Looking for a castle, palace, chalet or villa on LI?

A certain mood settles over people who enter the grounds of a certain home in Northport, says Ellen Patterson. It starts as they crest a hill and see the sprawling koi pond. It increases when they enter a courtyard guarded by sculptures of knights on horseback. The clincher is when they pull up to the arched door of a real-life castle complete with a turret.

"That's when you really feel like you're in another land," says Patterson, an agent with Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty in Cold Spring Harbor.

Such a feeling can be conjured up at other spots throughout Long Island, where architectural representatives from all corners of the globe can be found, ranging from castles to Italian villas to Persian palaces. Often, these are dream dwellings that reflect the owner's love of a particular part of the world, agents say.

Take that French chateau in Northport, for example.

"Every detail inside and out was hand-picked by the owner," Patterson says.

Of course, finding a buyer with a similar dream can be a challenge.

"There's a specific pool of buyers that have a deep appreciation for these homes," says Patricia Nicklaus with Coach Realtors in Port Jefferson, who is listing a 104-year-old English Tudor in Belle Terre. The home is part of a colony of manor houses built at the turn of the last century by Manhattanites for summer entertaining. The Gilded Age ambience is reflected in touches like the bell pushers placed throughout the home to call the maid, Nicklaus says.

"There's a lot of history here," she says.

Todd Bourgard with Coldwell Banker Trading Places in Hampton Bays says he particularly likes the "enchanted forest" setting of a Swiss chalet that he is listing in Hampton Bays.

"People don't necessarily come out here for this kind of look, which makes it a bit more difficult [to sell]," he says. "This chalet should be sitting on snow in Vermont, but it's got a real country feel."

NORTHPORT $1,995,000

French provincial castle

LISTING HISTORY On the market a month; had been for sale previously

ANNUAL TAXES $21,867

WHAT'S FOR SALE A five-bedroom, 31 / 2-bath French provincial-style castle on four acres. It has a formal dining room, a den, a finished basement, a fireplace, a guest suite and a five-car garage.

FOREIGN APPEAL The quarter-mile, stone-paved road that leads to the castle winds past bronze sculptures of knights on steeds and a large koi pond. In addition to the home's stone patio, Juliet balcony and arched doorways, it features a turret topped with an inverted and backlit stained glass dome imported from a Belgian hotel.

LISTING AGENT Ellen Patterson, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, 631-692-6770

SANDS POINT $4,795,000

European country home

LISTING HISTORY Just placed on the market

ANNUAL TAXES $52,022

WHAT'S FOR SALE A four-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath European-style country home on two acres. It has an eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room, a home office, a finished basement, four stone fireplaces and a three-car garage. It also has an in-ground pool and beach rights, an extensive wine cellar and a guest suite/gym.

FOREIGN APPEAL The wide courtyard was designed to resemble the entrance to an Old World country home. Inside is a two-story conservatory that opens onto a garden designed by David Varnell, whose landscape firm planned Strawberry Fields in Central Park. Its European touches include imported Cotswold limestone, mahogany floors and aged wood ceilings to replicate European residences. There are French doors and custom ironwork throughout the house.

LISTING AGENT Nava Mitnick, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, 516-883-2900

SAG HARBOR $3,400,000

Italian villa

LISTING HISTORY On the market six months

ANNUAL TAXES $13,700

WHAT'S FOR SALE A four-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath Tuscan villa overlooking the Peconic Bay and Shelter Island. The home has a formal dining room, a living room, two fireplaces, a wine cellar, a home theater, an indoor spa/pool, a game room and a steam room. The master bedroom suite has a fireplace, and the second and third floors overlook the water. A home automation system controls such things as the stereo system and climate control. There is an elevator and a racquetball court.

FOREIGN APPEAL The home is made of stone with Italian tile throughout and is landscaped to create a Tuscan environment. The effect is promoted by a fountain in front and a boccie court.

LISTING AGENT Vincent Horcasitas, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-537-6412

BELLE TERRE $875,000

English Tudor

LISTING HISTORY On the market four months with no price changes

ANNUAL TAXES $15,593

WHAT'S FOR SALE A seven-bedroom, 3 ½-bath English Tudor on 1.3 acres. It has an eat-in kitchen, a banquet-sized dining room, a stone patio, and a den and family room. It also has a 2 ½-car garage and beach rights.

FOREIGN APPEAL The home, owned by one family for the last 85 years, is part of a grouping of English Tudors and manors built at the turn of the century as summer entertainment homes near Port Jefferson. Many period features remain, such as the huge fireplace and the buttons embedded in moldings that were used to summon the maid. There are French doors and two stairways -- one to hide the movements of the servants.

LISTING AGENT Patricia Nicklaus, Coach Realtors, 631-928-5484, ext. 108

HAMPTON BAYS $699,000

Swiss chalet

LISTING HISTORY On the market for a year

ANNUAL TAXES $8,582

WHAT'S FOR SALE A three-bedroom, two-bath chalet on two acres. It has an open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows, an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, den and family room with a fireplace, a full basement, cathedral ceilings, a master suite with a small deck upstairs and an outdoor deck downstairs.

FOREIGN APPEAL The home's high ceilings and forest setting promote the chalet feel. Its open beam ceiling, fireplace and pine flooring add to the motif.

LISTING AGENT Todd Bourgard, Coldwell Banker Trading Places, 631-728-8070

You don't have to be a world traveler to bring home a bit of international flair. Imported or foreign-inspired home accents can add global appeal to your decor.

Where to find foreign accents

Mexican fiesta

Turn up the heat with the lively colors and patterns of Mexican tile. Handcrafted Terra Nova Hacienda decorative ceramic tile comes in a dizzying array of designs. They're $3.95 each for a 4.25-by-4.25-inch tile, or $177.75 for a box of 50 at mexicantiles.com.

Vive la France!

Huntington interior designer Kate Singer says this velvet-upholstered custom banquette in her Centerport living room features "classic country French fluted legs and carved medallion detail." The wall art includes antique French prints and framed French coins. For an instant French twist, try the Frenchy Josette Chair ($199.95) with fun Parisian print upholstery from Pier 1 Imports.

From the East

Whether you need a functional partition or a decorative accent, a folding Shoji screen is a stylish and serene solution. And there's no need to go to Japan for Asian inspiration: it's available at target.com. Try this four-panel screen in Plum Blossom ($169.99).

Spice it up

Vibrant Indian throw pillows add a dash of exotic flavor anywhere you toss them. The Flowerburst Pillow, imported from India, is available for $22.38 from Pier 1 Imports and pier1.com.

-- KRISTIN TAVEIRA