Dream House | A Torado Heights treasure

The journey of exploration and discovery continues to ignite a sense of adventure within us, with this revelation in the hills of Torado Heights, St James.

The residence was bought and significantly remodelled 30 years ago by Jamaicans, Sandra and Vanley Ramsay. Sandra is an interior decorator and her husband, a contractor. Both are the masterminds and organisers behind the International Curry Festival in Florida.

Their house, an absolute must-see, is well worth the visit. You see, my friends, you are entering a place that, by any measure, defies the expected. The first thing that hits you is the rounded, gracefully flowing walls and roofline. Then there are arched wall openings, a sensuous, semi-circular interior balcony, and circular decorative columns. Admire the sweeping, floating staircase that strikingly swirls to the upper level. Furniture also makes a show of its curved, sectional sofas in black leather. The freestanding, dual-purpose massaging whirlpool spa and restorative soaking tub in the primary bedroom revels in its exquisite oval shape.

Neuroscientific research has long proven that human beings find much more visually appealing the seductive motion of curves, rather than the conventional sharp, straight lines and angles seen in buildings. These curvaceous designs, as seen here, reward you additionally with feelings of serenity, the absence of mental stress and anxiety.

The grandeur of this home involves a foyer (a greeting area at the front), and two living rooms, each on the upper and lower floors, along with a dining room. The jaw-dropping kitchen you are eyeballing is a sleek, island-designed composite of wood, marble, stainless steel, and glass surfaces; with ceilings twinkling like stars in the heavens and with flamboyant columns textured in a faux marble finish. Wake up refreshed in six bedrooms with their en suite facilities.

The furnished recreation verandahs and balconies (with eye-opening vistas of Coral Gardens and Rose Hall) breathe in fresh air, becoming part of the idyllic outdoors. A kidney-shaped pool and its terrace are indispensable for both unwinding and merriment.

This dream house, held in high regard, is now getting the attention it deserves. The quest continues…

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