A Bahamas Home Treasure for Sale

The colonization of the Bahamas paved the way for some of the most gracious homes in the region.
One such home is now offered for sale. This beautiful, lovingly restored jewel located just on the outskirts of downtown Nassau marries Old World charm with all the comforts and conveniences of a modern home. In perfect condition, it is a rare find, indeed, on today's Bahamas real estate market.
Although Nassau once played host to many of these elegant homes, a significant number have suffered the ravages of time.They are either in an advanced state of disrepair or no more. Today, it would cost a pretty penny to build such a home in the traditional manner with the thick walls, and elegant planked pine ceilings and crown molding.
These Bahamas homes were constructed to the highest standards, being built to withstand the hurricanes that sweep the islands from time to time. They had gorgeous hard wood floors or beautiful, glazed handcrafted tiles, and large sash windows framed in wood. Many of the homes had balconies, which stopped the hot sun from beating into the rooms.
In building their homes, the settlers drew on the architecture of Britain and the Carolinas, incorporating the grace and beauty of the period. Some of the architects were influenced by Spain, some by France. They cleverly adapted the homes to take advantage of the Bahamas environment. The windows were positioned to capture the prevailing winds and plantation shutters often kept out the noon day heat. The tiles were cool to the touch.
You might say the settlers were environmentalists before the term became fashionable.
As the years passed, many owners took to painting their homes in the beautiful pastels of the native flowering shrubs and the magnificent coral reefs off the coast.
In fact, in the 1950s and 60s, pink was the unofficial national colour and many a visitor was overheard to question why “all the buildings are pink!”
Over the years, many of the architectural treasures became neglected as the locals turned to more blunt modern designs.
However, there has been a renewed appreciation for Colonial architecture with the Bahamas government leading the way by turning a number of prominent old residences into places of national interest.