As long as you don’t need a bathroom, or a kitchen, or parking, this tiny beach retreat in Seattle is perfect!

From the description:

Dream come true, yours for the taking! LEVITATING LIGHTHOUSE is a treehouse built on the bluff. Breathtaking city, mountain & sound views- this property is one of a kind! Built by & featured on Treehouse Masters. The levitating lighthouse is your recreation retreat. Everything stays. Go crabbing & salmon fishing. Rainwater catchment purification system. In the city but far away. Home featured on Treehouse Masters and written about in several articles.

Of course, there is some fine print…

Financing not available.

So, cash-only for this waterfront shack.

Oh, there’s also the minor issue that the city of Seattle may may demand that the treehouse be demolished.

But the city has its own problem with the property: It turns out [Property owner Ronald] Rae and the show host who built it, King County resident and renowned treehouse builder Pete Nelson, never got permits to put up the treehouse, which sits east of where several Magnolia homes were destroyed in a landslide in 1996.

After Animal Planet’s episode aired in 2014, the city sued Rae, saying the structure was too elaborate to be considered a childlike treehouse typically exempt from the building code, and it was on a steep hill next to the water. He was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and get the permits to bring the 280-square-foot treehouse properly up to code by the end of this March.

If he can’t pass the city’s inspections, he’ll have to demolish the treehouse, according to the city. Otherwise he faces a $100,000 fine.

That would be a shame. The article is from January, but I can’t find any more recent information about whether the city has approved the treehouse or not.

Animal Planet has a nice video of the building:

The Seattle TV station KING 5 also featured the treehouse:

This one sold for $2.8 million last month, but I definitely couldn’t resist posting it anyway. Here’s the listing description:

This Hillsborough iconic landmark, seen from highway 280, is on the market for the first time in 20 years. In 1976 Bay Area architect William Nicholson designed the multiple domed home that is nestled into the hillside overlooking Crystal Springs Reservoir. Architect, Eugene Tsui, designed the “biologic” kitchen. Interesting rooms include a game room, the conversation pit, and the 3rd bedroom with a loft. This is an amazing opportunity for buyers who appreciate the architecture and design.

Some call it the “Flinstones” home, but to me the only true real-life Flinstones home is Dick Clark’s old Malibu home, which sold in 2014 for $1.8 million. You can read more about that home on Curbed.

I’d be worried about constantly skinning my elbows on the walls.

If I had to guess, I’d say the room above is probably “the conversation pit.”

I wonder if that stone table is made of actual stone, or if it’s a lightweight facsimile.

I… have no idea what this room is. But it has dinosaurs so it’s A-okay with me.

Here’s an interesting and unique property currently on the market in Kirkland, WA (Seattle area). No idea what the point of this design was, other than just to be different.

I love this bit from the listing agent’s description:

One of a kind, unique home exemplifies ‘organic architecture’ of the 1970’s – a style reminiscent of a very famous architect of this style home.

Nice generic almost-reference.

So. Many. Triangles.

The lot looks pretty lush, but the home has apparently been somewhat neglected.

Inside we’ve got lots of exposed wood and big windows. It’s certainly a unique look.

Apparently the designer of this house was allergic to right angles.

I love this directly overhead view. Every listing should include one of these.

The only thing left inside the home is a single lonely piano.

Despite the apparent state of disrepair, this multi-dome home is only a little over ten years old.

Looks like a dream that was just never quite realized.

If you’ve got an interest in living in rural northern Minnesota, the dream can be yours for just $74,900.

With nearly 8 acres, there’s apparently plenty of room on the property to set up camp while you work on finishing the domes.

Bonus: In addition to the multi-dome, you get a hangar!

Scratch that… Two hangars!

Over on the Zillow listing, they’ve got some extra photos, including a complete set of floor plan drawings:

This one is pretty darn cool. If I had $75k lying around I would be seriously tempted to buy it to turn it into my own little rural retreat.

