Photo: Kaori Hirakata Sotheby’s International Realty has announced that Punta Pacifica Realty, located in Panama City, Panama, is joining the network, and its offices will now operate as Panama Sotheby’s International Realty. This addition marks the brand’s 65th office in the Caribbean and Latin American region. Panama has emerged as one of Latin America’s most compelling luxury real estate markets, attracting international buyers seeking a combination of lifestyle, investment opportunity, and global connectivity. The market benefits from several global trends, including wealth migration, corporate relocation, retirement, second-home ownership, and international investment. The country offers a unique blend of cosmopolitan city living, beachfront communities, and mountain retreats, supported by a U.S. dollar-based economy, sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, and one of the region’s leading international airports. A new generation of branded residences, waterfront developments, and architecturally significant projects is elevating Panama’s luxury market, attracting buyers who view the country as both a lifestyle destination and a long-term investment opportunity. Panama Sotheby’s International Realty draws on nearly two decades of experience in Panama’s luxury residential real estate market. The firm has built a reputation through its representation of premier developments, longstanding client relationships, and deep understanding of the evolving needs of luxury buyers. Today, it serves clients across Panama’s premier residential and resort destinations. As part of its next phase of growth, Panama Sotheby’s International Realty plans to expand its presence across the country while growing its team of affiliated real estate professionals. The firm is led by Duncan McGowan, chief executive officer; Jeff Barton, managing partner; and Brian Kelly, vice president. McGowan first arrived in Panama in 1998 and later co-founded Punta Pacifica Realty, helping grow it into one of the country’s leading luxury real estate firms. Barton relocated to Panama in 2007 and led sales at The Ocean Club during a transformative period for the market. Kelly has called Panama home for more than 15 years and has played an integral role in the company’s growth. Ana Patricia Hassan de McGowan, principal broker, brings extensive market knowledge and has become a trusted voice in Panama real estate through Spotlight to Panama, an informative platform for those considering relocation. The leadership team’s track record includes overseeing the sale of the developer’s remaining residences at The Ocean Club and serving as lead brokerage for Ocean Reef Islands, Latin America’s first man-made residential islands. “Panama has become one of the most desirable destinations in the Americas for luxury real estate, appealing to buyers who are attracted by its global connectivity, investment potential, and exceptional lifestyle offerings,” said Philip White, president and CEO, Sotheby’s International Realty. “We are proud to welcome Panama Sotheby’s International Realty to our network and look forward to supporting the firm as it continues to serve buyers and sellers throughout the country.” “The Sotheby’s International Realty brand is the leader in luxury real estate, and with its unparalleled global reach, we believe this network is most beneficial to our clients and affiliated agents,” said Duncan McGowan, CEO, Panama Sotheby’s International Realty. “For nearly two decades, our team has been committed to serving clients through trusted relationships, local expertise, and exceptional service. Joining the Sotheby’s International Realty network allows us to pair our deep knowledge of Panama’s luxury market with one of the world’s most respected real estate brands, creating new opportunities for our clients both locally and internationally.”
This storied residence built in 1900 represents a singular opportunity to own a piece of San Francisco’s architectural history or to reimagine it for comfortable contemporary living and for generations to come. San Francisco may well be the 21st-century’s nexus of technology and progress, but this lovely grande dame enveloped by verdant trees in prestigious Presidio Heights recalls the stylistic heights of the city’s golden age, displaying the elegant flair of a bygone era at every turn. It represents a singular opportunity to own a piece of the Bay Area’s architectural history or, for the most discerning, to reimagine it for comfortable contemporary living and for generations to come. San Francisco, California| Neill Bassi, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage Built in 1900, the residence has a storied pedigree, designed as it was by noted architect Edward R. Swain, creator of the landmark Whittier Mansion—one of the few homes in the city to survive the 1906 earthquake—and the stalwart McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. On a rare, exceptionally wide lot, it offers 7,350 square feet on four levels and is replete with dramatic period detail: bold wood beams, molding, and paneling; original oak floors; intricate millwork; stained-glass, bay, and arched windows; a grand staircase; seven fireplaces; plentiful built-ins; and vintage fixtures and fittings. Perhaps more enviable are the vistas that include the Golden Gate Bridge and the waters of the bay. Beyond a grand wood-paneled foyer are a formal living room, a light-filled sunroom, and a dining room with a coffered ceiling, wainscoting, alluring original built-ins, and a view of the bridge and the bay. Airy and bright, the kitchen and breakfast room open to a balustraded terrace that gazes out toward the water. Living and entertaining spaces continue on the ground level, with its generous family room, game room, laundry facilities, powder room, and versatile