Janabiya jewel

Properties like this beautiful Janabiya home are rarely found in Bahrain.

This lovely villa is grand without being austere, spacious without being cavernous, modern without being ascetic ... and an ideal family home.

"We wanted to build a completely different house, something that was warm and inviting. I don't like cold homes. I wanted my house to be a home," explained the owner.

The property is nestled in a pocket of tranquillity on a tree-lined road that feels a million miles from the hustle and bustle of urban Bahrain.

The architect-designed property was built 13 years ago and has been elegantly tailored to the needs of an extensive and growing family.

The current owners have created a space which expertly marries formal and family areas. There are stately sitting and dining areas as well as informal family rooms that are all furnished with beautiful bespoke furniture.

A large courtyard surrounded by greenery leads to the front of the property, where a few stone steps take you to an impressive front door.

Inside is an impressive, vast, 70ft open plan reception area. Starting at the front door and spreading throughout the house there is beautiful solid oak flooring.

"We shipped in 575 sqm's," explained the owner, who also shipped in fully insulated windows from the US, which the owner says are so effective in the winter you barely need to heat the house.

To the left is a formal, elegantly appointed seating area, which separates the overall area in two by being sunken by two steps.

It has a lovely fireplace, sumptuous sofas and pretty windows with window boxes. There is also another formal seating area where antiques and objets d'art blend effortlessly with modern fixtures.

The carpets and runners that line the floors' at the house were specially woven in Bahrain to fit the large spaces of the property.

To the left of the main reception area is the dining room. This is a deep red opulent octagonal space that is perfect for formal dining. The dining table is huge, made from Traventino marble.

Next door is the large kitchen - the heart of the home. It has every appliance you could dream of from gas ovens with rotisseries and double grills to deep friers and electric ovens.

"It's a kitchen for people who like to cook," said the lady of the house, who hails from New York.

It is rustic but sleek, with beautiful Italian terracotta flooring and stylishly designed units.

The abundance of eating areas means the house is ideal for entertaining on a large scale.

"Last Thanksgiving we had 20 adults, 10 over 20s, and 14 teenagers," said the owner.

Beyond is a large family room that is more than 40 ft long. There are stylish bespoke sofas and floor to ceiling cabinetry. French doors lead to a raised terrace that overlooks the pretty landscaped garden and swimming pool.

There is also a large office with French windows leading to the garden.

The five spacious bedrooms - including a magnificent master bedroom suite, complete with dressing room and a luxurious bathroom with a sunken Jacuzzi - are also on the ground floor. However, the owners say there is potential to build another storey.

Outside the garden is magnificent. There is a large pool with a bar, a spacious terrace for al fresco dining with a state-of-the-art barbeque, and green lawns interspersed with beautiful feature bridges and even a well.

A perfect retreat for teenagers, a guesthouse at the end of the garden is a lovely two bedroom getaway, complete with a bathroom, kitchen area and solid oak floors. "We built this so the kids could have their own personal space as they got older," explained the owner.

But the property doesn't stop there. At the front of the house are three double garages and a workshop built in a separate block with spacious staff quarters and a studio above.

A perfect, beautifully designed house, this property is a warm and idyllic family home.

"We've had great times here. The kids have loved it and it's a truly wonderful home," said the owner.