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Since 1990, Vintage Cellars has designed and installed close to 2,000 Custom Wine Cellars Nationwide. Gene Walder, Jake Austad, Chris Noel, and the team at Vintage Cellars specialize in Custom Wine Cellar Design and Consultation, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Custom Wine Cellar Doors, Wine Racking, and everything else wine storage related. By working closely with clients, the team at Vintage Cellars is able to craft a wine storage space to match the collectors' vision and style.
Custom wine cellars take careful consideration and planning from an expert.
At Vintage Cellars, we are specialized in helping you keep your wine investment safe. We have built over 2,000 residential wine cellars to date, and would love to help bring your dream wine cellar to life! Call us today to help create your custom wine cellar.
Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach
Services Provided
Custom Cabinets, Wine Cellar Design, Wine Cellar Installation, Custom Wine Cellar Construction, Custom Wine Cellar Consultation, Modern Wine Cellars, Contemporary Wine Cellars, Rustic Wine Cellars, Metal Wine Cellars, Wood Wine Cellars, Wine Closet, Wine Room, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Wine Cellar Vapor Barrier and Insulation, Custom Wine Cellars, Wine Racking, Custom Wine Racking Design
Areas Served
Bonsall, Cardiff By The Sea, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Hidden Meadows, Hidden Trails, La Costa, Oceanside, Ranch Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Napa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newport Coast, Corona Del Mar, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Ladera Heights, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Danville
Certifications and Awards
Featured Article in Wine Spectator Magazine. Wine & Spirits Education Trust Certified Level 1, 2 & 3. California Wine Appellation Specialist

This recently completed wine cellar in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, California is great example that small can definitely be beautiful. The homeowners had a vision to redo their older, existing wine cellar - all the meanwhile keeping some of it’s original charm. The back wall of the original wine cellar / wine room was opened up, converting an adjacent closet into an additional room for the space. The rustic and traditional stone work and vertical diamond bins were kept to maintain the old world feel. Rustic works well in the luxury country estates throughout Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, California. The team at Vintage Cellars created a beautiful and functional wine racking design in Poplar with a custom stain and finish to match the existing wine cellar aesthetics. The wine room also features high reveal display, room for case storage, and tiered coved trays for large format bottles.
Since 1990, Vintage Cellars has designed and built over 2,000 custom wine cellars in a wide range of styles and applications. Vintage Cellars offers a complete turnkey service (if needed), providing initial wine cellar design options, proper room preparation with vapor barrier and insulation, proper wine cellar cooling unit sizing and installation, wine racking fabrication with custom stain and lacquer options done in house, and final professional installation onsite. We can also design and ship the wine racking without install. We regularly work with Interior Designers, Architects, and Home Builders as well and can help carry out visions already in movement too.
Gene Walder, Jake Austad, and the team at Vintage Cellars specialize in Custom Wine Cellar Design and Consultation, Custom Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Custom Wine Cellar Doors, Wine Cellar Racking, and everything else wine storage related. By working closely with clients, the team at Vintage Cellars is able to craft a wine storage space to match the collectors' vision and style.
Services Provided
Custom Wine Cellar Construction, Custom Wine Cellar Consultation, Modern Wine Cellars, Contemporary Wine Cellars, Rustic Wine Cellars, Metal Wine Cellars, Wood Wine Cellars, Wine Closet, Wine Room, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Wine Cellar Vapor Barrier and Insulation, Custom Wine Cellars, Wine Racking, Custom Wine Racking Design, Wine Cellars, Custom Home Bars, Wine Cellar Design, Wine Cellar Installation
Areas Served
Bonsall, Cardiff By The Sea, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Hidden Meadows, Hidden Trails, La Costa, Oceanside, Ranch Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Napa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newport Coast, Corona Del Mar, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Ladera Heights, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Danville
Certifications and Awards
Featured Articles in Wine Spectator Magazine
Featured in Articles in The Wall Street Journal
Featured in LUXE Magazine
Featured on Bob Vila's "This Old House"
Wine & Spirits Education Trust Certified Level 1, 2 & 3.
California Wine Appellation Specialists

