Jewel of the Caribbean: Fustic House

Fustic House, spotted on West Coast Villas, is a luxurious Plantation Estate set in ten acres of beautiful tropical gardens in St. Lucy, Barbados. The property is nestled on a coral ridge with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. The estate is considered by the National Trust to be a ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’. The original Great House dates from 1740 and was transformed in the 1970s by Oliver Messel, the famous theatrical designer. Messel left England at the height of his career to retreat to the lush beauty of the Caribbean. His unique style was to create a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that flowed seamlessly together. Of all the houses he ever designed, Fustic was reputed to be his favorite. The estate features seven luxurious suites, seven reception rooms, home theater, outbuildings and swimming pool. There are four separate wings discreetly dotted through Fustic’s exotic gardens.

Nestled in the tropical garden is a lagoon swimming pool that was designed by Messel. The pool water is treated with an ioniser, which reduces the need for chlorine to almost zero. The result is the sensation of swimming in pure, spring water. At night the pool is lit from below, making it an even more romantic and mysterious place to swim. Beside the pool is a spacious sun deck built over the coral ravine below. The sundeck is an ideal place to relax with a cocktail in between cooling dips in the pool, or to simply bask in the suns rays while taking in the view.