One Nine Interior Design

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A year ago I was approached by TDMG Concordia, to consult on a new beachfront project planned for Long Bay. They had already advanced nicely with the architectural plans but a few modifications called for a renewed consideration of the interior design. Familiar with many of TDMG’s island builds, and the sterling reputation that precedes the company, I was thrilled to be asked and eager to begin work. The prime location of the project to be, pictured above.

By March of 2020 we had made excellent progress but life as we knew it, and subsequently the project, came to an abrupt halt due to the pandemic. The carefully curated textile and material samples I kept in neat order in my office for months with high hopes that they would not need to be shelved altogether. Just as my optimism had begun to dim, TDMG brought welcome news that One Nine would endure . . . as long as we could reimagine the project with directives from the new market needs. We immediately set to work and here lies the first glimpse of the new One Nine revealed.

The process has been incredibly gratifying, not only from the standpoint of working with highly professional and experienced teams at both TDMG and TKCA, the property management company, but also in that there was opportunity for improvements with each decision. We started with something great but we committed to and arrived at something exceptional; lower density, higher style, less units, more spacious and luxurious.

I look forward to sharing the more on this project soon! For more information on pricing and availability, please reach out to TDMG.

Michael Kors Wonderlust Fragrance Shoot

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Gigi Hadid Michael Kors Wonderlust Fragrance

Last June Turks and Caicos Productions and North Six Productions welcomed back photographers Inez and Vinoodh to Providenciales to shoot the Michael Kors Wonderlust fragrance campaign. Michael Kors, the man himself arrived on set and the serious tone took an unexpected turn when he donned a retro swim cap (borrowed from the prop table) for a laugh. Lovely to have some lightheartedness from one of the biggest names in fashion!

Michael Kors Wonderlust Fragrance

Image above via EmailTuna. It was a massive crew that came together locally and from abroad for the weeks work. It is an incredible advertising campaign, not just for the perfume, but for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our sand isn’t quite this pink, but our waters are certainly this crystal clear and blue!

Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors Wonderlust

Image above via Teen Vogue. These large shoots I am always most interested in seeing the set design and prop styling. Jill Nicholls headed this team, and by chance one of her assistants, Todd Knopke, and I later discovered we have a mutual friend from the art scene in New York. It is a small world after all. Here are a few of my favorite props in action. Image below via Elle.

Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors Wonderlust

We shot at the beautiful Amanyara resort on the northwest point of Providenciales. This area is ideal for viewing sunset, as demonstrated by the below behind the scenes photo from the beachfront villa.

Aman beachfront villa sunset

If you want to see more of the gorgeous footage from this shoot, see the full Wonderlust video here. Big thanks to everyone who assisted on this shoot!

Gigi Hadid Michael Kors Wonderlust

Khaya Design Boards

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Khaya Landscaping board

We are nearing completion on our latest design build project Khaya, a four bedroom house on the canal in the prestigious Leeward community. If I had to describe it’s overall style in one word it would have to be “earthy”. As such, the landscaping design will play a prominent roll. I want the exteriors to be a big departure from the standard Caribbean tropical look and feel that is everywhere. I want to represent the dry tropical forest eco system we have here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and emulate the California desert vibe notorious in places like Palm Springs. Bismark palms planted with the spring rains shade the backyard with their giant, sage green palm fronds. We plan to embrace other drought resistant, sculptural species such as cacti, succulents, yucca, and aloe vera embedded in grey gravel along the perimeters. The front will feature large boulders and wild grasses flanking the paved driveway and parking areas.

Khaya Kitchen and Entry Board

The defining feature of Khaya is the airy, completely unobstructed great room. Custom TC Millwork mahogany framed glass bi-fold doors slide open to the exteriors, transforming the heart of the home into indoor outdoor living. Timeless, labor intensive, hand laid native stone walls create an unparalleled ambiance as well as acoustics. The house is characterized by high contrast; white porcelain floor tiles, white quartz waterfall countertops juxtaposed against dark mahogany T&G vaulted ceilings and built-in cabinetry.

