Spotlight: Homes with Great Libraries

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need" -
Marcus Tullius Cicero


Take a tour through these four residences in California, Michigan, Florida, and Australia, and their magnificent libraries:

Chiltern
Hillsborough, California, United States 
Truly reflecting the scale, proportion, and spirit of English Tudor and Elizabethan country estates, Chiltern is privately sited on more than six acres in the sought-after community of Hillsborough, California. Close to both the multicultural metropolis of San Francisco and the business and technology center of Silicon Valley, this borough is an ideal place to raise a family in a peaceful and secure environment. The library at Chiltern is a bibliophile's dream refuge.

Elegant Tudor-Style Estate
Franklin, Michigan, United States 
This exceptional 2001 Tringali-designed 1800's English Tudor replica is set on 2.48 acres in the heart of Franklin Village. The refined cherry paneled two-story library off the foyer highlights Gothic leaded glass windows and a gas fireplace with marble surround and carved mantle. A spiraled staircase leads to the upper level balcony of built-in bookcases with a dramatic ceiling. Offered for sale by Hall & Hunter Realtors.

Brindley Park Estate
Merriwa, New South Wales, Australia
Enjoying a rich history, Brindley Park is a palatial 5,200 acre complex sited in the Merriwa district of New South Wales, Australia. The formal rooms of this solid Indian Sandstone homestead boast polished granite and sandstone floors, hardwood doors, a domed reception space and garden views though classical columns. The residence is linked by leafy colonnades to a wonderful arrangement of ancillary buildings, such as a library, six-bedroom sandstone guest lodge, and a recreational summer house with an infinity pool and a tennis court. Offered for sale by Ken Jacobs.

Villa Vecchia
Miami Beach, Florida, United States 
Built in 1928 by renowned architect L M Barrett for Byron D Miller Esq, president of the F W Woolworth Co, this stunning 18,000 square foot gated compound in Miami Beach is a rare historical masterpiece that has hosted more political dignitaries than any other home in Miami. Comprised of three buildings and tucked away behind stately mahogany and iron gates, Villa Vecchia features 13 bedrooms 12 baths and breathtaking views of the water and the estates award winning private gardens. The residence features a grand master suite and a gentleman's library. Offered for sale by Esslinger Wooten Maxwell Realtors.