‘Architectural Marvel’ in Southern Costa Rica is a Family-Friendly Compound with Views
Daveed Hollander of Coldwell Banker Vesta Group Dominical has listed the majestic Château Montage, a contemporary mountaintop masterpiece just south of San Jose, Costa Rica. Surrounded by manicured, bird- and butterfly-friendly tropical landscaping and panoramic coastline and mountain views, the gracious compound of more than four acres is designed for a lifestyle of luxurious privacy and lavish indoor-outdoor entertaining.Awash with natural light, wraparound floor-to-ceiling glass with automated window blinds, clerestory windows, vaulted ceilings, vanishing walls and expansive decks, the residence blends the finest materials, custom fixtures and an open floor plan to create grand pavilions for dining, lounging and recreation. In addition to the main house, the property includes a separate guest house with a full kitchen, living room, dual bedroom suites and a private pool, as well as an additional one-bedroom guest/caretaker’s suite, with a kitchen and laundry, above the four-car garage.From the circular motorcourt entry and porte-cochère to the private orchard and incomparable views, Château Montage is conceived and constructed with every comfort and luxury in mind. The vast grounds include three blue-tile pools and a water feature at the main house, including a 20-meter lap pool with a swim-up bar; an outdoor kitchen and dining pavilion; an energy-rich solar array; wraparound view terraces, sun decks, sitting areas and a rooftop lounge with a wet bar and entertainment center.The home’s interior is as impressive as the views, with Italian porcelain tile flooring, Fleetwood motorized doors, a graceful, glass-railed spiral staircase, and a full complement of integrated smart-home features, including air conditioning, sound system and security. With walls open to pools, decks and terraces, the living, dining and kitchen spaces create a vast great room for effortless living and truly memorable entertaining. The beautiful kitchen is equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and conveniences as well as a butler’s kitchen and walk-in pantry.On the upper floor, there is a large central lounge with a wet bar, plus two extraordinary bedroom suites. The primary suite features a spacious office with a private garden and magnificent views; a vast bedrom with a built-in entertainment center and a terrace with a private plunge pool; a luxurious spa-style bath with waterfall view; and a fully customized walk-in closet plus a safe room and vault.Beyond the lavish expanse of Château Montage itself, the Costa Verde gated community provides an abundance of amenities, including tennis courts, fitness facilities, clubhouse, parks, trails and a helipad.View the complete listing by Daveed Hollander of Coldwell Banker Vesta Group Dominical in Dominical.The post ‘Architectural Marvel’ in Southern Costa Rica is a Family-Friendly Compound with Views appeared first on Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Blog - Luxury Home & Style.
“It’s All About Wellness”: Designer Allison Babcock on the 2024 Spa Bath
“A spa bathroom should be an experience,” Sag Harbor–based interior designer Allison Babcock is fond of saying. She’s not wrong. The wellness wave is well-documented, as more homeowners seek to create distinct moments in their bath spaces where they can relax and unwind from the day. “It’s a place that can transport you from your day into a calming environment.” Photo by Claire EsparrosBabcock has been creating these experiences for her clients for over 25 years. A nationally recognized interior design authority whose work is frequently highlighted in magazines from Ocean Home and Hamptons to Modern Luxury Interiors, Babock is known for her sophisticated aesthetic in coastal New York havens. Her designs weave modern elegance with timeless comfort. Her talent for juxtaposition is readily on display, achieving the right balance of luxurious textiles, natural materials, color and clean silhouettes. The result is that her spaces feel fresh and crisp, yet undeniably warm.The writing staff at the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program recently caught up with Babcock to get her thoughts on where the bath-as-sanctuary design movement is currently. She shared the spa bath trends that are in and out for 2024, her No. 1 rule for creating a sense of sanctuary and which design feature she’s happy to say goodbye to this year.North Haven Primary Bath | Photo by Keith Scott MortonColdwell Banker Global Luxury What makes a bathroom “a spa bath”?Allison Babcock Creating spa bathrooms is all in the design details that give the space a luxurious look and feel and provide the elements that are important to feeling relaxed. Choosing elevated materials like marble, natural stone, bamboo and wood, separating the toilet into a designated water closet as well as the shower from the tub, selecting the right faucets and showerheads, providing ample storage and lighting that is controlled in each space are essential design elements that make for a spa bathroom.Coldwell Banker Global Luxury What does the 2024 spa bath look like, and how is it different from the spa bath of, say, 10 years ago?Allison Babcock The spa bathroom of a decade ago was thought of more in terms of opulence, extravagance and being over the top. It often was more about the parts than the sum of it