Nestled on a lane close to Cemetery Beach in West Bay, Parrot Berry Cottage is a time-capsule of Caymanian character and charm.
Owner Josephine Hislop describes its style as ‘island nostalgia’, harking back to an era of simpler times in the Cayman Islands.
“It reflects a home that could have been lovingly lived in for decades, layered with memories, mismatched treasures, a style that values story over perfection,” she says.
Built in the 1970s, Josephine and her husband Stephen purchased the property in recent years and have styled it as part of their Botanica collection of holiday cottages.
“I feel authenticity is lacking in our tourism product, and Botanica bridges that gap,” says Josephine.
Originally from Cayman Brac, she spent her childhood years slamming screen doors, popping in and out of the caboose (which was later turned into a washroom), looking for kittens under the house, eating mangos, watching her grandfather make his thatch-rope baskets, and dusting her grandmother’s plethora of ornaments.
“So, with this cottage, I essentially tried to stay true to that feeling I carried with me from my childhood,” she says. “I am an intuitive designer, so I think about how all design elements feel, in addition to how they look. This was my interpretation, a physical manifestation of a feeling.”
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Josephine reached deep into Cayman’s heritage to decorate Parrot Berry Cottage. Even the name is island-inspired, as parrot berry (Bourreria venosa) is a local tree that attracts native birds.
“I feel like, as a culture, we are facing erasure and dilution,” she says. “I was born and raised here and grew up on the Brac, and while our homes were not curated, there was a charming element to them.
“You decorated with whatever you had, things that were sentimental, but also some of the beauty and nostalgia was in the things that were purely functional; the canvas hammocks, rope to hold it all together, and a gaudy gold touch-lamp.”
With this mission of cultural preservation, Josephine aimed to convey the islands’ old-time character to guests, offering an authentic experience on Seven Mile Beach, where hospitality is dominated by hotels and condos.
“The layers were meticulously curated to showcase antique finds, modern comforts, and character and depth, which I find is missing in a lot of our Cayman properties,” she says. “I think great design pushes the boundaries, using things like patterned curtains, stripes, antiques, texture and local touches of art and crafts.
“I read something that said we are currently in the age of ‘average’, meaning everything and everyone is starting to look the same. Homes have the same appearance, everyone wants to be on-trend and acceptable, so I think going against that grain is what makes this property special.”
TRADITIONAL DESIGN
After purchasing the property, the first thing Josephine did was buy a stack of old books about the Caribbean, and spent two years ‘digital antiquing’, purchasing pieces online to furnish and decorate the cottage.
Sitting alongside modern fixtures and fittings, there are restored and upcycled elements to give a feeling of traditional Caymanian design.
At 1,800 square feet, the three-bed, two-bath property also has lots of wood panelling throughout, evoking a time when, for practical reasons, tongue-and-groove was the wall covering of choice, allowing the panels to expand and contract with changing humidity levels.
From custom kitchen countertops made with concrete using Cayman marl, to hand-made wooden shutters, the cultural nods are intertwined throughout the residence.
It is a delightful curation of heart-warming memorabilia, including a collection of coronation plates from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth and the monarchs who came in between.
“I feel like older Caymanians had a certain pride when it came to our monarchs – I grew up seeing the tea towels and commemorative thimbles and spoons etc., all prized possessions and also décor,” says Josephine.
And from the hand-stamped bed linen fabric, and the vintage-style bathroom basins, to the eclectic artwork, the mix of old and new wraps around guests like a warm hug.
A particular picture of sentimental value is a cottage painted by John Broad, which happens to be Josephine’s childhood home.
“John Broad also taught me art in high school; it was an emotional full circle moment to hang that piece in this cottage,” she says.
Even the porch is reminiscent of the times when Caymanians sat outside their wattle-and-daub homes.
“I tell my friends that sitting on the porch is healing; it is like slipping into a slower rhythm of time, where sea breeze floats through, and moments are suspended. and everything feels at ease,” says Josephine.
SPIRIT AND SOUL
While embracing all the comforts and amenities of modern living, the cottage is undoubtedly emblematic of the Caymanian spirit and soul.
“Every detail, from the beadboard walls to the vintage portrait of the Caribbean woman, and my grandfather’s thatch basket, tells a story,” says Josephine. “It’s a space that evokes emotion, slows time, and offers guests an authentic sense of place. Most of all, it feels like an exhale. The moment you walk in, your shoulders drop and the pace shifts.”
Josephine also wants the cottage to inspire other developers and guest-experience hosts to relish in Caymanian traditions, and to see the value of storytelling, craftsmanship, and cultural authenticity.
“There’s so much beauty here worth preserving, and my hope is that Parrot Berry plays a small part in reminding us of that,” she says.
ARCHITECTURE: Drafted Architecture and George Manderson
INTERIOR DESIGN & STYLING: Josephine Hislop, House of Lore
MILLWORK: Property Doctors
APPLIANCES: Big Chill (imported)
COUNTERTOPS: Rainbow Development (handmade concrete)
PLUMBING: Imported, Rohl, installed by Hyde Plumbing
RUGS: Ledger and Looms
DRAPERY: Diane Eden Atelier
LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Naked Foot Ltd.
