Beachshack: Tropical Building Page

St Barts Renovation:
Azu Villa

Anguilla Construction:
Guest cottage.
Tech center.
Residence.

Mary Ann's Tropical Building Page

This is the web site for the three villas that I built on Anguilla and the villa that I am renovating in St Barts (see Azu Villa Renovation Page), plus tropical construction tips and resources as well. These construction projects started in 1997, although land acquisition and architectural planning started in 1995. Every stage of the construction is recorded here.

We rent the villa in St Barts and the guest cottage in Anguilla (La Vanda) and the villa at the top of the Anguilla property (Mimosa), but we keep the beachfront house and pool for our own use. And we have created a name and web page for the overall completed property: Bellamare

For details on the main Anguilla beachfront house, visit the Residence Construction Page.

For the technology center, visit the "Clubhouse" Construction Page.

And finally, for the guest cottage, our first attempt at construction on Anguilla, visit the La Vanda Construction Page.

-- Mary Ann Green

Construction Tips

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 Permalink

What About 3D Panels Today?
Our project was built using 3D Insteel panels. The panels are still produced in Mexico.
Dear Mary Ann:
The name of the company is can be reached at [email protected] and it's headquarters is in Mexico. That's for the effort, since you indicated several have inquired, you might want to save this address. Again, thanks, Mike Furman ([email protected])

Saturday, April 30, 2005 Permalink

Questions About Kitchen Cabinets
Paul Walter writes:
I stumbled upon your website looking for cabinets that work in the tropics. My wife and I live in Kailua, HI and need to replace the kitchen cabinets as the builder used cabinets with...press board. Yes, they soak up moisture. I like your louvered cabinet concept. Did you use solid wood and paint them?
Thanks. Aloha.
Mary Ann replies:
Yes I did paint marine plywood.
I keep thinking they could make press board for cupboards that was waterproof. They do Trek decking (plastic and wood saw dust) which is completely imprevious to the weather. So far I don't know of any such pressboard. Maybe one of my readers at Beachshack will know the answer.
Send ideas to [email protected]
Update: First reply to our cabinet question:
Hi Maryann, I'm the person building the home at Blackgarden Bay and I recently found out about a company (www.werever.com) who make 1" thick semi-custom kitchen cabinets for boats and outdoor kitchens. They come in a number of sizes, door styles and colors. I am getting samples sent to me in New Jersey from a woman named Terry who works for the company (they are located in Florida). Look at their website and let me know what you think. [email protected]

Thursday, January 06, 2005 Permalink

Renovation 2004 Completed
We completed the renovation for 2004 (although there are always more things that could be done: arbors, new master bedroom, etc.).
The first paying guests for Azu arrived on Nov 21, 2004.
To review the entire renovation process, click the link above.

Thursday, November 25, 2004 Permalink

Bedroom Interiors
At Azu Villa we have upgraded the interiors of all four bedrooms, repainting in aqua, adding moldings, curtains, new king-size beds and new furniture. For a photo tour of a renovated bedroom, click the link above.

Renewing a Garden in St Barts
Our Villa Azu in St Barts that we have renovated came with an acre of land and established gardens. However, most of the gardening was varieties of cactus and some of the flowering plants needed replacing. So we removed some of the cactus and added a lot of new palms and colorful tropical plants.

For a tour of the new gardens, click here.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004 Permalink

How To Build a Pool
Want to see how a swimming pool is built in Anguilla?
Click here for pictures of pool construction at Bliss Villa. (Note: link may die when they actually finish the pool and post the final pictures!)

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 Permalink

The Main Building
The living room, kitchen and media corner are about done (finished replastering, repainting, new kitchen window, counters and tile work). We have installed some of the new furniture (although there are still rugs and other furniture to come in our 40' container from Miami). Below is a picture update of this building in our St Barts villa: