Printed textiles add subtle flourishes to the all-white spaces, while artwork and accessories give a nod to the seaside location
decorative accessories draw the eye across the room. ‘It’s understated,’ John says. ‘I hate it when you’re upstaged by soft furnishings.’
That is not to say there’s no sense of drama. The high walls are made from a creamy white coral stone quarried in the dominican republic, a material pleasingly textured due to its fossilized inclusions. These are further enlivened on the interior of the great room by three of six painted panels commissioned from the internationally renowned muralist graham rust – the other three hang elsewhere in the house. They depict scenes from ‘The Tempest’, the owner’s favourite shakespeare play, and hint at the severe weather to which this idyllic island can be subjected. John recounts a storm the night before the final installation of furniture: ‘We woke up to find dozens of beach chairs from another island washed up in front of the house.’
delicate fabrics are not a wise choice for a house where the boundaries of indoor and outdoor are constantly blurred. With this in mind, John and olivia stirling, an interior designer he brought in to help, specified upholstery and soft furnishings that could handle the heat, humidity and salty air, not to mention the casual lounging of children in wet bathing suits. This laid-back attitude is reflected in not only the style of the kitchen and dining area, but also its position. rather than being a behind-the-scenes area, it is to one side of the great room and very much part of the home. It is also a buffer between the great room and the less formal television room.
on the other side of the great room are six bedrooms decorated with a light touch. Printed textiles add subtle flourishes to these all-white spaces, while artwork and accessories give a nod to the seaside location. Most of the furnishings in the house were shipped from england, with crates filled with finds from John’s favourite sources, including soane, Charles edwards and Christie’s.
Knowing the clients well meant John was able to make many decisions without sign-off. It is one of the reasons the project took a relatively short period of time: from the initial meeting with the architects to their first night in a fully furnished home, it took just two years. ‘The neighbours couldn’t believe it,’ John says. ‘It usually takes three to five years to complete such a project.’ The neighbours are also intrigued by the interior style of the house. ‘They think it looks so British,’ John says with a smile.