Located right on the ocean on St. Croix’s northeast coast, Cotton House By The Sea is set on wide green lawns gently terraced down to the shoreline. Beautifully furnished and completely air-conditioned, this very private home offers three bedroom/bath suites and a large pool with cabana, and direct access to the ocean for snorkeling and beachcombing.

Upon arrival, a stairway between stone pillars ushers you through lush landscaping and splashes of colorful flowers to Cotton House’s entry and into the stylish interiors of this most attractive villa. The air-conditioned Great Room is hushed and cool; white tiled floors and white walls provide a soothing counterpoint to the elegant furnishings in mahogany, original artwork, and lively accents of color here and there.

The spacious Great Room conveniently combines the living and dining areas; the large kitchen (very well equipped with crystal, china, flatware, Caphalon cookware and the best in chef’s tools) is set one step up on a dais. In one corner of the Great Room woven abaca sofas and chairs with sink-into cushions are placed around a carved TV cabinet, and in the other are a dining table and teak chairs. Sliding glass doors open to a shady covered verandah just outside which overlooks the shimmering sea, passing yachts and Buck Island. This gallery features an alfresco dining table with a view, and comfortable bamboo furnishings provide another enticing area for cocktails, reading and relaxing.

Steps from this gallery lead down to the large pool and tiled sun deck, enhanced by a built-in gas barbecue, chaise lounges and pool floats for tanning, and a canvas cabana with draperies and another dining area alongside for a shady respite from the Caribbean sun. Tall palms, agave, colorful bougainvillea and other exotic plantings screen both sides of the pool area completely, providing total privacy from neighboring homes. Dramatic, terraced expanses of green lawn gently lead from the sun deck down to the stony seashore via a few stairs of native stone.

After hours spent lazing by the pool or beachcombing along the shore, three bedroom suites are a cool change. An air-conditioned master suite is just off the Great Room, with an inviting carved four-poster king bed draped with white netting, gauzy curtains over sliders which open directly to the gallery, and two side-by-side chaises for reading. Its spacious ensuite bath offers an elevated, tiled shower for two, and from the bath, french doors access a hidden-away garden patio.

On the other side of the Great Room are two more air-conditioned bedroom/bath suites. The second king suite also has a draped mahogany four-poster bed, direct access to the gallery, and is distinguished by a fabulous alfresco shower, tiled in immaculate white, with a private window looking out to the sea. Cotton House’s third bedroom suite offers two twin beds placed closely together; from this suite, french doors open out to its own garden sun deck with chaise lounges and a table for private moments.

Much love and care has gone into creating Cotton House By The Sea’s special West Indian colonial ambience – an elegant pairing of new hand carved teak and aged mahogany furnishings, a tasteful blending of natural bamboo, wicker and abaca pieces with beautiful family antiques, and the addition of scale models of classic yachts side by side with the owners’ collections of collectibles and original art. This stylish and comfortable seaside property offers tranquil privacy inside and out, all within an alluring setting, and wonderful views of Buck Island and tropical sunsets.