Photo: Margot Hartford © 2017 Houzz Design: Scandinavian Home Staging

Custom walk through shower with built in soap niche. David Tyson & Dennis Nodine
Inspiration for a huge timeless master stone tile and beige tile limestone floor doorless shower remodel in Charlotte with granite countertops, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount tub, beige walls and an undermount sink

Sean Litchfield
Family room - small coastal loft-style medium tone wood floor family room idea in Boston with green walls and a wall-mounted tv

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The second-largest and most developed of Georgia's barrier islands, St. Simons is approximately twelve miles long and nearly three miles wide at its widest stretch (roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). The island is located in Glynn County on Georgia's coast and lies east of Brunswick (the seat of Glynn County), south of Little St. Simons Island and the Hampton River, and north of Jekyll Island. The resort community of Sea Island is separated from St. Simons on the east by the Black Banks River. Known for its oak tree canopies and historic landmarks, St. Simons is both a tourist destination and, according to the 2010 U.S. census, home to 12,743 residents. Early History The earliest St. Simons Island Village record of human habitation on the island dates to the Late Archaic Period, about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. Remnants of shell rings left behind by Native Americans from this era survive on many of the barrier islands, including St. Simons. Centuries later, during the period known by historians as the chiefdom era, the Guale Indians established a chiefdom centered on St. Catherines Island and used St. Simons as their hunting and fishing grounds. By 1500 the Guale had established a permanent village of about 200 people on St. Simons, which they called Guadalquini. Beginning in 1568, the Spanish attempted to create missions along the Georgia coast. Catholic missions were the primary means by which Georgia's indigenous Native American chiefdoms were assimilated into the Spanish colonial system along the northern frontier of greater Spanish Florida. In the 1600s St. Simons became home to two Spanish missions: San Buenaventura de Guadalquini, on the southern tip of the island, and Santo Domingo de Asao (or Asajo), on the northern tip. Located on the inland side of the island were the pagan refugee villages of San Simón, the island's namesake, and Ocotonico. In 1684 pirate raids left the missions and villages largely abandoned. Colonial History As Fort Frederica early as 1670, with Great Britain's establishment of the colony of Carolina and its expansion into Georgia territory, Spanish rule was threatened by the English. The Georgia coast was considered "debatable land" by England and Spain, even though Spain had fully retreated from St. Simons by 1702. Thirty-one years later General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English settlement of Savannah. In 1736 he established Fort Frederica, named after the heir to the British throne, Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, on the west side of St. Simons Island to protect Savannah and the Carolinas from the Spanish threat. Between 1736 and 1749 Fort Frederica was the hub of British military operations along the Georgia frontier. A town of the same name grew up around the fort and was of great importance to the new colony. By 1740 Frederica's population was 1,000. In 1736 the congregation of what would become Christ Church was organized within Fort Frederica as a mission of the Church of England. Charles Wesley led the first services. In 1742 Britain's decisive victory over Spain in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, ended the Spanish threat to the Georgia coast. When the British regimen disbanded in 1749, most of the townspeople relocated to the mainland. Fort Frederica went into decline and, except for a short time of prosperity during the 1760s and 1770s under the leadership of merchant James Spalding, never fully recovered. Today the historic citadel's tabby ruins are maintained by the National Park Service. Plantation Era By the start of the American Revolution (1775-83), Fort Frederica was obsolete, and St. Simons was left largely uninhabited as most of its residents joined the patriot army. Besides hosting a small Georgia naval victory on the Fort Frederica River, providing guns from its famous fort for use at Fort Morris in Sunbury, and serving as an arena for pillaging by privateers and British soldiers, the island played almost no role in the war. Following the war, many of the townspeople, their businesses destroyed, turned to agriculture. The island was transformed into fourteen cotton plantations after acres of live oak trees were cleared for farm land and used for building American warships, including the famous USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides." Although rice was the predominant crop along the neighboring Altamaha River, St. Simons was known for its production of long-staple cotton, which soon came to be known as Sea Island cotton. Between Ebos Landing the 1780s and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65), St. Simons's plantation culture flourished. The saline atmosphere and the availability of cheap slave labor proved an ideal combination for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. In 1803 a group of Ebo slaves who survived the Middle Passage and arrived on the west side of St. Simons staged a rebellion and drowned themselves. The sacred site is known today as Ebos Landing. One of the largest owners of land and slaves on St. Simons was Pierce Butler, master of Hampton Point Plantation, located on the northern end of the island. By 1793 Butler owned more than 500 slaves, who cultivated 800 acres of cotton on St. Simons and 300 acres of rice on Butler's Island in the Altamaha River delta. Butler's grandson, Pierce Mease Butler, who at the age of sixteen inherited a share of his grandfather's estate in 1826, was responsible for the largest sale of human beings in the history of the United States: in 1859, to restore his squandered fortune, he sold 429 slaves in Savannah for more than $300,000. The British actress and writer Fanny Kemble, whose tumultuous marriage to Pierce ended in divorce in 1849, published an eyewitness account of the evils of slavery on St. Simons in her book Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (1863). Another Retreat Plantation large owner of land and slaves on St. Simons was Major William Page, a friend and employee of Pierce Butler Sr. Before purchasing Retreat Plantation on the southwestern tip of the island in 1804, Page managed the Hampton plantation and Butler's Island. Upon Page's death in 1827, Thomas Butler King inherited the land together with his wife, Page's daughter, Anna Matilda Page King. King expanded his father-in-law's planting empire on St. Simons