Villa Shades of Blue

Perched on a lush Plai Laem hillside — the neighbourhood sometimes called the “Beverly Hills” of Koh Samui — Villa Shades of Blue is a contemporary three-storey retreat that earns its name at every turn. Blue-tinted accents thread through the interiors, but it is the panorama of the Gulf of Thailand that supplies the real palette: shifting turquoise, cobalt and navy reaching all the way to Koh Phangan. Four en-suite bedrooms sleep eight, with a private infinity pool, a dedicated massage room and a self-contained family entertainment space striking an unusual balance between romantic seclusion and family practicality.

The middle floor is the social heart — floor-to-ceiling glass framing the ocean, a pearl-grey sofa facing a large screen, an eight-seat dining table beside a sleek kitchen of black granite, a wine fridge and quality appliances. Step out to the six-by-three-metre infinity pool, blue loungers lining the terrace and the water seeming to spill into the sea, with a poolside barbecue bar for effortless sunset entertaining. A floating staircase climbs to the master, whose glass-panelled terrace creates the sensation of hovering above the treetops — one of the most memorable design details we have seen in a Samui villa.

The ground floor changes pace: a dedicated spa room with a professional massage bench lets you book an in-villa Thai massage without rearranging the living space, while the entertainment room doubles as a fourth bedroom with a pull-down queen, large TV, foosball and oversized bean bags — equally a children’s den or a private cinema night. A Sonos system runs throughout and air conditioning keeps every level cool. Samrong Beach is about three minutes by car, Big Buddha under ten, Fisherman’s Village a short drive north, and the airport barely a quarter of an hour from the door.