are also multiple terraces and patios to take in the views.
Galveston, TX
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Price: $497,000 Why it’s here: The innovative Cedar Bridge House, designed by architect Wilfred Armster, appears to float among the trees.
Built in 1983, the two-bedroom residence has been on and off the market over the past three years, with an original list price of $530,000. As several calls to the listing agent have gone unreturned, we (and social media) are left wondering why this modern marvel hasn’t sold.
The unconventional, bridge-like design features 2,118 square feet of living space filled with skylights and windows. The stylish kitchen has granite counters, a wine cooler, and high-end stainless-steel appliances, according to the listing. The minimalist living room offers a sleek fireplace.
The primary bedroom includes access to one of two decks. A third deck boasts a hot tub and views of the 3-acre lot.
Most mornings after Stephen Garten wakes up at his home in Austin, Texas, he goes into his backyard and starts pacing, preparing himself for what’s next. “It’s brutal,” says Garten, 37, the founder and CEO of social impact company Charity Charge. “It’s a real challenge every day.”
He’s talking about lowering himself into a 66-inch-long and 24-inch-wide stainless steel tub clad in customized zebrawood and submerging himself up to his neck in water that he sets at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, with water circulating at 1,400 gallons a minute. “It’s like being in a river,” he says of the flow rate produced by this particular vessel, a Blue Cube cold plunge.
It’s an experience that Garten typically tolerates for less than two minutes at a time, once or twice a day. And it comes at a price of $19,000. Blue Cube, based in Redmond, Ore., makes cold plunge units that cost between around $18,000 and $29,000.
A cold plunge is one of several wellness features in the backyard at Stephen Garten and Katie Snyder’s Austin home. (AMY MIKLER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
“Cold plunging has made a profound difference in my life,” Garten says. He says it has brought him health benefits including stress management.
Previously the domain of athletes, bathing in cold water or ice has become a mainstream wellness trend across the U.S. The practice goes by many terms, like cold plunging, ice bathing and cold-immersion therapy. Water temperature below 59 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered cold immersion. People who swear by it say they have experienced wide-ranging health benefits, like reduced anxiety, alleviated joint and muscle pain and boosted energy and focus.
But while many people are experimenting with do-it-yourself methods—like taking cold showers or filling kiddie pools, horse troughs and unplugged chest freezers with cold water or ice—some enthusiasts have leveled-up their at-home cold plunging setups with sophisticated receptacles priced at tens of thousands of dollars and up.
Developers, meanwhile, are adding cold plunges to amenity-rich luxury complexes like 53 West 53 in New York and Cipriani Residences Miami, betting that cold immersion is here to stay.
“Ice bathing seems like a trend, but people have been doing this for thousands of years,” says Jonathan Coon, co-founder of Austin Capital Partners, which is the developer of Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin, 20 minutes from downtown Austin, slated to open in 2026.
Stephen Garten and Katie Snyder’s Austin home. (AMY MIKLER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)The couple in their house’s kitchen and main living room. (AMY MIKLER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)They turned a downstairs room into a spare bedroom and family room. (AMY MIKLER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
In addition to 188 residential units starting at $4.1 million, the Lake Austin property on 145 acres will have 76,000 square feet of indoor wellness and sports facilities, including a 12,000-square-foot orangery, 82-foot swimming pool, sauna, steam room and, of course, cold and hot thermal baths.
Amenities covering 100,000 square feet is a key reason that Onyx W.D. Johnson and Cristian Santangelo bought a $2.2 million two-bedroom, 1,123-square-foot apartment in New York’s One Manhattan Square, an 80-story building located on the Lower East Side. Facilities include a spa with a tranquility garden, 75-foot saltwater swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and hammam with a cold plunge set between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The couple moved into the apartment in May 2021.
Johnson and Santangelo quivered at the idea of cold plunging until they started seeing other people dipping and discussing the health benefits. “We decided to give it a try,” Johnson says.
Now cold plunging is part of their wellness regimen. Johnson, 50, who runs a management consulting firm, uses the hot pool, steam room and sauna, and then cold plunges for 45 seconds to a minute. He says this routine speeds up his training recovery time, helps him think clearer and improves his alertness and mood. Santangelo, 45, who is a management consultant, says the ritual helps him calm down and fight anxiety and stress.
