Cassandra Tennille’s "Style for Living" column is published quarterly and features topics related to
style, design and spectacular living.
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One of the fab benefits of my job is the pleasure of traveling the globe. I am fortunate to experience cultures and places running the gamut from ridiculously lavish to refreshingly untouched and simple. The only disadvantage is the necessary frequency of my travel. I have “earned” every grueling mile of my Delta Platinum Skymiles membership. This last year has been significant in my life, with a benchmark 40th birthday and my 1st year wedding anniversary both falling in the month of November. These two ominous dates presented quite a challenge to my husband, a seasoned traveler himself faced with a quandary; “where do you take a globetrotting girl to surprise and impress her?” He knew he couldn’t risk this one so he phoned up his trusty longtime travel agent, Jody Jones, who specializes in epicurean adventures.
”WHERE?” he blurted the frantic question…“Jade Mountain”, was Jody’s confident response. “Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE she’ll love it?” Unwavering, Jody calmly reassured him, “Jade Mountain, it’s the place”. Needless to say, my week in November at Nick and Karolyn Troubetzkoy’s St. Lucia resort within a resort, Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet, was absolute paradise. The experience was so sublime that when I was asked to write an article on a fantastic getaway there was only one possible choice in the entire world.
As we drove through St. Lucia’s lush mountains in the pristine February sunshine, I recalled the conversation we had with our driver on the previous trip. The November vacation was not only our first time to Jade Mountain, but also our first time to St. Lucia. As busy people with only a window of vacation time, we asked the driver what the weather was expected to be over the next few days in an attempt to quickly sum up the sunshine quality factor of our vacation. The driver looked at us with a puzzled stare in the rearview mirror and said in his sing song French-Creole Patios accent, “Look, you are staying at Jade Mountain, it will be fine no matter if it rains or not”. Then after an almost annoyed pause he put the matter to rest, “It’s Jade Mountain, there’s nothing to talk about”.
When you are packing your bag for Jade Mountain and find yourself smack in the middle of “outfit trauma” just remember this simple suggestion; Jade Mountain is “all about the room”. In fact the word “room” will be promptly deleted from your vernacular as you are welcomed into your “Sanctuary” by your personal concierge, Edmond. Each sanctuary at Jade Mountain is connected to the mountainside by an individual bridge. Edmond stops guests at the foot of the bridge and begins your stay with these words; “Welcome to our piece of paradise!! When you visit an ordinary resort, hospitality begins at the lobby entrance. At Jade Mountain your sanctuary begins at the bridge, the gateway to your heaven on earth”.
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Within seconds of entering your sanctuary as a mere mortal your knees will buckle, breath will audibly escape your lips, and for the first time in memory you will look at your partner and no words will suffice. As your concierge guides you through your sanctuary tour, explaining how to work the lighting in the infinity pool at the foot of your sheer swathed bed, with iridescent water spilling away to the tropical greenery that fades into the beautiful Caribbean Sea and imposing Grand Piton Mountains, you won’t hear a word that is said. Just accept the fact that the endorphins coursing through your body are completely robbing you of any ability to pay attention. You won’t learn a thing about the balms that are available in your lofted Jacuzzi or the complimentary sushi, champagne and petit four waiting in your living room which openly invites the sun, sea and stars. It’s OK, just nod and utter the basic “yes, uh-huh”, because the second the concierge leaves you are going to run around the room like overexcited kids exclaiming “NO WAY” & “AWESOME”!
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Most flights arrive in St. Lucia late afternoon, followed by a one hour taxi ride to the resort. This means that as soon as you have performed the appropriate amount of gaga jaw dropping and moaning over your new digs for the week, you’ll want to throw on something fabulous and breezy for your first sunset cocktail on the top floors of Jade Mountain. Settle in to the restaurant level seating and order up a refreshing trio of 2006 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, frosty San Pellegrino sparkling water with fresh island lime and a deliciously lite shrimp Caesar salad which will surprisingly fill your appetite for the evening. This is your time to shift gears, and let the trade winds carrying their tropical scents ease you into a new cadence. Within minutes relaxation will set in and you’ll feel a different kind of smile spread across your lips, the kind of smile that comes effortlessly. It dawns on you that at this moment you are truly happy.
