In the global marketplace for luxury real estate, just what does $15 million buy? That’s the million-dollar or, rather, the $15 million question in this collection.
Consider Stowe, Vermont, where that princely sum buys a contemporary take on a covered bridge, and 240 wooded acres overlooking the Worcester Range. Seeking the resort lifestyle? A designer villa on the fairways of one of Marbella’s top golf courses awaits. Or perhaps paradise lies in the tropics; a sea-view aerie in Phuket, Thailand, or a waterfront villa in St Barths, French West Indies.
Thus $15 million is a high-value price point for high-value individuals—not those with the assets of royalty or small governments. For affluent investors, homes in the neighborhood of $15 million can be the culmination of a life’s work, a life’s dream, and a legacy.
1. Deerwood in Stowe, Vermont, United States
Deerwood is a contemporary masterpiece of architectural woodworking. Built to evoke Vermont’s covered bridges, it spans a narrow creek, and its glass walls reveal majestic mountain greenery.
Deerwood, or Bridge House as it’s otherwise known, is a rare offering in Stowe, Vermont.
A private estate overlooking the Worcester Range, Deerwood encompasses more than 240 acres of woodlands threaded by miles of trails, lovely, landscaped gardens, an orchard, five ponds, and a tennis court.
The centerpiece of the estate is a contemporary wood-frame home built in homage to the iconic covered bridges of New England. Spanning 140 feet long and 20 feet wide, the residence sits directly atop a little creek with a waterfall, an affectionate nod to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
Inside are 4,800 square feet of airy interiors with beautiful wood finishes handcrafted by local artisans. The main level, encased in glass walls, is a continuous open space, modulated by internal structures in beadboard paneling.
The spacious reception lounge backs into the living room with its monumental slate fireplace and low-rise service bar. Then the dining space opens to the kitchen, with beadboard paneling concealing the service spaces. The peaked ceiling, supported by a series of exposed trusses, rises to 18.5 feet. Outside, shaded wooden decks flank both sides and feed to an open wood-floored patio.
The lower level, reached by an elegant oak and maple spiral staircase, accommodates the sumptuous primary suite, a guest bedroom, office/library, and an attached heated garage. Further accommodations include a wood-frame guest house and a caretaker’s apartment.
2. Cerquilla 10 in Marbella, Spain
Cerquilla 10, a modernist mansion on the Costa del Sol fronts the fairways of one of Spain’s finest golf courses, Los Naranjos, designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1970.
Cerquilla 10 is one of the most luxurious homes in Cerquilla, an exclusive resort community in the heart of Marbella’s golf valley.
This luxurious modernist villa is ensconced within lush gardens backing onto Los Naranjos golf course. Designed by Tobal Arquitectos, with interior design by Pedro Peña, the 11,119-square-foot, two-story home is appointed with the latest in-home technologies and deluxe amenities, such as a yoga studio, gym, and screening room with stadium seating and surround-sound.
The home is anchored by a double-height living room with a formal dining space and stylish, minimalist kitchen. There’s also a chef’s kitchen, equipped with the top-of-the-range appliances.
There are six bedrooms (most with panoramic golf course views), seven bathrooms, and a separate apartment for staff.
The outdoor spaces invite grand-scale entertaining with dining terrace, outdoor lounge, and a heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi facing the palm-lined fairways of Los Naranjos.
3. Villa CEO in Pointe Milou, Saint Barthélemy, French West Indies
With its tranquil indoor-outdoor living spaces, infinity-edge pool, and Zen-like gardens, Villa CEO is the perfect escape with a 290-degree view of the Atlantic Ocean and the island of St. Martin.
Villa CEO is a stylish waterfront retreat in Pointe Milou on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy.
Built in 2021 as an escape from the everyday, the 2,475-square-foot contemporary home offers two luxurious levels of living space with breathtaking views of the coastline, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Leeward Island of St. Martin in the distance.
Every element of the villa, from its sleek horizontal lines to its interior design and natural wood finishes, was curated to create a sense of calm.
An illuminated exterior staircase rises to three pavilion-style private suites accessed via coded touchpads. Each has a spa-like marble bathroom, dressing room, and sliding doors out to a terrace and another opportunity to contemplate the view. The principal bedroom also has an outdoor shower.
The ground floor was designed for seamless living and entertaining, with a media room, bar, and gym on one side, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and guest powder room on the other. Both sides open to an alfresco deck with an infinity-edge pool facing out to sea. Just beyond is a half-acre of tropical gardens leading to the water’s edge.
4. Baan Banyan Villa in Phuket, Thailand
The highlight of this hillside aerie on Phuket’s Millionaire’s Mile is a 60-foot-long zero-edge pool with an uninterrupted vista of the Andaman Sea.
Baan Banyan Villa is one of just a handful of homes in the Waterfall Cove Estate, a private resort community above Kamala Bay on the eastern shore of Phuket, Thailand.
The Asian-inspired interiors feature exotic hardwoods and natural stone. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors open to wraparound balconies overlooking the treetops and the aquamarine waters of the bay.
Six en suite bedrooms provide luxurious accommodations for up to 12 guests. The open-plan living room, dining room, and kitchen are on the top floor, along with a thatched Thai-style sala and gym. Below is the family room and a spectacular pool terrace with a 60-foot-long infinity pool facing Kamala Bay.
The Waterfall Cove Estate offers the best of Thai hospitality in a luxury environment, with a full suite of luxury services provided by a team of on-site staff.
