It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a pretty strange time, yet nothing quite compares to these surreal homes that hit the market this year. From an ordinary-looking house decorated with beer cans to a Star Trek-themed mansion with intergalactic views and a futuristic floating residence moored off the shores of Oregon, these weird and wonderful properties caused quite the stir. Click or scroll on to see the strangest real estate offerings of 2020…
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Dr. Phil’s bizarre Beverly Hills mansion, California, USA
Described by the New York Post as an ‘artsy house of horrors’, this seemingly unassuming abode has a rather eye-watering secret. When it landed on the real estate market in January 2020, images of the home’s interior went viral – and for good reason. The Beverley Hills mansion belonged to the American television personality Dr. Phil, but it was his son, Jordan McGraw, who was responsible for giving the property its unusual décor…
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Dr. Phil’s bizarre Beverly Hills mansion, California, USA
A cross between scenes from Alice in Wonderland and a slasher movie, the unusual property is decorated from floor to ceiling with fake guns, clashing colours, evil teddy bears and artwork embellished with curse words. Spanning 6,170 square feet, the Tuscan-style mansion was listed for $5.8 million (£4.4m) and remarkably sold for the asking price in just over four weeks.
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Dr. Phil’s bizarre Beverly Hills mansion, California, USA
Dr. Phil gifted the house to his son, who set about transforming the interior into his own private nightmare. In 2016, Jordan gave The Daily Mail a tour of the estate and during the interview explained that his bizarre interior design choices were as if “Tim Burton threw up on a canvas, and it turned into a house”. In every room, you’ll find one-of-a-kind accessories, including life-size toys, animal heads and horror movie-inspired furnishings.
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Dr. Phil’s bizarre Beverly Hills mansion, California, USA
With five bedrooms and six bathrooms, the unusual home also boasts a movie theatre, a black chef’s kitchen, a formal dining room with an anti-gun art installation, a temperature-controlled wine closet, and a games room with toy-like figurines, a vibrant blue floor and creepy masks displayed in glass cabinets. Outside, you’ll also find a kitchen, a cabana and a resort-style swimming pool. Not for the faint-hearted, this surreal dwelling remains one of the year’s most memorable pieces of real estate.
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Beer can house, Florida, USA
Interior design is always subjective. While some people love polished hardwood floors, others prefer a good old-fashioned carpet. Yet what happens when you decide to do away with convention altogether and decorate your house with completely unusual materials? Well, that’s exactly what the former owner of this unassuming condo in south Florida did, and the result really has to be seen in order to be believed…
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Beer can house, Florida, USA
The 815-square-foot abode can be found in the city of Lake Worth and is covered floor-to-ceiling in empty beer cans. The home’s former owner was apparently a lifelong fan of Budweiser and made it his life mission to decorate his entire apartment with an extensive collection of cans.
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Beer can house, Florida, USA
All the rooms, except for the home’s two bathrooms are decorated with empty cans, including the ceilings and the walls of the bedroom’s walk-in closet. Far from just placing the cans anywhere, the home’s previous owner created an impressive pattern with them, adding depth and coving detailing to many of the rooms. The two-bedroom apartment is also adorned with sports memorabilia, which has been hung over the top of the beer cans.
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Beer can house, Florida, USA
When the team at Budweiser heard that the house was for sale in August 2020, they helped the listing agent promote the property by sharing the story on their social media channels. The post attracted thousands of likes and perhaps even more surprisingly, helped the house to sell for $100,000 (£76k), just weeks after coming to market. Maybe it was the property’s community pool, clubhouse and tennis courts that clinched the deal…
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Rainbow underground house, Texas, USA
If you’ve ever wanted to live off-grid or hide out somewhere totally under the radar, then this unique hobbit house could well be your dream home. Located on almost 40 rolling acres of land in Buffalo, Texas, the monolithic dome home was constructed in 1999 and sits entirely below the ground. Definitely for fans of alternative living, the rural ranch benefits from a deepwater well, co-op electrics and a 22 KVA propane electric generator, meaning the new owner could be entirely self-sufficient.
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Rainbow underground house, Texas, USA
The underground retreat can be accessed via a partially concealed entrance, which opens up to a long tunnel leading to the front door. Covered entirely in earth, the submerged residence not only offers a unique rotund interior with soaring ceilings and windowless rooms but rather eye-catching interior design. All the rooms in this 3,000-square-foot property are painted in a kaleidoscope of colours with elaborate murals decorating every surface.
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Rainbow underground house, Texas, USA
The home’s owner, Glenn Young, wanted to build himself a private dwelling away from prying eyes. Although he was warned against building a monolithic dome underground, he went ahead with the project and commissioned three artists to complete the interior. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious open-plan living area, a meditation room and even a panic room. Each space is oriented around a different theme, including Acapulco beach, ancient Egypt and outer space.
