Villa Massilia - The New Luxury - Bali Interiors (2024)

One of the places I have always dreamt of shooting is Casa Cook. If you follow interiors on Instagram or Pinterest, then you are almost certain to have come across many beautiful pictures of this hotel. Unfortunately, Casa Cook is not yet in Bali, but the good news is that Villa Massilia is.

You may not have heard about this villa yet, but let me assure you, from now on it will be the new it-spot to stay in while visiting the island.

Villa Massilia is the labour of love of Ben and Alissa, an English and American couple living in Hong Kong with the dream of eventually relocating in Bali. With a strong interest in interior design and architecture, they decided to acquire a small villa and renovate it. When the second and third adjoining villas became available, they saw an incredible opportunity to create a villa complex that can be rented out individually or as a whole unit. Suddenly their small investment became a very large project that has taken a year to complete.

Villa Massilia is an undiscovered Casa Cook. A refined estate in the centre of Seminyak inspired by this hotel chain and reinterpreted for the Bali environment.

The Team

Ben and Alissa are obviously detailed oriented people and knew exactly what they wanted. When they hired the architecture firm Design Assembly to lead the project, the concept and design aesthetic was crystal clear from the beginning, making it very easy to follow the project without any confusion. But Alissa and Ben are no ordinary people. They take the design and feel of their villa project very seriously. So, they hired a lighting specialist, Studio Nimmersatt to create the night ambience and feel of the space, as well as interior design team (N Studio) to produce a lot of the furniture and source the decor. And finally, to complete the project they hired landscape artist – Bali Landscape Company – to finish off the beautifully manicured garden and minimalist internal zen gardens. Clearly, they know what they want!

You would never guess that so many hands have worked to create these seamless villas. They are so well put together, so perfectly designed and decorated that they look like they were painted by the same brush. But I guess that’s the beauty of hiring the right teams. You want each one of those elements to shine individually and concurrently, as well as complement and intertwine with one another effortlessly. And have they succeeded!

The Materials

The villas appear effortless. It’s an understated luxury. They have chosen elements and materials perfectly suited to the Bali climate. The fixings and plugs are all beautiful and consistent across all of the bathrooms creating uniformity and consistency no matter which room or villa you are staying in. The bedrooms are generous, while the bathrooms are incredibly indulgent without ever being over the top. One of the master bathrooms in the main villa is simply exquisite. A bent tree sits like a sculpture behind the shower. An artistic touch that happened naturally, but somehow reinforces the harmony of this extremely inspiring space.

For the flooring they decided to use terrazzo on the bedrooms, bathrooms and main living areas. The use of local Palimanan stone adds the perfect amount of contrasting texture to the very clean polished and serene design. They have used teak as the main wood element with rattan accents.

The Space

The main villa’s living space is of a grand scale. The high ceilings, long dining table and lavish sofas exude luxury. But as the materials used are natural, with tamed colours and soft textures, the grandeur remains deliberately restrained.

The main pool is very much in proportion to the main villa. It’s a huge swimming pool that is fit for a resort. Villa Massilia is called an estate for a reason. Boasting a total of 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and 3 swimming pools, it certainly fits the bill. This is a serious villa with serious intentions, careful planning and lots of integrity. A private resort that will leave a long-lasting impression and inspire holidaymakers from near and far.

Book your stay here

Design direction and concept: Ben & Alissa O’Hare
Architecture: Design Assembly
Lighting Design: Studio Nimmersatt
Interiors: N Studio
Landscape: Bali Landscape Company

Photography, Styling & Words: Sheila Man