Gardenia

About Gardenia, St. Thomas

Serpentine garden planters flank Villa Gardenia's entry gate. The garden courtyard, graced with a trickling fountain filled with tropical fish, a 1500-square foot covered tiled terrace and brick-lined arches framing marvelous ocean views, welcomes you into this gracious property. The shaded terrace, dotted with potted palms, is set for cool alfresco dining and offers a cushioned seating area with a bar, perfect for sundown cocktails before dinner. Through the bricked arches is a green lawn with beautiful landscaping; a grove of palm trees borders the walled garden perimeter.

Screened doors open from the terrace into Villa Gardenia's Great Room, a large, fully air-conditioned and elegant space which is divided into a sitting and conversation area with a large flat-screen TV and Blu-Ray DVD player with a Bose sound system, a formal dining area, and the spacious gourmet kitchen beyond. Along one Great Room wall are screened french doors showcasing tropical gardens just outside; these can be opened to allow cooling tradewinds within. Villa Gardenia's impressive kitchen is a gourmet's delight, and will please even the most demanding of culinary buffs - a marble counter tops three sides of the kitchen, one side of which serves as a counter with six bar stools, perfect for sipping wine in air-conditioned comfort while dinner unfolds. A large center island boasts a 5-burner gas cooktop, two ovens and a microwave, and all expected chef's tools and the finest appliances can be found here. A marble-walled powder room is conveniently located just off the kitchen, as is a small home office alcove equipped with a fax machine, laptop computer, DSL and Wi-Fi. A separate laundry room, fitted with a handy wine cooler, adjoins the kitchen. A screened door opens from the kitchen out to a private walled garden patio, furnished with a built-in bench softened by cushions, wicker seating, gas grill, and for alfresco dining, a large round table for six.

Villa Gardenia's three fully air-conditioned bedroom/bath suites are accessed from the Great Room. The master suite is beautifully done in a refined style, with a queen sleigh bed and a sitting area with a sofabed, and the ensuite bath is pure luxury: marble from floor to ceiling, a raised bathtub, a large shower and an enclosed toilet area. A large cedar-lined walk-in closet is also just off the master bedroom. A set of french doors from the master suite open directly out to the covered terrace. A hallway connects the second and third bedroom suites to the covered terrace, allowing access to the master suite as well. The queen suite, which also has a comfortable sofabed, is furnished in classic French country blue, white and yellow, and the adjoining bathroom is all marble with a glass-enclosed shower. The third bedroom offers two twin beds (or one king) and an all-marble bath with shower.

Right outside the Great Room, a few steps lead down to the lovely solar-heated tiled pool and the hot tub deck, which overlooks the ocean and the outlying islands of Hans Lollick, Little Tobago, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola in the blue distance. Chaise lounges beckon sun worshippers, and the sun deck gives way to an expanse of green lawn. Mid-level above the sun deck is a lively blue-tiled bar with a built-in gas grill, perfect for convivial evening gatherings under the stars.

This stunning home is beautifully furnished with pleasing and comfortable pieces, carefully-chosen accessories and artful lighting, and is superbly equipped. Villa Gardenia is completely fenced and located on a cul-de-sac in a quiet residential neighborhood, just a short drive from Magens Bay. Charlotte Amalie is just over the hill, less than a 10-minute drive away - but you may prefer to stay and relax within the walled elegance of this enchanting property!