A new home for Sawday's Special Self-Catering Places in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Eire, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal

Delightful artist owner has created a colourful retreat that faces the street on one side and open countryside on the other

Space, light, a harmony of colours: clearly an artist's eye created this small, sunny ground-floor flat within a 19th-century townhouse in spirited Nontron. Next to Delia's art studio, downstairs from her B&B rooms, the Aurora runs through from room to room. First, a well-equipped kitchen with glass-fronted cupboards and drawers built into an old chimney; then the light-flooded living room with oriental soft furnishings and a sofabed for children; and lastly the lovely bedroom at the end, with its antique Indian bed head and armoire. Through a large window, a long, green valley of pine and acacias stretches forth. All is quiet, tidy, simple. Hop out through French doors for a barbecue on a private gravel terrace, shaded by a bright yellow parasol, or head to the pretty garden and saltwater pool, which is shared with B&B guests. Delia's enthusiasm for the town and region is well-founded: in the former, famed knife-makers, glass-makers, cabinet-makers, weavers, ceramists, a good choice of restaurants. In the latter, hiking, biking, golf, water sports, caves and fascinating archaeological sites.