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.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY MERIT AWARD WINNER This couple lived in their colonial home in Burke, Virginia, for more than 20 years. Now that their children were grown and gone, it was time for them to pay more attention to their home. First on their list was to renovate their master bathroom. Tight and dysfunctional is how they described the existing space. The homeowners always dreamed of having a whirlpool, a large steam shower and a private toilet area. Importantly, they wanted to use the latest products and materials to bring the bathroom into the 21st Century. Starting with exotic granite and porcelain tile from floor to ceiling, the new design does just that. Then, a highly sophisticated steam shower using granite benches, a heavy glass enclosure, chrome faucets and a rain shower head was installed. Modern body spray heads are embedded in the wall tiles. The shower is complemented by a bubble, jetted whirlpool tub with granite surrounds. A modern double vanity with vessel sinks, a granite countertop, high end cabinets and stylish faucets rest along one wall. Custom-built, recessed mirrored medicine cabinets provide storage for necessities. In the end, the homeowners are thrilled with the outcome and never imagined that their old and dark looking small bath could ever be transformed into such beautiful bathroom.

Hockessin Delaware Bathroom remodel. The clients original Master bathroom was outdated in style and function. We started by removing a soaking tub sunken into the floor; that was the first thing to go. With the tub gone and relocating the toilet; we redesigned the bath with a larger shower and double vanity. The toilet is now hidden by a half wall with shelving storage on the toilet side, capped with granite and a sleek piece of textured glass. The new 6’ long x 4’ wide shower was tiled cleanly with a mosaic look on the shower head wall, built in niche, bench and grab bar. The new vanity designed in Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Horizon finish added great storage and plenty of countertop space. Now this bathroom fits the client’s needs and matches there style.

Hockessin Delaware Bathroom remodel. The clients original Master bathroom was outdated in style and function. We started by removing a soaking tub sunken into the floor; that was the first thing to go. With the tub gone and relocating the toilet; we redesigned the bath with a larger shower and double vanity. The toilet is now hidden by a half wall with shelving storage on the toilet side, capped with granite and a sleek piece of textured glass. The new 6’ long x 4’ wide shower was tiled cleanly with a mosaic look on the shower head wall, built in niche, bench and grab bar. The new vanity designed in Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Horizon finish added great storage and plenty of countertop space. Now this bathroom fits the client’s needs and matches there style.

Discover a luxurious bedroom suite in North Scottsdale that's perfect for your high-end lifestyle. With a relaxing sitting room overlooking the pool, anchored by a gorgeous 2-sided granite fireplace between the bedroom and spa-like bathroom, this suite is the ultimate retreat. The bathroom features a dual entry glass shower with body jets and a rain head, as well as a full-size soaking tub facing the stunning fireplace. Separate floating vanities with backlit mirrors complete the high-end luxury suite feeling. Get inspired by the design and comfort of this luxurious space and start dreaming about creating your own luxurious bedroom suite!

From dated 90"s dark and blue to modern light and airy neutral's for this bathroom. The first to go was the boxed in bulk head over the vanity. This instantly made the space feel twice as large. The dated sunk in jet tub is replaced with a spa like free standing soaking tub. I love the farmhouse chandelier that we added. Beautiful large marble tile from floor to vertically up the walls make for a dramatic entry. The chic black vanity is accented with a timeless Carrara marble vanity top. Black framed beveled mirrors are planked with modern cylinder wall sconces. This high end bath is the perfect space to start and end the day.

After meeting with Kenny & Laura, we determined that they wanted a clean and effortless design that had elements of nature and healing. We started by determining that they wanted a neutral and natural materials. The centerpiece of the space was the tub, this stone tub was purchased, and all other elements were carefully selected to enhance the healing and spa experience. The large format flooring selected is called Lagos Concrete from Arizona Tile. The tile is 24X48 which makes for less grout lines and the minimal chance for the pattern to be broken up with lines. The shower wall tile is also a 24X48 tile called Cosmic White and laid in a horizontal pattern for ease of maintenance and care. By using this large format, it almost appears to be a slab material. The pebble chosen is a warm blend which stimulates a healing capability during the showering experience. The shower fixtures, tub filler and faucets are from Delta Faucet. They are the Trinsic collection. The shower head is called the Hydro Rain shower head, which diverts to an everyday shower head, but has the option of a rain shower. Just look at that vanity! The natural veined grained wood from Room & Board completes that natural element and promotes healing. Haku White quartz countertop and rectangular sinks give a modern element paired with electric mirrors for even light when in use. Beautiful remodel!

