Crystal Springs

Overview

• 12,000 sq ft Oliver Messel designed beach front villa on 1.7 acres
• 10 bedrooms with Italian marble ensuite bathrooms
• Accommodates 20 guests comfortably
• Heated infinity swimming pool
• Cove beach with cordoned swimming area
• Three spectacular al fresco dining areas including seaside gazebo with pizza oven and grill
• Modern cinema with extensive movie library
• Gym with separate massage room
• 18′ speedboat, as well as water skiing, wake boarding, snorkeling, tubing, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and sunfish sailboat
• Daily gourmet meals
• Optional grocery stocking (additional fee applies)
• Air-conditioning and ceiling fans
• Personal amenities including Acqua Di Parma toiletries 
• Sonos speakers in all living areas
• Selection of board games and outdoor games; small sharing library
• Wifi throughout
• Generator can power the entire property in the event of power loss

Bedrooms 

The Main House features a formal living room, lounge, powder room and butler’s pantry, as well as two alfresco dining areas. Three guest rooms, including the primary suite, are also located in the Main House. 

The Annex sits adjacent to the Main House, with an elegant oceanfront terrace overlooking Crystal Springs’ secluded beach. An alfresco bar, butler’s pantry and seaside dining terrace provide additional living space. The two Annex guest bedrooms offer breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and the Gully. 

The Pool Cottage features two connecting guest bedrooms which boast views of the mosaic tiled swimming pool and Caribbean Sea beyond. 

The Teahouse Cottage is ideal for a couple or a young family of four. Nestled within the tropical gardens, it has a private outdoor patio with dining area, as well as a formal sitting room with two twin-sized Murphy beds. The main bedroom features a double outdoor shower and large standalone soaking tub. The Pavilion is also located within Crystal Springs’ serene tropical gardens, and features two connecting guest bedrooms. 

Amenities

The heated (84°F / 29°C) 50×20 ft infinity swimming pool overlooks the tropical gardens and Caribbean Sea. It’s an ideal spot for swimming laps or simply relaxing with family and friends. Spend a tranquil afternoon soaking up the sun with a favorite novel and cool drink in hand. Crystal Springs is one of the few private homes in Barbados with a cordoned-off swimming area, ideal for swimmers of all ages. Grab a mask and snorkel or paddleboard and explore; or enjoy a BBQ picnic hosted by one of our chefs on the white sandy shore. 

Crystal Springs’ 18′ speedboat is manned by our professional boat master, and is equipped for waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and other aquatic excursions. The villa also offers stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and a Sunfish sailboat for our guests’ enjoyment. The fully equipped fitness center, outfitted with Technogym treadmill, recumbent bike, elliptical machine, and Stroop Spine Wall Anchor with resistance bands. There are also free weights, yoga mats + blocks. The gym is accessible 24 hours a day for your convenience. 

The villa’s cinema features 12 reclining leather seats and a film library with over 150 titles.  Guests can also connect to their personal Apple TV, Netflix or other streaming accounts to watch their favorite shows and movies on the big screen. At the heart of Crystal Springs’ enchanting landscape is a naturally formed gully that has been transformed into a serene garden space. An oceanfront terrace opens on to Cove Beach; creating an ideal setting for tranquil meditation or an energizing yoga session.

Dining

Dining at Crystal Springs is a gastronomic delight: our culinary team combines its professional training and personal flair to create magic with every dish. The Crystal Springs chefs are well equipped to adapt to our guests preferred culinary tastes and dietary requirements, ensuring your dining experience is every bit as memorable. 

Whether you wish to keep it ultra casual, elegantly formal or a mix of both, they will create menus that exceed every expectation. Each meal is further enhanced with stunning tablescapes and floral arrangements that will continuously surprise and delight you during your stay. After you experience the first few meals at Crystal Springs, you may not want to dine anywhere else!

