From rural retreats and treehouse climbs to stunning craftsmanship and breath-taking vistas, each property offers a design-led experience that enhances its wanderlust-inducing location. While each place differs in setting and style, these holidays stays are eclectically curated and covetable wall-to-wall. Alena Walker begins with a selection of UK-based properties before highlighting a few further afield finds…
The Lodge – Aberfeldy, Scotland
Retreating to rural Scotland might conjure images of mounted stag heads and tartan quilts, but a stay at The Lodge in Perthshire offers a lesson in the luxury of pared-back simplicity. With a Scandi-influenced aesthetic, this design-led oasis is immersed in the Highland countryside while only 600 metres away from the small market town of Aberfeldy. Sleeps eight guests and offers a complimentary welcome hamper from Ballintaggart Farm on arrival.
Malmo in Cornwall – Cornwall, England
This Cornish stable block, located near the river Kennall in Cornwall, has been renovated into a minimalist Scandi-inspired idyll with all the exterior charms of a French gite. In a tiny hamlet surrounded by woodland and a babbling creek, this is a perfect stay for those seeking a back-t0-nature reset. Loft living, but with an airy cottage feel, this stay in central Cornwall blends the best of local seeing and doing with at-home comforts. Sleeps four.
The Curated Collection – Bath, England
The Curated Collection offers three exquisite properties that have been conceptualised into distinct themes: The Curator’s Apartment, The Fairytale Writer and The Aspiring Cook. Each home has been lovingly renovated to artistically interpret heritage property in the historic city of Bath. The Curator’s Apartment is art-filled and contemporary, with a split-level maisonette and commissioned artwork. The Fairytale Writer is whimsical in style and tucked quietly away in a mews house less than 100 metres from artisan cafes. While The Aspiring Cook has original cast iron features that are paired with copper pots and vintage brass in homage to Hannah Glasse, an English cookery writer of the 18th century.
Spinks Nest Cottage – Norfolk, England
If a sustainable bolthole is more to your liking, this eclectically styled cottage in Hunworth, North Norfolk, offers wonderfully romantic interior features close to a stunning coastline and only a couple of minutes’ walk from the village pub. Designed with reclaimed materials and one-off finds, it smoothly balances homespun quirks with modern delights, including a sunken concrete bath, an Esse wood burner and complimentary Aesop toiletries. It sleeps two and is dog-friendly.
Nymetwood Treehouse – Devon, England
Set in 20-acres of woodland, Nymetwood Treehouse presents a chance to step away from everyday life and reconnect with the outdoors in as stylish a way as possible. This timber treehouse is located in a private wooded copse on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and overlooks the verdant Devon countryside. An open-plan kitchen and living room, with extended ceiling heights and tree canopy views, create a spacious scene alongside the luxury of an outdoor copper bathtub and tucked-away mezzanine bedroom. Sleeps two and offers a complimentary welcome hamper on arrival.
Cabin Tapio – Hampshire, England
This woodland hideaway is an idyllic romantic getaway for two, where mid-century furniture meets the peaceful Hampshire countryside. Cabin Tapio’s soothing colour palette of moss green and sky blue are met with abundant natural light. Two sets of double doors lead outside to wraparound decking, a hot tub and a firepit where kindling and firewood are provided. A welcome hamper of local produce and luxury bed linen and towels make this quiet refuge a difficult one to leave.
Ana Ana Artistic Habitat – Algarve, Portugal
Ana Ana is the house-atelier of artist and interior designer, Eric de Bruijn, and a holiday villa rental with two units: a townhouse that sleeps up to 10 or an artist’s studio for 2-4 people. As an art gallery with five concept rooms, Eric’s personal art collection can be found on every corner. Several lounge areas, a pool, a roof terrace and a private studio space make this an ideal base for a group holiday right in the centre of Portimão.
Farmhouse on a Hill –Ionian Islands, Greece
This authentic Greek farmhouse set on a 30-acre plot surrounded by olive groves and orange trees is a picture-perfect location for sun-seekers to unwind. A haven for relaxation and slow living, the interior design boosts traditional Mediterranean style with terracotta floors, all-white walls and warm wood furniture. It’s the ideal setting for a gastronomic experience and is within walking distance of a local market. Self-catering with options for breakfast and a private chef on request.
The Louie – New Orleans, USA
The Louie was built in 1890 in a style that New Orleanians call a ‘double shotgun with a camelback’ owed to its thin two-sided design and the notion that, hypothetically, you could shoot a gun from front to back. The owners renovated this historical home by retaining much of the original features, including the fireplace, antique stove and 4×4 windows. Light and airy, yet opulent and lush, The Louie nods to quintessential New Orleans, with chairs restored from a local jazz bar, deep velvet sofas and custom-made linens. Within walking distance to the French Quarter and sleeps 4-6.
Arrowhead Lake House – California, USA
The pinnacle of California cool, Arrowhead Lake House is an effortlessly peaceful place to unplug against a lakeside backdrop. A picture window overlooks the water from a long oak dining table, for which a well-equipped chef’s kitchen is poised and ready to whip up a feast. This home away from home exemplifies a timeless style with lavish add-ons that include a reading nook, cashmere and alpaca pillows, clawfoot bathtub and alfresco dining. Sleeps up to 8 people.
The Joshua Tree House – Joshua Tree / Arizona, USA
The Joshua Tree House offers a collection of properties for those seeking a wild desert escape: two homes in Joshua Tree and an inn with five suites that sleep up to 12 in Tucson, Arizona. Each property has an effortless, lived-in aesthetic that is desert-inspired to its core, with muted earth tones and light terracotta accents perfectly balanced with eclectic mid-century furniture and Moroccan-inspired touches. Each stay blends seamlessly with the outdoors, with hot tubs to enjoy under a starry night sky and alfresco dining options surrounded by forests of Saguaro cactus or Joshua trees.
Berber Lodge – Oumnass, Morocco
Morocco never disappoints as a holiday destination, from its historical kasbahs to lush palm oases. Berber Lodge is a 20-minute drive from Marrakesh in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and its owner, Romain Michel-Ménière, a French-Swiss interior designer, has imbued the space with low-key elegance and muted earth tones. Vintage Moroccan rugs and antique French furniture mingle with bricks made with local pink clay, eucalyptus wood ceiling beams and palm thatch roofs. Seven lodges are available in various sizes, including a large family lodge.
