MIJAS CONTEMPORARY VILLAS

Mijas is one of those places the Costa del Sol hasn't managed to spoil. The white village sits above, clinging to the sierra with its narrow streets and blue plant pots. Below lies the sea, with wide blue-flag beaches. And between the two, on a pine-covered hillside, stand seven houses. This is one of them.

The moment you step inside, everything points the same way. The living room, dining area and open kitchen form a single space, and the sliding doors are wide enough that, when open, it becomes hard to say where the house ends and the garden begins. Outside: lawn, a nearly nine-metre pool and plenty of room to breakfast in the sun and lunch in the shade.

All four bedrooms have their own bathroom and fitted wardrobes. The principal suite takes the best spot — wide doors onto a private terrace with the full view, from the sierra to the Mediterranean. The kind of terrace you step out onto for no reason, just to look.

Built for year-round living, not just two weeks in August: underfloor heating throughout, independent climate control per room, aerothermal hot water, large-format porcelain floors, 2.40 m interior doors, Siemens kitchen appliances, wall-hung Roca sanitaryware and video intercom. Private garden, garage and parking. International schools, golf courses and Málaga Airport all within twenty minutes.