Mon | Jan 6, 2025

Dream House | A timeless sanctuary by the sea

Published:Sunday | January 5, 2025 | 12:06 AM
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The great verandah’s outdoor playground.
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The great verandah’s outdoor playground.
A Dream House brought from obscurity, to surprise and enjoy.
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A Dream House brought from obscurity, to surprise and enjoy.
Is this a bathroom? Oh, yes, it is! Stone and glass walls, an open shower, a sunken tub, double basins — partly open to the sky.
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Is this a bathroom? Oh, yes, it is! Stone and glass walls, an open shower, a sunken tub, double basins — partly open to the sky.
The primary bedroom suite.
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The primary bedroom suite.
The living room features unexpected indoor bedroom balconies.
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The living room features unexpected indoor bedroom balconies.
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Over time, we have had the distinct pleasure and privilege of stepping into countless Dream Houses across the island, each with its unique architectural voice. Yet few make a statement quite like this one!

This home draws one effortlessly and unconsciously into its desired warm embrace, engendering a deep-rooted emotional and unconditional bond as it accepts and involves you in its most hospitable spaces. Familiarity, freedom to be who you are, comfort, and safety are the intrinsic criteria that make us all feel at ‘home’ here. These positive feelings generate mental, physical, and psychological health benefits and happiness for its occupants.

The 7,000-square-foot sanctuary exudes a homely charm, evoking nostalgia with its distinct colonial architectural and interior styling, featuring wood floors and columns. Eight bedrooms boast private balconies and porches, each with en suite granite-appointed bathrooms. The expansive living room, with its double-height vaulted ceiling, is encircled by unexpected interior balconies. Upstairs offers an additional sitting area, while a formal dining room adjoins the granite counter island kitchen, equipped with commercial-grade appliances. A dramatic mahogany winding staircase connects the floors, and an extensive sea-facing verandah seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living.

A porte cochere (roofed drive-thru) at the front interlinks with a separate cottage, gym, yoga pavilion, and a garage.

Gosh! The glorious outdoor playground, set on a 150-foot sandy beach, features a swimming pool, an inground circular whirlpool, a charming gazebo, a pergola, a semi-circular outdoor shower, and a barbecue grill — all nestled within professionally maintained, enticing gardens.

The secluded, pink-walled beach front property spans two acres and holds pride of place within the secure Mammee Bay Estate in St Ann.

It is lovingly owned by a mechanical engineer and his wife. He was a successful developer of office buildings, residential and resort developments before leaving our shores in 1976 for Toronto, Canada. There, he was also productively engaged in real estate investment. A devout family man, the gentleman bought this original “shell” of a house in 2005 to bridge generations and unite his extended family around the perfect getaway conditions.

This transformative home is so much more than a physical space. Happy New Year!

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