Surrounded by rice fields in the semi-rural landscape of Canggu, exquisite Villa Salimett offers a unique sojourn in traditional Indonesian heritage, complete with antique Javanese Joglo houses converted into four detached bedrooms, carefully sourced antique pieces and a magnificent living pavilion. Traditions successfully blend with luxurious comforts, such as the 20m infinity-edge pool, all designed using quality natural materials and the most discerning of tastes.
Just a kilometre and a half fromfew minutes’ walk from Bali’s dramatic south-west coastline, Villa Salimett is close to several excellent beaches renowned for their surf, while Bali’s most cosmopolitan and happening enclave, Seminyak, is just a short drive away.
Set amongst Canggu’s picturesque rice fields, this spectacular four-bedroom property is evocative of a traditional rural community from many moons ago, so it’s quite a surprise to discover that Villa Salimett was only completed in January, 2010.
An architectural masterpiece, the villa comprises four antique Joglo-style dwellings transported from Java and a magnificent open-sided living pavilion. Rectangular shaped, constructed almost entirely of fine old teak wood and topped with a distinctive cone-shaped serap (ironwood) roof, the Joglos have been subtly modified to form four detached bedrooms; luxuriously appointed and extended with porches and modernstyle tropical bathrooms. Much more than mere places to rest, these authentic dwellings set serenely within the villa’s expansive gardens are infused with Indonesian heritage and individual character and charm.
The living pavilion also boasts antique beautifully aged timbers – especially teak – and a high serap roof; its traditional touches completed with antique objets complemented with antique ornaments and furniture and intricately carved ceilings. Housing the villa’s living / dining area, kitchen and TV lounge, this expansive open-sided, open-plan building is, however, stylishly contemporary, presenting a contrasting modern-Indonesian look. Although a marvelous example of architectural heritage, Villa Salimett doesn’t forgo present-day comforts, which include a 20m infinity-edge pool, iPod docks and plasma satellite TVs. Batu BeligBerawa Beach is just a tenfive-minute stroll from this peaceful sanctuary of exceptional taste, and several world-class surfing beaches along this lovely south-west coastline – including surfers haunt, Echo Beach – are easily accessible by car. Bali’s premier sports and leisure venue, Canggu Club, is two kilometres away, and fashionable Seminyak is approximately twenty minutes’ drive south.
Accommodation
With its grand black wooden doors adorned with intricate carvings and capped with traditional serap roof, the entrance to Villa Salimett sets the scene for what awaits beyond. Just inside, the Zen-infused water feature leads through to a superb single-storey pavilion. This open-sided expansive building forms the heart of the four-bedroom property; although built in traditional Indonesian style, it presents a predominately contemporary look. The villa’s living / dining area, kitchen and small TV lounge are contained within, as well as an adjoining storage area, laundry / utility room and guest washroom.
From here, gardens and simple paving stones lead down to a center-stage infinity-edge pool with an adjoining and highly unusual pool bar constructed from antique woods. The pool area is edged by expansive and simple stone paving. Tucked away at the far end of the gardens rests a solitary bale (traditional Balinese gazebo). The gardens also reveal the property’s pièce de résistance: four antiquewood bedrooms, originally traditional Javanese Joglo houses, beautifully placed in a rough square formation.
Bedrooms
Villa Salimett sleeps eight guests in four detached bedrooms accessed by paving stones dissecting the gardens and spaced far enough apart for ample privacy. Created from authentic antique Joglos, it’s not surprising that each of the four unique rooms evokes the lived-in feel of an ageold Indonesian dwelling. The bedrooms are individual in character, size and layout, although all feature the same traditional cone-shape serap roofs and walls of aged teak wood, and are furnished with king-size beds. Although emphasis is on the traditional, modern-day luxe concessions include air conditioning (tastefully camouflaged by wood grills), ceiling fan, 29-inch plasma-screen satellite TV, safety deposit box, iPod dock and mini refrigerator. Striking contemporary lighting features throughout, while sensitive modifications to the construction include glass wall panels to add daylight, private terraces of either stone or reclaimed timber and luxury ensuite bathrooms. The latter all feature antique wood interiors and furnishings, standalone bathtubs, slinky Grohe fixtures, his n’ hers sinks in marble or stone and refreshing tropical rain showers.
