Tour Stop #1

   This timeless Charleston-style home is designed by architect Ed Rowley with interior design by Loraine DeSola. This classic Dana Mason-built home is a reminder that great design is never out of style-from the Charleston style gas Lanterns highlighting the brick wraparound porches to the richly hued interior heart pine floors by Golden Isles Flooring and Home D'ecor. Enjoy the sweeping views of the Marshes of Glynn that can be viewed from any of the walls of windows in the warm and inviting kitchen and gathering room. The library is a plush, burnished retreat with exquisitely framed panels of Malaysian Agathis. The elegant furnishings in the formal living spaces draw on works of 20th century master craftsmen.
     The scalamandre-trimmed master bedroom provides a soothing and inviting retreat in restful shades of French blue and cream.  The expansive shower in the limestone  master bath provides the ultimate escape after a busy day of family fun.  Local artist, Stacy Ostervold, creates the feeling of a youthful excitement with a garden party twist in the girl’s rooms with pinks, greens and blues.  Family heirlooms are the focal point as one great-grandmother's camellia painting is surrounded by another great-grandmother's collection of porcelain plates. The upstairs media room reflects the casual lifestyle of this family with leather chairs and couches and a wet bar with sodas for the teens.

Tour Stop #2

     This unique and eclectic John Rentz-designed island home is a special treat for the collector of the finest things- both old and new, whimsical and classic. It is traditional charm with a twist! The creativity of placement is first seen in the entry foyer where a collection of ceramic lily pads, complete with frogs, rests among the antique art of Captain J.A. Caddy and a stunning mahogany silver chest.
     The sleek kitchen boasts unique river rock granite from the Jurassic Period with a beautiful brick-designed taupe glass black splash.  Builder Michael Thomas created the ultimate kitchen for the family gourmet chef with state-of-the art appliances, the finest custom cabinetry and even a pizza oven built into the outdoor kitchen!.  The colorful Swarovski crystal pendant lights add glamour to the family banquette.  In the dining room, the unique square mahogany dining table was originally owned by Howard Coffin, the developer of Sea Island and The Cloister.  A wall of glass cabinetry artfully displays a large collection of Limoges china.
     This well-traveled family’s collection of fine arts and antiques can been enjoyed throughout this home from the Caribbean influence to this couple’s Scottish heritage- among them are a Scottish family heirloom china cabinet, 14th century brass rubbings and an antique Chinese ladies writing desk.  World renowned artist, Larry Leigh, created the commissioned work of the beach on Sea Island in the quaint and restful living room. 
     The master suite contains an exquisite Louise XIV inlay bed and an antique vitrine filled with a lovely collection of dancing Dresden ladies.  Upstairs are two adorable girls bedrooms filled with Maine Cottage furnishings in shrimp pink and china blue and sage green and truly pink.  Ann Sacks “Pennies from Heaven” tiles cover the girls’ bath floors.

Tour Stop #4

The owners of this French country home offer a special treat this Palm Sunday weekend with the elegant transformation of their home to display their extensive collection of tasteful, whimsical Easter decor. 
     Builder Trey Ross’ use of scale is grand and confident yet intimate.  The soaring windows of the stunning dining room offer just the right light for the painting of Village Creek and the hand- made corner cupboards.  The warm antiques, from the gorgeous chandelier to the child’s high chair, create the feeling of an intimate, historic dining space.  The living room with its basketweave,  antique brick-lined wood floors, massive brick fireplace and beautiful cream plaster walls, elicits the look of a French country manor house.  The yellow and blue French-inspired fabrics frame a stunning view of Jones Creek.
     Artfully-placed 100 year-old beams envelope the master bedroom retreat, all flanked by massive mahogany doors.  The Venetian-plastered master bath is exceptionally luxurious and detailed with Venetian mirrors, vaulted ceiling and a claw footed tub bejeweled with nickel hardware and accented in cream and Wedgwood blue.
     Upstairs, the girls’ playroom and bedrooms will delight Tour guests with a hand painted teacup chandelier and bunny finial iron bed that caps the Peter Rabbit theme.  It is the cottage look extraordinaire.

Tour Stop #5 - Christ Church Parish House

     The parish house of historic Christ Church serves as tour headquarters for the 55^th Annual Tour of Homes and Gardens.  Worship in the church has been continuous since 1736.  The present church building is cruciform in design with trussed Gothic roof and stained glass windows.  Docents will be stationed at the church all day on March 15^th and we invite all visitors to step over and visit with us and then continue on to the beautiful Wesley Gardens directly across the street.
     Tea sandwiches, cookies and drinks are offered to our guests by the gracious ladies of the church.  We invite you to purchase one of our fabulous cookbooks.  As a remembrance of the tour, a token of friendship, or simply an addition to a growing cookbook collection, The Christ Church, Frederica Cookbook encompasses the same quality, beauty and history visible in its namesake. 
     The tour headquarters will make a comfortable stopping place during the day and restroom facilities are available.

