Its humble namesake fruit belies the luxury within Villa Olive (OLI), a sublimely chic and soothing home that is one of the exquisite jewels of St. Barth. The luxury property is an ideal setting for a best-of-all-worlds Caribbean holiday. It’s stylish without being showy, minimalist without being austere, and private without being hermetic. Among the loveliest rental houses in Gouveneur, Villa Olive stands out on the island not just for its aesthetics but also for its hilltop location: far enough from town to be peaceful, yet still just a few minutes’ drive from Gustavia, St. Jean and the famous beaches of Gouveneur and Saline.
Villa Olive is the fruit of the creative mind of architect François Pécard, who has been designing many of St. Barth’s most beautiful and admired villas for more than 30 years. In this case, he assembled a series of airy, light-drenched pavilions, centered on a 23-meter infinity pool and views of the hills, valleys and St. Jean Bay below. After sunset, the softly glowing lights of St. Jean add to the ambiance – and the pleasure you’ll take in being above it all, in your own private universe.
The main pavilion, which is divided into two wings off a center foyer, offers proof that less can be more. The look is defined by cozily scaled white and blond-wood furnishings surrounded by a great deal of space. Much of the decoration is simply the pretty glasses and dishes that rest on the open shelves. That, and the abundant sunshine and the repeated architectural lines in the pavilions outside, give it a feeling of expansiveness and ease. A gourmet kitchen is open to the dining area, allowing families to converse as they cook, or to watch Sibarth’s private chefs at work, and a wooden dining table seats ten. Everything is open to the teak deck, which is partially shaded by palm trees.
Beautifully crafted teak walkways, surrounded by stone walls and desert-style landscaping of cacti and rock gardens, link this shared space with the four bedrooms, each in its own pavilion and each as large as a hotel junior suite. All of their walls are hung with black-and-white photography, and all of their bathrooms have spacious glass-walled showers with two rain shower heads, heightening the sense of luxury. Two of them are fronted with glass walls that open onto a deck. Past the bedrooms are lounging pavilions, where Sibarth’s massage therapists can be booked to work their magic.
Sibarth Bespoke Villa Rentals is proud to offer the stylish, serene design and superb location of Villa Olive.
