Home tour: An American-style Bali house with modern coastal influences

Dubbed Umbala The House, this Bali residence is used as a holiday home by the owners and their three children, Harry, Finn and Willow. To optimise the use of the property, the family typically rents it out to visitors when they are away. Umbala, which means “colour” in the Zulu language spoken by the South African ethnic group, encapsulates both its playful spirit and the vibrant hues seen throughout the home.

Adds Elkerton: “The owners dreamt of creating a beautiful place where their families and friends could come together to create special memories. Inspired by the beautiful coastline of Bali and our clients’ hometowns, we incorporated ocean-like tones and natural finishes.”

Elkerton drew from the experience of designing Braganza House, her personal Sri Lanka holiday home, which also functions as a rental property. “What I learned when building Braganza was that it’s particularly important to think about the flow of the spaces and how they all connect. People tend to visit with friends and families, so it’s important to create various social spaces that are intriguing and welcoming,” explains the designer. “In the case of Umbala, these gathering spaces are found throughout the house in the form of open and generously sized living and dining areas, terraces with spacious built-in seating, and dens for children and adults.”

For the interior designer, the goal was to marry the simple minimalist look of the architecture with the relaxed coastal vibe that the owners wanted. “We sought to create the perfect balance between a polished luxury villa and a relaxed coastal family home, while incorporating tropical elements that reflect the dreamy island setting of Bali,” shares Elkerton.

To achieve this effortless meld of the two contrasting styles, the E&A Interiors team created rich layers of colours, patterns and textures throughout the interior, and even on the ceiling. Custom joinery and bespoke furnishings were specially produced to soften the look of the angular spaces, and an eclectic combination of wall coverings gives the house a dynamic look.

As testament to the trust the owners placed in the firm, E&A Interiors was also tasked to advise on the spatial planning and material specifications to be given to the architects. These include updating the design for the doors and windows to fit the coastal concept for the five-bedroom house, which incorporates a media room, play area, and the open-plan living room. Among the most significant changes was the decision to use solid pony walls, along with patterned tiles for the stair risers and solid teak for the runners; these replaced the original large-format tiles and glass balustrades that Elkerton felt were too cold for the Hamptons-inspired theme.

Adapting the American-influenced design to a tropical context was another challenge that the designer met with gusto. “Umbala draws inspiration from Hamptons-style homes, but with a more tropical flair and playfulness, as a nod to its vibrant surroundings. We wanted to avoid the typical Bali villa style, and instead design something that is unique and full of character. Through the thoughtful choices of furnishings and materials, we created a fresh look that balances classic inspiration with eclectic colours and patterns.”

A pair of hand-carved, Balinese-style doors leads visitors into the home from a side street. Guests will then traverse a long hallway that leads to the open-plan living room. It is only upon entering this space that guests get a full sense of the scale of the house and its U-shaped layout. The primary living areas and bedrooms face the manicured lawn and limestone pool, and there are three guest suites and a TV room on the first floor. The master suite, playroom and a children’s room with bunk beds are situated on the second storey.

Designed with its own look and feel, each room is a fun surprise to be discovered and experienced. These range from the serene blue tones in the living area and kitchen to the minty green hues in a bedroom dubbed the Koral Suite. Elkerton considers the dining room among one of the most special places in the abode—it features wall-hung plates by her colleague Pony Weng, who is the firm’s head of design. Weng created handmade plates in hues that not only pick up the colours and patterns seen around the house; they also feature motifs that are a homage to Balinese culture.

The design team also relished the chance to collaborate with local carpenters who realised their bespoke furniture and joinery designs beautifully, even while working remotely from Singapore and Indonesia. “Given the incredible craftsmanship Bali is known for, we tried to source locally as much as we could for the art and accessories. We found some stunning antique tapestries that now grace the entrance and living room,” says Elkerton. These were paired with botanical and marine life-themed prints from UK brand Bohome Interiors, along with bird illustrations by American ornithologist John James Audubon.

Although the homeowners could not visit the property during the entire 18-month construction and renovation phase, the couple benefited from being able to see physical samples and materials at Elkerton’s Singapore studio. Eventually, it took about two and a half years for the entire project to be completed

Elkerton has fond memories of their recent visit to Bali, where both the owners and the design team felt moved by the wonderful result after all the effort they had poured into it. “The first time we actually saw the property was when it was completed in April 2022; it was an overwhelming feeling walking into the house and seeing it for the first time Although we felt we knew the house inside and out, it felt even better in reality; the space felt a lot cosier and more intimate than in the photos.”

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