The Lyford Cay Design weekend was an elegant, inspiring and festive few days in an iconic setting. Part of the pleasure of the weekend were the many “pinch me” moments, making for spirited conversations between fellow design aficionados. It all started with cocktails at this Lyford cottage on the water (above), formerly the home of Bill and Babe Paley. The house tours on Saturday were an especially welcome opportunity to enjoy old classics and new takes on the architectural charm of this compound’s original residences of the 1950s. Some of us ventured around by golf cart, others by a more leisurely mode of conveyance.

Couldn’t wait to include you in the weekend…

Adore this use of the island’s coral stone for the quoins and front door surround.

So comfortably settled in…

A Bahamian signature…a straight driveway bordered by just the properly scaled palm trees.

Green and orange were a recurring color scheme.

A witty take on comfort with the perfectly placed palm trees.

Wouldn’t you love an excuse to use these awnings?

So quintessential…exactly what I expect a Bahamian porch to look like!

Drama on high…looking across the island and out to the sea.

A new take on shellwork!

What an addition this light fixture makes in the powder room, with its shadows repeating the details of the hand-painted palm trees.

Doesn’t every Caribbean island need a sugar mill house?

My favorite shade of coral for a Lyford front door! Thank you, Lynne, for sharing those magical moments in your paradise…

to include the Saturday night dinner (there’s that coral color again, in the simple but so effective use of orchids).