What You Get
Air-con
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
TV (Satellite/Cable)
Washing Machine
The Experience
White is associated with light, goodness, wholeness and purity, and is considered to be the colour of perfection. Well, it’s certainly hard to find fault with the white-themed Villa Putih Semer, a contemporary-chic riverside abode in Banjar Semer on the outskirts of lively Seminyak.
At Putih Semer, neutral shades become vibrant, crisp, clean and sharp. This immaculate four-bedroom hideaway is characterised by a cool all-white palate, yet every room is fused with warmth. From the creamy Palimanan stone exterior walls to the pristine painted interiors; from the ivory-hued, non-slip, acid marble floors to the sleek white leather sofas and chairs, the milky lacquered tabletops, the white sunloungers and the snowy bedlinen, this villa is as celestial as it is stylish. Even its name introduces the Indonesian word for white (putih).
In Bali, however, you can never evade the greenery of the landscape, and Putih Semer is no exception. With an infinity-edged lap pool that overhangs the jungle-clad banks of a small river, offering sneaky views of an emerald green rice field through the towering foliage, nature invites herself into your line of vision. The richness of Mother Earth’s colours can also be seen in the turquoise tones of the Java stone that lines the pool, the yellow culms of a guardian bamboo and splashes of orange among a school of fish in the indoor pond.
Villa Putih Semer is sophisticated and adult in not only its design – complete with a glass staircase – but also in its concept. If you are a young family, this probably isn’t the villa for you. If, however, you are a group of friends looking for a peaceful, high-tech holiday pad, slightly-out-of-town, with a car and driver included in the price, and wonderful food accompanied by the owner’s personal collection of wines and extensive library of music and books, then you’re onto a winner. Here, a friendly but discreet team of staff will make you feel very much at home. Although not professionally trained, the cook is a maestro in the villa’s kitchen, serving up meals of near-gourmet standard and doing all the market shopping.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
-
7.8
- Reviewed:
- 29-Aug-2011
A white-themed contemporary and chic riverside abode that’s hard to fault
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 8 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 8 | Facilities: | 7 | Staff: | 8 |
| Value: | 8 |
Highlights
Gosh, this villa is so stylish! We raved about the white décor, the glass staircase, the designer furnishings, the state-of-the-art music system, and the home cooking, combined with the blissfulness of being bordered by nature.
Surprises
There is no garden and no lawn, but the compensation for this is a broad pool deck flanked by a towering bamboo grove, lush jungle foliage, a small river and glimpses of the rice field beyond.
PROs
- High tech urban super chic
- Bamboo filled river views
- Kitchen to drool over
- Pro staff with magic cooking fingers
CONs
- No gardens or lawns – just green from riverbank foliage
- Not for kids
Gallery
Location
This is a residential neighbourhood, dotted with rice fields that are fast being developed. A few cheap and cheerful Western-style cafes have sprung up in recent years to service the many new villas springing up, and most of these offer a villa delivery service. Don’t expect to find many shops in the immediate area, but there is a 24-hour Circle K convenience store, a local supermarket, a couple of ATMs, a French bakery and health food store all within one kilometer of Putih Semer, as well as some simple spas.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
|
| Umalas Equestrian Centre | 1.0 |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Petitenget / Seminyak | 6.0 |
|
|
|
| Echo Beach | 6.0 |
|
|
|
| Tanah Lot Sea Temple | 14.0 |
|
|
|
| Kuta | 14.0 |
|
|
|
| Waterbom Park | 15.0 |
|
|
|
| Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) | 26.0 |
|
|
|
| Ubud | 28.0 |
|
|
|
| Mt Batukaru | 34.0 |
|
|
|
| Elephant Safari Park | 44.0 |
|
|
|
About Umalas-Kerobokan
Located between Seminyak and Canggu, the area known as Kerobokan, which includes Umalas village and Banjar Semer, is conveniently close to Seminyak’s trendy restaurants and designer boutiques, yet is promoted as the peaceful option because these flat plains still encompass acres of rice fields and distant mountain views.
Development, however, is happening fast, and this group of rural villages is now home to numerous rental villas and private residences, with plenty of cheap ‘n cheerful Western-style cafes cropping up in the most unexpected of places, offering surprisingly good food and home/villa delivery services. Although there are very few shops as yet, there are a number of local supermarkets, bakeries, garden centres, simple spas and fitness centres, as well as three riding stables at nearby Canggu – Kuda P, Tarukan, and Bali Equestrian Centre. Visitors will also find ATM machines and reliable taxi services. The main road leading north of Seminyak to Kerobokan is lined with furniture stores and workshops offering “antiques made to order”.
