Luxury Living: Homes with murals and mosaics

An ode to the majesty of Renaissance Venice, Serenissima (the most serene) is one of the finest homes ever built in Florida. This magnificent mansion balances voluminous spaces for entertaining with intimate leisure rooms. Designed with a reverence for craftsmanship, lyrical Venetian murals, glittering chandeliers, and extraordinary millwork are just a glimpse of the details across three living levels. The property has a prime beachfront location, set behind the exclusive gates of the Longboat Key Club.

This beautiful Napoleon III-style apartment is situated in a stately building in the prestigious 16th arrondissement of Paris. Built in 1890, the five-bedroom residence offers 5,640 square feet of lavish living and entertaining areas. The grandly scaled reception rooms are decorated with original hand-carved reliefs and frescoed ceilings, as well as gilt mouldings and panelling. Other superb appointments include two kitchens, staff quarters, three cellars, and tranquil landscaped gardens.

Hacienda San Bernardo, a 19th-century colonial-style estate near Mérida, on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, was recently renovated by renowned Mexican architect Marco Aldaco. The villa’s antique finishes and museum-quality artworks remain fully intact, including sculptures and an exquisite mural depicting scenes from nature. There are several stately reception rooms, eight en suite bedrooms, and two separate guest apartments. The surrounding gardens are enhanced with statuary, pools and fountains.

Casa de Amor, a 1,300-square-foot Tuscan-style mansion, just outside Washington, D.C., is arrayed with artisan-crafted details and luxurious amenities that invite formal entertaining and resort-style living. The magnificent pool atrium was inspired by the grotto at the Versace Mansion; classically themed murals line the pool floor and the atrium walls. A sumptuous 2,500-square-foot master suite with his-and-her spas, a climate-controlled wine cellar, and a tower accessed by an elevator add to the grandeur.

This 1920s Mediterranean Revival mansion near Clearwater, Florida, was the former estate of W.K. Kellogg, founder of the eponymous cereal company. The 8,000-square-foot interior abounds with eclectic design elements inspired by the Spanish and Italian Renaissance. Among them are hand-carved coffered ceilings, stained-glass windows, and hand-painted murals, commissioned by Kellogg himself. Other unique features include a games room with domed ceiling, an Art Deco cocktail bar, and a disco. The lush tropical grounds back onto St. Joseph’s Sound and include a 300-foot seawall with a yacht dock.