TGIF—Foreign Lands Edition: Italy

To kick off the weekend, we've left the U.S. in search of  dream properties in dream destinations, so obviously the first one has to be in Italy because, you know, who doesn't want to live in a gorgeous country full of art, scenery, fashion and the best food in the world? An hour and a half north of Rome, Il Casale dei Gelsomini is a marvelous 17 room home perched on a plateau near both the Umbrian town of Orvieto and gorgeous Lake Bolsena. The 4 acre property, which includes a large pool, is dotted with mature trees, hedges and gardens that provide both spectacular bursts of color and plenty of shady spaces. Inside the traditional 6100 square foot Umbrian stone home, there are 7 beds/8 baths, stone and tile floors, exceptional exposed beam ceilings and detailed plaster work. We've tried and tried, but we actually can't think of a better way to spend $1.85 million. See if you agree when you take a closer look here

TGIF—Foreign Lands Edition: Thailand

Chiang Mai in northern Thailand was named one of the Top 25 Best Destinations in the World last year by the demanding folks at TripAdvisor, in part because it's home to some 300 Buddhist Temples. But the city also has world class museums and galleries, restaurants, nightlife and shopping (their renowned night market is our idea of consumer heaven). Sitting on nearly 4 acres of exotically landscaped grounds, this exquisite, privately situated estate is made up of seven connected pavillions/buildings with huge windows and doors that open to terraces, pools and ponds. Included in the $15 million price tag of the 5 bed/7 bath property is a dazzling array of sumptuous furnishings and rare antiques. This is absolutely one of the most impressive pieces of real estate we've ever featured—and that's saying a lot. See more of it here

TGIF—Foreign Lands Edition: Patagonia

Patagonia, at the southern tip of South America and part of both Argentina and Chile, is one of the world's great wonders, with the Atlantic on one side, the Pacific on the other, plus the Andes Mountains, Cape Horn, glaciers, waterfalls, and—one of our favorite things—penguins! This house there, built in 2005, is part of the luxurious Chapelco Golf & Resort, a 558 acre offshoot with 55 houses with access to the Resorts' many amenities (including a Jack Nicklaus designed course and a first class fishing lodge on the Quilquihue River). Priced at $680K, the 2 bed/2 bath home has the look of a sleek modern barn, with beamed ceilings, pale wood floors, an enormous stone fireplace. The views from the many windows and outdoor deck and lawn are some of the most divine we've ever seen—take a closer look for yourself here

Raleigh 'Round the Cotton Mill

There are condos and then there are condos like this: listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Caraleigh Mills in fabulous Raleigh, North Carolina (recently called "one of America's coolest towns" by the trendy dandies at GQ) is a former cotton mill from 1892 turned upscale lofts. The bldg's amenities are just bonkers: a pool, a dog park, putting green, gym, sand volleyball court, community vegetable garden, game room with pool table and ping pong...the list is crazy-good. This unit, priced at $369.9K, has 2150+ square feet with 3 beds/3 baths and things like original brick walls, hardwood floors and huge, multi-paned windows. You must take a closer look at it here

Lyme Is On Your Side

The small town of Lyme, Connecticut, located in the bucolic hills of New London County, has the misfortune of being associated with the dread tick disease, which isn't fair as you can catch it anywhere the parasites live, which means pretty much anywhere. Less than 2 hours north of Manhattan, this is upscale country living, a place where serenity and privacy trump famous neighbors and nightlife. This 1933 home shows what $830K can get you here (if you're lucky): a 3100 square 3 bed/3.5 bath on 6+ acres with a pool, patios and mature landscaping. Inside, there are beamed and wood-clad ceilings, multiple fireplaces, eat-in country kitchen with a top tier appliances, and a 3-sided screened in porch. Hopyard Golf Club is down the road, the 42 acre Patrell Preserve is adjacent, and the Atlantic ocean is about 20 minutes away—what more could you want? Take a closer look here

Get the London Luxe

Ok, that headline is a really bad play off the Rimmel ads (which we love, especially the ones starring Mick and Jerry's gap-toothed offspring), but who cares when the property is this ah-may-zing? Built in 2000, it was the first project from the hot architectural firm Eldridge Smerin and nominated for the Stirling Prize (England's most prestigious architectural competition). Located behind iron gates in London's posh Highgate Village, the gorgeous hilltop neighborhood filled with exquisite Georgians and sigh-inducing views of the city below, the property is currently configured with 3 beds/3 baths, but there are several additional spaces (like a studio with a mini kitchen) that could expand that count. Priced at around $9.5 million, the outdoor spaces are equally gorgeous and include parking for 5 cars, gardens, terrace, lawn and rows of white willows. Dead sexy, it deserves a closer look, so do that here

Chucktown Charmer

We're back in Charleston, South Carolina, called "the most polite and hospitable city in America" by Southern Living, for this stylish 4 bed/2 bath 1930 brick bungalow in the Uptown area. Priced at $525K, it had us at "hello," meaning that fab front porch with hanging flower pots that wraps all the way around to the back; we'd be out there for morning coffee, afternoon cocktails and a little midnight reconnaissance on the neighborhood. Inside you'll find vintage details like crown molding, polished hardwood floors, french doors, and dining room fireplace, along with a new gourmet kitchen with separate pantry area. The private yard is ringed by mature greenery, with a large patio and flower garden, but when you tire of nature, head to the nearby Tattoed Moose for their famous duck confit sandwich with a side of fries cooked in—what else?—duck fat. Mmmm...while we search our cupboards for something salty, take a closer look here

Thoroughly Modern Morocco

We've never been to Marrakesh, but we're dying to—the food! the spices! the rugs! the jewelery!—and, thus, we've featured a few more traditional riad properties here before. This time, we're just outside the city near the grand old Royal Marrakech (it can be spelled either way) Golf Club, where everyone from Winston Churchill to President Eisenhower has played, for a modern villa with 5 beds/5 baths and nearly 6000 square feet of living space. Priced at $2.2 million, the property sits on .62 acres surrounded by sumptuous landscaping, a sparkling pool and dramatic views of the Atlas Mountains. Take a closer look at it all here

Lucky Ducks

The University of Oregon has some 19 men and women's sports programs, including football, basketball, baseball and softball, and these "Ducks" are beloved throughout the state, but nowhere more than in Eugene. If you're a Ducks lover—or if you just like a vintage house in a gorgeous, eco-conscious town in the Pacific northwest—then may this house just a few blocks from the main campus. Asking $429K, the 1900+ square foot home has 4 beds/2 baths is bright and homey, with hardwood floors, gas fireplace, built-ins, and coved ceiling. Outside the 1929 home is a detached garage, small lawn and raised garden beds, and a dining patio. We've never seen any kind of Ducks game, but we'd happily cheer them on for the chance to live in such sweet digs. See more of it here

Batty for a Barn!

We were so excited when we came across this awesome and amazing home near Princeton that we when we did finally fall asleep, we dreamed about red barns all night long! Built in the early 19th century, it was moved to a 3+ acre lot near the New Jersey town and restored and re-conceived in 2009.  Reached via a private, gated drive, it now has 5 beds/5 baths and a whopping 6800 square feet and features soaring exposed beam ceilings, stacked stone fireplace, multi-paned windows and doors throughout, random width hardwood floors, two story center hall, and gourmet country kitchen with farm house sink and what appear to be soapstone counters. The $3.6 million price tag includes walk in closets, office, enclosed sun porch with fireplace (how nice would that be in the winter months?), playroom, media room, large patio, detached 3 car garage, and verdant views of some of the Garden State's priciest landscapes. We insist you take a closer look at this home here