COOL HOTELS | Domincan Republic | Eden Roc Cap Cana

Two words. Paradise found.

The Eden Roc Cap Cana, in the Dominican Republic, is the best beach vacation I’ve ever had. To make clear just how blissful it really was, this is our private pool.

And this is our very own villa. I don’t usually write about beach vacations, but this is definitely an exception…a blog-worthy, designer’s dream.

The Eden Roc Cap Cana opened on Christmas Eve, 2012.  The resort’s design is evocative of the aesthetics of the 1960’s French and Italian Rivieras, while also reflecting its Caribbean setting.  Developed by Italian company Solaya Hotels & Resorts, the designer is Marina Nova, from Milan.  (I was fortunate to meet her while I was there.)

The interior of the main building was a charming preview of Marina’s stunning design vision.  The pictures tell the story.

Through the center of the lobby is a glass path with water below, running over a decorative pebbled surface.  An impressive design feature.

French doors at the end of the room open to a terrace of tables and brightly colored wicker chairs where breakfast is served. 

The terrace looks over a glimmering, serene pool.

The resort consists of thirty-four individual villas, surrounded by flowering tropical flowers and shaded by towering palm trees.  The exterior colors – cerise, golden yellow, azure, plum and lime green – are exuberant with the spirit of the Caribbean, but also chic, as a result of the Italian influence.  As it happens, a flawless combination.

Inside our villa, the palate is a sophisticated combination of black and cream, with pops of red in the form of velvet ottomans and throw pillows, and accessories.

I love the bold print on this chaise.

A bamboo-clad hallway leads from the foyer to the living room, and french doors that open to, you guessed it, the private pool.

One of the unique design details were the cleverly framed panels of interesting fabric as art – a great idea that anyone can do. There’s no glass, so you can see (and feel) the textures.

The bathroom floors and walls were tiled with limestone.  In the master bath, the bathtub was placed in a glass bay overlooking a private terrace.

The shower had a glass door that opened to the terrace – something I would love to recreate in a house someday, because it was seriously indulgent.

Looking into shower from terrace

Down the road was the beach, reached by walking through a lofty, open, thatched-roof structure.

Blue and white pottery is lined up amongst potted orchids on a massive wood table, and pitchers of lemonade and ice tea glow in the sunshine.

A curved wall of hand-made ocean-themed ceramic tile leads to a pool and the beach beyond.

Teak lounge chairs with white canvas cushions are lined up under the shade of palm trees and thatched umbrellas. 

And there it is, nature’s design – the magnificent turquoise Caribbean Sea.

That view is about the only thing that can force this designer’s eyes to take a rest.

Now that’s what vacation is all about.

Eden Roc Cap Cana
Provincia la Altagracia
edenroccapcana.com