Andalucia, Malaga, La Zagaleta, Spain

This enchanting family home, high in the hills of the LA ZAGALETA estate, blends contemporary design with traditional craftmanship to stunning effect. Outside, the large mature garden offers stunning panoramic views to the Mediterranean Sea, especially as the sun dips behind the mountains.

Welcome to Sunset Paradise, a strikingly impressive family home on the western side of LA ZAGALETA . Elegantly blending traditional elements with contemporary ambiance, this large villa is thoughtfully planned for everyday living and for hosting friends and family. The centrepiece of the home is the large open plan kitchen/diner, with a vaulted wood ceiling. It is impeccably fitted with chrome-fronted cabinets and a high island and breakfast bar, while bi-fold doors open on to two different terraces. The vaulting continues over the relaxing living room, which also features bespoke bookcases. There's a separate cinema room and no less than eight bedrooms – two of which form part of a separate guest apartment. The master suite has a double shower and freestanding bath, along with two fitted dressing rooms. One of the bedrooms is currently set up as a gym and there is a sauna tucked in a quiet corner, with a separate shower. The high ceilings throughout make this a wonderfully airy home, even on the sunniest of days, with the many doors to the garden allowing the breeze and birdsong into the house.

For all the charm and liveability of the interior, it's the outdoor space that makes Sunset Paradise truly distinctive. Wonderful mature gardens make the most of the extremely private 0.9-hectare plot. Tall, immaculately trimmed conifers and imposing palm trees shade the large heated pool, while elsewhere on the pristine lawn, hammocks are slung between shady trees. Carefully selected shrubs and flowers ensure a striking display of colour year-round, in front of a backdrop of lush green hillsides and the sparkling blue sea. Multiple covered and uncovered terraces wrap around the whole home, each with its own character; a low wooden roof lends a south-east Asian feel to one, while leaves and vines form a natural canopy over another. Together, they add to the living space, perfect for relaxing, dining or even working, alone or in company. While the different orientations of the terraces mean there is a sunny spot – and shaded ones – throughout the day, these outdoor areas come alive as the sun begins to dip. Whether for quiet reflection or convivial entertaining, the commanding views, from the Mediterranean to the mountainside, take on a new glow each evening, making every sunset memorable.