The host of this renovated beach hut in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea has done a stellar job in retaining the home's historical character while also ensuring it belongs well and truly in the twenty-first century. Pinewood flooring, original windows and the stone fireplace are accompanied by industrial-inspired lighting, furnishings in an angelic shade of white and pops of colour from prints hanging on the wall. At the back of the house, there's a covered porch and a terrace complete with alfresco seating and a barbecue — that's summer afternoons sorted, then. When the sun does makes an appearance — which isn't unheard of in these parts — a ten-minute walk down Ocean Avenue will get you to Carmel Beach, while there are a host of art galleries and restaurants that surround the home.

Home truths:
*The fifth and sixth guests will be sleeping in a separate adjoining cottage with its own private kitchen and bathroom
*Each of the beds in the main house can be converted into two singles if required
*There are two dedicated off-street parking spaces
*The home is wheelchair inaccessible