bonus room. Three peaceful bedrooms are secluded on the level above the main living spaces. Chief among them is a sunny, serene owner’s suite with herringbone-patterned oak floors, a wood-burning fireplace, south-facing windows, a spacious dressing room, and an en suite bath. Each of the two guest bedrooms here benefits from the charm of a Victorian fireplace. The highlight, however, is the majestic library, nearly circular in shape and distinguished by an ornate ceiling, vintage built-ins, a wet bar, stained-glass detailing, and a wide bay of windows offering a cinematic view of treetops and the Golden Gate Bridge. Tucked among the eaves on the uppermost level are two charming additional bedrooms and a shared full bath. Visitors will appreciate the privacy of the guest suite tucked away on the garden level. The vibrant multilevel garden includes peaceful terraces and—between the boughs of mature flowering trees and stately pines—enjoys glimpses of the bay. Steps from the Presidio and numerous shops and restaurants, this is an oasis of enduring natural beauty in the midst of the thriving activity of one of the most desirable, architecturally distinctive cities in the world. Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com
From rich autumnal color and tactile textiles to atmospheric lighting and spaces designed for retreat, Mandi Keighran explores simple tips for embracing the changing seasons Cotswolds, U.K. | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty As temperatures drop and the days begin to shorten, how we want our homes to feel also changes. In the same way that we might swap out linen shirts for cozy woolens in our wardrobe, this time of year offers an opportunity to introduce richer color palettes, softer textures and a sense of warmth to interiors. And creating more cocooning spaces doesn’t require a complete redecoration. Small touches, such as a rug underfoot, a velvet cushion, warmer lighting or even a new tablecloth, can all alter the mood of a room. The key to somewhere that both celebrates and offers refuge from fall’s more changeful elements is artfully layering these features, thereby crafting a space that makes staying home feel like a joy. Hudson Valley, New York | Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty “Creating a fall interior can be as simple as introducing clean flower and branch arrangements—think all white and green or dark burgundy,” says Barbara Sumner, an interior designer based in Portland, Oregon. “I also like to add a bit of dark brown, with some pillows and wood accessories and some heavy pewter or cast bronze pieces. Using color and tactile materials makes spaces more inviting and balances the experience as one moves from room to room.” Sumner’s advice on successful seasonal decor is to match any additions to the style of your property, rather than track too closely to trends. “A very modern home can take large mohair throws in a neutral shade and big plush pillows, whereas a cottage style deserves matelassé quilts or plaid wool pillows,” she says. “Changing just a few small details—throws, linens or scents—helps mentally transition through the seasons and creates a welcoming environment for our senses.” Layer up with textiles Cotswolds, U.K. | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty One of the easiest ways to introduce warmth is with textiles, from rugs layered over timber floors to sumptuous throws draped across sofas and piles of cushions. In the heart of the Cotswolds in the U.K., a beautifully reimagined barn by mother-daughter design duo Berkeley Hawkes combines rustic oak floorboards and chunky sisal carpets with soft wools, textured linens and velvets to create inviting, unpretentious interiors. Living rooms and bedrooms aren’t the only areas to benefit from these fabric shifts—a patterned curtain can conceal cluttered open shelving in the kitchen with a splash of seasonal color. Tablecloths and table runners are another simple add. Embrace autumnal color Hudson Valley, New York | Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty The colors of fall offer a natural starting point for seasonal decorating. As leaves change hue, the landscape offers a dramatic palette of ochre, burgundy, rust, tobacco and deep green. At Ulster Landing, a historic estate in New York’s Hudson Valley, a berry-red kitchen, ochre laundry and flower room, and indigo Antoinette Poisson wallpaper bring richness to the otherwise restrained design scheme. These deeper tones work particularly well as accents, meaning even new cushions or bedding can be transformational. Create a bedroom for hibernation Cotswolds, U.K. | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Summer bedrooms are all about lightness and fresh air, while fall calls for a cozier take. Layered bedding, weightier curtains, and rugs underfoot can instantly change the mood, and darker colors work particularly well in naturally dimmer rooms. In this Cotswolds barn, for example, an attic bedroom deliberately embraces its limited natural light with a deeper palette, tactile fabrics and substantial drapes beneath exposed beams, creating a space that feels intimate rather than gloomy. Scent can also shift the seasonal atmosphere of a bedroom. “I always have a signature candle for spring, and another for fall that is musky and smoky,” says Sumner. “My favorite for fall is Ernesto by Cire Trudon.” Style a comfy snug Venice, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Pacific Palisades Brokerage The snug has traditionally been associated with English country houses, but these smaller rooms designed for retreat translate effortlessly to contemporary living. In Venice Beach, a striking residence designed by AML Studio offers a West Coast interpretation of the snug. The bespoke media room is wrapped in walnut paneling, with