Dream House | Inside an off-grid paradise in Portland
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The pool, which features waterfalls, is bordered by river stones.
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An eye-opening, see-through kitchen with glass-front doors on both upper and lower cabinets.
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Bedrooms that befriend the natural outdoors.
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The living room offers sweeping views of the rainforest.
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A dining area just off the kitchen features a most unusual table and seating design.
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A dream house completely alone in a rainforest, 3,000-feet above sea level.
This story begins with 63-year-old Alexander Lewars, born and raised in Britain to Jamaican immigrant parents. Choosing a path less travelled, he pursued a career as a cabinetmaker rather than following a traditional route. True to his independent spirit, he navigated life on his own terms.
From a very early age, Lewars became an avid kung fu martial artist and a yoga practitioner. In London, he specialised in high-end interiors before deciding to relocate to Jamaica, where he could live and contribute to the lifestyle and culture he had long dreamed of.
Sometime after his arrival, he conducted an exhaustive islandwide search on a trail bike for the ultimate locational setting to build his home. He found it: A 45-acre property, with no neighbours, within a protected rainforest and bird sanctuary, including parrots, humming birds, and woodpeckers, in the salubrious hills of Sherwood Forest, Portland. All within a gated, secured area, 3,000-feet above sea level.
Our visit reveals a farm with fish ponds stocked with tilapia, perch, and koi; livestock including horses, goats, and sheep; as well as various ground provisions. Wild boars pass by fleetingly, detected by their musky odour.
Anticipation is killing us! We can’t wait any longer to enter and experience the 3,000-square-foot main house, completely off-grid with no dependence on public utilities, designed to disconnect from the world and reconnect with you.
A warm, environmentally friendly, and sustainable space, partly clad in wood, it features a separate yoga-massage pavilion floored in Honduran pine and an outdoor cooking area for convenience.
An illuminated swimming pool with cascading waterfalls, bordered by river stones, takes pride of place on a grand outdoor dining and entertainment terrace.
The expensively finished interior unfolds with mirror-like greenheart wooden floors and porcelain tiles.
Feast your eyes on the highly unusual see-through kitchen, featuring glass-front doors on both upper and lower cabinets. Its adjoining dining area opens to the outdoors.
A timber balcony wraps lovingly around the living area. The four bedrooms, some with seating alcoves, reflect a holistic approach to living. All have en suite bathrooms.
The garden is vividly dominated by the colourful heliconia plant, a favourite of Yvonne’s, Alexander’s wife, who works in sales and marketing.
Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barryrattray1@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.