Diamond Spas & Pools, based in Frederick, Colo., is a custom manufacturer of luxury pools, spas and soaking tubs for homeowners globally. The company added cold plunges to its portfolio in 2015 and saw one or two orders annually until 2019, when it experienced a sales surge. “Our cold plunge projects have increased 10 times since then,” says Mitch Martinek, the company’s design manager.
Martinek attributes the uptick to several factors. Today’s homeowners want gym and spa amenities at home and on-demand, cold therapy health benefits are better known now, and there are lingering pandemic concerns over public wellness facilities.
Onyx W.D. Johnson and Cristian Santangelo’s two bedroom apartment in One Manhattan Square, in New York. (RAYON RICHARDS FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)The couple’s bedroom. (RAYON RICHARDS FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)Cristian Santangelo, left, and Onyx W.D. Johnson at home. (RAYON RICHARDS FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
The company’s cold plunges, which chill water to between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, are made from stainless steel or copper and can be camouflaged in tile, stone or wood. The pools can go indoors or outdoors, come in any size and can work with home automation systems. The average cold plunge costs about $45,000, with elaborate projects running closer to about $65,000.
One of the company’s more unique cold plunges had an acrylic bottom and was in a high-rise building. “It was on a deck with a fire pit below,” Martinek says. “The homeowner wanted to be able to look up through the cold plunge.”
John Thorbahn bought a four-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot single-family home in Hingham, Mass., south of Boston, in March 2020 for $1.6 million. He owns a cold plunge from Phoenix-based company Morozko Forge, founded in 2018. Morozko Forge’s entry-level unit costs $12,850; its upgraded version costs $19,900.
Morozko Forge’s ice baths make ice. While the stainless steel tub is filled with cold water, an ice slab starts building at the tank’s bottom. At about 1-inch thick, the ice detaches and floats to the water’s surface. The ice can be broken up with an implement like a rubber mallet if needed.
Thorbahn, 63, who is the managing director at consulting company NFP, ice bathes most days for two to three minutes at 33 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. His wife, Jana Thorbahn, 59, ice bathes, too. “The older you get, the more you want to live longer,” says Thorbahn, whose home also has a gym, sauna, red light therapy room and hot tub. “You start investing in protocols to help you be healthy.”
While many cold plungers have developed their own ice bathing rituals, choosing everything from their preferred water temperatures to time limits, Dr. Susanna Søberg, a Danish Ph.D. metabolic scientist and founder of the Soeberg Institute, is one of the world’s experts on the health benefits of cold immersion, which she has been studying for nine years.
In 2021, Søberg published research on cold exposure and hot exposure, which is called “contrast therapy” if the cold and hot exposures are performed in succession. Studying Danish winter swimmers, Søberg identified that a short plunge in cold, moving water combined with sauna use shifts the body’s nervous system and creates physiological changes, like boosting metabolism, lowering inflammation and releasing neurotransmitters that improve cognitive performance and mental health. “You are activating your whole body system,” Søberg says.
In a field that hasn’t been widely studied by the medical community, Søberg has developed what she says is the only scientifically backed cold immersion protocol for reducing stress using contrast therapy and breathing: 11 total minutes of cold immersion combined with 57 total minutes of heat, across two to three days a week. The goal of her method is to expose the body to the smallest amount of healthy stress needed to reap health benefits. “Staying in cold water or heat longer may not be beneficial or necessary,” she says.
Søberg says cold immersion carries the rare risk of cold water shock that can cause confusion or fainting, but the risk increases if a person does hyperventilating breathwork before or during cold water immersion. She also says cold plunging might not be good for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Søberg advocates for cold plunging with others, and practicing slow, nasal breathing in the water.
The backyard pool at Tobias and Christine Lawry’s 1963 Midcentury Modern house in Dana Point, Calif. (NATASHA LEE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)Their master bedroom opens up into their backyard. (NATASHA LEE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)The Lawrys converted a bedroom into a wellness room that turns into an indoor-outdoor-fitness space. (NATASHA LEE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
Contrast therapy is why Sausalito, Calif.-based company Yardzen says most of its cold plunge projects involve saunas. Yardzen is an online landscape and home-exterior design company that works with homeowners across the U.S. The company’s co-founder and CEO Allison Messner says wellness yards—encompassing everything from cold plunges to saunas to meditation spaces to forest bathing—is one of Yardzen’s top 2023 trends.
“Peak luxury is having both a cold plunge and a sauna in your yard so you can experience cold and hot therapy,” Messner says.
