ACQUIRING THEIR HOME AT CAYMAN KAI was pure chance for Bryan and Jennifer Hunter.
During a Cayman Airways flight, while flipping through the airline’s magazine, they noticed a real estate advert for a property with a thatch-roof cabana overlooking the Cayman Kai lagoon.
“My husband said we should check this property out,” says Jennifer. “The ad did not show the house itself, only the cabana, so when we met the realtor at the property, my husband was pleasantly surprised to see that it was the wooden cottage his parents once owned, and where he spent many carefree weekends as a child.”
The couple purchased the residence in 2007, enjoying it as a weekend retreat with their two sons for a number of years. They then decided it was time to create a fresh, updated beach house that would not have all the maintenance problems of the original small wooden structure.
NOD TO TRADITION
“Our architect, Mike Stroh of Trio Architecture, understood our vision to create a house that would be in keeping with the Cayman Kai area and would pay homage to many features of our Caymanian architectural heritage,” says Jennifer. “We are both multi-generational Caymanian and we love traditional Caymanian design elements.”
Exterior features that give a nod to tradition include the wraparound verandah, and Hardie board siding which mimics the shiplap siding that characterised many historic homes in Cayman. Other traditional design elements include white columns, railings and trims, and the pastel-blue colour.
Inside, they have incorporated a lot of wood, such as the white tongue-and-groove vaulted ceilings and shiplap feature walls.
“In the words of our interior designer, Michelle Butler of Design Studio, shiplap screams beach house,” says Jennifer about their recently completed home.
The window treatments of white plantation shutters offer privacy but also maintain an airy Caribbean feel when open.
“We feel a sense of calm out here, and Michelle has helped to enhance this feeling with interior finishes that are a play on soothing blue and neutral tones.” says Jennifer. “She has helped us to create a warm and inviting Caribbean coastal style through the selection of feature mosaic tiles, textured wallpapers, paint colours, and key furniture pieces such as beds with caned headboards, and the iconic four-poster bed.”
KEY FEATURES
There are four guest rooms and four bathrooms (two king rooms, one queen and one room with twin beds) as well as two TV lounge areas, in addition to a main family room.
“This is a quintessential beach house,” says Michelle. “The interiors had to balance a sense of tranquillity with joie de vivre.”
Key features include the entry hall, which was a critical space for the house and called for something extraordinary.
“We decided to shiplap all the walls, keep our larger-scaled trim and baseboard, and then add a ceiling recess that we wallpapered in a blue grasscloth,” says Michelle. “This was all set off with three amazing light fixtures made with capiz shells.”
The kitchen required a dining table for eight without encroaching into the living room area. This was achieved by extending the kitchen island and changing the material to wood, so that it would have the feel of a proper table but stay within the space available.
“We knew this would be a well-loved and used space, so we slip-covered the dining chairs in a great, washable fabric,’ says Michelle.
In the primary suite, a muted palette exudes calm and elegance, with three different wallpapers in the bedroom and bathroom each picking up on soft ocean tones and giving the rooms a finished, layered feel. The piece de resistance is the Victoria + Albert soaking tub, which enjoys a stunning sea view.
OUTLOOK
The name of the house – Kai-yak Cove – is in reference to the kayaks in the Bio Bay lagoon on the east side of the property.
To the west, the house has an open view of the North Sound, perfect for watching sunsets at the end of a relaxing day during family getaways and beach weekends.
“Cayman Kai is our happy place and always reminds us of the Cayman we grew up in, which was very peaceful and laid back,” says Jennifer.
CREDITS
Architect
Mike Stroh, Trio Architecture
Interior design
Michelle Butler, Design Studio
Builder
Multi-Built Construction Company
Kitchen and bathroom millwork
KW Woodwork
Closet spaces
Storage Solutions
Window treatments
Terri Smyth
Countertops
Stafford Flooring and ITC
Solar panels
GreenTech Solar
Landscape design
Arcadia Landscape Design & Consulting
Landscape installation
Paradise Landscaping
This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2022 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands and delivered to select homes in eco-tote bags sponsored by LIVING.KY.
