L'Atelier Onyx

  The Detail...

L'Atelier Onyx is a charming, stylish little cottage just a few minutes from the beach on the Île de Ré , off the west coast of France.

It's ideally suited to a couple or a small family and sleeps up to four, in two double beds, in a semi open-plan mezzanine under the wooden eaves of the cottage.

Downstairs is a spacious living area and kitchen, also open plan and decorated in a vibrant, contemporary style. There's a comfortable sofa area, surrounding an impressive wood-burning stove, a dining table, and a generously sized kitchen, fabulously kitted out with high-end appliances and guaranteed to please even the most demanding chef. The neat little bathroom is off the kitchen and contains a shower and a wc.

The cottage comes with a lovely outside space, a large sunny garden with a BBQ, loungers and a hot tub - the perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon of lounging, or dinner and a drink or two, on a warm evening after a day at the beach. The cottage is right beside the sea, on the island's western tip, and the nearest beach is the stunning pale sand and grassy dunes of Conche des Baleines, a ten minute walk away.

You're also not far from the island's landmark Phare des Baleines, an historic lighthouse with amazing Atlantic views at the top and a little museum down below. The peaceful village of Saint Clément des Baleines offers a bakery, and a handful of shops and restaurants and is easily reached by bike or on foot.