all. It was about having a space that said you’ve arrived. In 2024, the spa bathroom is all about wellness – taking into account mind, body and soul. It is luxurious but it does not shout, it whispers.Spa bathrooms are all about quality materials with an emphasis on natural and organic, soft or muted color palettes – creamy whites, pale grays and neutral tones and keeping the feeling of an airy space – further achieved with fixtures in brushed nickel polished chrome finishes and glass doors for the shower. This all works towards having a tranquil space for self-care and enhancing your mood.North Haven Primary Bath | Photo by Keith Scott MortonColdwell Banker Global Luxury What spa bath trends are out for this year?Allison Babcock The days of brightly and boldly colored bathrooms, mixing too many types of materials, and busy or textured tiles are definitely out. There is also a rustic overload, so we can say goodbye to the barn door as the bathroom door.NYC Marble Sink | Photo by Trevor ParkerColdwell Banker Global Luxury What spa bath trends are in for this year?Allison Babcock The influence of nature is gaining serious momentum. The benefits of being in and connecting with nature are really being understood and incorporated into the spa bathroom through natural elements. This includes doing it in simple ways from adding indoor plants, such as bamboo, eucalyptus or orchids, to create a clean and serene ambiance to incorporating subtle natural textures through accents, such as pebble flooring, teak wood slats on showers with window panes (without neighbors) that open up to the fresh air or even stone walls. These organic elements will deliver the soothing power of nature while enhancing the spa-like atmosphere.NYC Primary Bath | Photo by Trevor ParkerColdwell Banker Global Luxury What’s your No. 1 rule when it comes to creating the feeling of sanctuary in a bath space?Allison Babcock If you want to have a rejuvenating, spa bathroom experience then it has to be clutter-free to give you the spa retreat feel. The first thing I tell people is to invest in storage solutions for the long term. You need to have space for bathroom essentials and they need to be organized and in a place that is easily accessible. To do this, I recommend built-in cabinetry, floating shelves, storage cubes and baskets to stash everything from plush towels of all sizes and bath soaps and hair care products and tools to cosmetics and skin care products. Keeping surfaces clean is the first rule to having a serene luxurious spa bathroom.Coldwell Banker Global Luxury What is one of your favorite recent spa bath projects, and why?Allison Babcock Transforming a traditional farmhouse bathroom while preserving its original charm, we seamlessly integrated modern amenities and luxurious accents. Retaining the iconic freestanding bathtub and pedestal sink, while we elevated the space with contemporary touches. The mirror and vanity received an upgrade with elegant shell-shaped light fixtures and a stylish stool. To add a timeless flair, we adorned the walls with classic custom burnt red toile wallpaper, while ensuring the overall ambiance remained fresh and airy with a predominantly white color scheme.Peconic Bay Bath | Photo by Tria Giovan PhotographyColdwell Banker Global Luxury Are there elements that you try to incorporate into all your spa bath designs?Allison Babcock We try to incorporate as much counter space as possible and storage options for a clutter-free and calming environment. We curate a selection of storage options customized to our client’s needs, like extra deep drawers that accommodate blow dryers and other hot tools that allow them to remain tangle-free in addition we add electrical outlets into the cabinetry for easy use. This all is designed to seamlessly integrate into the bathroom’s overall look, ensuring functionality without compromising on aesthetics. From sleek cabinets to cleverly concealed compartments, every element is thoughtfully chosen to enhance the sense of calm and relaxation within the space.Sag Harbor Primary Bath Shower | Photo by Keith Scott MortonColdwell Banker Global Luxury What’s the No. 1 design feature that your clients are asking for in their baths?Allison Babcock From small jewel boxes to luxurious spa bathrooms, clients all want to incorporate smart technology. We have installed smart mirrors with hidden television monitors that are only visible when turned on to ones with built-in adjustable lighting to spa bathrooms and showers that are truly an experience with integrated Bluetooth speakers and lighting. In some of our clients’ vacation homes, we have added a shower system that can be programmed to allow them to adjust the water temperature, level of water pressure, and even infuse aromatherapy.NYC Penthouse Shower | Photo by Trevor ParkerColdwell Banker Global Luxury In terms of bath products, what’s the ultimate splurge?Allison Babcock There is nothing like walking into your bathroom and feeling the warmth of a heated floor. If there is room in the budget, I encourage clients to indulge in installing radiant heat for the floors and heated towel warmers in the bathroom. These are two items that are a true luxury and definitely bring the spa experience into the home.The post “It’s All About Wellness”: Designer Allison Babcock on the 2024 Spa Bath appeared first on Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Blog - Luxury Home & Style.
