Tropical Bali retreat displays an infusion of exotic colors

This stunning home spotted on Country Life is a sunny and carefree approach that sees an infusion of exotic colors, local architecture and exuberant style, living up to its spectacular Balinese location. Slim-line, colorful, custom-made sun loungers hint at the creative minds of homeowners Valentina Audrito and Abhishake ‘Abhi’ Kumbhat who have created this lusciously tropical, contemporary home called Lalaland. Designed as open plan living, Lalaland was originally two Javanese joglos that were reworked and upgraded to create an imaginative family home. The well-planned house allows a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors, perfect for entertaining.

Sitting under a bold Farid Stevy painting. the egg-inspired piece offers hidden storage beneath the yolk lid.

A cluster of photographs and black-and-white artworks by Filippo Sciascia and Sophie Parienti create interest around the floating staircase.

“Our bedroom is also a space where we hang out,” says Valentina. The artwork was a gift Valentina made for Abhi using images and thoughts from their lives.

An outdoor bath takes advantage of the tropical weather.

Keith Haring artworks add a fun punch of colour to the children’s shared bedroom.

The couple have extended indoor comforts outside with a ‘Don’t Break My Eggs’ sofa.

Photos: Felix Foresting

The perfect hideaway on the Riviera Nayarit

Casa Tortugas is an exotic luxury villa in Mexico, near Punta Mita on the Riviera Nayarit. The home is immersed in a landscape that combines incredible views of the Sierra Madres Mountains along with cool breezes off the ocean. The cozy and spacious interiors are connected to the outside areas by way of floor-to-ceiling glass and wood doors. Its indoor amenities include a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, a dining area with seating for ten and comfortable furnishings throughout. The interiors are decorated with cheerful Mexican art and helps create a welcoming ambiance. All spaces offer views of the ocean, pool and gardens.

The outdoor spaces are just as wonderful as the rest of the home. There is a covered terrace offering over-sized chairs and comfortable lounges right next to the lavish pool and only steps away from the beach. The villa offers four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a two-car garage and sweeping views of the ocean and the Sierra Madres Mountains. Casa Tortugas is a vacation rental available anywhere from $900-$2,200 on its website which can be found here.

A hidden refuge in the cliffs of Santorini

The mood at Mystique Resort in Santorini, Greece is one of laid-back luxury. Only one thing should be able to distract you from the tranquility of the sea and the breath-taking vistas of the caldera cliffs, and that’s your partner. The resort offers over 21,500 square feet (2000 square meters) of luxurious landscape and eighteen suites and villas carved into the cliffs, each with a private panoramic terrace.

This contemporary resort has been designed by Richard Lefebvre of Bleu Nature, with a forward-thinking design philosophy while still paying homage to the traditional white-washed aesthetic of the area. The facade of the buildings appears as if they have been carved from a bar of soap. There is also a conscientious effort to respect the harmony between man and nature. Much of the building was made with limestone sourced from a nearby quarry, hand-carved wood and local glass from Santorini.

The minimalist white interior decor has furniture fashioned from tree limbs. Cushions have been designed from antique textiles. Enticing patterns have been carved into the walls. Slatted wooden decks that lead to the plunge pool surrounded by sun beds for the utmost relaxation. Guests may experience an outdoor infinity-edge pool, the “Aura” Pool Bar, the “Charisma” Gourmet Restaurant and the “Secret” 150 year-old Wine Cave, a nod to the island’s past. With its amazing view over the Aegean Sea, Santorini has been nominated as the world’s most romantic place in the world (World’s No.1 Best Island, “Travel & Leisure” 2006).

Escape to this exotic hideaway

Marataba Game Reserve is a place at the foot of the mysterious Waterberg Mountains in South Africa offers the ultimate in relaxation. Covering 23,000 hectares of land in the heart of river Limpopo’s Marakele National Park, this place is famous for having more than 400 species of birds. The reserve offers an escape to an African adventure amidst wild animals and a dramatic landscape encompassing vast plains, dense bushveld, winding rivers, deep gorges and majestic mountains.