Hockessin Delaware Bathroom remodel. The clients original Master bathroom was outdated in style and function. We started by removing a soaking tub sunken into the floor; that was the first thing to go. With the tub gone and relocating the toilet; we redesigned the bath with a larger shower and double vanity. The toilet is now hidden by a half wall with shelving storage on the toilet side, capped with granite and a sleek piece of textured glass. The new 6’ long x 4’ wide shower was tiled cleanly with a mosaic look on the shower head wall, built in niche, bench and grab bar. The new vanity designed in Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Horizon finish added great storage and plenty of countertop space. Now this bathroom fits the client’s needs and matches there style.

Our clients purchased their home with no custom upgrades... this was the perfect blank canvas for our team to get started. Traditional elements and heavily carved moldings are some of the details found in the first floor. We chose cozy fabrics and furniture to accommodate this family of four. The master bed room suite has a bit of a transitional feel... the custom furniture pieces here are more clean and streamlined. We achieve added interest and texture with the use of different hardwood finishes. The master bedroom floor is a blonde hardwood with large hand knotted area rugs made from wool. An antique trunk at the foot of the bed works perfectly with the mirrored side chest and tall painted armoire. A modern update in the master bath included a glass enclosure shower with frosted sea glass tiles. Window treatments and accessories complete the rooms for that instant lived in feel. We love it!

This Renovation in Hollick Kenyon started with a previous failed tradesmen. The homeowner had a bad experience and the work wasn't completed. We cam in here and restored their trust in the trades. Full bathroom renovation, all new. Ceiling, walls, windows, vanity cabinet, painting, mirror, fixtures, tile, plumbing, electrical, and floor. The plumbing consist of 4 jets, a rain shower, a handheld piece and another shower head. There is a 2 outlet steam shower system. Tileable grate shower drain for a continuous look. New bathroom floor tile, and glass doors.

We love it when a home becomes a family compound with wonderful history. That is exactly what this home on Mullet Lake is. The original cottage was built by our client’s father and enjoyed by the family for years. It finally came to the point that there was simply not enough room and it lacked some of the efficiencies and luxuries enjoyed in permanent residences. The cottage is utilized by several families and space was needed to allow for summer and holiday enjoyment. The focus was on creating additional space on the second level, increasing views of the lake, moving interior spaces and the need to increase the ceiling heights on the main level. All these changes led for the need to start over or at least keep what we could and add to it. The home had an excellent foundation, in more ways than one, so we started from there. It was important to our client to create a northern Michigan cottage using low maintenance exterior finishes. The interior look and feel moved to more timber beam with pine paneling to keep the warmth and appeal of our area. The home features 2 master suites, one on the main level and one on the 2nd level with a balcony. There are 4 additional bedrooms with one also serving as an office. The bunkroom provides plenty of sleeping space for the grandchildren. The great room has vaulted ceilings, plenty of seating and a stone fireplace with vast windows toward the lake. The kitchen and dining are open to each other and enjoy the view. The beach entry provides access to storage, the 3/4 bath, and laundry. The sunroom off the dining area is a great extension of the home with 180 degrees of view. This allows a wonderful morning escape to enjoy your coffee. The covered timber entry porch provides a direct view of the lake upon entering the home. The garage also features a timber bracketed shed roof system which adds wonderful detail to garage doors. The home’s footprint was extended in a few areas to allow for the interior spaces to work with the needs of the family. Plenty of living spaces for all to enjoy as well as bedrooms to rest their heads after a busy day on the lake. This will be enjoyed by generations to come.

This busy family wanted to update the main floor of their two-story house. They loved the area but wanted to have a fresher contemporary feel in their home. It all started with the kitchen. We redesigned this, added a big island, and changed flooring, lighting, some furnishings, and wall decor. We also added some architectural detailing in the front hallway. They got a new look without having to move! For more about Lumar Interiors, click here: https://www.lumarinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.lumarinteriors.com/portfolio/upper-thornhill-renovation-decor/

A Fresh Start – As if the pop of white and light isn’t enough to start your day, this space feels fresh and serene. You can’t go wrong with white subway tiles in a small bathroom. They are crisp, classic and space-enhancing, and look particularly on trend with grey grout.The biggest advantage of Subway Tile is its low requirement for maintenance and naturally it can withstand decades of use while still maintaining its original appearance, and its popularity isn’t going away.

