Places and Spaces Magazine 2020: Volume 14

VOLUME 14 | 2020

AQUA VILLA Barefoot Luxury

Country Living

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER

COOKIE KINKEAD

URBAN ESCAPE

Inside: DEVELOPER AND REALTOR MARKET LISTINGS

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Editor’s Note WHO DOESN’T LOVE A GOOD STORY? And we have lots in this issue! First we have our feature on well-known Jamaican photographer, Cookie Kinkead - she has enough stories to fill a book...and does, in her new coffee table book ‘Living Jamaica Country.’ Cookie shares with us an interesting mix of unique country homes, along with some stunning images.

No issue of Places & Spaces is without a little luxury.

This time it’s barefoot luxury as we head to Aqua Villa in Negril. While all the properties seem to jostle for space on the famous Seven Mile Beach, this villa sits pretty, nestled in an unexpected oasis of green. The architecture is unusual - geometric, with angled lines, it unfolds itself in a series of spaces - you will love it!

Renovations are always interesting, whether it’s a complete house or just a room. It puts you in creative mode, so don’t be surprised if you start putting pen to paper after viewing our dream kitchen reno’, or the redesign of a fabulous Kingston home.

Our Special Report on small towns highlights Black River on the south coast. This little town has a big history. Once a thriving seaport town rivalling Kingston, today it struggles to chart a new course to revive its economy.

There’s lots more in this issue but we’ll leave it to you to read and enjoy.

► Photo by Cookie Kinkead

Michele Gabay Editor-in-Chief

Publisher | Printer MAPCO Printers Ltd

Contributors Cookie Kinkead Negril Service Center Editor-in-Chief LAM Photography Michele Gabay Michael Lee Consulting Editor Leslie Goffe Lorraine Murray Angela Ross Marcia Ward Design & Layout Pelican Publishers Ltd Bob Marley Museum

Cover Photo Aqua Villa, Negril Service Center, Westmoreland Advertising Michelle Belnavis Bruce Grayson Yee Dallion Francis Pelican Publishers Ltd

MAPCO PRINTERS LIMITED, Publisher of Places & Spaces magazine can accept no liability for the views and/or opinions expressed within the publication. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for errors, omissions or claims made in any section of the publication. All material in the publication is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. No part of the publication can be reproduced or utilized in any form without written approval from the Publisher.

MAPCO PRINTERS LIMITED, 71-73 Montgomery Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica. www.mapcoprintersjamaica.com E: info@mapcoprinters.com | T: 876-929-2623 www.placesandspacesmag.com | VISIT US ON:

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Features 8 COUNTRY LIVING JAMAICA

Photographer Cookie Kinkead Discovers fascinating country homes hidden across the island.

Inspired Living

34

56 Renovate

Storied Places

Blending style & function to create a dream kitchen.

Before Bob Marley

62 Collectibles

40

78 Home & Things

56 hope road,

Silk art objects we love.

AQUA VILLA

Barefoot Luxury in Negril Step inside a stunning villa right on the Seven Mile Beach.

50

URBAN OASIS in the CITY

â–ş Photo by Cookie Kinkead

A New York couple renovate a classic home in Kingston.

SPA-tacular Bathroom Ideas

Listing

16 Special Report

65 realtors & developers listing

small towns in jamaica

Black River, a small coastal town trying to regain itself in modern living.

CONTENTS VOLUME 14 | 2020

32

art spaces

Country

LIVING

WHEN NOT AT HER SOUTH BEACH CONDO IN FLORIDA, OR HER SEASIDE COTTAGE IN JAMAICA

Cookie Kinkead

IS ON THE ROAD, PURSUING HER PASSION: PHOTOGRAPHY. SHE TALKS ABOUT HER LATEST VENTURE: 'LIVING JAMAICA COUNTRY', A COFFEE TABLE BOOK FEATURING BEAUTIFUL HOMES ACROSS THE ISLAND.

► Cookie Kinkead by Sarah Todd at Sally Henzell’s home, Bohemia, in Treasure Beach. Photos by Cookie Kinkead.

What did these homes tell you about our Jamaican lifestyle?

How did the idea of the book come about?

From about twenty years ago Valerie Facey (Publisher at the Mill Press) and myself had the idea to produce a coffee table book on Jamaican country houses that was not about the great houses (as so many of them had been previously published). We both felt that there would be some fascinating homes hidden all over the island…and discover them we did! Valerie has been a model of unending encouragement and a most stalwart believer in this project (the book is actually dedicated to her and her late husband Maurice). I collaborated with Alexandra Edwards, a writer based in California. We have worked on many projects together over the past twenty-five years, including Fireplace, a style book. Alex has been an invaluable thread in this book as the narrator, and also as confidant and road warrior since its inception, and through all the various ‘lives’ it has lived.

Although every home was different, you could usually tell which were the more ‘lived-in’ rooms in the house. In some it was definitely the kitchen; others perhaps a creative space; sometimes it was just a cozy corner in a living room. For the outdoors, it was wherever the breeze was coolest, whether it was a small patio or expansive pool deck.

Star-studded bedroom at Tresor Plage ◄

How did you shortlist?

Our criteria was character, style, essence.

How did you select the homes to be featured?

Laaaks! Selection was brutal! Upsetting in fact!

We had so many unusual, unique and stunning homes to choose from all over the island, but in the end it was about not doubling up on styles and houses that were too similar.

How many homes did you visit?

I am guessing between 100 to 120 homes.

We narrowed it down to 48 homes, and over 650 photos!

Were there any homes you wanted to include but couldn’t?

Unfortunately so many places had to be left out, if not the book would have been over 800 pages, and unaffordable to print and purchase!

Did you find yourself featuring any parish more than others?

Not intentionally, but it turns out that St. Elizabeth had surprisingly quite a lot featured.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 11

COUNTRY LIVING / with Cookie Kinkead

► A rustic entrance at De Zen.

What about the construction of the homes?

The ‘marriage’ of building materials in the ‘handmade’ homes were bursting with creativity and originality.

Mediterranean style at Cave Canem. ◄

Did you feature a particular location more?

Originally it was going to be just about rural homes and properties, but in the end we included everywhere – from mountain and hillside homes to coastal - as anywhere outside of Kingston is considered ‘country’!

Did you have a favourite?

I really couldn’t decide that as each had its own distinct style, charm and visual interest.

Was there any home that struck you as the most unusual?

Now you are putting me 'pon spot! But I do think that would be shared between Riad, De Zen and Pattoo Castle.

All the photos look very 'lived in’ not staged, was this your preference?

Yes, the homes had to depict ‘lived in’ and have a heartbeat.

► Itopia, St. Ann.

Any interesting experiences in the journey?

Alex and myself had many hysterical moments on the road, but not sure if I can mention those in print! The synchronicity however never ceased to amaze us, and one day in the middle of a heavy rainstorm, in which I could hardly see to drive, Alex was thirsty and insisted we stop at a shop in the middle of nowhere, way up in the hills on a back road. Before she could even get out of the car a man came running out of the bar in the rain, shouting “Cooookiiieeee.” It was Ginger, who I knew from when he worked with Perry Henzell, a local film producer, over twenty-five years ago! Jamaica gifts us so many special ‘buck up’ instances like that.

We also went off track when there were no time constraints on us. One such occasion was going to visit Violet Brown who was 117 years old. She was then the oldest living person in the world, and there was quite a twinkle in her still!

Were there any challenges trying to access some of the homes?

The homeowners were very open to featuring their places in the book, although some chose not to disclose their names or the locations. As far as challenging physically, some were quite remote – it would have been great to have a helicopter every now and again to drop us at the site and pick us back up!

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 13

COUNTRY LIVING / with Cookie Kinkead

What makes Jamaican houses so special to you?

Without a doubt, the character of the creators are imbibed in these homes no matter the age or style, and I am always immediately seduced by this.

Woodford in the Blue Mountains ◄

You seem to have a curious eye, and capture unusual angles and details. Tell us what you look for on a photoshoot and your technique?

