Villa Thuya

Villa Thuya stands on the coast at Balapitiya, just north of Ambalangoda, a striking multi-level house of stone, timber and glass rising out of a lush tropical garden with views over the Indian Ocean. Across from the villa the shore is wild and rocky, with a natural rock pool for a dip and scrambles over the boulders, and a sandy beach is only a few minutes’ walk away. With three bedrooms for six guests and a large, light-filled layout, it suits families and friends who want a design-led beach house with plenty of room to spread out.

At the heart of the garden is a lagoon-shaped pool with a natural rock boulder rising from the water and seats built into the shallows, surrounded by palms and tropical planting. A stone sundeck with cushioned bamboo sofas sits beside it, loungers are scattered across the lawn, and upper terraces and balconies look out to the sea, perfect for breakfast with an ocean breeze. In the evening the house and pool are softly lit against the darkening sky.

Inside, the air-conditioned living room combines rough stone walls, teak furniture and full-length glass doors to the garden, with comfortable sofas and a table football game, and the round dining table sits on a raised timber platform. Upstairs there is a second air-conditioned lounge and terrace. The bedrooms are decorated in white, pearl and gold, each with air conditioning and an en-suite bathroom, and the master suite has a sofa, a flat-screen TV and an oversized freestanding bathtub. Breakfast is included, and the staff can cook lunch and dinner to order.