Tobias Lawry, 51, and his wife, Christine Lawry, 50, live in a three-bedroom 1963 Midcentury Modern house in Dana Point, Calif. They purchased it in October 2018. Between July 2021 and October 2022, they worked with architect Chris Light, designer Frank Berry and builder Crawford Custom Homes to renovate their 3,000-square-foot house to honor its original period intention while modernizing it. This included turning a bedroom into a wellness room, which opens into a backyard with a pool, sauna and Blue Cube cold plunge.
The Lawrys, who run an estate-management and concierge services company called LPM, keep their Blue Cube at 47 degrees Fahrenheit. They typically cold plunge in the evening and on weekend mornings.
Stephen Garten in Austin also has a tricked-out wellness yard: In addition to his Blue Cube, he has a barrel sauna from Almost Heaven Saunas, which are manufactured in West Virginia and start around $7,500. He also has a stock tank pool from Cowboy Pools, an Austin-based company that has pool packages starting around $2,000.
He was inspired to create a backyard oasis where he and his fiancée, Katie Snyder, can have friends over. “It’s wellness,” Garten says, “but it’s entertainment too.”
Perched among the trees, a midcentury stunner of a house recently hit the market in Danville, VA, for $369,000.
The minor architectural masterpiece caught a buyer’s eye right away, and the wood-construction home is pending sale.
Built in 1959 and designed by legendary Greensboro, NC, architect Edward Loewenstein, the property last changed hands in 2021 for $225,000.
Loewenstein enjoyed a successful career focused on modernist construction, including around 500 homes—50 of which are considered midcentury modern. While Loewenstein’s impact on architecture is his most visible contribution to the contemporary landscape, he was uniquely significant for another more important reason.
Loewenstein was one of the first white architects in North Carolina to hire Black architects in the early 1950s, according to the website NC Modernist. He also served on Gov. Terry Sanford’s North Carolina Commission on Civil Rights.
Deck
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Living space
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Updated kitchen
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Bedroom
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This 1,519-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home is set on .77 acres. Natural light and beautiful views of the surrounding woodland landscape define and warm the home’s interior. The house is anchored by a spacious living room with a working fireplace and 180-degree, floor-to-ceiling windows. Cork flooring runs throughout, and a deck overlooks the picturesque property.
While appliances and finishes have been modernized, the home’s original details remain intact.
This Danville dwelling has architectural significance and a rich local history. The place was originally built as the family home of Dan River Mills chemist Joanne Spangler, according to the listing, and is a quick drive from the Caesars Virginia casino.
The home serves up a rare combination of fine design and getaway appeal, all within minutes of abundant entertainment and dining options. This house “presents a rare opportunity to own one of the region’s last remaining midcentury modern homes,” the listing notes.
This 1975 design, inspired by midcentury modern architect John Lautner, is flawless. And the home’s workmanship and materials, which include premium wood, glass, and stone, are impeccable.
The list price for this slice of paradise is $4,995,000; but if you’d rather try before you buy, you can lease the three-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,000 square-foot home for $17,500 a month.
And the location, nestled in its own private Bel Air canyon off Beverly Glen, is surprisingly convenient.
Front exterior
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The home last sold in 2021 for $3,175,000.
Its extensive glass walls, skylights, and cantilevered bedroom wings set it apart from all others.
Great room with soaring glass walls
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“This home has this charming feel to it, with incredible energy,” says Daniel Milstein, who is listing the property with Aaron Kirman, both of AKG | Christie’s International Real Estate. “If you want to live in a private nature oasis, yet close to the sights and sounds, this is it. The incredible architecture is breathtaking and works perfectly in this unique, abundant space.”
Private oasis
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The impressive, wood-clad entry leads to an airy, two-story great room, illuminated by skylights and crowned by the second-floor gallery.
Great room
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The lovely dining area is adjacent to an upgraded chef’s kitchen, where more windows flood the space with natural light.
Kitchen
Up the winding, modern staircase, there’s a glittering master suite with spa amenities. Further up, there is a third-floor landing with a guest suite and private deck.
Bedroom
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Multiple decks, balconies, dining areas, and terraces beautifully mesh together this hillside home with its grassy yard and outdoor spaces.
Outdoor conversation area
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View from above
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And while many of its virtues are apparent to the naked eye, the house has a whole slate of hidden, high-tech features— a smart home system, automated lighting, a built-in sound system, and automatic blinds, which are essential in a home with this many windows.
