These light, bright and beautiful homes break all the rules, proving that there's nothing mundane or safe about the colour white. Designed to stand out for all the right reasons, these dramatic properties show that when it comes to adding kerb appeal, sometimes less is more. Click or scroll on for more...
If you're on the hunt for an all-white home that's as spacious as it is magnificent, then look no further. This majestic home lies in sought-after Newport Beach, California, on the very edge of Crystal Cove State Park. Currently on the market with Sotheby's International Realty for $35 million (£26m), the jaw-dropping mansion was built in 2022 and no expense was spared on its creation.
The custom-built mansion is located behind secure gates within a private hilltop estate, making it ideal for VIPs and those looking to keep a low profile. Inside, you'll find 14,809 square feet of living space, including seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, as well as a host of indoor and outdoor amenities. The main living room fully opens up to an exterior deck, while the gourmet kitchen features dual waterfall islands, Italian cabinetry, top-of-the-line appliances and brushed gold accents.
Some of the home’s lavish extras include a floating spiral staircase, a 32-foot custom crystal chandelier, a fully equipped caterer’s kitchen, a white oak-panelled library, two powder rooms and a massive primary suite. The property also boasts a luxurious basement, equipped with a home theatre, a 450-bottle climate-controlled wine cellar, a spa, billiards room, bar and home gym. The space leads out to an open-air courtyard – the perfect spot for evening drinks.
Head outside and you’ll find a billionaire-worthy backyard, kitted out with olive trees, two fireplaces, an infinity-edge pool and spa, a sunken fire pit with lounge seating for 30, a sports court and a barbecue island. The eco-friendly home is supported by a 75,000 kW solar panel system, powered by two Tesla batteries, and also offers smart home automation for its lighting, security cameras and built-in audio system.
Despite its modern visual appeal, this unique home is actually almost 100 years old. Once known as Pollard, the impressive white house was originally built for the noted accountant, Sir Arthur Lowes Dickinson, between 1931 and 1933. It was designed by Amyas Connell, of Connell, Ward & Lucas, but was sympathetically refurbished by Avanti Architects in 1993.
Nestled on a scenic plot in the attractive village of Grayswood in Surrey, England, the historic residence is Grade II-listed and comes with six bedrooms, a wonderful light-filled living room, a study, a breakfast room and a dining room complete with its original sculptural fireplace. From windows by the celebrated company Crittall to structural columns, this unique home boasts plenty of architectural gems.
Lovers of old-fashioned interior design will adore this cool retro kitchen, with vintage appliances, flooring and bespoke cabinetry. A magnificent staircase encased in glass leads up to the first floor, where you’ll find the bedrooms, as well as a roof space devoted to an amazing rooftop garden.
The grounds span almost 12 acres and are made up of formal gardens, lush lawns, orchards, woodlands and paddocks. A sweeping drive leads to the house, and there’s also a large garage and office situated next to the property – the perfect home-working space.
For obvious reasons, this glamorous property has been nicknamed the "Western White House". Situated in an exclusive zip code in high-end Hillsborough, California, the neo-classical Georgian Colonial home boasts similar architecture to the president's official residence, including its curved entrance, grand columns and seemingly endless amount of windows – not to mention its elaborate driveway, finished with a fountain.
The historic home was built in 1915, but was redesigned in 1930 by Julia Morgan, the first woman admitted to the Beaux-Arts de Paris architecture program. Morgan was also California's first female architect and was the woman behind the design of the legendary stately home Hearst Castle, in San Simeon. The palatial 24-room residence sits on almost three acres of land and comes complete with 11 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and a seemingly never-ending series of formal living spaces.
As well as a formal dining room, large kitchen and gorgeous lounge, the 17,550-square-foot property also benefits from a wine cellar, a movie theatre, a gym and a library inspired by the Oval Office. Everywhere you look you'll find stunning architectural details, including hardwood floors, ornate fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and patterned millwork.
Fit for royalty, or the president himself, the home's grounds feature fountains, sprawling lawns, a rose garden, dining patios enclosed by ivy arches, a gazebo, a statue-studded swimming pool and a bathhouse. It's no wonder, then, that this palatial pad is currently for sale for a staggering $25 million (£18.8m).