On arriving I immediately wander off while the owners talk with Alex. I explore all the nooks and crannies, both inside and around the home. Usually I am oblivious to the owners, and hear nothing they are talking about. I see, I feel, I capture and I am totally absorbed. I am in a world of my own.

Family chapel at Bellevue. ◄

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Natural light is my always choice. Sometimes (according to others) I may lose some detail in showcasing an entire room – but I have no interest in photographing an entire room in one image. For me it is more important to capture the ‘essence’ of the place. Natural light gifts me the freedom to explore details and corners and move about quickly.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a professional photographer?

One of the photographs I came across in my parents album was of myself at about ten years old with a camera hanging around my neck (no film of course!).

My grandmother used to tell me I was always popping up out of the bushes or a flower bed with a pretend camera at even an earlier age, saying “Smile Grandma!”

So I guess there was some gentle force pushing me always to be a photographer.

My first paying photography shoot was of Bob Marley and the Wailers for their first album Catch A Fire, which was a cigarette lighter on the front. It took me three days driving around in Kingston (in a time of no cell phones) to get them all together. Bob had an afro, no dreadlocks then. And he knew, somehow, from then, that his music was going to have a huge impact on the world. The last time I saw Bob was in the 80s – we both happened to be crossing Park Avenue in New York City, and not at the official crosswalk…we smiled at each other and he said “Yu ‘memba?” I laughed and replied “I ‘memba!” and we kept walking on.

Are you a 'country girl’ at heart?

Other than when I lived in Madrid, New York, and San Francisco, and growing up in Kingston (which was like country in my childhood days!), I am definitely a country girl and I live mostly now on the little inhabited south coast in a Jamaican country cottage on the beach that I designed and had built.

Cliff Dwelling, Pattoo Castle. ◄

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/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 15

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SPECIAL REPORT / Small Towns in Jamaica

ONCE A THRIVING SEAPORT TOWN RIVALLING KINGSTON, IN THE EARLY 1900s BLACK RIVER TOOK A DOWNWARD SPIRAL AND TODAY STRUGGLES TO CHART A NEW COURSE TO REVIVE ITS ECONOMY.

BLACK RIVER â–º A lone crocodile lurks in the murky waters at the mouth of the Black River in St. Elizabeth.

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Ornate fretwork on an old house.

SOMETIMES YOU TRAVEL THROUGH SMALL TOWNS IN JAMAICA AND DON’T EVEN GIVE THEM A SECOND GLANCE. BUT MANY OF THESE FORGOTTEN TOWNS, MARRED

BY ECONOMIC STAGNATION AND NEGLECT, HAVE AN

Sea wall on main street.

intriguing story TO TELL ABOUT THE ISLAND’S PAST.

Old wooden building on the waterfront.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 19

SPECIAL REPORT / Small Towns in Jamaica

EARLY INHABITANTS Misquito Indians from Central America, brought to Jamaica by the British to hunt down and capture Maroons, are known to have settled in the Black River area from the early 1720s. They traded on the River, and lived in the Morass and Parottee area. The Spanish also established their ranches and small villages in the Black River basin and surrounding plains. They named it Rio Caobana. When the British invaded the island in 1655 they destroyed the Spanish settlements, and the military established a barracks and fort. By 1671 a small town, called Gravesend, soon developed at the mouth of the river. Low-lying, surrounded by swampland and prone to flooding, it was considered an unhealthy place and was known for devastating outbreaks of malaria and cholera.

Palladian-style courthouse.

Side road by the church.

BLACK RIVER

Parish church.

A BOOM TOWN However, in 1715 the introduction of logwood (used for making a dark purple dye), saw the beginning of a lucrative trade, and Black River soon became a boom town. By the late 1900s logwood had exceeded the export value of traditional crops, including sugar and coffee. The trees grew extensively in the area and were cut down, logged, stripped and then floated down river on freighters to the wharf where they were weighed and taken by lighters out to the many ships, bound for Europe, waiting in the bay. The industry required a large labour force and there would be piles of logwood stacked in the warehouses, along with other export products including sugar, rum, pimento and cattle hides.

20 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

Navigable for twenty-five miles inland with several waterways into the interior, Black River gained prominence and became the lifeline of the town. An important port-of-call, on any given day there would be over a dozen vessels in the deep water harbour.

Protected by Parottee Point to the east and Luana Point to the west, it is the only land locked harbour in Jamaica and was often used to berth sea-going vessels during bad weather and hurricanes. Black River also has a dark history, as it became a major transshipment port for slaves, second to Kingston in importance. Thousands of slaves first set foot on Jamaican soil in Black River, where they were sold in auctions held at the Farquharson Wharf and then taken to plantations all across the island.

Black River is often referred to as a family-owned town, and several prominent families bought up and developed prime real estate in the town, as well as large tracts of land in the outlying districts.

These wealthy lumber barons, along with the many

Blanche Villa located on the sea side, is one of the few remaining historic bungalows.

The town boasts many firsts. It was the first town in Jamaica to have ‘that wonderful light, the electric light’ in 1890, as well as the first telephone exchange. The island’s first motor car, a four-cylinder New Orleans, arrived in Black River in 1903. It was among the first few towns to have piped water - ranked the best on the island, it was harnessed from a spring of YS Falls.

Several of the finer residences also boasted indoor plumbing, which was a novelty of the day.

LIFESTYLE OF THE WEALTHY Long stretch of beach on Parottee Bay.

merchants and planters, built impressive colonial mansions, styled to impress, along the main street facing the sea, which at that time had a wide stretch of sandy beach. The parish church was built and the town hall. Warehouses filled the waterfront, and merchant shops lined the narrow streets. There was also a popular mineral spa and the town was noted for its fine one-mile race track. There was a floater that transported pedestrians, animals and produce across the mouth of the River, until an extension bridge was erected in 1938. At the height of its prosperity the town took over from Lacovia as the parish capital in 1773, and in 1785 was renamed Black River.

The lifestyle of the wealthy town folk was grand – it was considered an angler’s paradise, and big game and freshwater fishing was popular, so too crocodile-shooting on the river (up to 1948). The town was known for horse-breeding, and horseracing was a major event on the calendar with punters travelling in from all over the island on the big race days. There were pageants, balls and social events at the town hall, and locals and visitors enjoyed the therapeutic waters of the Spa and lunching on the wide sandy beach, which stretched 200ft out (now completely encroached by the sea).

The most well-known family in Black River in its heyday was the Leyden's from England. The father and his two sons made the family fortune in shipping, agriculture and commerce. It is said that they laid out the town, and built several of the waterfront mansions including Invercauld and Magdala, which still stand as historic landmarks today. Most of the houses on the main street facing the sea were set on large lots of seven

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 21

SPECIAL REPORT / Small Towns in Jamaica NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE SEEN ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN, MAINLY ALONG THE BEACHFRONT ROAD HEADING TO PAROTTEE.

Sandbar Restaurant, at Parottee Bay is an expansive property with beach facilities.

acres or more, surrounded by extensive lawns. Reflecting Victorian exuberance, a unique Jamaican style emerged as the mansions were designed to fit in with the local landscape and weather. One of the most interesting features was the detailed wooden fretwork, carved with African decorative motifs. Some had up to eight bedrooms and spacious living/ dining rooms with high ceilings. Building material was often imported, including bricks and wood. Some had stables (even tiled for the horses), as well as tennis lawns and enclosed swimming pools.

Several of these houses have had many past lives, such as Magdala which has been a residence, nunnery, school and hotel. Over the years many were vandalized and destroyed, today only three mansions remain and have been restored and repurposed: Magdala, is now owned by the Roman Catholic Church; Invercauld, is home to the All American International Medical School (AAIMS) campus: and Dr. Johnson’s old house now serves as a residence and office for a local doctor. The Black River streetscape is the only one of its kind in Jamaica, and was protected as a National Heritage District in 1999 by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

O

ver the centuries the town has had many devastating fires: a huge fire in 1780 destroyed many of the commercial buildings, and another in the early 1900s smouldered for a month destroying much of the town (the last major fire was in 1932). There was also a cholera epidemic in 1870. By the 1850s synthetic dyes were introduced and the demand for logwood ceased which was a major blow to the town’s economy. Falling deeper and deeper into despair, by the time the port closed in 1968 the once prosperous town had lost its commercial identity. Attempts at rice production failed and there was little new investment in the town. Road developments in the parish diverted travellers from Black River, and Santa Cruz soon overshadowed the town to become the new commercial hub.

