Indonesian Houzz: An American Update for a Balinese Retreat
Keeping to the traditional style as much as possible, this Indonesian home was redecorated to suit the taste and lifestyle of a US expat
A young woman from the US fell so head-over-heels in love while visiting Indonesia’s Sumba island that she decided to buy a little piece of it and call it home. An avid surfer, she wanted a house with a casual beach vibe that’s chock-full of Indonesian and Balinese antiques and art. The result is a playful tropical hangout that’s open to the elements and infused with traditional charm.
Two floor-to-ceiling pillars in the living room have a hand-painted motif depicting the flower of life symbol, a favourite of the homeowner. “These pillars are a bit awkward in the space, so we wanted to make them more interesting and inviting,” Myers says.
The tapestry on the wall is of a traditional Balinese scene hand-painted on cloth. The bench under it is carved with primitive designs originating from the island of Timor, with a seat upholstered in a Sumbanese textile. An ornate traditional Javanese wedding chair next to the stairs completes the scene.
The tapestry on the wall is of a traditional Balinese scene hand-painted on cloth. The bench under it is carved with primitive designs originating from the island of Timor, with a seat upholstered in a Sumbanese textile. An ornate traditional Javanese wedding chair next to the stairs completes the scene.
Myers says the biggest challenge in decorating the home’s large, open living room was figuring out how to create zones yet make the space feel cohesive. “There is the lounge zone, the entry zone and the stairway zone,” she says. “All decisions were made to complement each zone and make sure there was a good flow through the entire space.”
The window frames are painted in a tropical shade of turquoise. It’s the homeowner’s favourite colour and, along with the white walls, helps to keep everything light and bright. The house before was dark and heavy, with brown window frames, and the ceiling was falling apart.
The window frames are painted in a tropical shade of turquoise. It’s the homeowner’s favourite colour and, along with the white walls, helps to keep everything light and bright. The house before was dark and heavy, with brown window frames, and the ceiling was falling apart.
A new roof had to be installed above the kitchen and dining area. It’s called an alang alang covering, the traditional thatched-grass style commonly found in Indonesia. Antique pillars were used to help reinforce the roof and add some historical character.
The woven shades that line the perimeter of the space are called krays. They’re bamboo shades with fabric lining on one side that help protect the space when it rains. Most villas that are open like this have krays. When the sun hits this area, they can be used for shade. Another standout of the room is the dining table, which features primitive carving originating from the island of Timor.
The woven shades that line the perimeter of the space are called krays. They’re bamboo shades with fabric lining on one side that help protect the space when it rains. Most villas that are open like this have krays. When the sun hits this area, they can be used for shade. Another standout of the room is the dining table, which features primitive carving originating from the island of Timor.
The pool loggia was designed from the ground up. “We found these great old doors and had them built into the back wall to make the space feel more cosy,” Myers says. The custom chandeliers made of shell tie in well with the casual beach vibe.
TELL US
What ideas from this home’s style would you like to steal for your own home. Let us know in the Comments below.
TELL US
What ideas from this home’s style would you like to steal for your own home. Let us know in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A woman from the US
Location: Sumba, Indonesia
Size: 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms
Designer: 4 Corners: International Design Concepts
Designer Elaina Myers says the challenges in designing a home in Indonesia are many, but well worth the effort. “You can’t always find what you need here, so you have to improvise and-or get things specially made. Things can move more slowly here, and at the same time they can move too fast and mistakes can be made left and right.”
But for the most part, Myers said, her latest project went pretty smoothly, starting with the entry hall. “We always like to dress up an entry as it’s the intro into the rest of the space and sets the tone,” she says.
A mirror was a great way to reflect the rice paddy outside; the antique chest from Java serves as a console table and makes an ideal spot to display accessories and plants.