Dream House | Magical tree house dreams come true in Ocho Rios

Once in a lifetime, a house of magical proportions appears out of nowhere, leaving you utterly speechless.

This is one of them, a stunningly bold, daring and free-spirited architectural wonder, evoking childhood fantasies of a playful hideaway among the treetops.

This tree house, on the seafront by a secluded cove, is located on an unnoticed lane just outside Ocho Rios, St Ann. It nests in mid-air above its 12-acre tropical forest and landscaped areas and counts on the support of the immense trunk girth of soaring cotton trees. Trees are actually living organisms, and this endearing house is alive with them.

The chirping birds up here in the breezy canopy are in tune with the gravity-defying habitat, with its foreground of deep blue sea with private beach and pool, bewitchingly staring back at us every time we look.

The owners, from Iowa, United States, she an accountant, and her husband the creative genius, and antiques dealer, now call Jamaica home. Their profound artistic, ‘imagineering’ and transformation of the property commenced in 2001.

We thank them for granting this window of opportunity for us to look into this thrill-seeking space of rusticity. So creatively hand-carved, with an obvious salute to the natural world in every facet of its quaint construct.

Pinch yourselves! You are not dreaming! There’s the mesmeric bedroom (with king-size bed), a sitting area to lounge away in, and a bathroom unusually custom-decorated as everywhere else. No doors, curtains separate and lend privacy internally.

The main balcony invites in the sights and pulsating sounds up here, with a soaking tub in its corner, a potent antidepressant. The two other walkaway balconies act as branches to the organic architecture. Two staircases, an enclosed spiral tower at front and the other open one at the rear, function in a prominent style.

Jamaican artwork is omnipresent, and worldwide travel by the couple have resulted in architectural constituents, art, and antiques from all over, highlighting the atmosphere.

Childhood dreams of adventure are being fulfilled here, with real and fictitious worlds becoming one with each other.

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