Jamaica Pegasus pools comfort with boho chic style for new renovations
The Jamaica Pegasus hotel’s newly renovated pool, pool bar, and lounge is officially open and getting rave reviews for its swinging benches, beautiful murals, exquisite aquatic features, and luxurious lounge. Pooling the expertise and resources needed to create this impressive boho chic-inspired décor is the hotel’s interior designer, Jacqueline Hendrickson.
“For the Pegasus pool, I decided to go boho chic and use Jamaican wicker in the design,” Hendrickson told The Sunday Gleaner, getting quickly to the heart of the design.
“The first major design choice we made after determining the layout of the seating area, bar, pool, roof areas was the tiles. This would lay the foundations for all other factors. Choosing a neutral pallet and bar tiles that had a modern look and colours was next,” she shared.
For the pool, she, along with her team, went with a traditional blue for the pool tiles but included a modern shape that would align with the classic and timeless nature of the hotel. They engaged in discussions as to whether to keep the signature fountain. With the vote leaning more towards its reinstallation for its iconic and historic value, the fountain was given a contemporary facelift.
“After that, I researched online and went with the graphic step tile for that wow factor. Knowing that I wanted to incorporate Jamaican accents and art, I went with the accent tiles we got locally from Creative Building Finishes. Exquisite Wicker did the light fixture. I used Jamaica ceramic art from various artisans as well as plants from Fort George Botanical. I do a lot of shopping locally, so I bought things that I liked and eventually brought them in the mix,” she revealed.
She sought the art mural expertise for the garden from her dear friend. The doctor, who wishes to remain anonymous, uses art as therapy and was happy to create breathtaking masterpieces for the scenic surroundings.
With all of her knowledge and skills, you would think that Hendrickson was born and raised in interior design. It was just the opposite. She graduated from Florida International University in 1982, having studied management information systems.
She received her start in the hotel industry back in 1983 in the purchasing department. Along the way, she fell in love and married Kevin Hendrickson in 1986 and had three children, Melissa, Katherine and Alexander. She now has four grandchildren.
Her day-to-day job these days is more aligned with something sweet. “My actual job is with the bakery division [at] Yummy Bakery. I now only do the design work at the hotel when needed,” she added.
So how exactly did she get into the business of interior design? By assisting in the field and later shouldering the responsibility of more projects. “Up to 10 years ago, Nell Hendrickson was doing the hotel interiors. I would help her, but she was the ‘designer’. She gradually started to give me latitude in choosing colours and fabrics, for instance. But I maintained her basic design as I was not yet secure in my design choices.”
ARTISTIC FLAIR
Hendrickson found that while on her creative journey, she would enlist the expertise of others, only to be disappointed by the outcome. “I have tried designers and landscape architects but something was always missing in the design. So I would end up doing it myself,” she said.
The position she officially obtained thereafter was reflective of someone who not only understood the work and artistic flair needed for designs, but one who was also knowledgeable about the day-to-day runnings of a hotel.
“The hotel industry is a specific and unique type of interior design. A successful hotel designer has to have hotel experience. They need to understand every department and the logistics involved for movement, timing, guest preferences, cost, staff requirements, and overall comfort and efficiency while maintaining a look and feel that is comfortable, welcoming, and special. At the same time, they have to be practical, providing easy maintenance and an easy flow of movement for both individual guests and groups.”
The renovation team experienced its fair share of difficulties but adjusted where necessary. Going over the allocated time by about two months, the supply chain became a major hurdle to jump in the construction process.
“The final results were better than I expected, and I am very proud of the results. The team really worked hard to make the vision work both aesthetically and practically. The engineers did a great job as this is really the foundation to the design. The finishers, like drywall, painters, tilers, wallpaper, welders, electricians also made the space first class. I love that it has become a place where guests are comfortable and get a great vibe. I hope all team members are proud to work there. And I now turn it over to operations to maintain, sanitise, and keep guests happy. It was a huge project, and everyone did their part in making it a success.”