DESIGN. This romantic and unique 2 bedroom, 2 bath mountain top home was built in 1997 from hand cut native stone and wood. The house has 2 levels, with the master bedroom, living, dining, kitchen areas and covered deck on the upper level, and the guest bedroom, pool and sundeck on the lower level. The attractive interior reflects the casual elegance of an upscale French country villa, with arched French doors and windows, beamed cathedral ceilings, terra cotta tiled floors and pleasing and comfortable furnishings, antiques and accessories. A large wrap around covered deck adjoins the living and dining rooms and is a perfect spot for reading, relaxing and enjoying the fiery sunsets over St Thomas, while sun worshippers will love the south facing pool and sundeck on the lower level.

LIVING/DINING/KITCHEN. The exquisite hand rubbed French doors and windows, tiled floors, white cathedral ceilings combine well with a wrought iron couch with upholstered sofa cushions, 2 easy chairs and an eclectic blend of carefully selected furnishings and accessories to create an intimate and warm living room. If you need additional warmth, which is not likely, one of the centerpieces of the living room is a working fireplace. A color TV/VCR and stereo with CD and cassette are also provided. You may dine inside at the formal dining room table seating 6-8 or take advantage of the superb views on the tiled upper deck at the table seating four. The kitchen is modern and well equipped and includes a 4 burner stove and oven, dishwasher, microwave, blender, coffee maker, toaster and a fine selection of dinnerware, cookware, and server ware. A washer/dryer is also provided.

BEDROOMS. The cozy master bedroom (queen), with air conditioning, a walk in closet and a tiled bath is on the upper level. This bedroom has excellent views of Tortola and opens to a small deck through screened sliding glass doors. The master bedroom faces east and also contains a desk and an upholstered chair for late night reading or writing. On the pool deck level, the guest bedroom (2 twins) also has a/c, a tiled bath and faces east to capture the first rays of the rising sun.

DISTANCE TO. Cruz Bay (town): 5-6 miles; Coral Bay (town): 2-3 miles; Restaurant: 1 mile; National Park beaches, swimming and snorkeling: 2-3 miles.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS. As you drive along Centerline Road and approach the Chateau Bordeaux Restaurant (one of St John's finest restaurants), you take a left onto a newly paved road and drive through the dense subtropical rainforest on the top of Bordeaux Mountain. After about a mile you reach Orchid Knoll and are rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery, undisturbed privacy and natural beauty available on St John. If you have a sense of adventure and a desire to get away from it all, and if you long to try something a little bit off the beaten path of life, then spend some time at Orchid Knoll. If you worship the quiet splendors of nature, dazzling sunrises and sunsets and nights meant for stargazing, but also want a modern, well equipped and comfortable home, you'll like this villa. This very private and romantic mountain top villa is ideal for honeymooners and other lovers, but we also recommend this unique home for adventuresome families, tan all over sun worshippers, or anyone seeking undisturbed peace and quiet. Orchid Knoll has a larger and even more deluxe neighbor, The Bordeaux Mountain House, which was built in the same year by the same designer/builder (Sunnyrock). These 2 villas are alike in many ways and yet quite distinct, but they make a good combination for friends who want separate villas in the same neighborhood.