DESIGN: FANTASY MEETS REALITY

FANTASY MEETS REALITY

WITH THE LAST FEW YEARS CREATING LIMITATIONS ON LUXURY TRAVEL, SER INFINITO ESTATE HAS PROVED THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THOSE CRAVING TRUE ESCAPISM ON A GRAND SCALE – YOU’RE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING YOU’RE IN SANTA FE OR MEXICO AND NOT THREE HOURS SOUTH OF SYDNEY, WRITES CAMERON PINE.

A palatial abode spanning three distinct levels and many meandering passages etched into the hillside – Ser Infinito has been designed to capture an experience that unwraps some of the best views in the country. Breathtaking with a notion of Santa Fe meets South Coast’s cool, it sits atop one of the most remarkable and rugged coastal landscapes in the world where boulders and bush meet balmy beachside nights. It’s a vision akin to a music video fantasy.

Built by architect Stuart Wilde, a man with vision on a scale well beyond anything else we’d ever seen created on the South Coast more than 20 years ago, Ser Infinito’s capabilities span from a family stay to a large-scale event or production – complete with a crew to suit your needs and a never-ending luxe list of extra curricular activities that satiate any desire. Managed by wellknown Sydney socialite and luxury entrepreneur Karim Gharbi, Ser Infinito carries a legacy of service that we, until now, thought was reserved only for overseas holidays, yet has seemingly raised the level of luxury to infinite possibilities a stone’s throw away from Sydney.

Open to the public for the first time, Ser Infinito Estate was Stuart Wilde’s dream home – a labour of love that surpasses any practicalities of a new build, it’s evident in the dreamy rooms and passages, messages and inspirational quotes smattered throughout the home and solid lifelong lasting finishes that it was always going to be something special. Taking five years to complete, Wilde poured his heart and soul into building the truly authentic residence to castle-like proportions, all to fill his desire of creating a place that would evoke joy and passion for all who step inside. Curved walls, terracotta laden hallways and with quotes in a beautiful sans serif font such as, “I have no plan, I make minute by minute my plan”, conjure up the experience that Ser Infinito affords every guest. From the first step into the grand double doors the sense of escapism is overwhelming.

Complete with a helicopter pad, Ser Infinito is just a short 30-minute trip from Sydney by air or approximate three hour drive. Nearby Milton and Cupitt’s Estate winery mean you can spend as much time out amongst the best of the coast or as isolated from the world as you like, the choice really is up to each guest. Mollymook beach is also just a 10-minute drive away, so while feeling completely mountainous, the coastal attractions are surprisingly convenient.

linen and luxe finishes like a complete suite of hair and grooming programs by Hunter Crew in every room. With free reign on the entire house, a stay at Ser can be as formal or informal as you like, plus the expansive surrounds and gardens are the perfect location for a dreamy shoot or production – the story of a stay here promises an experience that lives well up to its name. There is a discovery at every turn and in case you’re wondering about the name, the meandering abode was named after one of Wilde’s books, The Infinite Self. The property is brimming with the fruits of the spiritualist’s imagination, brought to life via a wealth of authentic fixtures and bespoke craftsmanship peppered throughout its three levels of luxury.

Features include a bar complete with a butler for cocktails, a garden marquee, private chef, dinners, an in-house spa and treatment area, a Japanese bathhouse and an eight-person sauna. You’d think the pool would pale in comparison, but it’s as equally as impressive, with a rooftop position that has the best views in the house – or above the house so to speak.

As if that were not enough to pique interest, there are also several ‘hidden’ rooms and cubbie-house-like spaces, all sure to delight adults and children alike. Simply stepping inside Ser Infinito is something to behold. The impressive interior reveals rich timber beams that contrast with stark white walls. Even the rock platform on which the residence is built is incorporated artistically in parts and a kids escape has a bunk bed made from solid timber beams, almost as if it were part of the house.

Every detail displays Wilde’s great love of all things Santa Fe and New Mexico where most fixtures were made – from the handmade sinks in all bathrooms to around 30,000 magnificently crafted decorative tiles, some of which even bear the paw prints of coyotes, allowed to wander across them as they set during the build, showcasing a creation of true artisanal proportions. Kitchen cupboards of Oregon wood were lovingly carved by Wilde’s family members and other fixtures from Sante Fe including oak, while door handles and light switch covers handmade in New Mexico feature throughout. Details and space are luxuries that don’t always go hand in hand, at Ser Infinito you can find a perfect nook for sunbaking or reading alone, a gym to work out in with your friends or a communal table so big it had to be made within the residence, if you want to learn about custom detailing, a stay at Ser is essential.

Lake Conjola is a 15 minute drive away, private fishing or dolphin watching may well be the idyllic backdrop but, then again, you may choose to simply remain ensconced within the extraordinary haven that is Ser Infinito Estate – a creation that stands alone among the world of luxury escapes, a never-tobe-repeated property that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Find Ser Infinito Estate at 614 Little Forest Road Milton NSW.

For more information visit www.serinfinitoestate.com.au