Seaside Sanctuary

Peaceful and elevated. You can almost feel the calming sea breeze when you gaze into this Amelia Island vacation home, originally built over 30 years ago.  Antique chests, needlepoint footstools, and vintage artwork create a high-end atmosphere that’s in keeping with a historic island getaway. Tongue-and-groove ceilings with sand-colored grasscloth wallcoverings add to the seaside feel, while the muted blues contrast well and mirror the ocean and sky just steps outside of the home. Other details harken back to the origin story of Amelia Island, like the coquina shell plaster on the kitchen hood, a charming technique often seen on exteriors in this region, with roots tied to the original Spaniards who once occupied this area. Many furnishings and decor elements were sourced or refurbished with a local island antique shop and a multi-generation family-owned upholstery shop. 

I oversaw the renovation of this home, transforming the flow to fit the needs of the homeowner’s 21-person Texas family, while also ensuring that the space would feel cozy even when only two people visited. The renovation included adding four bedrooms and relocating the primary bedroom to the main floor but only changing the existing footprint by about 15' to accomodate the new owner's suite.

Heartfelt gratitude for my local collaborators on this Beach House evolution: 

• Modern renovation by Gorham Custom Builders of Amelia Island

• Original architecture (both in 1993 and 2023) by Cotner Architects, family-owned for over 40 years

• Vintage and Antique Pieces from The Resale Shop and The Plantation Shop

• Upholstery from Rowland’s Upholstery Plus, family owned since 1953

• Photography: Laurey Glenn Photography

• Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty