The Boon House

Tropical Modernist Bonaire Island Hideaway by Designer Piet Boon

A standout villa by Dutch designer Piet Boon, this tropical modernist masterpiece on Bonaire is insulated by lush, palm-dotted gardens. Studio Piet Boon is headquartered in Amsterdam, but the designer, an avid kitesurfer, displays a deep Caribbean soul in this namesake villa, one of a handful of standout homes he’s created on the island.

Ideally suited for eight guests, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom hideaway is tucked into a lush, palm-fringed lot, with a pool at its heart and a lazing shade palapa at its foot. The interior design by Karin Meyn, creative director of Studio Piet Boon, favors an easygoing island style. Dark stone floors spread coolly underfoot, ceilings soar loft-like, and an abundance of simple natural materials infuses the home with a sleekness classic of modernist structures. There’s an understated elegance in the furnishings, with colorful art, designer curiosities and textural fabrics.

Outdoors, a bar and grill space join the poolscape, punctuated by a lounging palapa. There’s an outdoor shower, as well as hammocks and an abundance of both island sunshine and soft shade.

Experiences

Experiences include by-reservation poolside yoga, chef-prepared locally sourced meals, in-home massage, and private dinners accompanied by live music.

Around

Bonaire is a sand-fringed island escape in the former Dutch Antilles (Leeward Antilles), about 30 miles from Curaçao and about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. It's low key and strikingly lush, with pink flamingos frolicking in the island’s salt ponds, and loggerhead turtles swimming through turquoise seas. Summer is the only season, with an astounding 365-days of Caribbean sunshine!

Kitesurfing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, sailing, SUPing, surfing and diving are all draws to the island as is the island’s inland National Park. A coral nursery, scenic salt flats, a mangrove center where kayak tours are possible diverge from the ordinary seaside/beach offerings, and the island is home to a robust wellness culture and eco aware community. Celebrated locals include artists and chefs who create colorful inspiration and nourishment, and practitioners of yoga, massage, meditation and spa treatments/aesthetics are abundant, ready to fuel your spirit and mind.

Location

Belnem, Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Caribbean. Nearest airport: Flamingo International (10 minutes)

Best time to visit

There’s not a bad day on Bonaire!

Photography: Krista Brockbernd