Timothy P. Livingston

This newly built Tennessee estate combines warm contemporary design, dramatic architecture and a backyard that feels more like a private resort. Some luxury homes impress you with their size. Others rely on expensive materials, dramatic rooms or a long list of amenities. This nearly $10 million estate in Brentwood, Tennessee, manages to deliver all of those things while still feeling surprisingly connected from one space to the next. I recently had the opportunity…

I have toured plenty of large luxury homes, but this one stands out for a different reason. It does not feel like a collection of expensive rooms. The entire house feels connected, comfortable and carefully planned. Built by Tennessee Valley Homes inside Anna, a gated luxury community in Brentwood, Tennessee, the home blends European country character with a clean, updated interior. The white exterior, warm shake roof, dormer windows and long covered porch…

For the first time in years, homebuyers are beginning to regain some control. Homes are sitting on the market longer in many cities. Sellers are becoming more open to negotiations. Builders are cutting prices, paying closing costs and offering mortgage-rate buydowns to attract hesitant buyers. The number of homes available for sale is also improving in several parts of the country, including markets where buyers once had to compete against multiple offers within…

Some homes are built on a beautiful piece of land. Others are designed around it. The Bueller, an award-winning custom home in The Estates at Laurel Ridge, belongs firmly in the second category. Instead of clearing away the character of its wooded homesite, the architecture appears to stretch into the trees, capturing forest views through enormous windows and elevated outdoor spaces. The result feels less like a traditional suburban luxury home and more…

Your house key may be about to become obsolete. The newest facial-recognition smart locks can identify you as you approach the front door and unlock the deadbolt before your hand reaches the handle. The fastest model in a recent hands-on comparison reportedly opened in less than a second—even when the homeowner was wearing sunglasses. These are not simple door locks with a camera attached. Some combine 3D facial recognition with fingerprint readers, keypads,…