Crystal Springs has three alfresco dining locations with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea: 

• An elegant coral stone dining portico adjacent to the Main House which seats up to 20 people
• A beautiful clifftop gazebo with circular coral stone and glass table which seats up to 16 people, with nearby built-in BBQ and pizza oven
• The Annex Patio Terrace, with its unique table encircling a mature almond tree, seating up to 20 people

Guests can also enjoy beachside BBQs and picnic luncheons, high tea in the gardens and poolside sunset cocktails and canapés.

Our team of three chefs create inspired menus that elevate even the most casual meal to a next-level culinary experience. Our professional kitchen, grill stations and pizza oven provide a range of options; the chefs expertly blend international cuisine and Caribbean flavors to create our signature Crystal Spring dishes. After each delectable meal, our pastry chef will treat you to an irresistible dessert menu, expertly crafted onsite.

Experience

At Crystal Springs, our staff’s extraordinary care and attention to detail is what makes the villa truly magical. During your stay, you’ll be pampered with impeccably attentive yet unobtrusive service. The dedicated team will ensure your stay is filled with personalized touches and whimsical delights that exceed your greatest expectations.

Attractions

Barbados offers a range of internationally renowned sporting facilities, including world-class golf courses, verdant polo fields and five-star marinas.  Watersport enthusiasts can enjoy sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing and surfing on the south, west and east coasts. On land, rev your adrenaline levels on a zip line course through the treetops or try go-kart racing at Bushy Park Race Track.

350+ years of Barbadian history can be traced through its unique sites, including elegant plantation houses, traditional rum distilleries and arts + crafts museums. Visitors can tour rare historic treasures such as the oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere and St. Nicholas Abbey, a stunning Jacobean mansion with an internationally award-winning traditional rum distillery and heritage steam locomotive.

There is also an abundance of natural attractions, including naturally formed gullies, pristine white sand beaches and beautifully maintained tropical gardens, as well as excellent hiking trails that provide a unique view of the island’s landscape.

Occasions

Crystal Springs is the quintessential island home away from home for intimate gatherings with family and friends, multigenerational holidays and milestone celebrations. The expansive layout of the villa, inclusive of 10 carefully-appointed bedrooms and a wealth of pampering amenities, allows guests to enjoy complete togetherness, while also finding total privacy and private respite when needed.

The staff will help you and your guests create memorable events during your stay, from milestone celebrations and festive dinners to relaxed beach BBQs and poolside cocktail parties. Whatever you imagine for your time here at Crystal Springs, our team will ensure that your dream becomes the reality.

History 

Built in the 1940’s, Crystal Springs was meticulously redesigned in the 1960’s by Oliver Messel, who after establishing an award-winning career in stage, film and costume design, turned his hand to architecture with considerable renown both in Barbados and the nearby island of Mustique. His theatrical style incorporated luxurious furnishings and hand-painted finishes to create stunning backdrops that were impressive yet approachable, creating holiday homes that could truly be lived in. Messel’s floor plans emphasized expansive outdoor living space, taking full advantage of the beautiful tropical environs, from breezy sunny days to starlit evenings.

Crystal Springs’ magical ambiance attracted the current owners nearly 30 years ago; that first holiday was the beginning of a love affair that found them returning year after year, creating countless family memories. After purchasing the home in 2013, they lovingly restored Crystal Springs with reverence to the original splendor of Messel’s design. Paying homage to Crystal Spring’s significance as one of Messel’s most stunning architectural masterpieces, they’ve preserved his unique architectural elements, and even his signature Messel Green color in the design palette, revitalizing the villa’s spirit as Messel originally envisioned. 

The team involved in the restoration was almost entirely Barbadian; local experts, artisans and craftsmen ensured the home’s historic integrity was maintained, and the few new additions blend effortlessly with the original structures. The interiors have been beautifully refurbished; most of the home’s original furnishings artfully combine with specially commissioned local artwork, creating a sophisticated take on Caribbean style.