Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This six-bedroom house sits on 2 acres within a small, gated community designed to maximize open space. The two-story-high kitchen boasts custom alder wood cabinets, wood and granite countertops, and high-end appliances.
The dining room off of the kitchen has views of Flat Top Mountain and doors that lead to the outdoor fireplace and sitting areas. $4,175,000. Chris Paoli, the Paoli Group, (970) 819-1432.
St. Croix, Virgin Islands. This four-bedroom estate named Lucky Bottom lies on 18.5 acres of a former sugar plantation overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The kitchen has Spanish cedar cabinets, a Kitchen Aid dishwasher, and a Wolf stove that's surrounded by Moroccan brick.
The grounds are abundant with fruit trees, including Key lime, pomegranate, breadfruit, guava berry, banana, Barbados cherry, bay tree, and Israeli tamarind. $2,250,000. Amy Land-de Wilde, Coldwell Banker/St. Croix Realty, (340) 718-7000.
Elk, California. This four-bedroom modern home 160 feet above the Pacific Ocean is surrounded by ocean on three sides. The eat-in kitchen has custom wood cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, and views of the water.
Property rights include 2,000 feet of ocean, 1,300 feet of beach, and a famous rock outcropping called Elk Sea Stacks. $4,395,000. Thomas Henthorne, Decker Bullock Sotheby's International Realty/Top Agent Network, (415) 847-5584.
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Architect William Kenyon built this eight-bedroom Tudor in 1931. The kitchen comprises three rooms; a central hearth room with double ovens that connects to a cathedral vaulted breakfast room and a butler's pantry with a tin ceiling.
Additional features of the house include French doors, crown molding, oak floors, and a large reception hall. $2,395,000. Barry Berg and Chad Larsen, Coldwell Banker Burnet, (612) 925-8411.
Wayzata, Minnesota. Built by survivors of the Titanic, this stucco six-bedroom home looks over Wayzata Bay. The kitchen has long onyx countertops for prepping, double ovens, and a warming drawer. Additional interior details include a wine cellar, four fireplaces, and a sunroom.
The 2-acre property includes a two-bedroom guesthouse, tennis courts, and a dock. $4,750,000. Benjamin Rae, Coldwell Banker Burnet, (952) 495-4000.
Chicago, Illinois. This five-bedroom brick house in the Lincoln Park neighborhood was built in 2001. The home has an open, white kitchen with a Viking stove, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Fisher Paykal dish drawers, and a granite island.
The custom outdoor kitchen has two grills, two refrigerators, a brick pizza oven, and a deck for entertaining. $1,925,000. Shaun Moskalik, Koenig Rubloff, (773) 592-8100.
Glen Falls, New York. This one-bedroom condominium in a former school features crown molding, hardwood floors, and solid-wood doors. The gourmet kitchen has quartz countertops, a deep Kraus sink, and a mother-of-pearl backsplash.
A large center island with a granite countertop and custom pillars allows seating for five. $219,900. Kathy Tolstrup, Select Sotheby's International Realty, (518) 409-0041.
**Want more? Check out "House hunting: Beautiful homes in the Twin Cities"**