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Exceptional Property for sale
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It is a beautiful Monday morning in Phuket and I am glad to be driving around Cape Panwa enroute to Mr. Scott Bradley's house. The drive is lovely, the wide road winds around the cape, sometimes shrouded by a green canopy, sometimes open, yielding wonderful views of Chalong Bay with its electric blue water and lazy yachts bobbing up and down to the rhythm of the tides. |
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Scott, an engineer trade chose this location for his house primarily for the peace and quiet of the area. Working at the Boat Lagoon everyday, he and his wife Toy, both love to come home to their beautiful view and sound of nothing but the birds in the trees and the occasional dull hum of a passing longtail boat. I arrive at the house and to my dismay it appears no one is home. No doorbell, no buzzer. I gawk in confusion, did I get the time wrong? The day? Suddenly the gate before me rolls aside allowing entrance to the property. To either side of a large carport, landscaped, terraced gardens provide a colourful frame for a pebbled walkway that circumnavigates the entire property. The gardens were designed by a local Thai designer and are composed of a delightful array of tropical flowering species, palms, shrubs and verdant green manicured grass. I was greeted atop a short flight of stairs lined with large water urns by Khun Toy, who is also a sailing enthusiast. The front door, composed of fine teak wood, has glass panels etched with rolling waves and dolphins, early evidence that perhaps this is a house that has been designed and decorated to the specific likings of the owners.
What dominated my first impressions of the interior was the feeling of voluminous space. Ahead lies Chalong Bay glistening brilliantly seen through double storey tempered glass windows. The windows and doors stretch for almost the whole length of the seaside wall affording each room an exquisite view. The flow of natural light streaming in through these windows bounces off white walls, ceilings and marbled floors adding a glow to the open plan area. This pleasant radiance filters through to the dining room, which showcases a beautifully crafted teak dining table and chairs. Detailed hand-carved motifs decorate the smooth finish of this dining set. The owners' appreciation of the richness and durability of teak is evident throughout the interior; wardrobes, ceiling panels, skirting boards, and all the upstairs floors have been made from teak and finished with marine-grade varnish. All window and glass doorframes were installed by Phuket based Aluzat. Made of coated aluminium, the frames are extremely strong and easy to use. Aluzat also constructed a polycarbonate awning that encircles the house and provides protection from the heavy monsoon rain and wind.
The kitchen was designed and installed by Absolute Kitchens and is a nice blend of exotic materials; green Italian marble countertops, green and gold-flecked marble benchtops, cedar cabinets and an impressive stainless steel, six-ring stove and oven. Just outdoors from this Western style kitchen is the more practical Thai style kitchen where Toy does all her cooking. The living room features an enormous Sony television cradled by comfortable sofas and a coffee table that was custom made to augment the surrounding furniture and decor. One of three guest bedrooms is situated between the living room and a poolside courtyard. This bedroom, like all others in the house has an ensuite bathroom with Shower Master shower enclosures and accessories. The view from this room extends over the infinity-edged pool, through the graceful curves of coconut palms to the waters of the bay. Flanked by an attractive Thai sala the pool is a manageable size, yet large enough to swim laps. Upstairs is more of a mezzanine level than a second storey, the expansive glass windows extend up from the ground and donate that same glow, however up here the interior theme is more earthy; thick teak doors and floors stand boldly among thoughtfully chosen decorative pieces. Two guestrooms and the master bedroom, each with its own balcony, are located on this level. The latter features more custom made furniture and an enormous walk-in wardrobe with enough hanging space, drawers and shelves to hold a countless number of clothes. The master ensuite is tiled with Thai marble and sitting in grandeur at the far end, capturing the extraordinary view is a big, deep bath. As I gushed about the bath Khun Toy admitted that she and Scott rarely use it. After long days working at the Boat Lagoon they usually opt for a quick shower but that is not to say that they don't love every minute of the rare occasions when they can appreciate it.
A patio extending from the master suite is home to some spectacular orchids, blooming brightly under the gentle care of Khun Toy for whom raising orchids is something of a hobby. The house is set into a steep hill such that all the balconies run into the garden on the left side of the property. The house design takes full advantage of the topography and size of the plot. The house occupies almost the entire block yet the gardens are skillfully terraced so as to cascade around the building from the top to the bottom of the property. The cavernous belly of the house is dark and cool and a perfect site for Scott's very well equipped home gym. Also located within the many pockets of this basement are a storage area, laundry, pool mechanics room and an air-conditioned study. Construction of the house commenced in March 2001 and Scott and Toy moved in August 2002. They are sad to announce that the property is now on the market but look forward to their next project. Khun Toy hinted at plans to build a smaller house, "this is a beautiful house and we love it but it is too big for just the two of us. We might build something smaller in a similar design to this, but nothing is definite yet. " What is definite is the investment potential of this property. It can boast a great sea view, attractive contemporary architecture, superior finishings and thriving landscaping all in an area that is isolated from the bustle of Phuket Town yet is only minutes away. |
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Tropical Living: March 2003, Volume2 Issue 10 |
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