Today the vanished way of life in Black River is only suggested by the few buildings people left behind. Some have been

22 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

restored and others are now derelict and abandoned. Marred by economic stagnation and an aging population (as many young people migrate to the larger towns), Black River is considered to be a backwater settlement out of the mainstream. With a declining population of 5,000, it remains the smallest parish capital.

The town still functions as the centre of operations for local government administration and several state agencies, and is the venue for high court sittings and the registrate magistrate, as well as the headquarters for the parish police division.

The only hospital in the parish is in Black River. There are a few banks and building society branches, supermarkets and stores. Most towns people are involved in fishing, agro-processing, vending and private businesses. There is a high school, as well as vocational and primary schools.

The All-American Institute of Medical Sciences (AAIMS) opened

in 2011. Enrolling both local and foreign students, it is the first offshore medical school in Jamaica. The most recent developments have been the building of a new health clinic, and the renovation of the market which is the largest commercial public space in the parish.

Land ownership is a major concern, as much of the prime land in the town is owned by the old-moneyed families who tend to hold on to the properties. While attempts are underway to desensitize and encourage them to sell for development, efforts are also focused on strengthening the economy by building local assets to encourage investments and employment.

There has also been some real estate development: New Town, located in the town is a low-income scheme; and there have been a few middle-income housing schemes on the outskirts, including Ashton. Offering level lots at affordable prices, these lots are being purchased by returnees, retirees and young professionals and families.

THE ROAD TO PAROTTEE Things look brighter as you cross over the bridge and head out on the long road that runs parallel to the sea all the way to Parottee. Here there are encouraging signs of development.

There are a few impressive villas built and under construction, as well as some guest houses and small hotels. There are several beachside seafood eateries and restaurants, including Las Vegas, Sandbar and Cobblers who all do a thriving business with locals and visitors.

There are swim spots all along the Bay with calm waters, as well as a public beach. Most of the properties are owned by locals, including Kingstonians who have built weekend homes. Some of these properties have large stretches of sandy beach - one resident says that when he bought the lot several years ago the beach was only 25ft. wide, but over the years the sea has receded and now the beachfront stretches out for 200ft. There are several lots for sale, with prices ranging from US$100,000 and up. The downside is that these lots have to be back-filled, and with the swamp close by are prone to flooding and mosquitoes. The vibe here is reminiscent of Negril in the 60s, low-key, laid back with little or no crime.

The closer you get to Parottee, you come across small settlements and fishing villages. All along the route lone hawkers are on the road-side, offering boat rides over to the popular Pelican Bar, a unique local attraction one mile off shore built on a sand spit, accessible only by boat. The road eventually takes you into Treasure Beach. â–

BLACK RIVER WALK ABOUT The red brick PARISH CHURCH with its one-face clock, originally built in 1774 was destroyed by fire and was later rebuilt. It has several monuments and mural tablets dedicated to the early planters and wealthy towns people, including Hugh Munro who bequeathed his estate to form a free school for the poor (now known as the prestigious Munro and Hampton Schools).

The site of the MINERAL SPA by the sea, was fed by three cold springs that ran into a stream. It once had an indoor and outdoor pool, and was well-patronized by locals and visitors, including King Leopold of Belgium, as well as the soldiers and young scholars at Munro. In recent years the waters were disrupted when the owners built a concrete catchment pool, which caused a blockage and created a noxious chemical reaction rendering the sulphur waters unusable.

Along the waterfront main street is the grand Palladian-style COURTHOUSE; further along is the WHARF, where slaves were auctioned, and logwood was weighed and shipped. Located close by is the BARRACKS, used by the British military in the 17th century. The POLICE STATION, a curious structure built during slavery, it used molasses, limestone and broken bottles to construct the walls.

The town had a small Jewish community, and a JEWISH CEMETERY was discovered with tombs dating back to 1850. â–

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 23

SPECIAL REPORT / Small Towns in Jamaica

Waterloo House was the first place to have electricity in Jamaica.

Today it operates as a small hotel and restaurant.

HERITAGE & NATURE TOURISM While some think the crumbling heritage of Black River with its dark history should be forgotten, others see it as a real economic driver. Could a new mindset and creative initiatives tap into its unique culture and take the town forward?

Invercauld now houses the campus of the All-American International Medical School.

â–ş An old building repurposed as a basic school.

24 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

Already a local historian conducts a walking tour of the historic town. Although the three main mansions are privately owned and not open for tours, there are several other buildings of historic interest, including beautifully restored small wood-frame bungalows.

There is talk of a heritage museum and craft market; restoration of some great houses, including Ashton, which overlooks the historic town; renovation of the Spa, which is up for sale; building a boardwalk along the waterfront and accommodating small cruise ships in the bay to ferry visitors to attractions in the area, including the Black River Safari; promoting the Airbnb culture; and creating rural experiences for visitors.

SET BACK FROM THE ROAD, SURROUNDED

BY EXTENSIVE LAWNS, MAGDALA HOUSE

IS STILL AN elegant

building.

BUILT IN THE LATE 1800s IT HAS TWO STORIES, WITH AN ATTIC. THE FOUNDATION IS CONCRETE AND THE FRAMEWORK WOOD, WHICH WAS SANDED WITH WHITE SEA STONE FOR PRESERVATION.

Magdala House

Interesting features of Magdala House included the use of imported Flemish oak throughout to build the staircase, door archways, and floor boards (no boards were joined, all the lengths were exactly measured and shipped from England). The oak aged a pale yellow and was treated with a mixture of Seville orange with logwood chips, and polished to a high sheen with beeswax.

AS YOU WANDER THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE TOWN YOU COME ACROSS BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED HISTORIC WOODEN BUNGALOWS.

The rooms were large with high ceilings, fitted with huge bay windows for cross ventilation. The verandahs were long and narrow, laid with Victorian tiles. It had indoor bathrooms with plumbing.

Magdala was built by one of the Leyden sons, an avid sportsman and horse breeder, he was known to be a big spender who hosted lavish parties. The drawing room was designed for acoustics for his wife, who was a celebrated American singer.

The property changed hands several times, and was at one time abandoned and vandalized. It was purchased by the Roman Catholic church in 1963 as a residence for nuns, and was used for a time as an orphanage (now closed), and a basic school. A small chapel and dormitory were built in 1880. â–

This beautiful old house has been restored and is used as a doctor's office and residence.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 25

SPECIAL REPORT / Small Towns in Jamaica

Scenic water channels along the Black River.

NATURE TOURISM

The Black River is the major attraction in the town.

Forty-four miles long, it is the second longest river in Jamaica. Part of its winding course flows through the parishes of Manchester and Trelawny. Fed by many tributaries, some are crystal clear with deep blue pools.

Sweeping through the Morass, the largest wetland area in Jamaica, it becomes dark and heavy with silt on its journey to the coast.

In some areas the River is narrow, and in other parts it widens to over 200ft. There are limestone outcrops, and isolated settlements where the inhabitants engage in fishing and shrimping, and practice traditional crafts such as building canoes, and making fish pots and straw baskets.

It is a birdwatcher’s paradise, and marine life includes fresh water and sea fish, the rare manatee, turtles as well as edible frogs. But the big drawing card is the crocodile – Black River is the last remaining habitat, and the waters are home to over one hundred. Some are old-timers, over 17ft long, weighing over 1,000 pounds!

26 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

The vegetation is dense, and varied with carpets of floating water hyacinths, fields of spider lilies and wild cane, and cathedrals of tangled mangrove forests.

