Filed under: Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes, Cool Homes
Oprah, Jimmy Fallon and David Beckham have stayed at this Bali-inspired Caribbean resort. Why you'll want to too.I've been to the British Virgin Islands. Tortola, to be exact, where I rented a house with two friends. It remains one of my favorite vacations. I loved the island's gentle ocean breezes, abundance of locally caught seafood and incredible beaches. Think: white sands, bright blue skies and the lush green hills of St. John in the distance.
Bali Houses -- half a dozen of them -- are one of the island's lodging options. Photo: Necker Island
If I were a celebrity that vacation may have been a wee bit different. I might have called Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, and inquired about availability on Necker Island, his 74-acre private island with super-luxe (and beautifully decorated) lodging. Located about 30 minutes from Tortola by private boat, Branson bought the island in 1978 and began renting it out in 1984.
A who's who of celebrities have stayed at the resort, everyone from Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson to Jimmy Fallon (he married here in 2007), Victoria and David Beckham (who rang in their 10th anniversary here earlier this year) to Princess Diana and Oprah Winfrey. We tried to get the goods on their stays, but a representative of Necker Island was tight-lipped: "I'm afraid that we respect the confidentiality of all of our guests."
The resort, the site of a 2010 Victoria's Secret catalog shoot, isn't cheap. If you rent the entire resort, it's $53,000 per night for up to 28 guests (5 night minimum). It includes all of your meals, drinks, boat transfers to and from the island and access to a 60 person staff. Still, you have to do your own laundry. Say what? The newest perk is a high-speed submarine dubbed "Necker Nymph."
In lieu of jetting off to this exclusive celeb retreat, we have photos of the property and the 14 rooms, which are divided between the Great House and six Bali Houses. While we really want to spend a night in this fantasy getaway, we'll settle for drooling over the photos and finding our favorite designer touch in each area of the resort.
Photo: Necker Island
In a promo shot for the property, there are piles of pillows grouped together on a torch-lit beach, along with an exquisitely-set table -- the ultimate in outdoor living. I'm not going to say that you should try this at home -- it's pretty cold here in Wisconsin where I live. But here's an idea: Forget the hot chocolate. Mix yourself a tropical drink instead, and sip it in front of your roaring fire. It will lift the winter blues in minutes. Or, just beckon to a staff member, er, your significant other. "We try and provide a 'home away from home' style, but with the luxury of staff to answer your every need," says Leesa Jones, one of Necker Island's general managers.
Photo: Necker Island
In this master-suite room, located inside the Great House, decorative accents -- in this case, pale blue pillows, bright white bed linens, curtains and seating -- match the seascape outside. Since the Great House is on top of Devil's Hill and affords practically panoramic views of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, a "clean cream and pale-blue color scheme was intentionally chosen," says Jones. The house's six rooms, including this one, have their own private terrace. All of the furniture and artifacts throughout the Great House were sourced from Bali, where they were handmade. Check out the vintage-look Jacuzzi (it looks like a clawfoot bathtub) on the suite's private terrace. We are so there!
Photo: Necker Island
There are six Bali Houses on the property. Some are situated on a cliff (offering amazing views and equally amazing sea breezes at night) and some are in the middle of the island (with a large private pool at each house). Built in Bali, they were then deconstructed so they could be transported to Necker Island, where they were reassembled. Inside one of the three cliffside homes (shown above), the open air room offers seamless panoramic views.
Ornately carved chairs and sofas are a nice alternative to the wicker popular in many seaside settings. White seat cushions and blue and green accents make the background stand out even more. Can't you see Brad and Angelina relaxing in this space -- talking about how they are going to change the world next -- after the kiddos are in bed? Or Oprah giggling with her BFF Gayle late into the night?
Photo: Necker Island
Okay, we get that this room -- in one of the Bali Houses -- looks completely staged. There is no way that a duo of straw hats are going to be positioned equidistant at the foot of the bed. No, they will be casually tossed onto the bed or the floor after coming in from the hot sun. But let's take a closer look. Objects in a room can tell their visitors a story and cultivate a feeling. Here, a straw hat like you might wear while lounging in a chaise on a sandy beach is displayed on the bed. Think about arranging a glass bowl filled with sand and seashells on top of a side table or dresser. Or a straw tote-bag slung over a door knob. It may make you smile when you walk in your own room.
Photo: Necker Island
What I liked best about my vacation on Tortola was the ability to leave the French doors open at night while I slept. Nothing is more relaxing. In this Bali House room, neutral, lighter shades of wood keep up the relaxed vibe, but the real star is the view. Drool. Sigh. Book me a plane ticket now.
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