Villa Chiron

Description

From a sheltered walled courtyard, the main entrance leads into a spacious and warmly welcoming open-concept communal area, featuring a bespoke dining table (whose design is echoed throughout the house in all the wooden furniture and fittings, and an extra-large, sandy-coloured L-shaped sofa. A perpendicular pair of wall-to-wall sliding glass pocket doors fully open up the space to the gardens and the terraces, creating a harmonious unity between indoor and outdoor areas, and bringing in light, sea breezes and views of the gardens, the pool and the Aegean. With its smooth .flooring and its gentle palate, this space is imbued with a soft aureate glow at sunrise and in the late afternoon.

To the right of the sofa is a sleek, fully-equipped contemporary kitchen with central breakfast bar island, and, accessed via a separate hallway, a guest bathroom with shower.

A short glazed corridor leads from near the dining table to the sleeping quarters. Taking their cue from the living area, all the bedrooms feature wall-to-wall sliding pocket glass doors, allowing them to connect organically with the surrounding terraces and gardens. In total there are five bedrooms.

the gardens and terraces wrapping around the villa perfectly lend themselves to an idyllic and carefree outdoor lifestyle.

Most al fresco action takes place on the sea-facing side of the property, which, like the roofs, is planted with aromatic shrubs and ornamental grasses. To one side, a clutch of olive and other trees delimits gardens from the rocky coastal terrain. Fanning out around the garden, and connecting the living area with the glorious L-shaped sea-view infinity pool, is an expanse of terrace equipped with sun loungers.

Next to the pool, is a long, beautifully furnished and shaded living and dining area, served by an impressive outdoor kitchen with barbecue and wood-fired oven.

From here, a wooden boardwalk extends down to a fabulous belvedere that is seemingly suspended above the irresistible blue sea. The views from here are arguably at their finest, and for many guests this will be the spot in which to relax, sunbathe and gaze out to sea. That said, there is a worthy rival just below: a stone path at the far end of the pool leads to some steps and down to a little pebbly cove. Here, between the rocks is a wooden bathing platform, a few sun loungers and easy access to the transparent waters of the Aegean.

Back up by the house, we return to the shady walled courtyard where we began our tour. Accessed from the living and dining area and one of the bedrooms, it is a great foil to the sun drenched terraces overlooking the sea. Emerald green banana tree fronds and towering ornamental grass sway gently in the breeze, and a large L-shaped sofa provides comfort.

Finally, on the other side of the house, accessed from the fourth bedroom and from the gardens, is another walled courtyard, again with built-in cushioned sofas. Sheltered by a shade-giving, fragrant Mediterranean pine, it has a gentle, sleepy atmosphere, so when it’s time for an afternoon snooze, this might well be the spot.