The beautiful Villa Senja is hidden away in the rice fields, just ten minutes’ drive from the beach on Bali’s south western coast. Complete with swimming pool and providing accommodation for up to ten people, Villa Senja is perfect for families and offers a captivating blend of luxury, recreation, privacy and history. The property was not built for business purposes; instead it is the realisation of a dream, a genuine home and a ‘living’ house, designed to accommodate and fulfil the needs of a western family who spend much of their time in Bali. The lush gardens are planted with a considerable variety of tropical shrubs and trees, and the house has been lovingly furnished with antiques and artefacts from all over Asia. Bordering terraced rice fields, guests staying at Villa Senja will be presented with a privileged insight into rural Bali, yet the villa is only ten minutes drive’ from the shops, nightlife and internationally acclaimed restaurants of trendy Seminyak. The sweeping beach at Seminyak is renowned for its world-class surf breaks, panoramic coastline views and legendary sunsets. Umalas Riding Stables is less than two kilometres away and Nirwana Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman, is a twenty-five minute car journey. Convenient for all of the main shopping malls and tourist attractions, the villa is thirty minutes’ drive from Bali’s International Airport.

The approach to Villa Senja is through the Balinese village of Umalas, the narrow country lane then winds through the rice fields for another kilometre before reaching the entrance to the property via a large courtyard with a sizeable parking area. A pair of impressive doors opens into a serene tropical garden flanked by a lotus pond.

Villa Senja was designed entirely by its owners, a labour of love reflecting a joint creative talent and a passion to preserve, share and celebrate Indonesian heritage. For this reason, a powerful energy runs through the villa and its gardens. The property oozes space; it is a romantic fusion of Colonial, Javanese, French and Chinese styles inspired by the owners’ travels and complemented by antique furnishings, artwork and treasures that have been gradually collected over the years. Comprised of three buildings with ironwood shingle roofs, the attention to detail is extraordinary. The structure of the villa is rich in history and features an abundance of antique Javanese teak wood and timber floors throughout. Each of the five bedrooms retains a distinct character of its own, and each is between 25 and 30 square metres in size, complete with an en-suite bathroom – with bathtub and shower – and private terrace or balcony with a hammock.