Divine style with chilled & homely vibes
The Stone House is the labour of love for inspiring owners Wendy and Walker, who had a vision to create an intimate and welcoming boutique B&B - and they've totally nailed it. This stylish and unique little sanctuary could grace the pages of any interior design magazine - well actually, it does. The Stone House has been described as home away from home; but I wish it was my permanent residence!
In desperate need of a girls getaway I planned a little sojourn to the Stone House - and it far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived we knew we'd found the little sanctuary we were seeking.
By Libby Larsen
The Stone House is certainly one of a kind - with two divine villas and a decadent suite, each with their own unique style and design nestled in lush gardens with a heavenly pool. The Stone House is perfect for a group of friends, a family reunion, a romantic escape, or a chilled family getaway.
It's located about ten minutes north of Ubud in Kutuh Kaja village - far enough away from hustle and bustle of central Ubud centre, but close enough to get your fix of natural spa treatments, art galleries, top-notch restaurants and organic cafes.
What makes it unique and special
Wendy and Walker have created a divine little oasis that's an interior designers dream. Their exquisite sense of style is evident everywhere you look. With furniture designed by Walker, beautiful rugs, artefacts and fabrics from all over the world, there's no other place quite like it. As well as being gorgeous the Stone House is cosy, intimate and a low key joint with a relaxed atmosphere. There are comfy little nooks everywhere to sit, lounge and relax. The household mascots, two much loved, gentle and friendly pooches, Lulu and Bella add to the homely vibe, and are a hit with families.
There's nothing that hasn't been thought of to make your stay extra special. From the batik bathrobes, handmade notebooks and tropical fruit baskets in our rooms, books and board games, and little gifts with hand written notes that were left on our pillows. Anything you need from an in-house massage, a tour with Wayan, or having a private cooking lesson with Kadek is easy.
I had a read of the guest book, and was gob-smacked at the effort that past guests has gone to in their thoughts and comments about their stay. There were essays of gratitude and gorgeous drawings. Bella and Lulu feature throughout the guestbook with artworks from little kids to gifted adults!
The Layout
The Longhouse is modelled on traditional Indonesian Longhouses. It’s built on stilts with rich dark wooden hues, vibrant Indonesian fabrics, and a balcony that looks out to a lush green ravine. The elaborate bathroom has a huge handmade wooden bath.
The Java Suite, so called because of an exquisite antique internal wall sourced from a Javanese palace, has intricate carvings and rich fabrics and a deep comfy couch making it a cosy and decadent pad.
Sky View is the largest of the accommodation choices. It's where we stayed and didn’t want to leave. It has two bedrooms with gorgeous ensuite bathrooms and two jaw-dropping, magazine-cover lounging areas. It’s light and airy with undulating white washed walls. I had the upstairs room, and I spent hours lounging about on my heavenly private balcony. The Sky View is spacious and would work for groups of friends and families.
The communal chilling zone
The Great Room with its high roof, rustic stone walls and huge long couch which looks out over the garden and down to the pool is the common area to lounge about, read books, play games and flick through the vast collection of coffee table books. There’s a huge communal table where breakfast is served. At night candles are lit and the garden lights create a magical atmosphere around the Great Room.
Munch Munch
You won't go hungry here! The breakfasts are delicious and healthy, and you can arrange to have meals cooked. Kadek is an amazing chef and the meal she prepared for us was one of the best Indonesian meals I've had.
The People
Ultimately for me it's the people make a place special, right? As well as Wendy and Walker the creators of the Stone House - Wayan, Kadek, Rosie, Erna, Ketut are the amazing people who make the Stone House tick, and your stay a memorable and special one that you will be raving to your besties about. These guys welcome you as house guests and you leave as friends. Totally cliched but true.
Kids at the Stone House
Families are welcomed at the Stone House - whatever you need, just ask, be it an extra mattresses on the floor, a cot, renting baby equipment, kids meals or babysitting so you can have a date night. Keep in mind there is no pool fence and some toddler hazards because the property is on a bit of a slope. Check out these awesome drawings of Bella and Lulu that I discovered in the guestbook from aspiring young artists. Love!
A bit about me
I'm a Darwin-based family travel writer and the founder of Growing up Troppo a family travel blog. We have travelled overseas and throughout Bali with our 2 boys since they were babies. I believe that travel shouldn't stop when you have kids and I want my boys to learn about and experience other cultures.
Here are a few more holidays snaps from our girls getaway!
SEE YOU NEXT TIME LULU AND BELLA XX
P.S. I promise to bring my boys
Libby Larsen - Growing up Troppo
Growing up Troppo provides honest travel advice tips and inspiration from parents about special and unique places to stay, play and eat with kids that parents love too! Travel is and has always been, Libby's passion and she believes this shouldn't stop when you have kids. Libby writes a monthly column for Off The Leash - the Darwin Entertainment Guide and is the Northern Territory "Experience Expert" for Experience Oz + NZ.
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