The Height of Summer

This yellow villa on the west coast of Barbados has plenty of things riding in its favour, but there can't be many homes out there where you can go from sitting at the baby grand piano to jumping into a swimming pool in five footsteps — perhaps even four if you've got long legs. This is one of the major perks of an architectural design that doesn't believe in the distinction between indoors and outdoors. Here, you have a choice of covered terraces, shady balconies and a living room that has the benefit of three huge glass doors on one side to allow direct access to the garden. As you can imagine, it's perfect for those hot Caribbean summer days and the warm evenings that follow. When you want to venture out of your breezy abode and explore the island, Sandy Lane Beach takes less than ten minutes to reach on foot, while the bars and restaurants of Holetown are a five-minute drive.

Home truths:
*This property comes with a small team of staff, including a housekeeper, laundry worker and a private cook
*This home is found on the exclusive Sandy Lane Estate, and guests have access to the golf course and tennis courts
*If you would like to try any watersports, this can be arranged by the host