Dream House | Fine artist’s Seacoast mansion 15 years in the making

The seacoast of Jamaica has a distance of about 494 miles, with around 148.2 miles of it being sandy beach. Fortunate are the few and far between who reside in that coveted, latter 30 per cent.

The family living within these walls are Jamaica’s renowned fine artist Jeffrey Samuels, his dear wife Marsha, a medical receptionist, and their son Isaac. The location: Whitehouse District in Montego Bay, St James.

Jeffrey grew up in this seaside village, with his father being a fisherman. Understandably, he tried at it also but soon determined that this vocation wasn’t his calling. But what was, we ask?

It would be the realm of fine art, and this naturally gifted, self-taught person of faith would mature to celebrity status, with his visual artistic impressions being in the homes of President Barack Obama, former president of the United States, while at the White House; Michael Jackson; Celine Dion and others.

His dream house on the beach came to fruition in 2015 after 15 tireless, protracted years of constructing. First, the Samuels built only the living room and bathroom, which they lived in. Then, stage by sacrificial stage, year after prayerful year, they diligently extended out and upwards, climaxing with the mansion we behold today!

As we relax and are entertained in either of the two living rooms with balcony and patio (upstairs and downstairs), we are also cognisant of the five glass-railed, balconied bedrooms (with five glass-walled, rain shower bathrooms) tempting peaceful slumber. We are shocked to see the two-floor-height main suite, with bedroom upstairs and its own living room and kitchenette downstairs.

We understand that a scrumptious meal is being prepared in the angular kitchen (indicating floor-to-ceiling-height cabinets with granite counters), including one for eating.

Inside walls of an off-white shade exhibit art from the venerable master painter himself while outside is of an attractive, textured creamy finish. Floors are made of porcelain tiles.

The house deliberately has two distinct exterior styles. The back features modern, clean, straight lines with glass railings and the front is highlighted by a more traditional look with decorative, moulded archways, and ornate, ancient Greek columns. That is how the artist conceptualised it.

The solar-equipped building on half of an acre is totally off the grid — no Jamaica Public Service usage.

Vision, courage, and determination — with these words and deeds, your dream house awaits!

n Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barry-rattray@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.