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By Peter Bream
Baan Sabai, in Patong,does indeed give one an immediate feeling
of "sabai sabai", or being relaxed, as its name implies.
This lovely house is tucked away in a quiet residential area on
the expansive southern headland of Patong Bay, on Phuket's west
coast. Despite its secluded location, however, it still benefits
from great views looking north, through palms and two enormous rain-forest
trees, across Patong Bay to Kalim.
This is a house of great warmth and character, and is the result
of its owner's love affair with the area. Around 11 years ago, Australian
Darren Lockie found himself working for Microsoft in the Asia Pacific
region and, like many of us, discovered the charms of Thailand and
Phuket whilst on holiday. Six years ago, after frequent trips, he
bought a property very close to Baan Sabai and visited every weekend
from Malaysia, where he was then working. Weekend trips weren't
enough for Darren, however, and he retired to Phuket two years ago,
having already begun construction on Baan Sabai - his second home
there. Completion of the house in mid-2002 also saw the fulfilment
of Darren's dream in his tropical idyll; it's not hard to see why.
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The house stands on a 2000 Sq.M. site of sloping hillside; a site
that Darren modestly describes as having been "quite an ugly
piece of land" prior to its development. It comprises four
Thai-style pavilions housing an office, four bedrooms, the main
living areas and an impressive gymnasium. These areas, which demand
further description, are set out on three levels, interspersed with
several garden areas.
The house is reached via a somewhat private road leading off the
southern end of Patong Beach and up to the headland. It is entered
through an impressively large and rugged solid wooden gate and,
assuming you're driving - which would be the norm in such hilly
terrain - you then drive directly into a covered area at the lower
level of the main pavilion. This is very handy if the area is undergoing
a tropical deluge at the time. Both you and your shopping remain
dry. From here, you can either go up to the "terrace bedroom"
and main living areas, or through into what Darren regards as the
heart of the house. This is The Blue Room.
My first impression on entering this sanctuary was, "Ooh,
this is interesting". It took me a while to absorb it all.
It is a large, yet cosy, multi-functional room for the whole family,
whose shape is, er, hard to describe. Darren and I decided it was
essentially triangular, but with wiggly sides. This charming room
houses a bar, a regulation pool table (with blue felt), big screen
51-inch TV, audio-visual centre with CDs and DVDs, a large lounge
area occupying the "apex" of the room and, for the kids,
a Sony Playstation II. In addition to these features, a circular
wooden seat has been built around an enormous boulder that juts
out of one wall and, whilst relaxing in the lounge area, you can
observe the underwater antics of your kids or other loved ones playing
in the adjacent swimming pool, through two (underwater) windows.
The floor here is a pleasing black African granite, and the attractive
Thai-style windows along one side allow one to gaze out on the waterfall
and tropical gardens outside. This is such an interesting room that
I can barely begin to imagine the time Darren spent in designing
it. The remaining furnishings are of wood and rattan, a combination
that no doubt helps lend the room its homely atmosphere.
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Up a staircase from the Blue Room is the "terrace bedroom"
and main living area. The terrace bedroom, with its en suite bathroom,
is so named because of the large sandwash terrace just outside.
The bedroom itself is a modest size. Like all but one of the bedrooms,
it has a beautiful wooden floor and simple Thai-style furnishings.
The emphasis here is on simplicity and practicality, yet Khun Rungtiwa
"Oi" Phothisarn, the Villa Manager, has made sure that
attention to detail and the little comforts we all appreciate are
second to none. Fresh flowers appear in appropriate places, slippers,
towels and bath robes, embroidered with Baan Sabai's own logo, are
immaculately laid out, and the bathrooms are home to a cornucopia
of Baan Sabai's own aromatherapy toiletries.
