9 min readIn 2019, catastrophic Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas, completely flattening many structures on the islands, if not completely washing them out to sea. One of the homes almost entirely destroyed was that of fashion and jewelry designer Kendra Scott, whose beachside abode was left with only a few architectural elements standing outside the main structure.
The mother of three had to look forward. “After the devastating hurricane, I had the opportunity to be deeply involved in restoring and reimagining this home, which made the project especially meaningful to me,” she tells House Beautiful. Scott had a clear vision of what she wanted, and two years after the storm, she brought on the team at Kristen Nix Interiors to bring it to life.
The task? Take Scott’s Bahamian retreat even further down to the studs, essentially creating a brand new abode for her family. “We wanted to honor what had been here while creating something fresh and renewed,” Scott explains. “It was important that the home feel beautiful, but also resilient, comfortable, and truly made for family life.”
Designing a home always comes with its own set of challenges, but add in a destructive hurricane and an island setting, and the entire project gets taken to a whole new level. Interior designer Kristen Nix, however, saw this renovation as a career highlight from the very beginning—despite the logistical hurdles—thanks in part to Scott’s willingness to experiment. “Kendra is a visionary client,” Nix says. “She dreams big, trusts the creative process, and brings a unique perspective to every decision.”
The Sea of Abaco became the palette; Scott wanted every aspect of her home to revolve around the breathtaking setting. Sea foam green threads echo the water beyond the home, while organic textures, materials, and an emphasis on natural light acted as pillars for a beach house aesthetic that feels connected to its surroundings without competing with them. Color was approached thoughtfully so as not to overpower the view, and artwork, curated in part by Amy Sawtelle, brought in Scott’s personality while still feeling collected.
“I wanted the main spaces to feel calm and peaceful, with natural materials and tactile finishes bringing warmth and depth,” Scott explains. She didn’t want a show house—it had to be designed for how she and her family live, and a great sense of flow was essential. With help from the team at Quinn Williams Construction, Nix created a layout that allowed for easy movement between rooms while still capturing that feeling of togetherness Scott desired.
When it came to the actual installation, though, they had to be mindful of the island itself. “Executing a project on an island brings a unique set of logistical realities and an entirely different level of precision,” Nix explains. “Between the natural rhythm of ‘island time’ and the limitations of a tightly orchestrated supply chain, every detail must be anticipated well in advance.” Essentially, there could be no last-minute trips to the hardware store if needed, and even the smallest delay could set off a ripple effect.
By the time they wrapped the project, two years had gone by, and Nix and her team had pushed themselves into new territory to capture Scott’s vision. Softly arched doorways create unexpected and memorable moments of arrival, Texas artists tie in Scott’s roots, custom furniture allows for comfortable and inviting gathering places for the family, and subtle notes of color create cohesion and emphasize a relaxed sophistication throughout the home.
“This house feels unmistakably like Kendra and evokes an immediate sense of place the moment you walk through the door,” Nix says. “Every detail feels relaxed yet considered, creating a home that is elegant without ever feeling precious, and perfectly attuned to the rhythm of island life.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Kristen Nix of Kristen Nix Interiors
Location: Bahamas
The Space: A gut renovation of a seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom island abode.
PATIO
This gorgeous view sits outside the primary suite.
Scott wanted the outdoor spaces to feel like an extension of the house to take full advantage of the view of the Sea of Abaco, and this patio space just outside of the primary suite was inspired by the water’s natural palette. The soft mint greens and blues scattered about create a serene, understated rhythm, while the lighter neutrals and modern silhouettes capture the classic coastal vibe.
“We layered in pieces with an organic patina, like the driftwood coffee table, bringing a sense of weathered warmth and grounding the sculptural architecture,” Nix explains.
LIVING ROOM
Small decorative pieces bring in a sea foam green touch.
One of the first pieces they sourced for this room was the antique wooden chair, which Nix found at the Round Top Antiques Fair. With its sculptural silhouette and tactile character, the painted, patinated piece of furniture set the tone for the rest of the space, bringing with it a sense of history and quiet soul to the primary gathering space.
Other natural elements are layered throughout, from natural wood to dried coral, but possibly the most important aspect of the room is the large custom sectional, on which Scott’s family loves to gather.
DINING ROOM
Right off the living room, this space was meant for gathering.
A large, 12-person table was a must for Scott, who considers dining and gathering with family and friends equally as important as having a functional kitchen.
In this room, Nix embraced “a palette of neutral, textural tones, allowing the surrounding landscape and ocean to provide the color,” along with comfortable chairs that encourage post-dinner lingering and ensure long meals feel relaxed and effortless.
KITCHEN
The light fixture introduces a sculptural element.
The idea of connection and conversation is present in the kitchen as well, with an oversize island acting as the heart of the space, with deep, generous seating surrounding it.
It’s a hardworking room meant for actual cooking, and it was important to Scott that it be as beautiful and welcoming as it is functional. “White oak cabinetry brings warmth and texture, while the hanging serving pieces add a collected, lived-in quality,” Nix adds.
The integrated stone sink is clean and understated, but the designer says that many clients hesitate to embrace something like it—but not Scott. “She has a wonderful willingness to take risks and not overthink what could happen; she lives in the moment and trusts the design process,” Nix explains. “That spirit allowed us to make bolder material choices throughout the house, creating a space that feels personal, confident, and effortlessly lived-in.”
