Southwinds, West Sussex

Glass-fronted seaside house that coaxes you into relaxation with great views, comfy neutral decor and a bath within sight of the stars

Very much in the mould of the modern beachfront house – all glass facing the sea, to make the most of the views – Southwinds distinguishes itself by being eco-friendly too, with an air-source heat pump to provide the heating and rainwater harvesting to save water.

Aside from making you feel all good about not unnecessarily harming the environment (don’t, whatever you do, undo the good work by feeding a seagull a plastic bag), this place will also make you feel rested and revived. You won’t even need to leave to sample the coastline, since it’s all laid out before you, with only floor-to-ceiling windows separating you and nature. A glass box cantilevers off the living room, so you can sit here and get the full 180-degree view of the pebble beach and crashing sea beyond. The designers have thoughtfully included a view from the bath – not just of the sea, but thanks to a ceiling window, of the stars in the night sky as well.

Inside, the decor is mainly neutral, from the huge grey corner sofa to the crisp white bedlinen. I particularly love the use of wood in the house, from the pale, limewashed floorboards to the more chunky, rustic timbers cladding one of the bedroom walls. There are no fussy details, from the handle-free kitchen units to the no-nonsense dining  table, but the artwork on the walls lets you know that this is no personality-free minimalist pad.

Selsey, a few miles south of Chichester harbour, where the house is situated, is a place to fall in love with – there’s one way in and out, ie no through traffic, so it’s wonderfully quiet, but there are enough shops and eating/drinking places to keep you happy. There’s tons of history to contemplate too, from 18th-century smuggling to links with the D-Day landings.

Nearby: Walking along the beach to the mudflats of Pagham Nature Reserve; sailing and sea fishing; visit cultured Chichester and its environs, especially the world-class Pallant House Gallery; West Dean Gardens; and Petworth House & Park, which has a wonderful deer park and a great collection of paintings

Essential details:

• Selsey, nr Chichester, West Sussex
• Sleeps 10
• From £2,000 per week
• Available through homeaway.co.uk

More photos:

Photos via homeaway.co.uk