Positioned on a prime stretch of beachfront at Rum Point, Kai Mana is the result of an evolving vision. Originally conceived as a luxury vacation rental, the project gradually transformed into something far more personal as its owners fell increasingly under the spell of both the location and the home taking shape around it.

With an active family and a wide circle of friends, the owners, Scott Somerville and Valentina Pollon, and their sons Matthew and Benjamin, envisioned a retreat capable of hosting multiple generations under one roof: generous enough to host a crowd without ever feeling chaotic, with plenty of entertainment for all ages, but also offering opportunities for privacy and retreat.

Having purchased the beachfront lot from Encompass, they worked closely with Eric Kline to fine-tune their vision. At 13,000 square feet, Kai Mana is ambitious in scale, but what distinguishes it is the balance it achieves between grandeur and openness and its constant connection to the water.

Constructed on the retaining walls of the original property, the house occupies an elevated position, and the arrival is suitably regal. A shellstone staircase rises from the driveway, flanked by gently cascading water features – a subtle precursor to the sea sounds and views within. Overhead, a cantilevered pergola extends over the walkway, apparently suspended in space, drawing the eye forward to the hardwood front door.

THE LAYOUT

The door opens into the great room – the physical and metaphorical heart of the home. The first thing one sees is a towering atrium window framing unbroken views across the pool to the horizon, accentuating the scale of the space. The room is generous but carefully composed, its different functions arranged with an easy logic. “Because of its size, we wanted two separate zones: one for conversation and relaxation, another angled toward the TV,” Scott explains.

Beyond the sitting areas, a full bar opens to a sunken outdoor bar, creating a seamless entertainment flow. On the other side, a waterfall-edge island marks the transition to the kitchen; this opens in turn into a dining room where glazing on three sides offers wraparound views. When the doors to the screened outdoor kitchen are open, indoor and outdoor dining areas merge into one continuous space.

The two wings of the second floor mirror one another. Pavilion bedrooms, raised on columns, project beyond the main footprint, their walls of glazing immersing occupants in the seascape. Two further bedrooms sit within the main structure, alongside a bunk room for younger family members, with a sixth garden bedroom on the first floor.

Above it all, the primary suite – a later addition to the design – occupies its own floor. “We wanted to ensure our bedroom provided an escape – a place to enjoy privacy even with a full house,” the owners say. Vaulted ceilings, a wide ocean-facing terrace and an adjoining office give the suite the feel of a self-contained retreat.

The whole concept was centred on creating spaces large enough for a full house to be together, but plenty of options to also be apart. Ultimately, Kline says, the options allow each person to choose their own experience.

DESIGN AND DETAIL

The couple worked in close consultation with the Encompass team, IDG and Nest & Co. Interior Design and Home Décor, for interior finishes and millwork but Valentina took the lead on selecting most of the lighting, décor and furnishings. “Our aim was always to create a home that was liveable and welcoming, rather
than a showpiece,” the owners say. The result bears that out. The blend of West Indian, Hawaiian and Baja California influences has created a unique aesthetic: contemporary but not minimalist, sophisticated but informal, coastal without tipping into cliché. Natural tones of taupe, stone and warm timber run through every room, texture is added through tiles and soft furnishings and artworks add pops of colour at intervals.

In a residence of this scale, a few carefully considered design statements were required. The double-height gallery space called for a light fixture with real presence, and the three 350-pound chandeliers the owners sourced on their travels were perfect. Constructed from overlapping pieces of recycled glass that shift between white and pale green depending on the light, they echo the tones of the shallows outside. In the kitchen, delicately veined white quartz countertops and matte white Molteni&C cabinetry are offset by bronze hardware and a walnut wood hood, bringing warmth to the otherwise cool canvas.

The primary bathroom is a bold departure from convention. Rather than a vanity running along one wall, here it occupies the centre of the room, the two sinks facing each other, a double-sided mirror suspended from the ceiling above. No matter which side one stands – looking directly out of the window or catching a reflection – the sea is always in view.

THE SPACES BETWEEN SPACES

Alongside these bold statement pieces there is a multitude of smaller details – a cushioned bench in the hollow beneath the stairs, a window seat and a coffee station that provides a place to pause, artfully backlit bookcases, or a pair of mirrors positioned to reflect the sea – that ensure that whatever one’s vantage point, there is always a pleasing vignette upon which to rest one’s gaze. “Often, it’s the spaces between the spaces – the corridors and landings – that are overlooked, that have no purpose,” Kline observes. “We try to avoid that, so that even the spaces between the spaces have intent – we design so that you could stop at any point and just soak up the scene.”

ACROSS THE ROAD

“We have a very active family, and as beautiful and relaxing as Rum Point is, it can also be very quiet,” the owners acknowledge. So when two adjacent parcels of land across the road became available during construction, they seized the opportunity to create a recreational compound tailored entirely to their interests. Rather than functioning as an extension of the main house, it became a destination in its own right: a place for activity, competition, wellness and gathering across generations.

Housed in three smaller pavilions, connected by bridges, trellises and stairs rather than one imposing structure, architecturally it complements but does not compete with the main house. One houses an air-conditioned three-car garage with a two-bedroom apartment above; another features a bespoke golf simulator and full bar on the lower level, and a fully equipped gym above. The third includes a wellness centre with a sauna and cold plunge, alongside a billiards and ping-pong room. Outside, the pickleball court is fitted with LED lighting for both day and nighttime use. At 6,000 square feet, the compound is a substantial addition but, the owners say, one that transforms stays at Kai Mana into a resort-like experience.

THE OUTDOORS

With an oceanfront location and a constant sea breeze, the outdoor spaces were central to the design. The pavilion bedrooms create generous shaded terraces below: a full outdoor kitchen and living space on one side, a sunken bar on the other.

The 75-foot pool wraps around two sides of the deck. “We designed it with all ages in mind, so it’s almost three separate pools,” Somerville says. “There’s a shallow tanning ledge, then a three-foot deep section for younger kids. A bridge – which provides access to the beach – separates this from the seven-foot deep section which gradually rises to a swim-up bar at the far end that adjoins the sunken bar.” Surrounding it, multiple seating areas provide options for sun and shade, to be together or apart, throughout the day. The dock, another late addition, enables the family to travel to Kai Mana by boat from the Cayman Islands Yacht Club.

Kai Mana was conceived as a family retreat for the future. Having lived in Cayman since 1996 and raised their sons on-island, the owners conceived it as a place where grandchildren-to-be, siblings and cousins will be able to spend time together. That long-term view extends to the fabric of the buildings, too. In such a challenging coastal environment, Kline and his team took great care to select materials that would withstand the constant exposure: aluminium pergolas and handrails painted to look like timber; porcelain slabs instead of natural stone and, of course, hurricane-rated doors and windows. As Rum Point is a critical turtle nesting habitat, to ensure nesting females and hatchlings are not disoriented, exterior lighting emits low-wavelength amber light, and the special glazing limits light transmission to the beach – details that underscore the care with which this home was conceived and built.