Metochi Lodge

Metochi Lodge sits on a mountain in the far west of Crete, near the village of Platanos, looking out over the Bay of Falassarna. This is the quiet end of the island: olive groves, gorges, a few scattered neighbours and some of the best beaches in Greece. Falassarna's long sands are six kilometres away, and the famous lagoons of Balos and Elafonisi are both within reach. Platanos has a bakery, a small supermarket and a few tavernas, Kissamos is the nearest town, and Chania and its airport are about an hour away. The last stretch to the house is a dirt road, which is part of the point.

The lodge was designed and built by its owner, Karolien Grosemans, a Belgian architect and ceramist. It's made of rough, irregular local stone, so from a distance it reads as part of the mountain. Inside, the palette is calm and earthy: smooth cement floors, natural stone, rough plaster, in greys, off-whites and sand, with vintage design chairs in the open living and kitchen space. The four bedrooms sit a few steps above the living area, each with a sea view and its own bit of outside. An infinity pool faces the sunsets, a bamboo-covered terrace shades long barbecue dinners, and the sixty hectares of old olive trees around the house produce their own early-harvest olive oil, which you can taste on the spot. The house also hosts the occasional yoga retreat.