INTERIOR DESIGNER PAUL DUESING

One of the most coveted resorts in the Caribbean, if not the world -- Cap Juluca -- recently re-opened after completing the first phase in its $80 million enhancement program. At the forefront of this revival is world-renowned interior designer, Paul Duesing. His signature style graces the homesteads of the world’s most recognizable celebrities, dignitaries and luxury addresses. With his name on the most prestigious resorts in the hospitality industry including luxury flags like The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, One&Only, St. Regis and Rosewood, Duesing is one of the world’s most sought-after custom interior designers.

Of all the legendary locales Duesing has visited and designed, he sites the sweeping white sands and shimmering scenes at Cap Juluca as his favorite coastline. Playing off the cultural magnificence of the Caribbean and the subtleties of the natural beauty of Anguilla, his goal for the décor of Cap Juluca is to shine in the day with colorful backsplashes amid airy, illuminated compositions and at night with dramatic lighting and shadowing effects.

For the recent redesign, Duesing personally selected every artifact from the streets of the Marrakesh souks, to ensure the sophisticated Greco-Moorish and Pan-Mediterranean influences remain subtle but enchanting.

Through commissioned artistry from Moroccan craftsmen, Duesing was able to utilize custom aesthetic pieces to create a parallel between the interior framework and the alluring Moorish architecture. The Main House has been transformed into a surreal “gathering place” with limestone flooring, distinctive handmade rugs, centuries-old artifacts, antique wooden game tables and intricate serving trolleys.

Under the dome of the expanded open-air lobby hangs a showpiece 900-pound chandelier constructed of punched tin dipped in brass – intentionally not varnished to create a “tarnished” aquamarine patina effect over time. The chandelier consists of 94 decorative metal balls strategically placed to refract light and simulate the twinkling of an Anguillian starry night.

While dining in one of Cap Juluca’s three restaurants, guests are dazzled by Duesing’s handiwork, as new designs complement the revived dining concepts. Serving upscale “Eurobbean” fare, Pimms is set on a coral outcrop where spray from the surf splashing against the rocks creates an aerial ballet for amorous diners. With a slight nod to British tradition, the design is “understated sophistication” with light Pistachio hues and crisp whites accented only with nightscape views of the twinkling lights of St. Maarten. The Pan-Asian concept restaurant, Spice, overlooks the lighted Moorish domes, turrets and parapets of the resort. Its provocative atmosphere comes alive at night, with antiqued reds and oranges accented by impressive hand-blown glass from Mexico, Buddha statues and hundreds of candles reflecting off the silver-leafed ceiling varnished with a fiery hued glaze.

The open-air beachfront restaurant, Blue, is designed to feel casually elegant with a Caribbean twist, featuring teak wood flooring painted white and pale azure interiors, accented with punchy raspberry, lime and orange chairs. Blue delivers an array of international cuisine and panoramic views of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea lapping sweeping white sands.

Guest quarters are elegantly appointed, incorporating vibrant hues and decidedly modern yet understated amenities. From the five-room villas to the junior suites, Duesing complements the intriguing architecture with his use of authentic Moroccon rugs, detailed stone patio tables, aesthetically intriguing mirrors and enormous candle lanterns. Unparalleled ocean views serve as the breathtaking artwork.

During the next phase of the enhancement program, all villas will undergo a redesign where the interiors will be entirely re-conceived. In Duesing’s new room, the bed is the centerpiece, veiled in a sheer, elegant canopy from South Africa and covered with white Frette linens and white hand-sewn bedspreads. Behind the bed, an inlaid arch featuring an intricate mosaic design provides an element of drama and romance to the focal point. As Duesing believes a bathroom should be a lady’s “liquid temple,” the washrooms become just that with travertine marble, lavish light fixtures, substantial soaking tubs, separate enhanced showers, double sinks and large dressing tables with cushioned banquettes.

Credited with pioneering resort-inspired design for the private sector, Duesing completed his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Austin and studied architecture, city planning and landscape design in Oxford, England. Prior to forming Paul Duesing Partners, based in Dallas, Tex., he was design director for Wilson & Associates in Dallas and a project manager for Wilson Gregory Aeberhard PLC in London.

As illustrated in his most famed independent luxury projects -- Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Mexico, the Claridges Hotel in London, Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat in France, Royal Livingston Hotel at Victoria Falls in Zambia and the new Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino in Las Vegas -- Duesing’s touch shines in every aspect of the guest experience. His work, rated no. 1 by Condé Nast Traveler and profiled in Architectural Digest, is immersed in tailor-made detail and accounts for every mood, atmosphere and time of day.

Situated on the private stretches of Maundays Bay Beach, this discreet enclave is a favored escape for financial barons and A-list celebrities, promising anonymity for the affluent. With a staff to guest ratio of two to one, the intuitive service is unparalleled and every whim catered to. Widely regarded as one of the Caribbean’s top five resorts, Cap Juluca is now positioned to become the pinnacle of all luxury properties.

For more information on Cap Juluca or to make reservations call (888) 858-5822, 264-497-6666 or visit www.capjuluca.com

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