Nestled amidst the picture-perfect Canggu in Bali, with breathtaking views of the rice paddies beneath a crisp blue sky, Villa Selah is social marketing agency, Duo Studio, CEO Stephanie Phua’s latest project━a tranquil retreat for travellers and sometimes, herself.
Villa Selah ain’t just any villa. Over a year in the making, it’s Steph’s dream home that she’s put together from scratch. We spoke to Steph about Villa Selah’s design, inspiration, and everything else in between.
A project that was 1 year & 3 months in the making
Image credit: @stooffi
Stephanie isn’t an architect. She’s also not a designer. Sure, she might have seen one too many episodes of MTV My Crib, but the 30-something-year-old has always been in advertising. In other words, Steph’s not a pro in home and decor━but that didn’t stop her from putting an entire villa together in the hippy ‘hood of Canggu.
“I was reaching that age where it was time to think about buying a house. However, I knew I didn’t want a generic home. Working in the creative line, I’ve grown quite aware of what I appreciate in terms of layout, design, and aesthetics. After weighing the options in Singapore that were within my budget, I realised nothing quite ticked all my boxes.”
“In 2021, an Indonesian friend of mine floated the idea of building a weekend home in Bali, as he’d been in the process of building his own. So I thought to myself, why not?”
There are plenty of perks to building a home in Bali. Besides the low costs and high returns on investment, the one-of-a-kind experience of designing and owning a villa abroad drew Steph in. After months of budgeting, site visiting, and project surveying, she decided to hire Kadecons, a Balinese design company who are behind countless stunning homes across the island.
“It took us 3 months and hundreds of hours to conceptualise the design. Kadecons did most of the work, with some input from myself. I was quite particular about certain things like having sizable bathrooms and tubs, as well as finishings like universal plugs. We went through 4-5 floor plan revisions before finally agreeing on 1.”
A year later, in 2024, Villa Selah Canggu was born.
A dreamy Mediterranean villa in the heart of Canggu
The IG-worthy Mediterranean villa is perfectly situated just 10 minutes away from Canggu and Pererenan.
Image credit: @stooffi
Set on 236 sqm of lush land, the dreamy Mediterranean villa features 2 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, 2 semi-outdoor bathtubs, a swimming pool, an open-concept kitchen, and a living room complete with a sunken convo pit.
Image credit: @selah.bali
Steph vowed to make the vacation home as relaxing as possible, by keeping the interior minimal, modern, and clean. There’s the perfect blend of white and beige that Villa Selah is done up in which brings a tranquil warmth to the house. Then, there’s also the rattan furniture and light wood carpentry which add a touch of boho chic. On top of that, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors mean the villa gets maximum natural light in the day for sun-soaked island living vibes.
Image credit: @selah.bali
According to Steph, the 2 bedrooms inside the villa were purposefully designed to be as far away from one another as possible. “I’m an introverted extrovert, so I understand the need for privacy. Hence, the bedrooms are a distance apart. That said, there are plenty of communal spaces for group activities, like the large dining table, sunken conversation pit, and seating areas around the pool,” said Steph.
Image credit: @fluffedup
In addition to swanky amenities, each detail in the house is selected by Steph herself━treasured conversation cards and books, scented toiletries that she customised with a local vendor, and even bamboo tencel sheets and a hairdryer she carried over from Singapore.
Image credit: @selah.bali
Every single piece of cookware in the kitchen was also handpicked by Steph. “The villa holds a very special place in my heart and I wanted to ensure everything, from the bar of soap down to the lamp, was carefully chosen by me. I also try my best to buy directly from the cottage industry to support their business.”
Turned a vision into an investment despite many challenges
Image credit: @selah.bali
The 1-year-3-month process build was not always bump-free. Aside from lacking construction know-how, Steph ran into several sets of local building rules.
Image credit: @selah.bali
The obstacles stacked up as Bali turned into a remote working hotspot over the last few years. There was an influx of digital nomads and expats coming into Canggu. Demand for villa rentals increased, and supply grew in response. In the last 5 years, more than 1,000 villas were built, and they were all stunning. So it wasn’t easy to stand out from the crowd.
Instead of focusing only on the aesthetics of the villa, Steph ensures that her villa provides top-notch service as well.
“If you visit Villa Selah’s Instagram page, you’ll see that I’ve curated a list of local contacts such as massages, scooter rental, private driver booking, and nearby cafes that won’t cause a case of Bali belly food poisoning.”
“The term Selah means to pause and rest. I hope that anyone who stays here can find some refuge to unwind and take stock of life. So I aim to provide everything that one might need to make their stay at the villa comfortable,” said Steph.
Then, there was the struggle of handling the entire project by herself. “I was considering getting other partners involved, but since it was my first time venturing into something like this, I didn’t have the confidence to be handling other people’s money.” So she took matters into her own hands and got to work on her villa.
“After the construction was completed, I handled the furnishing, soft touches, media relations, and marketing myself. It wasn’t easy getting the villa up and running on my own. Though, I’ll admit that it did help to have Kadecons, who is an expert in the field. Plus, I’ve had a few years of marketing under my belt so the after-build was a breeze.”
A tranquil oasis in the heart of Canggu
When it comes to villas in Canggu, there are many options. But Villa Selah hits just a little different. With rustic luxe living quarters, swanky amenities, a strategic location in the heart of Canggu, and 5-star services, a stay at Villa Selah will feel like an ultra beach town escape. But don’t take our word for it. Go see it for yourself.
Villa Selah can be booked via Airbnb or through its Instagram page.
Read more of our other stories here:
- Colourful $23K condo renovation
- Japandi-inspired 5-room HDB flat with mini zen garden
- $6K 5-room DIY renovation
Cover image adapted from: @selah.bali
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