I have said this before, and I will say it again, I love my job! I get so much satisfaction from photographing houses. In particular, the ones that are one of a kind.
I feel so lucky to have been invited to photograph Amberly Valentine’s home. Not only because this house is incredibly special, but also because Amberly is a highly coveted international photographer. So, her trust in me to photograph both her house and her is very humbling.
After getting to know Amberly a little more, there is no wonder why her house is so incredible. She is an exceptional individual. Her sense of style, taste and attention to detail is easily seen in her home. It exudes her enormous sensitivity, imagination, humility, beauty, and intelligence. Yep! Total, girl crush!
But back to the house! Her Umalas home is a 2 bedroom villa with a small attached office. The house is mostly made of a soft pale pink polished concrete mixed with recycled and hand carved wood. The house is modest but stunning. The beautiful details of the antique tap wear used in the bathrooms and the little nooks and gorgeous homewares create an incredible retreat that I’m so lucky to have witnessed.
The windows in the bedroom are quite small and the bathrooms don’t have any openings, so Amberly used skylights to create a ton of light where it was most needed.
The bedrooms have open cupboards and are so perfectly organized that it makes me ashamed of ever showing my own! Decorated with antique bedside tables, Dior bags, and stunning Chanel shoes. It is basically my dream bedroom!
The living and kitchen area is open to the swimming pool that is surrounded by wooden decking. There is also a very romantic patio with grey and white cement tiles, polished cement sofa, and bougainvillea flowers growing out of huge antique white pots. So exquisite!
But probably the best part about this house is the kitchen. Minimal and rustic in design, it is styled to perfection. The cement polish, the gorgeous nooks, the big window, and the recycled wood cabinets create a perfect recipe for an exotic kind of comfort.
The dining table stools are metal drums that she sources in Sumba. In fact, everything that Amberly has in her amazing house comes from somewhere far and mystical, and most importantly holds meaning for her. For that reason, this house is impossible to replicate. The history, beauty, and uniqueness of each item are an echo of the owner herself.
10 Comments
The simplicity and elegance is absolutely amazing!
Thank you! I totally agree!
I love everything about this stunning home. I am trying to source the rain drums. I just wondered if you had contact for me please? Many thanks
Michelle
I love them too and they are hard to find! We organise shopping day trips and week-long retreats, where we go to those amazing secret spots that sell these type of products. Join us!
Hello, how did the kitchen for you? Can you pls provide the contact if you have :)). thank you kindly. simon
Hi Simon, Amberly did her kitchen herself!
I love this gorgeous home! Is it available for rent or photo shoots? Thank you!
Hi Claudia, yes it is! Look it up online at Villa Haveli
The walls are just amazing. Any idea what kind of plaster and paint were used?
Its polished concrete with a pink pigment.