as well as on the mainland, and by 1835 Retreat Plantation alone was home to as many as 355 slaves. The center of life during the island's plantation era was Christ Church, Frederica. Organized in 1807 by a group of island planters, the Episcopal church is the second oldest in the Diocese of Georgia. Embargoes imposed by the War of 1812 (1812-15) prevented the parishioners from building a church structure, so they worshiped in the home of John Beck, which stood on the site of Oglethorpe's only St. Simons residence, Orange Hall. The first Christ Church building, finished on the present site in 1820, was ruined by occupying Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884 the Reverend Anson Dodge Jr. rebuilt the church as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The cruciform building with a trussed gothic roof and stained-glass windows remains active today as Christ Church. Civil War and Beyond The St. Simons Island Lighthouse outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 put a sudden end to St. Simons's lucrative plantation era. In January of that year, Confederate troops were stationed at the south end of the island to guard the entrance to Brunswick Harbor. Slaves from Retreat Plantation, owned by Thomas Butler King, built earthworks and batteries. Plantation residents were scattered—the men joined the Confederate army and their families moved to the mainland. Cannon fire was heard on the island in December 1861, and Confederate troops retreated in February 1862, after dynamiting the lighthouse to keep its beacon from aiding Union troops. Soon thereafter, Union troops occupied the island, which was used as a camp for freed slaves. By August 1862 more than 500 former slaves lived on St. Simons, including Susie King Taylor, who organized a school for freed slave children. But in November the ex-slaves were taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Fernandina, Florida, leaving the island abandoned. After the Civil War the island never returned to its status as an agricultural community. The plantations lay dormant because there were no slaves to work the fields. After Union general William T. Sherman's January 1865 Special Field Order No. 15 —a demand that former plantations be divided and distributed to former slaves—was overturned by U.S. president Andrew Johnson less than a year later, freedmen and women were forced to work as sharecroppers on the small farms that dotted the land previously occupied by the sprawling plantations. By St. Simons Lumber Mills 1870 real economic recovery began with the reestablishment of the timber industry. Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs of New York set up lumber mill operations at Gascoigne Bluff, formerly Hamilton Plantation. The lumber mills provided welcome employment for both blacks and whites and also provided mail and passenger boats to the mainland. Such water traffic, together with the construction of a new lighthouse in 1872, designed by architect Charles B. Cluskey, marked the beginning of St. Simons's tourism industry. The keeper of the lighthouse created a small amusement park, which drew many visitors, as did the seemingly miraculous light that traveled from the top of the lighthouse tower to the bottom. The island became a summer retreat for families from the mainland, particularly from Baxley, Brunswick, and Waycross. The island's resort industry was thriving by the 1880s. Beachfront structures, such as a new pier and grand hotel, were built on the southeastern end of the island and could be accessed by ferry. Around this time wealthy northerners began vacationing on the island. Twentieth Century The St. Simons Island Pier and Village opening in 1924 of the Brunswick–St. Simons Highway, today known as the Torras Causeway, was a milestone in the development of resorts in the area. St. Simons's beaches were now easily accessible to locals and tourists alike. More than 5,000 automobiles took the short drive from Brunswick to St. Simons via the causeway on its opening day, paving the way for convenient residential and resort development. In 1926 automotive pioneer Howard Coffin of Detroit, Michigan, bought large tracts of land on St. Simons, including the former Retreat Plantation, and constructed a golf course, yacht club, paved roads, and a residential subdivision. Although the causeway had brought large numbers of summer people to the island, St. Simons remained a small community with only a few hundred permanent residents until the 1940s. The St. Simons Island outbreak of World War II (1941-45) brought more visitors and residents to St. Simons. Troops stationed at Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah; and nearby Camp Stewart took weekend vacations on the island, and a new naval air base and radar school became home to even more officers and soldiers. The increased wartime population brought the island its first public school. With a major shipyard for the production of Liberty ships in nearby Brunswick, the waters of St. Simons became active with German U-boats. In April 1942, just off the coast, the Texas Company oil tanker S. S. Oklahoma and the S. S. Esso Baton Rouge were torpedoed by the Germans, bringing the war very close to home for island residents. Due in large part to the military's improvement of the island's infrastructure during the war, development on the island boomed in the 1950s and 1960s. More permanent homes and subdivisions were built, and the island was no longer just a summer resort but also a thriving community. In 1950 the Methodist conference and retreat center Epworth by the Sea opened on Gascoigne Bluff. In 1961 novelist Eugenia Price visited St. Simons and began work on her first works of fiction, known as the St. Simons Trilogy. Inspired by real events on the island, Price's trilogy renewed interest in the history of Georgia's coast, and the novelist herself relocated to the island in 1965 and lived there for thirty-one years. St. Simons is also home to contemporary Georgia writer Tina McElroy Ansa. Since Epworth by the Sea 1980 St. Simons's population has doubled. The island's continued status as a vacation destination and its ongoing development boom have put historic landmarks and natural areas at risk. While such landmarks as the Fort Frederica ruins and the Battle of Bloody Marsh site are preserved and maintained by the National Park Service, and while the historic lighthouse is maintained by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, historic Ebos Landing has been taken over by a sewage treatment plant. Several coastal organizations have formed in recent years to save natural areas on the island. The St. Simons Land Trust, for example, has received donations of large tracts of land and plans to protect property in the island's three traditional African American neighborhoods. Despite its rapid growth and development, St. Simons remains one of the most beautiful and important islands on the Georgia coast.

