The 11 Prettiest Home Listings We Saw in 2020

Writing Apartment Therapy’s Property Crush column is one of my favorite things to do—and not just because it allows me to surf real estate listings while I sip my coffee in the mornings. Highlighting one-of-a-kind homes and their respective one-of-a-kind features is the name of the game here at AT, and it’s especially exciting when I’m able to point to places you can actually purchase and live in if you want to! While there were dozens of standout properties covered this year, 11 in particular earned top-tier status in my eyes. Ahead, find the 11 prettiest home listings of 2020.

With its steeply pitched eaves and earth-toned exterior, this angular home mimics the peaks surrounding it. The contemporary chalet was built into a Boulder mountainside in 1971, and is equal parts cozy and modern. Inside, the house plays up its angles and lines with warm woods and exposed bricks. It’s anchored by a living room with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the mountains in the distance. Each of the three bedrooms, meanwhile, are a lesson in hygge. 

This picture-perfect cottage in New Orleans sprang onto the market with lots of interest from buyers and window shoppers alike. The three-bedroom home is known as a “shotgun house,” an architectural style that’s thought to have originated in New Orleans. The name is said to come from the idea that a bullet shot through the front door could fly clean through the house and out the open back door. Another theory says the name comes from the African word togun, a Yoruba term that means “gathering place.” A wall of books, an elegant living area, and a two-way faux fireplace that connects to a dining room are some of the home’s enviable features.

This barn-like construction is set in a picture-perfect seaside town. Built in 2016, the home’s design was inspired by the architecture of Maine’s general stores and grange halls. It’s a mix between a passive solar and a net-zero house, which means it requires little to no energy for heating or cooling and has a highly reduced carbon footprint. Huge windows let sunlight in from the south, while part of the roof is covered in solar panels. Inside, warmth literally radiates from the floorboards in its open-concept living spaces. The house sits on just over six bucolic acres, which feature a gurgling stream, hiking paths, and proximity to old blueberry fields. 

In a place where very few carriage houses come up for sale, this one built in 1900 brought new meaning to “one of a kind.” It’s a pint-sized pink one-bedroom brimming with charm, thanks to splashes of color and patterns in every nook and cranny. The Denver carriage house’s airy, open-concept main level boasts exposed brick walls and two sets of French doors that bathe the place in light. A wood stove warms the living area, while the kitchen offers open shelving and a small dishwasher. A dreamy clawfoot tub tops it all off.

This stucco cabin is perched atop a hill in none other than the Mojave Desert, offering sweeping views in all directions. It’s also tucked away in a town beside Joshua Tree National Park and happens to be a quick drive from the mid-century modern splendor of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Aside from its stunning location, the cottage shines inside and out. A kitchen with sparkling new appliances, a geometric backsplash, and a farmhouse sink opens to a fireplaced living and dining area. And in the bathroom, there are live-edge wood counters and a glass-enclosed shower.

It’s no secret that Oklahoma City is seeing rapid growth. While the cost of living there has been gradually increasing over the years, there are still plenty of affordable homes on the market. Take this almost magical cottage in the city’s Douglas Park neighborhood. Shaded by leafy green trees and shrubs, it looks like a fairy dwelling from the outside—and offers even more surprises on the inside. Peek at the interior here.

If this gorgeous farmhouse for sale outside of Nashville looks like it was pulled straight from HGTV, it’s because it was. The 1875 home was featured on the network’s “Nashville Flipped.” Five years ago, the show’s hosts, Troy and Julie Couch, transformed what was then an aging (and derelict) landmark into a modern charmer. Today, the three-bedroom home is stunning inside and out, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, cornflower blue shutters, multiple pergolas, and a restored stained glass window.

What end-of-year house roundup would be complete without an A-frame? This cheery one in coastal Cali was built in 1966 by Miller & Crowell Architects. Not only is it a five-minute walk from the beach, but it’s been extensively renovated and updated, offering a sparkling new kitchen (with a blue marbled backsplash, sleek white cabinets, and stainless steel appliances), plus new bathrooms. The home’s airy double-height living room steals the show. Painted white and brightened by huge windows, soaring ceilings, and stylish globe lamps, the room is a stunning lesson in the art of neutrals. 

Ever find yourself daydreaming about living in an airy industrial loft? You know, the kind with the exposed pipes and concrete floors? This former warehouse for sale in Cleveland is that dream. This one-story building was transformed into a stunning open-concept home. The place offers 13-foot ceilings, a huge roof terrace, and the opportunity to create a beautiful live/work space.

Tucked neatly away in L.A.’s Jefferson Park neighborhood, this 1911 Craftsman home seems to display elegance at every turn. Its curb appeal is evident from the sidewalk, thanks to a spacious, plant-filled porch, a statement door, and a big bay window. It’s only a taste of what’s to come on the inside, where there are five bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and more than 2,000 square feet of living space. Check it out here.

Being on the National Register of Historic Places is one of the many stunning selling points of this fairy tale-like mansion in Red Wing, Minn. Stepping through the double front doors reveals an almost overwhelming amount of period details: intricate crown molding, built-ins, window shutters, pocket doors, and detailed woodwork. The home has a total of seven fireplaces (and seven bedrooms), not to mention some seriously impressive contemporary chandeliers and one-of-a-kind wallpaper. Outside, there’s a carriage house around the back, and upstairs, a third-story tower opens to a lovely roof deck area.