This is a lovely mid-century modern home that looks to have been expertly updated, but some of what the listing agent chose to feature in their set of 64 photos is a little… odd. Does the Pottery-Barn-esque canvas laundry basket come with the listing? Why is it featured so prominently?

Okay, cool…I guess this photo is trying to show us that if you buy this house you can sit with pillows and browse a picture book? Cool, I guess…

Twigs in a vase. That’s it, I’m sold. I need this house.

There are photos of two other angles of this tub and shower in the listing so obviously this shot is just here to let us know that if we want to set a tray on the tub, we can. Good to know.

Beds: Also good for reading! Hang on though, I don’t think we’ve seen enough of that bed just yet. I wish there were another shot almost just like this one, but with the pillows in-focus.

Ah, there we go. Much better.

Rawr.

It’s all in the details.

Behold! This home has a ceiling!

I have to know though: Do all the rad portrait paintings and the giant green table and chair set come with the $17 million price tag? Because if not, just forget it.

I was raised with authentic vintage beams and planking…

with hand-painted, ceiling-high murals…

and a scrupulously clean barn basement with stone walls.

Besides “a fine appreciation for history,” my barn also has “resort-style grounds with pool, cabana, gym and sauna”…

…as well as a wine cellar, appropriately located in the silo cellar.

It’s a respectable upbringing, being raised in a barn. As the sign says…

It’s A Wonderful Life!

What a location.

What a house.

This unique remote California desert home has been off and on the market five or six times since 2002. The current asking price on the “Volcano House” is $650,000. When Curbed wrote about it in 2009 the asking price was $750,000.

Every room has an amazing view. You know, if you’re into barren desert landscapes.

Because that’s pretty much all you get.

As far as the eye can see.

It’s about a 50 minute drive to Barstow, the closest town of any significant size. This place certainly seems like it would make a sweet retreat for someone in Southern California.

If you’re craving more photos, here’s a great Flickr set of the Volcano House by Chapman Publications. Amusing Planet has an article with some more details about the home’s background.

Also, CNNMoney did a segment on the house a few years ago:

Finally, here’s a cool night timelapse video of the house:

That’s certainly an interesting piece of sculpture, and it appears a lot in this photo set. It seems odd that the listing photos would focus so much on a piece of art when the home itself is… well, have a look for yourself:

Apparently burritos are good business.

Never before on the market, this exceptional contemporary home was originally built for Steve Ells, founder of Chipotle.

Not surprisingly for someone in the restaurant business, this place has one of the nicest kitchens I’ve ever seen.

Here’s the other side of the kitchen, and a conspicuous shot of that sculpture again:

And of course what rich person’s modern home listing would be complete without the obligatory shot of the pristine garage with their sexy luxury cars?

Okay, back to the sculpture again.

Also: I hear some of you on this site like… stairs?

All right, let’s close it up with yet another shot of that sculpture.

There are lots more great photos on the virtual tour. Just beware, that link auto-plays a dumb video by default. Click “Photos->All” on the upper-left to stop the music and get to the pictures.

But it’s not just exteriors. Inside, you have your angled dining rooms…

your angled kitchens…

and your angled bathrooms.

If you feel the need for somewhat more metaphorical angles, there’s the uber private secret meeting room in the attic…

and the high tech “clean room” in the separate entry basement apartment (perfect for “plausible deniability”).

Just in case you need a reminder that, when in DC, you’re playing with The Big Boys, there’s always the view from your balcony…

where you can learn the angles from the best of them.

But wait… there’s more! According to Sotheby’s International Realty, the approximately 37 acre retreat in Southern France includes:

…an entire ‘hameau’, a private, small Provençal village comprising more than a dozen buildings, including a main house, several guest cottages, a bar & restaurant, a workshop/garage, a staff house and much more.