This first pavilion is also home to the kitchen, dining and main
lounge area. These all sit under one very charming cathedral-style
roof in an open-plan arrangement. The kitchen, with its black African
granite floor, was designed as a minimalist "man's kitchen",
and for just one occupant - Khun Darren. Nevertheless, food for
6 - 8 people can easily be prepared here, in addition to that prepared
by the Thai cook in her own kitchen. The lounge and dining areas
are set off by the beautifully rich red wooden floor, the wood-framed
windows and the decor. Thai and Burmese antiques are strategically
placed, and original Thai paintings adorn the walls. In fact, the
entire lounge area, including the furniture, was designed around
a beautiful painting incorporating The Buddha's head; such is the
extent to which the owner has gone in designing and furnishing the
place. A one-piece, Italian marble, hanging lamp was the only one
Khun Darren could find that suited the area above the kitchen.
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The three main pavilions are centred around the swimming pool and
its terraces. The pool, whose depth ranges from three to seven feet,
is a free-form affair. At one side, a Japanese wooden bridge spans
the top of the garden waterfall and effectively leads across to
the third pavilion. Along the second side, four sun loungers are
laid out in front of a bed of tropical plants, while the third side
is the terrace fronting the main dining area.
The second pavilion houses two poolside guest bedrooms, each designed
along the same lines as the terrace bedroom in the first pavilion.
Each of the bathrooms have their own distinctions, however. One
has an outdoor shower, very popular with guests, while the other
has a glass door leading out from the shower area directly into
the pool; very handy for enjoying a quick dip between ones ablutionary
activities.
The third pavilion is more of a self-contained house. One major
difference here is the locally hewn and attractive "salt &
pepper" granite flooring to the main areas and the sandstone
walls and floor of the bathroom. Again, this pavilion is essentially
open-plan. A large hallway area gives way to an enormous bedroom
which looks out through a lounge and entertainment area, across
a large terrace to the trees and Patong Bay beyond. The very ample
dressing area adjacent to the bedroom leads into a big and very
welcoming shower and bathroom. Walls and surfaces here are soft-coloured
marble and sandstone. This bathroom houses the spa-bath-cum-Jacuzzi.
Mineral dips can be taken here prior to a massage, facial or body
treatment given by Khun Lee, one of the villa's maids who also happens
to be a fully qualified therapist.
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The fourth pavilion, or Office Pavilion, is smaller than the others.
As the name implies, this houses all the equipment necessary to
maintain contact with the outside world. It can also be converted,
very easily, for use as a fifth bedroom, and there is a bathroom
at the rear of the pavilion. The office has a cosy atmosphere, with
full-length windows on three sides and attractive wooden blinds
enhancing the ambience. Yet again, from this quite private room,
a large terrace offers views of gardens and ocean.
For those who like to keep fit without having to trek to the nearest
large hotel's fitness centre, Darren has built a thoroughly professional
and ultra-modern gymnasium, under the third pavilion, housing six
multi-function machines and an alarming selection of dumbells. Along
one wall is an ornate rock garden, while two others house five enormous
plate-glass windows to permit views of the wider world outside.
This is a very meaningful gym, and Khun Darren, who used to box
competitively, can guide any of his guests wishing to contemplate
a route to greater fitness.
The remainder of the property comprises various private garden
areas, in addition to a large garage and storage area. A large square
sala in the lower garden provides a very private sanctuary in which
to relax or enjoy a Thai massage whilst listening to the rippling
of the garden's two waterfalls. The antique wooden tiles atop this
sala enhance the relaxing atmosphere here. The house was designed
in classic Thai style externally, while exhibiting contemporary
Thai tastes inside. "I like contrasts", stated Darren.
"It works." And it certainly does. The whole place has
immense appeal.
Whilst Darren fulfilled his dream in building Baan Sabai, he confesses
that the dream may have been too good, and consequently the house
too large, for his sole occupation. Despite the fact that he is
joined by his girlfriend from Bangkok for considerable lengths of
time, it remains too large for just the two of them. As a result,
Darren now offers Baan Sabai as a resort-style holiday home to large
families or groups of friends who seek all the comforts of a hotel,
but with greater privacy. Under the expert management of Khun Oi,
he has a staff of maids, gardener, pool boy and security guards
to ensure that any stay there will be as comfortable and safe as
is possible. Khun Oi is on hand to attend to her guests' every need,
and a fully insured, 4-wheel-drive Suzuki Vitara is available for
guests' use.
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