Villa Gemstone

Villa Gemstone is a relaxed, single-level family home set among tropical gardens in Nai Harn, at the peaceful southern tip of Phuket, about a kilometre from Nai Harn Beach and its lagoon. Green hills rise behind the rooftops, and the house wraps around its pool so that every space feels open to the garden. With four bedrooms, including a twin room and a family room with a bunk, it suits two families or a group of friends travelling with children.

The pool sits at the centre of everything, an infinity-style design with wet edges that makes slipping into the water effortless. Loungers line the sun deck, and a traditional shingle-roofed sala at the far end shelters a dining table and the barbecue for long, shaded lunches. Lawns and planting soften the edges, and as night falls the warm lights reflect beautifully across the water. Inside, the living room offers deep leather sofas and a 50-inch television, the dining table seats ten, and the western-style kitchen has an island with stools.

The master suite has a four-poster king bed, a sofa bed for a child, its own bathroom and sliding doors straight onto the pool deck. A second king room and a twin room share a large family bathroom, and the fourth bedroom has a queen bed with a single bunk above and its own bathroom, a favourite with children. A housekeeper looks after the villa during the day, and home-cooked meals can be arranged with groceries charged at cost.