People say, if you’re lucky enough to live at the beach, you’re lucky enough. Take it up a notch, and you might just be lucky enough to find yourself with a tropical drink in hand, gazing out at a 360-degree view of Jamaica’s south coast from the rooftop deck of Villa Elia.
Only steps away from the beach, a constant flow of sea breeze is felt through the open floor plan, and unique artwork and furnishings enhance the contemporary feel of the home. “We’ve never quite had a villa that is furnished to the same extent in terms of the unique furnishings and the level of luxury and beauty,” says Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty listing agent Sandy Tatham. “The dining table is 18 feet long, it’s a single slab of wood, and there’s a coffee table that was [once] the root of a lychee tree.”
The worldly pieces are thanks to owners Shimon and Elia Finkelstein, for which Villa Elia is named. Shimon Finkelstein, who has been in the furnishing business for many years, began his Jamaican journey when he fell in love with the location, met Kingston-based architect Jeremy Milligan, and set out to completely rebuild the home on the Villa Elia property. “My fi eld of business at the time was in interior design, and that location was a gift from heaven; I found a stage where we could display all that I learned, creating atmosphere for others,” Finkelstein said.
The location is certainly hard to beat. Set against the tranquil backdrop of Treasure Beach, you would be hard-pressed to find the hotel highrises and hordes of tourists that define a city like Montego Bay. “Not sure how it happened, but we managed to create an environment that allows one to reach new levels of relaxation,” Finkelstein said. “We are also located in the most friendly, cheerful fishing village, Billy’s Bay, that has some very cool restaurants and bars.”
The friendly village is the core of one of Finkelstein’s fondest memories of Villa Elia. Having shipped all of his furniture and accessories from abroad, Finkelstein was frustrated to find his doors were the wrong size for the door frames, and retreated to his hotel for the night. When he returned the next morning, he found all the door frames had been enlarged, and the doors installed. “I will never forget that moment of total appreciation for the caring a group of Jamaican men showed,” Finkelstein said.
So, what kind of person should be lucky enough to be the next owner of Villa Elia? “Someone looking for a complete getaway, because when you’re here, you don’t really need to see another person, except maybe in the distance walking on the beach,” says Tatham. She also shares the opportunity for appreciation of the ocean and forested hill views through the villa’s hurricane glass, blurring the lines between indoors and out.
“We built the villa with all our love, knowledge, energy, and passion,” says Finkelstein, reflecting on his home. “The feeling we get as soon as we open the main door and see the turquoise ocean … you realize how fortunate you are.” If you’re lucky enough to experience Villa Elia, you are certainly luckier than most.
Villa Elia Treasure Beach
Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica
4 bedrooms, 4 full and 1 half baths
$1,750,000
Represented by: Sandy Tatham Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty
sandy@cbjamaica.com | cbjamaica.com
T. +1.876.855.1122
By Victoria Zeilineski
This article originally appeared in Homes & Estates magazine.
