Photo: Edge Retreats
Cover Photo: Edge Retreats

Take a peek at these private residences, lived in or designed by legendary creatives

Step inside the former homes of some of the greatest masterminds in fashion, from the summer villa of Karl Lagerfeld to Gianni Versace’s Manhattan townhouse.

In case you missed it: 6 Unique Houses in Asia With Amazing Architecture

A Gilded Age, Tiffany-Designed Mansion

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Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Above Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Tatler Asia
Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Above Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest

Described as the only Tiffany-designed home in the world, this five-storey mansion in Boston, which went on the market for US$17 million in May, has a fascinating past. 

Completed in 1902 and a National Historic Landmark of the US since 2005, it was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, a famed 20th-century artist who was also the son of Charles Tiffany, founder of the luxury jewellery brand. It is known as the Ayer Mansion after the American businessman and art collector Frederick Ayer, who had originally commissioned the home.  

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Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Above Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Tatler Asia
Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest
Above Photo: Greg Premru/LandVest

Boasting six bedrooms and 13 bathrooms across 15,000 sq ft of interior space, the mansion features a number of unique design details that have been preserved over the years. The mosaic tiling on the exterior—the work of Tiffany—is a standout feature, as are its stained glass windows, bespoke light fixtures and a beautiful oval staircase.

Renderings released by the property’s listing agent LandVest show how the home may look after a revamp. 

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'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 2 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 3 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 4 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 5 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 6 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest
Photo 7 of 7 Photo: Hacin + Associates, Neoscape/LandVest

A celebrated artist, Tiffany was known for his stained glass pieces. Two of his original glass lamps have fetched over US$3 million each at auctions in recent years.

Available for sale from LandVest

Karl Lagerfeld’s French Riviera Escape

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Photo 1 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 2 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 3 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 4 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 5 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 6 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 7 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 8 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 9 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats
Photo 10 of 10 Photo: Edge Retreats

The late fashion powerhouse Karl Lagerfeld, who was creative director of Chanel from 1983 until his death in 2019, spent summers at the opulent Villa la Vigie in Monaco.

The Belle Époque-style villa, which was originally constructed in 1902 and reportedly purchased and renovated by Lagerfeld in 1988, is now available to rent via Edge Retreats. Rents start at US$17,388 a night, and the cost reaches US$52,165 a night during high season.

A jacuzzi, manicured gardens and billiards room are just some of the amenities inside the six-bedroom, four-bathroom villa, which has 6,458 sq ft of interior space and a terrace measuring an additional 2,551 sq ft. The property, which is perched on the harbour, offers beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. It neighbours the Monte Carlo Beach Club, although a private driveway to the home means it enjoys plenty of seclusion.

Available for rent from Edge Retreats

Gianni Versace’s Manhattan Townhouse

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Photo: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty
Above Photo: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty
Tatler Asia
Photo: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty
Above Photo: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

This New York City townhouse, which was on the market for US$70 million earlier this year, features interiors designed by the late, great Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, who acquired the property in 1995. 

Originally built in 1950, the mansion offers 14,175 sq ft of interior space and has seven bedrooms and ten bathrooms spread across six storeys, while a garden measures an additional 3,025 sq ft.

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Photo 1 of 6 Photo: Spotless Group
Photo 2 of 6 Photo: Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 3 of 6 Photo: Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 4 of 6 Photo: Spotless Group
Photo 5 of 6 Photo: Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 6 of 6 Photo: Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty

The bold, avant-garde aesthetic that was often seen in the late designer’s work in the fashion house he founded is seen throughout the spaces: these include hand-painted canvas walls that take inspiration from English neoclassical manors, and a ceiling that pays homage to the Sistine Chapel’s vault. 

The mansion, and its Versace touches, have been meticulously restored by its current owners, according to Sotheby’s International Realty, which listed the property. 

Pierre Cardin’s Eclectic Palace

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Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Above Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Tatler Asia
Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Above Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution

Le Palais Bulles, or the Bubble Palace, once belonged to the late French Italian designer Pierre Cardin. Set on the hills of Théoule-sur-Mer near Cannes, France, and overlooking the ocean, it stands out for its curious, retro-futuristic look of pink spherical forms—the work of architect Antti Lovag.

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Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Above Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Tatler Asia
Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution
Above Photo: Pierre Cardin Evolution

Measuring approximately 13,000 sq ft, it has ten bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, as well as a private outdoor auditorium, lounge, swimming pools and gardens. The home is available to rent for events ranging from performances to catwalk shows, according to its official website. 

Don’t Miss: A Home Neighbouring Yves Saint Laurent’s Famous Gardens

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Photo 1 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 2 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 3 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 4 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 5 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo 6 of 6 Photo: Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty

This villa stands adjacent to the famous Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, Morocco, and went on the market in May for a price that is available upon request. 

Built in 1960, this property—painted in what’s known as “Majorelle Blue”, the shade seen in many parts of its neighbouring garden—has been widely misreported as one that was once lived in by the late, legendary French designer Yves Saint Laurent. To be clear, this property never had a connection with Saint Laurent, who owned the Majorelle Garden. Its proximity to the garden—now an attraction that’s open to the public—means the home offers the possibility to operate “a high-value business”, according to its listing agent Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty.

The villa has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms across 6,996 sq ft of interior space, set on 0.37 acres of land. It features traditional Moroccan tilework and terracotta paving stones, an inviting patio accommodating alfresco dining, and a private swimming pool surrounded by greenery.

Available for sale from Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty

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