Every photograph on this page was taken at Casa Brio, in Seminyak, Bali — the house, the pool, the suites and the team who run it. They are the villa’s own, commissioned for it and not stock.
Arrival
A gate on a residential lane, a pond to cross, and a door that does not announce itself.
The timber street gate at Casa Brio, the villa name cut in steel across the boards, on the lane in PetitengetThe entrance courtyard at Casa Brio, the timber doors standing open on a carved sandstone relief and the paved walk crossing the water to the house
The pool and the deck
Twenty-one metres of it, an ironwood deck down one side and a balé at the end.
The length of the pool at Casa Brio from the shallow end, loungers under two claret parasols along the deck and the bedroom pavilion beyondThe long greenstone pool at Casa Brio, claret parasols and loungers down the ironwood deck and the balé at the far endSun loungers and crimson parasols along the ironwood pool deckA frangipani tree in flower over the pool deck at Casa Brio, two loungers with folded pink towels under a claret parasolA sun lounger under a claret parasol at the edge of the pool at Casa BrioThe cushioned alcove at the end of the pool deck at Casa Brio, a tray of coffee and magazines with the pool beyondLooking down the pool at Casa Brio from the poolside dining table, anthurium in a vase and parasols along the deckView across the pool from the shaded balé at Casa BrioThe open balé at the end of the pool at Casa Brio, seen across the ironwood deckThe table in the poolside balé at Casa Brio, laid with red napkins and cut fruit beneath tall heliconia
The living pavilion
Open on three sides under a vaulted alang-alang roof, with the dining table and the bar behind it — and the media room, the dark, cool, air-conditioned room the house retreats into.
The open-sided living pavilion at Casa Brio, deep sofas under a vaulted alang-alang roof with the dining table beyondSuper-sized grey sofas and armchairs in the pavilion at Casa Brio, facing a coral-form wall sculptureThe living pavilion at Casa Brio, tufted sofas and claret lamps against a planted wall with the dining end beyondThe pavilion sitting room at Casa Brio, ikat and linen cushions along two sofas, a red-shaded floor lamp and orchids on the glass tableThe Suarwood dining table in the pavilion at Casa Brio, laid with red napkins under copper pendant lightsThe butler’s pantry at Casa Brio, a stone-topped counter with a sink and a mirror reflecting the pavilion
The suites and bathrooms
Four luxury suites, every one ensuite, plus the media room that makes up as a twin fifth bedroom.
Master Suite I at Casa Brio, the king bed on a kilim rug with the bathroom door beyondMaster Suite I at Casa Brio in daylight, the king bed on a kilim rug with anthurium on the consoleMaster Suite I at Casa Brio by lamplight, the king bed on a red-and-cream kilim rugThe Master Suite I bathroom at Casa Brio, twin stone basins on a timber vanity with the round bath in its open-air courtyard beyondA master bathroom at Casa Brio, freestanding tub and twin carved stone basins on a timber vanityMaster Suite II at Casa Brio, the king bed and a writing desk under the windowA garden-level king-or-twin suite at Casa Brio, made up as twins, opening onto the pool deckThe upper king-or-twin suite at Casa Brio, made up as twins with the covered terrace beyondThe Media Room set up for watching your favourite movies in comfortThe media room at Casa Brio, twin daybeds facing a garden windowThe media room at Casa Brio, its two daybeds made up as a twin fifth bedroom beside the television cabinetThe media room’s own shower room at Casa Brio, glass shower and a carved stone basin on sandstone
Upstairs and the roof
A daybed terrace, a covered terrace over the pool, and a rooftop that is a second living room.
The upstairs terrace at Casa Brio, looking out over the garden and the neighbouring rooftopsThe upstairs daybed terrace at Casa Brio, rattan seating with ikat cushions behind a glass balustradeThe covered upper terrace at Casa Brio, a chair and side table looking down over the poolThe rooftop terrace at Casa Brio, all-weather rattan seating under a pergola behind a screen of travellers’ palms
The team
The people who run the house. Most of them have been here more than ten years.
Seven of the Casa Brio house team seated together on a bench at the villaA butler at Casa Brio bringing you your favourite cocktailA member of the Casa Brio team laying the poolside table for breakfast, the two-storey bedroom pavilion beyondA member of the Casa Brio team mixing drinks behind the villa bar, glassware and bottles along the counterA member of the Casa Brio team arranging flowers on the poolside table, the pool reflecting the pavilion behindThree of the Casa Brio team setting out breakfast in the balé at the end of the pool, seen from the far side of the waterTwo women in ceremonial lace kebaya standing at woven trays of offerings on a cloth-laid stand at Casa Brio, the dressed garden shrine behind themA pemangku seated before a cloth-laid table of offerings in the courtyard at Casa Brio, woven palm decorations and the house staff standing behind
The Food
Examples of food we can prepare at Casa Brio
A clear beef soup served in a teacup and saucer, garnished with tomato, coriander and orange nasturtium flowers, on a rattan placematChilli and basil prawns in a white bowl on a rattan placemat, a folded red napkin with a frangipani flower beside it and the pool out of focus behindSliced beef with rocket, red chilli and julienned mango in a shallow white bowl on a rattan placemat, a glass of white wine beside it and the pool behindA chocolate dessert in a martini glass topped with cream, mint and strawberry, on a glass table mirroring the frangipani above
After dark
The same house at dusk and at night, lit from inside — and one open-air bathroom lit by nothing but candles.
Casa Brio at dusk, the balé and pool lit from within under a clouded skyCasa Brio at dusk, the lit pool running the length of the frame between the two-storey bedroom pavilion and the deck, claret parasols along the ironwoodThe pavilion at Casa Brio after dark, the dining table lit beneath the vaulted roofThe open air bath tub in Casa Brio’s downstairs master suite set up for a romantic floral bath for 2Casa Brio at night, the pool and pavilion lit from within
Photographs are of the villa as it stands. Furnishings move between stays and the planting grows, so a frame is a record of a day rather than a guarantee of an arrangement.