Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis

Nestled 1000 feet above sea level on the jungle-clad slopes of Mount Liamuiga, the Canopy Villa & Cottages has the perfect name. Views fringed by palm fronds and branches heavy with mangos and papayas reach out across an infinity pool that stretches towards the Caribbean Sea, the island of Statia floating in the distance.

The villa is steeped in tradition, with features that pay homage to classic Caribbean architecture and design. The use of local volcanic stone, shingle roofs and carved balustrades are all nods to a former genteel way of life – but these have been blended with more modern expectations. And this all comes together in an extraordinary feat of engineering, the outside spaces reaching out over a steep slice of mountainside covered in tropical fauna.

The Villa is within the exclusive Kittitian Hill resort. Over 400 acres of the tropical mountain have been transformed into a space unlike any other in the Caribbean. The restaurant at Belle Mont Farm creates fine dining dishes entirely from the produce grown on site, the initial vision and purpose of the resort. The menu serves to reflect the spirit of the farm, changing organically with the seasons to incorporate only the freshest, finest produce. This is the original farm to table concept, refined and defined right here on St Kitts.

Land has also been developed to create a world class golf course, and a spa and wellness center uses unique products created right here on the farm. The Great House, a spectacular dining space with vaulted ceilings and light weaving its way between the tables is fronted by a vast infinity pool, the perfect location for yoga as the sun rises.

And so the Canopy Villa & Cottages becomes a retreat within a retreat, a peaceful space that is surrounded by the calm, extraordinary resort that rests on the mountainside.

Inside, thought has been given to light and space. Ceilings and walls are clean and white, a soft contrast to the polished hardwood Mahogany floors throughout. Accents of pale blue are a gentle reminder of the sea and the sky, and rooms lead out through a series of double doors to a vast verandah with separate dining, relaxing and sunbathing areas.

The four air-conditioned bedrooms all come with walk-in wardrobes and luxurious en suite facilities, with a feature made of freestanding bathtubs. Residents can also choose to use an outdoor rainwater shower, a refreshingly decadent addition to any morning. The furniture used throughout the house is, as with the villa itself, a modern take on classical luxury: heavy dark wood is complimented by elegant fabrics and natural grass rugs, with chaises longues the perfect graceful finishing pieces. The walls are dressed with Kate Spencer paintings, stunning reflections of the nature that surrounds the villa.

Polished wooden countertops create a beautiful kitchen that doesn’t place style above substance: everywhere from appliances to furniture modern conveniences are in place.

The silhouettes of palms and mango trees, the vaulted ceilings, the balconies complete with captain’s chairs poised waiting for the sunset, are all perfect additions to the understated luxury of this unmistakably Caribbean villa. A feeling of being very open and free has been carefully blended with one of privacy and seclusion, and this exclusive villa offers extraordinary, unique possibilities.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4