FEATURE
BUILDING A HOME IN ANTIGUA DESIGNING AND CREATING YOUR OWN PROPERTY MEANS A BESPOKE LOOK, HAND-PICKED FEATURES AND AN ADVENTURE ALONG THE WAY. PAUL AND MICHELLE, FROM SURREY IN ENGLAND, HAD ZERO SELF-BUILD EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO PUT DOWN PERMANENT ROOTS IN ANTIGUA. THEY TALK EXCLUSIVELY TO LUXURY LOCATIONS MAGAZINE ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY FROM CONCEPT TO KEYS. These included a good-sized outdoor pool, huge waterfront lounging area on the boat dock with in-laid trampoline hammock, outdoor shower, well-equipped outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, waterside fire pit to while away the warm evenings with friends and a glass of wine, and a huge covered terrace with ceiling fans and comfy sofas for outdoor lounging in the shade. Also, smart TVs in all the bedrooms, lamps with built-in USB charging ports, lots of outdoor power sockets, broadband and remote control AC.
n What made you choose Antigua? Michelle: We fell in love with it on our first visit in 2005. Since then it has become much more chic and each time we come back we are seduced all over again by its beauty and charm. Paul: We learnt to sail in the West Indies which is a fabulous way to explore the islands and happily discovered that Antigua is something of a yachting mecca. We have fond memories of seeing dolphins whilst moored up in Jolly Harbour during our ‘day skipper’ exams. n What are your favourite things to do in Antigua? Paul: The beaches and water in Antigua are second to none, so naturally our favourite things incorporate the beauty of the outdoors. We love water sports in general; launching a kayak into the sea from the bottom of your garden is literally a dream come true for us. We’ve even seen turtles there! Michelle: We also love to eat out and Antigua has so many world-class lingering lunch-with-a-view type places. It’s so beautiful, we just love to relax, unwind and luxuriate in the tranquillity of it. 16
n How did you find the right location/ property? Michelle: We were never looking for a house to buy; we wanted the challenge of a house build. It was our sailing instructor that pointed out there were plots for sale on Harbour Island. We couldn’t believe that there were still waterside plots available – and sunset-facing! We snapped one up and then started thinking about what we might build there. n How did you come up with the design brief? Paul: We wanted something that brought together features we’ve enjoyed over the years at various locations around the world.
Michelle: We wanted a good inside/ outside relationship; all on a single level, using one floor tile design and consistent colour palette, lighting, and décor touches like over-sized mirrors and matte paint finish throughout, so that the outdoor space is just as inviting and comfortable as the inside. We wanted to include vaulted ceilings and exposed beams but with a modern look and feel, like bi-fold doors, wet rooms with walk-in rain showers, WiFi-enabled coffee machine, touch panel appliances and hidden cooker extractor hood. All the conveniences of modern living, sitting happily by the water in the tropics.
