Glass & Steel

Glass & Steel: Lombardy

This impressive three-level, loft-style home is in the up-and-coming area of Isola. With its glass floors and indoor swimming pool, it's fair to say the design has something of the James Bond about it and it's clearly aimed at fun-loving groups of friends who like a touch of glamour. Here you'll find striking architecture, contemporary furnishings, plenty of space, and plenty of style. The living room opens out to a courtyard and there's a huge comfy sofa to share, while the designer kitchen and dining table are perfect for cosy meals at home. But the stand-out feature in this room is the glass ceiling above your head. With its steel beams on display, the ceiling looks up into one of the bedrooms (but not the bathroom – that would be weird). Down some steps, you'll find the home's secret weapon – a big TV room with a stainless steel bar, a pool with Jacuzzi, and a master bedroom that's en-suite just happens to feature a steam room. Upstairs it's the amazing glass floor that steals the show. The landing has a large lounge area with bright yellow sofas and a whole sliding wall so you can open one of the bedrooms right up to it. If you're here to explore Milan, this home is just a four-minute walk away from the subway so it's all easy to access, and there are heaps of great places to eat and drink in the neighbourhood.

Home truths:
*You'll need to accept a slight chlorine smell in the swimming pool area
*The glass floors in the bedroom (which also form the ceilings of the living space below) might not be for everyone but we think they're fabulous
*Smoking is not permitted in the courtyard and communal garden
*If you're bringing little ones, there's a travel cot and high chair available
*One of the bedrooms doesn't have direct access to a bathroom so you would need to sneak through someone else's room to use theirs