Master Bedroom
Located on the garden’s right side beside the main pavilion, the largest of the four Joglo bedrooms is also Villa Salimett’s finest example of this distinctive Javanese architectural style. Spacious and with a high vaulted ceiling, right above the bed is a striking centerpiece of intricately carved wood. Throughout this sumptuous master bedroom an underlying vampish theme features black wood furniture pieces buffed to perfection and a fuchsia silk couch scattered with orange silk cushions, while organza silk curtains are draped around the bed. A buffalo skull placed atop a table makes an unusual decorative piece! Large photographs of bygone Indonesia grace the teak walls and, in keeping with the overall rustic ambience, the plasma TV comes hidden away in an antique chest placed at the bed’s base. In the lovely semi-open bathroom the focal point is the generous-sized stone bathtub set out in the open on pebbles and attractively framed by tropical foliage. Wooden doors lead out from the bedroom to a large stone-floored porch with low wooden roof where an ultra-contemporary hanging pod chair and somewhat contrasting antique wood chairs and table are provided, ideal for looking out over the shimmering pool.
Bedrooms Two, Three and Four
Roughly similar to each other in size, the remaining three bedrooms offer a more compact, intimate feel than the master and feature low wooden ceilings and (with the exception of bedroom four) timbered floors.
Opposite the master bedroom, bedroom two is the smallest of the four. It features a separate wardrobe / dressing area and, similar to the master bedroom, the plasma TV comes disguised in an antique bed chest. The expansive, semi-open bathroom here features a striking terrazzo stone bathtub surrounded by leafy foliage, plus lovely decorative touches of sea shell ornaments and traditional woven baskets.
Bedroom three, on the garden’s left side, features a rustic-style, wood frame four poster bed. Unlike the other bedrooms, the bathroom here is indoors: contrasting with the traditional theme, an indulgent ‘boudoir’ look is fuelled by a centre-stage galvanized aluminum bathtub and crystal glass chandeliers.
Tucked away at the gardens’ end, beyond the master bedroom, bedroom four also features a simple wood frame four-poster bed and a separate dressing / wardrobe section. Intricate carvings decorate a section of the teak walls, but here the floor is made of stone. Bedroom four perhaps offers the most impressive bathroom: in tropical open-air style, it houses an eye-catching stone bathtub capped with circular stone decoration, accessed by stepping stones across a small ornamental pool. Modesty prevails with a curtain of leafy foliage and gardens.
These three bedrooms provide charming, low-roofed wooden porches revealing views across the gardens or, in bedroom four’s case, over the balé and outlying rice fields. Outdoor furniture ranging from antique wood chaise longueelegantly carved antique tables and chairs to family-size day beds littered with plump cushions contribute to these wonderfully peaceful spots for reading and relaxing.
Living, Dining, Kitchen and TV area
The stunning main pavilion is mainly open-plan, built in traditional design but with a contemporary Indonesian style. Light and airy, the pavilion is open-sided, cooled by breezes and ceiling fan, and protected from the elements by simple coconut blinds. The building has been constructed using quality natural materials from across Indonesia including terrazzo and a Andesit and terrazzo stone and antique and reclaimedycled woods.
The centrally positioned living room has a seating area framed by four wooden pillars softened with white cotton drapes and comprising a massive, teak-based sofa furnished with comfy white cushions, two armchairs in similar style, plus low teak table. Hanging below the high and intricately carved ceiling a mass of bamboo spherical ceiling lights glow like full moons. Numerous antique ornaments are tastefully displayed on old wooden tables and chests; with the exception of an iPod dock, there is scant evidence here of modern-day paraphernalia.
Left of the living room, the dining area is dominated by a massive dining table crafted from a single block of teak. Flanked by traditional low wood seating and benches, this long table can generously accommodate around twelve diners for some truly memorable meals; the antique gong placed behind provides the perfect means to announce dinner. Amongst the surrounding banana plants, a Buddhist statue keeps an eye on proceedings.
