Tour Stop 2 -- East Beach - St. Simons

Cottage Zapala  - After serving four generations, one family's quaint and much beloved East Beach Cottage gave way to a new, larger structure that better accommodates its ever increasing members. Personalized features of the home draw from the family's Sapelo Island roots and highlight the essence and history of the Golden Isles. Inviting tabby tiled porches, front and back, usher friends and family into a spacious great room, defined by lofty dormers and white shiplap wood walls. This area incorporates the kitchen, dining and living areas.  A balcony overlook with a herringbone hardwood floor, custom railings and lights connects the upper two bedrooms to the community area below. Key windows were purposely placed to capture the canopy of the nearby live oaks. Custom made bead board cabinetry of knotty alder, shiplap walls of knotty pine, custom moldings, and dark rustic oak floors reflect a vintage beach cottage style. Touches of pecky cypress recovered from the Altamaha River appear throughout. All three bedrooms are unique. The downstairs master bedroom has a private porch with access to the yard and pool. The second level master bedroom has a custom pine tongue and groove ceiling and French doors leading to a private screened porch overlooking the pool. The third bedroom has shiplap walls, a bead board ceiling and windows on three walls that give the room a sleeping porch feel. Repurposed from the original home is a rare (and fondly remembered) 42 inch square mid-century cast iron bathtub. The swimming pool features a seven foot sun shelf that allows for cool comfortable relaxation in the shallow water. Reclaimed brick steps provide additional seating poolside. Exterior lighting of the home is downcast to minimize light pollution of the glorious night sky. The beauty and custom details of the home are the result of a collaborative effort of designer Liz Murray of Renovate Design and builder Ken Rogers of Rogers Construction. Every generation will love this charmer!

Tour Stop 3 -- St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum

Since 1872, the Keeper’s Dwelling has stood as the historic companion to the St. Simons Lighthouse.  The Dwelling was home to the lighthouse keepers and their families from 1872 until 1953, when automation of the lighthouse relieved resident keepers of their duties.  For the last 36 years, it has welcomed visitors as the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum.  

The Lighthouse and Dwelling were designed under the direction of Orlando Poe, one of America’s foremost lighthouse engineers.  Noted Georgia architect Charles Cluskey constructed the brick dwelling and 104-foot tower.  The Lighthouse features a 129-step cast iron staircase and a French-made Fresnel lens, which casts its beam as far as 23 miles out to sea.   

After careful restoration in 2014, the Keeper’s Dwelling reopened with newly installed exhibits interpreting the lighthouse site and providing an overview of local history from Native American settlement to the present day.  Historical images and period artifacts are displayed along with iPads and other interactives to enliven the story of our area.  On the second floor of the Dwelling, period rooms reveal the home life of the keepers at the turn of the 20^th century.
http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/

Tour Stop 5 -- Sea Island

E. 11^th Street, Sea Island - A lifetime of past memories and future ones to be made is what this magnificent house is all about. Mary-Bryan Peyer, of Mary-Bryan Peyer Designs, worked closely with the owners and architect Ward Seymour to create a beach-front haven for the entire family. This home has been loved by the family for more than fifty years and is evidenced by the numerous pieces of art and artifacts from the family’s worldly travels.  Children, grandchildren and pets are welcome here, as no space is too precious for family fun. The interiors reflect the homeowner’s joyful personality with the abundant use of colors throughout. Colors and patterns are found in wallpapers, rugs, fabrics, light fixtures, bed linens and accessories. Each bedroom suite has its own personality that exudes fun. The house was remodeled in 2013 with an updated kitchen, new bathrooms and the addition of two grandchildren bedroom wings, one south and one north. The design team was intent on keeping the interior’s original cottage feel of the home, including the exterior view from the beach that is known for the original blue tile roof. There is plenty of patio and pool space for the family and friends beach-side. Deep seating club chairs and chaise lounges abound with colorful pillows and umbrellas.