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Rainbow underground house, Texas, USA
As well as one of the most memorable interiors we’ve ever seen, the house also boasts plenty of outdoor space. There’s a 2,600-square foot warehouse and a 5,000-square-foot workshop, each waiting to be put to good use. The subterranean space landed on the market in January 2020 for a staggering $2.3 million (£1.7m), but after eight months the price was reduced to $1.9 million (£1.4m). Still available via RE/MAX Landmark, this one-of-a-kind home is not for the faint-hearted.
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Star Trek mansion, Florida, USA
We’d be forgiven for thinking this beautiful custom-built mansion was fairly ordinary, as far as luxurious real estate goes. From the outside, the 19,972-square-foot home offers dreamy Mediterranean vibes, but inside it’s an altogether different story. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida, the palatial pad is perhaps one of the most surreal pieces of real estate in the world.
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Star Trek mansion, Florida, USA
Built to withstand a category-five hurricane, the unique home was built in 2005 by the American financier and entrepreneur Marc Bell, who spared no expense in its construction. Far from offering a typical interior aesthetic, the mansion was themed around the television show Star Trek: The Next Generation. The mogul reportedly spent four years and over $1 million (£760k) kitting the property out with Trekkie memorabilia, space-age furnishings and Star Wars collectables.
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Star Trek mansion, Florida, USA
Nestled on almost two acres of land in Princeton Estates, one of the most exclusive communities in Palm Beach County, the mansion benefits from nine bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, as well as a futuristic lobby and a home theatre that was built to resemble the fictional Starship Enterprise. The incredible room comes complete with captain chairs, a starry sky and entry doors that ‘whoosh’ when opened. There’s also a 10-foot movie screen, a 3D projector and seating for 11 people.
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Star Trek mansion, Florida, USA
Elsewhere in the superfan home, you’ll find a 1,500-bottle wine room, a Call of Duty-themed room, numerous motorised chandeliers, a gym, a pool, and a huge recreation room with a 150-gallon fish tank, a bar and endless arcade games. The house was originally listed in 2014 for $35 million (£26.6m) but was later taken off the market. Currently for sale with The Senada Team from Douglas Elliman, the home could now be yours – if you happen to have $25 million (£18.9m) lying around, that is.
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Front-row residences, Northamptonshire, UK
Angular, unique and formed from extensive sheets of glass, this eye-catching home is definitely not for everyone. Yet the weird and wonderful aspect of this property has nothing whatsoever to do with the way it looks, but rather its very unusual location.
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Front-row residences, Northamptonshire, UK
That’s right, these newly-built homes can be found trackside at Silverstone racecourse, the home of British motorsports. The first of these front-row residences landed on the market in October 2020, and range in price between $855,000 (£650k) and $2.2 million (£1.7m). The new homes are the first phase of the Escapade Silverstone development, a 60-unit project that can be found a mere stone’s throw from the tarmac of this iconic Formula 1 circuit.
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Front-row residences, Northamptonshire, UK
Ranging from two to four bedrooms and spanning around 963 square feet, the compact homes will be kitted out with the latest technology, from underfloor heating, to comfort cooling, high-acoustic specifications and, of course, smart climate-controlled garages for storing your favourite toys. Many of the homes will also offer cantilevered terraces, inching you even closer to the action.
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Front-row residences, Northamptonshire, UK
Designed by the team at Escapade Living, the ultra-unique homes will come with plenty of community benefits too, including a bar and restaurant, a huge swimming pool and a gym, all overlooking the race track. If you like living life at full-throttle, or simply want to buy the best seats in the house, then one of these immersive abodes could be just the ticket.
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Futuristic floating home, Oregon, USA
In May 2020, a futuristic floating home landed on the property market with an asking price of $850,000 (£646k). Known as the Aqua Star, the house was featured on HGTV’s Extreme Homes, and it’s really no wonder. Sitting on the shoreline of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, the unique aquatic residence was built in the 1980s and comes wrapped in anodised aluminium, both inside and out.
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Futuristic floating home, Oregon, USA
Covering 3,000 square feet, the three-bedroom home offers an unusual and dazzling interior aesthetic. Part futuristic, part retro, the pad features polished stainless steel surfaces that reflect the water outside. Bulbous rooms and domed ceilings give the home its signature space-age look, while splashes of vivid colour add to its unique interior finish.
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Futuristic floating home, Oregon, USA
Inside, there’s a bright and spacious living area with a soaring double-height ceiling and a 1950s-inspired kitchen with mustard counters. Oversized picture windows allow for unobstructed views over the water, while sliding doors lead out to the home’s vast wraparound deck, which comes complete with a seating area, a grill and a small garden.
