Albert and Claire Dwoskin talk about Twin Palms, their tropical home in Jamaica.
Albert and Claire Dwoskin have owned a tropical getaway in Jamaica for almost 30 years.
They travel to Jamaica 5 or 6 times per year with their two children to enjoy the warm, sunny, idyllic setting in the Tryall Club.
Al is a successful real estate entrepreneur in Virginia, and is currently developing a beautiful property in Jamaica on the North Coast with magnificent views of Montego Bay and the Caribbean Sea, as a gated community 10 minutes from the city. When not working, they enjoy spending time with friends on the island.
Albert and Clare explain why they chose Jamaica
“After looking for a possible winter getaway from Florida to as far as Mustique, we fell in love with Jamaica after visiting friends who previously owned the property which is now Twin Palms. We found that Jamaica was easily accessible from the Washington, DC area and had much to off er including reliable weather, beautiful surroundings, wonderful people, and an interesting culture.
“Twin Palms is set on 11 very private acres overlooking stunning 60 mile panoramic views of the Caribbean, with mountains behind. The trade winds provide a steady cooling breeze that refreshes on even the warmest days. The views of the coastline and the sea provide views that we never tire of enjoying from almost any angle on the property.
“The seven bedroom villa was designed by a local Jamaican architect, Nancy Maffesanti, and interior design was by Sue Williams, a member of one of the oldest continuously residing families in Jamaica whose ancestors settled on the island in the 1700’s. They both had a great sense of what makes a house in Jamaica unique and special, and incorporated many design touches that gives Twin Palms its breathtaking atmosphere. It was important to us to furnish the house as much as we could from local Jamaican artisans and craftspeople, and the result of this collaboration is an updated, fresh but distinctively Jamaican vibe that is comfortable, soothing and elegant.
Sue and Claire worked closely together, with active input from Al, and the décor reflects what they love about Jamaica – the beautiful shades of blue, the warm tones of mahogany and cedar, the history and influence of Jamaican antique hand carved furniture, and plenty of spaces for quiet reflection, relaxation and enjoying the many beautiful tropical plants and birds on the property.
“Our favourite part of the property is the view looking west toward Negril, with the many coves and a half-moon shaped coral reef. The veranda is our favorite reading spot and becomes a stunning setting for cocktails at sunset.” say Clare and Albert,
“We spend school holidays and some weeks during the summer, which usually amounts to 5 to 6 weeks per year. It never feels like enough time!” they add
We played quite a bit of golf before having our twins, and hope to one day have a foursome if we can interest them in the game. We visit friends who live on the island, snorkel and swim, and visit some of the beautiful sites that Jamaica has to offer. My husband is an avid walker and enjoys the intense, hilly walks in Tryall” says Claire.
“The friendships we have made in Jamaica are a great joy to our entire family. We have wonderful dinners in our dining room, often squeezing in more people than the table can handle. Th e fabulous Jamaican food, ambiance and lively conversation had around our table for the past 28 years has been one of the most festive and enjoyable aspects of having a home in Jamaica. We feel truly at home when we are here. We have long time staff members who make our visit special and enjoyable every time we visit and who help make each visit memorable.