ISLAND FEVER
Translating Curacao’s natural beauty
By Joy Gettis
Photography courtesy of Patricia McClintock & Associés Inc.
Even though Curacao became an independent country in 2010, it has retained much of its Dutch culture, so much so that the “Dutch pensionata,” much like Northern Snowbirds, escape every winter to the Island’s tropical climate. So for Indigo Garden, a complex of 89 
two-bedroom homes, part of a larger resort development on the Caribbean Isle, Montreal-based designer Patricia McClintock had a clear brief: create interiors that not only reflect the taste and cultural specificities of Dutch national second homeowners, but also attract the North American rental guests (the homes are part of the resort’s rental pool). “This was a challenge, as the expectations of the European guest are quite different from that of the North American tourist,” she says.
Since the two-bedroom homes are fairly small, they boast an open layout, where Caribbean plantation house-inspired shutter sliding doors open onto landscaped outdoor gardens. “It creates a natural flow between indoor and outdoor, thus allowing the guests the illusion of increased outdoor living and greater communication with nature,” she says.
The celebration of the Island locale continues in the interiors. A neutral color palette and dark woods are accented by pops of fuchsia and lime green in the bedrooms, and turquoise, striped fabrics, and white hues in the communal areas. Those colors are echoed in the free flowing and organic artwork custom designed for the project. “The overall mood achieved is that of island vacation and of a stress-less environment appeal”, McClintock says.
Development and Management Company: Blue Bay Curacao
Developer: Janssen de Jong Caribbean
Architecture Firm: Bohorquez Archllecten, Curacao
Interior Design and Purchasing Firm: Patricia McCIintock & Associés Inc., Montreal
Fabrics: Momentum Textiles, Fabricut, Saccaro, and Stacy Garcia
Sofa: ltaldivani
Furniture: Nostracasa, the Furniture Collection, Budji and Artco
Duvets: Moria L’Oie
Bed Scarf/Throw Pillow: Lazarus
Floor Lamp: Palecek
Chandelier/Bed lamps: Gen-Iite
Wall Sconces: Michi Lighting
Artwork: Palit
www.pmadesign.com; wonen.bluebay-curacao.com
