How it all began
We live in a time when our days seem to pass faster and faster. Work, responsibilities, travel and everyday worries leave us with less time for what truly matters: family, rest and the little things that make us happy.
My work has always been demanding. It often means long days, frequent travel and being constantly available. Even when a free Sunday finally came along, I struggled to put work out of my mind if I stayed at home. There was always something to sort out, finish or plan for the next day.
Over time, I realised that sometimes we simply need to step away from our everyday surroundings. To find a place where the phone can be put aside, where there is no rush and where we can enjoy some peace again.
I found that place in our family's holiday cottage in Veliko Brdo, a small village on the slopes of Mount Biokovo, above Makarska.
Surrounded by olive groves, greenery and beautiful countryside, with views stretching towards the sea, this little house became my favourite refuge from everyday responsibilities.
The house my parents built
Our cottage has a story that began long before we decided to welcome guests.
My father built it with a great deal of help from my mother. They wanted to create a place where the family could spend time together, rest and enjoy nature.
Over the years, they put so much work, patience and love into it. Every corner of the garden, every olive grove and every part of the house reflected their efforts.
As the years passed, looking after the cottage became more demanding. My father gradually realised that the house and grounds were taking more time and energy than he wanted to give them, so one day he decided to hand it all over to me.
These days, he prefers to spend his free time fishing and making wooden miniatures. Even so, he still enjoys coming to the cottage, walking around the grounds and spending time in the place he helped create.
From the very beginning, that house meant far more to me than a property. It was part of our family history, a place filled with memories.
My little escape from everyday life
I have always loved nature. Gardening, tending the grounds and spending time outdoors were the best ways for me to unwind after work.
There are few things lovelier than a peaceful morning, a view of the sea and silence broken only by birdsong.
But over time, I found myself in a rather unexpected situation.
Work meant I was visiting the cottage less and less. When I finally found a free day, a long list of jobs awaited me instead of rest. The garden needed attention, the grass needed cutting, something small needed fixing, or there was a task I had been putting off for far too long.
The less time I had, the longer the list became.
I realised that the place which had once offered complete relaxation was slowly becoming another responsibility.
I did not want the house my parents loved so much to lose its charm simply because I could not give it enough of my time.
That was when an idea came to me that would change its future completely.
The decision that changed everything
I began to imagine how lovely it would be to renovate the cottage, make it the home I had always pictured and let other people enjoy its special atmosphere.
Why should such a beautiful place stand empty for much of the year?
Why not share the peace, nature and privacy I valued so much with guests looking for exactly that kind of holiday?
I decided to renovate the house completely and turn it into a comfortable villa with a swimming pool.
From the start, though, I knew I wanted more than a conventional holiday rental with little character. I wanted to preserve its warmth, its natural materials and that special feeling I had every time I arrived.
I wanted our guests to find more than a lovely place to stay. I hoped they could experience, even briefly, the peace and freedom that had always brought me back here.
From an old cottage to a comfortable villa with a pool
The renovation was a much bigger undertaking than it might have seemed at first.
I decided to thoroughly renovate almost every part of the house. We renewed the plumbing and electrical systems, insulation, walls, ceilings, floors and bathrooms. Underfloor heating, air conditioning and modern equipment made the house comfortable across the seasons.
The interior was especially important to me.
Instead of the cool, modern interiors often found in holiday properties, I chose real oak. The kitchen and bedrooms were crafted with great care so that the house would keep its natural warmth and welcoming, homely feel.
We landscaped the grounds, built a pool and created a space to enjoy from early morning until late evening.
Although the house had a completely new look, its soul stayed the same.
It was still the same cottage among the olive groves, where the nicest thing to do is simply sit, watch nature and forget about the time.
Why is it called Villa Keti?
Once the renovation was complete, we needed a name for our new holiday home.
I did not have to think for long.
I decided to call it Villa Keti Makarska, after my mother, Keti.
She had helped my father create our family cottage, and I wanted her name to remain part of the house for years to come.
And so our old cottage gained a new name and began a new chapter.
For me, it was the best way to honour its beginnings while continuing the family story my parents had started.
Villa Keti today: a place to relax in nature
Today, Villa Keti Makarska is a holiday home with a private pool, set in peaceful natural surroundings above Makarska.
Its greatest value lies in more than its amenities, its pool or its sea view. What makes it special is the sense of privacy and peace that is becoming harder to find.
Here, there are no city crowds or everyday bustle. Guests can spend their days by the pool, enjoy nature, prepare meals, gather with family and friends, or simply do nothing at all.
And sometimes that is the best holiday of all.
It makes me particularly happy that our guests recognise what I have always loved about this house.
The chance to step away from daily responsibilities, spend quality time with the people closest to them and enjoy complete privacy, while still being within easy reach of Makarska, the sea and Dalmatia's beautiful beaches.
A house that is still our family home
Although Villa Keti now welcomes guests from different parts of the world, to us it has never stopped being our family cottage.
My work is largely tied to the tourist season, so during the warmer months, when I am busiest, we leave the house for our guests to enjoy.
When the season ends and the quieter winter days arrive, my wife, our children and I find time to stay there again.
We enjoy the same things that made me fall in love with it: silence, nature, shared meals and the simple pleasure of being together, far from the daily rush.
And every time I return, I feel certain that I made the right decision.
The house is renovated, cared for and full of life, and what my parents started so long ago lives on through new memories.
Welcome to our little piece of paradise
I believe a real holiday is more than a journey to a beautiful destination. It is the feeling of waking without a rush, enjoying a morning coffee with a sea view and spending the day exactly as you wish.
For me, Villa Keti has always been that place.
That is why it means so much to be able to share that feeling with others today.
Welcome to Villa Keti Makarska, our family story, our little corner of nature and a place where we invite you to find your own peace.