There are only 12 exotic tented suites, composed of a mix of canvas and stone with beautifully appointed furnishings, dispersed throughout the property. They each feature their own private en-suite stone bathrooms providing shower and bath as well as his and hers basins and a dressing room. Imagine relaxing on your own private teak deck overlooking the meandering Limpopo and sweeping plains and having a relaxing outdoor rain shower. Escape into travel mode with these incredible pictures…

Photos: Craig Fraser

Scandinavian home gets a shabby chic makeover

It takes a lot of imagination and love to create a beautiful family house like this one. Airy white interiors furnished with vintage pieces, decorated only with objects meaningful to the owners – exotic art ‘souvenirs’ brought from all of their journeys. Natural materials create cozy, warm atmosphere: wooden panels, soft woolen carpet, leather and velvet seating. All contrasted, spiced up with industrial metal: old, flaking coffee table, black, oversized floor lamp. Simple, functional, down to earth, but absolutely unpretentious beauty: the essence of Scandinavian style.

When Marie Olsson Nylander saw the building for the first time, she thought: “Never.” The shabby chic, 70′s house in distant Arlid, by the rocky Swedish coast, didn’t seem appealing to the successful, busy city couple. But surprisingly to all, it turned out to be a place where everything has found its balance and perfect harmony. The home is filled with vintage furniture and elements of decor that stand out on pure white backgrounds, and each room is filled with salvaged pieces of furniture that add a special mood to the house. Via

Unusual tropical leaf house in Brazil

Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Leaf House was designed by Mareines+Patalano Arquitetura. This project was inspired by Brazil’s Indian architecture, perfectly suited for the hot and humid climate of Angra dos Reis, which is just one hour south of Rio de Janeiro.

The roof acts as a big leaf that protects all the enclosed spaces of the house from the sun, such as the verandas and the in-between open spaces. All the open spaces are the main social areas, the essence of the design. They allow trade winds from the ocean to pass trough the building, providing natural ventilation and passive cooling. The architects see this as low-tech eco-efficiency where it has the greatest impact; as the concept of the architectural design.

The architects, in agreement with the client, understand the idea of a tropical beach house as a means of enhancing the interaction between man and nature, trying not to separate them completely. There are no corridors, with the interior and exterior spaces being almost fused. Rainwater is harvested from the roof for re-use. With its natural finishes, organic aesthetics and richness of details, the house is in harmony with the exuberant Brazilian nature.

Angled exotic beach house on the Aussie waters

This modern contemporary home designed by Australia’s Wright Architects is as exotic as its location, steps from the beach of Port Douglas. The only thing that rivals this picturesque property is the contemporary design of the house itself, which subtly infuses water influences into its bold concrete, steel and core-filled clay brick masonry. Wooden “waves” make their way down from the home’s roof, leading to a refreshing salt-water lap pool wrapped in a wooden deck. Beneath the waves and overlooking the pool, and wall of glass blurs the boundary between the outdoors and the sleek, modern interiors. Overlooking the garden and decks, an open-concept kitchen and various living areas make the most of this lush setting. Just when you thought this stunning home could not get any better, architect Charles Wright also designed it with sustainability in mind, featuring passive cooling and a double-insulated roof cavity to reduce heat absorption.

Unbelievable Australian tropical rainforest home

Located in Byron Bay, Australia, this breathtaking home features gorgeous landscaping with exotic tropical gardens and flowers that flourish all year round. The stone walls and wooden elements of the house are impressive design elements, but what can really leave one speechless is the natural environment. The lush vegetation and numerous palm trees make this a dream place to live in. The dining and living spaces extend to the outdoors where there is an incredible patio featuring a salt water pool and spa tub with a fancy lighting system that provides a nice atmosphere for late night swimming. The interior is modern, with contemporary furniture throughout. The Italian kitchen comes fully-equipped with state of the art appliances and stainless steel and Caesar Stone work surfaces. The flooring throughout the home is travertine with electric underfloor heating.

In spite of all its luxurious features, do you think this residence lacks anything?