The Wanti | A Balinese Pavilion Reimagined into a Peaceful Guesthouse Retreat

Welcome to The Wanti – a guesthouse with a story to tell.
Perched on the same piece of land as Maria’s own home, The Wanti began life in 2019 as a multi-tiered wantilan — the classic wall-less Balinese pavilion, open to the breeze beneath a soaring layered roof. Maria saw its potential and decided to renovate. To welcome visiting by family and friends, she enclosed the space with walls and windows, using natural materials and thoughtful design to keep the spirit of the original structure alive.
The Wanti is full of quiet details that make it special:
● A celebration of bamboo – from round black-bamboo columns and beams to blond bamboo furniture, even split- bamboo floors that feel both textured and smooth
underfoot.
● A light-filled kitchen, built by their own factory, with a bamboo island, a raw-edged stone sink countertop , and cupboards made from fine bamboo splits.
● A surprising bathroom, with lime-washed walls tinted by brick dust, a wooden floor, and a Japanese soaking tub – an unexpected touch of luxury.
● Upstairs, the main bedroom feels like a treehouse, with views of rice fields and temples. The low, black-bamboo bed can be tented at night, adding a cocooning, intimate feel.
● Downstairs, an open-plan living space includes a generous sofa that can double as an extra bed.
Maria loves the way the light changes throughout the day – soft in the mornings, golden at sunset – and the serenity of looking out over her neighbour’s Balinese compound.

By reimagining her father-in-law’s pavilion and honouring the beauty of natural materials, Maria has created more than a guesthouse. The Wanti is a place that feels rooted in Bali,
simple yet soulful – proof that design and tradition can live beautifully side by side. In this episode of A Peek in Paradise, we explore how The Wanti came to life – a home that captures the warmth of Balinese living, with bamboo at its heart.
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