One of the clients for this custom home was born and raised in Jamaica where the former plantations featured grand homes with expansive porches and luxurious scale. The style of this home has been inspired by this heritage and is tempered with contemporary living requirements.
The passions and success of the clients’ lives is reflected in their home.
When the clients came to us they had the beginnings of an architectural design done by their developer’s architect. After we met, they quickly realized the value of design form the inside, and awarded a design contract to re-develop the design using the interior requirements as the primary design guidance. This relationship developed into a further mandate to modify the exterior architecture to suit their needs. We think the result speaks for itself.
Each of the four levels has been carefully designed to suit the many different functions for the family. The ground floor, partially submerged below grade, mitigates the vertical impact of the fourth floor. Indeed, from the street, it only appears three stories high. This level is the principal entry point for the family. A secondary door, opening into the mudroom is used by the children and adults not parking in the garage. The washroom on this level doubles as a locker room for use by guests who are over for a swim. A gated passageway leads to a wine cellar with a double vaulted ceiling giving the impression that it has been in place for a long time.
The second floor features all of the principal living spaces. Each space is fine-tuned to specific requirements. The front porch was re-sized to suit generous seating that faces the street. The front door and entry foyer foreshadow the sumptuous interior design with its barrel vault ceiling and wood inlaid marble flooring. A similar design was used on the second floor entrance to the master bath, and the ‘language’ of the front door is repeated throughout the house for the other doors. The entrance to the 2 storey library was created with special display niches on each side which contain rare editions and collectible items, beloved by the client, an avid book lover. The kitchen, like in many homes, is the hub of family life. At 19’ X 23.5’ (447 sq ft) it is very large. The challenge here was to maintain the efficiency and accommodate all of the equipment requirements without losing the intimate family atmosphere. A built-in bench, corkboard, custom hood, raised eating bar, and beamed ceiling with bead board; all contribute to the old world charm. The generous family room with its built-ins for the home theater opens onto the large ocean-facing verandah. Guests are accommodated with their own suite also with ocean view.
On the third floor the master bedroom and bathroom take center stage with its own entry lobby. From this lobby there is access to the bedroom or to the bath and wardrobe. Each of these spaces has been tailored to specific requirements and coupled with rich selections in fixtures, finishes, and cabinets, results in luxurious living everyday. The top floor of the library is also and impressive space, featuring detailed millwork, paneled walls and ceilings, handcrafted wrought iron railings and a beautiful spiral stair to the ground floor. The children’s bedrooms mirrored layouts and feature ensuite baths. They are separated by a secondary home office.
The fourth floor accommodates all of the ‘smart’ technologies for the house as well as a gym for family workouts. There is even a third level deck that has an unprecedented view of the Caribbean sea.
