On Barbados’s Platinum Coast, One Sandy Lane reigns. Designed by Larry Warren, the local architect who also built the legendary Sandy Lane hotel nearby, One Sandy Lane is an ultraexclusive enclave centered on a regal 100,000-square-foot edifice housing just eight villa-style residences. The homes came on the market last fall (seven have sold), and prices are from $21.8 million to $26.8 million.
“Buyers at this level want quality,” says Keith Rubenstein of Somerset Partners, the Caribbean property’s New York–based development partner. “And when they see quality, they’re willing to pay for it.”
Quality at One Sandy Lane is evident in the old-world craftsmanship. The grand, Palladian-columned structure that houses the villas is built of Barbados’s indigenous coral stone. Intricate white-pewter-and-iron railings seen throughout the property, most prominently along the spiral staircase in the portico, are the work of Ateliers Saint-Jacques, in the south of France. Marble floors were cut by hand and assembled in Italy by Bufalini Marmi, while much of the paint, with its layers of texture, was applied by French artists armed with palette knives. Chandeliers in the public areas resemble branches of coral, and a poolside bar’s sparkly blue barstools mimic the sea and sky.
This stately yet Caribbean-casual style continues in the eight villas, which range in size from 8,147 square feet to 9,675 square feet. (Homeowners pay annual maintenance fees of $14 per square foot.) The five-bedroom units feature kitchens with Miele appliances, 14-foot ceilings, and teak flooring; elsewhere in the homes, doors are crafted from bamboo, ebony, and walnut. To decorate their villas, owners can work with their own designer or enlist the aid of Barbados’s Guillaume Menaud.
Six of the villas at One Sandy Lane also have discrete pavilion-style houses. “The pavilions give the feel of being at a private villa, yet it is all contained,” says Richard Hudson, general manager of the property. Ideal for houseguests wanting extra privacy, the separate living spaces connect to the main residences by outdoor walkways.
Indeed, privacy is paramount at One Sandy Lane: Gardens of star jasmine and palms provide buffers between each villa’s private pool and the public beach, and state-of-the-art security combines biometric entry systems (owners never need to carry a key) with video surveillance and around-the-clock guards. Owners comfortable keeping slightly higher profiles can drive to nearby Bridgetown for its shopping or nightlife, or simply walk from their homes to the Sandy Lane hotel, where they can access the resort’s spa, restaurants, and golf courses—all amenities fit for a queen.
One Sandy Lane, 646.545.2500, www.onesandylane.com