While the listing says there’s a chapel, this site says it’s been converted into guest quarters. Hopefully, that could explain the presence of a bed, a bathtub, and… a confessional(?!) in the same room. “Paging Dr. Freud!”

Whatevs! What’s totally cool is that Johnny himself ~swoon~ decorated all the buildings in the whole village, which explains this awesome room, including the Alas-Poor-Yorick prop(?) on the side table.

But the BEST EVER part? OMG I can’t believe it… some of Johnny’s personal belongings are INCLUDED IN THE SALE!!!

~THUD~ (Faint…)

It has gorgeous views of the Scottsdale and Phoenix area.

It has some interesting spaces inside, including the kitchen…

…and the amazing master bathroom.

It even has a totally cool mural in, of all places, the garage.

But the real magic happens after dark, when the lights go out…

…and the black lights come on!

Now that is what I am talkin’ about!

Lead suitably impressed guests into your Untouchably chic speakeasy.

Play at being Cinderella (your choice of dozens of adaptations), fleeing down the castle staircase to evade the lovelorn prince.

Recreate training scenes from Rocky II, III, IV, or V (but not the first one because, hey, he was still poor).

Do what Ferris Bueller would’ve done if he’d really stayed home sick.

Ascend into the heavens (or your neighbor’s yard) via your personal glass Wonkavator. (Um, yeah… the Wonkavator moves sideways, too.)

When you’re ready to come back to earth, you can ground and center (or just take a nap) in your meditation chamber. But watch out that stray sparks don’t catch your hair on fire… Remember, the point is to play at being dramatic, not actually, you know, be dramatic!

This spaceship home in the middle of a 28 acre forest looks like something from the mid-century, but it was apparently built just 16 years ago.

I am definitely digging it.

Dig those sweeping curves.

And that wrap-around deck on the land side!

I don’t even care that the ceilings are a bit low near the outside walls. I am ready for spaceship living.

Just 22 minutes from downtown Portland, this $7.2 million manse has pretty much everything…

Outside, it’s all castle. Inside…

…it’s also castle.

Except when it’s desert oasis.

Or Arabic domes.

Or giant… ceiling… compass?

Okay, back to castle.

Nope, just kidding. Time for a modern theater.

Or how about this rainbow workout room?

Okay let’s close on the castle watchtower.

It’s certainly nice, but you’d think they would be able to decide on just one style.

blacksmiths, including one of a kind leaded windows with beveled glass panes…

plasterers…

and bricklayers (or brick-levitators, as the case may be)…

not to mention the ubiquitous fine art and furnishings on display in every room, as well as this unique fireplace.

The looniest thing about this Looney Listing is that those who designed and built the home, as the saying goes, chose wisely. And that’s pretty darn rare.

To wit: The “Dukedom” of Chiltern, complete with opulent manor hall.

This stately dwelling features a reception hall fit to host monarchs…

…and a formal garden in which to enjoy one’s private moments.

From bottom to top, from the vaulted cellars…

…to the magnificent vista provided by the rooftop terrace, one’s new-found nobility will shine gloriously. Or would have…

…had this Dukedom not been The One That Got Away.

Yeah… some wanker beat us to it. Bugger that, then. (But a mate can dream, can’t he?)

…whose crowned porcupine crest appears in solid marble above the impressive entry

…who enjoy an indoor palm forest

…who feel the need for a terrace pavilion styled on a Greek temple

…and who choose the company of contemplative statuary on warm spring evenings.

Appropriately, entry is directly into the yoga room, so you can get loosened up first.

Really get going with a few rounds on the indoor running track…

…then a few more in the lap pool.

Before settling down to domesticity, you can get cleaned up in the humdinger of a locker room.

Careful, though. With “room for a tour bus” in the garage, you may have unexpected company.

But when the landscape starts trying to close in…

then moves inside…

and possibly entombs you…

…you might end up needing an escape pod.

Behold, the heart of Rome! See both the ancient Senate House and the 19th century Unification Memorial from your very own premiere penthouse!

