Malaiwana Villa M

Malaiwana Villa M clings to a steep, forested hillside above Nai Thon, one of Phuket’s quietest beaches, with nothing in front of it but the Andaman Sea and the curve of the bay. It sits within the gated, low-density Malaiwana estate, and it blends classic Thai roofs with a bold, modern interior of glass walls, vivid artwork and splashes of orange and red. Five bedrooms sleep ten, and almost every room has a wall of glass facing the water.

The twenty-metre saltwater infinity pool runs along the front of the house and at sunset the whole sky seems to pour into it. Sun decks with loungers, beanbags and big umbrellas line the edge, and a separate open-sided sala with deep sofas and a sunken table is the place to while away the afternoon. Inside, the high-ceilinged living room stretches the length of the pool behind bi-fold doors, flowing into a dining area with sea views, a timber-roofed dining pavilion and a modern kitchen with an island and stools.

The lower level is made for downtime, with a billiard table, a well-equipped gym looking out to sea, a spa room for massages and a media room with a 65-inch television, game consoles and table tennis. The master suite has a four-poster king bed, a dressing room, a study and a bathtub, and three more king rooms and a twin room all have their own bathrooms and sea views. Breakfast is included, a villa manager is on hand throughout, and the chefs can cook Thai dishes and seafood for other meals at extra cost.