Marbella - Villa del Gato: Detailed Specification & Floor Plans
The villa is located on a sloping site. Accordingly, steps from the metalled driveway lead up to the Entrance Porch and front door, which are sited at the level of the swimming pool and patio to the garden, above, to which The Main Floor leads. The front door opens to a large Hall (15 sqm) with marble floor inlaid with a star motif, furnished with a bookcase and featuring Busatti fabric wall panels and iconic monochrome photos of Spain. Alarm keypad. Door to a marbled-walled Guest WC (2 sqm).
Another door leads to the east-facing Grey Bedroom (16 sqm), with twin beds (maybe combined as a double), bedside tables and lights. A large, east-facing bay window overlooks the garden, with distant sea glimpses, whilst a smaller north-facing window looks into the garden. Rustic curtains and oil paintings of the view from St Petroc. Our comprehensive golf course design library is also to be found in this room.
Double doors from the Hall lead to the Open Plan Living Area (74 sqm) with two separate Sitting Areas and Dining Areas. The larger, more formal dining area is furnished with a glass topped dining table, chairs to seat up to 10. The smaller dining area features a glass-topped round white breakfast table and 4 chairs. The sitting area is furnished with two sofas, two armchairs, a glass-topped coffee table, working fireplace, and Bösendorfer grand piano. In the centre of the main sitting area is the coffee table and in its corner a 32" TV with DVD player. The other sitting area has another sofa. In another corner is a desk and computer printer. Voile drapes adorn curtain rails above the 7 full length windows. The breakfast dining area features further oil paintings of the view from St Petroc, whilst a Busatti fabric wall panel and a mirror frame the formal Dining Area, and a large print of the view from Villa Macario overlooks the Sitting Area.
French windows/sliding glass doors lead from both areas to the Covered Verandah (26 sqm), furnished with teak tables and chairs. A pergola and stretched canvas sails provide further shade (27 sqm) between the verandah and the hedge that secures the swimming pool. This area is designed to seat max 20 people. Additionally there is a higher table, where in the dry summer season an electric grill may be used (in place of the BBQ, which is withdrawn from use at that time of year for safety reasons).
Off the dining area is the large Kitchen (20 sqm), which includes the following features:
- traditional terracotta floor tiles;
- granite work-surfaces (9m);
- east & south facing windows, opening onto pool terrace;
- extensive glass and/or wooden fronted cupboards, drawers & storage space;
- Bosch-equipped, with 90cm electric hob & extractor fan, 60cm oven, large microwave, dishwasher, large LG US-style fridge with ice-maker, and double sink with drainer and Grohe taps;
- kettle, toaster, food processor, etc..
The marble Staircase (22 sqm), with a traditional Andalusian high ceiling cooling tower above, framed with a full height north-facing one-way glass window and hung with Busatti, Nina Ricci and fair trade Indian silk fabric panels, previews The Upper Floor which is styled with Indian wall fabrics. Here, one is greeted by the large Landing (20 sqm), with 2 armchairs and chess table, and whose marble floor is enhanced by Persian rugs, plus colourful Indian saris cloaking the walls. The Landing leads directly to the four principal bedroom suites.
The Master Suite (29 sqm), with views to the golf course and Mediterranean, comprises:
- a large Bedroom with a 200cm Californian king double bed, twin armchairs, bedside tables and lights, rugs, TV, walls lined with fair trade Indian silks and prints, and a large south-facing bay window with wide-spread Mediterranean views over the pool and garden;
- internal door to a large marble-walled Villeroy & Boch Bathroom, with 'his & hers' double basins with heated mirror, large walk-in marble-lined multi-function water massage shower, bathtub with shower, WC and bidet, naturally lit by two small windows; and
- internal door to Dressing Room with full-length traditional Andalusian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside), and a pouf, which may be folded out into a full-size single bed, particularly useful for parents accompanied by a child (but the bed is comfortable for adults as well).
Full-length glass doors lead to the south-east-facing Private Balcony and south-west-facing large Covered Balcony, furnished with two teak sun-loungers, table and armchairs, shared with The Blue Suite and with stunning panoramic views over the garden to the Mediterranean, the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountains of Morocco.
