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    • Homes

    Nestled in a tropical valley, Sucheta Potnis and Hans Tuinman’s homestay Summertime is a little piece of Bali in Goa

    JUN 4, 2018 | By Mrudul Pathak Kundu and Urmee Mehta Mankar
    The house is happily situated to make the most of the view of the valley. Hans and Sucheta often find their guests sitting by the pool with a book or pair of binoculars; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa
    Small details in the room enhance the feeling of luxury; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa
    The loungers are made using 100-year-old recycled Burma teak and designed to be wider than normal for added comfort. Authentic Balinese wooden columns line the villa; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa
    Wicker furniture, orange-hued upholstery and woodwork add a sense of warmth to the living space; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa

    Sitting on the verandah at Summertime with a vast unbroken vista of the green valley, you can’t imagine that you’re just a short drive away from the crowded Calangute beach. Inspired by the lines of classic Balinese homes, the homestay is designed and built by owners Sucheta Potnis and Hans Tuinman. They chose the name “Summertime” for the mood they wanted the home to evoke—with light, greenery and an open view of the sky, all of which encapsulates the happiness of a slow, lazy summer day.

    Labour of love While not trained architects, Hans and Sucheta designed and built the villa themselves, almost in the tradition of master builders of the past, visiting the site daily and personally overseeing the construction.

    Their own home next door, named Aranya, was also envisioned by the duo, and many of their experiments there were the genesis for Summertime. For Hans, “the process of building our homes ourselves was very rewarding and gave us such a burst of energy for those few years.”

    The antique door lends a playful splash of colour to the garden; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa

    The villa sits on a large plot of land but was designed as a single compact structure to retain the site’s verdant cover. A koi pond, inspired by a trip to the Water Garden resort in Bali, is a wonderful focal point in the garden with darting koi fish and the constant, soothing sound of water.

    The living room is open and light, and amply uses black stone for the flooring, wood and wicker; Photographs courtesy Fabien Charuau and Summertime Villa Goa

    Flora and fauna The property attracts many species of birds, especially in summer when the koi pond is one of the few readily available water sources in the area. For Sucheta, an avid birdwatcher herself, this became a playful theme to carry through the interiors of the house.

    It is repeated across whimsical paintings and accessories to create a story that runs through every room. Each of these was carefully selected and as Sucheta says, “There is a happy feeling when you know where each piece has come from and its entire history of production.”

    Easy like Sunday Each suite was consciously planned with identical layouts but done up with distinct furniture and colour palettes. The spaces and furniture are designed for indulgence. After finishing the house, Hans and Sucheta lived in it for six months, “to give it a soul” and it does translate in the villa’s laid-back vibe. Being at Summertime is quite like spending time at a friend’s place—that friend whose great taste you’ve always admired.