Why a tea pavilion is the new luxury accessory in super-prime homes – Telegraph.co.uk

Is it a summer house? Is it a gazebo or even a cabana? Absolutely not. Its a tea pavilion and if you want to keep up with the Sussexes, youll be building one in your garden this Autumn.

Among the sprawling acres of Harry and Meghans Montecito estate, somewhere between the childrens cottage, guest house and swimming pool, is the teahouse a nod to the ancient Japanese tradition of retreating to a small, simple wooden building (known as a chashitsu) in the garden to drink tea and leave behind the commotion of the city.

Done properly, guests should perform certain rituals before taking part in a tea ceremony, including washing their hands and mouths to purify their body and spirit, and removing their shoes. Who knows whether Meghan will insist on such protocol from her starry guests one imagines she probably does. But she is not the only resident of this Southern Californian millionaires enclave to have a tea pavilion in her garden.

The neighbouring Somerset Estate an early 20th century house set on 1.6 acres in Montecitos Golden Quadrangle - also features a teahouse near the pool. The truth is, few tea pavilions will actually house a traditional tea party, says Cristal Clarke from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Montecito, who is marketing the property for $7.495m.

What they do provide is an oasis of calm in an incredibly civilised setting where the owner can feel at one with nature. It acts as a statement piece and we often see these spaces filled with scatter cushions, candles and wind chimes, Clarke adds.

Read this article:
Why a tea pavilion is the new luxury accessory in super-prime homes - Telegraph.co.uk