Tour Stop #6

     This stately Italian villa on a quiet tree-lined lane offers a panoramic westerly marsh view.  The interior of this elegant family home is quietly commanding with dramatic architectural features in tones of sage green and rich burgundy.  An ornate grand mirror flanked by antique gold sconces welcome guests into the parlor room.  Designer, Lorraine DeSola used the patterned limestone floors create dimensional interest as a perfect foil to the substantial antique mahogany console.  Laurie Day painted the commissioned portraits of the children overlooking the grand piano.
     The flow of this home’s floor plan is perfect for formal entertaining or a weekend of family fun.  The soaring pine ceiling in the great room can be viewed from the gorgeous gourmet kitchen.  The  well-dressed library is surrounded by interesting damask-imprinted cork wall covering while a zebra skin rug adds an exotic flair.  The focal point in the nearby master suite is an enormous four-poster British West Indies bed.  The elegant cabinetry in the master bath makes this space feel ever so luxurious.
     Upstairs are the three boys’ rooms with heirloom and antique beds in each and antique heart pine floors.  A hint of the sporting life from hunting to fishing to golf is evident in each of these with the trophies to top it all!  Trophies of the wildlife kind can be viewed in the downstairs game room that leads to a sprawling backyard with relaxing pool and a fire pit for outdoor enjoyment.  Relish in the quiet solitude of this distinctive residence.

Tour Stop #7

    This cottage is the ultimate beach house!  The entire first floor exudes the casual elegance of Sea Island living at its best in many shades of sea glass blue and sandy cream.  The native flora and fauna that are reflected in the foyer’s hand made iron console remind us that form follows life.  The exquisite shell artistry of local artist, Annette Friederich, can be seen throughout this smartly designed home- beginning with Annette’s shell cache in the foyer followed by the piece d’resistance in the living room with a tall chest bedecked in exotic seashells and twin shell mirrors in the master bath retreat.
     The designers at Mary-Bryan Peyer Designs, Inc. elegantly transformed every living space to meet the needs of this large family from the delightful, nautical children’s rooms to the striking and ethereal living room.  Their use of scale is grand and confident yet intimate and relaxed with the clean lines of blue and white linen, creamy porcelain and chic bamboo.  The enormous kitchen makes its own stunning presentation with walls of clean, white hand made cabinetry, unpolished black granite countertops and a massive marble-topped island.   Even the laundry room is a delight, complete with Rosemary Griggs pottery and a doggie shower!  The children’s playroom is full of whimsy and wonder with its unique buttery cabinetry that creates a wall of shadow boxes filled with childhood treasures.
     Each of the two stair halls is filled with seaside delights of their own with hand made copper roping along the staircase and more visually exciting shell artistry donning the trim work- a must see!  Even the lighting takes its direction from the necessities of the sailor.  Look above the compass medallion for a family poem written in Morse Code.
     The children’s bedrooms- all five of them- are another treat with each child’s initials hand painted above the doorways in the sailor’s language of nautical flags.  Each child’s room reflects their age and interests from young child to teens.  Don’t miss the Ocean View Room’s antique collection of Sea Island postcards and the stained glass window depicting the family’s Sea Island logo.   The teen game room reflects the family’s interest in race cars.  The infinite details in this enchanting seaside home will remain with you long after the tour.

Tour Stop #8

     Come and enjoy the gentle sea breezes from the loggia of this magnificent John Shackleford-designed oceanfront estate on Sea Island.  Upon entry into the tranquil and elegant foyer, you will get a peek of the many touches of the sea in the antique-filled living room with hues of sand and sea blue.  The hand painted ceiling by artist German Diaz brings the ocean’s whimsy and wonder alive with seashells, crabs and seahorses accented by Lisa Moody’s shell-donned pillows.  These touches are the perfect foil for the quietly commanding European antiques.  The family room is warm and cozy in shades of lapis and cream with enveloping antique cane reading chairs.  The turquoise and coral crackle-finished walls of the powder room create a sense of drama and glamour.  You will relish the antique hickory floors and antique brick walls in the inviting and extensively appointed kitchen.
     Upstairs, designer Nancy Stoddard appointed each bedroom with antiques and luxurious fabrics in shades of delft, celadon and coral.  Look for the tiny hand print in the original tabby chimney piece inside the master bath!  Then, take a trip down memory lane in the third floor media room with art deco and 1950’s décor.  Make sure that you step onto the balcony for views of Jekyll Island, Cumberland Island and beyond.  The hand made balcony rails reflect of the sea grasses below.  Every detail about this uncommonly beautiful home is presented with style and grace.

Tour Stop #9

What’s old is new again!  This lovely Abreu and Robeson cottage was designed and built in 1951 by W. Montgomery Anderson, principal architect of Sea Island Company at that time.  In the garden, guests are first greeted by birds playing among the cattails in the handmade iron garden gates.  Then, three terraces among the massive oaks provide a calm retreat from the warm Sea Island sun.
     The current owners lovingly restored this quaint beach cottage to its original era.  Many of the materials were salvaged from Mr. Anderson’s Sea Island resort projects, including the heart pine floors that originally lined the pool deck of the second Sea Island “Casino” Beach Club.  The original home’s style is reflected in the furnishings by 1940’s and 1950’s designers Tommi Parzinger, George Nelson, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, James Mont, Edward Wormley, Isamu Noguchi and so many others.  Almost all of the artwork was created by Athos Menaboni, a celebrated Atlanta wildlife artist during that era.  This fun and nostalgic home is also filled with Asian art.
     The sleek 1950’s design lines on the retro kitchen includes with stainless steel cabinetry frames the “wall covering” created from authentic vintage New Yorker magazine covers.  Throughout this amazingly detailed home, guests will appreciate the fine fabrics and the many historical details as they take a trip back to another time not so long ago.