The air shifts on the narrow, winding road from El Limón to Playa Estillero, growing richer and slightly earthier with the smell of damp soil and sun-warmed wood. All is quiet as we arrive in this coastal enclave on the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Peninsula, except for the sounds of palm trees swaying lazily in the ocean breeze, construction in the distance, and rhythmic calls from roosters, woodpeckers, and frogs.
Tucked behind a veil of fruit trees and tropical plants is a kit building, originally imported from Brazil in 2003, that was once a reception center for a tight-knit sailor’s club before it was converted into a private home. The three-bedroom beachside cottage has more recently been revamped by Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley of Queens, New York, to serve as a getaway for themselves, their three children, and their relatives—including Jennifer’s mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Santo Domingo—as well as the occasional short-term guest.
Before: Kitchen
Courtesy Casa Madera
“We tried to utilize the resources here as much as we could, so most of the things in the house are handmade.”
—Jennifer Bunkley, designer and resident
After: Kitchen
Photo: Victor Stonem
For Jennifer, a social worker, and Kenard, who manages programs for an anti-violence nonprofit, having a place on the island was a way to honor their cultural roots and family bonds. “I’m Dominican, and even though we live in New York, it was important for us to preserve that connection—and for our kids to have something here that’s truly ours,” Jennifer explains. “It’s also what my parents always dreamed of for their children, and I’m the first to make it happen.”
Before: Bathroom
After: Bathroom
The Bunkleys spent five summers vacationing in El Limón and the surrounding areas before discovering and purchasing the home, which they call Casa Madera, in 2024. Its structure, crafted from honeyed Brazilian peroba rosa wood, was in stellar condition—although they did renovate a few things to make it more accommodating. “We wanted to stay true to the house because it has so much character, so we had local carpenters build everything from scratch,” says Jennifer.
Before: Living Area
“We enjoy all the spaces in the home, but we love the living room, since it’s the most designed area and it opens up to everything we’ve created here.”
—Kenard Bunkley, designer and resident.
After: Living Area
The reception area—a remnant of the past—now opens seamlessly to the kitchen, which the couple revised with an L-shaped layout. “Originally, we felt like it didn’t flow into the house or complement the wood elements in the other parts of the home,” Jennifer explains. They poured concrete flooring and countertops, refreshed the cabinets, and swapped out a large stove for a simpler cooktop to streamline the space.
They also updated the home’s two bathrooms, which were fully tiled, with a floor-to-ceiling microcement finish in a pale-pink hue that contrasts with the richly toned wood. Other local artisans created many elements throughout the home, including the breakfast nook, living room sofa, nightstands, outdoor furnishings, and all the paintings. Time slows down at Casa Madera, with a typical day involving backyard lounging, reading in the living room nook, strolling along the nearby beach, and relaxing poolside while grilling the catch of the day. When the season permits, the trees surrounding the home yield coconuts, mangoes, lemons, and golden apples, among other tropical fruits that the
Bunkleys enjoy. At its core, the home is about connecting to nature, to family, and to heritage.
“We’re bogged down with so much back in New York, so we’re big on the humbleness and simplicity of life,”
says Kenard.
“The lifestyle here shows us that just being in nature can make people happy, without the need for having so much.
