Olive

Its humble namesake fruit belies the luxury within Olive, a sublimely chic and soothing home that is one of the exquisite jewels of St Barths. The luxury property is an ideal setting for a best-of-all-worlds Caribbean holiday. It's stylish without being showy, minimalist without being austere, and private without being hermetic. Among the loveliest rental houses in Gouveneur, Villa Olive stands out on the island not just for its aesthetics but also for its hilltop location: far enough from town to be peaceful, yet still, just a few minute's drive from Gustavia, St Jean and the famous beaches of Gouveneur and Saline.

Villa Olive can also be expanded into a luxurious compound for larger vacation gatherings. It is situated near Villa Rose and Villa Jasmine, with which it shares its graceful design sensibility. All three are the work of English interior designer Catherine Pawson. The villas also boast a collection of stylish and comfortable furniture from the design studio of Christian Liaigre.

Villa Olive is the fruit of the creative mind of architect Francois Pecard, who has been designing many of St Barths' most beautiful and admired villas for more than 30 years. In this case, he assembled a series of airy, light-drenched pavilions, centred on a 23-meter infinity pool and views of the hills, valleys and St Jean Bay below. After sunset, the softly glowing lights of St Jean add to the ambiance - and the pleasure you'll take in being above it all, in your own private universe.

The main pavilion, which is divided into two wings off a center foyer, offers proof that less can be more. The look is defined by cozily scaled white and blond wood furnishings surrounded by a great deal of space. Much of the decoration is simply the pretty glasses and dishes that rest on the open shelves. That, and the abundant sunshine and the repeated architectural lines in the pavilions outside, give it a feeling of expansiveness and ease.