Villa Kinara offers a rare fusion of six bedrooms, striking architecture, stunning entertainment space, swimming pool deck and a sensational location on Bali’s south-west coast, moments from the beach and Seminyak’s boutiques, bars and restaurants. All bedrooms are huge, with seating areas and terraces according myriad private corners. Even more spacious is the open-plan living room defined by soaring teakwood columns and furnished with over-sized sofas, home entertainment centre, bar, billiard table, and 12-seater dining table. Set within an exclusive residential enclave behind the Oberoi Hotel, five minutes from Ku Dé Ta, Villa Kinara is perfect for groups of friends, or a few families who want space to spread out in their own peaceful, private, fully-staffed, three-pavilion villa a short stroll from Seminyak. With a prime location in Seminyak’s prestigious Oberoi enclave, the six-bedroom Villa Kinara is perfectly positioned for Bali’s best-known restaurants, bars and boutiques as well as the island’s famed sunset beaches. And yet such is its sense of spaciousness, comfort and privacy, guests may be reluctant to venture much beyond its teakwood-capped walls. Delightfully original, the villa’s architectural design draws on the Indonesian archipelago’s rich heritage and abundance of natural materials. Paying heed to traditional Balinese home layouts, Villa Kinara accommodation is spread over three pavilions, with roofs of alang-alang (thatch) and ironwood shingles. In a contemporary interpretation of the old timber joglo and limasan houses of Java, teakwood is much in evidence throughout the villa, showcasing supreme craftsmanship and creating a depth of character that belies its newness (the villa was completed mid-2012). The vast living space is defined by towering teak pillars created from trees selected by the owner’s architect; teak-embellished ceilings, and Sulawesi teak floors – some intricately inlaid
with dark sonokeling (rose) wood – enrich the bedroom suites. The teak window and door shutters are another interesting feature, influenced by colonial Dutch architecture. Such expansive use of teak is complemented by other natural materials including Palimanan stone, Yogyakarta lavastone, hand-crafted
terrazzo, rattan, bamboo and coconut shell. In keeping with the enviro-architectural theme, the eco-chic furniture, including the dining table (a magnificent slab of teak and a conversation piece in itself), has been designed specially for Villa Kinara. And sitting comfortably among these traditional materials are the trappings of convenient 21st Century living: large flat-screen TVs and home entertainment systems, WiFi throughout, and two superbly equipped kitchens. Two other important Balinese traditions share the limelight at Villa Kinara: community spirit – as evinced in the many social gathering spaces scattered throughout the villa – and hospitality from the heart, provided by charming, well-trained, willing staff dedicated to creating a holiday haven for their guests. Villa Kinara is the perfect residence for multiple families or groups of friends. Parties exceeding 12 people have the opportunity to take over the neighbouring mirror-image four-bedroom Villa Kinaree, providing a total
Accommodation
Set behind high walls topped with decorative teakwood panels, Villa Kinara comprises a pair of interconnected double-storey pavilions facing a third pavilion across the swimming pool and garden, linked on both levels by a colonnaded walkway. The huge living and entertaining area occupies the entire ground level of the interconnected pavilions. From here, an open staircase leads to the media room (which doubles as a guest bedroom) and, up a few more steps, to a huge furnished terrace where sliding doors open onto two more guest bedrooms. A roof-garden walkway links to the facing pavilion which houses the master bedroom suite on the second level and two further guest bedrooms on the garden level. Bedrooms
Villa Kinara’s bedrooms are particularly spacious, with ensuite bathrooms, wide covered terraces, plentiful wardrobe space, and generous indoor and outdoor seating areas. Polished teakwood flooring, designer furniture, fascinating artefacts and thoughtful lighting create delightfully individual interiors, and plush American Pillo beds dressed with100% cotton bed linen ensure a good night’s sleep. The rooms are individually air conditioned, but those who prefer to embrace the tropical climate can opt to turn on the ceiling fans and open the shutters instead. Master bedroom