comfortable seating and a fully appointed bar for movie nights or relaxed gatherings. Meanwhile, the home’s main living area features a wraparound sofa facing a statement fireplace—even balmy Californian fall calls for coziness. Don’t forget to layer your lighting Portland, Oregon | Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty As the day darkens earlier, lighting takes on a key role in shaping the atmosphere of a room. Rather than relying on a single source, combining lamps and wall lights at different levels creates overlapping pools of illumination and allows the mood to shift throughout the evening. Firelight adds another dimension, making fireplaces and woodburners natural focal points. A remodeled Portland, Oregon, home—originally designed by Wade Hampton Pipes, who brought English arts and crafts architecture to the area—has several, including a dramatic Nero Marquina marble fireplace in the family room. “Lighting is everything,” says Sumner, who reimagined the home’s interiors. “I try to be consistent in shapes—this house has ball shapes everywhere, for example. It helps connect the spaces and looks awesome from the outside looking in. Floor, art, task and highlighting lights are all necessary to create that warm fall glow.” On the scent: read about the rise of fragrance in luxury interiors
From a US$70M sale in Hillsborough, California, to a CAD22M in Toronto, Canada, here are significant sales represented by the Sotheby’s International Realty global network in August. Hillsborough, California default " src="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-1024x575.jpg" alt="Mediterranean-style estate surrounded by mature trees and terraced gardens, featuring a grand central staircase, tiered fountains, arched windows, and formal landscaping viewed from above." class="wp-image-348176" srcset="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-768x431.jpg 768w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DJI_20250516120129_0478_D-1200x674.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" Jennifer Gilson | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, US$70M View properties in Hillsborough, California Sonoma, California default " src="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001.jpg" alt="Aerial view of a rural estate featuring a lake, rolling hills, wooded landscapes, agricultural buildings, and distant mountain views under a pastel sky." class="wp-image-348175" srcset="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001.jpg 5272w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-768x575.jpg 768w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-2048x1534.jpg 2048w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-1200x899.jpg 1200w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-800x600.jpg 800w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-400x300.jpg 400w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/photo_online_001-200x150.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 5272px) 100vw, 5272px" Michael Dreyfus, Kristie Eddy |Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, US$38.5M View properties in Sonoma, California Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands default " src="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-1024x683.jpg" alt="Oceanfront luxury estate with multiple pavilions, palm-lined grounds, and a central swimming pool overlooking a white-sand beach and turquoise water." class="wp-image-348177" srcset="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LDV_46.jpg 1800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" Nina Siegenthaler | Turks and Cacios Sotheby’s International Realty, US$27M View properties in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Toronto, Canada Jane Zhang | Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, CAD22M View properties in Toronto, Canada Southampton, New York Harald Grant, Bruce Grant | Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage, US$17M View properties in Southampton, New York
Immaculate design is underpinning the revival of statement rooms that spark curiosity and human connection, discovers Elizabeth Fazzare Paris, France | Propriétés Parisiennes Sotheby’s International Realty We often associate a digital detox or screen-free sojourn with getting out into nature. But as the desire to unplug increases for many, attention has turned to luxury homes with interior spaces dedicated to company and conversation, offering intellectual and cultural sustenance, without online distraction. Rooted in the European art and literary traditions which reached their zenith in the 18th century, the contemporary salon is a room in which to meet, discuss and debate, as much as to read, relax or listen to music. Devoid of televisions and other tech, they instead display books, artworks, and personal collections. “A salon should be people-facing rather than screen-facing. That is perhaps its biggest distinction from the conventional contemporary living room,” explains designer Kelly Zerbini, principal designer and partner at Dunnam Zerbini Design in New York, who recently designed a salon-style living room in a Greenwich Village townhouse. The Kelly Zerbini-designed salon in a Greenwich Village townhouse engages the senses. Photograph: Joshua McHugh. Styling: Anthony Amiano “Instead of organizing everything around one dominant focal point, the floor plan should encourage conversation, movement, and discovery,” she says. With its impeccable design and art collection, the salon of a 19th-century Paris home does just that. In pursuit of the same goal, Zerbini’s salons feature multiple seating areas, artworks large and small (to both capture attention from across the room and encourage closer appreciation), and “verticality.” The latter can be achieved using floor-to-ceiling shelving, art