Luxury Locations issue 26

FEATURE

From family home to chic retreat – Transforming Villa 307

Nadia Dyson with Charmaine Benjamin-Werth

I talians have a great expression for a house that looks lived- in. A ‘casa vissuta’ alludes to a place that has a story, evokes warmth and shows signs of use – usually a family home. Think mismatched coffee mugs, items of sentimental value but questionable function, that tap that drips unless you know exactly how to position it. You might call it character. When it comes to a rental property, however, those tiny imperfections translate to monumental flaws. If anyone understands the importance of the little details that can make or break a travel review, it’s Luxury Locations’ founder Nadia Dyson. So when she decided to renovate her own family home and list it on Antigua’s rental market, her critical eye was key. With 20 years’ experience in the business, Nadia knows a thing or two about the features discerning travellers want and the standards they expect. After all, no one wants the promised ‘home away from home’ to be too, well, homey. To help her transform Villa 307 from cosy crib to holiday haven, one person was at the top of her list. Interior designer

Charmaine’s expertise identifying fixtures and furnishings, and a colour palette that complemented the natural environment without overwhelming it by clamouring for attention, was invaluable.

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