With family life and entertaining in mind, we built this 4,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full baths and 2 half baths house from the ground up! To fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, we constructed an English Tudor style home, but updated it with a modern, open floor plan on the first floor, bright bedrooms, and large windows throughout the home. What sets this home apart are the high-end architectural details that match the home’s Tudor exterior, such as the historically accurate windows encased in black frames. The stunning craftsman-style staircase is a post and rail system, with painted railings. The first floor was designed with entertaining in mind, as the kitchen, living, dining, and family rooms flow seamlessly. The home office is set apart to ensure a quiet space and has its own adjacent powder room. Another half bath and is located off the mudroom. Upstairs, the principle bedroom has a luxurious en-suite bathroom, with Carrera marble floors, furniture quality double vanity, and a large walk in shower. There are three other bedrooms, with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and an additional hall bathroom.
Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together.
Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.
Find the right local pro for your project

Since 1990, Vintage Cellars has designed and installed close to 2,000 Custom Wine Cellars Nationwide. Gene Walder, Jake Austad, Chris Noel, and the team at Vintage Cellars specialize in Custom Wine Cellar Design and Consultation, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Custom Wine Cellar Doors, Wine Racking, and everything else wine storage related. By working closely with clients, the team at Vintage Cellars is able to craft a wine storage space to match the collectors' vision and style.
Custom wine cellars take careful consideration and planning from an expert.
At Vintage Cellars, we are specialized in helping you keep your wine investment safe. We have built over 2,000 residential wine cellars to date, and would love to help bring your dream wine cellar to life! Call us today to help create your custom wine cellar.
Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach
Services Provided
Custom Cabinets, Wine Cellar Design, Wine Cellar Installation, Custom Wine Cellar Construction, Custom Wine Cellar Consultation, Modern Wine Cellars, Contemporary Wine Cellars, Rustic Wine Cellars, Metal Wine Cellars, Wood Wine Cellars, Wine Closet, Wine Room, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Wine Cellar Vapor Barrier and Insulation, Custom Wine Cellars, Wine Racking, Custom Wine Racking Design
Areas Served
Bonsall, Cardiff By The Sea, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Hidden Meadows, Hidden Trails, La Costa, Oceanside, Ranch Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Napa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newport Coast, Corona Del Mar, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Ladera Heights, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Danville
Certifications and Awards
Featured Article in Wine Spectator Magazine. Wine & Spirits Education Trust Certified Level 1, 2 & 3. California Wine Appellation Specialist

Do you want to upgrade your kitchen? Replace your current sink with this Canadian STYLISH stainless steel kitchen sink. This luxurious 33” x 18” double undermount kitchen sink is made of surgical grade SUS 304 16G stainless steel, this sleek and luxurious kitchen sink with a brushed satin finish will look amazing in your kitchen! Even after years of constant use, the patina finish of the kitchen sink will never oxidize. The X-pattern drain grooves in this undermount kitchen sink’s basin allow for optimal drainage. the undermount sink will drain and dry quickly and effortlessly. Also, the 10mm radius sink corners are smooth and easy to clean, so that your skin will always be shiny and free of bacteria and unpleasant smells. The STYLISH stainless steel sink is here to make your life easier. Keep your cabinets intact. Water condensation in kitchen sinks often causes your cabinets to get ruined. This won’t be a problem if you install the STYLISH undermount sink in your kitchen. The stone guard coating of our stainless steel sinks prevents condensation and makes the sink quiet. Our kitchen sinks are Canadian designed and meet the highest plumbing standards for North America, so you can trust us when we say that this is the best sink on the market.
This functional STYLISH sink will not make loud noises when the water is on. Thanks to the 2mm and 3mm extra thick pads, this is a very quiet sink. STYLISH has equipped the undermount kitchen sink with a soundproofing system, so that you will be able to wash dishes and your hands without having to deal with loud, annoying noises. Another great feature of this sink is that the double bowls are 60/40 and extra deep. One of the bowls is extra-large for even bigger pots. The extra deep basins of this double undermount kitchen sink can fit large pots and pans easily. The 10-inch depth is also great because it can hide the dirty dishes under the countertop line until you have the time to wash them. This undermount kitchen sink comes with two luxury stainless steel basket strainers. These are also extra deep, so that they can catch more food scraps than regular strainers. Also included are two stainless steel bottom grids, perfect to protect the bottom of your stainless steel kitchen sink, one cutting template and mounting brackets. This double undermount kitchen sink was designed with the busy parent and young professional in mind. The modern and linear style will integrate perfectly in any kitchen space.

