There are many words which visitors use to express their delight when they first see Gareth and Barbara Scourfield's home. Most would sum it up succinctly and simply as the single syllable 'wow'.

"It does have this certain 'wow' factor,'' says Gareth, who designed the whole thing himself. Indeed it does. From its location rising steeply from a hill at Llanreath overlooking the Haven, to the clever use of natural light and minimalist decor, the reasons are as clear as the waterway stretching before it.

In fact it could almost be a ship about to set sail up the Haven, precisely what Gareth had in mind when he drew up the plans for the house which would eventually become 'Iona'. He has a profound love of the sea, to the extent that when he was growing up he longed to be a sailor.

His life took a different direction when he trained as an architect. He returned to his native Pembroke Dock and in partnership with Keith Williams established Pembroke Design, which has grown from a single office employing three people to a business with a workforce of 24 and three offices.

Gareth has designed homes for hundreds of people but never one for himself so when the opportunity came to buy a plot at Beach Road, Llanreath, he seized the opportunity.

A local contractor had been granted planning permission to build on the site and with enough room for two houses he offered one of the plots to Gareth and Barbara.

The topography of the site - on a 60 degree slope plunging into the sea - presented unique challenges. A retaining wall had to be built to hold back the structure and all the plumbing and drainage was established at the rear of the property to maximise the views from the front.

There were also good reasons why the living area was placed above the bedrooms. "I always had an idea that if I lived by the water and on a steep slope I would have the living space at the top to make the best of the views.''

A 25-foot high angular window, jutting towards the Haven like a ship's prow, means that the Scourfields can enjoy the glorious sunsets and activity on the water at their fullest. To accommodate Gareth's design into the steeply sloping site, the frontage next to the access road is one storey, rising to three levels at the tide line.

The house faces north-west which means that throughout the day the sun is at the back. To overcome this disadvantage there are seven skylights which allow the natural light to flood deep into the property.

Gareth and Barbara both hate clutter so there is plenty of storage space. Smooth surfaces and stylish fittings give the interior a modern, understated feel. In the kitchen beech-faced doors blend with beech laminate floors.

Barbara has introduced a touch of surreptitious colour in the upper living room. Here, the sofa is upholstered in a warm buttercup and there is even a hint of red in the cushions. In the lower living room, wood and stone combine with wicker furniture to create a relaxed, Colonial style.

Without fail there is one piece of furniture which everyone wants to take home with them - a giant Indonesian carved hand that serves as a chair. "I spotted it in Equinox, Tenby, and couldn't resist its eclectic style,'' Gareth explains.

But it really is the panoramic vista that makes the Scourfields' home so special. "I can gaze at it for hours,'' admits Gareth, "waiting for the Irish ferry to glide by.''