Kudus Villa

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was this luxuriously appointed five-bedroom villa on Bali’s south-west coast, which took its owners five years to lovingly create and furnish. From its restored wooden joglo pavilions filled with handpicked artworks and antiques, to its state-of-the-art kitchen, attention to detail at Villa Kudus is nothing short of extraordinary. Set in a sprawling tropical garden, individual living and bedroom pavilions make Villa Kudus the perfect option for families or friends wanting to get together in sophisticated yet comfortable surroundings. Crossing the threshold of Villa Kudus via authentic Balinese Hindu temple doors, and following stone steps over a tranquil goldfish pond, guests enter the main joglo, an enormous, air-conditioned pavilion which houses the lounge, dining, bar and entertainment area, and are immediately transported into a world where traditional Indonesian architecture meets sumptuous interiors to create a truly opulent and unique villa experience. Surrounded by glass doors, the living pavilion offers views over the garden and pool, while a raised terrace provides the perfect space for open-air meals, which are served from the kitchen below. Stairs lead down from the joglo to a grassed area where friezes depicting scenes from Java’s most famous temple, Borobodur decorate the walls. Two of the five bedrooms are housed in one joglo and overlook the garden. The master bedroom and two additional bedrooms form an L shape around the swimming pool area. The owners of this magnificent villa have a passion for mountain climbing and the five bedrooms – all of which are furnished with king-size beds, offer both air conditioning and ceiling fans, feature hand-selected pieces of art, merbau-wood flooring topped with Asian rugs, and have opulent ensuites – are named after famous Indonesian peaks. The kitchen at Villa Kudus is lined with walls of Indian stone. Two glass doors make it a bright, cool and airy space. Guests can comfortably perch on one of the five bar stools for an informal meal or snack whilst enjoying the serenity of the garden. The kitchen is equipped with gas and electric ovens, a giant refrigerator, expansive stovetop, a wall of built-in glass cupboards and all the mod cons that you would expect to find in such a well-appointed villa. On the stone terrace adjacent to the living pavilion, an outdoor dining table for ten is ideally located for alfresco dining, whether it be a long lazy lunch or a delicious dinner under the stars. Take advantage of the barbecue here for some fresh grilled seafood or a traditional satay. Poolside relaxation at Kudus Villa can be enjoyed in the covered balé – an excellent spot for a massage – or on one of the ergonomically designed sun loungers on the verandas of all the guest bedrooms. And in front of the master bedroom, surrounded by a wonderful array of tropical plants, is an L-shaped couch and a coffee table perfectly shaded by a large umbrella and perfectly situated for some quiet downtime.