Several tour companies offer boat rides up river, narrating the Black River story while feeding the crocodiles along the way. The river is also used as a waterway for speedboats taking tourists out into the open sea over to the popular Pelican Bar. Another company also offers swamp buggy adventure tours, taking adventurers on a 75-minute trek through the marshlands. There is also a 50ft observation tower, fitted with binoculars, offering a panoramic view of the area. ■

INTRIGUING HISTORIES OF BLACK RIVER

Mangrove forests sweep through the murky waters.

THE BIG DRAWING CARD ON THE SAFARI IS THE

crocodile

AND THE BLACK RIVER IS THE LAST REMAINING HABITAT IN JAMAICA.

Josephine, one of the oldest inhabitants of the River is over 17ft long.

T he fascinating stor y of Archibald Monteath (1790-1864) begins in the town. Captured at nine years old in Nigeria, he travelled in the slave ship to Black River and was auctioned a t t h e Fa r q u h a r s o n Wharf. He was bought by a Scottish plantation owner and taken to his Newmarket Estate. He married Rebecca Hart, a slave, in 1826. It was the first recorded marriage of two slaves in Jamaica and the couple were ridiculed. He purchased his freedom in 1832, prior to Emancipation in 1838.

There is an interesting history of land ownership in the area, and records show that some Africans, ancestors of the Davis and Powell family, arrived in Black River by ship as free men, not slaves, and bought land and settled.

One of the most disturbing stories of Black River is the Zong Massacre in 1781. It tells of the doomed sea voyage of a Liverpool trader freighted with slaves that, due to poor navigation, sailed past its intended destination Jamaica, and for fear of a shortage of water, threw 133 slaves overboard, alive with hands and feet bound, some 120 miles off the coast of Black River. The slaves were insured as cargo and the traders were seeking to claim insurance. It became a drawn-out legal battle and a landmark case of the anti-slavery movement (although the perpetrators were never charged and the ship’s log disappeared). Only 208 slaves were landed, with the ship having 400 gallons of water on board. The captain died three days after landing. A monument honouring the slaves that died was erected by the wharf by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. â–

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 27

ADVERTORIAL/

The History of

FIRE FIGHTING IN BLACK RIVER

Researched and written by:

WINSOME GRANT

Senior Deputy Superintendent Jamaica Fire Brigade

E

arly in the 1900's the town of Black River experienced a month long fire when a warehouse filled with coffee and pimento exploded. Another fire in 1932 burnt down half of the town's commercial section, including the Hendriks Wharf. Most of the buildings in Black River at that time were constructed of wood, and the town folk operated their businesses on the ground floor and lived on the second floor.

These devastating fires prompted the St Elizabeth Parochial Government to start the fire service at Black River in 1934. The first Fire Chief was Headley Scotland, known as ‘Fire Chief Scotty’. The first home of the Black River Fire Station was located on Market Street.

One or two firemen would be on duty to take the calls and to start up the merry-weather pump. As soon as a call came in the loud siren and bells at the fire station would be activated manually and the four other firemen, who were living nearby, would respond and drag the merry-weather pump to the location of the fire. Before they respond permission would be sought from the Superintendent and the Mayor of the Parish Council.

Depending on the location of the fire, water for firefighting would be obtained from the river or the five underground water tanks. These underground tanks were placed strategically throughout the

28 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

town. Suction hoses were used to retrieve water from the underground sources which included: the Anglican Church Mannes; the Clarke’s residence on the High Street just below the hospital; the vicinity of the now NCB Bank; below JPS-Barnes; and the intersection of Lover’s Lane and Central Road. The Fire Brigade still uses two of these underground tanks to conduct pump testing.

A few years later there was a change of guard and William Harry Muir took over as Fire Chief. By then the station operated three 12 hours shifts and the staff compliment had increased.

In those days fire officers wore khaki suits decorated with brass and silver buttons and badges, high Wellington Boots made of the finest English leather and English cork helmets.

According to ninety-three year old retired Senior Assistant Superintendent and Training Officer Henry Ritchie “It was a pleasure for them at the time to place the brass and silver badges and buttons on strings and rings, polished with Silvo and Brasso…oh! How sparkling. All these accoutrements

accompanied their dress tunic, khaki suit for officers and Hickory Stripes and black pants for subordinates adorned with leather belts and pouches to carry fire axes and adzes to their sides”.

Ritchie, who started working at the fire station shortly after leaving elementary, was the second fireman from the Black River Station to be trained at York Park in Kingston. He recalls his first salary was thirteen pounds, eight shillings and three pence. “I was very assertive and one thing I can tell you, Chief Muir had an eye to select the best of the best in those days.”

kingbuns,the bes a B hard-dough bread,

t

The first fire unit for the parish of St Elizabeth was a black Dennis bus-shaped type truck from England.

This was followed by a Ford Tybalt #1 Unit, a very unique and elegant model with numerous lights of all shapes and sizes and firemen rode on the back.

This fire unit carried 500 gallons of water and 40 gallons of foam. The water tankers that supplied domestic water to the communities could be seen parked at the Black River Fire Station at nights and on weekends to back up the lone fire unit. ►

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ADVERTORIAL/

D

uring the 1960’s St Elizabeth firemen were rated as the best, “second to none” in their deportment. With p ro fe s s i o n a l i s m t h e y earned themselves several parish and national awards and recognitions. It is said that they even attracted the best spouses!

By then the town had expanded and the fire brigade had outgrown its

► Corporal Thelwell Mullings

space on Market Street and by April 1967, the station was relocated to Brigade Street (behind the horses stable on dumped lands own by the Parish Council). The staff compliment increased and training was conducted in-house at the station. The shifts arrangement had also changed and the firemen worked four, 8 hour shifts.

Female firefighters started enlistment at the Black River Fire Station in 1980s.

In 1973 the Santa Cruz station came on board (the late Sydney Pagan ensured that the lands on Institution Drive were reserved for the building of a fire station).

A larger Ford Tybalt was procured for the Santa Cruz Station and modern equipment, including breathing apparatus, was introduced.

► Santa Cruz Fire Station

In the 1980s the Fire Department island-wide experienced a major strike and JDF soldiers carried out firefighting duties.

In 1993 the Junction Fire Station came on board.

Subsequently, all Parochial Fire Departments in Jamaica amalgamated in 1995 to form the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and now operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

30 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

► Junction Fire Station

The St Elizabeth Fire Brigade was weaned by the St Elizabeth Parish Council. Today the Jamaica Fire Brigade St. Elizabeth Division is a key stakeholder on various committees within the local authority and focuses on the “built change” environment and community risk reduction, and the Municipal Cooperation of St. Elizabeth parish has been a major supporter of many of the initiatives.

Today the Division is headed by a Senior Deputy Superintendent and four Assistant Superintendents. Within the staff compliment of 107 rank and file members, 19 are women. There is also twelve non-uniformed support staff.

The Brigade’s core functions are fire suppression and search & rescue. Its role in the National Disaster Response Plan stipulates that other areas of response activities such as swift water rescue and hazardous materials incidents are handled based on the requisite training and resource needs. Statistics show that bush fires account for the highest number of calls received by the Division, followed by dwelling houses and cane fields.

In accordance with the Jamaica Fire Brigade policies and practices, the St. Elizabeth Fire Department primarily responds with a crew of one officer and six crew members.

If an incident warrants the need for additional assistance, the other two stations are contacted. Intra-Parish jurisdictional activities are rare occurrences, but occasionally the Mandeville and Westmoreland Divisions respond to calls on St. Elizabeth Division station grounds, and vice-versa.

Alpart Alumina Partner has its own fire units and will assist the Fire Brigade during fire outbreaks if mobile units are unavailable (however the Alpart Unit does not come with a crew).

Incidents that may require single or multi-jurisdictional command have seen the Fire Brigade collaborating with other emergency response teams such as the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Public Service (JPS), National Water Commission (NWC), National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and private citizens who own and operate heavy duty equipment.

