Inspiration Found: La Samanna on St. Martin

Spending a week in St. Martin fulfilled just what we wanted for our long-awaited honeymoon: hot temps, design-forward accommodations, & outstanding cuisine. La Samanna, a Belmond hotel on the French side of the island in the West Indies, quickly & effortlessly became our (very fanciful) home-away-from-home. Every detail has been a delight.

If you’re craving a European beach getaway save the the long flights / jet lag, and are truly looking for a “fly & flop” situation like we were, look no further than this magical Caribbean gem, which is a 3+ hr direct flight from Atlanta. Nicknamed the friendly island, each interaction here is met with a warm smile. The building façades are plastered in creamy white, arched doorways abound, and the property is punctuated with playful striped & scalloped features. We decided that the hotel has the perfect amount of hang-out spots to bop around to for a change in scenery without there being too many options. (Decision fatigue is real, and it’s been so nice to have a departure from that on this vacation.) Two pools and three restaurants, plus a long stretch of beachfront, kept things consistent while still enjoying a variety of views, menus, and amenities. Because of how the hotel is situated on the bay — cliffs peppered with villas to the left, and an open and vibrant beach to the right as far as the eye can see — you really get the sense of a private experience that is all yours to enjoy. Plus, beginning after lunchtime, the sun literally shimmers on the sea. It’s amazing!

Below are some of my favorite design details from our week that will be making their way back into our home & my paintings (keep reading for release details):

One of the best cocktails I’ve ever had (ever) was the Basil Smash. Our waiter Mattia, who works at the Italian Belmond properties between high seasons here, convinced me that the basil was straight out of the soil in Portofino. Turns out he was joking around, but the basil was indeed fresh from the lush gardens at La Samanna. I’ll definitely be attempting to recreate this one at home! Everyone at the resort was incredibly kind and attentive. Richard and Judith were two of our favorites and helped to make the week so special for us!

Photo by Patricia Lyons

Photo by Patricia Lyons

All of the warm hospitality, delicious meals, and stunning views aside, what sets this place apart in my eyes is the beautiful European design influence. The color, patterns, and laid back elegance were nothing short of spectacular.

I’m really looking forward to translating these concepts onto canvas upon my return. I’ll be launching the brand new collection on my website on Friday, July 23rd (with first dibs to to the attendees at Weezie’s flower arranging workshop on Thursday, July 22nd at my studio: The Studio at Candler Park). Each painting will measure 16x20 and will be on raw linen, framed in either warm silver or gold. I can’t wait to get in the studio to bring these ideas to life!

The full collection is now available via Serena & Lily. We hope to return to the Belmond La Samanna someday, but in the meantime, we will be reminiscing about this magical trip for years to come.