Island of Bryan: See How the Baeumlers Have Transformed Their Bahamian Resort

The Driffs bar will be the social hub of the Caerula Mar Club resort. It’s where new friendships will be forged and fellow travelers will exchange stories of discovering some of the island’s hidden gems. Guests can grab a drink or relax with an afternoon snack. Almost everywhere that you sit in the Driffs bar area you can see the ocean. If you were any closer to the water, you’d need a bathing suit!

Looking head-on you get a better look at the Driffs’ bar counter– made from a slab of concrete. It will withstand almost anything the ocean can throw at it. The concrete also provides a dramatic contrast for the teak paneling. The middle rectangular shelf that now holds an assortment of liquor will soon house a large screen TV. You can almost hear euphoric guests gathered to watch the Toronto Raptors win their next NBA championship.

A Living Wall somehow brings all the elements of the Driffs bar together. The living wall- now a popular design feature- echoes the organic feel that flows throughout the resort’s common areas and guest rooms.

Now that the Driffs pool deck is complete, we can reveal this killer view. The pool was completed early in the renovation so the Baeumlers (and Adam) could have somewhere to take a well-deserved break and have some family fun. The deck, made from wooden planks, tops off this communal space with an organic feel.

A closer look at the Driffs pool deck gives you a better sense of the materials used and the vibe that emanates out to the rest of the resort. Not only is the deck the perfect place to work on your tan, the fire pits create a cozy spot to look at the stars at night while listening to the nearby surf.

The 50 year-old Hotel Block has been stripped bare from the inside out. The building now sparkles. Each room has a sprawling ground-level deck that offers a view of the ocean or the pool. The privacy screens give you your own little piece of paradise.

While each suite’s deck provides guests with a private spot to call home, there is plenty of room to entertain guests who stop by to watch the sun set and sip on a coconut concoction. Tiny umbrellas with drinks are completely optional.

The pictures of the Hotel Block from when the Baeumlers bought the resort make you think that the building was home to hardened criminals. The elements and years of neglect definitely left their mark on the resort.

Snorkeling is one of the activities that the Baeumlers have grown to love during their stay on the island of Andros. Guests will be able to indulge their own inner Jacques Cousteau and explore the coves and reefs that are in abundance throughout the Bahamas.

The inspiration for the Honeymoon Suite is obvious. Couples who have just tied the knot have this suite to call home for the first few days of wedded bliss. With all the planning and build-up to the wedding behind them, the newlyweds have nothing left to do except enjoy!

The ceilings in the suites are quite high at the Caerula Mar Club resort. To create a more intimate space in the Honeymoon Suite, Sarah brought down the eyebrow (or bulkhead) over the head of the master bed. The bulky side tables do their part to help frame the bed and add to the intimacy of the space.

The Honeymoon Suite was one of the first suites the Baeumlers tackled in this massive renovation project. It’s hard to recognize the suite now – and that’s understandable. The entire inside of the suite was gutted. There were a few disagreements along the way between the Sarah and Bryan, but in the end it all worked out. Maybe they deserve a second honeymoon?

The Honeymoon Suite’s bathroom includes a lounge area where the bride (or groom) has space for the entourage who will be clamoring to help with the final touches before the big ceremony. The soft and whimsical feel of the suite will help ensure no one’s nerves get too frayed.

When you are building on an island simple things like these bathroom mirrors arriving without a crack can be cause for celebration. A mishap in shipping could set the renovation schedule back by weeks. Aside from the intact mirrors, this super-sized bathroom also provides a separate alcove (with door) for the water closet and a shower space that has more than enough room for two.

If the décor of the Honeymoon Suite doesn’t calm pre and post wedding nerves, there is a fully stocked bar in the suite. And what’s a wedding without a little champagne?

The Honeymoon Suite also includes a living room nook that gives the newlyweds a space to unwind or plan their next adventure on the island. The window over the couch- meant only to be temporary- now adds to the natural light that floods the suite.

With some of the suites now finished, Bryan and Sarah are turning some of their attention to landscaping the resort. After years of neglect it’s an uphill struggle. Somehow the Caribbean heat doesn’t feel as enticing when you think of the work that Bryan and his crew have ahead of them. With the clock ticking, it’s hard to tell if the resort will make the latest opening-day goal.

While landscaping on the resort isn’t complete, we can share this outside image of the Honeymoon Suite. This shot gives you a sense of the space this villa offers on the inside and the possibilities for outdoor lounging and relaxing. Pure heaven.

Eventually, the newlywed couple will want to venture out of their suite. South Andros Island is a gem that is still relatively undeveloped. Deserted beaches just a bike or dune buggy ride away. It’s hard to think of a better way to spend a honeymoon than on a beach made for two.

There are 22 delicious villas at the Baeumler’s Caerula Mar Club and no two are exactly the same. Each villa is designed to ensure that visitors enjoy a unique experience during their stay at the resort. The Someday Suite gently transports guests to a tranquil state of mind with its soft organic aesthetic. The villa is slightly off the beaten track with any noise from the beach other others guests muffled by the ocean breeze.

The Someday Suite may have a chill vibe, but it still has presence. The oversized headboard and side tables give the suite a certain heft that provides the perfect landing spot for a long night’s sleep or an afternoon nap following a long bike ride or a exploring the surrounding reef.

