Dream House | The lady is back!

Time had been kind to her over the years, but one day she came to the painful realisation that the attention and adulation that had once been received from so many had ceased. She knew then that it was time to undergo an architectural, cosmetic operation that would transform, rejuvenate, and enhance her physical appearance so as to reignite and restore her self-esteem and self-confidence.

The birth of her original construction was in 2006, right on this very quarter-of-an-acre beach front lot, by Old Wharf, in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. It would be another 10 years before the planned makeover was unveiled by her family – the Henzells, who are hoteliers.

Her 4,500 square foot structure accommodates four bedrooms (with the primary bedroom having an outdoor shower). It unashamedly steals the uppermost level all for itself under a proud, decorative dome roof. The rooms all vaunt en suite bathrooms. It is an open-plan design, with living, dining, and the kitchen wholeheartedly merging collectively.

Outdoor entertainment, dining, barbecue terraces, and balconies extend outward from these internal living spaces, eyeing irresistible marine vistas and inhaling ever-constant sea breezes. A plunge pool exhibiting an infinity edge and a revitalising spa tub adds to the reservoir of outdoor indulgence.

Intimate details include a ceramic tile floor finish, solid concrete and twig-covered roofing, wooden louvre windows, eye-popping stained glass openings, and bright coloured glass bottles inserted into the walls for a magical effect.

The furnishings are of diversified vintage mahogany and bamboo, with a mix of patterns and textures curated for that eccentric, atmospheric style.

The lady is back! Self-assurance has been reinstated, and hers is now the face of an aesthetically reshaped and restyled look.

Her admirers are now more than ever before. The applied architectural/interior beauty procedures and treatments have decidedly worked in her favour.

- Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barry-rattray@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.