One element that Scott knew she always wanted in this kitchen is the large window with open shelving in front of it, which ultimately became the defining architectural gesture and dictated the room’s layout.
GAME NOOK
Custom poker chips add a personal touch.
For a home where the central theme is togetherness, it only makes sense that Scott would want a gaming table. Located off the third-floor lounge by the boys’ bedrooms, this dedicated gaming corner has become a favorite for the family, with custom poker chips featuring the house name and logo to add a personal touch.
LOUNGE
Kendra sourced the pendant lights at Round Top.
Designed to promote a laid-back vibe, this retreat for Scott’s sons layers rich tones for a more mature take on coastal style, Nix says. The deep sectional is the perfect spot to unwind after a day on the water. It did, however, present an issue when it came time for installation.
“The third-floor stairwell was simply too tight to accommodate the scale of the custom pieces, leaving us with virtually no clearance for the sectional,” Nix says. “The solution was anything but conventional: We enlisted the on-site construction crane to carefully hoist the custom sectional up the exterior of the house and guide it directly through the third-floor balcony doors.” The carefully choreographed operation was worth it in the end, as the relaxing living space is well-loved.
BAR
Tiffany green marble wraps the walls.
The bar is open to both the living and dining rooms, so it needed to feel special while remaining connected to the rest of the house. Nix managed this by installing mint-colored marble slabs on the walls behind the open shelves, bringing drama to the bar while creating just the right balance of impact and cohesion. The stone also happens to be one of Scott’s favorite features.
SLEEPING NOOK
Designed to resemble a boat’s bunkbed.
Claimed by Scott’s youngest son, Nix designed this nook to feel like a bedroom on a boat, pairing glossy mahogany with classic coastal shiplap to create what the designer calls “a playful nod to the home’s waterfront setting.” The proportions are intimate, but the space reads as playful, with a relaxed nautical sensibility and thoughtful details to encourage that cocooning feeling. “It’s a little hideaway that feels perfectly suited to island life,” Nix says.
ENTRYWAY
Neutral tones and natural textures provide a glimpse into the rest of the home.
This sophisticated foyer sets the tone for the rest of the house, from the restrained and intentional palette to the artwork and fabrics. Looking towards the pink-tinted powder room, there’s an emphasis on texture and natural materials, including white oak floors, plaster walls, and the natural patina of the driftwood hat rack and coral art piece by Chris Soal.
Securing the Chris Soal installation was equal parts engineering, precision, and art-handling expertise, Nix says. “Composed of thousands of delicate wooden toothpicks, transporting the piece to the island intact was an achievement in itself.” On installation day, six people had to carefully maneuver the work into place and flush-mount it on the very first attempt.
It’s often the most stressful experiences that produce the most extraordinary results, though. “Its raw, organic texture has an almost uncanny resemblance to the island’s native coral, creating a beautiful dialogue between the artwork and its surroundings,” the designer adds. It anchors this entryway and acts as an unexpected focal point, providing a sense of movement and sculptural impact.
SON’S ROOM
With multiple beds, it’s ideal for sleepovers.
The design team leaned into a relaxed yet masculine surfer aesthetic for one of Scott’s other sons’ rooms. It’s beachy but laid-back and feels effortlessly cool. Plus, the multiple beds are perfect for when other family or friends stay over.
SLEEPING PORCH
A whimsical place to lounge.
Sitting at the front of the house is this sleeping porch, “wrapped in windows that fill the space with beautiful natural light,” Nix says. When designing this space, she envisioned it as a whimsical kids’ retreat, amplifying that vision with a fun hanging swing.
BATHROOM
Palm frond wallpaper emphasizes the beachy vibe.
Lush palm trees surround the property, so Nix thought it was only right to bring the foliage inside as well with palm frond wallpaper. “We laid the shower tile in a basketweave pattern to add dimension and visual interest to the beautiful zellige tile.”
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Handmade table lamps came all the way from Austin.
Natural light plays a huge part in the primary bedroom suite. From airy sheer curtains to slatted doors leading to the bathroom and closet, sunlight is an integral element to this design. “The way they filter the natural light throughout the day creates a beautiful sense of movement and softness, while adding another layer of texture and warmth to the room,” Nix explains.
BATHROOM
This room is the only space that survived Hurricane Dorian.
“This eyebrow window, framed by custom brass mirrors, was original to the home and survived Hurricane Dorian,” according to the designer. She embraced the sculptural (and significant) element, amplifying it with additional design moments, like the custom brass mirrors.
LAUNDRY
This same blue hue appears on the exterior shutters.
Nix chose to be bold in the laundry room, dousing it in Bahamian blue that matches the exterior shutters, creating a thoughtful and intentional thread between the inside and outside of the home.
About the Designer
Kristen Nix is known for her ability to blend contemporary aesthetics with timeless elegance. With a design ethos rooted in balance, scale, and simplicity, Nix creates spaces that exude sophistication and comfort in equal measure. Nix's design philosophy is anchored in the belief that spaces should not only be visually stunning but also practical and enduring. Guided by her experience as a mother of three boys, she understands the importance of functionality and durability without compromising on beauty. Each project undertaken by Nix reflects a meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to creating environments that seamlessly integrate into the lives of her clients.
