Family has always been at the core of the Enchanted brand and of this property.
Enchanted Island Resort was a project brought to life and driven by the father & son team of the late Mr. Anant Jivan Shah (popularly known as A.J.) and Mr. Sunil Shah.
The inspiration for this Resort was a touching family tribute as it was inspired by A.J.’s lament as to how old beautiful Creole buildings are fast disappearing from Seychelles, and so it became Sunil’s motivation to develop a reflection of the bygone era that his father was born into and grew up in.
The Shah family’s history in the Seychelles dates back over 130 years. Being one of the earliest families of Indian origin in the Seychelles, the original family businesses included the export of cinnamon, patchouli oil, copra, vanilla, import of general merchandise, banking and shipping agency.
The principal design theme is about preserving old Creole and Seychellois culture, by creating a property that is luxurious, yet still homely and warm.
The architecture blends traditional Creole architecture with modern luxury that harmonises with the island’s natural beauty, allowing guests to feel like they have gone back in time to experience the Seychelles of the 1930s. The island’s beauty was allowed to shine for itself, and everything built on it was made to compliment the island, with each villa being camouflaged within the foliage, creating a hideaway that looks untouched from the outside. We believe that no design can outshine the natural splendour of this location.
A lot of detail and passion went into collecting the right pieces of furniture, art and artifacts that adorn the property. The island resort is decorated with over 100 pieces of antique furniture, typically seen in island homes of the early 20th century. Each piece was carefully selected and sourced in various conditions of repair, requiring a dedicated workshop to be set up for restoration.
To add to the ambience, the property has many antique travel & leisure posters, historical maps of the region and original paintings from local artists, some of which date back to the 1820s. Together, they showcase the Seychellois culture’s origins as a blend of European, African and Asian influences.
All of this is a true testament to the dedication to the vision of creating a vintage Creole island experience that showcases and preserves the Seychellois culture and history in this modern age.
