Known for the boldness of their work, interior designer Carl D’Aquino and his partner, architect Francine Monaco, have been appointed to design Secret Harbour, the latest residential offering from Orion Developers, owners and developers of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
D’Aquino Monaco has earned international acclaim for design of exclusive, luxurious private residences as well as extremely select, high-end commercial projects around the world.

D’Aquino Monaco’s first foray into design in Grand Cayman resulted in the award-winning Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton. The much heralded team has returned to take on the challenge and pleasure of developing the look and feel for Secret Harbour, multi-family waterfront homes ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedrooms, with prices starting at US$ 650,000.

“After an extensive search, we have a design firm with a unique understanding of space, functionality and ingenuity, which is the perfect complement to the vision behind Secret Harbour, a coastal community built upon a world of inspiration,” said Michael Ryan, owner and developer of The Residences, The DeckHouses and now Secret Harbour at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

Secret Harbour is the epitome of an intimate coastal village with a vibrant urban sensibility, a private enclave within The Ritz-Carlton community in Grand Cayman. It is a jewel of a town on a harbor, inspired by British colonial architecture and the great coastal villages of Great Britain, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia. As D’Aquino describes it, Secret Harbour is “romantic and sensual like Venice, but with much better weather.”

Discovery will be an integral part of the Secret Harbour experience. “Owning a residence at Secret Harbour will be like having a beautiful, closed heirloom box and anticipating what is hidden within,” D’Aquino continues. “Everyone is intrigued by secrets. Secret Harbour conceals mysteries, and at the same time, invites everyone to explore and daydream.”

The theme of ‘secrets’ is referenced throughout every aspect of the design, from the initial arrival by boat to the hidden harbor that suddenly reveals itself, to the deceptively simple exteriors that open to present the color and life within, to the design of the residences, where every inch of space is put in service to provide a genuine sense of home rather than a hotel.

The heart of Secret Harbour’s design is the lovely waterfront community, with a 12,000sf private clubhouse, swimming pool, wine bar, gourmet café, executive boardroom, private movie theatre and other facilities intended to welcome a broad cross-section of guests and residents from around the world. It is the arrival and departure point as well as the social hub and recreation center of the community. Secret Harbour residences will have terraces that overlook the harbor, water, golf course or island landscapes.

The concept for Secret Harbour evolved from, Michael Ryan, the developers’s journey by sea around the world with his family to gather inspiration for a new residential experience in Grand Cayman. According to D’Aquino Monaco, what inspired Michael is reflected not only in Secret Harbour’s architecture and the harbor itself but in colors and tones, textures and nautical details such as the tall sail like curtains in the clubhouse. In furnishings and fixtures emphasis is placed on very high quality modern international craft inspirations, with handmade items, antiquities, objects and artifacts from around the world. All this is set in the palate of the Grand Cayman landscape, its beaches, water and foliage, by use of oyster, pearl, sand and coral tones, stucco and other materials.

As with other residences and vacation homes at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Secret Harbour offers owners access to the many incredible amenities and facilities of the world-class Caribbean resort, including a Greg Norman-designed golf course, Silver Rain, a La Prairie spa, five restaurants including one by Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin, a tennis center, with programs designed by Nick Bollettieri, and the Ambassadors of the Environment by Jean-Michel Cousteau eco-adventure family program. In addition, these new residences will feature their own amenities including an on-island fitness center and a water ferry service.
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