WATERSIDE RETREAT

FROM the front, when approaching the funky purple front door, this home looks lovely but maybe not as special as it truly is once you pass over the threshold.

The detached home looks like a bungalow with maybe a loft room but it is so much more than that.

The weather board-style blue toned external cladding reminds a visitor of the home’s very special location, right on the waterfront and carved into the cliffside.

From the edge of the water looking back, the house called Craig Y Fenai is a two-storey, four-bedroom substantial property with two distinct sections, one of which has surely been designed to be reminiscent of a beach boathouse.

Built within the former grounds of the historic neighbour Château Rhianfa, this contemporary home by the sea is surrounded by truly unique views, and not just the water.

Behind it is a one-off building which could easily be nestled within the French countryside rather than on a Welsh coastline.

Château Rhianfa was designed and built with fairy-tale towers and turrets by Sir John Hay Williams as a gift for his wife Lady Sarah to remind her of their travels in the Loire region of France. Lucky lady.

The mesmerising château, which is now a hotel and wedding venue, can be admired from many of the front windows of the contemporary, luxury house that overlooks the water.

It’s certainly not your normal threebed semi or terraced neighbour most Welsh home owners can see from their front windows.

But if that distinctive view is not unique enough for a new owner or visitor to the seaside abode, then there are plenty of distracting views at the back of the property everyone can speechlessly admire.

Uninterrupted, sweeping, panoramic views of the Menai Strait, the Gwynedd coastline and Snowdonia on the horizon; each window is like a framed work of art. Stunning.

The home on Anglesey has, of course, been designed with the water views at the core.

So there’s a substantial slate terrace next to the water that can be accessed from the lounge and provides access to the boat slipway and the steps to the beach below at low tide.

The two main reception rooms, of course, have floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that ensure the views are constant companions, whatever the weather and whatever you are doing in these spaces: cooking, dining or relaxing.

Again thought has been given to the design of the home with separation of spaces and the topography of the rock outcrop this home is built on.

There are steps down into the living spaces from the hallway and two bedrooms at the front of the property providing physical as well as visual separation between the two distinct zones.

And the clever design continues in the lounge with a stone column housing a log burner that can be enjoyed from both sides of the area and provides a visual semi-separation within the space, it’s clever open-plan design.

On both sides of the fireplace is a large, luxurious and lovely lounge, that offers a calm space to soak in the sea views.

Next to the lounge is a study space but with the desk positioned to look straight out of the window, it’s unlikely too much work gets done here.

Next to the study space is a beautiful kitchen diner that also has direct access to the outside via huge doors, this time to a decked area below.

This room combines contemporary with the use of classic materials ensuring the room oozes luxury coupled with warmth.

High-shine kitchen units and furniture combine with marble worktops and slate flooring to create a cool atmosphere softened and warmed up not only by the views but the choice of pale lavender for the units.

The interior design throughout this home is tasteful and classic coastal design, using natural materials such as slate, wood and linen, tones of blue on the outside and inside with accents of pale heritage colours and the subtle use of classic coastal stripes.

There is even wood wall panelling that matches the cladding of the exterior of the house and perpetuates the understated coastal beach-style of this elegant abode.

A utility room and cloakroom completes the ground-floor accommodation.

Upstairs and a stunning master bedroom awaits a new owner and again the design has been crucial to ensuring this space is the very best it can be.

Situated in the boathouse-style wing of the house, the master suite is a double-height space that goes up into the apex of the roof.

And at one end of the space is a wall full of glass that also extends into the roof space.

Bravo to the current owners who have positioned the bed in the middle of the room to ensure the incredible view is the last thing they see at night and the first thing they see in the morning, because not every home owner is this imaginative.

Many homes with stunning views still have the bed positioned at the more traditional space on the main wall meaning any occupants have to get a pain in their neck to totally absorb themselves in the view from the pillow.

The ensuite for this bedroom is at the rear of the room and continues the stylish and understated coastal theme.

But the second bedroom on this first floor is also a stunner.

It also has the bed place directly opposite a picture window to access the sea views but in this room the ensuite is also on this side of the house.

So the views directly from the classic roll-top slipper bath are just as gorgeous as from the bed.

Maybe this bedroom would be deemed the master as it also has access to a storage area that could easily be updated into a walk-in wardrobe and/or dressing area.

The attention to detail in this home is impressive and, coupled with the prime and sought-after location, ensures this home is a millionaire’s pad.

From the extra window over the staircase to create a light-well, to the glass panels within the internal doors, a surprise internal window from the

lounge to the study and a glass balustrade, every option to allow light and views to move freely around the space has been explored.

And so to the outside.

There is a stone slipway that means there’s somewhere to park the boat and on dry land there is a double garage as somewhere to park the cars but the outside is more about the people than the possessions.

Imagine standing, sitting, sleeping on the slate terrace or the wooden decking, tickled by fresh sea breezes, watching the sunset and sailboats drift by, as you and friends enjoy supper al fresco style. Sounds pretty perfect.