Villa Kula is an event design company with a difference. Not only do they style your wedding, but offer interior and exterior settings, cabanas, tents – all with that touch of the luxurious. Karl and Vanessa bring their combined experiences working aboard super yachts for the wealthy in Europe, in event management and running 6 star luxury residences. On leaving that industry they sourced their luxury settings from Asia and so Villa Kula was born. Looking at the dreamy images of the settings, it’s not hard to imagine what it would be like to sit on the beach in luxury with a drink in hand watching the sunset.
When did Villa Kula come into being?
My husband Karl and I started Villa Kula in 2007 in Auckland New Zealand. We started out working from a small home office and offsite garage, and now have over 1000m2 of showroom and warehousing.
Image by Allan Myles Photography
How would you describe your business?
Villa Kula is our very own extraordinary and original creation. We developed the concept after spending nearly 10 years working on luxury private super yachts (travelling the world and being privy to some of the world’s most exclusive and luxurious hotels, beach clubs and restaurants.)
Villa Kula is the combination of all the things that we love – beautiful food, lush interiors and extraordinary parties.
In our past life on the yachts, we hosted countless A-list events from weddings to product launches and luxe BBQ’s on white sand beaches of privately owned islands. We were fortunate enough to set up events in the most surreal and beautiful back drops in the world.
Karl is a classically trained Chef and I worked as PA to owner and front of House – we organized huge scale events at a moments notice and although it was stressful, it was at the same time amazing to see what we and our team were capable of when you were literally forced to think out side the box. It’s truly built in to our make up now we couldn’t think of doing anything else.
I love our team at VK, everyone who works with us is intrinsically creative and passionate about ‘celebrating life’. Villa Kula is all encompassing – from designing our own collections of furniture to conceptualizing special events and weddings for clients to setting up and breaking down. Karl and I are very hands on – and that’s where our attention to detail lies.
Image by Allan Myles Photography
Can you style and supply your exquisite settings to anywhere in the world?
Yes definitely. To date we have styled events and weddings in the south of France, Bali, New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney and Qatar (for the Royal Family in Doha.)
Where are your offices based?
Our Head Office is in Perth with our sister Company based in Auckland NZ.
Image by Richard Watson Photography
What do you see as your ‘signature’?
Ah yes, this is easy. Our signature style is, understated luxury. It’s a sophisticated look, pared back, not too many layers or fuss. Although we now have upward of 6 different collections (from contemporary to rustic) all of our designs have a very timeless quality.
Can you describe your tents – sizing, how many guests they hold?
All of our tents are made from natural canvas with sheer cotton wall and roof linings. Some are hand block printed with subtle designs, others are simply sheer and divine.
Our Royal tent is currently the largest luxury tent in our rental collection. Its 12m x 12m and has the capacity to cater to 200 in a cocktail style event or 90 in a sit down setting. With a soaring 6m high two tiered roof Its absolutely breath-taking and its unique design enables the interior to transform from an open plan canopied space to an interior with several rooms (ideally suited for luxury camping!)
Our Divyana tents are 4m x 12m and beautifully suited to long table lunches or dinner parties for 30 to 90 guests.
We also offer gorgeous garden and poolside cabanas in varying sizes that are perfect for ‘at home’ weddings or parties as a statement bar or chill out lounge area for guests.
Do you style the wedding right down to the last detail, or can couples choose to bring in their own vendors for certain aspects of their wedding e.g catering, cake, flowers?
At Villa Kula every single event that we do is a one off bespoke design. No two weddings are ever the same. For this reason its imperative that our clients can select their own caterer, florist, entertainment etc to make their event their own.
Image by NK Photography
What and where was the most exciting wedding event you’ve styled in the last 12 months?
It was an exquisite collection of Divyana tents, designed to create the perfect summer outdoor wedding reception.
A long table late lunch, (with beautiful Italian style shared platters) later transformed into a dinner party for 80 guests at a private Estate in Margaret River. Open air dancing under a sea of festoon light strings. A separate tented bar and lounge area offering guests an inviting chill out space to relax and indulge and dreamy vintage inspired florals featured as table centerpieces. It was magical.
Is styling a wedding a little like styling your home? Do you use similar principles?
Yes, definitely. Creating a setting is a lot like styling your home. You are trying to portray a feeling and an emotion (like what we do when we style our own homes) The layering, the intricate details all work together to create the final look. I apply the same principles certainly.
Image by Villa Kula
Do you have a favourite place to re-charge your batteries?
Our beach house in Falcon, less than an hour south west of Perth. Divine. Quiet. Serene. With pristine beach and good surf. Nothing beats it!
If you were stranded on an island – which island would it be, and what would you hope you had with you?
Necker Island. My husband, blue heeler best friend “Boots” and Richard Branson to brain storm with.
My favourite place to catch up with friends and have a meal in Perth is…..
At home (in our newly renovated California Bungalow) with Karl’s secret mussel & frites recipe.
Thank you Vanessa for sharing your story with us. To find out more about Villa Kula please visit their website. Now for that cocktail on the beach watching the sunset in luxury…..bliss!
Headshot courtesy of Villa Kula
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