Example of a classic light wood floor hallway design with white walls

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Murals in a bedroom by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC. The theme for the room was to create the bridge of a star destroyer from Star Wars. Being a huge Star Wars fan myself, I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to create this room. Star Wars themed rooms have been very popular, especially with the new series of movies that Disney has produced. Star Wars art is perfect for any themed room, media room, home theater, office or your children's bedroom. Items featured throughout the room to complete the look: Exploding Death Star Chandelier, bunk bed, Star Wars comforter set, throw pillows, drapes, room darkening shades, table lamps, Star Wars toys and hand painted kids furniture.

Capture the beauty of life’s moments by enjoying them together in a DuroGreen™ The Adirondack Chair. Our Adirondack chair strikes the perfect balance of strength and style. Strength, demonstrated in the quality of our materials. We use premium recycled plastic lumber, stainless steel hardware, and quality craftsmanship. Our chairs can stand up to changing seasons and extreme outdoor elements. You won’t have to worry about warping, rotting, cracking, chipping, or splintering anymore. Our recycled material is resistant to the elements that destroy traditional wood designs. Style, shown in our attention to every detail. Our chairs are beautiful, streamlined, and thoughtful. Countless hours of testing and finely-tuned modifications have gone into each of our designs. Now go sit back, relax, and enjoy!

This architecture and interior design project was introduced to us by the client’s contractor after their villa had been damaged extensively by a fire. The entire main level was destroyed with exception of the front study. Srote & Co reimagined the interior layout of this St. Albans villa to give it an "open concept" and applied universal design principles to make sure it would function for our clients as they aged in place. The universal approach is seen in the flush flooring transitions, low pile rugs and carpets, wide walkways, layers of lighting and in the seated height countertop and vanity. For convenience, the laundry room was relocated to the master walk-in closet. This allowed us to create a dedicated pantry and additional storage off the kitchen where the laundry was previously housed. All interior selections and furnishings shown were specified or procured by Srote & Co Architects.

