Villa La Vie en Bleu, Baie Rouge Beachfront for Four

Some villas flirt with the sea. Villa La Vie en Bleu practically lets it into the room. Set above a sandy stretch of Baie Rouge Beach in Terres Basses, this two-bedroom St Martin retreat is all blue horizon, pale sky, and Anguilla sitting quietly offshore like a watercolor left to dry.

The villa is designed with privacy in mind, which makes it especially appealing for a honeymoon, a romantic escape, or two couples traveling together. The upper beach level holds the main living space and master suite, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors drawing the view straight through the great room. High vaulted ceilings, cool neutral tones, dark woods, Creole windows, and polished contemporary furnishings keep the mood calm rather than showy.

Outside, the covered terrace opens to a generous pool deck with outdoor living and dining areas. Travertine tile and epi wood run through the spaces, and the pool, edged in river pebbles, appears to melt into the beach and sea beyond. A small pebble river connects the pool with the Jacuzzi, a detail that feels almost whimsical, but in a very grown-up, bare-feet-and-good-champagne sort of way.

The lower level offers a separate, elegant apartment facing the mountains, giving the villa the feel of two private living areas within one beachfront home. Beach access is directly off the main terrace, so morning swims and sunset walks on Baie Rouge need very little planning, which is exactly how island days should behave.

Key amenities include:

• 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, comfortably sleeping up to 4 guests
• Beachfront and oceanfront setting on Baie Rouge Beach
• Private outdoor pool with sea views
• Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, satellite/cable TV, and DVD player
• Full kitchen with oven, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, and coffee maker
• Washer, dryer, iron, linens, bath towels, hair dryer, shampoo, and hot water
• Private entrance, private living room, parking, and fitness center access

La Vie en Bleu is intimate, polished, and wonderfully direct about its pleasures: a beach below, a pool at your feet, and a view that does most of the talking.