Hill in Warwick is surrounded with lush planting and is filled with rich woods.

"My major criticism of most construction projects is the lack of plants which will soften or naturalise an over-development,'' says the developer.

There is certainly no lack of foliage at this Warwick duplex, which is aflame with perennial flowers and blossoms.

"The planting is not quite two years old,'' he explains. He grows flowering shrubs and other plants in his own nursery, located on the property. "I grow them to a point where they can stand a little neglect and thrive. I never use annuals. There are no petunias, snap dragons, or flowers like that.'' He planted early, so the trees and shrubs were well established even before construction was completed nine months ago.

"I have used plants and trees to soften the fact that I have an enormously high three story aspect,'' he says.

This duplex is a blend of the old traditional style together with the practicalities demanded by the modern market.

While it has a traditional look, he has used new building methods, constructing the second and third floors out of plywood and using SKB Coatings Ltd.'s coated styrofoam roofing. Cement rendering over the plywood walls, wooden verandas, classic mouldings and eyebrows give it a traditional look.

Inside, no effort has been spared to give each of these apartments a sense of individual elegance.

"I cater to the very top end of the market,'' Frith Brown explains. "These duplexes have top-of-the-line, handcrafted interiors. I have tried to create a Georgian elegance, with raised panel doors and mouldings around all doors and windows and skirting boards, which are elements you rarely find in modern Bermuda construction.

He used a selection of exotic Guyanese woods throughout the complex, including Virginia cedar, Angeline Pedra, Jatoba and ornate Brazilian walnut or Imbuia and Ipe. "I never varnish the wood. I use a wood sealer and a wax.

"The basic theme is natural wood and terra cotta. I have painted the walls moonstone, or off white.'' Frith Brown chose Portuguese tiles for the bathrooms and the kitchens throughout the development.

These units have been built as a preliminary project, in preparation for a larger 12-unit complex, currently in the planning stages.

The style of this living room is established by the genersous uss of wood panelling and moundings.

Tral lises, eye brows over the windows, plaster mouldings around teh pillars and wood verandas give this modern developmetn the looks of old Bermuda.

RG MAGAZINE JULY 1993