Villa Cantik

A pair of fragrant, white-flowering frangipani trees marks the entrance to the Main House, meeting to form a natural archway across the path. From here, a wooden bridge over a fish pond, flanked by two bubbling urns, brings guests into the grand living area, which is open on two sides to the front and rear gardens. Huge pillars support the high alang alang thatched roof, above a polished concrete floor furnished with an oversized daybed in the centre, two large antique coffee tables and colourful floor cushions. A pictorial antique screen decorates one wall, and a built-in antique cupboard houses a Bose sound system with surround sound speakers. In one corner is a circular, carved antique table with eight chairs, suitable for breakfast or casual dining, while adjacent to the kitchen is a large dining table for ten. The kitchen has an open-plan area at the front, linked to this formal dining space by a service bar; it is eclectically decorated with colourful traditional glass paintings from Java, and shelves full of antique vessels and jars. The modern main kitchen is hidden behind, and fully equipped with everything that the cook needs in order to create delicious meals for her guests.

A flight of stairs leads up to a fan-cooled TV den and office, positioned upon a mezzanine. This cosy-yet-spacious nook is furnished with two comfortable daybeds and equipped with a TV and DVD player. This is a great spot for gathering with family members to watch a movie, or escaping to write e-mails or simply relax. WiFi internet access is available.

The air-conditioned master bedroom, located upstairs (on the opposite side of the building to the TV room), is a unique, curved room with a wooden floor and glassless windows open to delightful garden views. The four-poster, queen-size bed sits within a romantic muslin tent, complete with an air-conditioner and a fan. The room is also furnished with a large daybed and an antique cupboard with traditional textile-covered doors. A sunny, garden bathroom is situated at the bottom of the stairs; it serves the master bedroom with a huge bathtub, a standing shower, and a terrazzo washbasin.

Two more guest bedrooms are positioned downstairs with a shared garden bathroom. One is furnished with a queen-size four-poster bed, and a cabinet with traditional batik-printed cloth doors. It is equipped with air-conditioning and a fan, and features a terrazzo floor and glass doors that open to the garden. The other bedroom has a huge oversized king bed, an antique cabinet and wardrobe, air-conditioning and a fan. The adjoining shared bathroom is almost identical to the master bathroom, with a huge bathtub open to the sky, a standing shower, twin terrazzo washbasins, and a large wall mirror.