Walk the halls…

Ascend in style…

…to enjoy decadent dining in marble-clad luxury.

After dinner, enjoy a sumptuous bath…

…before retiring for some much needed, er, rest… yes, that’s it. Rest.

Nothing about this place is average, nothing at all. It’s not your average entry.

Or sofa.

Not your average bedroom. (A marble platform bed – really?)

Or bathroom.

And especially not your average listing butler.

Why would someone even build a creepy cave in the basement like this? Who would want that “feature” in their house? I do not want to know what is inside there.

At least the house it’s attached to is cool and unique.

It’s sort of got an “over-sized hobbit hole” vibe going on.

If you were a few hundred feet away you probably wouldn’t even know there was a house there.

Sort of an odd choice to make the central support pillar of the home double as the furnace, though.

Gah! I said I don’t want to know what’s in there!

If I had to choose one word for this home, it would be “exquisite.”

I’m not a fan of the desert, but maybe I could become one for this house.

List price: $3 million.

So many great details.

Obviously $3 million goes a lot further in the desert than it does in a big city like San Francisco or New York.

So, so much further.

There’s even a video tour:

Lots more photos and some backstory can be found at the source story from The Verge.

As in, hope you have a whopping $25M if you like this… house.

Or has the Mother Ship just landed? It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s the late Bob Hope’s house in Palm Springs.

And hey! It’s on sale – big time!! That $25M price tag? That’s more than 25% less than the $34M they were asking just this past January.

*That’s* a relief… I could *never* have afforded $34M.

From the listing description:

Bold + Iconic + Legendary + Timeless = The Bob & Dolores Hope Estate. Mere words cannot describe this majestic and historical piece of architecture which was the largest private residence designed by John Lautner and commissioned by legendary Bob & Dolores Hope. The property has entertained dignitaries from all over the world and is viewed by many as one of the most iconic pieces of architecture in the world.

Nothing like a simulated pair of drowning horses to get you in the worshipful mood.

There’s a lot more than the chapel to this property…

A LOT more.

This majestic northwest lodge sports over 21,000 square feet and sits on over 160 acres.

And whoa. That view.

I don’t have $19 million, but if I did, dang would I be tempted.

According to the Zillow Blog, this home has “a maze of ramps” instead of stairs inside.

Also inside, this:

Not into modern art? No problem, just step over into the dining room…

So much going on here. Funny that the listing agent (quoted in the above-linked piece on Zillow) describes it as “a very peaceful house.” With this many different styles I feel uneasy just looking through the photos…

Where do you even find someone to build you a crazy custom house like this?

Does the phone book have a section for “fantasy architects”?

Haha just kidding as if anyone uses a phone book anymore.

Seriously why do they even make phone books still? I wonder if you could grind up unused phone books and mix them with water and a bit of glue to make a type of sculpting clay, then use that clay to build a house like this.

That’s an… interesting floor.

Okay let’s be clear here. This is a freakin’ mansion.

With a list price over $6 million.

The photo selection is a bit odd, though.

Obviously the agent is really proud of all the detail work.

I mean really proud.

Oh, and the view.

Also: guess who got their hands on a “drone” and engaged in some illegal commercial activities with it?

If you guessed “the listing agent and/or photographer of this home,” you win!

This see-through concrete box in the Arizona desert has been off and on the market for over five years.

Number one reason it’s not selling? Well, based on the strategy on display, either the listing agent or the seller think the biggest problem is that it’s priced too low.

In March of last year when this home was featured on Curbed the list price was $4.6 million. In November of last year it was hiked up to $5.6 million. Last month it shot up to $7 million.

Maybe people just aren’t that into living in a concrete box in the desert?

Also: what is this photo even of?

Anyway, it’s pretty to look at I guess, but $7 million? Hmm… maybe try… dropping the price instead of raising it? Just a thought.