Over in Victoria, Australia, you'll find another home that was inspired by The White House in Washington, D.C. The pad lies in Donvale, a suburb of Melbourne, and is defined by its stately entrance, towering columns, prominent front steps and white walls, all set inside a landscaped garden.
Make it past the fortified security gates and you'll find yourself in an impressive entry foyer, finished with crisp white walls, a sweeping staircase with a wrought-iron bannister and a glistening marble floor. Now that's how to make an entrance!
Head further inside and you'll soon discover luxurious living spaces made from the finest materials and featuring the best fixtures that money can buy. There's a light-filled living room, a modern kitchen with porcelain tiles, a dining room, a large gym with a sauna, a movie den, seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
Other high-end touches include the home's walk-in closets, luxurious bathrooms and many balconies. Outside, there's almost an acre of land, equipped with a swimming pool, dining patio, sunbathing deck and lawn. There’s also a self-contained two-bedroom apartment on the lower level, which could be utilised as a guest house or granny annexe.
This gorgeous glass house can be found on a 14-acre hilltop plot in Westchester County, overlooking the Hudson River, the Tappan Zee Bridge and even New York City's iconic skyline. Built in 1990, it was designed as a hillside sanctuary by a renowned local architect who was celebrated for his cutting-edge homes across the Hamptons.
The property can be found at the end of a gated, 1,600-foot-long driveway, secluded amongst towering trees. Inside, there's 11,592 square feet of space, with almost every single room decorated with an all-white colour scheme. The grand living spaces come complete with 12-foot ceilings, light oak floors and soaring glass sliders, opening up to the home’s numerous alfresco terraces.
Every space provides sensational views, from the chef's kitchen and the dining room to the library and the five ensuite bedrooms. The master suite has to be one of the home’s finest assets. With a 28-foot ceiling, two walk-in closets and his-and-hers bathrooms, it’s a space fit for a Queen. There's also a home cinema, gym, rec room and five-car garage.
Yet it's really all about the surrounding scenery. The luxury remote home boasts one seriously gorgeous garden, which spans over 14 acres. It comes decked out with dining spaces, vast lawns, a saltwater pool and mesmerising woodlands that seem to go on for miles. Got the budget? Then this $5.9 million (£4.4m) home could soon be yours.
As unique as it is stylish, this one-of-a-kind property is situated next to St Ann's Hill Park and Nature Trail in Surrey, England. Described by The Modern House as “one of the finest and most iconic houses to have been built in Britain in the first half of the 20th century”, the historic home is characterised by its curving white exterior, countless windows and angular roofline. Currently on the market for a cool £5.9 million ($7.9m), this pad has to be seen to be believed.
The house was designed in 1936 by renowned architect Sir Raymond McGrath and is now Grade II-listed and protected by Historic England. Aptly named the “Round House”, the distinctive dwelling extends 6,500 square feet and has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows over the years. One of its finest spaces is this circular living room, which features full-height glazed doors and copper-clad columns.
Spread across three floors, the property comes equipped with a prominent entrance hall, a dining room, a library, six bedrooms and a dressing room. Every room is kitted out with hardwood floors, unique glazed elements and circular furnishings that reflect the home's shape. The estate also features a second property, a converted 19th-century coach house, which offers 4,500 square feet of indoor space, including a recording studio that was once used by rock star Paul Weller.
The wonderful round house also benefits from a gorgeous eight-acre garden, which was the subject of a vignette watercolour by JMW Turner back in 1827. The grounds were designed by the iconic Sir Christopher Tunnard and come complete with an orchard, a lake, a Japanese-inspired wooden walkway, kitchen gardens, a rose garden, courtyards and even a Tunnard-designed semi-circular swimming pool that was later converted into a water lily pond.
This exceptional example of mid-century modern architecture is located in the exclusive neighbourhood of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Dating back to 1958, the sleek spread features a stunning open-plan interior, which blends vintage-inspired furnishings with mid-century materials, from luxurious marble walls to extensive floor-to-ceiling glass.
