Location

Located in the seaside village of Cemagi in south-west Bali, a five-minute stroll from the beach and the remarkable sea temple of Pura Gede Luhur Batungaus, this fully staffed, serene villa is encircled by rice fields and wrapped in the arms of traditional Balinese life.

Perhaps the best way to explore this beautiful rural area of Bali is by foot or bicycle (bicycle hire can be arranged); the lanes around Ombak Putih are flat and quiet as long as you steer clear of the main road. Five minutes’ walk up the black-sand beach is the small sea temple of Pura Gede Luhur Batungaus; it sits on a rocky outcrop and is reminiscent of a miniature Tanah Lot, Bali’s most famous sea temple located two or three kilometers further up the coast (9km by road). Heading inland, before you reach the main road, is a village temple and traditional market, where there always seems to be a lot of colorful activity.

Overview

Villa Ombak Putih beckons guests with the promise of comfort, privacy, space and fabulous ocean views. With elegant interiors and chic, white-walled, contemporary grandeur, this five-bedroom villa extends into a lengthy garden that offers surprises – a sunken poolside lounge, a rooftop terrace, a 30-metre swimming pool, secluded bedroom pavilions and some enchanting tropical landscaping.

Named after the white-capped waves – views of which can be relished from its upper floor rooms and terraces – five-bedroom Villa Ombak Putih breathes an ocean-inspired theme in every element of its design. This majestic and contemporary-styled property presents crisp white exteriors and cool cream marble floors, while natural Palimanan stone is the material of the villa’s striking bas-relief murals and impressive Balinese statues, which flank the grand entranceway and border the ponds.

This pale white stone features abundantly throughout the villa and defines the garden with plump, perfectly placed pebbles and warm textured paving. Even the flowers in the 3300-square-metre garden reflect the foamy surf: all are white, from the sweet-scented snowy blossoms on the many frangipani trees to the softly flowering jasmine that borders the lawns.

In keeping with the villa’s seaside location, 150 meters from the rugged Cemagi beach, white furnishings are characterized by cheerful cushion fabrics, splashes of blue and turquoise in the ocean-inspired photographic artwork, a dark blue wall, a rustic blue door and tastefully displayed time-worn aquamarine artifacts.

This gorgeous villa, which was completed in 2011, presents two enormous master bedrooms with sexy, semi-open-air bathrooms, three stand-alone guest suites, a 30-metre swimming pool and a delightful choice of indoor and outdoor living areas and dining spaces. A full team of staff is on hand at Villa Ombak Putih to look after every guest need with butler service and superb home-cooking.

Accommodation

Guests enter Ombak Putih via a stepping-stone avenue over a large, clear-water pond where two huge overflowing urns provide the soothing sounds of falling water.

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors run the length of the villa, removing all possibility of secrets; the state-of-the-art living areas, gardens, and swimming pool simply rush in to say hello. To the right is the formal dining area and kitchen; to the left, a comfortable lounge.

Upstairs, the two super-chic master bedrooms are mirror images of each other; each with a sea-view balcony. Outside, the garden is dominated by a 30-metre infinity pool flanked by an alfresco dining space and a sunken pool bar/lounge, above which a rooftop terrace provides the ideal spot for relaxed sundowners. Continuing down through the gardens, three stand-alone bedroom suites are beautifully integrated into the greens and whites of the landscape and are aligned in such a way as to provide guests with a sense of autonomy and privacy.

Living, dining and kitchen

In the main house, Ombak Putih’s air-conditioned white and blue themed living room is furnished with two comfy sofas and chairs and an antique coffee table all set before a 46-inch TV with satellite channels and a Blu-Ray disc player. Antique wooden artifacts and a Balinese gong adorn the room and sliding glass lead out from here to the garden. Through a pair of blue-painted traditional Balinese doors is a glass-shelved cupboard and a thoughtfully positioned guest washroom.

Separated from the living area by the grand central foyer, the dining room and kitchen are dominated by a very long and very beautiful soar wood table with seating for ten lit by three hanging lanterns with huge woven bamboo shades. A montage of aqua-blue images embellishes the walls alongside tribal shields from Papua. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors at one end of the dining area provide garden views and lead out to the pool and terrace. 

The villa has an enviable, air conditioned feature kitchen that’s almost over-equipped with serious brand-name appliances. Characterized by a wall of rough-cut marble mosaic and polished concrete work surfaces, the kitchen includes a massive central island lit by three hanging lanterns and accompanied by four wooden bar stools.

Outside spaces

The sunken pool lounge is sure to see the lion’s share of daytime activity given its very social poolside situation among the gardens. Open on three sides, it features a kitchen area and guest washroom, a wooden bar, antique Indonesian daybeds that serve as tables, bar stools, and wide, built-in sofas with enough seating room for a small army. Above, on the rooftop terrace, daybeds beckon for sunbathing and sunset cocktails.

The alfresco dining area sits to the right of the pool between the sunken lounge and a patio area lined with river stones and furnished with two all-weather couches. A ten-seater dining table provides a lovely spot to enjoy dinner after the heat of the day has subsided.

Gardens and pool. The villa’s mature garden stretches for what feels like forever, changing its characteristics as it meanders past the pool and the guest bedrooms towards the property’s boundary. Poolside, sun loungers and two double daybeds are positioned next to mature frangipanis, palms and lilies that pepper the lawns. At the far end of the 30-metre pool the water overflows down a three metre cascade to a smaller pool fronted by two Ganesha (elephant god) statues. Beyond, a ‘wild’ garden of ornamental grasses and white flowering shrubs eventually gives way to a small ‘enchanted forest’ of palm trees and silence.