Just as Rudyard Kipling’s timeless poem ‘If’ inspires, so its namesake soothes; as soon as you walk along the tropical garden path and through the front door, soak in the generous surroundings and take your first glimpse at the beautiful turquoise sea that it so fortunately overlooks, you are immediately put at ease.

The soft sandy beach is directly accessible from the villa and is one of the island’s finest; typically deserted, it’s washed by a sea that’s superb for swimming in as it’s protected by an offshore coral reef.

The elegant design of IF was inspired by sketches of beautiful Dutch colonial buildings in Barbara Sansoni’s classic book Viharas and Verandas of Ceylon and was the first to be built on this stretch of coastline more than 40 years ago. The interior design echoes the villa’s simplistic build and suitably equips it with only the most essential furnishings, many of which are strikingly beautiful Dutch period antiques.

There are 5 bedrooms (3 queen + 2 twin) each with their own ensuite bathroom which can comfortably sleep 10 people. Luxury comes in the form of space in the large garden, the huge living room and the handful of places where company or quietude can delightfully be found; the cushion-topped sofa on the ocean terrace is without a doubt one of Sri Lanka’s most splendid spots for savouring sensational sundowners beside the sea.

IF can be sociable or serene, depending upon the occasion. A favourite with families, children will adore the villa’s spacious grounds and the lagoon-like sea that can be swum in year-round while serenity seekers will adore its privacy and seclusion.