blurring architecture with natural surroundings Photos courtesy of Patrick O’Brien Christophe Harbour hristophe Harbour Development Company, Limit- ed (CHDC), a venture led by Kiawah Partners (KP), well known for their award-winning resort communities at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, The Lodge at Doonbeg, Ireland and development commitment to protecting and preserving natural habitats, is the master developer for Christophe Harbour. Located on the 2,500-acre southeastern peninsula in the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts, separating the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Christophe Harbour is well underway with its planned super-yacht harbour and marina as well as an impressive collection of restaurants, shops, boutiques, five-star hotels, oceanfront and hillside home-sites, villas, and a Tom Fazio championship golf course, development project. The centrepiece of Christophe Harbour will be a 300 acre marina and super yacht harbour, naturally protected by mountain peaks and the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The Marina’s location has all the attributes to become the most desirable port of call for luxury charter yachts in the Caribbean. A rival to neighbouring St Barts? let’s wait and see. C
Transcript
blurring architecture with natural surroundings
Photos courtesy of Patrick O’Brien
Christophe Harbour
hristophe Harbour Development Company, Limit-ed (CHDC), a venture led by Kiawah Partners (KP),
well known for their award-winning resort communities at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, The Lodge at Doonbeg, Ireland and development commitment to protecting and preserving natural habitats, is the master developer for Christophe Harbour.
Located on the 2,500-acre southeastern peninsula in the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts, separating the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Christophe Harbour is well underway with its planned super-yacht harbour and marina as well as an impressive collection of restaurants, shops, boutiques, five-star hotels, oceanfront and hillside home-sites, villas, and a Tom Fazio championship golf course, development project.
The centrepiece of Christophe Harbour will be a 300 acre marina and super yacht harbour, naturally protected by mountain peaks and the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The Marina’s location has all the attributes to become the most desirable port of call for luxury charter yachts in the Caribbean. A rival to neighbouring St Barts? let’s wait and see.
Framed sago palm leaves add the finishing touch to the interior design decor.
turtle BeaCh Bungalows - Christophe harbour
part of the Christophe Harbour Development, these four exquisitely designed bungalows named Orchid, Plumbago, Aloe and Carolita, after indigenous plants, are only metres from the shoreline of dense bougainvillea and Palm tree sheltered Turtle Bay. I have a confession to make right from the start, I absolutely love these
bungalows, there’s that instant delicious feeling of cosy seclusion from the outside world. Their design, furnishing and location are glorious, a true beach front, position-perfect, ocean view hideaway.
Designed by architect John Haley with interior design courtesy of Jackye Lanham, these one-bedroomed bungalows, constructed using hand hewn reclaimed pine logs, are com-pact and extremely sturdy. The solid pine logs are bolted together as well as interlocked at the ends, the only concrete used in construction is the block foundation they each sit on.
The bungalows have bamboo-lined vaulted ceilings and platform beds topped by a pla-
toon of cushions.
you have unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and Nevis. Some of the many nice touches of the bungalows include the bamboo-lined vaulted ceilings and all copper outdoor showers, the marble trimmed colonial-style bath-rooms with their huge indoor rain showers aren’t too bad either. Framed sago palm leaves add the finishing touch to the decor.
The bungalow’s design is elegantly restrained, a king sized platformed bed is the central focal point, dark wood floors, three walls of plantation-style fitted mahogany louvered shutters with floor to ceiling glass wrap around sliding doors all open wide to let in fresh frangipani and salty sea breezes and maximise the panoramic views. Out onto the patio from the plunge pool and cedar-shingled cabana
The bungalows share this idyllic location with the Colonial style Beach House restaurant, a popular destination for boaters, who can tie up at the restaurant’s private dock.
Formerly known as the Turtle Beach Bar & Grill, the venue was completely refurbished by Christophe Harbour and has a distinct authentic Caribbean island ambiance while offering fresh contemporary design elements, including hardwood floors, sea grass carpets and furnishings.
In line with the overall Christophe Harbour Development, the Beach House and bungalows compliment the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and it’s multifaceted features, with an emphasis on sensitivity to the environment. In combining traditional and sustain-able materials with modern furnishings, the bungalows exude a sense of rustic living with a contemporary feel.
Blending architecture with the natural surroundings Turtle Beach Bungalows are ‘low-key’ luxury at its best.
Christophe Harbour is located on the 2,500-acre southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts in the Caribbean Leeward Islands, with stunning views of its sister island Nevis
Just a short stroll from the bungalowsis the Beach House restaurant anairy, sun-filled pavilion situated under palm trees.
Orchid, Plumbago, Aloe and Carolita, the fourpartly concealed Turtle Beach Bungalows.
long with the Turtle Beach Bungalows, Christophe Harbour is also in the process of creating an exclusive
residential enclave with oceanfront, hillside and harbour-side homes. Windswept Villas are a collection of 11 turnkey residences within Sandy Bank Bay.
The three and four bedroom private residences are situ-ated between the beach and harbour and within walking distance to the Pavilian Beach Club. Measuring 3,500-3,900 square feet, thanks to Correia Construction and architect, Stephen Herlong of Charleston based Herlong & Associates, these Villas are being crafted in the tradition of the world’s great hideaways. Several of these exceptional luxury prop-erties have already been built with the rest on the way.
The interior designer charged with bringing her well known uncluttered chic and airy spaces style to Windswept Villas as well as the Pavilian Beach Club, is the multi-talented Allison elebash.
