Opened this summer, the latest luxury hotel on Seven Mile Beach has enveloped itself firmly in the island’s colours and character.

Hotel Indigo arrival area.

The design process has ensured the aesthetic is finely tuned to the property’s surroundings and Caymanian cultural landscape.

Throughout the hotel, nods to the Cayman Islands are apparent, some as striking statements, and others as subtle as the colours representative of the famed and unique Caymanite stone.

“The interior design leans into Hotel Indigo’s notion of a ‘neighbourhood story’,” explains Caroline Farouki.

Caroline, of the New Orleans-based interior design firm Farouki Farouki, was part of the collaborative project team assembled in 2019 to work on Hotel Indigo.

Catalina terrace.

“Early in the design process, we were inspired by a 1958 aerial photograph that shows that the site of the hotel was a lush mangrove forest,” she says.

“We developed the concept of the hotel as a handmade hideaway within a lush forest of tropical plants. The use of natural materials, artisan wooden millwork, and tropical colours results in a collection of interior spaces that blend with the environment.

“Woven elements in light fixtures and furniture speak to the local tradition of weaving silver thatch palm leaves. The design celebrates the early locals’ creative use of available resources and materials.”

Driving around Grand Cayman in 2020, the team was excited to see playful patterns on vernacular architecture and fences.

Milkberry terrace.

Their impressions were utilised in the design concepts, with simple and playful shapes and forms adding a youthful, bold, and modern layer to Hotel Indigo’s furniture, lighting and art.

“Lastly, we took inspiration from the geology of the island,” says Caroline. “Local Caymanite stone has a gorgeous blend of warm whites, rusty reds, oranges and browns. These colours form the base colour palette for the guest rooms.

“Also, the project’s most prominent mural (on the outside walls of Café Alula) illustrates Grand Cayman’s unique underwater topography and hints at why its waters are so beautiful.”

Reception.

LOVELY LOBBY

Café Alula.

Arriving at the lobby, guests and visitors are embraced by fusions of Cayman’s past and present, along with the modernity of a trendy tropical beach hotel.

“The architecture of the lobby pavilion beckons one to the sea with its skillion roof that celebrates the gorgeous western view,” Caroline explains. “The custom marble mosaic floor echoes the pattern of sea turtles’ backs, as seen through a modern illustrator’s lens.

“The plaster in the lobby speaks to the use of natural materials found on the island. The front desk takes inspiration from the local silver thatch palm, with its angular leaf geometries.”

Above the desk, the skylight and greenery are in reference to the verdant landscape of Grand Cayman, and the art is a nod to Caymanian history of a strong boating culture, local architecture, and basket-weaving traditions.

Catalina.
Presidential suite.

The island-inspired theme continues in the bedrooms and suites, with custom furniture by Farouki Farouki, and individual touches infused by incorporating the works of local artists and artisans.

In the guest rooms, local photography from Elena McDonough was given a playful layer with hand sketches collaged on top.

A local weaving artist made seagrass wall hangings, and local artisans 3 Girls and a Kiln created custom ceramic art pieces and vanity trays. Custom coasters mimic the striated materials of Caymanite.

RESTAURANTS & ROOFTOP BAR

Each of the five restaurants has been given its own look and Cayman design inspiration.

Catalina, for example, was named after the first commercial aeroplane to fly into Grand Cayman, and designed to embody the vibrant, welcoming spirit of the island.

Display area.

Large portraits celebrate the first female pilots of Cayman Airways, which serve as cheerful faces greeting diners arriving at the restaurant.

Pom Pom, the rooftop bar, is designed to feel like a bird’s nest in the canopy of trees.

“Booths and bleacher seats in a tropical fabric speak to the tree canopy that the nest lies within,” says Caroline.

“A curvaceous outdoor booth references the organic lines of a bird’s nest…plants hang from the ceiling to emphasise the connection to nature.

”Not only that, but the second concept element is the celebration of Cayman’s national flower: the wild banana orchid.

Reception.

“The rich purple colour speaks to the colour of the flower, and the mural on the underside of the patio roof is a modern illustration of the flower,” adds Caroline.

Handmade pendants in the main space were also made by 3 Girls and a Kiln.

The entire property of Hotel Indigo is designed to embrace the beauty of Cayman from each angle, enjoying views of the beach from every public space.

With the name itself also reflecting one of the many dazzling colours of the Caribbean Sea, the hotel has truly blended with its environment.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Farouki Farouki, New Orleans

ARCHITECTURE: Blur Workshop, Atlanta

LANDSCAPE: MCLV, Kansas City/Dart, Cayman Islands

BRANDING: The Made Shop, Denver

This article originally appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of InsideOut magazine.