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ADVERTORIAL/

BLACK RIVER

IMAGING

CENTRE

THE BLACK RIVER IMAGING CENTRE, SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN JANUARY 2020, WILL BE LOCATED OPPOSITE THE CHILDREN'S WARD AT THE BLACK RIVER HOSPITAL. THE PROJECT IS THE BRAINCHILD OF CONWAY AND PHILECIA MULLINGS, A JAMAICAN COUPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE UNITED STATES.

It was at that point that the couple decided that a facility of this kind was urgently needed for the residents of the Black River area, and they began the onerous task of moving the idea into reality. There were many obstacles to cross before approval was granted, including changing the purpose of the property from residential to commercial.

With a B.Sc., degree in Nursing, a Master's degree in Health Administration and a Ph.D., in Social Psychology, Mrs. Mullings recognised the need for a medical imaging service in Black River when her father’s illness required him to make numerous trips out of the parish to do tests.

Her father was impatient with the many trips he had to make to have the tests done and eventually gave up saying his body couldn't manage the travelling anymore.

He subsequently died.

The Black River Imaging Centre is a state-of-the-art facility offering x-rays, ultrasounds and a five-chair dialysis unit.

A maternity centre and pharmacy are to be added to the facility, and there will be an in-house gynaecologist. The facility will service the Black River Hospital, Black River Health Centre and the private medical practices in the area.

32 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

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ART SPACES / Gallery Listing

ART Spaces Art spaces in Kingston including galleries, frame shops and craft outlets, are great places to find collectibles for your home. Take time to explore and seek out the beautiful, inspiring work by our local creatives in ceramics, fine art photography, paintings, fibre art, sculptures, decorative objects, hand-made furniture and more...

GALLERIES | ART & CRAFT AMAICRAFT

CRAFT COTTAGE

GENE PEARSON GALLERY

The Trade Centre, 30-31 Red Hills Road Shop #27, Kingston 10 876-920-9134

Village Plaza, 24 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10 876-926-0719

R-Hotel, 2 Renfrew Road, New Kingston 876-968-6222

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34 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

► Hi-Qo Art & Framing Gallery

HI-QO ART GALLERY

MY JAMAICA

THINGS JAMAICA

24 Waterloo Avenue, Kingston 876-926-4183

Liguanea Plaza, Kingston 6 876-977-2805

ISLAND ART & FRAMING

NATIONAL GALLERY

Corporate Shop, 14 Camp Road, Kingston 4 Tel: 876-928-5161-5

20 Barbican Road, Kingston 6 876-977-0318

12 Ocean Boulevard, Roy West Building, Downtown 876-922-1561/2

Norman Manley Int’l Airport, Departure Lounge 876-924-8371

OLYMPIA GALLERY

Devon House, Hope Road 876-926-1961

KINGSTON CRAFT MARKET Port Royal Street & Ocean Boulevard, Downtown, 876-875-6606

202 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 876-927-1608

/ Storied Places

► LONG BEFORE BOB MARLEY BOUGHT 56 HOPE ROAD IN 1975, AND

LONG BEFORE IT BECAME THE BOB MARLEY MUSEUM IN 1987, THE HOUSE HAD BEEN HOME OVER THE YEARS TO SOME OF JAMAICA’S MOST COLOURFUL AND CONTROVERSIAL PEOPLE.

The first to own the house was attorney Alfred Evelyn Motta, who bought it, records show, for 200 pounds the same year it was built in 1913 as part of a group of luxurious new homes erected on the empty, unused lands of an old plantation across from King’s House called Maryfield.

The plantation’s owner, Georgina Nathan, was among the first to recognize that there was money to be made turning old estates into housing for wealthy Kingstonians fleeing the congestion of the capital for the calm of suburban St Andrew.

So, Maryfield was subdivided and 3-bedroom bungalows, costing 150 pounds, and 5-bedroom, 2-storey houses like 56 Hope Road, costing 200 pounds, were built on it.

36 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

6 5

HOPE ROAD Before Bob LESLIE GORDON GOFFE

Photos: Bob Marley Museum

“Once in a lifetime” reads a 1912 advert for

Among those who bought were John Sutton Brown, a carriage builder, who purchased 61 and 59 Hope Road and Alfred Motta who, of course, bought lot eleven, 56 Hope Road.

since the earthquake, most improved manner. Concrete downstairs, wood and steel mesh upstairs.”

Motta was an unusual man, who was active in Jamaica’s Jewish community and also gave a donation to Marcus Garvey to help set up his Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914. Interestingly, Motta’s son, Stanley,

the houses which, rare for the time, had electric light and hot and cold water and could withstand, it was claimed, an earthquake like the one that destroyed much of Kingston in 1907. “Upstairs house built

56 HOPE ROAD / Before Bob sold 56 Hope Road for 2,500 pounds to John Crook, owner of the Jamaica Biscuit Company and a Dodge car dealership in Jamaica.

Crook, an Irishman, named the house ‘Derry.’ Crook became a popular figure in Jamaica. In 1932, a Kingston hotel named a cocktail drink after him and later that year he threw a party at 56 Hope Road at which American magician Malini made dollar bills appear from inside lemons and eggs.

But it wasn’t all magical. In 1938, biscuit workers refused a pay raise by Crook, and destroyed 10,000 pounds of cracker dough in protest!

Finally, in 1944, after 16 years at 56 Hope Road, John Crook put the house up for sale. “TO

SELL: “Derry”, 56 Hope Road…Apply John Crook.”

► Bob Marley Museum House Door.

who was born at the Hope Road house, became a pioneering producer of ska music in the 1950s.

The Motta’s sold 56 Hope Road for 900 pounds in 1916 to the banana tycoon Cecil Lindo, who had returned to Jamaica after 25 years in Costa Rica eager to buy a home on Hope Road, which Ian Fleming said was where “Jamaica’s ‘best’ people live.”

Ad from 1912 for 56 Hope and Maryfield houses ◄

Once in the house, Lindo set about choosing a name for it, which was how homes were identified and located in the days before they were assigned numbers. Motta had named the house “Maryfield” before later changing it to “Hudson Park.”

Lindo called his new home “Odnil”, which is “Lindo” backwards.

It was an impressive house, which stood behind a large stone wall and wrought iron gates. Upstairs, there were 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a 10-foot wide verandah. Downstairs, there was a drawing room, library, dining-room, pantry, and a 7-foot wide verandah. Elsewhere on the 2 and ½ acre grounds, there was a 2-bedroom bungalow, 2 tennis courts, a flower garden, 7 servant’s rooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, and a coach-house and stable later converted to garages.

But despite the splendour, Cecil Lindo spent very little time at the house. He was mostly in Costa Rica on business. So, in 1927 he sold it to his brother Percy for 2,000 pounds and bought Devon House in 1928 for 8,000 pounds. In 1928, too, Percy

38 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

► Cecil Lindo published in Planter's Punch.

Owner in 1916

Still, because Alec was rich he was allowed a kind of “honorary white” status which meant he was able to join clubs usually reserved for whites, and live in places usually reserved for whites, like 56 Hope Road.

But on 6 July, 1945, just over a year after he moved to the house, Alec was dead. “The Gleaner announces with regret the death of Mr. Alexander Davidson Goffe, J.P., noted St. Mary planter, which took place early yesterday morning at his residence No. 56 Hope Road, lower St. Andrew.”

On her own now, Lesline used her house as a meeting place for the controversial Christian Science religion, which had been denounced in Jamaica as witchcraft for claiming disease could be cured with prayer alone.

“Will Christian Science Attack Jamaica?” the Gleaner asked, terrified, in 1903. ► John Crook, owner in 1928, of 56 Hope Road and Jamaica Biscuit Company published in Planter's Punch.

Despite this, Lesline remained a true believer, who refused medical care when she contracted typhoid fever and when she came down with the Spanish influenza in 1918 that killed 50 million worldwide.

But religion aside, Lesline had to figure out how, now a widow, she was going to pay her bills. So, in October 1945 she put the Hope Road house up for sale.

