So far, the capital's real estate agencies, following the wishes of their clients, are putting up apartments in ultra-modern residential complexes and private homes in closed cottage towns, foreign experts are turning the idea of profitable investment properties upside down and suggest abandoning the services of designers, and exchanging futurism for vintage and antiques. We like these trends. How do you feel about them?
The blooming abode of astronauts and gangsters
📍 Titusville (Space Coast), Florida, USA 🇺🇸
The name of the city of Titusville is unlikely to seem familiar to you, so exploring its architecture will be doubly interesting. Upon arrival in a new place, the first thing you need to do is find accommodation for the night. In this case, you will kill two birds with one stone because the local hotel is also a landmark and an example of a non-standard approach to design. “Casa Coquina Del Mar Bed and Breakfast“ (formerly the Oleander Hotel) rests almost on the very shore of the Indian River Lagoon. From here it’s a stone’s throw to the Atlantic Ocean, so there’s no end to the dark sea surface. The location itself helped the hotel become a profitable business, but the main reason for its success lies not in this.
The entire building is covered with tender branches of an evergreen plant. Both in winter and summer, they delight the eyes of passers-by with their freshness because no weather conditions can affect their stems and leaves. What is the secret of this marvelous bush? There is no secret, it’s just drawn, so neither wind nor rain can harm it. With proper care and restoration, of course. During the expert assessment, it was possible to conclude that the building was built back in 1927. The spirit of the times is felt both in the exterior and in the interior of the premises. The 3-storey building with an area of 823 m² provides plenty of space for guests:
- master bedroom;
- 8 guest rooms with bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms;
- library with collectible toys;
- balcony;
- The courtyard has outdoor parking for 12 cars, a flowering garden and a hot tub - an open-air home spa.
The hotel's past and present add even more value. During Prohibition, Al Capone himself stayed there to control the supply of strong drinks into the hands of their admirers. And now here you can increasingly meet researchers and simple dreamers who are trying to see the Kennedy Space Center from the windows of their rooms. The current owners snatched up this treasure for $350,000 in 2012. Now they want to take a break from business themselves, so they put their business up for sale for $950,000.
Peace in chaos
📍 Buffalo, New York, USA 🇺🇸
We would like to say that from the outside this house is unremarkable and the real magic begins only on the inside, but this is not so. Even with its facades, it stands out sharply on one of the streets of active Buffalo. Orange and purple stripes cross the walls and highlight the greenness of the lawn. The neighboring white houses seem to serve as a backdrop for this architectural performance. It seems that you can no longer be surprised, but the most interesting things begin right behind the front door. An explosion of colors and textures occurs in:
- bedroom;
- kitchen;
- dining room;
- living room.
Only in the bathroom you can hide from bright backgrounds and flashy accents behind the usual pastel colors. Apparently, even the owners of the house sometimes get tired of his indomitable energy. Another feature of the unusual property is a separate room for important family members. It was once a guest bedroom, but the owner put effort and soul into creating a cozy corner for his three... dogs. Such love for pets cannot help but touch. While many landlords are afraid to let tenants into their home, even with small breeds, the hero of our article provided them with a separate personal space.
The history of the building itself began long before the ambitious self-taught designer became its owner. The house was built in 1909 and then it was no different from its neighbors. Each new owner tried to remake it to suit himself, but no one dared to make such radical changes as after his last purchase in 2019. Not much time has passed since the acquisition, but over the years the price has increased from $60,700 to $200,000. Do not think that the cost is too high. On the contrary, it could not be more fair because not only a lot of imagination, but also money was invested in transforming the premises. A local realtor notes that the house has the atmosphere of a sunny club and at the same time a cozy family hearth. It's hard to imagine how you can relax when you live in a giant kaleidoscope, but we hope that someone will succeed.
The main thing is not the size, but... the atmosphere?
📍 Dover, Kent, England 🇬🇧
The castle is always associated with kings and knights, with princesses and dragons, with fairy tales and romantic adventures. We don’t promise a dragon in the backyard, but it’s quite possible to arrange everything else. New owner of Dover Castle will be able to feel like a real king in his domain for only £120,000 (≈$152,000). Why so cheap? Don't try to find a catch. The condition of the palace is excellent, antique furniture and modern appliances are available. Then how to explain such a price? Modest area. The two-story palace consists of:
- living room with solid brick fireplace;
- kitchens with all the necessary amenities, such as a refrigerator and washing machine;
- banquet hall;
- bedrooms with additional fireplace;
- bathroom
There is even a tiny turret so that the beautiful lady can languidly look out the window, meeting her hero. As expected, the castle from the 1800s is made in the Gothic style. Its age is emphasized by wooden beams on the ceiling, a rough spiral staircase, classic furniture and a four-poster bed like a real princess.