Tour Stop 6 -- Sea Island

E. 17^th Street, Sea Island – A 1970’s vintage tabby has become a charming country French cottage under the capable creative forces of John Shackelford and Nancy Stoddard.  The entry foyer was a wonderful addition to the front exterior of the house.  An 1850’s era antique French bombe′ chest complete with marquetry and ormolu sets the tone for the house.   An antique Delft lamp and mirror can be admired also.  The living room has a beamed ceiling and pine floors.  Wonderful faux painting on the walls completely fools the eye and looks like intricate wood paneling.  An antiqued glass “mirror” above the fireplace mantel is divided in half so that each half can slide outward to reveal a large TV or remain closed when not in use.  Blue and white Chinese import Canton porcelain provides splashes of color and focal points around the room.  The blue and white theme is repeated in the fabrics as well.  Comfortable seating and a card table provide the accoutrements for a multi-use room.  A convenient bar is tucked into a built-in cabinet.  Two guest bedrooms are located on the left side of the house behind the living room fireplace.  A charming sunroom across the rear of the house overlooks the pool and patio.  The blue and white theme in assorted shades and designs is continued here and a tile floor provides a color contrast as well as a practical choice for wet feet.  A master bedroom leads off from the sunroom and overlooks the pool area as well.  Two additional bedrooms continue behind the master suite where a bonus room with spill-over sleeping quarters and sitting area are combined in an addition that was part of the renovation. The kitchen and keeping room run across the front of the house and overlook an intimate courtyard with lush plantings and a small bistro table and chairs.  A vintage armoire serves as a pantry and is adjacent to the dining area.  Many ideas are packed into this cottage.  It beguiles and bewitches in every way!

Tour Stop 7 -- Sea Island

E. 24^th Street, Sea Island - “Noontide” is a spacious, modern three storied Spanish Colonial which replaces a vintage Sea Island Cottage.  It retained a separate structure from the original house which is now used as a guest house. The two are connected by a walled courtyard which is home to old growth live oaks and other lush landscaping.  A massive iron framed wooden gate with a fleur-de-lis is the entry point and leads to the porch entrance into the foyer of the main house.  A large two storied living room focuses on a massive fireplace and a wonderful intricately wooden detailed ceiling and Spanish-style chandeliers.  A dining area adjacent has cathedral-windows with a pecky cypress ceiling.  The kitchen is conveniently placed at the end of the living room where an overhanging balcony from the second floor frames it from the living room.  All of these rooms overlook an elegant porch with arched columns, automatic screens and its own fireplace for all weather living.  The master suite also connects to the porch where it also overlooks the back yard with a tiled pool surrounded by a knee wall and steps inviting guests to the spacious yard adorned with magnolias, oaks, palms and hollies.  An additional guest bedroom is behind the kitchen area.  Stairs leading upstairs have Moorish design tile risers which add color as well as continuity to the Spanish motif.  Handsome light fixtures and other wrought iron touches are tastefully used throughout.  Two spacious guest bedrooms, an office and a sitting area complete this second story level.  Another set of stairs with wrought iron railings goes up to the third level or “crow’s nest” where a luxurious media room and wet bar complete the main house.  The guest house across the courtyard has two additional bedrooms and living room and small kitchen and features the original door of the original cottage.  This one has it all!

Musgrove Plantation was built in the 1930’s by Nancy Reynolds Bagley, daughter of tobacco titan R.J. Reynolds and an heiress to the family fortune. Musgrove was named after Mary Musgrove, born Cousaponakeesa, who was half Creek Indian and acclaimed as the Pocahontas and Sacagawea of the South. Mary Musgrove acted as cultural liaison between colonial Georgia and her Native American community dating back to the early 18^th century.

Musgrove Plantation boasts nearly 1,000 acres of primarily preserved natural splendor, including 400 acres of marshland between Brunswick and St. Simons Island. The six residences were designed in the old “Low-Country” style. Heavy use of tabby and cypress along with old Savannah gray brick emphasize the under-stated rustic elegance of the property.

The Village Creek Cemetery lies on the east side of the property where only the descendents of slaves are permitted to rest along with their ancestors. Mrs. Reynolds passed Musgrove Plantation down to Smith Bagley, her son, and Mr. Bagley was buried at this historic site upon his passing in January 2010 with special dispensation given by those families.

Musgrove’s primary use is for conferences on a variety of cultural and political topics. The conferences began when President Jimmy Carter, upon election to office, assembled his first full Cabinet meeting at Musgrove. To date, this is the only time a complete cabinet meeting has ever been convened outside of Washington, D.C. 

Directions:  Take Frederica Road north towards the round-about with Lawrence Road.  Just before the round-about, Musgrove Plantation is on your right at 5720 Frederica Road.