Ad from 1944 purchase of 56 Hope Road

by Alec and Lesline Goffe ◄

“An A1 residential area…Suitable for a Boarding house, Nursing home, college etc…The house can be sold separately, the remaining portion of land can be subdivided.”

The house, which the Gleaner had described as “one of the finest residences in lower St Andrew”, was bought on 27 May, 1944 by my great uncle Alec and his wife Lesline, a very odd couple in Jamaica back then.

“Florence M. Crooke (SIC) has transferred to Lesline C. Goffe parts of Maryfield for 4,000 pounds”, the 1944 notice in the Gleaner says.

Alec was a black man from St. Mary who had made his money in the banana business and his wife was a white woman from St Ann whose family, opposed to her marriage, made her agree not to have children fearing they would be black like her husband, not white like her.

► The 1910 wedding of Alec and Lesline Goffe.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 39

56 HOPE ROAD / Before Bob But Blackwell did not know, he said, until he saw photos of Lesline’s 1910 wedding that she’d been married to a black man and that they’d stayed together, defying discrimination, for 35 years until his death at 56 Hope Rd in 1945.

“I was amazed to see a picture of a mixed marriage in those days,” said Blackwell, looking at the wedding photo. “A black and white relationship must have been quite something in those days. It was quite something when I was growing up in Jamaica. So, it must have been something back then in the early 1900s.”

He’s right. And 56 Hope Road, too, had been quite something back then, as well. But by 1969, the house was in need of renovation and restoration. Most of the other Maryfield houses had been bought by developers, torn down, and replaced by offices and apartments.

Bob Marley statue. ◄

But days later, Lesline took the ‘For Sale’ sign down and, as many others who owned these big, old houses were doing then, converted it into a private hotel, the Derry Guest House.

“Recommended Guest Houses "DERRY’, 56 Hope Road…Exclusive converted comfortable home.”

But running a private hotel, and catering to a conservative clientele, was not how someone as liberal as Lesline wanted to spend her time.

So, in the late 1950s, with Independence in the air, she turned 56 Hope Rd into a kind of hip, uptown boarding house and meeting place for a multi-racial group of Jamaicans, many of whom would play an important part in the newly independent Jamaica.

Among these was Winston Stona of Busha Browne fame.

“It was called ‘56’. It really was the first of its kind then.”

Filmmaker Perry Henzell lived at the house, too. So did Hope Sealy, a tourism official and actor remembered for reciting M.G. Smith’s poem, ‘I Saw My Land in the Morning.’

Besides those renting, many others passed through 56’s gates, among them Chris Blackwell. “The place had a certain magic about it” said Blackwell, who’d been told his great uncle Cecil and his grandfather Percy had owned 56, and that Lesline was an old family friend.

40 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

So, with change at her wrought-iron gate, Lesline sold 56 Hope Road for 50,000 pounds in 1969 to Chris Blackwell.

As part of the sale, Lesline asked to be allowed to remain on the property, in one of the servant’s rooms, for a peppercorn rent. Blackwell agreed. But this became a source of conflict later when Bob Marley and Lesline found themselves living together at 56, the dowager and the dreadlocks, the old and the new Jamaica.

“Bob found this old white lady there and he had no time for her, at all” said Sally Henzell, who rented rooms at 56 in the 1960s and often stopped by in the 1970s to see Lesline and Bob. “I remember telling Bob, you should be nice to her because she stood up for something. She stood up for her brown man, ‘Goffie’ as she called him, against her (white) family.”

This strange arrangement went on till 1975, when Bob purchased the house from Chris Blackwell for 50,000 JM dollars as part of the renewal of his Island Records contract. Blackwell moved elsewhere and so did Lesline, who died a year later in a flat on Paddington Terrace.

It was the end of an era, and beginning of a new one at 56 Hope Road.

“The old world has ended”, Bob sings in his song ‘Should I’. “The new world has just begun. And all them people that live therein shall live on and on.”

Adapted extract from Leslie Gordon Goffe's upcoming book 56 Hope Road, Before Bob.

/ Cover Story

THE VILLA DOESN’T REVEAL ITSELF IMMEDIATELY, IN FACT FROM THE ROAD, LOOKING OVER THE UNASSUMING LOW IRON GATE ALL YOU SEE IS A STRETCH OF BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, WITH A LONG DRIVEWAY LINED ON EITHER SIDE BY

tall palm trees.

AQUA BEACH VILLA Barefoot Luxury Photos: Negril Service Center & LAM Photography

42 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 43

/ Cover Story

When you enter the open-air

foyer you get a glimpse of blue, but it’s only when you step into the main living area that the villa reveals itself - Wow!

44 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

T

he architecture of the Villa is unusual. Geometric with angular lines it unfolds in a sequence of spaces, all interconnected. It has a ‘conceal and reveal’ aesthetic with both private and social living areas.

Definitely designed to be lived in and enjoyed, it captures the Negril vibe - easy, relaxed and laidback, taking it up a notch with added luxuries.

► There are two master suites located on the second

floor of either wing, offering a stunning view of the pool below and sea beyond. Spacious, with high vaulted ceilings, they have a colonial aesthetic and are furnished with four-poster beds built by local woodcrafters. Each suite has its own patio to allow for private spa-like outdoor tub areas, as well as seating, loungers and

hammocks.

Here’s a walk through: Open plan, the main living area offers several seating areas including cozy quiet corners and convivial seating arrangements.

On one side is the kitchen and laundry/utility room, on the other side is an office and powder room.

Also on the ground floor, adjacent to the foyer, are two en suite bedrooms and a gym. The focal point is the wide wooden staircase leading up to open corridors that look down into the living area. Here there are four en suite bedrooms (including two master bedrooms) and an upper level deck.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 45

/ Cover Story

Timber sets the tone, and local woods are featured prominently throughout the high ceiling, the staircase and railings give an earthy, rustic feel; and the large windows fitted with wooden louvred shutters diffuse the light and offer privacy. Although the basic colour is neutral, a bold red is used on select walls bringing a sense of liveliness and intimacy to the space.

GALLERY-LIKE WALLS ARE FILLED WITH paintings BY LOCAL ARTISTS. THERE ARE LARGE WOODEN sculptural pieces, DECORATIVE metal work AS WELL AS COLOURFUL murals AND mosaics.

46 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

O

wner, Marcel Tessler is a successful Canadian Realtor and he tells us how he came to own this one-of-a-kind property on the Seven Mile Beach. It’s a story about his love of the island and his dream of becoming a part of Jamaica, which he now considers to be his second home. “I first came across the property in 2006 and immediately fell in love with it, dreaming that maybe one day I would own it.” Formally known as Aqua Moon, it was built by two American business partners from Chicago in the United States. “It was back in the in the late 1980’s and they bought the land and built their dream vacation home. Interestingly it was designed with two master bedrooms so each of them could enjoy the views of the beach and ocean. They also added four spacious bedrooms for family and friends.”

The property came up for sale in 2005 and in early 2006 Marcel came across it unexpectedly while inquiring about another property. His inquisitive mind and passion to learn the histories about properties gave him a wealth of information about this villa and Negril. He took the opportunity to visit, but due to the remoteness of Negril and the after effects of Hurricane Ivan, he decided it required too much work for him to manage at the time.

THERE’S AN ULTRA-STYLISH

pavillion; AN outdoor dining terrace; A PRIVATE THATCHED-ROOF

cocktail bar;

AS WELL AS A RESORT-STYLE

pool, jacuzzi, showers AND changing rooms.

20x40FT.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 47

/ Cover Story

The indoor and outdoor flow seamlessly creating expansive entertaining zones. ◄

THE COOL Travertine-tiled pool deck IS A FABULOUS SPACE OFFERING ALL THE AMENITIES YOU WOULD FIND AT A

luxury BOUTIQUE HOTEL.

Still dreaming of a property in Jamaica, Marcel continued his search in Montego Bay and purchased a private property located in The Lagoons, an upscale residential area situated on a peninsula. His vision was to have a property for others to come and experience and enjoy the beauty of Jamaica. With this vision, he turned the property into a luxury villa calling it Calypso Shores employing five full-time staff.

That same year, Aqua Moon was purchased by a local doctor and his wife. “They were able to give it the attention it required through an extensive renovation that included outdoor extensions to the two master bedrooms; one containing a hot/cool Jacuzzi with beautiful views which also gave a covered outdoor dining area below. The interior underwent more changes - the kitchen was moved to the other side of

48 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

the building, allowing serving access to the outdoor dining area. Sections of the interior were removed to give more exposure to the gorgeous, massive beam understructure of the main roof. When it was completed, the couple resided on the property and ran it as a Bed and Breakfast. Then in 2012, the property was sold to another doctor who continued to run it as a Bed and Breakfast, but due to the commitment required and his busy schedule it was put back up for sale shortly after.

"The following year I was notified that the property was available for sale. I was still dreaming of this property, and took the opportunity to revisit and stay as a guest with the intent to purchase, however the timing wasn’t in my favour, and soon after it was sold to an American businessman for his personal use.”

I

t wasn’t until August 2017 that Aqua Moon was back up for sale.

T his time Marcel was not going to miss out.

After eleven years he was successful in purchasing his dream proper t y the following month. He spent the next one-and-a-half years putting his own touches into the property with the help of his family and a much-appreciated new contracting friend, Peter Carbone. The major renovations included the

20’ x 40’ resort-style pool with separate Jacuzzi; the imported limestone tiles which cover the entire patio and outdoor dining area; a pavilion that features a b ea ut if u l h a n d - p a i nte d mural by neighbour, Rohan Collington, Negril’s local artist who’s many paintings are also found on the walls within the villa. Roof tops were added to cover each of the master bedroom patios to allow for private spa-like outdoor tub areas.

► Chef, Shari-Ann Reddie.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 49

/ Cover Story A new guard house was built, and extensive landscaping was undertaken to create a lush tropical garden to give a privacy break from the beach front.

FROM THE DECK YOU STEP RIGHT ONTO THE

Seven Mile Beach.

Marcel renamed it Aqua Beach Villa and opened it as a luxury vacation property employing seven full-time staff members, including 24-hour security. â—„

ALL THE PROPERTIES ALONG THE FAMOUS SEVEN MILE BEACH IN NEGRIL SEEM TO JOSTLE FOR SPACE. THEY FOLLOW A PREDICTABLE FORMULA: BUILDING ON EVERY SQUARE FOOT, LEFT TO RIGHT, SPILLING OUT ONTO THE BEACH FRONT, WITHOUT EVEN A THOUGHT TO SOME greenery OR EVEN A garden... EXCEPT Aqua

50 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

Villa.

URBAN OASIS in the City

WHEN NEW YORK COUPLE KATHY GLYNN AND NEVILLE HANNAM WERE PROPERTY HUNTING IN KINGSTON FOUR YEARS AGO, THE HOUSE ON LADY KAY DRIVE KEPT COMING UP IN THEIR ONLINE SEARCH.

52 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

BUT WE HAD IT IN OUR ‘NO’ COLUMN, UNTIL OUR REAL ESTATE BROKER MANAGED TO CONVINCE US TO MEET HIM AT THE HOUSE AND JUST HAVE A LOOK. ONCE WE DID, WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS

the one for us!

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URBAN OASIS / in the City

WHAT APPEALED TO YOU THE MOST? It was a great location, private, but not too secluded. And once we went inside we saw the potential for the space. It felt really good. I knew right away that I could achieve the open, airy and modern plan to give us the

indoor/outdoor living experience that we desired. I

have long admired the Trident Villas design aesthetic and reached out to their management for the architect referral, Atelier Vidal. They helped us achieve our vision.

WAS IT A COMPLETE RENOVATION? Yes! It took us two years, from start to finish. We created the open floor plan; relocated the main entrance; lifted the ceiling in the loft (which overlooks the living area) and added windows to let in lots of natural light; expanded the kitchen; relocated the laundry, and the bathrooms (all three guest bedrooms are now en suite); extended the master suite to include oversized walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom, fitted with an enlarged soaker tub. All the finishes and appliances installed were high end. We completely redid the landscaping to

create a very tropical feel, enhancing the privacy.

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WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES? Renovations always have challenges, but the biggest was managing the renovation remotely. I believe this is why it took so long. It didn’t go as smoothly as anticipated which resulted in us hiring a second contractor to complete the work, and going over budget!

WHICH ZONE WAS THE MAIN FOCUS?

The kitchen. I love to cook and it’s the heart of the home to me. The appliances are all top-of-the-line, including the eightburner wolf stove with double ovens; a pot filler; a full refrigerator and a full freezer connected by the trim kit; a prep sink and an oversized sink; an undercounter microwave and the dishwasher. We used

a European look with the cabinet uppers and oversized drawers on the lowers, with lots of storage. The oversized island allows for gathering while cooking or entertaining.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 55

URBAN OASIS / in the City

DESCRIBE YOUR DECOR STYLE? The decor is modern with some industrial influences.

We tried to maintain the island feel with the awning windows and inviting veranda. Most of the decor comes from West Elm and Restoration Hardware overseas. Some of the art is from personal travels by myself and family members. We shipped about 85% of the furnishings from New York.

Deborah Cumming CENTURY 21 Heave-Ho Properties at 876 383-0104, or email at: d.cumming@century21jm.com.

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"IT ALL STARTED SCROLLING THROUGH PICTURES ON PINTEREST,” EXPLAINS HOMEOWNER, SANDRA GLASGOW. “THAT’S WHERE I GOT MY INSPIRATION AND IDEAS. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED FOR MY DREAM KITCHEN, RIGHT DOWN TO EVERY DETAIL, FROM THE BACK-SPLASH TO STORAGE CAPABILITIES."

KITCHEN Renovation "I wanted to move away from the usual kitchen clutter, and go for

clean lines. It had to also be functional and low maintenance. My kitchen is a cooking zone and social space...

I love cooking for family and friends, including my two grown daughters and grandchildren.“

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► Custom-built cabinetry, stretching from floor to ceiling, take the eyes upward to the stylish molding.

► Wood-look textured ceramic floor tiles add contrast and give an earthy feel to the space.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 59

KITCHEN Renovation

Glass front cabinets, outfitted with underlighting, spotlight the crystal ware and add sparkle. ◄

The large undermount stainless steel sink is fitted with a brush nickel pull-out spray faucet.

The shimmering mosaic tile backsplash completes the elegant look. ◄

The Glasgow’s designed and built the family home twenty-one years ago and decided it was time for a kitchen upgrade when the old stove went kaput, and they got tired of repairing cabinet doors that were falling off their hinges! Keeping the original plan of the kitchen, they reconfigured the space calling in the contractor, designer... and demolition crew!

What was the scope of work?

We gutted the kitchen completely. We even took out the island, which was a big decision, but it gave a lot more space and flow to the room. We ended up with less counter space, but surprisingly I don’t miss it. We kept the serving hatch to the main dining room and the breakfast nook with the bay window.

How long did the project take?

It was supposed to be six weeks, but it stretched into nine weeks.

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What were some of the challenges?

It’s never easy to do a major renovation when you live at the house...particularly a kitchen! We set up a two-burner stove in the dining room, and stored all the kitchen stuff in the gym. The demolition was the worst part, the dust and the noise seemed never-ending, and the work crew in and out was distracting, especially as I have a home office.

Any advice to someone planning to do a major renovation?

Hire a good contractor, and designer. We were fortunate to get the same designer, Guila Bernal, who designed the house twenty-one years ago so she knew my style and exactly what I wanted. Design features I hadn’t thought of were suggested, such as fitting the molding on the ceiling, which finishes off the look; mixing glass and paneled doors give the illusion of a bigger space; and installing the recessed lighting under and in the cabinets reflect and energize the space.

► Smart storage includes deep pull-out drawers on runners with customized organisers for appliances and tableware.

► Easy access spice storage.

What was the biggest splurge?

