Wow Home Idea

Famous destinations and lush local scenery make this country a garden lover's paradise. James A. Guilliam Cumbria The grounds of Levens Hall are filled with a wide array of sculptural topiary. Linda Burgess Cumbria Originally created in 1694, the garden also features vibrant herbaceous plant borders. Charlotte Hindle Bardford-on-Avon Designed at the turn of the 20th century, Iford Manor brings a little slice of Italy to England with its vibrant evergreens and classical statues. Charlotte Hindle Bardford-on-Avon Iford Manor features Rococo elements throughout the garden. The gracefully-proportioned stairs take advantage of the hilly landscape. Olaf Protze Nottinghamshire Newstead Abbey, which used to be an Augustinian monastery, has an exquisitely precise formal garden. Olaf Protze Nottinghamshire Walkways are lined with a tiered arrangement of manicured bushes and blooms. Olaf Protze Nottinghamshire You'll occasionally come across an unexpected sight: a peacock. Olaf P...

Getty Courtesy of Corcoran Group Eloise isn't the only famous character to call New York City's famed Plaza Hotel home.  In fact, a celebrity actually rooted in reality has lived in the hotel's penthouse since 2008 — fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. But he won't be there for much longer. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hilfiger just listed the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath duplex for $$$$$ million, a significantly lower price than the $$ million he was asking for in 2014. (Also lower than the $$ million he was hoping for in 2015.) Clearly, Hilfiger hasn't had the easiest time finding a buyer for the penthouse, but after seeing photos of the space, we're not exactly sure why. The opulently appointed penthouse clocks in at a palatial (by Manhattan standards) 5,655 square feet, and features unobstructed views of Fifth Avenue and Central Park. It's basically a city dweller's dream. Luxe details abound, too, including...

Courtesy of Christie's Real Estate There's something very comforting about a stone home that's clearly built to survive. This farmhouse in Yeovil, England was built way back in the late 18th century and boasts a classic and timeless exterior. But inside, it's a different story. As soon as you enter you'll notice the adorably bright and cheerful color palette — starting with the blue walls and marsala-colored rugs in the ginormous entryway. But our favorite room is actually one of the smallest spaces in the home: the kitchen. A galley layout makes it a bit tight, but clever storage throughout (like the shelving above the stovetop and a ladder for pots to hang from on the back wall) makes it bearable and beautiful. While this home has had several additions over the years — including adding a linking house and converting a piggery (yes, that's a real word) into living space — it still boasts some of the home's original details, like shutters and flooring i...

For a brief time, it wasn't a risky decor decision — it was a deadly one. Getty The color wasn't always so easy to make. According to the New York Times , preindustrial paints and dyes were so unstable that mixing a consistent green hue was tricky. As early as the 16th century, game tables were covered in green fabric (and often still are today) — a nod to the color's chance-y nature. Getty Maureen P Sullivan Verdigris was one of the earliest green paints available. Unstable as the color was, people still tried to harness it. This shade is derived from the same reaction that produces the hauntingly beautiful green patina on bronze statues. Wikimedia Commons "Green" 19th century wallpapers were often deadly. Scheele's Green was a vibrant pigment used for wallpapers, candles, homegoods, clothes, and even confections. It was extremely popular, but contained arsenic and lead to the deaths of children (and possibly Napoleon). Early William Morris designs, like...