Overlooking an expanse of rice terraces just north of Umalas village, and a few kms from Bali’s famed sunset and surf beaches, Villa Umah Daun – Indonesian for ‘leaf house’ – stands out from the crowd with its distinctive, elegantly bowed roofs. Within a series of pavilions curved around a large swimming pool, kids wading pool and entertainment bale are five large bedroom suites, formal living and dining rooms, a gourmet kitchen, media room, pool room, library, kids’ playroom and tree house. Such generous accommodation will appeal to extended families or groups of friends seeking a peaceful location within easy reach of Seminyak’s lively shopping and restaurant scene. Villa Umah Daun is also perfect for weddings and other special celebrations.
Jakaranda master suite
The palatial Jakaranda master suite spans luxuriously across the entire top floor of the western-most pavilion, opening onto a large deck that overlooks the sweep of rice terraces beyond. Below a soaring leaf-shaped roof hangs a ceiling fan, and the air-conditioned suite has its king-size antique bed centrally positioned on the polished Merbau-wood floor for optimum views across the pool. A corridor leads, via two walk-in wardrobes, to the huge bathroom with double basins, state-of-the-art multi-jet monsoon shower, and bathtub set before opaque doors that slide back to reveal the view beyond.
Jasmine guest bedroom
The Jasmine guest bedroom occupies the ground floor of the master bedroom pavilion. This huge light-filled bedroom is lined with windows, its views across the pool reflected in the king-size bed’s mirrored headboard, and features a private deck bordering the rice fields, a dressing area and a spacious marble bathroom with statement bathtub, curved double vanity and walk-in rain shower. Jasmine has air-conditioning and a ceiling fan and can also be configured as a twin-bedded room on request.
Gardenia guest bedrooms
Sharing a separate pavilion with the kids’ playroom, the Gardenia guest bedroom gives a couple an extra degree of privacy as well as easy access to the garden and pool. It features a four-poster king-size bed, has air-conditioning, a ceiling fan and an ensuite shower room.
Waterlily and Morning Glory guest bedrooms
The bright interiors of these inter-connected bedrooms situated upstairs in the main pavilion provide cheerful accommodation for kids, each with twin beds and a single daybed (the twins can also be configured as kings making the rooms equally suitable for adults). Rainbow-colored batik bedding provide splashes of color, picked out in wall-mounted antique windows and paintings by the owners’ daughters. Both bedrooms have air-conditioning units and ceiling fans, and the en-suite bathrooms feature leaf-shaped basins and statement bathtubs as well as showers.
Umah Daun is an exceptional villa – a super-sized five-bedroom home skillfully sculpted from interlinking pavilions arranged in an arc around the large swimming pool, kids pool, jacuzzi and gorgeous gardens.
Conceived by noted Balinese architect, Komang Suardika of Jeghier Architect, the villa’s generous living areas appear to extend beyond their glass doors and across the shallow pond that flows around the contours of the pavilion, emulating the form of the surrounding rice terraces. An uncompromisingly modern design is softened with graciously curved walls and well considered use of natural materials such as andesite rock for statement walls, polished Merbau-wood and marble floors, and bowed Bengkirai-wood roofs which bring to mind the leaves after which the villa is named.
Umah Daun has huge family appeal. Youngsters will gravitate to the beanbag-strewn playroom, kids wading pool and tree house, while kids of all ages will appreciate the villa’s media room, games room, 16-metre swimming pool and jacuzzi. There are myriad toys for grown-ups too, among them a Sonos multi-zone sound system and a climate-controlled wine room.
Working discreetly behind the scenes, the villa’s strong staff includes an accomplished chef who can whip up tasty meals from an extensive suggestion menu. The massive dining table will be the focus for many fabulous feasts, whilst the poolside bale is perfect for less formal meals. And while there’s an abundance of social living space, it’s countered with quiet corners – library, bedroom balconies and a rooftop terrace – for a break from the crowd.
While Umah Daun is a world in itself, guests are only a short taxi ride away from Bali’s famed sunset beaches and Seminyak’s uber-hip boutiques, spas, restaurants and bars.
Villa Layout
Set within beautiful gardens and surrounded by rice paddies, Umah Daun comprises a series of linked pavilions cradling a generous pool and sun deck. After entering the villa across a pond, one arrives in the living pavilion, which is linked via an open veranda to the main pavilion. The dining room, kitchen and media room occupy the ground floor of the main pavilion, while the library, two twin bedrooms and a rooftop terrace lie above. Beyond a grand staircase is the games room and the two-storey master bedroom pavilion. On the far side of the living pavilion, a bridge leads to the fifth bedroom, the kids’ playroom and the tree house.
Living Areas
Guests at Villa Umah Daun can enjoy a wide choice of living areas spread throughout the estate – some large enough to accommodate a full house, some set back in private corners for those seeking a retreat from the crowd.
Under a towering leaf-shaped roof, two sitting areas furnished with leather armchairs and plushly upholstered sofas form the heart of Umah Daun’s living pavilion. Finely carved antique pillars decorate the curved walls, and bi-fold doors pull back completely, creating a seamless transition between the living space and the undulating pond that hugs its contours, replicating the rice terraces beyond.
A handsome teak wood table over five metres in length occupies the centre of the dining room, where bi-fold doors open onto a fountain-sprinkled fish pond at the rear and expansive views towards the pool and rice fields at the front. Up to 14 guests can comfortably gather around this table for formal dinners, seated on cushioned armchairs of plaited bamboo, conveniently close to the climate-controlled wine room.
Beyond a large sit-up bar is the villa’s open-plan, professionally equipped kitchen, leading to a second chef’s kitchen tucked out of sight.
Opening onto the dining room is the air-conditioned media room, where leather armchairs and sofas are set before a display wall with 60-inch TV, DVD player and Sonos Playbar sound system.
A fuchsia pink-baize pool table resting on a patterned kilim is the focus of the games room – a ritzy space with antlered wooden trophy heads adorning teal green walls, a 40-inch wall-mounted TV, a pair of bar tables for in-between-game drinks (kept chilled in the colour-coordinated pink-and-black bar fridge).
On the second storey, with views skimming the neighbouring rooftops, Umah Daun’s library is a comfortable place to retreat to in the company of a good book. Sink into a leather armchair set on the cow-hide rug and get lost for a few hours.
Beanbags in neon turquoise and pink cover the floor of the cute playroom, reached by a bridge across ponds at the tip of the living pavilion. Here, kids can watch a film on the 40-inch TV, play games on the PS3, or bring out their competitive streak with one of many board games. A spiral staircase leads to the mezzanine level where more beanbags encourage laid-back banter. There’s also an ensuite shower room here.
