An introduction to Amanda's home - Hope Hill

An Introduction to Amanda's Home- Hope Hill

My home is a very special place where I want to feel joyful and comfortable, but it's also important to me that guests find it welcoming, exciting and enchanting too.

Hope Hill was built in 1980 by a woman named Hope Simpson; it perches just above the Lyford Cay in The Bahamas. Surrounded by coconut trees and palm trees, it's a secret oasis hidden amongst tropical greenery.

When we bought it in 2010, we set about sensitively developing it from a holiday house into a more permanent family home. It was important to us to include timeless details such as coral stone walls, wide-plank dark-wood floors, wooden tray ceilings, shutters and a Dutch door that is both beautiful and practical, offering cross-ventilation and providing fresh air into the house.

At the heart of the house is the veranda with its octagonal tower, where we spend most of our time. The space features a shutter system as well as rattan and wicker painted in a green inspired by 1960s set designer Oliver Messel.

Creating a Warm Welcome for Guests

As well as having certain rituals at Hope Hill to make sure that every guest feels welcome and immediately at home, we also wanted the entrance hall to be a particularly inviting space. It's lined in pecky cypress wood panelling for a homely, lived-in feel.

A Home Is Made Up of Love, Joy and a Spirit of Generosity

The mechanics and architecture of a home are only half the story; the other half is about creating a place that encourages love, laughter and conviviality. Think about how best to make your guests feel comfortable through your choice of lighting and seating arrangements.

Discover more:

• The island homes of set designer Oliver Messel provided a lot of inspiration for the redevelopment of Hope Hill
• We collaborated with architects Maria de la Guardia and Teófilo Victoria