By Mi-Ling Stone Poole   –

Recently, I traveled on an eight-day Southern Caribbean cruise in search of design inspiration. I was looking for rich, vibrant colors to inspire me in my endeavors, and I was not disappointed.

I started my journey in San Juan on Puerto Rico, an island I’ve visited on several occasions. As I glanced out the window of my hotel, a white balcony draped with bougainvillea with rich red blooms caught my eye. The backdrop of the steel-blue water was mesmerizing.

My first port was Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. I was there last November, as well, but this time I focused on the beautiful jewel tones found while shopping. I was drawn to a little shop called Klassique Jewelers. The colorful gems in the cabinets glistened, and the rich hues of the multicolor diamonds and bluish purple Tanzanite reminded me of rock candy.

The next stop on the cruise was Dominica, where the ship docked in a town called Roseau. Many of the rooftops on this island were colored with orange, blue and lime green. I vividly remember one structure painted lime green, aqua blue and teal blue. The top floor railing was laced with what appeared to be pink wisteria. The softness of the colors and structure brought on visions of a cupcake.

The following day, I arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados. I headed to the beach and sunbathed at the Boatyard on Carlisle Bay. Maybe it was the rum in my drink, but five picnic tables positioned on the white sand resembled Popsicles stuck in white frosting. The yummy colors of sapphire blue, candy-apple green, orange and pink stuck out like a rainbow. Nearby red umbrella tops looking like gumdrops surrounded the bay. What a beautiful color combination for a child’s room.

The best was yet to come. St. Lucia was breathtaking; the views of the lush rain forest and the world-renowned Pitons emerging from the sea floor and the colorful boats that peppered the fishing town of Anse La-Raye were stunning. Even the tattered homes with distressed paint and brightly colored curtains draping the windows seemed magical. This was a humble reminder that no matter how one lives, one should take pride in the family home.

My stop in Antigua was awe-inspiring. It’s been rumored that Antigua has a different beach for every day of the year. My son took a picture with his cell phone and posted it to his Facebook page. Someone commented, “OK, this looks fake, if it’s not, OMG it’s beautiful.” Enough said. The stunning beauty of the snow-white sand and the cobalt blue water surrounded by lush, green foliage should be re-created in our homes to garner the same response from friends and family.

The last stop before heading back to San Juan was the beautiful island of St. Kitts. The views of the island were amazing. At one vantage point, I was able to see the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean side by side, seemingly separated by a mountain peak. Picturesque homes nestled in the lush hills with colorful rooftops dotted the island and beckoned me to investigate a vacation home on this lovely island.

What design treasure did your cruise reveal?