BEST IN SHOW | ROOMS & GARDENS | WORLD OF CABANA
Discover the World of Cabana’s most-read house tours of 2024, from historic English estates and Hudson Valley havens to a converted 16th-century nunnery in Croatia and a Dutch canal house with an extraordinary secret. Each of these homes blends artistry, heritage, and personal style, showcasing the enduring allure of layered, well-considered interiors.
BY TEAM CABANA | ROOMS & GARDENS | 23 DECEMBER 2024
The attic bedroom at Viscount and Viscountess Newport's Shropshire home features Colefax & Fowler wallpaper and Wedgwood Jasperware © Taylor Hall O'Brien.
1.
Inside Viscount and Viscountess Newport's Thriving English Estate
The ruby-red dining room at Woodlands House © Taylor Hall O'Brien
In rural Shropshire, Viscount and Viscountess Newport are breathing new life into Woodlands House, their historic family home. Wrapped in ruby-red Cole & Son wallpaper, the dining room sets the stage for heirlooms rediscovered through meticulous detective work, while the attic bedrooms charm with Chintz-clad walls and Wedgwood accents. The couple’s passion for conservation extends to the land, where wildflowers and sustainable farming flourish.
2.
A Young Family's Striking Estate in Belgium
Amelie de Belder's striking home in Belgium © Miguel Flores-Vianna
Some houses have a magnetic pull. Aimelie de Belder's home, perched on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, is one of them. Originally designed by the great Raymond Rombouts—a luminary of Belgian modernism whose meticulous approach to raw materials shaped a generation of architects, including Axel Vervoordt—the house seems to fold the landscape into its walls.
Amelie de Belder's custom-fitted dining room © Miguel Flores-Vianna.
3.
A Hudson Valley home transformed by Heidi Caillier
A cozy library by Heidi Caillier in Toro Rosso by Portola Paints © Haris Kenjar.
Few interior designers enjoy the luxury of being handed free rein over a project, but such was one homeowner's unwavering confidence in Heidi Caillier that she was given an open brief for the renovation of this historic house in New York's Hudson Valley. A daring move, but not when one is familiar with Heidi’s work.
Since launching her eponymous studio 10 years ago, the San Francisco-based designer has become celebrated as much for the way her interiors look (an eclectic European sensibility, clever layering, fearless use of print, endless antiques) as the feelings of comfort and nostalgia they inspire.
Heidi Caillier's jewel-box library in the Hudson Valley © Haris Kenjar.
4.
A Spanish Artist's Home in Antwerp
Layers of hand-painted finishes and antique details bring a timeless charm to Isabel Miquel Arqués' 1913 kitchen © Isabel Bronts.
Spanish artist Isabel Miquel Arqués has created a haven of artistic and literary inspiration in Antwerp. Original marble staircases, antique wood panelling, and centuries-old tiles offer a timeless backdrop to her nature-inspired artefacts, Venetian mirrors, and vintage finds. The villa’s history, from an aristocratic residence to a schoolhouse and now a warm family home, reveals itself through secret passageways and a six-storey iron staircase.
5.
A Designer's Greek Revival Home in the Hudson Valley
James Coviello's 1840s Greek Revival home in the Hudson Valley © Taylor Hall O'Brien.
In his 1840s Greek Revival home, designer James Coviello masterfully bridges history and individuality. Every corner reflects his love for 19th-century aesthetics, from taxidermy and Black Forest clocks to English Staffordshire spaniels flanking girandoles on ochre dining room walls. Coviello’s meticulous curation and reverence for the home’s past have turned this property into a sanctuary and a calling card for his interior design endeavors.
6.
'Meet Me in the Secret Stateroom': Amsterdam's Luckiest Tenants
Located above Amsterdam’s canals, the 17th-century Van Brienen House is an untouched house museum where tenants Ingrid and Robert Labadie reside. Behind its Louis XIV grandeur lies a secret stateroom, a masterpiece of Dutch artistry. In the trinket space, Dirk Dalens III’s murals and Anthonie Elliger’s mythological ceiling captivate, while silk damask walls and a garden room are untouched for hundreds of years. Above, in stark contrast to the rooms below, is the art-collector couple’s apartment, where an eclectic collection of antiques and heirlooms reflects their deep respect for the museum's history.
7.
A Peruvian Collector's Beautiful House in Cusco
Armando Andrade's well-curated house in Cusco reflects his long love affair with the Andean city © Antonio Sorrentino.
Peruvian designer and collector, Armando Andrade, was always intrigued by the Andean city of Cusco: its millenary and complex story, the uniqueness of its paved streets, the mysteries of its crafts and architecture. “I was always interested in Peruvian identity,” recalls Andrade. “I kept asking myself what it was about Cusco that we, as Peruvians, still hadn’t fully understood.” Determined to find out, he bought a house only a few steps away from the main square – Plaza de Armas – in the corner of the picturesque street, Waynapata.
8.
A Venetian's Retreat: Toto Bergamo Rossi's home in Croatia
Chris Wallace visits Toto Bergamo Rossi's atmospheric retreat in Lopud, set in the ruins of a 15th-century nunnery © Chris Wallace.
Perched on the island of Lopud, Toto Bergamo Rossi’s home is a sublime blend of monastic simplicity and Venetian elegance. Set within the ruins of a 15th-century nunnery, the retreat exudes historical reverence, with spartan stone walls framing views of olive groves and the silvery Adriatic below.
Toto, celebrated for his restoration work with Venetian Heritage, has infused this sanctuary with his passion for preservation, creating a peaceful haven where past and present coexist. Days unfold with tranquil mornings, coastal lunches, and aquamarine swims—all imbued with Toto's unique hospitality.
9.
A Colorful Canal House in Amsterdam
Behind a secret door off the entryway, a jewel-box dining room enveloped in blue is fondly referred to by guests as Gezellig ('cozy' in Dutch) © Isabel Bronts.
Bursting with vibrant shades and eclectic charm, this traditional Amsterdam canal house is a testament to fearless decorating thanks to its playwright owner. Its richly colored walls, flea market furniture, and dramatically staged treasures cultivate a joyful interior. Each room tells its own story, from jewel-toned sitting areas to playful gallery walls, making this home a celebration of storytelling through design. This lively space reflects its owner's artistic spirit and offers a refreshing take on modern Dutch living along Amsterdam's historic canals.
10.
Annaghmore: An Irish House with a Noble History
Annaghmore, a colorful mansion in County Sligo, published in Rizzoli's The Irish Country House: A New Vision, written by Robert O'Byrne. Image © Luke White.
From the recently-published pages of Rizzoli's elegant tome, The Irish Country House: A New Vision, comes our tenth most-read house tour. Annaghmore, a richly-painted mansion in County Sligo, has an eventful, well-documented history and is a fine example of high Victorian taste in Ireland.
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