Bali Villas - Villa Santai

Nestled in a garden of dense greenery and scattered coconut palms lies Villa Santai. Centrally situated in the Seminyak area and yet close to the beach, this hideaway is designed to provide the best of the Bali experience in urban surroundings.

On entering this recently refurbished villa, the immediate feeling is one of overwhelming comfort and luxury set within cozy seclusion. The villa's Balinese origins are instantly evident from the intricate decorative stone carvings on many walls. Combined with an interior of dark wood enhanced by smooth pastel ivory and lemon walls, views of greenery on all sides, the natural stone swimming pool, and a small Hindu shrine in back, the villa is almost a microcosm of Bali itself.

The natural beauty of the garden and the refined structure of the villa border the scalloped shaped pool on either side, which serves to mould the two together into one composite whole. An array of tropical plants, ferns and bamboo, line the perimeter wall, whilst a lawn surrounds the broad wooden sun deck and the pool tiled in Javanese palimanan stone. Underneath several tall palms creating extra shadows over the garden area and next to the pool, is a bale (Balinese gazebo) with its own alang-alang (thatched) roof, furnished with purpose-built solid teak furniture to inspire the relaxation this villa is named for. Next to this, a wooden deck extending from the main living area of the house directly to edge of the pool allows a transition from indoors to outdoors with minimal effort.

Roofed in traditional alang-alang, this two-storied villa is comprised of three bedrooms; two on the upper floor with a shared ensuite bathroom and a detached bedroom, off to one side of the villa on the ground floor, with its own ensuite bathroom.

Underneath several tall palms creating extra shadows over the garden area and next to the pool, is a bale (Balinese gazebo) with its own alang-alang (thatched) roof, furnished with two lounge chairs. Next to this, a wooden deck extending from the main living area of the house directly to edge of the pool allows a transition from indoors to outdoors with minimal effort.

Upstairs, wood parquet flooring is featured throughout both air-conditioned bedrooms, contrasting with their cream walls and dark wood trim. Both bedrooms feature king-sized teak beds dressed elegantly with mosquito nets. Built-in glass fronted wooden wardrobes, decorative woodcarvings, and a writing desk with chair complete the setting.

They share a large bathroom whose partly open sides are covered by a wooden trellis wall. Here, natural stone tiles and pale bluish grey walls are juxtaposed with the wooden slatted floor of the shower.Sliding doors separate the washroom with its marble topped sink unit and built-in cupboards.

Back downstairs and off to the west side of the house, an outside wooden terrace complete with reclining chairs, allows for panoramic views of the garden. To the back of the terrace on the north side of the house, a double set of sliding doors, open into the freestanding guest cottage containing the third bedroom and ensuite bathroom.

Inside, an antique wooden queen-sized bed is shrouded with a split mosquito net canopy beneath the high pointed ceiling with prominent beams, complimenting the pastel lemon walls and white tiled floor.

Completing it are a split-unit air conditioner, wooden built-in closets, and large windows opening onto the garden. The bathroom, hosting a semi-outdoor shower and marble sink and large mirror, is painted in shades of pastel blue and floored with interlocking segments of stone tiles and black pebbles.

The ground floor of the house is essentially one large open living area of approximately one hundred and twenty square meters. With all this space and scattered columns, the living area gives an impression of being indoors but not enclosed, allowing views of the pool and manicured garden. The cream tiled floors and pastel walls are delicately accented with a dark wood trim. Surrounding a low antique wooden coffee table, large cushioned sofas provide a den of comfort for those who wish to enjoy the villa's audio-visual facilities, or just relax with friends. Entertainment facilities consist of a television, DVD player, and full stereo system - also supplied are a selection of video and music CDs, and board games.

Continuing onwards from the lounge is the dining area. Wooden chairs capable of seating six encircle a round antique wooden dining table, while overhead, fans provide extra ventilation. Off to the side are a carved antique wood sofa and handmade hammock for relaxation, while admiring the tropical surroundings. To the back is a beautifully crafted breakfast bar which divides the open-plan kitchen with its granite countertops, from the living and dining areas. A hallway leads outside to the detached bedroom, whilst a stairwell leads up to the second floor with its two other bedrooms.