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. 

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.

Although our Christmas looks more like this I still think of the holiday more like these beautiful images from pinterest.  Wherever you may be, I hope it is your most wonderful time of the year!