Example of a mountain style backyard outdoor kitchen deck design in Portland

This contemporary bathroom features a tub/shower combo: perfect for providing the homeowner with options. But with windows in range of water from the shower head, no ordinary window treatment would fit this home. Polywood shutters by Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions are the best treatment for this bathroom. Whereas most window treatments would be destroyed in a setting like this, Polywood can take the water and humidity without issue. Polywood shutters are completely waterproof, yet look and feel like real wood. They are a perfect solution for bathrooms, kitchens or any room in your home.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Murals in a bedroom by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC. The theme for the room was to create the bridge of a star destroyer from Star Wars. Being a huge Star Wars fan myself, I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to create this room. Star Wars themed rooms have been very popular, especially with the new series of movies that Disney has produced. Star Wars art is perfect for any themed room, media room, home theater, office or your children's bedroom. Items featured throughout the room to complete the look: Exploding Death Star Chandelier, bunk bed, Star Wars comforter set, throw pillows, drapes, room darkening shades, table lamps, Star Wars toys and hand painted kids furniture.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Murals in a bedroom by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC. The theme for the room was to create the bridge of a star destroyer from Star Wars. Being a huge Star Wars fan myself, I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to create this room. Star Wars themed rooms have been very popular, especially with the new series of movies that Disney has produced. Star Wars art is perfect for any themed room, media room, home theater, office or your children's bedroom. Items featured throughout the room to complete the look: Exploding Death Star Chandelier, bunk bed, Star Wars comforter set, throw pillows, drapes, room darkening shades, table lamps, Star Wars toys and hand painted kids furniture.

This 3,838-square-foot house sits among oaks near the top of the north-facing slope of this Portola Valley lot, along with a detached, 731-square-foot music studio linked by an outdoor deck and pool. A hay barn modeled on a traditional bank barn and a connected stable are positioned farther down the hill. To work around the trees, concrete foundations stopped short of the tree roots and allowed living spaces above to cantilever out among the branches. The house is split into two volumes — one with four bedrooms and a mudroom, the other with the living, dining and kitchen areas — connected by a small, glass-box entryway. The barnlike volumes are clad in cedar on the outside and have interiors with concrete floors, exposed steelwork, reclaimed Douglas fir paneling and walls of windows looking out over the land. The roof over the primary living spaces also has a monitor — a raised portion lined with clerestory windows — designed to capture sunlight. We utilized hardwearing, low-maintenance materials for the built-ins and furniture, including cabinetry with crate-like drawers and zinc counters, and fabrics that wouldn’t easily be destroyed by the couple’s two dogs, three cats and muddy boots. The overall vision was definitely to return to the materials of the barn,

Capture the beauty of life’s moments by enjoying them together in a DuroGreen™ The Adirondack Chair. Our Adirondack chair strikes the perfect balance of strength and style. Strength, demonstrated in the quality of our materials. We use premium recycled plastic lumber, stainless steel hardware, and quality craftsmanship. Our chairs can stand up to changing seasons and extreme outdoor elements. You won’t have to worry about warping, rotting, cracking, chipping, or splintering anymore. Our recycled material is resistant to the elements that destroy traditional wood designs. Style, shown in our attention to every detail. Our chairs are beautiful, streamlined, and thoughtful. Countless hours of testing and finely-tuned modifications have gone into each of our designs. Now go sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Photo: Carolyn Reyes Photography © 2017 Houzz
Eclectic exterior home photo in Los Angeles

Architect Dalius Regelskis DGD / Dalius & Greta Design Vilnius, Lithuania

Photography by Mike Kelly
Large trendy dark wood floor living room photo in Los Angeles with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

This contemporary bathroom features a tub/shower combo: perfect for providing the homeowner with options. But with windows in range of water from the shower head, no ordinary window treatment would fit this home. Polywood shutters by Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions are the best treatment for this bathroom. Whereas most window treatments would be destroyed in a setting like this, Polywood can take the water and humidity without issue. Polywood shutters are completely waterproof, yet look and feel like real wood. They are a perfect solution for bathrooms, kitchens or any room in your home.

This contemporary bathroom features a tub/shower combo: perfect for providing the homeowner with options. But with windows in range of water from the shower head, no ordinary window treatment would fit this home. Polywood shutters by Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions are the best treatment for this bathroom. Whereas most window treatments would be destroyed in a setting like this, Polywood can take the water and humidity without issue. Polywood shutters are completely waterproof, yet look and feel like real wood. They are a perfect solution for bathrooms, kitchens or any room in your home.