About 40% of the budget went on good quality custom-built cabinetry. I liked the idea of the floor-to-ceiling cupboards. I have so much storage space now. I can put seasonal items, such as my Christmas ware in the top cupboards. Everything is easily accessible the deep pull-out drawers are great, I don’t have to rummage through to find what I need. The base corner cupboards have Lazy Susan’s; there are slatted cubbies for trays; deep drawers for table linen and placemats; and a narrow slide out pantry. The counter space is clutter-free of appliances, everything has a place! I also installed a ceiling fan, and electronic charge station - little extras that make it special.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 61

KITCHEN Renovation

We enjoy the space...

IT’S A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL HUB FOR COOKING, EATING AND ENTERTAINING. It’s a perfect fit FOR EVERYDAY LIVING.

► Homeowner Sandra Glasgow enjoys time spent with her grandchildren in her newly-renovated kitchen.

What was your first celebratory meal in your new kitchen?

I hosted a ‘Reveal Party’ with my girlfriends. I prepared a hot cheesy crab dip garlic pita bread, sautéed mushrooms, bammy soaked in coconut milk, guacamole, grilled shrimp and chicken wings, served with wine sorrel and beer!

GET THE LOOK! ARCHITECT/DESIGNER Guila Bernal MODE Limited gbernal@modearchitects.com CONTRACTOR Ricola Construction Limited Risdale Cookes ricola.construction.ltd@gmail.com CABINET MAKER Leroy's Furnishing Leroy Lewis leroyfurnishing@yahoo.com APPLIANCES, TILES, HARDWARE, FURNITURE Active Home Centre sales@activetradersltd.com

62 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

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COLLECTIBLES / Silk Art

Abstracting in

SILK RE-IMAGINING THE WORLD IN VIBRANT COLOUR

photos by Marcia Ward

► Jamaican silk artist Phillippa Lack wearing one of her silk art pieces called Artist With Hat.

Fibre artist, Phillippa Lack shares her story of the long and winding road, and more than a few planes, trains and automobiles, that took her from the mountains of Mandeville to the city of Cheyenne in the wide-open prairie lands of Wyoming: “I was born and raised in the ‘land of wood and water’, but now make my home in what used to be called the wild, wild west, but is, really, not so wild anymore, at all.

Seascape ◄

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A JAMAICAN DOING IN WYOMING IN THE WILD WILD WEST, IN THE UNITED STATES, A PLACE ‘BUFFALO BILL’ CODY AND ‘WILD BILL’ HICKOK ONCE CALLED HOME?

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And, even though I no longer live in Jamaica, it continues to be the subject of works of mine such as Seascape.

But my chief inspiration these days for my fibre art comes from my vivid imagination and the landscape where I live in Wyoming, inspiring such pieces as Sunset Sky near Cody, Wyoming.

Sunset Sky near Cody, Wyoming ◄

I AM INFLUENCED BY MY

Caribbean BACKGROUND, AND LIKE TO WORK IN bright, contemporary colours.

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to receive many art awards here in the United States and have had my work displayed in galleries from Colorado to California, and even overseas in France and Italy. Recently, I received a prize from the Tubac Centre of the Arts in Arizona for my artwork, Starburst 1 – Beginning.

So, what is silk art and how in the world am I able to paint on such a delicate thing as silk?

Well, it all began thirty years ago when I was given an exquisite hand-painted silk scarf as a gift and decided right there and then that I would become a silk artist.

► Starburst 1 – Beginning

I do silk painting with dye, (not silk-screening, that’s a whole other process, although they are frequently mistaken for each other). My work is achieved by using a brush and professional French steam-set dyes. So, technically I’m doing dye painting. There is no wrong or right side on the completed piece, as the dyes bond to the fibres and are set with moist heat. The finished pieces are quite durable and can be washed in cold water with a mild soap. The process is complex, but rewarding.

/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 65

COLLECTIBLES / Silk Art

The process differs for every piece…The work takes on a life of its own and I follow where it leads. ◄

Lately, I’ve branched out doing digital prints on a variety of fabrics. My digital work is created by using alcohol inks, a fairly new product on the fine-craft scene. The ink can be made to run in all directions. This is achieved by tilting the substrate, or by spreading the ink by using canned air or an air compressor. Colours can be layered, or manipulated with sponges, brushes or even Q-Tip swabs. The effects can be dramatic. The ink has to be applied to a non-porous substrate like the synthetic paper Yupo, glass, tile or metal. The image is then photographed and altered with digital software. After being enlarged to the desired size, it is submitted to a professional digital printing house for printing on organic cotton sateen or other chosen fabrics. However, I still return to my silk, and sometimes use these designs in my digital work. There is no backtracking. Any errors become ‘design elements.’ ► Phillipa creates stunning art pieces including 3D fibre art of unusual shapes wrapped with hand-painted silk, beaded and embellished; wall art with a contemporary twist; embroidered hand work with pleated textures; and landscape paintings.

► Encircling

► Portal

From this journey comes sensual one-of-a-kind artwear jackets, capes and scarves upon which flowers, fruit, leaves and butterflies chase each other across the silk to delight the wearer. Artwear clothing, once thought to be 'out on the edge', is now widely accepted as part of mainstream fashion. As I create garments, I do so with an eye to their wearability and longevity. Classic shapes never go out of fashion, are always elegant, and are expressions of individuality and personal taste.

Will I return home to Jamaica one day when I tire of Wyoming’s wide-open prairie lands? You know, Wyoming and the wild west is not for everyone. The winters are severe and the snow sky high. But Spring comes and the gardens bloom again. And for me, wherever I make my art is my home!

Spheres ◄

66 / PLACES & SPACES MAGAZINE / VOL. 14

pklack.com | phil@pkldesigns.com

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/ PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 67

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HOME & THINGS / Bathroom Ideas

SP A ~tacular

Bathroom Ideas

MOSAIC TILE

For some people, a bathroom is just another room in the house. For others it’s a haven, a spot in which to unwind and relax. You can turn your bathroom into your own personal retreat in just a few easy, affordable steps. In fact, you can make your space feel more like a spa so you’ll actually look forward to coming home and taking a long shower and soaking away that stressful day. You don’t need a lot of space to transform your bathroom.

You just need a fresh approach and a little creativity to get you on your way.

1

MOSAIC TILE

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WOOD TILE

Upgrading your tiles to a natural look with porcelain or ceramic tiles will definitely create that spa-like feel.

You can simply do the floor or get that look throughout on the walls, giving you a durable, yet beautiful finish or give yourself an ultra-modern look by adding a mosaic design throughout your bathroom, including the floor.

At Home & Things, you will find the widest variety of tiles in Jamaica, including natural stone and mosaic, with styles and prices to suit any budget for that spa-tastic look.

3 Go ahead and create a

personalized shower experience; it’s a lot easier than you think! Changing out your old shower faucet to incorporate a rain showerhead will give you a more

modern look.

SHOWER HEAD

2 Another simple and affordable way to make your bathroom your sanctuary is adding bamboo accessories like a bamboo mat, a soap dispenser or toothbrush holder. Adding a scented candle will also help to stimulate your senses with a soothing aroma and create mood lighting for a zen-like feel.

SHOWER PANEL

WHIRLPOOL BATH TUB

4

Now if you really want style, try adding shower panels to give additional jets for increased pleasure. Choose from a variety of bathroom fixtures and faucets or consider a whirlpool bath tub from Home & Things that will have you so immersed, your shower experience will never be the same.

So who needs a towel rack anyway? We’re kidding. Towel racks are great, but if you have the space, you could swap out your towel rack for a small wooden stool for fresh towels near to the shower. Even introducing some greenery in the bathroom will help create a cool, refreshing look. A fresh plant is always better than imitation, so if you try a scented plant like mint or eucalyptus… you’ll be surprised at how refreshed your space can become.

So are you ready to make your bathroom a retreat?

Let Home & Things help you create a spa-tacular look and feel you’ll love to come home to every day. / PLACESANDSPACESMAG.COM / 81

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