After meeting with Kenny & Laura, we determined that they wanted a clean and effortless design that had elements of nature and healing. We started by determining that they wanted a neutral and natural materials. The centerpiece of the space was the tub, this stone tub was purchased, and all other elements were carefully selected to enhance the healing and spa experience. The large format flooring selected is called Lagos Concrete from Arizona Tile. The tile is 24X48 which makes for less grout lines and the minimal chance for the pattern to be broken up with lines. The shower wall tile is also a 24X48 tile called Cosmic White and laid in a horizontal pattern for ease of maintenance and care. By using this large format, it almost appears to be a slab material. The pebble chosen is a warm blend which stimulates a healing capability during the showering experience. The shower fixtures, tub filler and faucets are from Delta Faucet. They are the Trinsic collection. The shower head is called the Hydro Rain shower head, which diverts to an everyday shower head, but has the option of a rain shower. Just look at that vanity! The natural veined grained wood from Room & Board completes that natural element and promotes healing. Haku White quartz countertop and rectangular sinks give a modern element paired with electric mirrors for even light when in use. Beautiful remodel!

After meeting with Kenny & Laura, we determined that they wanted a clean and effortless design that had elements of nature and healing. We started by determining that they wanted a neutral and natural materials. The centerpiece of the space was the tub, this stone tub was purchased, and all other elements were carefully selected to enhance the healing and spa experience. The large format flooring selected is called Lagos Concrete from Arizona Tile. The tile is 24X48 which makes for less grout lines and the minimal chance for the pattern to be broken up with lines. The shower wall tile is also a 24X48 tile called Cosmic White and laid in a horizontal pattern for ease of maintenance and care. By using this large format, it almost appears to be a slab material. The pebble chosen is a warm blend which stimulates a healing capability during the showering experience. The shower fixtures, tub filler and faucets are from Delta Faucet. They are the Trinsic collection. The shower head is called the Hydro Rain shower head, which diverts to an everyday shower head, but has the option of a rain shower. Just look at that vanity! The natural veined grained wood from Room & Board completes that natural element and promotes healing. Haku White quartz countertop and rectangular sinks give a modern element paired with electric mirrors for even light when in use. Beautiful remodel!

Custom frameless shower glass, porcelain tile, and multiple shower heads controlled on a diverter are just some of the new features that came with creating this walk-in shower.

Hockessin Delaware Bathroom remodel. The clients original Master bathroom was outdated in style and function. We started by removing a soaking tub sunken into the floor; that was the first thing to go. With the tub gone and relocating the toilet; we redesigned the bath with a larger shower and double vanity. The toilet is now hidden by a half wall with shelving storage on the toilet side, capped with granite and a sleek piece of textured glass. The new 6’ long x 4’ wide shower was tiled cleanly with a mosaic look on the shower head wall, built in niche, bench and grab bar. The new vanity designed in Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Horizon finish added great storage and plenty of countertop space. Now this bathroom fits the client’s needs and matches there style.

With the influx of construction in west Pasco during the late 60’s and 70’s, we saw a plethora of 2 and 3 bedroom homes being constructed with little or no attention paid to the existing bathrooms and kitchens in the homes. Homes on the water were no exception. Typically they were built to just be a functional space, but rarely did they ever accomplish this. We had the opportunity to renovate a gentleman’s master bathroom in the Westport area of Port Richey. It was a story that started off with the client having a tale of an unscrupulous contractor that he hired to perform his renovation project and things took a turn and lets just say they didn’t pan out. The client approached us to see what we could do. We never had the opportunity to see the bathroom in its original state as the tear out had already been taken care of, somewhat, by the previous contractor. We listened to what the client wanted to do with the space and devised a plan. We enlarged the shower area, adding specialty items like a wall niche, heated mirror, rain head shower, and of course a custom glass enclosure. To the main portion of the bathroom we were able to add a larger vanity with waterfall faucet, large framed mirror, and new lighting. New floor tile, wall tile, and accessories rounded out this build.