The Blue Suite (45 sqm) comprises a spacious 180cm super-king double/twin Bedroom, enhanced with chair, bedside tables & lights, Persian rug and large full-length traditional Andalusian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside), and hung with Indian siks and prints, with an internal door to an en-suite marble-walled Villeroy & Boch Bathroom (with basin, walk-in marble-lined multi-function water massage shower, bathtub and shower, WC and bidet).
Panoramic south-facing sliding glass doors open onto a large south-west-facing Covered Balcony, shared with the Master Suite, with panoramic views (as described above - sqm of this area is included as Blue Suite).
The stunning southerly view from this bedroom is complemented by a west-facing window looking over the Marbella Golf golf course to the La Concha mountain range above Marbella.
Also off the Landing, a door leads to The Red Suite (26 sqm), which comprises a spacious 180cm super-king double/twin Bedroom, enhanced with a pouf which conceals a full-size fold-out bed, bedside tables & lights, TV, Persian rug and large full-length traditional Andalusian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside), and walls hung with fair trade Indian silk, and prints of Rugby School, home of Rugby Football. A large, north-facing bay window overlooks the garden, with views of the golf course and the La Concha mountain range above Marbella, in addition to a west-facing window which also renders sea views over Central Marbella. A door leads to an en-suite red marble-walled Villeroy & Boch Bathroom (with basin, walk-in marble-lined multi-function water massage shower, bathtub and shower, WC and bidet).
Again off the Landing, a door leads to The Brown Suite (21 sqm), which comprises a 150cm king double Bedroom, enhanced with a chair, bedside tables & lights, Persian rug and large full-length traditional Andalusian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside), and hung with fair trade Indian silk and prints of The Alhambra at Granada. An east-facing bay window, with distant sea views, overlooks the garden and valley below. An internal door leads to the en-suite green marble-walled Villeroy & Boch Bathroom (with basin, walk-in marble-lined shower and WC).
A private north-facing Private Balcony (5 sqm) is accessible through a full-length glass door.
From the Living Area, stairs lead down to The Lower Floor, at ground level on the lower side of the villa. At the bottom of the stairs, a door leads to the long Lower Entrance Hall (20 sqm), hung with a gallery of mixed photos, which leads to the garage. Security alarm keypad. Through a door off this hall, one enters a potentially separate apartment, centred around The Lower Inner Hall (10 sqm), hung with prints of Venice and Florence and housing the linen cupboard.
A door leads to The Orange Bedroom (15 sqm) with 180cm super king double/twin bed, furnished with an armchair, bedside tables & lights, TV, beige rug and large full-length traditional Andalucian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside) and an east-facing window looking onto the lower garden. The walls are adorned with tapestries featuring fabrics from Busatti, Tuscany's leading artisan fabric producer, whose fabrics also feature in the interior design of our villa in Tuscany. Two prints with views from Villa Macario, our Tuscan villa are also hung on the walls.
Another door from the Lower Inner Hall leads to The Purple Bedroom (25 sqm) with 180cm super king double/twin bed, enhanced with a pair of small armchairs, beige rug and large full-length traditional Andalucian-style lattice-fronted cupboards (hair-drier inside), and east- and south-facing windows looking onto the lower garden. This, the villa's largest, bedroom is furnished with bedside tables and lights, and another table with a TV. If only 5 bedrooms are required, this room is effectively en-suite with the Lower Bathroom.
Another door from the Lower Inner Hall leads to the marble-walled Villeroy & Boch Lower Bathroom (7 sqm, with basin, walk-in marble-lined multi-function water massage shower, WC and bidet); this room also functions as the laundry, with Bosch washing machine, Bosch tumble drier and a sink.
Also from the Lower Inner Hall, a door leads to The Storeroom, where the maid keeps her supplies, which is normally locked.
A door from the Lower Entrance Hall leads to the large double Garage (35 sqm), finished with terracotta tiles and an automatic overhead-sliding door.
Service Rooms: Beneath the porch there is a Storage Room, including the air-conditioning/heating fan system. Next to the garage is a Pump Room, housing the swimming pool filter and heating system, electric immersion heaters linked to the solar panel heating system and the garden irrigation system pumps, plus two 1,000 litre water storage tanks. These rooms are not accessible by tenants.
Services
- solar-powered under-floor heating system in every room (excl Lower Entrance Hall and store/service rooms);
- ducted air-conditioning/heating system throughout the villa (excl Lower Ground Floor, whose bedrooms each have their own independent air-conditioning);
- solar-powered hot water system;
- solar power is supplemented by triple electric immersion heater system;
- mains water (filtered) and electricity;
- wireless broadband internet access;;
- the burglar alarm is connected by telephone to a local security company.