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The impeccable taste and style of interior designer Allison elebash
Different patterns anD textures insteaD of clashing, work together anD form a harmonious Décor. uncluttereD, airy rooms blenD classical elements with colour accents in aqua, yellow anD coral.
Cocotraie met with Allison to find out more about her style.
“For as long as I can remember, I have loved interior design and creating better living spaces. As a young child, I would visit my friends’ houses and would spend the day rearranging their rooms, re-organizing and clearing out clutter. I have always liked spaces that feel harmonious and give a good vibe, it feels natural to me to go into a room and want to make it feel more inviting. I enjoy creating a stylish space that is still luxuriously comfortable and welcoming without too much “fuss.
My first official project was in 2007 in Cashiers, NC where I was asked by my mother-in law, Kathleen rivers (an accomplished interior designer of 30+ years) to work on a model home for a development in the mountains. I, along with my husband, worked together to design the interiors for the house. We hand selected all of the fabrics and furnishings to achieve the coveted “mountain chic” look of the region. We had great success the house sold within one week of us complet-ing it! Soon after the launch of my business, work brought us to St.Kitts in the West Indies in 2008.
I started out as the interior designer for Christophe Harbour and my first project on the island was designing the interior of the Christophe Harbour Sales Centre, one of the first buildings on the property. Since then, my design resume on island has expanded to include a private member’s lounge , two luxurious villas that served as model homes for Christophe Harbour development, the Pavilian Beach Club at Christophe Harbour and an Ocean front villa in another development.
There have been lots of valuable lessons learned since first arriving in St.Kitts—mainly how to deal with all of the logistics and sourcing of materials while living on a Caribbean island, and still maintaining a high standard of interior design and décor.
In 2010, I partnered with a u.S. based designer, elizabeth Newman, and we really have formed a great team. We are able to approach a project from both ends, so to speak, and I have found it crucial to have the support of a “shore-side partner.”
everything is light anD simple. there is a colour theme throughout this house, with slight variations from room to rooms. clerestory winDows frame views past the veranDah to the pool anD hillsiDe beyonD.
What do you consider are the key essentials for creating tropical interiors?, “It is important to let the natural environ-ment inspire your design by using textures, elements, and shades of colour found around us in the tropics. I tend to gravitate towards the more subtle colours found in nature, as opposed to the bright, saturated colours that you often find in island homes and architecture. I love colours that you look out your window and see, varying shades of aqua and blues, yellow and celadon green, soft pinks and corals.
You don’t want to overpower the beautiful settings that surround you outside, but rather “bring the outside in.” The other thing that I really try to accomplish is making a chic and stylish space also feel inviting and comfortable, like anyone can plop down and have a drink or read a book. The living environment needs to be welcoming to adults, children, and teenagers alike.
Typically, my favourite room to decorate is the living/family room. The living room is the focal point of the house and the main gathering point. The other rooms can then play off the style of the main living space. Because I love to entertain, I really like to create a room where people feel relaxed and can enjoy hanging out and socializing.
I think artwork can make or break a room. I like to find or commission a really interesting piece of art that becomes the focal point of the room and then let the room take shape around it. I try to use local artists as much as possible and I like to design custom pieces that reflect the natural environment. My favourite go to artist on the island is Kate Spencer”.
What are your favourite stores for interior shopping, “I love all the décor shops in Charleston, SC - eSD, South of Market, Antiques of the Indies, Alexandra AD, Celadon, John Pope Antiques, and Antiques of South Windemere. My favourite other vendors include: Lee Industries, Janus et Cie, Brown Jordan, Hickory Chair, Oly, and Noir, and One King’s Lane.
And what inspires Allison elebash?, Colours in nature, beautiful architecture, a perfect sunset, turquoise blue water on a clear day, great art, my husband and children”.
Bathed in natural light, high-vaulted ceilings, exposed whitewashed beams and creamy walls
he November 11th 2011 opening of The Pavilion Beach Club represents an important step forward for Christophe Harbour towards luring the luxury jet set and yachting clientele away from the tried and tested uber chic St
Barts. But whilst this market is crucial to the success of Christophe Harbour’s property development and super yacht marina, it also demonstrates their long term commitment to island of St. Kitts.
In the words of LeGrand Elebash, Chief Operating Officer, Christophe Harbour, “In this economy, people need to see evidence of progress, which is something a blueprint or a promise just can’t provide. The completion of a facility of this calibre with its grand and sophisticated scale certainly shows that progress.”
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Photo courtesy of Patrick O’Brien
Wooden beams arch position perfect overhead in the dining room.
Designed by architect John Denton Haley and built by DCK Worldwide, with interior design courtesy of Allison elebash, The Pavilion has been designed around open spaces, from the breezeway of the entry building to the dining room’s wall less structure.
Nestled into the dunes, the design of The Pavilion has clearly drawn inspiration from Caribbean colonial design as well as the surrounding landscape. By utilising an array of polished woods and metals, the building, clad in coral stones, shuttered doors, mottled stone walls, is architecturally unique for the Caribbean and will no-doubt influence the design of future dwellings and facilities at Christophe Harbour in much the same way that robert A.M. Stern’s shingle-style Beach Club bench-marked home designs at Kiawah.
The 9,700-square foot, open air pavilion includes a 60-seat dining room serving breakfast and lunch, cabana beach bar, infinity-edge pool, shower/changing areas and direct beach access where chairs, umbrellas and towel service are provided.
A staff of 12, predominately Kittitian employees, operate the facility which is open seven days a week to Christophe Harbour property owners, their family members and friends. Guests staying in the Turtle Beach Bungalows or nearby Windswept Villas will also have access.
