Looking ahead to the 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Luxury Defined presents a fine collection of homes for man’s best friend and other companion animals
For those who love animals, there is a special place in the heart, seeking not mastery, but stewardship with kindness and care for all creatures great and small. With the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opening on February 10, Luxury Defined presents seven elegant homes designed to share the human environment with the other beings that walk or swim, fly or crawl. Consider a magnificent 15th-century Italian villa with idyllic grounds and a dedicated butterfly house. Then there’s the Montana ranch that pampers human and equine residents alike; the Mediterranean-inspired villa on New Jersey’s Navesink River with a breathtaking saltwater aquarium. There is a luxurious horse farm on the Gulf Coast of Florida, with excellent accommodations for other four-legged critters; and, in the remotest part of Northern Patagonia, a spectacular private wilderness inhabited by all manner of wildlife: seven peaceable kingdoms, bright and beautiful.
Alpaca Farm in Biella, Piedmont, Italy
This farming estate, just outside Biella in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, is an animal-friendly sanctuary with grazing pastures, corrals, and stabling for more four-legged critters than a box of animal crackers. Its current guests include 80 alpacas. Much of the land is dedicated to agriculture: chestnut trees, a blueberry orchard, and a professional greenhouse with vegetable production facility. The main residence, built in 2012, is a charming 3,326-square-foot, two-story villa, ideal for an “agritourismo” bed and breakfast lodge. Its rustic finishes are natural woods, tile, and stone—with double- and triple-glazed windows for human creature comfort. All five bedrooms open to a private balcony or the garden level. Outdoor entertaining areas create a resort-style ambience and allow guests to appreciate the spectacular views of the Piedmont landscape.
Villa Paradiso on the Navesink, Middletown, New Jersey
In the heart of the exclusive Rumson section of Middletown lies Villa Paradiso on the Navesink, a stunning Mediterranean-style escape on the banks of the river that bears its name. One of the finest private estates in the region, the dramatic 16,000-square-foot manor house is positioned on 2.9 acres of lush waterfront grounds, graced with formal gardens, fountains, and koi ponds. Inspired by Italian culture, the living spaces were custom-designed to replicate the coastal Mediterranean lifestyle. The heart of the home is an entertainment level with a 1,500-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, movie theater, bar, sauna, and an incredible 20,000-gallon aquarium stocked with native aquatic species. A resort-style outdoor pool area, with 15-person Jacuzzi, outdoor kitchen and cabana; a staff/guest apartment; and a private dock with boat lift are further highlights of this extraordinary home.
Smith Creek Ranch in Victor, Montana
This 65-acre estate overlooking the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains is the ultimate Western ranch retreat for horse and rider. The elegant custom-built log home offers more than 4,600 square feet of luxurious living spaces with dramatic vistas from nearly every room. There are plenty of spaces for family gatherings: The gourmet kitchen opens to a dining room and out to an outdoor kitchen complete with a stone patio with fireplace, ideal for entertaining under the stars. The separate guest house offers a further 1,600 square feet of comfortable accommodations. The equestrian facilities are outstanding: Residents can enjoy riding, come rain or shine, in the large indoor arena. There’s also a barn with indoor and outdoor stalls, a large tack room, a workshop, and miles of riding terrain in the surrounding wilderness of the Bitterroot Valley.
Horse Haven in Pinellas Park, Florida
This unique property in Pinellas County, Florida, is a haven for horse, human, and canine, yet is just 20 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg and the beach. The estate has a completely private setting on 9.5 fenced and gated acres. The 5,000-square-foot colonial-style main house has been updated throughout. Airy, light-filled living spaces open to a wraparound porch with a firepit, and huge outdoor pool and spa. World-class equestrian facilities include two hurricane-rated barns with 37 stalls, several tack rooms and wash racks. A separate pole barn has two stalls and a dog run. There’s also a 50-foot round pen for breaking and training, four large pastures, and a riding arena with spectator viewing platform. The parklike grounds, which include a swimming pool and a pond, are a refuge for local wildlife. The property is zoned for boarding 50 horses, making it ideal as an animal friendly family compound or professional equestrian facility.
Hacienda Pucheguin in Los Lagos, Chile
Hacienda Pucheguin is a 348,000-acre estate of unparalleled natural beauty in North Chilean Patagonia. One of the greatest remaining woodlands on earth, this one-of-a-kind property is composed of pristine forests, rivers, lakes, and granite peaks. This rare region of untouched wonder provides boundless possibilities to conserve, develop, and enjoy a picturesque landscape ideal for skiing, rock climbing, fishing, trekking, kayaking, and riding. Hiking trails lead deep into the wilderness, while sheep, cattle, and horses graze nearby. Natural pools, waterfalls, and 25 miles of riverbank are flanked by towering peaks and imposing walls of granite. Lakes such as Lago Vidal Gormaz offer almost 1,500 acres of crystalline waters ideal for fishing. Climbing enthusiasts from around the world travel to the surrounding mountains and the area known as La Junta in Cochamó, the Yosemite of South America.
Bridle Brook Farm in Sherborn, Massachusetts
Bridle Brook Farm is a private country estate within easy reach of both Boston and Providence. The farm’s 11 acres of paddocks, woodlands, and gardens will delight animal lovers. For the equestrian, there is an attached barn, with a wash stall, heated tack room, hayloft and six stalls; dry and grass paddocks; and an 85- by 160-foot riding ring. There’s also direct access to miles of riding trails. For human residents, the elegant colonial home offers 5,100 square feet of living space with five bedrooms, four full and two half bathrooms. The interiors combine antique details, including six fireplaces, with modern amenities. Outside is a fabulous entertaining terrace with a heated saltwater gunite pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, and firepit.
Villa Garzoni Pinocchio in Pescia, Tuscany, Italy
Villa Garzoni Pinocchio is a baroque masterpiece set within formal gardens in the heart of a medieval hamlet dating back to 1100. The estate’s architectural grandeur is matched by its unique provenance. It was built in 1600 by the father of Italian journalist and author Carlo Lorenzini—best known by his pen name, Carlo Collodi—and inspired one of the greatest children’s novels of all time: The Adventures of Pinocchio. The main villa encompasses 32,636 square feet across five levels accessed via a sweeping staircase. The residence is adorned with ornate rococo design elements, such as frescoed walls, decorative ceilings, and paintings, and has been partially restored and structurally secured. The grounds are idyllic: 30 acres of land comprising farm and parkland, ancient woods, olive groves, and formal baroque gardens graced with classically inspired labyrinths, statuary, and fountains. The estate’s most unique feature is the butterfly house, restored to its former grandeur, the 4,423-square-foot enclosure is home to hundreds of tropical butterflies, reproducing their typical habitat. A palazzo, guest house, thermal bath, and several stages complete the picture of perfection.
