 Home Sweet Resort
Make yourself at home at the new Villa Retreat at The Boulders Resort
By Noelle Coyle
Have you ever wished you could get away from it all, but not really go all that far? Every now and then, we all need a little break from the daily grind to pamper ourselves. The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa is now offering a true “home away from home” with the opening of The Villa Retreat.
The 5,000-square-foot Villa Retreat — part of The Boulders’ home rental program — is composed of two neighboring homes connected by a negative-edge pool and lush landscaping. Nearby, the sounds of a natural rock lagoon pond and waterfall lulls guests to sleep as they soak in some rays or enjoy views of the surrounding historic boulders.
At $8,000 per night, it’s the ultimate in chic accommodations for five-star guests. Together, the two homes feature five bedrooms (two of which are master suites), five-and-a-half custom-designed bathrooms, two fully equipped kitchens, a catering kitchen for events, and a private gym. Wi-fi connectibility can be found throughout the Retreat, as well as large plasma screen and LCD televisions, DVD players and iPod docking stations. A perimeter wall surrounding the retreat ensures privacy is maintained.
“There’s a special kind of client that’s looking for (that type of accommodations),” says Michael Hoffmann, general manager of The Boulders Resort. “... It’s interesting because we have a mix. We have the celebrity guests who appreciate a great getaway that’s private, and then you have executives with their family. ... Because it’s spread out, everyone can still do their thing, but at the end of the day, you’re still all together.”
Butler service, valet, a private chef, and on-site helicopter access are all available for Villa Retreat guests. Staff will also stock the retreat with food and beverages of your choice. Have a hankering for Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch every morning? Can’t live without Diet Coke? It will all be ready and waiting in the kitchen. Guests can also have their housekeeping set up for a certain time of day.
“You’re catering to your customer, and it’s really the ultimate service experience,” Hoffmann says. “How much can you do to give your customer the very best experience? Sometimes, it’s really just leaving them alone because that’s what they want.”
If guests start to get cabin fever, all of the amenities at The Boulders are at their disposal. Two championship Jay Morrish-designed golf courses and eight tennis courts await those who want to be outdoors, and for those who want a little more pampering, the Golden Door Spa has a variety of treatments.
John Martin is one of the homeowners and is also the retreat’s Michelangelo.
Co-owner of Turner Martin Design in Palo Alto, Calif., Martin says the form, textures, colors and patterns found in nature inspired the Retreat’s design. Natural materials, including wood and rock, were used throughout the Retreat.
“It was important for me and my partner to create something completely different than The Boulders had ever had before,” Martin says. “There’s a level of sophistication by use of natural materials.”
Large tree roots arranged in front of a large window are among the many unique features found in each home at the Retreat. Martin found the roots — measuring 7 feet tall and 5 feet around — while traveling in Bali three years ago.
“I love the organic feel of it,” he says. “... I was trying to emulate the size of the boulders with the size of the art (inside). You don’t feel diminished by the outside because I’ve created volume and large-scale drama to the interiors.”
Another distinctive aspect is a variety of old barn doors found throughout the homes. At first glance, the doors appear to be artwork, but upon closer inspection, guests will discover their functionality.
“I used a lot of the old doors to act as a floating art piece to cover, say, a hallway. If you didn’t know the door was movable, you wouldn’t know there was a room behind it,” Martin says. The doors cover various rooms, including a closet, a pantry and one of the master suites.
Additional artwork in the home includes black-and-white photography by Paula Warrender, custom-designed lighting by Made Wijya, and paintings created by Martin. 
As part of the homes’ remodeling process, the roofs were raised and larger windows were installed to provide better views of the landscape. The overall goal, Martin says, was to create a visual, organic sensuality for the Retreat.
“... (Guests) always find themselves really staying within the property because of its beauty and therapeutic sense,” Martin says, “and it’s truly because of the expansive view you have from the center courtyard. It’s unlike anything else people would experience. ... It’s more of a therapeutic experience.”
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