Search results for "Reduce after school" in Home Design Ideas

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |
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Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Back in 2020, before working from home became the norm, we embarked on a project to convert an unused formal dining room into a stunning home office. Little did we know how crucial this space would become in the following years. Our client was ahead of the curve, preparing for remote work with a beautifully designed home office.
The focal point of this home office is the striking Navy cabinetry – our client’s favorite color – that not only adds a touch of personality to the space but also provides essential storage for books, files, and even pencil drawers. The room also features dedicated space for a copier, making it an efficient workspace for all needs.
The centerpiece of the office is a natural maple desk that not only provides a spacious work area but also offers ample storage. Side shelves were cleverly incorporated for storing coloring supplies and books, making it a versatile space for both work and play. It’s perfect for the kids to join in after school and work alongside their parent.
To ensure a harmonious look, we matched the crown molding on the cabinets with the existing features in the room. The grey-stained maple floor, extending from the nearby updated kitchen into the office, creates a unified and sophisticated look.
This project exemplifies our commitment to creating functional and beautiful spaces that cater to the ever-changing needs of our clients. As the home office continues to be a vital part of our lives, having a space that is not only convenient but also aesthetically pleasing is more important than ever.
At Crystal Kitchen, we are dedicated to turning your vision into reality, whether it’s a home office, kitchen, or any other area of your home. If you’re looking to create a space that perfectly suits your lifestyle, get in touch with us today, and let’s make it happen. Your home should be a reflection of you, and we’re here to bring your dreams to life!

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Welcome to your dream home—an impeccably designed custom-built residence nestled in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods of Newport Beach. This architectural gem blends timeless coastal elegance with modern sophistication, offering the ultimate in luxury, comfort, and style.
Boasting approximately 2,700 square feet of living space, this home features 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, with a thoughtfully curated open floor plan ideal for both relaxed everyday living and upscale entertaining. Soaring ceilings, expansive glass walls, and custom bi-fold doors create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, bathing the home in natural light and ocean breezes.
The gourmet kitchen is a chef’s dream, complete with top-of-the-line Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and an oversized island perfect for casual gatherings. The spacious living room opens to a lushly landscaped yard with a built-in BBQ, fire pit, and space for al fresco dining under the stars.
Retreat to the luxurious primary suite with a private balcony, spa-like bathroom with soaking tub, dual vanities, and a massive walk-in closet. Every detail—from white oak flooring and designer lighting to smart home automation and energy-efficient systems—has been meticulously crafted for the discerning buyer.
Just minutes from the beach, harbor, award-winning schools, and world-class shopping and dining at Fashion Island, this rare custom home offers the best of coastal living in the heart of Orange County.

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

The Challenge
This beautiful waterfront home was begging for an update. Our clients wanted a contemporary design with modern finishes. They craved improved functionality in the kitchen, hardwood flooring in the living areas, and a spacious walk-in closet in the master bathroom. With two children in school, our clients also needed the project completed during their summer vacation – leaving a slim 90 days for the entire remodel. Could we do it? …Challenge accepted!
Our Solution
With their active summer travel schedule, our clients elected to vacate their home for the duration of the project. This was ideal for the intrusive nature of the scope of work.
In preparation, our design team created a project plan to suit our client’s needs. With such a clear timeline, we were able to select and order long-lead items in plenty of time for the project start date.
In the kitchen, we rearranged the layout to provide superior ventilation for the cooktop on the exterior wall. We added two large storage cabinets with glass doors, accented by a sleek mosaic backsplash of glass tile. We also incorporated a large contemporary waterfall island into the room. With seating at one end, the island provides both increased functionality and an eye-catching focal point for the center of the room. On the interior wall of the kitchen, we maximized storage with a wall of built-in cabinetry – complete with pullout pantry cabinets, a double oven, and a large stainless refrigerator.
Our clients wisely chose rich, dark-colored wood flooring to add warmth to the contemporary design. After installing the flooring in the kitchen, we brought it into the main living areas as well. In the great room, we wrapped the existing gas fireplace in a neutral stack stone. The effect of the stone on the media and window wall is breathtaking.
In the master bathroom, we expanded the closet by pushing the wall back into the adjacent pass-through hallway. The new walk-in closet now includes an impressive closet organization system.
Returning to the master bathroom, we removed the single vanity and repositioned the toilet, allowing for a new, curb-less glass shower and a his-and-hers vanity. The entire vanity and shower wall is finished in white 12×24 porcelain tile. The vertical glass mosaic accent band and backlit floating mirrors add to the clean, modern style. To the left of the master bathroom entry, we even added a matching make-up area.
Finally, we installed a number of elegant enhancements in the remaining rooms. The clients chose a bronze metal relief accent wall as well as some colorful finishes and artwork for the entry and hallway.
Exceptional Results
Our clients were simply thrilled with the final product! Not only did they return from their summer vacation to a gorgeous home remodel, but we concluded the project a full week ahead of schedule. As a result, the family was able to move in sooner than planned, giving them plenty of time to acclimate to the renovated space before their kids returned to school. Ultimately, we provided the outstanding results and customer experience that our clients had been searching for.
“We met with many other contractors leading up to signing with Progressive Design Build. When we met Mike, we finally felt safe. We had heard so many horror stories about contractors! Progressive was the best move we could have made. They made our dream house become a reality. Vernon was in charge of our project and everything went better than we expected. Our project was completed earlier than expected, too. Our questions and concerns were dealt with quickly and professionally, the job site was always clean, and all subs were friendly and professional. We had a wonderful experience with Progressive Design Build. We’re so grateful we found them.” – The Mader Family

