A Day in a Life of a Barefoot Bay Villa Guest
Lauren Hernandez
Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of staying at The Barefoot Bay Villa in Byron Bay. It was such a great opportunity to visit our Crossing Threads artwork and a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney for some well-deserved rest and recreation. As two couples, we had the privilege to experience this lavish holiday home that was truly unforgettable.
Street view of The Barefoot Bay Villa. An oasis neatly tucked away.
Location
The Barefoot Bay Villa is a 5-minute walk to the main CBD strip, supermarkets and a 10-minute walk to the beach. Villa guests are also provided with 4 bicycles, boogie/surfboards and a beach umbrella! How nifty is that?!
At the entrance, we were greeted by a solid, panelled wooden front door that opened up to an inviting fresh breeze that was let it from the automatic window louvres. A tablet device was at hand, giving us a soft compendium housing all the information we required about the villa, our stay and recommended dining and shopping hotspots. Eating out was such a delight as we explored the local eateries, cafes and shopping boutiques nearby.
Open plan living rich in natural tones and textures, filled with natural light.
The uber comfy leather couch, a great spot to unwind and connect.
Gotta love a suspended fireplace, perfect to keep toasty warm during the winter season.
Open plan Living/Dining/Kitchen area.
Open Plan Living
After a day soaking up the sun, it was so peaceful to lounge in the very comfortable leather couch, that accommodated the four of us quite generously. Chilling out and watching Netflix made winding down very effortless. This environment was perfect for playing cards, reading books and entertaining. Lighting the Ashley and Co soy candles in all zones, set the mood in the Villa, making each area smell as if we had entered into a day spa. We were also blown away by the suspended fireplace that we imagined would be so cozy and warm during the winter season.
One of our favourite features of the space is the sliding doors that elegantly collapse into the wall. Such a seamless way to let the outdoors in, as it really opened up the energy of the space. Fully ducted airconditioning in each of the zones made it a pleasurable during the warmer days.
Lauren’s most memorable moment of the Villa was the ease of flow.
“What I loved most about the Villa was the flow of the space and how each room spilled into the next seamlessly. The open plan Living/Dining/Kitchen area is my favourite as it is celebrates both design and function..... oh, and the corner of the leather couch will lead you into a deep slumber straight away!”
The heated pool was fabulous to swim in!
Pool and Alfresco dining
We loved being able to share a delicious meal under the pergola, protected from the sun and heat. The bay seating was also great for an afternoon nap session, that allowed you to hear the birds chirping and nature around you.
We adored walking barefoot amongst the surrounds of the lush greenery, adorning every corner of the garden. Once you entered the front gate, it was like escaping into an oasis of established palms, agaves and succulents that truly grounded us in nature. The outdoor shower was perfect to wash off the sea salt from visiting the beach and feel refreshed. The fact that the pool heats up to 28 degrees celsius from 7-11 am, made swimming on the cooler days very comfortable. The 2 banana lounges coaxed you into instant relaxation. One of the two portable blue tooth speakers completed the calming ambiance by the pool, by listening to our favourite playlists.
One handy idea that we appreciated was that the laundry came equipped with sufficient beach and bath towels, fresh and ready at hand. All bathrooms came with opulent, Australian-made, natural shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturiser, making packing that much lighter whilst on holiday.
Outdoor dining area, a perfect spot to enjoy a meal.
A fresh spring home-cooked lunch. Yummy snapper and salad!
Pergola and outdoor seating…. also great for afternoon naps!
Pink Bedroom and Ensuite
Perfect for a girls’ getaway, it was a haven to relax in. The skylight above the bed made it a warm setting to snuggle up to a book and sip on tea. Beautiful soft linens felt great against the skin.
Not to mention, the matching ensuite that felt like showering in a rainforest, with the outdoor palms and clever landscaping gracing the glass louver windows, yet providing good privacy. The backlit LED lighting behind the mirrors was also such a treat and made getting ready for a night out on the town, that much more exciting.
The cane hanging chair was also a lovely touch, where you could curl up to a magazine and enjoy the natural breeze come through the open side doors and fill the space with fresh air.
Walk-in wardrobes in each of the main bedrooms were very functional and spacious, allowing us to unpack and settle home into the holiday vibes instantly.
