A luxury property on one of the world’s best Caribbean islands – Villa LaVida

Exclusive Feature Property: Villa LaVida

Presented by BVI Sotheby’s International Realty

Photography by Heidi Schumann, Maritha Keil, and owners of Villa LaVida

Nestled on the northwest shore of Virgin Gorda in the exclusive Nail Bay Estate is the beachfront beauty, Villa LaVida. “La Vida” translates as “The life” so according to the owner’s experience in this home, Villa LaVida means: “This is the life!”

Presented by BVI Sotheby’s International Realty’s Maritha Keil and sales associates, Heidi Schumann and Isha O’brien, this unique property exemplifies a treasured family Caribbean retreat, offering views from every room with covered balconies, and abundant indoor and outdoor lounging by either the poolside or the beachfront.

This house offers a much desired and often requested island escape home, located on a white sandy beach, with swimming and snorkelling at one’s doorstep. There are cool ocean breezes, gentle waves, and cooing birds in the surrounding canopy of mature trees, all conveniently positioned within a well-groomed and covenanted estate community.

The polished Nail Bay Estate has approximately 20 well-constructed private properties stretching across 148 acres. The estate remains a favoured home for about five full-time residents. There are several vacation homes designed for the world-travelling affluent resident who may have originally chosen to keep a 2nd or 3rd home in this part of the Caribbean, because of either the beautiful environment, year round warm weather, financial taxation benefits, or passion for yachting. Most have stayed because of the overall definition of their quality of life. Several of these homes generate an income through vacation villa rentals, while others are exclusively occupied by their owners during the winter months here.

La Vida is a much desired ‘turn-key’ rental property, which not only covers the household expenses, but also successfully makes a profit after the taxes and running costs are paid.

Even though this Caribbean escape, located within a sophisticated community, is a very successful income producing property, it is equally treasured by the current owners, because it has always been a sanctuary for their innermost senses.

This dual-level complex blends the open outdoor atmosphere with the cool air flow of a well-planned modern Caribbean beachfront home. It has 25ft high cathedral ceilings, allowing for well-designed air circulation and generous interior spaces, which are further complemented by its earthen features, such as coral and natural stone decks, trims and hand rails made of exotic Imbuia hardwood and artisanal stonework pathways connecting  the interiors and exteriors, meandering down a gentle slope to the sea.

LaVida is one of the few fully air-conditioned villas on Virgin Gorda. Because of the consistent trade wind breezes, guests can choose from sleeping beneath cooling ceiling fans or remote controlled AC, while enjoying this five bedroom, seven bath luxury retreat, comfortably accommodating an extended family of 10, and even more if one chose to use a foldout couch in the additional living room space by the pool side, or complete the unfinished below-deck guest apartment.

Through the garden and located below the southwest deck, this well-appointed home offers an additional, unfinished studio apartment, originally designed as a guest apartment or caretaker’s suite, but only currently used as an additional spacious storage area.

The abundance of space simultaneously grants the option for residents to be as sociable or secluded as they desire. The top floor great room is comprised of a state-of-the-art kitchen, a truly grand living space, a view over the pool and beach, and a stairway down to the poolside living areas.

The rooms are all interconnected and each bedroom faces the sea. Large glass doors can slide open to create either an open outdoor living space or glass-enclosed air conditioned space. Hurricane-proof, 8 or 10ft high sliding glass doors deliver the fantastic sculpted views, blessing the eyes with a plethora of possible sights: delightful sunsets each evening, a series of distant sailing yachts, or puffy clouds reflecting dawn’s fiery glow. The villa’s location for seascape spectacles heightens its prestige. The various outer islands known as The Dogs, decorate this quintessential perspective, forming a yachtsman’s favoured superior panoramic view.

The benefit of spacious walk-in closets for each king-size bedroom suite with additional owner’s storage closets, computer/writing desks in each bedroom, comfortable lounge chairs and quality furnishings bestows a useful amenity for maintaining each bedroom’s independent retreat and airy appearance.

Each bedroom offers a lounging balcony providing the gentle ambiance of the sea’s waves lapping the shore while accenting the tranquil ocean front theme. Some of the additional features include well designed lighting and openings from the showers across the spacious bedrooms which allow for additional dramatic views to the sea, even while showering. The ground floor with wet bar, is adjacent to the long stretching poolside deck outside and has a well-equipped media room with a 52’ flat screen TV, Sony PlayStation 3, and an entire media library, making for great indoor entertainment for young and old.

Stepping outside using one of the many sliding doors available, introduces barefoot elegance and potential for alfresco dining, forming the spirit of the property’s blissful exterior. A large infinity edge pool encompassing an expansive deck, hammocks, and outdoor seating create a hub of serenity.

Set on the shoreline, LaVida’s physical position manages to accommodate its privacy, sustained by the mature foliage and vegetation surrounding the property’s exterior deck. With the practically private Nail Bay beach directly in front of the villa, this haven fulfils any family lifestyle, gifting residents with the opportunity of either private beachside or resort trail walks, fantastic snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, or any of the other numerous water sports.  There is even a naturally formed children’s sea pool created in the shore side landscaping, encompassed by waist high boulders along the white sand shore.

Residents are blessed with choices of various other beaches within walking distance at LaVida. Alternatives for sun soaking days are Turtle Bay, Mountain Trunk, and Long Bay beaches. Centrally located between two of the most famous Virgin Islands destination hot spots, one being North Sound—renowned for possessing the best waters, super yachts, water sports, fine dining and exclusive resorts—and the other being The Baths, a geographical marvel for visitors, LaVida residents will not be short of additional outdoor activities.

The Nail Bay Estate Home Owner’s Association (HOA) fees are currently under $2000 per year, which is extremely reasonable compared to the HOA fees for any many other resorts in the BVI. All amenities and maintenance are available under this fee including access to the tennis courts and the wonderful Sugarcane Restaurant located on the Estate serving Caribbean fare, tailored to both casual and fine dining. Doug Riegels of Driftwood Resorts—the company behind Nail Bay Estate—has constructed a small golf course for the private use of Full Circle villa. He will control use of this amenity with regard to the rest of Nail Bay.

Villa LaVida is the essence of Caribbean lifestyle for full or part-time residents who seek a blend of the modern and traditional aspects of this heavenly archipelago.

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New Developments with BVI Sotheby’s International Realty

BVI Sotheby’s International Realty is currently opening a new office branch in Virgin Gorda, across from Scotia Bank, located upstairs next to Cura Property Management. Isha O’brien and Heidi Schumann will be managing the listings and sales transactions, while Maritha Keil will continue as lead broker for the company.

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Villa LaVida presented by BVI Sotheby’s International Realty

Features:

Located in Virgin Gorda 0.87 acres 5 Bed, 7 Bath Beachfront property Horizon edge pool Fully Air conditioned Fully furnished Privacy of Nail Bay Estate Incredible beach and ocean views Tennis court‎s Spa and fitness center Sugarcane Restaurant Extra one bedroom Studio apartment (yet to be completed) Generous parking US $4,700,000.00