walls, objets d’art, and “layers of things that have meaning to the people who live there,” she says. “The goal is to create a room that gives people permission to wander, look, sit, move, and engage with one another.” In her Greenwich Village design, a history-scale artwork by Roméo Mivekannin hangs over one seating area, where the sofa is flanked by storage that displays smaller art and treasures. New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage A fireplace with a mirror sculpted by Scott Strickstein centers another zone with a chaise longue, armchairs, and a brash, colorful cabinet by designers Fernando and Humberto Campana. Despite the room’s 18-foot-tall ceilings, this mix of furnishing scales engages the senses—and creates a sense of comfort. Across Manhattan on Sutton Place, a penthouse offers a minimalist take on the trend: a conversation-starter statement sofa creates a 360-degree viewing experience of a blue-chip art collection and the skyline beyond. Bora Bora, French Polynesia | French Polynesia Sotheby’s International Realty Meanwhile in the salon of a villa in Bora Bora, French Polynesia, talking points include a spectacular aquarium and a generous, subtly lit library wall. Of course, unlike the walled-off floor plans of the past, many contemporary homes embrace more flowing living arrangements. “Today’s ‘salons’ tend to be more integrated with the rest of the home,” says Don Johnston, a real estate agent at The Montecito Group of Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s the same spirit of the European salon, just reinterpreted to feel more relaxed and livable for every day.” Montecito, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Montecito – 1290 Coast Village Road Brokerage Yet even within an open floor plan, a salon can feel intimate with careful placement of furniture, inward-facing seating arrangements, and a detail-oriented design scheme. At this stately ocean-fronting residence in Montecito, California, the open-plan salon’s two seating areas encourage discussion, while dramatic artworks, sculptures, and a central fireplace provide interest and focus. A darker palette, booklined walls and a collection of curiosities suffuse the salon of this high-end home in New South Wales, Australia with a contrasting—but, thanks to ample seating, no less congenial—mood. New South Wales, Australia | Drew Lindsay Sotheby’s International Realty “Design is a pendulum, and I think the renewed interest in salons is partly a reaction against the vast, overscaled spaces that have dominated contemporary residential architecture,” says Zerbini. “There is something very appealing now about intimacy, separation, and not revealing everything at once.” And there is something very human, as well. Here’s what lies behind the rise of home libraries in a screen-saturated era
Across the street from its namesake park, this singular residence catches the eye with its weblike façade of steel and floor-to-ceiling glass. Beyond lies 5,580 square feet of airy, open contemporary living space designed to showcase art. “Home is where the heart is,” or so the saying goes. That well-worn idiom dates back to at least the early 1800s, but this truly distinctive residence in San Francisco—fondly referred to as the Gallery House—may well revise the turn of phrase for a more modern, aesthetically oriented world: “Home is where the art is.” San Francisco, California| Joseph Lucier, Stacey Caen , Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage After acquiring the property in the city’s picturesque South Park neighborhood, the current owners set about a roughly four-year process of creating—along with Luke Ogrydziak and Zoë Prillinger of OPA Architects—a one-of-a-kind three-level home where form and function came to fruition simultaneously. Recognized as a landmark by fellow San Franciscans and Pokémon Go aficionados, it displays an eye-catching weblike façade of Cor-Ten steel and floor-to-ceiling glass on the top two levels, both front and back. Beyond lies 5,580 square feet of airy, open contemporary living space designed to showcase art and pull natural light into nearly every corner. The owners’ art collection informed the design, with streamlined white walls and limited ornamentation creating an ideal neutral backdrop for its display. Industrial elements—steel beams and corrugated metal ceilings—are balanced by the organic softness of the neighborhood’s leafy trees, views of which serve as dynamic de facto wall treatments. As the light changes with the hours and seasons, it creates new lines, shadows, and perspectives, making the components of stylish modern living all the more compelling. On the ground floor, an inviting space with a kitchenette and a powder bath was conceived as a gallery, photography studio, and versatile entertaining space. Above is a living room with a wine cellar and nearly an entire wall lined with bookshelves; it flows effortlessly into a sleek kitchen that combines minimalist hues of black, white, and stainless-steel and a dining area giving way to a sun-washed terrace with a grilling area and raised landscaped beds. An office or family room accompanies the skylit bedrooms and baths on the uppermost level. A convenient elevator links all of the floors as well as the enviable rooftop garden and deck—a flourishing private aerie hovering amid the treetops. Just across the street is the tree-strewn greenery and breezy shade of historic South Park, a hidden gem dating to the 1850s. Proximity to this emerald oasis—as well as restaurants, galleries, shops, technology and venture capital firms, and cultural destinations—makes this residence one of the city’s most coveted addresses and a work of art in its own right. Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com
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