Island contemporary
We all have an unwavering ability to daydream big — and a penchant for real estate voyeurism (not to mention endless holidays) — so in this occasional series, we tour the types of homes usually seen only in the movies and our lottery dreams, and chat with homeowners about their location and design choices. This week, Wanderluxe visits the prestigious resort development of Christophe Harbour in St Kitts.
Q Your house is spectacular. What architectural style is it? When was it built?
A Thank you for saying so; we love it. The house was completed in 2012 and our architect refers to it as Caribbean Contemporary. His mandate was to build a house that blended into the natural island environment, incorporating indigenous material while providing a modern, comfortable home. We also wanted an emphasis on outdoor space to enjoy the gorgeous weather.
Q How far are you from the ocean?
A We’re a three-minute walk to the harbour and a short walk to our beach club, which tends to be the heart of the Christophe Harbour community.
Q I love that you purchased a vacation home with friends. How did this come to be?
A This sounds confusing but really it’s not. I have a tight group of friends in Charles- ton, S.C., who I used to practice law with. Most of us live 45 minutes out of Charleston on Kiawah Island. A contractor there approached my friends and me with an opportunity to buy a piece of property at Christophe Harbour. Because the St Kitts developer is the same as the one in our South Carolina community, and because we love the lifestyle here, it was an easy decision for us to purchase. So five of us, alongside architect Steve Herlong, set out to build the crown jewel of Christophe Harbour.
Q Do you use the house together or visit independently of one another?
A Even though we’re good friends we typically use the house independently. Each investor is allotted six weeks a year but most of us use it two to three weeks at most.
Q Were you involved in planning the house?
A On paper we were involved from the word go but, to be honest, we handed over the reins to Herlong. I’m a big believer in leaving things in the hands of experts. Herlong does planning, building and designing interiors, so we placed full trust in them.
Q How long did it take to build, and were you happy with everything — or if you had it to do again would you make alterations?
A It took 24 months. Given the limitations our architect had in terms of placement on the hillside and height restrictions (so as not to block other houses’ views), we’re thrilled with the outcome.
Q The rock used on the façade of the lower level is a great detail. Is it local?
A The architect wanted to ground the house with island materials, so he repurposed local plantation stone for the lower level.
Q The view from the veranda is a cinematographer’s dream. What do you look onto? A We look out onto Christophe Harbour, which houses the marina for the development. With the main living area and two of the master suites on the upper level of the house, we have the pleasure of watching the sun set over the Caribbean Sea right from our home. So my wife and I prefer to use the upstairs bedroom suites because of the view — particularly the suite that has an architectural cutout above the bathtub. It frames the vista perfectly.
Q When friends come to visit who have never been to St Kitts, what are three things you recommend they do?
A Our absolute favourite thing to do is watch the sun set from Salt Plage, at a beachside bar just up the road. And our beach club just introduced an awardwinning executive chef, Miles Thompson, to oversee the culinary program. Our idea of paradise is spending the day entire there soaking up the sun, sipping cocktails and trying all the new seasonal dishes. And the beach at Cockleshell. It truly is a snapshot of the quintessential Caribbean lifestyle with a great (albeit busy) vibe during high season. On a weekday in low season it’s not surprising to have the beach all to ourselves.
Q Any advice for someone who might be considering buying a holiday home in a resort development?
A It’s essential to understand you’re buying much more than a piece of real estate; it’s an investment into the lifestyle. When you’re buying into a resort development you’re really buying into a community. I recommend scoping out a location (or two) and stay there on holiday before making a commitment to purchase. Talk to the locals, experience the amenities and determine if the location and lifestyle work for you.