To the extreme right of the pavilion is a subtly disguised TV lounge, comprising a low-ceilinged, raised wooden platform area. Snug yet stylish, a large squashy couch drowning in a mass of cushions directly faces the 29-inch plasma-screen satellite TV, displayed on a wooden chest. Also provided are a DVD / CD player, sound system and DVDs.
To the left of the pavilion, antique wood doors flanked by a primitive wood statue of Borneo origin lead through to a contemporary kitchen. Contrasting somewhat with the rest of the property, this utterly stylish and compact kitchen features black terrazzo stone counters, dark stone floors and walls and central teak workstation. Modern utensils include Grohe fixtures and cooker with five gas rings and electric oven. Adjoining here is a small storage zone with separate fridge and freezer and utility / laundry room; beyond, a small guest wash room and leafy patio join up with the dining area.
Edging the pavilion, a Zen-style water feature with two square pools is dissected by a stone path and edged with tropical plants. The constantly gurgling fountains here contribute to an overall calming ambiance in the pavilion.
Pool, Pool bar, Garden and Bale
Sprawling out from the pavilion, the gardens comprise lawns edged by typically tropical foliage, such as birds of paradise blooms and banana plants. Access to the bedrooms, pool area and bale is by way of simple paving stones. The centre-stage infinity-edge pool (20 x 6.5m) is one of the villa’s few overall visible concessions to modern-day living; crafted from natural stone it is attentively guarded by four Buddhist statuettes dotted along the water’s edge. The stone-paved pool terrace provides three double-sized polyrattan sun loungers and thick cotton sunshades – perfect for long lazy days. A surprise addition is a simple, antique uUlen wood shower, hidden amongst the tropical foliage between bedrooms two and three.
To the right of the pool is a bar with a difference. Upholding the traditional architectural theme, even Villa Salimett’s pool bar comes with a serap roof, antique woods and Ulen wood floor. A comfortable L-shaped sofa and four bar stools furnish the area and the bar is prettily illuminated at night by a mass of large lanterns.
At the bottom of the garden is a serap-roofed balé with. This gazebo-style structure is ideal for quiet contemplation, yoga or massage treatments which the villa staff can organise on request. Beyond the gardens are rice fields and other luxury villas, while towering Mount Batu Karu (2,276m) Bali’s second tallest volcano, is visible on clear days.
Quick Facts
Services
Staff
Villa Salimet boasts a dedicated team of staff (their positions and responsibilities outlined below) to service guests in the villa.
Dining
The menu A suggestion menu is provided, but both chefs are happy to accommodate all needs and any special dietary requests. Special meals can also be arranged, such as farewell dinners and afternoon teas.
The villa emphasizes healthy, natural food and wherever possible, uses locally sourced organic products, including brown rice, fruits, meat, vegetables, fish, chicken, eggs and bread.
The system
The villa kitchen provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. To give the chefs sufficient advance warning, please discuss meal choices, dining schedules and any self catering plans (also an option) with Manager Widyana each morning.
Food and beverage charges
First day breakfast is included in the villa rate, as are tea, coffee and mineral water. Otherwise, groceries for all meals and beverages are charged at cost price: chef will calculate the shopping costs and require payment in advance. They will then purchase the groceries and provide receipts which are tallied up for final costs.
Location
Villa Salimett rests among the rice fields of Batu BeligBerawa, one of several villages in Canggu district, a sleepy, but increasingly awakening, coastal locale home to a number of luxury private residences.
A string of wildly beautiful beaches renowned for their surf are close by, some within easy walking distance. Bali’s trendiest enclave, Seminyak, is approximately twenty minutes drive south, crammed with chic boutiques and hip n’ happening nightlife and restaurants, while less than ten minutes’ drive from the Villa is Bali’s premier sports and leisure clubvenue, Canggu Club, providing international-standard dining and leisure facilities.
Distances from Salimett
To Denpasar Airport: 15km
To Seminyak: 3km
To Tanah Lot/ Nirwana Bali Golf Club: 10km
To Canggu Club: 2km
To Batu Belig Beach: 1.5km
To Echo Beach: 3.5km
To Canggu Beach: 7 km
Things to do
