Arnalaya Beach House

Live the dream at this marvelous contemporary retreat located on the beachfront in Bali's beautiful Canggu area, with a team of staff on hand to ensure that every whim is gracefully met. A unique creative collaboration by the architects and designers Sonny Chan (CSYA) and Albano Daminato (Studio Daminato), Arnalaya Beach House is a sophisticated yet supremely relaxed, family-friendly villa set amid private terraced landscaping. Five double-bedrooms, plus a gym that readily converts into a sixth provide space for up to 18 guests. An oceanfront bale offers alfresco dining with views of the Indian Ocean and a crystal clear 20-metre swimming pool. The private tennis court is action ready and the spa pampers and polishes, while lush green lawns and gardens bowed with fragrant tropical flowers will bring blissful repose in no time.

Minimalist vertical lines accent this uber cool and contemporary sanctuary, which is a brief barefoot stroll from the colourful fishing boats and mighty surf of Nelayan Beach. The coveted skills of internationally acclaimed Singapore architect Sonny Chan are on full display at this rarefied ocean estate, softened with a chic mix of textures and colours rendered by Australian-born interior designer Albano Daminato. The magical lighting and every piece of furniture was custom designed in the Daminato studio specifically for the villa: spilt bamboo wall panels juxtapose reeds and grasses crafted with natural linens for window shades; sofas are wrapped in rich, delicate European and Indonesian textiles. In the expert hands of Chan and Daminato, design concepts converge to create refined elegance that is family functional and beautifully balanced.

Aesthetically gratifying for the design addict while being superbly luxurious, Arnalaya Beach House's flexible design can accommodate up to 18 guests, with romantically canopied beds that can be configured to either kings or twins, and point blank ocean views from the picture windows of the third-floor master en-suites.

Families and groups with sporting enthusiasts will adore the private tennis court, 20-metre saltwater pool, gym, spa room and yoga platforms positioned to catch the sunrise and watch over the Hindu rituals at the neighbouring temple. Make use of the special-rate car and driver and visit some of Bali's ethereal temples or browse the boutiques of sophisticated Seminyak, just 20 minutes away.

The entertainment room is a real showstopper and will be a hotspot for the entire family. It's in a separate wing - along with three guest bedrooms - and is equipped with a huge TV screen that connects you to your personal iTunes account, plus stacks of games, books, arts and craft gear.

Almost 4,500 square metres of neatly terraced lawns create a phenomenal space for special celebrations and sophisticated soirees. Then there's the gorgeous pool - and oceanfront bale for sundowners followed by exquisite meals prepared by Arnalaya Beach House's master Chef from a mouthwatering menu of western and pan-Asian delicacies.

Arnalaya means 'rhythm of the waves' in Sanskrit, and this chic retreat with its excellent staff and dream location seamlessly cultivates that allusively serene state.

Enter via a high gate into the villa's landscaped equatorial gardens stepping up to the ocean-front bale and pool. Climb the wonderfully angular staircase in the main pavilion to the lounge and dining rooms, and be lulled by the languid seascape. Two master bedrooms crown this building and have front row seats for the sunset show, with brilliant views to the horizon. A second pavilion, overlooking the tennis court and with more spectacular sea views from its upper floor, houses the entertainment room plus three identical guest bedrooms with canopied beds, sculptured terrazzo bathrooms and gardens with fish-filled lotus ponds. In a separate single-storey building is a sumptuous spa room and the gym, which can easily and ingeniously be transformed into an extra bedroom.