Dream House | Dean Elliott’s Treasure Beach casita

Together, driven by our craving for architectural exposure, we valiantly venture into unfamiliar territory, concealing the ethereal escape of this home’s owner, Dean Elliott.

Elliott, educated at Knox College, was born and raised in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, an untroubled community, quite near and dear to him. He is currently an operations and customer service manager for the world’s third-largest airline, Southwest, in the United States.

This dwelling space in the Frenchman’s District of Treasure Beach is in the back of beyond – untouched by society’s social ills. Its design is one of a Spanish-Mexican impression, with perimeter roof walls ( parapets), shaped in part with curves, interlinking with exterior walls of stucco-like, ‘uneven‘ surfaces. The windows are sandwiched between rustic, wooden shutters, and red-tiled roofs supplement the façade. Decorative metal works pique your curiosity.

The owner was immovably attached to this architectural style, stirred by his past trips to Mexico. He is quite enthused by its rough state, shunning a refined appearance.

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom casita (small house), lays out a front porch, and a rooftop terrace (with unfettered mountain and sea visual treats). Living, dining, and kitchenette, are in a free-flowing, consummate spatial format.

Features that present themselves for admiration are walls painted in solid white, floors in wood-looking tiles, and a kitchen countertop finished in granite. The hacienda-flavoured structure is completely off the electrical grid with solar panels. Rainwater harvesting stores water in cisterns. For cookouts, a barbecue facility never fails, while the fertile kitchen garden offers up meals for the dining table. A swimming pool and its wood deck entices all in its sight.

Dean Elliot’s casa (home) on its three-quarters-of-an-acre, began construction in 2021, accomplishing a finishing date in 12 months.

Before we bid farewell, we must partake of the margaritas being served by our host. The Mexican vibe is evident. Elliott yearns for his permanent return to Jamaica.

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barryrattray1@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.