Fashion designer Donna Karan wants $39 million in exchange for some “peace of mind.”
Granted that peace of mind is a piece of her huge Turks and Caicos estate—seven acres of pristine Caribbean white-sand beaches and lush landscapes with two 3,850-square-foot guest villas connected by a central dining pavilion, a beachfront yoga pavilion, three swimming pools, chef’s kitchen, and staff quarters. Still, that asking price in these parts is really begging for someone to “give peace a chance.”
Karan is selling all but three acres of her family’s 10-plus-acre beachfront compound in Parrot Cay. She purchased the property in 2002 as a vacation retreat, but now the luxurious land is too spacious for her needs. The designer is keeping the slice of property with the main family vacation home, a spa house and two swimming pools.
Each of the guest villas for sale offers a second floor master bedroom with spectacular ocean and sunset terrace views, three additional bedroom suites, four bathrooms, a kitchen, and an infinity pool. Designed by world-renowned Singapore architect Cheong Yew Kuan, the villas’ crafted interiors are complemented by cedar and coral walls, walnut floors and teak furniture. Both villas flank the screened-in dining pavilion, which is a family gathering place with seating for up to 20 people. Lush vegetation surroundings give way to white sand beaches mere steps from the property, known as “The Sanctuary.”
The property will be sold fully furnished with African- and Balinese-influenced décor, including eclectic decorative carvings from Karan’s worldwide travels. Regency, the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate for Turks and Caicos, has the listing for the property.
If you’re ponying up $39 million in peace offerings, shouldn’t you expect to own the entire 10-acre estate? After all, $39 million still a hefty price for the Parrot Cay area. Turks and Caicos is famous for orchids, snorkeling, diving, fishing and the luxury resort Parrot Cay by COMO, but hasn’t been known for exorbitant home prices—that is, until recently.
The 2008 recession washed away years ago, but it has taken a while for the turquoise tides of recovery to reach the shores of Turks and Caicos. Like Wall Street during the slump, there is a sudden sell-off of luxury homes on this tiny Caribbean archipelago (not for panic, but rather for opportunity). Local homeowners stand to reap the benefits of higher demand and a better economy, evidenced by the area’s recent multi-million-dollar listings.
A six-plus acre estate called “Oliver’s Cove recently listed for $48 million. And model Christie Brinkley recently re-listed her 1.6-acre Parrot Cay home for $9 million (albeit $1.75 million less than in 2013). It appears as though actor Bruce Willis and musician Keith Richards are hanging on to their Parrot Cay homes. Meanwhile, many other celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Justin Timberlake, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Penélope Cruz and Julia Roberts visit the secluded island regularly.
It turns out the seven acres of property Karan listed for sale is plenty big. If that’s not enough land for a potential buyer, perhaps the designer is willing to throw in some designer beachwear as a welcome gift to her new neighbor—perhaps a two-piece incentive for some peace and quiet?
Details and photos courtesy of Curbed, Christie’s Real Estate, and the Wall Street Journal
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