The sun is out and therefore I am thinking about the beach. I therefore decided to type ‘Cornwall’ into my little property search bar, and have spent the past 30 minutes looking and sighing at nice houses by the beach. Without breaking the fourth wall too much, a lot of what you see and read on this website is decided by what kind of mood I’m in and where I’d rather be.
One place I’d rather be is Kai Tak in Polzeath. This ‘exceptional and striking’ five-bedroom home, designed with ‘flair and panache’ by Cassell Tarring Architects is on the market with John Bray Estates for £3.25 million and sits in the heart of this surfing paradise.
Set over 4,000sq ft, the only thing more striking than the property’s design is its views over the sea as a result of its elevated position on Dunders Hill. It’s even got an EPC rating of C, making it relatively sustainable to run.
Open-plan living spaces are the name of the game here, with a sitting room and kitchen/dining/reception room on the ground floor. On the lower ground floor, you’ll find a surf store (of course), tv room, gym, and spa facility. Four bedrooms, and another sitting room (with the best views) make up the first floor.
Terraces to the front and rear are perfect for outside dining and entertaining, while the gardens to the rear face south and are fully enclosed with low-maintenance planting. No garden these days is complete without a pizza oven, and Kai Tak is no exception. If all this wasn’t enough, the property has detailed planning permission approved for a one-bedroom, two-storey annexe.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Credit: The Country House Department
A five-bedroom home within the golden triangle of the Cotswolds that oozes cosiness and charm
Sarsden Cottage in Oxfordshire might be in one of the most desirable locations in the land, with easy access to
-
No strings attached: A brief history of swimwear, from heavy skirts of linen linked to women's drownings, to the skimpy two-piece named after a nuclear weapons siteFrom knee-length numbers to a scandalous suit denounced by the Pope, the colourful history of swimwear has been brought to life by a glamorous London exhibition.
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every windowPenny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new ownerIn the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countrysideHartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in CornwallThe Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
-
The Mediterranean Magic of MaltaWith historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
-
Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country LifeIf Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
