Our décor diva is back from her sabbatical with lots more reason to live well in 2010.

Every now and then, in going about your normal everyday life, something spectacular and unexpected confronts you.

Aqua Negril was one such happy encounter. Located on Negril’s famous seven miles of white sand beach, this five-bedroom villa is operated as an exclusive Bed and Breakfast by the engaging husband-and-wife team of Ken and Liz Sealey. Ken, a semi-retired doctor originally from Trinidad, spent the last 34 years in Canada as an accomplished psychiatrist. Liz, a Jamaican from the Kennedy family of GraceKennedy fame, is a fabulous artist and accomplished social chef, having honed her cooking skills in the culinary capital of the world, Paris, where she lived for four years.

Yearning to fulfil a long-time dream of Liz — owning and operating a Bed and Breakfast –they embarked on a journey to procure the ideal spot. The search started in Port Antonio, but conditions were deemed too wet and the couple felt that they were starting to mildew. St Elizabeth was declared too quiet, and after two visits to the current location they decided they had found their utopia on the piece of paradise called Negril.

With the decision made, Ken, Liz and rockstar architect Michelle ‘Siim’ Clarke collaborated on what is touted as one of the most fabulous properties on the Negril Beach.

Other collaborators on this fabulous project were interior designer extraordinaire Betty McGann, multi-talented designer and sculptor Stefan Clarke (brother of Siim), as well as a number of local craftsmen. All furniture were made locally with some even designed by Ken and Liz.

This bevy of talented artists created an open-plan two-storey structure housing six spacious bedrooms all with spa-quality bathrooms, sporting granite countertops, double-head showers with jets and lots of room for splashing about. The bedrooms with names like Rhapsody in Green, Blue Oasis, Tropical Splendor, Sea Foam and the Cove each outfitted with flat-screen televisions, CD players, iPod docks, coffee machine, refrigerator, hairdryer and plush bathrobes. (WOW! Luxury just got a new address.)

A multi-functional living space with vignettes ideal for lounging, reading, dining, watching television, browsing the net, sipping tea or relaxing.

An off-limit full-equipment kitchen, known as Liz’s territory, from which breakfast of lobster soufflé, plantain rounds topped with bacon, home-made yogurt and home-made granola which Liz makes with dried local fruits. The accompanying freshly squeezed orange juice is part of Ken’s morning chore, along with serving of the breakfast. (Not even the Four Seasons offers breakfast cooked by an artist and served by an accomplished doctor — some of life’s amazing luxuries are available only in Jamaica). Liz, the self-proclaimed foodie, was quick to point out that although she learned a lot about food in Paris, it’s from her mother Tillie Kennedy that her love of cooking and food appreciation comes. “My mom is an amazing cook,” she stated. The breakfast area, Tillie’s Verandah, pays homage to her mother.

Anxiously making my way to their cosy bar, I was joined by friends Ann Chen, Steven Ueker and my husband Kevin, who regaled us with personal anecdotes of Negril from his arrival in 1984 when he thought he had found paradise. “In those days,” he shared, “if you came across 10 persons while walking the seven miles of beach it would be considered a stampede!”

Linton, the bartender presented us with the bar menu which boasts 75, (yes! you heard me correctly) 75 different types of rums from every corner of the world. The Saint Theresa from Venezuela with notes of butter and caramel was the equivalent of drinking a bottle of Insignia Cabernet, just pure butter in a glass — who needs cognac; my palate was forever changed. Next was the Edwin Charley virtue, with what seems like vanilla notes (wow, wow, wow) and finally my new favourite cocktail, the Brazilian Caipirinha, (Trust me Karen Neita, they make a great one, the right muddle and all). A most extensive and interesting bar menu with names like: It wasn’t me, Mrs Robinson and PMS. Thankfully the bar is open to the public and is worth the trip, especially for any self- respecting rum connoisseur. The jerk nuts, another of Liz’s creations, is another must-have.

With a few tastings of Ken’s prized rums and before succumbing to the affluence of alcohol, I wanted to know more of the Canada to Negril story… the medicine to Bed and Breakfast?

Cecile Levee: Ken, after two years of innkeeping, do you ever yearn for Canada or medicine?

Ken: No, no, I have completed 36 years in medicine. I have had my fill. By the way, did you see the Canadian weather report today?

CL: What is it like working and living together?

Ken: (laughing) There is an advantage to having a big house. But seriously we have pretty defined roles, so it works.

CL: What are some of the sacrifices in your new sojourn?

Ken: Well, as a Trinidadian there is a huge conflict with high season and Carnival time and I am a Carnival person.

Liz: Not being able to travel as much as I would like, especially to visit my family and my daughter.

CL: What do you enjoy most about operating a Bed and Breakfast?

Ken: The interaction. We have met some interesting people. I also enjoy people’s reaction to Liz’s cooking… she is so good.

Liz: It is a real labour of love — the creation of the recipes and putting together the meals.

CL: What are some of the things you are passionate about?

Liz: Food, Ken (but not necessarily in that order), the sea, I love the diversity of Negril and my beautiful daughter; she is amazing.

Ken: I try not to get overly excited about a lot of things, but family, music, walking, the outdoors and I love gardening.

CL: And after the B & B?

Ken: Gardening; I love to travel and I also love music.

Liz: Ken and I will get old and rickety together.

Make up your own mind about Aqua Negril. For info on staying at Aqua Negril Resort call 417-1237 or log on to www.Aquanegril.com