Dream House | Waterfront living at its finest

It has been said that life is not measured by the breath you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. Truer words could not epitomise your experience after visiting this fantasy environment.

Applaud if you must – and you will – as this house plays out its preponderance of architectural stimuli … in dialogue with bodies of water yielding their treasures to the sustenance and refreshment of its inhabitants.

It was in the 1950s that the Hon Clinton Hart, member of the Privy Council, solicitor and company director, stumbled upon this heavenly blessed, three-acre beachfront site in St Ann, five miles west of Ocho Rios. He thereupon constructed a simple, vacation cottage for his family, where four generations have enjoyed its offerings.

In 2015, the bold step was taken by his grandson to extensively reshape, extend and modernise the old structure to one of free-spirited luxury, where barefoot elegance rules supreme.

The 10,000-square-foot resplendent design unfolds with a porte cochère and entrance portico. There are living and dining areas, covered patios and state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen with butler’s pantry. Other features include a gym, massage room, media room, private office and seven bedroom suites (either with private balconies or patios) and 8½ bathrooms (some with outdoor showers). A powder room is also included.

Behold the interior finishes, such as cedar, jatoba and Honduras pine woods, marble, coral stone and more.

On the outside, the wow factor awaits! There is the 200 feet of sandy beach, extended to 1,000 feet for jogging/strolling. A live reef 50 yards out for snorkelling. A 75-foot, three-lane, junior Olympic-size swimming pool (with several fountains shooting water into the said pool). A hot tub, seating 10 persons. A clay (night lit) tennis court; a one-quarter basketball court; a quarter-mile jogging trail, and a 1,300-square-foot, five-hole putting green for golf enthusiasts. You can’t miss the dining-beach bar thatched-roof pavilion and outdoor grill. The landscaping beautifies the entire top property, harmonising with the external elements.

This house not only reflects waterfront living at its finest, it defines it!

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