- community security is provided by patrols within the security barriers of the El Rosario urbanización and gates to the sub-urbanización within which Villa del Gato is situated. Please note that the sub-urbanización gates are currently left open, for strategic reasons, while our community resolves a demand from the Town Hall to adopt our road (which is, in fact, a cul de sac leading nowhere).
Finishes
Marble flooring throughout the villa, except kitchen and balconies (terracotta) and Lower Ground Floor (marble tiling); all bathrooms/WCs featured marble walls up to 2.2m. Granite work-surfaces in the kitchen. Almost every ceiling light is controlled by a dimmer switch. The vast majority of the numerous flights in the house have been converted to low energy LEDs
The Pool
Accessed through a gate off the Verandah, is the 10x5m swimming pool, in a protected area partially tiled with terracotta and partially laid to lawn. This is the most formal part of the garden, and features sun-loungers, another pergola (adjoined by an open shower) and two potted lemon trees.
The Jacuzzi
Over a brow, some 30m from the villa, is a large, 8-seater jacuzzi, sited on a wooden sun deck in a secluded rustic location overlooking the golf course. This is one of the most popular features of the villa, and is wonderful for evening cocktails at sunset. For your own safety and convenience, even though this facility is serviced regularly by our staff, we ask you to check the chemicals before use (very easy to do with test strips, which we supply). For the same reasons we require you to adhere to a set of common-sense rules regarding its use, which we supply post-contract.
The Garden
Villa del Gato has (for the Costa del Sol) an exceptionally large garden, approaching some 2 acres in area. The garden was designed by Martin Burgess, a UK-based international garden designer (who has also designed our gardens in Tuscany and Cornwall) in 2008, and its panoramic views are stunning.
The theme of the design is Transition to Wilderness. Our requirement was for the experience of being able to walk away from the villa, away from paved terraces to mown paths, away from mown paths into the wild, experiencing a gradual change:
• from formal garden around the villa, to
• shrubbed beds, to
• controlled wild areas, to
• completely wild ‘campo’.
In the process, one walks between olives, sits at two points with panoramic views, drinks or dines in shade on the lower garden terrace or on the sun deck adjoining it, relaxes in the panoramic jacuzzi or sunbathes further from the house in complete seclusion, at all times in touch with nature.
Following this spirit, Martin has created a natural garden that blends into the olive groves between the villa and Marbella Golf’s 8th hole. Martin sums up his concept:
“From the spacious and relatively formal terrace and pool in front of the villa, the garden rises over a small ridge onto a south-west-facing hillside. Here the formality gradually gives way to a natural state with wild lavenders, cistus and brooms growing amongst olives, oaks and pines.
Plant choice was very much inspired by the natural summer conditions, to minimise watering requirements. This makes it more natural and ecologically acceptable, compared with many local gardens that seem to draw on a relatively small stock of often-thirsty species. The cooler season brings an abundance of wild flowers alongside the broad pathways and clearings. These are designed to invite exploration to more secluded spots, where the magnificent views of the sweeping coastline and the towering mountains can be appreciated in peace.
The jacuzzi, set into the brow of the hillside, has been sited for discretion, yet gets full views of the glorious sunsets.”
Please note that the irrigation system, which operates every night, uses water from a reservoir: it is very definitely not drinkable! Anything left outside overnight will be soaked.
Utility costs
Our contract includes an allowance for utilities included within the price. This is because electricity is very expensive in Spain, especially compared with prices enjoyed in the UK, France and the USA. With its modern under-floor heating and solar energy system, Villa del Gato can be a very 'green' property. However, if the air-conditioning and/or jacuzzi are used, large bills can easily be run up. For this reason, we reserve the right to charge if more than your allowance has been incurred (at cost) during your stay.
Respecting our Community
We make a point of saying that that we live in a quiet community. If quiet enjoyment of a beautiful rustic location is not the holiday for you, ours is not the villa for you! (We are required by our community to have you sign our Residents' Charter at the same time as contracting with us.) Also to avoid disappointment, please note that BBQs are not permitted during summer months, because of the fire risk - we supply an electric grill instead.
Floorplans
These are approximately to scale. To download pdfs, click on the relevant floor:
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