Dream House | Picture-perfect Barnes Hill estate | Lifestyle | Jamaica Gleaner
Mon | Apr 22, 2024

Dream House | Picture-perfect Barnes Hill estate

Published:Sunday | April 14, 2024 | 2:03 AM
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After many years, the surprise is over. A circular swimming pool is enclosed within the walls of this house!
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After many years, the surprise is over. A circular swimming pool is enclosed within the walls of this house!
The media section of the oversized living room opening to commanding sea vistas.
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The media section of the oversized living room opening to commanding sea vistas.
The bathroom makes a statement with a soaking tub, leading outdoors to a private, open-air shower.
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The bathroom makes a statement with a soaking tub, leading outdoors to a private, open-air shower.
A bedroom adorned with a rare latticework ceiling, benefiting from its own private seaview terrace.
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A bedroom adorned with a rare latticework ceiling, benefiting from its own private seaview terrace.
This fearless architecture hides a secret within the circular hole of its roofline
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This fearless architecture hides a secret within the circular hole of its roofline
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Surprise is one of the most potent of emotions known to humankind, and this dwelling catapults you into a state of absolute astonishment, stimulated by the unexpected!

This architecture hides a spellbinding secret within its construct, that rebels against accustomed residential design in Jamaica. Simply put, it has a swimming pool, not on the outside as one would expect, but rather, indoors, completely enclosed within the very walls of the house itself!

The unexpected stimuli quickly progresses to anticipation, as we eagerly continue walking throughout the inner functioning of the living spaces, with most rooms and verandahs flowing from the classically colonnaded, circular-shaped pool and grassed area. Wake up re-energised in the four bedrooms, benefiting from their own seaview terraces, alongside their bathrooms putting on a show with above counter basins, soaking tubs, indoor walk-in showers; and attention-grabbing outdoor showers opening to the sky. An entryway requests the pleasure of your company. The over-sized living room in the presence of prime sea vistas, co-exist with a dining area that has you enjoying mouthwatering dishes from the granite accentuated, island kitchen at close quarters. A built-in bar keeps you in high spirits with uncontainable delight.

The residence continues its momentum of understated elegance, raising eyebrows by exposing floor straw mats, retractable glass doors to outside, and high ceilings entirely from latticework. The white and cream walls, worthy of regard, are perfect companions to the upholstered furniture in identical colours.

Come, a welcome respite awaits you in the exuberant, riotous garden of colours, revealing timber trellised garden walkways, punctuated by a firepit seating area, and a pizza oven.

The shingle, multi-hip roofed, one-storey residence, built many years ago, is lost to most of us, tucked high on Barnes Hill, overseeing a vast 2,200-acre enclave in Hanover, with the Flint River flowing through the picture-perfect estate. A private beach and tennis court are available for your personal recreation.

Yes, we have been caught completely unaware by this house, and we have been rewarded by intense feelings of happiness. That’s the power of fearless architecture, going beyond the predictable and the unimaginative!

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