Bath as Sanctuary: Dream Baths
In our fast-paced world, the bath space is often one of the last refuges of true relaxation. It is a haven where worries melt away and daily stress dissolves. In the most exclusive luxury homes, baths are envisioned as true sanctuary spaces for indulgence and self-care. What defines a bath sanctuary is up to the homeowner. Is it natural light beaming inside, or special mood lighting? A luxury shower outfitted with hydrotherapy? A double vanity that allows for a clutter-free space? Or, a soaking tub artfully placed near a window for optimum view-gazing? According to the Best of the Best guide and the insights collected from Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists, it’s all of the above. These exceptional properties for sale through the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program celebrate the bath-as-sanctuary principle in near-perfect form. 9300 Overseas HighwayMarathon, FL 33050The Caribbean conjures images of serenity itself: turquoise waters lapping at shores, swaying palm trees, vibrant coral reefs. It’s a place where the very essence of relaxation permeates the air, inviting you to slow down, disconnect, and reconnect with yourself and the natural world. You can see this very concept celebrated in the primary bathroom of this Florida Keys custom dream residence, a recent Home of the Week. Taking design cues from British West Indies architecture, a traditional clawfoot tub set against an imported Italian tile and coral wall practically calls you to soak in the tranquility of paradise.Listed by Lisa Wiebe, Coldwell Banker Realty Schmitt Real Estate Co. 230 Haniu StLahaina, HI 96761Luxurious side-by-side showers and an extra deep soaking tub might seem like the only elements needed to create a relaxing bath retreat in most destinations. But when you’re in a dream vacation locale like Hawaii, the term ‘sanctuary’ takes on new meaning. This Polynesian-inspired oceanfront paradise, nestled on 8.5 sprawling acres in Maui’s Launiupoko neighborhood, brings these two luxury bath must-haves and seemingly connects them to nature. Wall-to-wall natural stone, a calming neutral color palette, and—perhaps, the ultimate indulgence—a view of lush tropical greenery (with Kaho’olawe, Lana’i, and Moloka’i islands in the backdrop), give the entire primary bath space a calming quality. What more could one want in the ultimate Hawaiian escape? Listed by Karen Browne and Tim Carter of Coldwell Banker Island Properties1741 Correa WayLos Angeles, CA 90049Warm neutrals are having a moment in interior design, and the primary bath in this masterpiece new build hovering above L.A.’s Brentwood embraces this trend to calming perfection. A modern freestanding tub has been positioned next to a sliding glass door leading to a private balcony for the ultimate indoor/outdoor feel. Even better, you can enjoy fresh air and an ocean view while having a soak. The spa-like ambiance continues with a large glass-enclosed shower adorned with not one, but two, rain showerheads. A long floating vanity with dual sinks spans an entire wall, providing plenty of room for two, no matter which way you look. Listed by Derrick Smith of Coldwell Banker Realty, Beverly HillsIf you’re in the camp that believes an over-the-top view can serve as a focal point in a modern bath retreat, then allow us to introduce you to this stunner of a primary bath. Hovering 57 stories above 22nd Street in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park Tower, this breathtaking space makes the best use of its elevated position with a strategically placed freestanding soaking tub in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to take in Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks. Add an enclosed private commode, double vanity, heated floors and a luxe Waterworks shower, and your picture of a sanctuary in the city should be complete. Listed by June Gottlieb, Steven Gottlieb and Emily Becker of Coldwell Banker Warburg96 Martinique AvenueTampa, FL.This modern coastal gated estate in Tampa Bay takes the “space is the new luxury” concept to its logical conclusion in the spa-inspired primary bath. A prominent soaking tub takes full advantage of the home’s mesmerizing 110 feet of prime bay frontage, offering a front-row seat to tranquil water views. Meanwhile, a voluminous full glass shower with dual showerheads and steam introduces a wellness element into the already serene space. Two separate water closets and an adjoining cappuccino bar and beverage center help take it to five-star.Listed by Jennifer Zales of Coldwell Banker RealtyThe post Bath as Sanctuary: Dream Baths appeared first on Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Blog - Luxury Home & Style.
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