Hindmarch designs with sun-drenched destinations firmly in mind, and few places capture that spirit quite like Harbour Island, with its powder-pink sands, pastel cottages and laid-back island rhythm. Here, she shares the beaches, boutiques and lunch spots that make this corner of the Bahamas feel like home.
For someone who’s never been to the Bahamas before: what’s the very first place you’d take them?
I think the first thing I do would be to get a sense of scale of the island. It’s only three miles long by half a mile wide and pretty much everyone goes about their business on golf carts or Kawasaki mules or Polaris. So, I would take them for a spin of the island and show them the bay side and the ocean side and everything in between to get their bearings.
If you only had one day in the Bahamas and could only show someone three places, where would you take them – morning, afternoon and evening?
Before breakfast, I would go for a walk along the three-mile Pink Sands Beach before taking them for a delicious breakfast at The Landing – hot ricotta pancakes with honeycomb butter. For lunch, I would whisk them to the quintessentially Slim Aarons-style hotel called the Dunmore for a Dunmore burger and a delicious spicy margarita overlooking the beach. In the afternoon we might take the boat out for a quick spin to feed the turtles and spend a couple of hours on a deserted beach on one of the nearby islands. Finally for supper, a bite of sushi and a lychee martini at DaVine.
Complete this sentence: ‘If you only see one thing in the Bahamas, make it…
Any deserted beach, of which there are plenty. More than you need in fact.
Which three shops in the Bahamas do you always find an excuse to visit?
India Hicks’ famous shop called The Sugar Mill, which often stocks Wiggy Kit. The Princess Street Gallery for local finds and photography. And Dake’s which stocks some interesting niche brands.
Where do you go for a really good lunch and what do you order?
I love a lobster quesadilla from Sip Sip on the marina.
You’re splashing out on a hotel: where do you go?
On the island, it would have to be the Dunmore Hotel. Or, if you don’t mind being just across the bay, you can stay at The Other Side on North Eleuthera.
And for a pampering fix?
There isn’t much in the way of spas on the island so I might find a local massage therapist to come and massage me in my home. My favourite is Thai massage.
What about for a great coffee/tea fix?
Cocoa Coffee House for a morning latte and a bite.
Favourite local florist?
You are looking at her! There’s no such thing as a florist on the island and so we all gather flora and fauna from our gardens on the island to decorate our homes. It is all very natural and unfussy. It’s amazing what can pass for decoration – even a bunch of green coconuts look great on a table.
Who is your favourite local artist or maker – and where can people find their work?
I adore Tiffany Lightbourne’s naive paintings of the island. She’s actually a long-term resident and has captured fabulous little elements of island life.
Where do you go when you’re celebrating?
At home, mainly as we have a great entertaining deck where we can host lots of people for fun evenings, whether it be a pub quiz, Christmas carols or even sports days.
And for a proper culture fix?
Again, being such a small island, there is no definitive place for cultivated culture. It’s more of a feeling on the island. Everywhere you look. There is no better display of the Bahamian culture than at Junkanoo – a vibrant loud and joyful carnival that takes place several times a year and involves enormous floats made out of papier maché, local dancers, drummers, brass instruments and even cowbells. It is a sight to behold and something you should experience once in your life.
Where do you go when you need a big view?
Straight outside my front door. I have a 180-degree view of the pink Sands Beach in front of us and steps literally away from the sea.
Finish this sentence: ‘If you really want to experience the Bahamas properly, you should ___.’
Take a plane to an island, switch off your phone and marvel at all that natural beauty. Get out on that water if you can.
Who is your ultimate local hero and why?
Anyone that can repair anything! On an island bashed relentlessly with sea air, sun and breezes everything seems to break and usually at the worst possible time. So finding someone who’s handy and can come to your rescue is literally a life saver.