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Futuristic floating home, Oregon, USA
Despite being entirely eye-catching, the home struggled to make a splash, but after six months on the market, Aqua Star finally found a buyer who not only gained a one-of-a-kind house but free shares in Oregon Yacht Club too.
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Vaxholm water tower, Stockholm, Sweden
Breaking the norm of square rooms and a flat floorplan, the Vaxholm water tower offers an altogether different way of living. Located on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, the quirky and characterful home is spread over four of the building’s seven shrinking storeys. The original water tower was built in 1923 and served the local community for many years before being converted into a gorgeous and totally distinctive family home about 20 years ago.
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Vaxholm water tower, Stockholm, Sweden
Defined by curved walls, round rooms and period features, this extraordinary home conversion packs a serious punch. Elegant arched windows and soaring ceilings create a church-like interior, while exposed brickwork, porthole windows and rustic timber beams add to the home’s characterful charms. Comprising of a spacious kitchen, two drawing rooms, a music room, office, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, this unique residence also boasts an old water tank that’s just waiting to be converted into a one-of-a-kind swimming pool.
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Vaxholm water tower, Stockholm, Sweden
There are plenty of nautical nods throughout the striking abode, as well as a large exterior balcony that affords unobstructed views across the surrounding scenery. Even better, the still-functional water tower produces a surplus, which can be rented out to local businesses to generate an annual income of around $34,700 (£26k). There’s even a carport for two vehicles and a standalone 430-square-foot studio apartment that could be rented out to holidaymakers too.
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Vaxholm water tower, Stockholm, Sweden
What’s more, the wacky pad comes with its very own classic Swedish sauna, positioned on the very top floor of the tower. Offering unparalleled views over the picturesque archipelago landscape, this calming space is enough to make us start packing our bags. Currently for sale with Christie’s International Real Estate for $2.3 million (£1.7m), this incredible conversion project is hard to ignore.
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Mule Mountains cave house, Arizona, USA
Back in 1985, a couple purchased 37 acres of land in the heart of the Arizona desert and set about designing a house that was a little bit different. Using a Swedish mining technique, they carved a giant hole in the mountainside and created a property inside the cavity. The result is an incredible cave home that’s unlike anything you might have seen before. Located high up in the Mule Mountains, it has to be seen to be believed…
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Mule Mountains cave house, Arizona, USA
The unique weatherproof property previously featured on HGTV’s Extreme Homes and benefits from an unusual yet tranquil interior. The cave’s natural rock walls do all the talking, while simple furnishings and stone flooring impart a sense of cosiness. Spanning an impressive 2,500 square feet, there are no windows in the house, yet every space still manages to be filled with light.
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Mule Mountains cave house, Arizona, USA
The cave house boasts three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a stone-clad kitchen, a tropical-themed bathroom, a laundry room, an office, a dining area and a spiral staircase that leads to a snug loft bedroom. Outside, there are plenty of natural hot pools built into the rock face – the perfect place to soak up the scenery. Cleverly, the boulders surrounding the home keep its internal temperature constant, even during the hot desert summers and freezing winters.
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Mule Mountains cave house, Arizona, USA
Yet best of all, the property offers 37 acres of land in the Mule Mountains, where unforgettable scenery can be savoured. Despite its unique aesthetic and show-stopping vistas, the house has been on and off the market since 2007 but has only managed to attract one buyer in the last 13 years. Last listed in March 2020 for $998,500 (£758k), the home once more failed to secure a new owner.
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Former Sheriff’s house, Missouri, USA
When Mike Diamond’s house landed on the property market in August 2020, the internet wasn’t ready. Overnight, this outwardly normal-looking Victorian home became a viral sensation, all thanks to its rather unusual interior addition…
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Former Sheriff’s house, Missouri, USA
The attractive three-storey house was built in 1875 and offers 2,465 square feet of inside space. Inside, you’ll find two bedrooms, one bathroom, a formal lounge, a cosy dining room and a huge kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and marble countertops. In fact, when browsing the listing images, all seems perfectly mundane, until you get to photo number 30…
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Former Sheriff’s house, Missouri, USA
That’s right, a hidden door in the kitchen leads into a purpose-built jail complete with cells. Way back when, one of the home’s past owners was said to have been the local Howard County sheriff so the vast 2,500-square-foot holding space suddenly makes a little more sense.
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Former Sheriff’s house, Missouri, USA
Kitted out with nine cells with toilets and stainless steel bunks, the jail also has a booking room for reading any arrestees their rights. Diamond rented the space out for events and short-term stays, but the incredible feature could also be used as an escape room, a themed-bar or even a quirky Airbnb. Recently on the market for just $340,000 (£256k), this distinctive home is one of a kind.