After your picture perfect dinner, step up the stairs to the top level of Jade Mountain and embrace the panorama. Tiki torches will illuminate your evening as you spin in circles drinking in the Pitons, ocean, moonlight, stars, and palms. You won’t have to worry about saying goodbye to these vistas, you’ll be able to enjoy the same scenery from your sanctuary. Upon return to your sanctuary you notice that Jade Mountain’s five star staff has discreetly slipped in and tidied everything to perfection, drawn the sheers over your bed and misted hibiscus throughout which naturally repels tiny visitors. On your bed you will find a folded piece of paper which will be waiting each evening offering a new poem, song, or thought. Sometimes the note is sweet or inspiring, other nights the prose is so romantically rapturous that you’ll use the note to fan yourself. Wine is chilled and the sanctuary beckons with your choice of a candlelit bubble bath to the stars or a midnight swim to the edge of infinity
… your evening has just begun.
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 Tropical morning sunlight dances on the ceiling of your sanctuary as it is reflected by the ripples in your living room pool. The breeze at times flirts with the sheers draped around your bed and occasionally fills the folds of fabric like a ship’s sails and floats them out into the blue sky. You feel a bit decadent for sleeping in so late. With some nudging you stir out of bed with a sense of responsibility to not waste away your precious vacation time sleeping. Sifting through the choices in the breakfast menu book, you decide on the salmon lox cream cheese bagel with capers and island fruit and then glance at your watch. SEVEN THIRTY?? You have just encountered a Jade Mountain phenomenon which I cannot explain but truly exists. Time stands still in St. Lucia, you will wake each day beautifully rested, fully renewed and you won’t comprehend how early it is. I honestly believe that I enjoyed two days of vacation for each day spent in Anse Chastanet. Right about now, you should take off the watch and not worry about replacing it until you are in the airport to go home.
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At some point you’ll feel you must leave the room just for the sake of it, even though you don’t really want to. Leaving the heights of Jade and making way down the winding path through the charming villas of Anse Chastanet the vivid tropical flora surrounds all and fills the air. I couldn’t help the sensation that I was leaving Mt. Olympus and headed down to visit the earthlings. At the bottom of the mountain is a small beach village with everything to do and try that could possibly be on your island wish list. The resort is complete with a gift shop, beach spa, catamaran, snorkeling, sailing party cruises, scuba diving, and private palm covered beaches. Be sure and try the beach restaurants with their incredible local St. Lucian fare which is a fusion of French, Creole, and Indian foods. The flavors of nutmeg, fruits, and curry’s blend into a culinary symphony that is unique to this Island and outrageously delicious. Some of the local dishes have a seriously spicy kick so you’ll need to wash them down. We tried the Caribbean Kiss and Camilla’s Voodoo cocktails, both yummy and decidedly potent. If you are feeling adventurous you can dive into “A whole Lotta Love”, a colossal drink that is poured for two and comes with complimentary taxi service back to Jade. Be sure and take note of the colorful head scarves worn by the St. Lucian women while you are at the beach. The scarves are distinctly tied in an “updo” with an array of individual peaks. These peaks have a specific meaning; One peak means she is single and fancy free, two peaks means don’t even try it because she is promised to someone, three peaks means she is happily married, and four peaks means she’s married to a bum and ready for a little change in her life.
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After you’ve sampled the Island cuisine and indulged in A Whole Lotta Love, the journey will begin back up to Jade. At the halfway point up the mountain a fun bar is perched with a view and features local Island bands most evenings. It’s a required appointment during your stay to stop by and meet “Dave” the bartender from Dominica. Dave is a world class charmer and a fine dispenser of spirit and Island stories, plus he’s guaranteed to have you dancing in the moonlight to Bob Marley & Sade before your visit is over.
Mariska is the 2nd concierge at Jade Mountain (that’s right, they have your every need covered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and she made sure my last day at Jade was unbelievably memorable. We rose in the morning to a champagne continental breakfast (St. Lucia style) and a pristine sun ascending the sky over the Pitons and Caribbean Sea. I basked in my last morning of the tropical breeze and the “ocean orchestra” which is what we dubbed the background music created by rolling waves, birds singing, rustling palms and the water from the infinity pool softly spilling away down the mountainside. A knock at the door signaled Mariska’s arrival with an entourage from the Jade Mountain spa. I had asked Mariska to arrange a spa treatment for me, and she selected the signature Jade Mountain “Ménage à Spa”. I settled on to the massage table and melted away as my “threesome” of spa specialists gently went to work on every stress point in my body. It felt as if the skilled therapists gently disassembled my entire being, cleaned and repaired each part of me separately, reassembled my parts and then polished the shiny new me. Nearing the end of the treatment as I lay with eyes closed in absolute heavenly bliss I felt the fingers of a fourth person teasing at the soles of my feet and toes. The hands of the first three therapists disappeared from my body and I lay for at least another ten minutes feeling the touch of the new spa specialist. I heard my husband’s playful voice break through my delirium, “Cassandra, are you going to get up, like sometime today?” I clutched the towel to my body and sat up only to realize that the fourth person was actually the leaves of a palm swaying in the breeze and tickling my feet. The three spa therapists were silently gathered by the door waiting to retrieve their table and balms. They would have let me sleep on the table all afternoon if I desired without disturbing my peace. The quality of service and attention to every nuance of your experience at Jade Mountain is without question of a caliber few properties in the world have managed to achieve. All of this happened in the sanctuary making the experience so rich in sensory stimulation that it was an out of body experience. Other spa treatments are available, including a lover’s dual massage and one that includes liquid “Chocolat” which makes me blush just thinking about it.