Khaya Dining Board

Khaya Living Board

The layout of the home is unfussed, straightforward and logical. The artistry of this home is in the craftsmanship and the interior design. Contemporary, neutral furnishings with a masculine edge set the tone for Khaya, so named due to the African Mahogany used throughout. Natural fiber, jute, sisal rugs and woven baskets will feature eminently, balanced by copper, black smoked glass, shiny hard surface elements.

Khaya Bedroom 1 Board

Khaya Bedroom 2 Board

I often say that lighting is comparable to jewelry in fashion. Lighting can take a space from mediocre to memorable. In Khaya’s case it elevates memorable to marvelous. Khaya will feature sable bronze, seeded glass sconces in the great room, illuminating the rough texture of the native stone walls, while statement pendants hang over the kitchen island and dining. Bedrooms feature glass pendants flanking the beds, each room unique.

Khaya Bedroom 3 Board

Khaya Bedroom 4 Board

The master baths and their adjoining walk-in closets and outdoor counterparts are a crucial part of the home. Custom floating dual sink vanities, glass encased showers with dual rain showerheads and concealed linear drains, polished chrome fixtures and saber style sconces make these baths the most modern of rooms in Khaya. The outdoor showers, a key perk of island living, bring the endless summers indoors.

Khaya Bath 1 Board

Saving the best for last, waterfront living on the canal; an exceptionally quiet cul de sac with a flamingo frequented protected bird reserve within steps. Khaya capitalises on 101′ of water frontage with a 40′ dock; the perfect platform for swift access to world famous Grace Bay Beach, yachting, diving, and island hopping.

Khaya Pool and Canal Board

View the listing on TCP Realty.

TCP Realty Office Renovation

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Original Inspiration Board

Late last summer I met with Bernadette Hunt of TCP Realty in regards to updating their Ocean Club Office. It had been ten years since they moved in and the furniture, though in good condition, made the space feel dated. We took a tour of their Le Vele office, with it’s open floor plan and overall modern style, and discussed taking the renovation in a different direction. Bernadette wanted to appeal to clients of traditional taste as well as clients who prefer more modern aesthetics. To demonstrate transitional style, I pinpointed a crushed velvet armchair in the space. It was large enough to lounge, but overall dimensions moderate enough to meet the smaller floorplan of the Ocean Club Office. It had a traditional barrel back, but the crushed velvet vivid fabric and flared wood legs gave it a contemporary edge. This perfectly transitional chair, a marriage of modern and traditional styles; Nomad by Four Hands Furniture, became the starting piece for the renovation.

Nomad Chair by Four Hands Furniture

TCP Realty bath

TCP Realty Conference Room

The existing furniture was dark, bulky, and full of ornamentation. We selected new furniture in the transitional style that was more evenly proportioned to the room sizes. I like to use a few common denominators throughout to help tie interiors together. Navy blue was a heavy influence in this project, as were small splashes of bright brass details.

TCP Realty Front Office

The front office formerly used a folding screen for privacy from street traffic. We installed indigo drapes, a remedy which allowed a healthy dose of natural light to pour in when desired, yet shields onlookers when meetings are in session.

TCP Realty Reception

For the reception we wanted a bold first impression which we achieved through this gorgeous Flat Vernacular wallpaper. The only builders work was replacing the glass block within the partition wall between the reception and the rear office with a logo customized frosted glass. The idea was to allow additional natural light without losing privacy between the two spaces. TC Millwork handled a tricky installation due to the logo being printed slightly off level. They also managed to repair a chair that had been received damaged, matching the bleached finish flawlessly!

I enjoyed updating this space and hope to gain more TCP realty clients after this transformation.

Food For Thought Picnic en Blanc

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Food for Thought is a wonderful charity which provides free breakfast for children in need in government schools here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. When I was asked to assist with styling and decorating for a new event planned for October, I jumped at the opportunity. Many volunteers worked together to transform the space, the Long Bay High School for the first ever Picnic en Blanc Providenciales. See the before and after below!

Photos credit: Sean Brady of Kaieri Photography

The press release:

On Saturday 27 October 2018 Long Bay High School was transformed into a romantic, opulent setting to host scores of Picnic en Blanc party-goers who helped raise more than $11,500 for Food for Thought’s breakfast programmes at the government schools.

