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25/07/2018
A Hawaiian tropical paradise and a classy cabin next to a waterfall are all among the winners of a global competition to find the world's ultimate houses.
Collectively worth more than $90 million, the abundant abodes have been crowned some of the best properties up for sale around the world.
With more than 880,000 votes cast and 84 million page views, the 2018 Home and Garden TV Ultimate House Hunt competition declared its winners from each of the ten categories.
The extraordinary homes consisted of 88 finalists from 13 countries.
The overall winner of the competition and Global Homes category was a sprawling Italian Villa near Sardinia, Italy.
The other categories were: Homes with a History, Love It or List it, Urban Digs, Waterfront Homes, Modern Masterpieces, Extreme Homes, Amazing Kitchens, and Curb Appeal.
The winning properties gain bragging rights as well as additional coverage on HGTV, with all of them are currently up for sale.
Global Homes Winner and Overall Winner: Immobilisarda
A luxury ski retreat, a fairytale home, a contemporary casa and others battled it out to be crowned the world's ultimate home - but a secluded coastal villa in Romazzino, Italy, beat others off with its clash of traditional architecture, modern amenities and crystal-clear waters.
Overlooking the Aegean Sea, the six-bedroom-and-bathroom home boasts a cinema screen, spacious outdoor area with stone barbeque and panoramic views from the terrace.
Homes with History Winner: Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates
A pre-civil war abode in Beaufort, South Carolina, US, placed first among the plush properties that blend a slice of history with luxury.
The $2.2 million home was constructed in 1834 in accordance with old world design and has four bedrooms and five bathrooms.
It also features a formal dining room, spacious kitchen and sub-zero fridge, along with separate guest quarters.
Waterfront Homes Winner: Hawaii Life
For the best waterfront properties, a luxurious Tahitian pavilion with ocean access claimed the coveted title.
The four-bedroom tropical beach house in Lahaina, Hawaii, is up on the market for the first time in 20 years at $13 million.
It offers panoramic views of the islands, sunsets and a surf spot a few steps away, along with a white sand cove among a community of 10 homes.
The plush property's open design also allows for Napili breeze and ocean sounds to enter the home, as well boasting a lava-rock fireplace and open-air hot tub in the master room.
Urban Digs Winner: Gardner Realtors
Winning the place for most serene escape within the hectic hustle and bustle of a city environment was a contemporary home in New Orleans, Louisiana, US.
The $4.5 million French Quarter home boasts historic style with modern day elegance, having only been built this year.
It features its own grand dining area, spacious gourmet kitchen, and large living space that opens up onto a private courtyard with outdoor kitchen and private co*cktail pool.
Amazing Kitchens Winner: Willis Allen Real Estate
A modern estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California, US, claimed the title for having the best luxuriously designed kitchen.
At $10.5 million, the six-bedroom property is described as 'like a piece of fine art' and is claimed to offer 'uncompromising style and luxury' coupled with sophisticated entertaining options.
It beat off other homes to be known as the location with 'guests in mind', bringing both family and friends together.
Love It or List It Winner: First Team
An idyllic lakefront villa in Switzerland, a castle, and a beach bungalow were among those vying for the title, but an oceanfront home in Laguna Beach, California, US, claimed the number one spot.
The four-bedroom property features high ceilings that give the appearance of more space and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide open onto the waterfront.
Worth $25 million, it offers prime views of the crashing waves and an ocean facing courtyard, with outdoor kitchen, beach gate, mosaic infinity pool and more.
Modern Masterpiece Winner: Sibarth
Judged on the beauty of its architecture, the category saw an impressive Canadian snow lodge, elegant English estate and others battle it out.
But the winner was Villa Artepea in Lurin, Saint Barthelemy, the Caribbean islands, which is surrounded by natural beauty that blends within its tropical gardens.
Carefully built not to damage the land, the $17.3 million home with four bedrooms combines stone flooring with wood furnishing.
Other features include a sun terrace, panoramic views from the bedroom, access to equestrian facilities, walking trails, a landing strip and more.
Extreme Living Winner: Silver Creek Real Estate
From excessive features to luscious settings, the Extreme Living category saw a cosy cabin in Cullowhee, North Carolina, US, take the title.
The attractive five-bedroom property is located at the heart of Knob Creek, offering views over a series of waterfalls and 73 acres of enchanting grounds.