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The sun began to fall into the sea and the sanctuary took on golden tones as the light softened in anticipation of the coming sunset. We were invited to join the owners, managers, and other Jade guests in the rooftop lounge for a sunset cocktail. After enjoying the endearing personalities of the management team and marveling in the early colors of the last sunset of our Valentine’s trip, we returned to our sanctuary which had been set for a white tablecloth candlelit dinner. I selected the perfect outfit for the evening; an off the shoulder white summer dress by Theory and Michael Kors gold metallic sandals. I donned a few golden accessories to achieve the perfect “pop”, sipped my sparkling glass of chilled Prosecco and then made my grand entrance by descending the lofted vanity staircase into the main level of the sanctuary which was now fully bathed in the rich golden hues of a magnificent Caribbean sunset. I felt beautiful. I thought to myself that anyone who experiences this magic feels beautiful. We seated for our incredibly romantic dinner and lingered over each delectable course as if we never wanted the meal to end. As we retired to the bed I drew back the sheers and retrieved the note which was resting on the crisp, cool white sheets; “The River Merchants wife, a letter…”
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In the late morning of the day of our departure, Edmond stopped by to bid farewell and ensure that our transfer to the airport would be taken care of with the same ease which we had become accustomed to during our stay. He turned as he was leaving and pleasantly inquired, “Is there anything we could have done better, anything that would have made your stay more memorable or enjoyable?”
“It’s Jade Mountain, there’s nothing to talk about”, I responded.
*Jody Jones for Jade Mountain info & booking; jjones@fwtravel.net
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| Cassandra Tennille’s "Style for Living" column is published quarterly and features topics related to style, design and spectacular living.
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When Charlotte Living’s editorial team told me that the theme of this issue included remodeling and renovations, I thought to myself, "how absolutely apropos". I have been immersed in a renovation project with our own family home in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood for the past year. With another six months to go on the project, I can say with confident humor that the subject matter of this issue is something I may have a teeny bit of experience with. When this project began on paper, it was all a very monochromatic mental image, with my only visualization of the finished home being the black ink and white paper of our architect’s rendering. With a roll of plans under my arm, I began my journey through countless supply houses, paint and fabric stores, factories and small shops. This is a trek that would end up taking me to the far corners of Atlanta, as well as the far corners of the world.
Because of the nature of my business, I have many choices and points of access in the design world. I find that a plethora of choice comes hand in hand with difficulty in making a decision. The most important sense you will need as you get started on any project is "sight or vision"…you must be able to "see or visualize" the finished room in some state of mental completion before you begin physically shopping and designing. Look for a point of inspiration to get you started. This may be a fantastic piece of wallpaper, great fabric, or a unique piece of furniture. Then take this single element which you love, and bring the other elements together with it in terms of color, texture, style, and overall feeling.
The other factors that will come into play as you develop your style are all centered around "Truth". First you must be "true to your home". Our home is a 1920’s classic Georgian, and while I searched high and low throughout a thousand different styles of great looking brick, I realized, "There are any number of GREAT houses I COULD build with these bricks…but I a building THIS HOUSE, and it’s Georgian." My choices became much narrower, and the brick I selected is so close to the original brick it is almost indiscernible. The home is much more beautiful with its new classic exterior, and the design will last throughout trends.
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| Images; Cassandra’s Pool Cabana which is part of her home renovation project |
The second "Truth" is designing with decisions that remain "true to your family". Contemplate how you really live as you approach each room. Fabrics, colors, functionality of space and furniture will affect your family and their memories forever. Is there a room in the home of your parents or grandparents in which you felt uncomfortable, or were not allowed to be in? Can you remember when you were a child and visited the homes of friends and in some instances had to treat the area in which you played as if you were in a museum? Don’t repeat these mistakes in your home, times have changed so dramatically in the way we live and interact with family, children and friends. There is no reason whatsoever to have an "uncomfortable room" in your home.
