Villa Aqua Phuket

Villa Aqua Phuket is a crisp, glass-walled beach house on Natai Beach, just north of Phuket, where a long white shoreline and the Andaman Sea set the pace of every day. Built over three levels in pale stone, warm timber and floor-to-ceiling glass, it frames tropical greenery on one side and the sea on the other. It sits in a small estate of beach villas, a short stroll from the sand, yet Natai is far quieter than the busy west-coast beaches, and the airport is under half an hour away.

The centrepiece is an eighteen-metre infinity pool, lined with loungers and flanked by shaded decks, daybeds and an outdoor dining table that comes into its own at sunset. Kayaks and paddleboards are there for calm mornings on the water. Inside, interiors in white and soft sea blue open through sliding glass to the garden, with two living rooms, bold contemporary art, a sculptural open staircase and a sleek kitchen with a breakfast counter. Downstairs, a media room and a games room with table tennis and foosball keep everyone busy on lazy afternoons.

Four bedrooms sleep up to eight guests. The master has a king bed and a private balcony facing the sea, the second room a queen bed, and both have their own bathrooms with walk-in showers. The two twin rooms, whose beds can be joined, share a bathroom between them and work beautifully as a family suite. The villa also has its own spa room with a sauna and steam room, breakfast is included, and a chef can cook other meals on request while housekeeping and security look after the house.