A great blend of the outdoors and indoors.
Sliding barn door, revealing the matching Pink Ensuite.
The Pink Ensuite, fit with a light-up vanity mirror!
Shower in your very own tropical rainforest!
Master Bedroom and Ensuite
Opening the wall of window louvers, we were able to let the beautiful, natural light shine through with the refreshing ocean breeze gently caressing the white curtains as we napped. The linens, generous bedding and comfortable bedhead made it very easy to dose off. Seeing our Crossing Threads tapestry titled ‘Kalikasan’ completed the Master Bedroom, tying in all the colours and textures of the Villa together. We were met with sincere gratitude, as we admired the weaving from the bedside and felt blessed by the fact that holiday-stayers could appreciate our artwork as they relaxed. Discovering new textures and patterns in the artwork made gazing at it so interesting. As you look at it each time, a new feature or story in the fibre is revealed. What a lovely but mindful way to relax in the space. The design was inspired by both our Australian and Filipino heritage.
We also admire the strong contrast of the charcoal paneled feature wall and terracotta pendant lights. A sophisticated yet grounded approach to mark the Master Bedroom.
The Master Bedroom….how romantic!
Our Crossing Threads weaving titled ‘KALIKSAN’ meaning ‘nature’ in Tagalog.
The skylight above the bed fills the room with natural light. This King size is incredible to sleep on too!
We love the louver windows, allowing the natural sea breeze to come through.
‘KALIKASAN’ weaving hanging proud in its forever home.
Natural, earthy textures and colours…. Mother Nature, a constant inspiration!
Bath Time
Kass’ most memorable moment of the villa was the grey Apaiser bathtub in the master bedroom.
“After a day at the beach, the beautiful and large bathtub was a pleasure to soak in. Large enough for 2 adults, our tired muscles could truly unwind with the detox bath salts and delicate dried flower petals. The ceramic tub was warm to touch and held the heat in the water; making the relaxing experience last even longer!”
The Apaiser ceramic bath tub holds the heat of the water for longer. Win win!
Instant relaxation!
Kitchen
It was such a dream to cook breakfast and snapper for lunch. Fully equipped with cooking utensils, dried herbs and spices and all the appliances that were so cleverly hidden away by a foldable cupboard door. Nespresso coffee and a fully integrated tap that gave hot, cold and not to mentioned sparkling water on demand. No need to rush off to the supermarkets for the ‘last-minute’ items.
Everything was so carefully curated and considered, with beautiful crockery from Robert and Gordon and handmade pieces from Nikau homewares that made eating our meals, that much more enjoyable. Cleaning up was no problem, with a concealed dishwasher next to the sink.
When we got peckish, we appreciated the abundant fruit bowl that sported us a summer selection of mangoes, pineapple, peaches, apples, limes and apples. Raising our glasses with a chilled glass of champagne started the trip on a perfect note.
Dining/Kitchen combined. Loving the amazing joinery and sense of materiality.
This cupboard opened up to reveal a range of appliances, perfectly sealed away when not in use.
Lots of bench space to prepare meals. How beautiful is this forest green colour?!
Home Visit Massage
Relaxation with a home visit massage. What a treat to experience a Ka Huna style and deep tissue massages by the accommodating Aleshia Marie of Bespoke Skin & Spa Therapy Byron Bay. The luxury of having access to this service in your home is such a great idea for holiday guests. 90 minutes of pure bliss followed by a delicious red tea and bespoke chocolates to top it all off. Cannot recommend her enough!
In summary, we stayed for 4 days and 3 nights in this gorgeous villa and felt rejuvenated and recharged. The team at The Designory has definitely gone above and beyond, balancing beautiful design with function and luxury. They have truly thought of everything that a large family or a group of friends would need and want, when on holiday. It was definitely a place that made it hard to leave.
Who/What/Where during our visit:
Dinner at Bang Bang
Brunch at The Farm
Shopping at The Arts and Industrial Estate
Shopped at Spell & The Gypsy Collective
Lunch at Folk
A day visit to Bangalow and shopped at Bisque Traders
Morning dip at Wategos Beach
On the way home to the airport, we visited Pat Morton Lookout at Lennox Head and had lunch by the beach at Shelter