Luxury living: Homes with glittering interiors

This stately 19th-century villa is surrounded by magnificent terraced gardens in the historic spa town of Karlovy Vary. Built in 1854 and impeccably restored in 2003, the property has retained all of its architectural splendour. The main residence is surrounded by wrought-iron gates embellished with gold filigree. A grand exterior staircase leads to the formal terraced gardens, graced with bronze statuary by German sculptor August Kiss. The gilded 10-room interior is adorned with original furnishings, chandeliers and artworks. The living room is a work of art in itself, with black marble and gold pilasters, silk tapestries, a white marble fireplace, inlaid parquet floors, and a solid two-winged door embellished with a carved, gilded motif.

One of the first modernist townhouses in New York, this iconic property was commissioned in 1941 by aviation pioneer Sherman M. Fairchild. The red granite façade, completed in 1981, hints at the postmodern interior. The 9,440-square-foot mansion is defined by a three-story great room, with a span of travertine walls illuminated from a glass and steel skylight. A zigzagging system of metal ramps facilitates movement through the light-filled living spaces. The result is an airy alternative to a traditional townhouse and the perfect setting for a world-class art collection. With Central Park and Museum Mile on its doorstep, this is a home unlike any other.

The grand country houses of England are the inspiration for this North Carolina manor. Built in 1925, the stately main residence has undergone extensive renovations, preserving the elegant period details while adding modern conveniences. The reception hall has a handcrafted wooden staircase and leads into the grandly scaled living areas, including the family parlour, which features a ceiling adorned with decorative gold-leaf panelling. Beyond are nearly three acres of private parkland with wide lawns, walled gardens, a grotto, and an original carriage house.

This impeccably restored 17th-century estate covers nearly 30 acres in the Belgian province of Limburg. A long tree-lined drive sweeps past the verdant grounds to a grand forecourt. Monumental wooden doors open to an elegant foyer. Farther along are palatial reception rooms, including a magnificent gallery adorned with plaster ceilings and walls panelled with gold leaf and illuminated by gilded chandeliers. The estate also includes a deer park, three stocked ponds, verdant meadows, several barns, and stables with a heated saddle room.

This opulent mansion in Franklin Lakes is privately situated behind a gated entrance and a long, cobblestone drive. Inspired by the grand palaces of Europe, the seven-bedroom residence has been expertly designed throughout. Decorative mouldings, silver, gold, crystal and exotic stones ornament the interiors. The grand foyer, with its dual bridal staircase and gilded iron railings, opens to a great room with a frescoed ceiling dome. The home is set like a jewel within 2.5 acres of formal grounds, graced with sculpted gardens, orchards, a koi pond, gunite pool and tennis court.