The Cactus Nest

The Cactus Nest: California

This cool, contemporary home is in a quiet, rural spot in Yucca Valley – private and secluded, without feeling isolated, just a fifteen-minute drive from the National Park's entrance. You'll have a genuine desert experience on a two-acre plot without ever being more than a few minutes' drive from the local general stores and restaurants.

Recently refurbished, there's a Skandi look to the decor and furnishings, with polished concrete floors, white walls and grey fabrics. Statement art hangs on the walls and a few birch tree trunks provide a quirky feature in the open-plan living space. There's a cosy den for watching TV, a practical kitchen with all the equipment you'll need for cooking at home, and a super comfortable bedroom with an en-suite that takes its inspiration from the Japanese bathing ritual.

And while we love the interiors, it's the outside space that has us daydreaming about returning. Divided into several different areas, you can eat outdoors on the terrace, gather round the fire pit to gaze at the stars, explore the land and even plunge into the cowboy pool – a welcome respite from the heat if you've spent the day hiking.

Home truths:
*There's only one bedroom but two additional guests can sleep on the sofa bed in the den – however, it is where the air conditioning vent is located so light sleepers may find this unsuitable
*There's laptop-friendly workspace
*You'll have private parking at the front and back of the house – please don't park on the street
* The windows are engineered with thermal insulation to let the light in without the heat of the sun
*Local laws prohibit outdoor noise between the hours of 10pm and 8am
*You'll almost certainly come across some local wildlife on the land – be respectful and keep your distance
*Smokers are asked to smoke at least 15ft from the home – outdoor ashtrays are provided