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Example of a large trendy brown two-story wood house exterior design in Chicago with a shed roof

The Home
While looking for space where their active family could expand, these homeowners turned to Black Forest, with trees that remind them of their Indiana years. A stunning Pikes Peak view underscores how fortunate they are to live in Colorado. This home features classic nods to the owner’s French heritage while embracing a thoroughly of-the-moment Colorado lifestyle. Priorities for these homeowners included blending outdoor and indoor spaces wherever possible with generously proportioned windows and doors, porches, patios and balconies.
A gracious lime-washed brick entry punctuates a simplified white stucco and black-frame-windowed exterior with traditional
rooflines. Dramatic open spaces on the main floor comfortably accommodate the everyday activities of this busy family of four, while
providing for welcomed visits from family and friends. A functional, open kitchen is designed for serious cooking, a butler’s pantry for
staples, and serveware storage and dining spaces that effortlessly host after-school snacking to multi-course meals. A main-level,
Peak-view office comfortably supports working at home, complete with a beer cave and tasting nook for hosting fellow aficionados
after work is done. Guests will find comfort and privacy in a ma in-level guestroom suite or sleepover fun in the built-in bunks of the
expansive over-garage bonus room.
This home is a true collaboration that blends the homeowner’s long-held vision of their ideal home brought to life by the builder’s vision
and design/build process that achieves something truly…Warm and welcoming in the Forest.
The Builder
Stauffer & Sons Construction is a true Design-Build team creating some of the finest living spaces in the Pikes Peak region for over twenty years. We’ve developed an easy point-of-entry to the Design-Build process that begins with our very popular Conceptual Design and Budgeting Agreement. This affordable, low-commitment step provides answers to the early-stage questions of “what and how much?” With this critical information in place, a robust collaboration between client and builder ensues, resulting in a thoughtfully designed home that strikes a balance between size and scope and budget.
The Interior Design
Family, friends and soon-to-be friends are welcomed into this updated version of a French country farmhouse through a bricked archway and a solid arch-top entry door. Once inside, a sweeping gallery of windows adorned with flower-filled window boxes sets a nice foreground to the ponderosa pine forest. A great room with a two-story, lime-washed, brick fireplace sits juxtaposed to a cozy farm-styled kitchen with large island, plenty of storage and a Pikes Peak view. This family home features a simple, clean design with warm, wooden beams and solid, white-oak flooring. This home is designed to be lived in. Wherever you go, downstairs, upstairs or out on the porch, this home wraps around you and is a delightful place to enjoy.

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

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.

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |

Lovely ARTS & CRAFTS style home in North Saanich’s sought-after Deep Cove neighbourhood! This tastefully designed 2003 built home offers a bright and efficient 2 storey layout in a quiet RURAL setting. Main floor entry to a kitchen foyer with warm tile and cherry HARDWOOD floors, rich WOOD cabinets and a GRANITE-topped bar. The kitchen flows seamlessly to the open living/dining area and beyond to a private rear patio. Large MAIN FLOOR MASTER bedroom enjoys its OWN PATIO access, walk-in closet and ENSUITE bathroom with clawfoot tub. 2 Piece guest bathroom and separate laundry room with garage access complete the main floor. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom with OCEANVIEWS & a 4-piece bathroom. The garage has plenty of storage and the unfinished space above could tie into the 2nd floor south bedroom. The fully LANDSCAPED yard offers a PEACEFUL outdoor setting Spring through Fall. Walk to Deep Cove marina, beaches, or the Chalet restaurant. Don’t miss out on this special home! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties & www.KarenLove.com |
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