Villa Name: Villa Arsana Estate

From the moment you weave your way past a grove of bamboo and descend the flight of frangipani-fringed steps, the Arsana Estate will have you in its thrall. The sheer amount of space! The ravishing beauty of the architecture! The spectacular setting!

Arsana is Sanskrit for ‘flowing’ – an apt name for this extraordinary two-hectare estate where a cascade of living and sleeping pavilions streams past lotus ponds and water walls down the terraced hillside towards the river rippling on the boundary. A destination in itself, this is a place where one can truly relax and be in the flow. No need to lift a finger here; the highly professional staff will work magic for you behind the scenes. Why even leave the estate when it includes everything you could think of to entertain and enchant?

Lounge by the 18-metre pool overlooking the river, or play pool in the games room. Work up a sweat in the gym or smash it on the tennis court. Enjoy a massage in the spa annexe or watch a movie in the home cinema on the 85-inch TV or drop-down projects screen. Preside over sparking conversation at the head of the five-metre dining table while the accomplished chef serves a gourmet meal. Then retire to one of the four spacious ensuite bedrooms and be lulled to sleep by the soothing sounds of nature.

Everywhere, the design flair and attention to detail is phenomenal. Massive contemporary carpets mix with oriental rugs under a copper canopy of designer lamps. A sophisticated palette of warm greys and soft sand flows through textured linen, latticed teakwood and textured walls. Contemporary paintings complement antique Chinese ceramics, and heritage artefacts sit comfortably alongside hi-tech facilities. The British owner’s passion for Asia shows in carefully curated furniture too, such as burnished lacquerware chests and towering Chinoiserie chairs. Everything is built to the highest specification, with no expense spared.

South-west Bali’s famed black-sand surfing beaches may only be a short drive away, the bright lights of Seminyak within half an hour; but you’re unlikely to want to leave this enchanting tropical paradise.

The Villa

The Arsana Estate’s multiple living and sleeping pavilions luxuriate over two hectares of stunning terraced gardens sloping down to the river. From the entrance and staff office an avenue of lush tropical greenery leads to a grand stairway that descends to the enormous U-shaped living and dining pavilion. A level below is the 18-metre swimming pool, two sun decks, pool pavilion, bar, massage annexe and breakfast pergola. The four bedrooms occupy three pavilions spread along an upper garden terrace. Overlooking the river is a gym and bale, while elsewhere in the garden is another bale, children’s play area and full-size tennis court.

Living pavilion

Step across a lotus pond flanked by massive verdigris copper planters into the magnificent open-plan living pavilion lined with bi-fold glass doors and windows. Within this immense space – the social heart of the estate, designed for easy entertaining on a lavish scale – supremely comfortable sofas, over-sized armchairs and daybeds form multiple seating areas that flow around an alfresco sun terrace with fire bowls rising from the pond. A five-metre dining table, inset with stone and surrounded by 16 armchairs, commands centre stage in one wing. Alongside is a guest kitchen, where eight woven-leather bar stools are set before a marble-topped island counter with butler’s sink and under-counter fridge; behind, a wall of latticed teakwood conceals the wine fridge, fridge-freezer and hi-tech central electronic controls. (The professionally equipped service kitchen is tucked away out of sight).

Home cinema

To one side of the living pavilion is an air-conditioned home cinema. A bank of modular seating and ottomans faces a massive 85-inch TV screen and a 135-inch retractable projector screen – perfect for watching satellite TV channels or Apple TV movies; there’s a video library and surround-sound Sonos system and, for the kids, PS4.

Games room

Also off the living pavilion is an air-conditioned games room, dominated by a full-size pool table set before a gilded triptych of bamboo stands. A pair of lacquer-ware cupboards house a welcome collection of board games and puzzles to keep all ages entertained.

Breakfast pergola

Down a few steps from the living pavilion is a delightful alfresco breakfast pergola with table for 10 set before a signature wall of Palimanan stone carved panels, where guests may enjoy their morning coffee and croissants under a canopy of white Thunbergia flowers.

Pool pavilion

Flanking the 18-metre pool, and overlooking the river snaking below, is an open-sided living pavilion with a comfortable seating area and table for 10 set before a handsome tree-of-life relief carved from Palimanan stone. This fan-cooled area provides a shady retreat from the heat, and an alternative to the cushioned loungers resting under parasols on the two Indian stone sun decks.

On either side of the water-wall cascading down from the living pavilion above are two large annexes – one fitted as a service bar area, the other as a massage space.

Just below the pool and overlooking the river is a large cushioned balé. A second balé rises on Sunset Hill at the highest part of the two-hectare estate.

Gym

Within the Arsana Estate is a Benkirai-wood pavilion that houses a dedicated gym /yoga room. Here, resting on the burnished coconut-wood floor is state-of-the-art fitness equipment – a Concept2 rowing machine, Life Fitness treadmill and pulley weights system. A wall of glass leads onto an ironwood deck looking down onto the river ravine.

Elsewhere in the two hectare estate is a full-size hard-surface tennis court.

Bedrooms

All four light-filled air-conditioned and fan-cooled bedrooms are tastefully decorated with natural tones in warm greys and creams, with red, turquoise and blue accents. The furnishings are curated with exquisite and expensive taste – supremely comfortable beds with top-range King Koil mattresses and luxury cotton bed linen, beautiful lacquerware cabinets and comfortable chairs, and both sun-shade and blackout curtains. Antique ceramics and elaborately carved mirrors balance contemporary art and hi-tech lighting controls. All four bedrooms have a private terrace with comfy reading chairs set before the view. 

** Images and descriptions depicted may include prices, features, furnishings, facilities, services and amenities that are subject to change at any time.