Decorating & Design
January 25, 2016
See A Star-Studded Caribbean Resort’s Chic New Look
Even if you’ve never been to the luxe One&Only Ocean Club, you’ve definitely seen it — maybe when Daniel Craig was running around shirtless in one of the resort’s villas in Casino Royale or when celeb gossip blogs reported Beyoncé and Jay Z love vacationing there? But even without the potential for celebrity run-ins, its pastel pink façade, lush landscaping and stunning ocean views make the 77-year-old property the ideal spot for an idyllic beach vacation — though its recently renovated Hartford Wing is a huge design win, and might make you consider never leaving your room!
A collaboration between New York City-based architect and interior designer Jeffrey Beers and British design consultants HKS Architects, the redesign was inspired by the colors of the Bahamas and Jeffrey’s desire to bring residential comfort to the upscale hotel. Each of the wing’s 52 rooms now boasts more space, a beachy new palette and a chic, modern take on relaxed island living. The redesign also included a revamped center courtyard, which Jeffrey says feels like, “a private garden for each of the rooms. It’s the kind of space where you might enjoy a coffee in the morning, or read a book, or meet some friends.” The last piece of the reno is a new infinity pool, which sits between two of the Ocean Club’s restaurants and overlooks the hotel’s white sand beach.
Click through for a tour of the newly revamped Hartford Wing’s best design moments.
Each of the 52 rooms in the Hartford Wing have been expanded by 110 square feet, which means it can now accommodate multiple zones — a comfortable living area opens into the sleeping area, which opens into a spa-like bathroom. “The proportions of the room are really worked out from a residential standpoint,” says architect and interior designer Jeffrey Beers. This is a room, not one of the new suites, but it has a suite-like feel. “The proportion of the walnut headboard was really important to get that feel, and we also lowered the ceiling to create the sense of a living area.” Throughout the space, warm wood accents add natural texture, while crisp white walls and ceiling beams keep the overall feel airy and cool.
Beyond the living area, double glass doors open to a spacious balcony — or cozy patio, if you’re on the ground floor. The round table functions as both a dining area and workspace, while a mod light fixture affixed to the wall above acts as a visual counterpoint to the elements of classic island style throughout the space.
In the suites, the residential connection is even stronger. Multiple seating areas provide ample space for eating, working or relaxing. The lighting is soft — Jeffrey wanted to give the entire space a spa-like serenity — but its clean silhouette adds modern edge.
The spacious, serene bathroom features its own set of zones. The gorgeous, egg-shaped bathtub is offset by a walnut backsplash, which balances the hard surfaces in the space with its warmth and texture. “Not too many people actually take baths anymore — a lot of my clients want just the shower or a large wet room,” Jeffrey says. “But in this case I thought it was very important to have the tub. It’s part of what makes it feel like a room in your home.” Quirky art is another key element of the redesign. Walking the line between making a statement and feeling too serious, the pieces were chosen to play into what Jeffrey calls the rooms’ “casual at-the-beach kind of feeling.”
A floating double vanity feels modern and surprisingly light, considering its room-spanning proportions. A spacious shower features a clever recessed shelf, monolithic stone bench and a rainshower shower head for maximum relaxation.
Perched beside the tub, a hand-carved stool is an organic addition to the sophisticated space.
Jeffrey and his team looked to the island for color inspiration, pulling turquoise from the ocean, neutrals from the iconic bleached white Bahamian sand and corals from tropical blooms. On this spacious balcony, elements of classic island style — exposed rafter ceilings, white-washed walls, ceiling fans — feel fresh when paired with leggy chairs and a sleek, marble-topped table.
All the suites in the Hartford Wing overlook either the ocean or the newly-renovated interior courtyard. “The old courtyard didn’t really have a point of view. It was more of a walk-through space,” says Jeffrey. “Our idea was to create a garden that feels like an extension of your room.” Now, it features ample seating, the perfect place to grab a coffee or read the paper in the morning. The palette extends to this space, solidifying the indoor-outdoor connection.
A carefully considered mix of materials lends an organic, collected feel to the redesigned rooms and renovated courtyard. Here, a stone table, ceramic planter and wooden stand are filled with a mix of lush greenery.
A new infinity pool is a super-glam addition to the grounds. Set between Dune, the chic restaurant by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and a new casual dining restaurant, the Ocean Grill (not pictured), the pool turns into a water feature at night.
Seen from the back, the Hartford Wing looks like a historic colonial estate — which makes its classic-meets-contemporary transformation all the more interesting.