Nestled on the slopes above Oualie beach – named after the Carib’s original name for Nevis, ‘the land of beautiful waters’ – Maison Bougainvilliers is an iconic island home with all the grace and charm that comes with traditional Caribbean stylings. The white woodwork and deep blue shutters perfectly reflect the island’s sands and skies, the house belonging to the scene as much as the garden’s waving palms and bright flamboyant trees.The villa was originally conceived and crafted over three decades ago by owners who came to help create the Four Seasons golf course. The same imagination that was used to make the iconic course with its sweeping vistas and unforgettable fairways was applied to the design of Maison Bougainvilliers with a dramatic entrance across a raised wooden walkway leading to the vaulted ceilings of the Great Room.The same thought that has gone into the external appearance has of course been applied within. A soft palette of warm pastel colours features throughout the villa, with bold contrasts created using dark cabinetry in the kitchen and slate floors in the bathrooms.It is the use of light, though, that perhaps most stands out. Traditional louvered windows and doors spill ripples of light into the villa, or the generous French windows in all the principal rooms can be thrown open onto upper and lower wraparound verandahs. Hallways that might have been dark have been opened up with the artful use of sweeping cutouts. The hardwood stairway that leads to the lower level is not, as in so many homes, heading down to a series of darkened rooms but rather a gorgeous suite of guest bedrooms; one of the three rooms features a glorious, oversized sleigh bed. All are light, airy and inviting spaces.As with all homes on the island, the outdoor living space is given prominence. With such wide verandahs wrapping themselves around Maison Bougainvilliers, there’s ample room for Adirondack chairs, sofas, and even swing chairs for a fun touch of decadence. The views from here across The Narrows to the snaking peninsula of St Kitts that spills into the sea are unrivalled. It’s an excellent location for anybody looking to be near the safest swimming beaches, easy water taxi access to Nevis’ sister island, and within a few minutes of some of the island’s finest restaurants.Those looking for somewhere that defines the Caribbean and that has benefited from the care and attention of an artist and interior designer need look no further: Maison Bougainvilliers is the beautiful, definitive answer.