
Santa Rosa, California. The 26-foot octagonal tower of this Mediterranean villa overlooks 8 acres of landscaped grounds and the forests and hills beyond. The three-bedroom house features marble floors, beamed ceilings, three fireplaces, a chef's kitchen, a breakfast room, a library, a wine cellar, and a sunroom.

Outside, flagstone pathways connect patios, a courtyard, a wooded picnic area, a greenhouse, and the gardens, including a rock garden. $3,150,000. Mary Anne Veldkamp, Coldwell Banker Realty, (707) 481-2672.

Harding Township, New Jersey. The French doors of this five-bedroom modern Colonial open on a lawn set with two French-inspired stone patios. The house has an open kitchen–living room area with beamed ceilings and central stone fireplace, a paneled study with coffered ceilings, a dining room, a media room, and a gym.

The 3-acre property is landscaped with shrubs and trees and includes a fountain, a small woods, and a turf putting green with two sand traps. $3,249,000. Susan Prisco, Coldwell Banker Realty, (973) 769-5541.

Weems, Virginia. The formal gardens of this four-bedroom home look out on the Corrotoman River. The Tidewater-style house features heart-of-pine floors, custom cabinetry, crown moldings, multiple decks, and a chef's kitchen opening to a butler's pantry and the living room.

Outside are grounds laid out with lawns, flowers, shrubs, a fountain, oyster-shell walkways, and an arbor; a screened porch with pool and spa; and a deepwater dock with boat lifts. $1,900,000. Travis Powell, Select Properties of Virginia, (804) 512-2086.

Minneapolis. The 0.23-acre lot of this four-bedroom home is planted with flowers, vines, mature trees, and boxwoods. The updated 1926 house retains its French windows and interior arches and glass-paned double doors, and has an open kitchen, a paneled study, and a master bedroom with a private porch.

In front, a small patio overlooks Lake of the Isles; in back are brick and stone garden patios, a patio under an arbor, and a picnic patio with a grill. $2,750,000. Chad Larsen, Berg Larsen Group/Coldwell Banker Realty, (612) 968-6030.

Amenia, New York. Bogardus Hall is surrounded by wide lawns, mature trees, and extensive perennial beds. Built in 1781 and expanded in 1871, the six-bedroom Georgian house features historic details, such as the original fireplaces and a spiral staircase with murals depicting life along the Hudson River, and has a library-study, full kitchen wing, brick great room, and wine cellar.

The 132-acre property includes woods, a trout creek, a two-bedroom guesthouse, and a three-car garage with office, full bath, and car wash. $4,950,000. Deborah Montgomery and Marc Maclean, Houlihan Lawrence, (845) 677-6161.

Mansfield, Ohio. This 1929 Normandy-style château stands on nearly 2 acres of landscaped grounds. The five-bedroom house has been updated with a modern kitchen, wet bar, and security system, but preserves the original central turret with curved staircase, steep slate roof, Juliet balcony, frescoes, wormy chestnut–beamed ceilings, and the cellar room once used as a speakeasy.

Outside are a sweeping front drive, porch, and garden beds, and a backyard with mature trees, lawn, patio, and carved-limestone elements, including a fountain. $489,000. Jill Haring, Haring Realty, (419) 571-6889.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.