On a quiet stretch of sand in the gated enclave of Lyford Cay in The Bahamas, a chic beachfront retreat offers an idyllic base for spring and summer escapes.

Known as Villa Contenta, the 2.3-acre estate lives up to its name. The roughly 7,500-square-foot main residence is painted a soft lime-green hue that blends with the lush foliage surrounding the entrance. The estate presides over 200 feet of ocean frontage, while across the street sits a buildable canal-front parcel that currently features two thatched-roof gazebos, 163 feet of deepwater frontage, and a private dock ideal for boating. 

Stately mahogany doors open into the main home’s classic black-and-white tiled entryway. A light-filled receiving room flows out to an expansive beachside terrace, where a pool and spa overlook the water. The main living room is a more formal space, crowned by a soaring tray ceiling, while the family room—paneled in pecky cypress—offers a slightly more rustic feel.

The kitchen is well equipped for serious cooking, with Sub-Zero, KitchenAid, and Thermador appliances. Simple white cabinetry and wooden countertops are brightened by a blue-checkered floor. Nearby, a striking dining room wrapped in a hand-painted tropical mural brings the aquatic surroundings indoors, while a dining courtyard with its own bar provides an inviting setting for open-air entertaining. 

The villa includes five bedrooms in total, with the primary suite conveniently located on the ground floor. Wrapped in floral wallpaper, the space opens to a shaded patio ideal for enjoying a morning cup of coffee, while dual bathrooms with funky, optical-illusion floors provide extra privacy. Two additional en suite bedrooms are located on the first floor, with another pair on the second. A two-car garage and separate staff quarters complete the $36 million residence, listed with George Damianos of Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty. 

Lyford Cay, a private gated community located on the western tip of New Providence Island, is considered one of the wealthiest and most exclusive neighborhoods in the world. Among the aristocrats, billionaires, and international glitterati who own or have owned property there are Monaco’s late Prince Rainier III; Hollywood icon Sean Connery—he died at his home there in 2020; hedge funder Louis Bacon; and carpet heir and high-society gossip columnist R. Couri Hay.

Among the community’s recent real estate offerings is a waterfront home with a 90-foot infinity pool priced at $24.5 million and a $44 million spread with 11,000 square feet of beachfront living space.

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