Villa Okapi

Description

The front door leads into a hallway, which flows directly into the hub of the house, a splendidly panoramic and airy living area featuring an extra long, well-cushioned wooden sofa. The aesthetics of this space set the tone for the rest of the property, with eye-catching design details at every turn: smooth grey concrete floors are juxtaposed with lofty, honey-coloured wood-beamed ceilings and white walls; a retractable wall of windows brings in the sea views and blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living; a feature wall in local grey and bronze stone roots the property in its context; clever built-in niches, shelves and a protruding fireplace add dimension and depth; cleverly positioned designer light fittings stand ready to transform the space after dark; and colourful artworks enliven the whole atmosphere.

A couple of steps to one side of the living space lead up into a large rectangular kitchen with a picture window looking out to sea, a long concrete island that doubles up as a bar, bespoke wooden cupboards and a large retractable glass door opening out into the al fresco dining area.

On the opposite side of the living area, a staircase leads up and down to the sleeping quarters. Six steps down lead to a corridor, off which are two bedrooms:

• a double-twin with en-suite shower room, sea views and access to the surrounding terraces
• a double with centrally positioned bed, en-suite shower room and terrace access

More stairs lead down from the corridor to the lower ground floor, which is home to the third bedroom, a spacious double with en-suite shower room and windows looking out into a little garden of Indian fig cacti.

The first floor, accessed via the staircase from the living room, is on two levels. On the lower level there is:

• a single bedroom with sea views and a little balcony
• a shower room
• a reading, relaxation and cinema room with sea views, access to a shaded terrace, a voluminous cushioned sofa, a drop-down screen and a projector.

The upper level of the first floor, meanwhile, is given over to the main bedroom, a bright double with large en-suite shower room with double sinks, a pair of picture windows looking out to sea, and access to a private terrace with built-in seating and extraordinary vistas.

The wall of retractable glass windows in the living opens out onto a large cane-shaded sitting area with a pair of quality outdoor sofas and other seating.

Next comes the wonderful infinity pool, whose long edge offers seamless watery views out to sea. On the other side of the pool is a covered area with a bar, a double day bed and access to a pool bathroom with shower.

Last, but certainly not least, where the main terrace is concerned, is the generously proportioned al fresco dining area, a wonderfully shady and secluded spot with plenty of built-in cushioned seating and a large table. Served both by the indoor kitchen, with which it connects seamlessly a plancha grill, there can be few finer places in which to enjoy a Greek feast.

The two bedrooms accessed from the corridor just below the living area both open out into the gardens, which are planted with grasses and low-lying shrubbery. A paving stone path leads to some steps, at the top of which is the pool area.

As mentioned earlier, the relaxation, reading and cinema room on the lower first floor level has its own shady panoramic terrace, while the main bedroom is blessed with a large private terrace, from where the views are at their most magnificent.

Below the main sea-facing terrace the grounds slope down, planted with indigenous flora so as to create an almost seamless union with the surrounding terrain. Just outside the grounds a public path leads down to the sea below.