Testimonials & Media
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Dallas, Texas.
Bird of Paradise wins a first place in Dallas ASID's Design Ovation Competition.
R. G., New York, NY
"As I told the concierge as she was showing me the villa upon my arrival, there is no adjective in the English language that truly describes the wonderment that is the Bird. I simply walked around with my mouth agape, frequently uttering 'Wow!', as I took in the beauty, elegance and hominess of the villa and its surroundings. In a nutshell, my family and I had a FANTASTIC time -- one that will be talked about for years to come."
A. M., Houston, TX
"We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in Anguilla. Your home is nothing short of spectacular - the architecture and layout are stunning; the furnishings and artwork make every inch of the house inviting. I honestly could go on and on...."
OCEAN HOME, February/March 2008
"If you want to sample a taste of Anguilla's good life
book a stay at the beautiful Bird of Paradise villa
located above Sandy Hill Bay with views of neighboring
St. Maarten and Barts. Owned by Melody and Jon Dill
and designed by Wilson Associates, famed resort
designers for the Amandari in Bali, Las Ventanas in
Cabo San Lucas and the Peninsula Beverly Hills, and
named after the exotic birds of Papua New Guinea, the
villa features a stunning Asian tropical decor
complete lagoon-style pools, meandering throughout the
four free-standing buildings. Housed in one of these
buildings is the master suite with it's own private
plunge pool.... Gorgeous artwork and furnishings form
Bali, South Pacific and Africa, coupled with dark
woods and rich colors, give the home a warm inviting
feel while existing in perfect harmony with the
environment and island climate."
J. C., Toronto, Canada
"We are enjoying the time of our lives in Anguilla. The Bird of Paradise is, in one word, 'perfection'!!!! We have all marveled at the attention to detail and the spectacular overall feel to the property. Job well done!!!!"
L. M., Boston, MA
"We had a wonderful time. The owners created an amazing retreat and we feel very lucky to have experienced it. They clearly put a great deal of time and thought into each and every decision about their home. It probably has ruined us for future homes as I am sure it will be challenging to find any other home of such quality and impeccable taste!"
Luxury Houses Holiday Escapes
See "Bird of Paradise" featured in this coffee-table book of luxury vacation homes.
D. M., Altoona, PA
"The Bird of Paradise is absolutely one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen. Funny, as stunning as Aruba was, I remarked to Will that it still was no match to Anguilla. I have been to Cancun, St Barths, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, etc.... none are as unique and intriguing as Anguilla. This home belongs there. Perfect!"
S. K., Sarasota, FL
"We just returned from spending four days at the Bird of Paradise Villa and we were just blown away!!! We thought your villa was nothing short of spectacular!!! We were particularly fascinated by the decorating and furnishings from Indonesia. We had a marvelous time at your villa."
K. N., Quebec, Canada
"The chef was terrific, the nanny did a great job, the prestocking of the villa was just what we requested, and all of the baby gear was in great shape. Plus, the dinner reservations were perfect."
W. M., Philadelphia, PA
"I must have taken a hundred photos of the pools at night. Magical!"
Conrad Erb, Photographer, Philadelphia, PA, December 2006
Conrad Erb was flown to Anguilla to photograph a wedding at the Bird of Paradise: "Anguilla is an outstanding place to photograph because of the sheer beauty of the island. Photographing at a villa as lovely as the Bird of Paradise only makes the work easier -- it is impossible to take a poor photograph in such a stunning setting! The owners have carefully created an atmosphere that is warm, inviting and gracefully beautiful, and their attention to fine detail enhances Christina and Jonathan's wedding photographs. AT once elegant and relaxed, Anguilla -- and the Bird of Paradise in particular -- offers a superb setting for capturing the joy of celebrations while interacting with an intimate group of guests."
Bob Greens Anguilla News, March 29, 2006
"There are a lot of new villas in Anguilla, but one of the best that we have visited is the newly constructed "Bird of Paradise" villa in Sandy Hill. The owners have travelled the world to gather the perfect materials and decorations for their home, which they named after the rare and exotic bird of Papua New Guinea."
M.K., Travel Agent, New York, New York, May 2006
"I can assure you that I will not forget your villa and also never will. You put so much love into your house and it just breathes you. When the right person, one that really appreciates the beauty, comes along, you will certainly hear from me!"
Architectural Firm, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 2006
Lakeside Development Company, based in Mequon, Wisconsin, is a leader in the luxury home design-build industry in the metro-Milwaukee area. When Melody and Jon Dill contacted their neighbor Tom Zabjek, President of Lakeside, to consider a construction document package for the Bird of Paradise, Lakeside immediately realized the uniqueness of the opportunity. It provided a chance to work with a local client on a second home in an exotic international setting, adding to Lakeside's growing second-home market. In addition, the project's complexity required that it be handled more like a commercial project than a residential design. Wisconsin-based specialists were hired as consultants for pool design and construction, electric and lighting design, and mechanical and plumbing design, and the Lakeside team collaborated with the Anguilla-based structural engineer. Together, the team took the concept drawings provided by Wilson & Associates and turned them into a complete set of engineered drawings, explicitly detailed for bidding and construction.
In addition to the intense international collaboration that was required for the project, the unique design also made it the most interesting project to come off the Lakeside drawing boards. From beginning to end, the CD package took approximately four months, and resulted in a dramatic one-of-a kind home that blends seamlessly with the rocky, sloping site. Expansive views to the Caribbean were captured from each building of the villa, giving the owners the feeling that the home spills into the warm waters below. Custom windows and doors, hurricane shutters, and millwork grace the project and required intense coordination between Lakeside and the component manufacturers both during design and during construction of the project. In preparing the construction documents no stone went unturned, with every detail from concrete formwork to landscape implementation thoughtfully considered. Lakeside's team stayed involved throughout construction of the project, sending representatives to the site during construction to oversee the installation of critical details and systems.