Hart & Soul Living is a conscious living concept created by Katrina Hart, founder of Hart & Soul Retreat, bringing together thoughtfully designed spaces centred around connection, creativity, calm and belonging.

Villa Saraswati, in Tumbak Bayuh, Bali, is the first property created under the Hart & Soul Living brand. Set within a tranquil tropical setting, it was envisioned as a place where people could arrive as they are, slow down, create memories and feel at home.

Rather than a short-stay luxury villa, Villa Saraswati is designed for a more intentional way of living. Hills & West was engaged to bring cohesion, warmth and purpose across the property’s two villas and private studio, ensuring each space felt authentically Balinese while functioning as a nurturing, lived-in home.

Each residence within Villa Saraswati carries its own name and identity, reinforcing the idea that these are not anonymous spaces, but places with character, story and memory.

Design Intent

This project deliberately moves away from the familiar “luxury villa” language often found in Bali, spaces that feel interchangeable and placeless. Here, the experience is unmistakably Balinese. From century-old carvings to four-metre vaulted ceilings, the villas carry a sense of ancestry and permanence that cannot be manufactured.

Our role was not to overwrite this history, but to work with it, allowing the architecture, craftsmanship and spirit of the home to lead.

Spatial Planning & Living Experience

Villa Saraswati is made up of two villas and a private studio, set within a large, tranquil property designed to encourage peace, reflection and creativity.

The Sanctuary

A traditional Javanese Joglo overlooking the main pool, The Sanctuary features a verandah, expansive living area, kitchen, study, bedroom and two bathrooms. One bathroom opens onto a lush green garden, with a freestanding bath designed as a quiet retreat within the home.

The scale of the space is balanced with warmth through layered furnishings, thoughtful lighting and carefully placed moments to pause, read or work.

The River House

A short walk across the pool, the River House is an upstairs two-bedroom villa offering a more intimate yet equally special experience. Each bedroom has its own indoor-outdoor ensuite, alongside a fully equipped kitchen and beautifully considered living space with a study corner and reading nook.

A standout feature is the oversized balcony, which overlooks the pool and surrounding tropical gardens. This elevated outdoor space creates a natural place for reflection and gathering, reinforcing the connection between indoors, outdoors and nature.

The Garden Studio

The Garden Studio is a private, self-contained space with its own entrance, featuring a king-size bed, kitchenette and ensuite bathroom. Designed for independence while remaining connected to the wider sanctuary, it offers a quiet place to work, rest and retreat.

Design Thinking in Practice

Design decisions were guided by how people would truly live in the space, not just how it would photograph.

• Every villa and studio includes dedicated workspaces, acknowledging that creativity, reflection and purpose often emerge through making, writing or quiet focus.
• Fully functional kitchens were prioritised, encouraging nourishment, routine and a sense of home.
• Furniture layouts were refined to make the spaces easy to live in, without excess or distraction.

The result is an environment that removes friction from daily life and allows the space to gently support the rhythms of everyday living.

Local Craft, Custom Making & Art

A core part of the project was working closely with local Balinese artisans and suppliers, ensuring the interiors felt honest, grounded and place-specific.

• Custom-made sofas, beds, wardrobes and chairs were designed to fit the proportions of each room and optimise space.
• Soft furnishings were all made locally, layered to add warmth and tactility without overwhelming the architecture.
• Custom bedside tables and joinery were designed to sit seamlessly alongside the villa’s existing vintage pieces, bridging old and new.
• Curated art was introduced throughout the spaces, adding soul, warmth and moments of quiet storytelling.

Lighting was softened and considered, creating a sense of calm in the evenings while respecting the scale of the high ceilings and traditional forms.

A Sense of Belonging

At its heart, Hart & Soul Living is about belonging.

Villa Saraswati was created not simply to impress at first glance, but to be lived in and experienced over time. It invites people to settle in, create memories and feel at home, whether through connection and conversation, solitude, creativity or rest.

It is a space for conscious living, where people can feel connected to themselves, to others and to the environment around them.

The sense of ancestry, the craftsmanship, the calmness of the property and the intentional layering of spaces all contribute to an atmosphere that feels deeply human and quietly powerful.

Outcome

The completed Villa Saraswati is a sanctuary that feels lived-in, grounded and purposeful, and the first expression of the Hart & Soul Living vision.

Each villa and studio offers a place to arrive, exhale and feel at home. The spaces are functional without being rigid, warm without being over-styled and deeply connected to their Balinese context.

We are now continuing to work with Katrina to share Villa Saraswati with a wider community, recognising that a place created with this level of care and intention is meant to be lived in, experienced and shared.

For Hills & West, this project reflects our belief that meaningful design is not about aesthetics alone, but about creating environments that support real life, memory-making and belonging.