The polished chrome hardware in the Someday Suite bathroom is sleek, but classic. The touch of green added by the plants on the vanity echoes the overall organic feel of the suite. Rather than an imposing full wall mirror Sarah opted for two panes of mirrors in elegant framing separated by a wall sconce.

The second bedroom has as warm and inviting a feel as the rest of the Someday Suite. None of the design elements are glaring – softness rules in this suite. The blues in the throw pillows and other design elements throughout the suite are inspired by the licks of blues found in the waves of the Caribbean Ocean.

While the sconces in the bar area could be considered show-stoppers, their light is warm and golden. The wall art like the other design features in the Someday Suite is understated and soft.

Not every room can handle the drama of such a large and imposing bed but this spacious two bedroom villa does it with ease – and even leaves room to spare. This king-size bed is the perfect space to linger over a morning coffee, croissants and a dish of fresh fruit. The view from the bed is the real gem. The gorgeous Caribbean Ocean could be the only thing powerful enough to tempt a guest from the comfort of this dreamy suite.

If you are able to pull yourself away from the Someday Suite you could explore one of the Andros’ geological gems. The island has the highest concentration of Blue Holes in the world. These large caverns are filled with fresh water, marine water or a mix of the two. The deep blue of the water is caused by the transparency of the water and bright white carbonate sand. A definite day trip possibility!

This is the ocean view that will draw you out of the comfort of you luxury suite. Andros, the largest of the Bahamian islands, is relatively untouched with only about two-thousand residents. Beyond the sandy beach in front of the villa suite are some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities you could hope for, with reefs and old ship wrecks waiting to be explored. If fishing is your passion, you can test your luck in hooking a Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi or one of the hundreds of local fish species living in the surrounding ocean.

At one time this villa may have been a welcome site for fun-seeking guests, but by the time the Baeumlers bought it, it screamed “Stay Out.” Not only is the decor of the resort dated, below those pink tiles lived thousands of tiny termites. It was a bit of surprise for the Baeumlers, too!

Each of the four signature suites at Caerula Mar Club has a defining theme. The two bedroom Emerald Palms villa pays tribute to the history of the resort. Take a look at the two pieces of art on the wall. These black and white pictures were created by using two weathered pocket-size photos the Baeumlers uncovered after buying the resort. The black and white colour scheme of the room with sandy-beige undertones almost gives the feeling of a timeless sepia photo. This room is cool, it’s comfortable and it tells a fascinating story – one which will definitely include a chapter about the Island of Bryan and this incredible family adventure.

This bar fridge and counter are more than they appear. Of course, you can uncork a bottle of wine after a day of exploring, but this spot will also be where guests are provided with information on nearby excursions. When designing a resort, the need for efficiency and operational value cannot be overlooked.

Before the Baeulmers put in the corner bar, the space was a neglected after-thought. There was no bar fridge or inviting space to act as a hub for the comings-and-goings of active vacationers searching for adventure.

When a guest arrives at your resort, you want them to think of nothing but their next swim in the ocean. These custom-made cabinets let you see at a glance anything you might be looking for. Every detail matters. Sarah picked out fabric for bath robes and slippers that wear well in the island climate. Even the soap and shampoo containers in the bathroom are biodegradable in order to preserve the pristine island environment.

The simplistic colour scheme of the villa is carried through to the bathroom. This two-sink layout with matte black hardware brings style and function. After a day at the beach, there’s no waiting to get ready for an evening of dinner and dancing.

This kind of luxe design may have been de rigueur in the ’80s and ’90s when shows like Dynasty ruled the airwaves but times have changed. It was a complete demo. Like all things on the Island of Bryan, there were complications, but it was worth the aggravation.

This shower is huge! You could park a car in it…but please don’t try. Two shower heads and a hand held will ensure there is not a spec of sand on you after spending time at the beach. The Jacuzzi is gone to make room for some useful nooks but with a shower like this, who would notice?

Spaces like this nook leave a lasting impression. By removing an old and broken down Jacuzzi, Bryan and Sarah had some extra space to work with. By simply building a wooden bench and topping it with a mattress, this two bedroom villa now has the flexibility to comfortably sleep a family of five. On rainy days it’s the perfect space to curl up and read a good book.

Getting items like mattresses onto the island of Andros wasn’t easy. All the mattresses were tightly rolled and sealed for shipping and then released from their plastic casing with the cut of a knife. They deliver the premium comfort needed by guests who arrive aching for rejuvenation. This room is perfect for a second couple, in-laws or the kids. (The Baeumler kids have given their approval of the beds’ ability to provide a great place to jump up and down when the parents aren’t looking.)

A fun option for families of couples is a day trip to the Exuma islands- home to the famous swimming pigs. No one is quite sure how the pigs got to the island but they are a fixture on the tourist circuit. Upon arriving at Pig Beach the aquatic pigs swim out to tourist who feed the domesticated (and hungry) animals.

Only Sarah Baeumler could make renovating an entire resort look so simple and elegant, but if you’ve watched Island of Bryan, you’ll know how hard the entire Baeumler family worked to make the Caerula Mar Club Resort an enchanting vacation spot.