Homes gossip: Tom Ford; Amy Childs; Ethan Hawke; Thorpe Hall

Designer Tom Ford adds a villa to his property collection
American fashion designer and film director Tom Ford has a penchant for striking houses so it’s little wonder his new purchase, a stunning white Regent’s Park villa, appealed to him.

Ever the perfectionist, Ford, who directed Colin Firth in A Single Man, has repainted the exterior so it glistens in the sun. The building bears a strong resemblance to his former 3,700sq ft Chelsea mansion, which he listed in 2009 for a cool £8.5 million.

After selling a 8,222sq ft Georgian townhouse in Mayfair last May, his new London home is a fine addition to his property portfolio, joining a fabulous selection of houses in New York, Los Angeles and New Mexico.

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Amy Childs moves up the property ladder in Essex
The Only Way is Essex star Amy Childs has bought a new home in Brentwood. With three bedrooms, the detached Twenties-style house has lots of potential for the reality TV queen to put her glitzy stamp on it. Amy, 22, who has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, was keen to buy in the area to keep a close eye on the local beauty salon she owns.

She found the property through Beresfords, which has another Brentwood house on the market that should appeal to the Towie crowd. Tucked away in a sought-after street, the five-bedroom property, listed at £895,000, has generous living spaces — ideal for entertaining the odd film crew or two. The master bedroom has a dressing room for the all-important party frocks and there is a hot tub in the garden. Best of all it’s close to The Sugar Hut nightclub, run by Mick Norcross.

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Ethan kicks his house into touch and scoops a £2 million profit
Ethan Hawke’s six-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse is on the market for £3.9 million.

In the heart of Manhattan’s trendy Chelsea district, The Training Day star’s four-storey house is surrounded by cutting-edge art galleries and the coolest of coffee shops.

The father of four — a son and daughter from his six-year marriage to Hollywood actress Uma Thurman, which ended in divorce in 2004, and two daughters by wife Ryan — stands to make a tidy profit. Currently filming the drama Boyhood with Patricia Arquette, Hawke paid £1.8 million for the place in 2005.

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A knight's hall with its own legendary tale
Banderas, it will no doubt be a summer hit. But those seeking their own magical kingdom should stroll through Thorpe Hall in Louth, Lincolnshire.

The property was originally built in 1584 for Sir John Bolle, who was knighted for his military exploits in Sir Walter Raleigh’s 1596 attack and capture of Cádiz. And it holds the key to a Lincolnshire legend. After Cádiz fell, the Elizabethan adventurer was given the responsibility of protecting a prisoner — a beautiful and wealthy Spanish lady called Donna Leonora Oviedo (known as The Green Lady). His gallantry won her love but he broke her heart by telling her of his wife in England. A bound and illustrated book of the Legend of The Green Lady will be included with the sale of the hall.

Listed at £1.2 million with Chesterton Humberts, it has eight bedrooms, four cottages and a pool in the grounds. Now all you need is a knight in shining armour to sweep you off your feet and buy it for you.

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