The stylish Picnic guests, all of whom dressed in white from head to toe, added to the spectacular atmosphere. They enjoyed their stunning surroundings while sipping on champagne and dining on a feast of delicious offerings – charcuterie and cheese boards, vegetarian canapes, and mouth-watering, bite-sized desserts. The DJ’s playlist enhanced the light and laid-back ambiance, while a slideshow of the charity’s achievements was displayed in the background.

Food for Thought was very pleased to have in attendance H.E. the Governor and Mrs Freeman, H.E. Deputy Governor Hon. Anya Williams, Hon. Akierra Missick, MP for Long Bay, Director of Education Mr Edgar Howell, and Long Bay High School Principal Ms Whiskey-John.

The charity’s founders Jeanne and Karen Savory are extremely thankful to everyone who attended, donated, supported and helped make the fundraiser come to life.

“Our deepest thanks to the awesome Picnic en Blanc Committee, especially Pavan Uttamchandani, Leisha MacDonald, and Tara Bywater for all their hard work and support in putting this big undertaking together! Huge thanks also to the Principal Whiskey-John, her staff, and the Department of Education for their assistance. They trusted their school in our hands and we think they were pleasantly surprised with the results on the night!

The amazing transformation of the venue was thanks to the expertise of the brilliant Stacie Steensland, with beautiful table settings donated by Flowers by EA, and lighting and music donated by Subtronic Sound, as well as a small army of volunteers including Kirk, Matt, Orane, JF, and Meelike.

A special thank you to Gilley’s Enterprises for their generous sponsorship of our first Picnic en Blanc, including gift bags for all attendees! They have been great supporters of Food for Thought since our very first event. We would like to recognise Le Bouchon du Village for their great work in preparing and filling the picnic baskets, and fabulous VIP platter. We are also immensely grateful to the following kindhearted people who donated delectable canapes and desserts, which really topped off the fabulous affair – Mango Reef, Griffen Wall, From Scratch, Retreat Kitchen, and The Cake Studio 649.

Thanks must also go to the event’s corporate sponsors, who had faith that we could make a success out of our first upscale benefit. We are indebted to Turkberry, GP Group, KB Home Center, ERA Real Estate, Miller Simons O’Sullivan, Chartered Trust, Misick & Stanbrook, Turks & Caicos Banking Company, Tip of the Tail Villa, Savory & Co., Temple Financial Group, Sailrock, Wine Cellar and JohnnyLegend!

In addition to all of the people already mentioned, we also have to thank Sean Brady of Kaieri Photography for donating his excellent services, and our attentive volunteers Sandy, Carol, Rori, Mae, Lindsay, and especially Laura who made sure everything ran smoothly. Thanks also to Ernst, Auriol, Tanya, Ana-Alicia, Max, Lucid Illumination, Caicos Catering, Lovin Turks & Caicos, Pioneers Cleaners, Dove Security, Mr Walker, and Got U Covered.

Last but definitely not least we would like to express huge appreciation to all of the generous companies and individuals who donated wonderful prizes to our silent auction and raffle, helping us to raise further funds for our breakfast programmes. These caring corporate citizens were: Sailrock, Panopoly, Wake to Wake, Beaches, Brilliant Studios, Kalooki’s, Gansevoort, Goldsmith, Crossfit Gym, Physiologic, FOTTAC, Solana, West Indie, Konk, Royal Jewels, West Bay Club, Rejouvenance Spa.

As you can see, it takes many, many kind people to put together a grand fundraiser like this and we are so appreciative for the enormous support we received. We really enjoyed the event and we hope our guests did too. Now it’s time for a well-deserved rest for our whole team. But not really, because we still have breakfast programmes to run!

The funds raised at Picnic en Blanc will go towards our Breakfast Programme in five government schools, and our Food Bank Programme in the remaining ten government schools. We have sufficient funds to expand our Breakfast Programme to a further two schools (which have been identified), and will do so once hurricane repairs are completed next year. Our programmes run smoothly thanks to the wonderful Quality Food Centre, Lew 1 Shipping and our Operations Manager Tara. Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s International Real Estate’s ongoing support as a Partner Sponsor means the world to us as it provides security for the longevity of our work. Food for Thought sure is a team effort.”

Many thanks to everyone who supported! I look forward to making this an annual event.