Worth over $10 million, it offers a peaceful escape that often is home to deer, turkey and elks, as well as two large ponds and a fishing dock.
Curb Appeal Winner: Windermere Real Estate
For the Curb Appeal category, judging the most attractive front gardens and entrances that left people 'falling in love at first sight' was New Colonial building in Seattle, Washington, US.
Worth $4.7 million it's perched at the top of a hill that offers breath-taking 180-degree views of the lake, Seattle's famous landmark The Space Needle, and more.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home features soapstone, limestone and Carrara marble finishes, alongside a sun room, soak tub, gourmet kitchen and more.
Caters
As a seasoned real estate enthusiast with a wealth of knowledge in luxury properties and global housing trends, I'm here to delve into the fascinating world of the 2018 Home and Garden TV Ultimate House Hunt competition. With over 880,000 votes and 84 million page views, this competition showcased some of the most extraordinary homes worldwide, collectively valued at over $90 million.
Let's start by highlighting the overall winner, the pride of the Global Homes category – a sprawling Italian Villa near Sardinia, Italy, presented by Immobilisarda. This secluded coastal villa in Romazzino boasts six bedrooms and bathrooms, a cinema screen, a stone barbecue in the spacious outdoor area, and panoramic views from the terrace, overlooking the Aegean Sea. Its blend of traditional architecture, modern amenities, and crystal-clear waters set it apart, making it a true gem in the competition.
Moving on to the diverse categories, the Homes with History Winner, presented by Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates, takes us to Beaufort, South Carolina, US. A pre-Civil War abode constructed in 1834, this $2.2 million property combines old-world design with luxury, featuring four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a formal dining room, spacious kitchen with a sub-zero fridge, and separate guest quarters.
For Waterfront Homes, Hawaii Life clinched the title with a luxurious Tahitian pavilion in Lahaina, Hawaii. Priced at $13 million, this four-bedroom tropical beach house offers panoramic views of the islands, sunsets, and a surf spot just steps away. The open design allows for the Napili breeze and ocean sounds to permeate the home, complemented by a lava-rock fireplace and an open-air hot tub in the master room.
The Urban Digs Winner, presented by Gardner Realtors, takes us to the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, US. This contemporary $4.5 million home, built in the same year as the competition, features historic style with modern-day elegance. Highlights include a grand dining area, spacious gourmet kitchen, and a large living space that opens up onto a private courtyard with an outdoor kitchen and a private co*cktail pool.
Willis Allen Real Estate secured the title for Amazing Kitchens with a modern estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California, US. Priced at $10.5 million, this six-bedroom property is described as a piece of fine art, offering uncompromising style and luxury. It is designed to bring both family and friends together with sophisticated entertaining options.
The Love It or List It Winner, presented by First Team, takes us to Laguna Beach, California, US. This oceanfront home, worth $25 million, features four bedrooms with high ceilings that give the appearance of more space, floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide open onto the waterfront, and prime views of crashing waves. The property also includes an ocean-facing courtyard, outdoor kitchen, beach gate, mosaic infinity pool, and more.
In the Modern Masterpiece category, Sibarth presented the winner – Villa Artepea in Lurin, Saint Barthelemy, the Caribbean islands. Priced at $17.3 million, this four-bedroom home blends seamlessly with its tropical gardens, offering stone flooring, wood furnishings, a sun terrace, panoramic views from the bedroom, access to equestrian facilities, walking trails, a landing strip, and more.
Extreme Living Winner, presented by Silver Creek Real Estate, takes us to Cullowhee, North Carolina, US. The cozy cabin at the heart of Knob Creek, worth over $10 million, features five bedrooms, views over waterfalls and 73 acres of enchanting grounds. This peaceful escape is often home to deer, turkey, elks, two large ponds, and a fishing dock.
Lastly, the Curb Appeal Winner, presented by Windermere Real Estate, showcases the New Colonial building in Seattle, Washington, US. Priced at $4.7 million, this four-bedroom, four-bathroom home perched at the top of a hill offers breathtaking 180-degree views of the lake, Seattle's famous landmark The Space Needle, and more. It features soapstone, limestone, and Carrara marble finishes, along with a sunroom, soak tub, gourmet kitchen, and more.
These outstanding properties not only won the hearts of the judges and voters but also gained well-deserved recognition and additional coverage on HGTV. Each home, with its unique features and charm, stands as a testament to the diversity and excellence in global real estate.
