Villa Barbagia

Villa Barbagia looks across a sheltered Sardinian bay where boats lie at anchor. Pines shade its lawns, granite boulders break up the garden, and a reed-covered pergola throws soft shadow over the pool.

The living room is open to the water through walls of glass, with a long low sofa, a chequerboard table and a separate lounge where a fire bowl glows in the evening. The kitchen is bright and modern, with a curved breakfast bar and a wooden dining table. On the roof, a terrace with daybeds gives the best view in the house over the bay. As a luxury villa rental in Sardinia, it's all about the sea.

Villa Barbagia has four bedrooms in calm natural tones, with linen cushions, soft pink curtains and doors opening onto terraces. One looks straight over the water. Bathrooms are smart and serene, with round backlit mirrors, stone basins and a freestanding stone bath.

There's a gym with a steam room for days when the weather turns, though most guests will spend their time between the pool, the pergola and the roof. Sardinia, with its granite shores, is one of the most loved holiday islands in Italy. The villa suits families and couples travelling together who want an easy life by the water.