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Boat-turned-house, Washington, USA
Boasting everything from rum barrel bathroom sinks to authentic ship-inspired décor, this unusual home has serious wow-factor. Positioned on a scenic sloping plot on the banks of Lake Washington in Seattle, USA, the property was created from part of the old USS Manzanita ship and juts out from its plot as if she’s run aground. Benefitting from 60 feet of waterfront and unforgettable views of Mount Rainier, this nautical retreat is show-stopping.
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Boat-turned-house, Washington, USA
In 1917, the boat joined the U.S. Navy and was later used as a lighthouse tender along the coast of Oregon. In 1949, USS Manzanita was at risk of being scrapped, so a local librarian purchased the stern of the ship, hauled it to land and positioned it next to glistening waterfront mansions.
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Boat-turned-house, Washington, USA
Described by Realtor as “stately, pristine and fun”, the boathouse offers almost 1,400 square feet of inside space, including three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The spacious open-plan living room is a chic and bright space, thanks to its rotund ceiling dotted with celestial windows. The space offers a lounge, dining area and a kitchen with Aga appliances and a copper sink. The home also boasts plenty of quirky nautical features, including porthole windows, wall-mounted steering wheels, globes and flags.
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Boat-turned-house, Washington, USA
Much of the home’s hardware and some of its furniture dates back to 1908, adding further character to the interior. The chic master bedroom is decorated with a timber-panelled ceiling, while French doors lead directly onto the stern of the ship, where a gorgeous sun terrace overlooks the water. In August 2020, the property landed on the market for the first time in 14 years with an asking price of $2 million (£1.5m), but it was later removed without selling.
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The Sand Dollar House, Texas, USA
Not only does The Sand Dollar House have a unique, mushroom-like form, but the property was also designed by John Covert Watson, who studied under one of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. The iconic draughtsman was working on the Guggenheim Museum in New York at the time and it’s clear to see that this unusual structure was heavily influenced by the rotund form and white façade of one of the world’s most memorable art galleries.
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The Sand Dollar House, Texas, USA
An important piece of organic modern architecture, the house was completed in 1979 using a mix of steel and gunite. Spanning 2,240 square feet, the bulbous residence offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as light-filled living spaces with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, teardrop-shaped skylights and gorgeous beehive fireplaces. The home’s elevated plot and extensive glazing frame unobstructed views of Lake Travis from almost every room.
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The Sand Dollar House, Texas, USA
The multi-level dwelling was designed for the artist Eugenia Hunt and has long been admired by intrigued passersby thanks to its curvaceous form, which was inspired by sand dollars, a type of sea urchin. The spacious kitchen cantilevers over the water, while a beautiful custom spiral staircase leads lucky occupiers into the heart of the home. Many of the rooms spill out onto exterior patios and suspended decks, which gradually wind down towards the water.
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The Sand Dollar House, Texas, USA
Over the years, the organic property has been listed for sale plenty of times, for as much as $2.2 million (£1.7m) and as little as $899,000 (£683k). Listed as Active Under Contract with Compass, you’ll now need $1.75 million (£1.3m) in the bank to be in with a chance of buying this beautifully bizarre property.
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Bubble Palace, Théoule-sur-Mer, France
With one of the highest price tags for any European property in history, Bubble Palace is without doubt one of the world’s most bizarre residences. Positioned on a sought-after coastal plot in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, this psychedelic wonder was designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag in the 1970s. Constructed over a period of 14 years, it was snapped up at auction in 1992 by Italian-French fashion designer Pierre Cardin.
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Bubble Palace, Théoule-sur-Mer, France
Inspired by prehistoric cave dwellings, the Palais Bulles, or Bubble Palace, is made up of seemingly endless terracotta domes. The home’s undulating forms and rotund walls lack sharp corners and straight lines since Lovag is said to have considered them “an aggression against nature”. Spanning 12,917 square feet, every room is positioned to face the ocean, offering unobstructed views across the bays of Cannes and Nice.
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Bubble Palace, Théoule-sur-Mer, France
Spanning six levels on a rocky outcrop of the Massif de L’Esterel, the incredible bubble home features a gigantic banquet hall and a panoramic lounge filled with custom-built furnishings that blend effortlessly into the rotund space. There are 11 bathrooms and 10 bedrooms decorated by renowned contemporary artists, as well as a unique circular kitchen with bespoke fixtures and fittings. Giant circular windows, some of which pivot open, add to the home’s spherical aesthetic.
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Bubble Palace, Théoule-sur-Mer, France
Other highlights include three round swimming pools, multiple patios and terraced gardens, complete with an array of tropical plants. There’s even a 500-seat amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean. Clearly not to everyone’s tastes, the unique property has been languishing on the real estate market since 2017. Currently for sale with Christie’s International Real Estate for a reported $390 million (£296m), it’s no wonder the property has struggled to find a suitable buyer. If these homes are wrong, then we don’t want to be right!
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