Tour the breezy Bahamas home of Lady A’s Charles Kelley—it's packed with colorful ideas you'll want to copy
We just need [this vacation house] now.
At first blush, Harbour Island feels almost too picturesque to be real. The three-mile stretch of rosy sand and turquoise water has long drawn travelers, but for designer Lindsay Rhodes, its true charm lies in something less polished. “Yes, the island has fabulous boutique hotels and restaurants,” she says. “But there’s a casual vibe—everyone’s driving golf carts, and there are chickens in the road.”
That easygoing spirit, paired with its natural beauty, is exactly what drew her Nashville-based clients Cassie and Charles Kelley to put down roots here. Charles is the vocalist and co-founder of the country trio Lady A.
The couple’s connection to the island runs deep. They were married on Harbour Island—known to locals as Briland—and returned year after year with their family, building a store of memories long before they considered buying a home. So when a 1960s beach bungalow came on the market, they didn’t hesitate. Purchased from the original owner’s daughter, the house had been lovingly maintained, preserving distinctive details like latticework, wood paneling, and a free-form pool. They even kept its original name, Fig Tree, a nod to the mature greenery that shades the property.
 Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |  Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |  Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |
With plans to begin enjoying the home almost immediately, Rhodes approached the refresh with a light but impactful touch. Paint, wallpaper, kitchen tile, and statement lighting transformed the interiors, while a palette pulled directly from the surroundings—pink sand, aqua water, and soft yellow blooms—helped blur the line between indoors and out. “We wanted to merge the inside and outside,” Rhodes says.
That connection is felt the moment you step into the family room. A woven sectional that came with the house was given new life by a local Bahamian workshop, reupholstered in Lisa Fine fabric. Underfoot, a Missoni rug anchors the space, its zigzag pattern echoing the rhythm of the sea. A gallery wall of prints from Morrison Hotel Gallery pops against the softness, thanks to bold red frames that keep the room from feeling too precious.
Throughout the home, Rhodes leaned heavily on vintage pieces to add soul and a sense of history. In the kitchen, painted concrete tiles, a vintage backsplash sourced from a Texas architectural salvage yard, and rattan-wrapped hardware lend a collected, tropical feel.
Even the lighting tells a story—lampshades found on Etsy were cleverly converted into pendant lights above the counter. Nearby, a breakfast nook mixes eras and textures effortlessly, with 1960s chairs featuring Lucite arms paired with a palette of browns and soft pinks that allows stripes, florals, and geometrics to mingle with ease.
 Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |  Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |
The layered, playful approach continues outdoors, where life naturally spills into the sunshine. A stone patio furnished with vintage Brown Jordan pieces is softened with fig leaf fabric by Peter Dunham, visually blending the garden with the decor. Fringed umbrellas filter the strong Bahamian light, adding breezy texture while reinforcing the home’s relaxed, anything-goes attitude. Whether gathered around the outdoor dining table, lounging poolside, or mixing drinks at the green minibar just off the family room—topped with a framed Salvador Dalí—every space invites lingering.
 Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |  Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |
Inside, quieter moments unfold in rooms designed for rest and retreat. The primary suite embraces a softer palette. Custom nightstands painted white balance the warmth of a bamboo bed and daybed, creating a calm, airy feel. Guest bedrooms continue the theme with bamboo accents, floral layers, and vintage lamps, many sourced from Etsy, while wallpaper and textiles from Sister Parish Design tie everything together.
Original architectural details were celebrated rather than replaced. A lattice wall adds both privacy and filtered light, while vintage Murano glass pendants elevate a hallway painted in Farrow & Ball’s Calamine, giving it a gentle blush tone. Elsewhere, thoughtful details—a stack of well-loved books, Old Florida–style wicker lighting, and scalloped wood trim on new doors—reinforce its nostalgic spirit.
 Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |  Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins Credit: Mary Craven Dawkins |
The result is a house that feels deeply personal yet entirely in tune with its surroundings. Pattern builds on pattern, color layers on color, and nothing feels too precious to enjoy. “We just wanted to make it feel really fun and whimsical, yet livable,” Rhodes says. On an island where life moves at a gentler pace, Fig Tree captures that balance perfectly: polished but never fussy, vibrant yet relaxed, and always ready for the next memory to be made.
Writer: Kathryn O'Shea-Evans
Photos: Mary Craven
Editor: Kathy Barnes
Designer: Lindsay Rhodes
