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Dream House | Greenwich home stuns with high impact architecture, design

Published:Sunday | July 3, 2022 | 12:09 AM
A life-changing mountain house with its high impact architecture and interior design.
The heated plunge pool and entertainment deck overlook the lush mountainous terrain.
A fireplace adds warmth and romance to the comfortably decorated interior.
Bedrooms are in the clouds.
Soak your troubles away in this spa tub, with views as far as eyes can see from 4,000 feet above sea level.
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You will never comprehend the nature of living on forested slopes in the misty mountains, at high altitudes neighbouring the heavens – until you yourself come up here and embrace its life-altering way of living.

Today we find ourselves in just such a place. A designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site evaluated to be of “outstanding universal value” to humanity. A lush terrain comprising wildlife of 1,000 plants and 200 bird species (many only found in Jamaica); springs and waterfalls; hiking trails and biking adventures; views to die for; unpolluted air, and peace, silence and good health in an untamed environment.

This is all part of the Blue and John Crow Mountain National Park and, within its ambit, a community 4,000 feet above sea level known as Greenwich, in New Castle. It’s here that we bring to light a mountain home discovery, with its high impact architecture and interior design.

The skyward contemporary family home away from home, for Tania and David McConnell (co-owners of one of the largest wine and spirits distributors), is a three-level composition of six bedrooms in the clouds (primary bedroom with its own office), with seven bathrooms. Exposed wood-beam ceiling living and dining spaces flow effortlessly, with the focal point being the fireplace emitting warmth and setting the mood for relaxation and romance! In fact, there are two of them. The basement entertains with a games and a TV room, outfitted with pool and table tennis tables.

Multi-level wraparound viewing and leisure decks flow outward from living, dining and sleeping areas, as they sit on top of Kingston and the surrounding alpine, height-stopping vistas of Mother Nature. Fitting seamlessly with the building’s exterior lines is the heated, infinity plunge pool. A spa tub bubbles elsewhere.

Built on one-and-a-quarter acres, construction was very challenging due to weather and location. Floors are of greenheart wood. Kitchen counters smile with quartz finish, and the colour scheme is of light grey on the exterior, and light grey and beige on the interior.

This is paradise found! The summit of your dreams, hidden from societal pressures below. Do you really feel the urge to come back down off the mountain? Or are you having misgivings of such actions? The choice is entirely yours.

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

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