Sunbeam is a joyous expression of its owner Jivi’s larger-than-life personality. Hidden amongst trees behind wafting silk pennants, this century-old family house in one of North Goa's prettiest villages has been uniquely restyled. Theatrical backdrops, a silver-skeleton chair, myriad mirrors, red candles and wall-hangings, little disco balls and even 3 red, baby-girl dresses serving as lampshades, all sit surreally, yet peacefully, amongst the jungly stepped gardens and richly carved Goan antiques.

Two of the guest bedrooms open off the entrance courtyard as part of the cool, shady Old House. The third is in the bright white new block on the level above, next to Jivi’s own funky, modernist pad. The red, black and turquoise swimming pool is something else again. With a bold, lingam feature fountain at one end and theatrical backdrop at the other, it could have climbed straight out of a film set. Spotlit at night, it’s a wonderfully exotic place to swim after dark.

It’s most fun to stay here when the master is at home, though the dignified Krishna (Jivi’s right-hand man who has been called ‘the best cook in India’) and 5 other staff will still do a great job of looking after you if he’s not. Design-loving couples and small families will love it.

Rooms

All 3 rooms - more like suites, really - have their own distinctive style, and can also be taken together in a whole house booking.

Bedrooms 1 and 2 are on the ground floor in the Old House off the courtyard, with tiny skylights which keep them cool, but leave them a little short of sunlight. Bedroom 1 faces the entrance garden and (quiet) road and has a full-length private terrace and restrained, gentleman’s club style. Tucked alongside, Bedroom 2 has a bolder palette with kitsch features like the baby-girl-dress lampshades and plastic bathroom flowers; it also has a little dressing room with single bed, cupboard and safe.

Both have rafter ceilings and ensuite ochre-and-wood shower bathrooms featuring their original shell-and-stained-glass windows and screens. They share the use of a royal red, antique-and-mirror-filled sitting/dining room, plus a veranda with TV and DVD player. There's no air-con in this house, just fans. If you're coming in a group of 3-5, it makes sense to book these 2 rooms together, and Jivi prefers this, but if bedroom 3 is booked then they can be let individually to couples.

Across the dancing-light courtyard and up rough-hewn laterite steps is the white air-con block with Jivi’s own pad and the multi-mirrored, silver-and-white Bedroom 3. The spinal-column chair’s in here and the bed is a high-stepping old four-poster. There's no living room as such, but you get a sitting area with TV with DVD player, plus a terrace which gives access to the pool and gardens.

All rooms have mosquito nets, overhead fans, desks, sofas, lockable cupboards (or safe in the triple room) and multiple clay turtle ashtrays (as Jivi, a non-smoker himself, believes in ‘live and let live’). They also feature Jivi’s own blended-by-season bath products (soap, shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner), and bathrobes.

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