About Bali
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular tourist location and is considered one of Asia's premier tropical island destinations. Steeped in history and renowned for its artistic way of life, Bali is a peaceful contrast to some of the more frantic destinations Asia has to offer.
The inner peace and creative talents of the Balinese has attracted artists the world over fascinated by local dancers, silversmiths, wood carvers, potters and painters that seem to pervade throughout the island. The abundant verdant fields and surrounding sea have long supplied Bali with an easy surplus of food leaving time for life’s more artistic past times. As a result everything in Bali has a creative and religious element centred around the local Banjar (residents association) – little, adorned temples are everywhere, doors are covered in intricate carvings, huge kites ward off evil spirits and colourful roadside ceremonies bring traffic to a standstill.
Bali is a popular destination principally from Australia and Asia but also from all over Europe. The island welcomes thousands of visitors each year to a relaxing lifestyle, stunning beaches, world class surf, vibrant villages, and spectacular scenery all with an exquisite tropical climate. Located approximately two hours’ flying time from Singapore the island is serviced by an international airport at Denpasar with direct flights to and from many major cities in Asia, Europe and Australia and many more via Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.
The island offers an impressive range of leisure and lifestyle amenities including world-class golf courses, wonderful seascapes for surfing, diving and snorkelling as well as luxurious spas, chic boutiques, tropical forests, towering volcanoes and international cuisine.
Rooms
Accessed via a splendid copper front door, the ground floor of the flat-roofed two-storey villa presents a spacious living and dining area, where a wall of sliding glass doors can be opened for tropical poolside living or closed for air-conditioned comfort. The living room forms the central nucleus of the house within a space that extends the full height of the building. Plump, white, three-seater leather sofas and chairs are positioned on three sides of a white latex coffee table, while hearty meals at a dining table for eight provide a welcome relief from having to go out to eat.
A stunning kitchen, integrated into the living and dining area, is crafted in fine Italian marble and equipped with a small TV, a four-burner hob, and a well-stocked wine fridge. Here, a service bar is furnished with three high chairs and lit by ten subtle-statement hanging lanterns; while a professional kitchen situated just behind offers all the equipment that the cook needs to prepare delicious cuisine for her guests. Yet further dining options are provided by a barbecue on the pool deck, with plenty of space to enjoy it.
Another feature of the ground floor is a fish pond, and above it a dazzling glass staircase. This winds up towards a gallery with glass doors opening on to a balcony running the full length of the building, overlooking the pool, river banks and rice fields. The lap pool is bordered by a deck furnished with sun loungers, chairs and table.
Fit for a photoshoot, three of the four air-conditioned bedrooms at the villa are furnished with king-size beds and one with twin beds, all (two upstairs and two downstairs) are decorated in snow-white linens, custom-made white and cream furniture and hand-picked pieces. Each bedroom opens onto the balcony or pool deck and is equipped with a TV and DVD player. Two have spacious dressing areas; all have ensuite Palimanan-stone-walled bathrooms with walk-in rain showers (complete with hand-held options) while two of the bathrooms are fitted with soaking tubs.
Finally, a comfortable, upstairs sitting room is equipped with a TV, DVD player and surround sound, while next to this is a study with a library of books.
Key Amenities
-
Air-con
-
Internet (WiFi)
-
Swimming Pool (Private)
-
TV (Satellite/Cable)
-
Washing Machine
Other Amenities
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Car Parking
- CD Library
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Coffee Machine
- Computer
- Dish Washer
- DVD Library
- Equipped Kitchen
- Fax
- Generator
- Hairdryers
- Home Theatre System
- IDD (Extra)
- iPod Dock/Speakers
- Iron/Board
- Laundry Service
- Main Dining (8 persons)
- Massage Beds
- Microwave
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Wine Fridge
- Wine List
Villa Staff
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager
- Security
- Service Staff
- Shopper
.jpg)
The contemporary-styled, super-chic Villa Putih Semer is a serene 4-bedroom home with high-tech facilities, an all-white décor, and a long lap pool bordered by rural beauty, situated only six kilometres from hip and happening Seminyak. A full team of staff includes a driver (with car) and a great cook.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/villa-putih-semer.aspx
