Relax off the grid

Satinwood is an Eco-Villa with no ties to the power grid, but employs solar panels, battery systems and an automatic backup diesel generator for power. The property also features massive commercial composting toilets and recycled materials in construction.

It is the view that captivates guests, bringing them back year after year.
Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

This is Satinwood, our family vacation home. We strive to maintain ecological principles, demonstrate comfortable ecological living while retaining many family memories.

The Details

Beautiful St. John

Beautiful little St. John can delight any vacationer, no matter what your plans may include: With over two thirds of the island dedicated as National Park, the hiking and guided trails are truly breathtaking.

Snorkeling and diving on the many coral reefs is an unforgettable experience. St. John is rimmed with white sand beaches; some of the popular spots have been rated among the top ten worldwide! While some beaches are quiet and secluded, others boast services such as water sport equipment rental, restaurants, camping, and more.

The island is also home to first-class restaurants and shopping, from fine jewelry to local crafts.

To truly appreciate beauty of the Virgin Islands, you need to see it for yourself.

Satinwood - Our family vacation home.

Ken Damon, our father and grand-father, lived on St. John year-round for over 25 years. He and Sylvia designed and built Satinwood. A physicist and engineer, he pioneered wind and solar energy efforts in the Virgin islands in the 1970's - long before any such services were available there. Thankfully, there are now several reliable renewable-energy vendors and service providers in the islands these days.

Visiting him regularly, and at times working in the islands for months or years, we have come to really know the island. We can help you with shopping information, car rentals, beach recommendations, restaurants, ferry schedules, siteseeing, dive spots, and other local information. If you're staying with us, you have a friend on the island.

Let Us Help You Find Your Way

First time visitors may need a little help finding their way that first time. You will quickly become comfortable with the island. There are not many roads, so navigation is easy. Your trip to St. John will normally mean a flight to St. Thomas, a taxi to the ferry, departing from either Charlotte Amalie or Redhook, and then a ferry trip to Cruz Bay, St. John where you will need a rental car. You do need to reserve a car ahead of time. We can easily arrange to have someone meet you at the ferry dock in Cruz Bay to guide you to the rental agency you chose and to the market for provisioning. There are also some services on the island that will, for a fee, provision the villa for you before you arrive, if you prefer.

Please let us know how we can help.

Technical details for those interested

Satinwood Solar Arrays - both old and new For the technically inclined or the environmentally oriented, here is a picture of the roof of Satinwood, as of December 2012. We have two arrays of photo-voltaic cell panels now (solar panels). We are proud to report that the older array, made up of old 80 and 100 watt Photocomm and Kyocera panels, is still operating at nominal output - even after 15 years of use. The 12 new panels are 240W Tru Blu.

We operated for over 15 years on Trace inverters. An accident made us change (Trace was no longer available) and we employed Magnum Energy inverters for a few years. In 2016 we tried Sonnen for an integrated lithium battery and inverter solution. In 2017, we convertd to a (SMA) Sunny Island inverter system using BMZ lithium batteries. The goal is to provide the best possible experience with no ties to the electrical grid.

On the roof we also collect water, which is required for almost all island properties. We also have two solar water heaters on the roof, adding slightly to the clutter.

a

The profile of the roof line mimics the hillside to facilitate airflow through the house and to lower the impact of tropic storms. The steel-reinforced construction also insures security.

Solar powered for decades

Our family has been high on this hill top for decades. Our experience in solar and wind power span generations. Satinwood represents the culmination of that experience.

Continuing commitment

We have experience in off-grid residential living, construction with recyled materiels, continued commitments to recyling and power systems that exploit solar and wind.

Water conservation

Like most properties on St. John, Satinwood relies on catching rain water and storing it in cisterns for a consistent supply. We also employ redundant pumps, filters and an LED UV water purification system for drinking water.

Family, not business

As noted above, Satinwood was designed and built by our family and remains, first and foremost, our family vacation home. We share Satinwood with like-minded conservationists and others who appreciate St. John, Coral Bay and preserving our planet. Enjoy.

The Details

The Overview

The views are inspiring. The pool is cool and inviting. Satinwood is an eco-villa that does not feel like an eco-villa. Many guests forget that we are off the grid. We strive to lower our impact on the planet every day.

Come enjoy a simpler way to live and really relax.

Accommodations

The greatroom is large and airy and flows into the full kitchen and covered deck or lanai to provide enough room to stretch out and relax and watch the incredible, ever-changing view.

There are two king bed master suites on the main floor and one in a separate, studio apartment downstairs. The two main floor master suites also have ladder-accessible lofts, each with two twin beds.

The Pool, Pool Deck and View

Outside on the sunny pool deck, lounge chairs, umbrella table, and gas barbecue grill make for the perfect vacation day or evening. It can be mesmerizing to watch the clouds and shadows as they morph over the water and hills.