Following a renovation, the 4,507-square-foot home is cool and contemporary, but boasts plenty of mid-century touches, including its authentic folded plate roof, which offers a distinctive zig-zag profile. There's a huge living room that flows out to the garden, as well as a luxurious kitchen fitted with marble, wood, brass and steel.
The historic home features four bedrooms and the master suite boasts its own private bathroom, complete with a marble tub and dual vanities. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead onto a private outdoor lounge, connecting the bedroom with the gorgeous garden.
Private gates enclose the home’s three-quarter-acre garden, which benefits from a spacious deck, a lawn and a swimming pool for cooling off on those balmy Californian days. It's no wonder the luxurious home last sold in November 2019 for $15 million (£11.2m).
This luxe Australian mansion was also inspired by The White House, but it might just be even more enticing than the real thing. Full of lavish extras and stunning living spaces, this one-of-a-kind property is a real show-stopper.
The pad is located in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak and stands behind a set of impenetrable gates. Climb the home's signature steps and enter its front door and you'll find yourself inside a dazzling entrance foyer, equipped with a double-height ceiling, sweeping staircase, wrought-iron accents and luxe lighting.
Head further inside and you'll be greeted by a stunning living room, a formal dining space, a kitchen, five bedrooms and five bathrooms, all immaculately presented. Despite being built in the early 2000s, there are plenty of classic touches throughout. Spread over three floors, each connected by a lift, the home also boasts a walk-in pantry, a cellar, a study, a billiard room and a six-car garage.
It also comes with many extras, including an indoor lap pool, a floodlit tennis court and a large allotment, designed to meet all of your horticultural needs. What's more, it offers split-zoned central heating and cooling, as well as a state-of-the-art security system with CCTV. In March 2018, the splendid spread sold for around AUD$11.5 million, which equates to $8.4 million (£6.3m).
This jaw-dropping mansion is located on an enviable sloping plot in the Californian city of Belvedere, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Built to face San Francisco Bay, and the iconic suspension bridge itself, this mesmerising home offers far more than a white exterior and a spacious interior...
The incredible cliff home was designed by architect Charles Gwathmey and constructed in 2000. It spans a cool 8,131 square feet across four floors, and every single space was curated to offer spectacular outlooks. The front of the house leads into a top-floor garage with glass doors, while a side elevator takes people down to a courtyard, where a detached one-bedroom guesthouse and a roomy wine cellar can be found.
On the main levels of the house you'll find a large, open-plan living room that leads out to a huge exterior deck, a kitchen, a dining zone for a dozen people, a breakfast nook, four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Pretty much every window frames the Golden Gate Bridge, even those in the kitchen! Everywhere you look you’ll find opulent materials and high-end fixtures, such as limestone and wide plank floors, bubinga wood and stained maple cabinetry.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a study, a two-storey entertainment room, a movie theatre, a wet bar, a sauna and a colossal master suite that’s bigger than most standard apartments. As well as numerous balconies, the backyard also offers an infinity-edge swimming pool that faces the view. Fallen head over heels? Then this mansion could be yours for a cool $60 million (£45m).
Contemporary and visually impactful, this coastal crib in County Clare is truly one-of-a-kind. The modern bungalow can be found within easy reach of the seaside town of Lahinch in western Ireland and actually has a celebrity owner. The property belongs to Spanish professional golfer, Jon Rahm, who won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2019.
The brilliant bungalow was designed for four people and boasts two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a free-flowing, open-plan layout with a living room, dining zone and kitchen. Every single wall benefits from large expanses of glass, while generous ceilings allow for airy and inviting interior spaces.
The property was designed by architect Alex Russell and benefits from an all-white interior palette, complemented by warm wood tones, polished concrete floors and colourful artwork. Both of the home's bedrooms enjoy unobstructed sea views, while a floor-to-ceiling picture window in the lounge perfectly frames the scenery outside
But we can't help but think the best bit about this house is the view. Offering panoramic scenery across Liscannor Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the pad is also a short drive from the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the idyllic village of Doonbeg. Fallen in love? You can stay here anytime you like.
Loved this? Follow us on Facebook for more amazing modern homes