The master bedroom suite is palatial, occupying the entire top floor of the alang-alang pavilion. Running its full length and overlooking the pool and garden is a massive terrace of wide-planked teakwood, with a large (1.10 x 2.3m) cushion-covered daybed and four chairs of burnt orange plaited leather grouped around a coffee table. On one side of the king-size bed is a taupe upholstered sofa and ottoman with mirror panel above; on the other side is an elegant reading chair and another ottoman. Facing the bed and flanked by shuttered windows and doors is a media console with 40-inch TV and home entertainment system. A red lacquered desk and piebald cow-hide chair sit alongside floating teakwood shelves displaying books and objets d’art. A mirrored door opens onto a large dressing room and a second door leads to the ensuite bathroom: another enormous space, with floors and walls of terrazzo, huge mirrors and a vanity counter with double basins. Beyond is a breezy semi-open area with a Knief bathtub set before potted palms and a large walk-in, wood-lined section with his ‘n’ hers rain showers. Alang-alang pavilion guest bedrooms
Below the master bedroom suite are two guest bedrooms. Slightly smaller than the others, yet still larger than many a multi-starred hotel room, they are each well furnished with king bed, chaise longue, upholstered seating, writing desk, a wall of wardrobes and sliding doors opening onto a huge shared terrazzo terrace furnished with a generous daybed just steps from the well-tended garden. The ensuite terrazzo bathrooms feature walk-in showers with windows onto foliage. Main pavilion guest bedrooms
Occupying the second level of the main pavilion are two further guest suites – spacious, lightfilled rooms equipped with reading chair and footstool, large desk and chair, sofa, blanket chest, and king size bed (one of which can be separated into twin beds). The ensuite bathrooms are light and airy with single basin, walk-in rain shower and, in one, a bathtub surrounded by duckboard and pebbles. Accessed by a staircase from the living area, these bedrooms open onto a terrazzo terrace with a distinctive ironwood shingle roof according more space to relax upon seats of chocolate and brick-red plaited leather. Small pavilion bedroom/media room
Three steps down from the terrazzo terrace, with a daybed outside its glazed doors, is the sixth bedroom – a beautiful room with particularly rich teak wood patterned floors that also doubles as a media room. Before a wall of bookshelves is a king bed that can be converted to twin beds. A suedette sofa over three meters long and one meter deep faces a 52-inch flat screen TV and home entertainment system. Indoor living
The vast open-sided and open-plan living area that spreads across the garden level of two pavilions forms the social hub of Villa Kinara. This is a spectacular space for relaxing and entertaining; defined by soaring teak wood columns and skillfully divided into separate activity areas, with the swimming
pool edging almost into the room. On one side, conversation is sure to flow with the configuration of over-sized sofas arranged around a huge coffee table, set before a bar with stools, drinks fridge and glass jars full of snacks. An equally social focus here is the full-size billiard table which commands
center-stage. Opposite, alongside the garden terrace, comfortable sofas and armchairs are grouped around a 46-inch flat-screen satellite TV and home entertainment system. The dining area is equally generous, with an enormous slab of teak wood fashioned into a statement dining table seating 12 with room to spare. Behind an island buffet of black granite is the guest kitchen, well equipped with American-style fridge, hob, oven, microwave and an extensive collection
of plates and utensils housed in handsome teak wood cupboards. A door from here leads to the ‘back of-house’ section, with separate staff kitchen according extra privacy to guests should they choose to hire a private chef. Outdoor living
Villa Kinara offers a wide range of outdoor living areas in keeping with the highly social space planning that marks its interiors. The 14m swimming pool, with water-feature on the boundary wall and wide shallow steps leading towards the living area, is the perfect spot to cool off, while an
ironwood deck with stylish sun loungers shaded by a pair of parasols is ideal for alfresco siestas or refreshing sun-downers. The many terraces and decks at both levels of all three pavilions provide opportunities for private relaxation while enjoying views of the beautifully landscaped garden, with its old Cambodia frangipani, sacred Pohon Pile tree and Sawit date palms imported from Java. Service
Staff
Guests of villa Kinara are looked after with flair by a dedicated team of professionals drawn from the local community, under the direction of the villa manager. They are trained to anticipate their guests’ every whim with typical Balinese charm and a ready smile, and are very much part of the villa
experience. Villa manager : Our villa manager, Dora, is responsible for the overall operation of Villa Kinara, including staffing and guest satisfaction. Fluent in English, she introduces guests to the villa on arrival and is at the end of a phone for special requests.