The last "Truth" is to yourself. Design to your style, tastes and comfort. And most importantly, you must listen to and trust your own instincts. If you see something in a magazine which is a dramatic departure from your life, and you think you may want to incorporate these vivid colors and chic fabrics into your home, think hard. You may be introducing something which will not blend with the elements already present in your home. Find ways to soften those new ideas and create a harmonizing palette of color and texture. Don’t talk yourself into something that doesn’t feel right. You may well convince yourself that it is ok, and later regret the decision. Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it probably is. If it feels right, it most certainly is.
The photos in this column are of our Pool house Cabana. The structure did not exist prior to the renovation and my challenge was to style the house in such a way that it did not look like it was added on a century later. I have used the same brick as that being used on the main house. Colors and textures are diverse and playful, yet tactile and naturally blending with each other. The walls are varieties of grass cloth and painted or stained woods. The floors are stained hardwoods and hardwood with blue-stone insets. The colors and elements have all been chosen to be distinctly appreciated on their own, and while woven together, they create a subtle symphony of the grand style of British Colonial living.
*A special thank you to TS Adams Studio Architects, Tim Adams- Atlanta, GA and Builders II- James Cotton & Dan Mattox, Atlanta, GA.
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| Cassandra Tennille’s "Style for Living" column is published quarterly and features topics related to style, design and spectacular living.
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Style for Living by Cassandra Tennille
November, 2007
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When you think of decorating your home for the holidays, remember that décor can be more than simply what someone sees when they enter your doorway. A home should touch all of our senses. Some of our most vivid and wonderful memories are triggered by pleasantly familiar smells or sounds. This season wrap your home in full sensory splendor and begin building those memories.
For light fragrant touches of the season, add softly scented candles and modest touches of potpourri to your home. When selecting scented candles choose, candles with a medium level of perfume content. Remember that less is so much more in matters of fragrance and subtle touches are the way to go.
This time of year your home should carry its own tune. I’m sure you can remember the repeating tracks of the classics your parents played until they wore the vinyl off the albums. Those songs may not have been your style, but you learned to love them by association with the happy times they played accompaniment for. This season is for everyone, it spans the generations and brings families together for festive spirit. Reflect this in the mix you play for guests, homage to the classics and golden artists cannot go wrong. Everyone will enjoy an evening touched by the voices of Robert Goulet, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Blend the contemporary into the classics with modern artists whose tome easily blends into the mix; Harry Connick Jr., Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, John Legend and Diana Krall are a few artists who have the “old soul” in their fresh music. If you aren’t an audiophile, and you’d like a turnkey holiday tunes solution, you can’t beat the CD rack at your nearest Starbucks for great holiday compilations.
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Holiday meals are the richest traditions you’ll carry on. I’ll guarantee at every fantastic meal there is someone who is remembered by a dish that brings smiles and great stories. Honor the classic traditions and those quirky ways that YOUR family makes a casserole, and pass these traditions on to your children. Add to this traditional fare a single fun, daring new dish. Don’t be “chicken” about it; prepare the picture right off the page of a fancy recipe book! These little culinary adventures will either become the funny story of a dish gone wrong, or they will be enthusiastically requested by all to become part of the tradition. Also use this time to bring the little ones in on the act. Set aside one dish that you allow the kids to prepare by themselves. You’ll love the time spent with them in the kitchen, and at the same time you’ll be teaching them the work ethic involved in hosting activities in an enjoyable way. My tip for this season: try San Saba River’s “Pie in a Jar”, with delicious flavors and as simple as pouring it into the pie tin. It’s “kid proof”, and your children will win rave reviews.
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A gathering of loved ones deserves special acknowledgement, so you should always engage your guests in a toast that captures their attention and stirs them with laughter or touches their hearts. It’s a special evening, make it so with eloquence. A good book of toasts for any occasion is an easy source for committing a couple of witty toasts to memory minutes before a gathering. Find one at your favorite bookstore and keep it handy.
Decorate your home with style that transcends trends du jour. Chic sensibility is easy. Pick your palette, and then weave that idea subtly through all aspects of your seasonal vignettes. I am not suggesting “mixy-matchy”, but rather touches of your color and idea threaded throughout. I find this almost effortless with some of the great looks that are en vogue today. Fashion for the home is much softer and sleeker in color and pattern. Simple, elegant, clean lines…less is more. I also enjoy the tactile touches; wood, slate, linen, grasscloth, seagrass, rattan, leather, horn, are all so beautifully real and classically timeless. Borrow from this genre, and weave natural elements into your holiday home. Natural garlands, living flora, craft papers, raffia and grosgrain, all of which bring a wonderfully tactile and sensory décor to your holiday season. I wish you the happiest of holidays, and may you create the best of memories for all who grace your home!
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