A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc (847) 827-1605 | A+ BBB Rating & Angie's List Award Company. We give FREE Estimates, always!
For installations with new slate, we prefer to install only the highest quality time-tested slates. The combination of high quality slate, expert flashing design and installation, correct soldering, necessary underlayments for the conditions, and proper slate laying and fastening produces an aesthetic, long lasting roof that should have a serviceable life of 100+ years easily. Cutting corners on any one of these factors can shorten the life span of a slate roof from 100+ years to literally just a few years or less.
A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. provides high quality roofing slate material to the United States. Founded in 2003, based upon twelve years of experience in the roofing slate industry, we pride ourselves on detailed knowledge of our products and their application.
We focus exclusively on roofing slate together with the needs of home owners and contractors installing it. We have well-established and long-term relationships with many of the best slate producers all over the world. When it comes to any slate roofing project, A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. delivers unparalleled service and expertise. We look forward to working with you on your next project.
We offer the following roofing services:
• Roof Tear Offs
• Roof Repair
• Tile Roofs
• Shingle Roofs
• Flat Roofs
• Slate Roofs
• Gutters|Downspouts
• Gravel Roofs
• Energy Saving Roofs
• Fascia Board Replacements
• Torch-Ons
• Roof Coatings
• Plywood Installations
• Hot Mopping
• Solar Fans|Skylights
• Balconies and Decks
• Wood|Composite Shake Roofs
• Attic Ventilation
• Dry Rot Repairs
• Spanish|Mission Tile Specialist
• Inspections|Certifications
• Gutter|Downspout Cleaning
• Built-Up Roof Systems
• Preventive Maintenance
Please browse our website to find out what you need to know about our company, our services and our reputation. We’re sure you’ll agree…you can depend on A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. to build or repair your roof to last!
We want you to be completely satisfied with your new roof. That’s why we spend so much time with you before we even set foot on a ladder.
We have the quality and experience you can trust. We are licensed Illinois Roofing Contractors, bonded, and insured. Call us today at (847) 827-1605 for a free estimate!

Since 1990, Vintage Cellars has designed and installed close to 2,000 Custom Wine Cellars Nationwide. Gene Walder, Jake Austad, Chris Noel, and the team at Vintage Cellars specialize in Custom Wine Cellar Design and Consultation, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Custom Wine Cellar Doors, Wine Racking, and everything else wine storage related. By working closely with clients, the team at Vintage Cellars is able to craft a wine storage space to match the collectors' vision and style.
Custom wine cellars take careful consideration and planning from an expert.
At Vintage Cellars, we are specialized in helping you keep your wine investment safe. We have built over 2,000 residential wine cellars to date, and would love to help bring your dream wine cellar to life! Call us today to help create your custom wine cellar.
Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach
Services Provided
Custom Cabinets, Wine Cellar Design, Wine Cellar Installation, Custom Wine Cellar Construction, Custom Wine Cellar Consultation, Modern Wine Cellars, Contemporary Wine Cellars, Rustic Wine Cellars, Metal Wine Cellars, Wood Wine Cellars, Wine Closet, Wine Room, Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, Wine Cellar Vapor Barrier and Insulation, Custom Wine Cellars, Wine Racking, Custom Wine Racking Design
Areas Served
Bonsall, Cardiff By The Sea, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Hidden Meadows, Hidden Trails, La Costa, Oceanside, Ranch Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Napa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newport Coast, Corona Del Mar, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Ladera Heights, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Danville
Certifications and Awards
Featured Article in Wine Spectator Magazine. Wine & Spirits Education Trust Certified Level 1, 2 & 3. California Wine Appellation Specialist

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards
Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and
needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We
were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will
become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through
two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy,
fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom—
making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards
Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and
needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We
were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will
become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through
two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy,
fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom—
making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards
Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and
needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We
were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will
become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through
two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy,
fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom—
making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc (847) 827-1605 | A+ BBB Rating & Angie's List Award Company. We give FREE Estimates, always!
For installations with new slate, we prefer to install only the highest quality time-tested slates. The combination of high quality slate, expert flashing design and installation, correct soldering, necessary underlayments for the conditions, and proper slate laying and fastening produces an aesthetic, long lasting roof that should have a serviceable life of 100+ years easily. Cutting corners on any one of these factors can shorten the life span of a slate roof from 100+ years to literally just a few years or less.
A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. provides high quality roofing slate material to the United States. Founded in 2003, based upon twelve years of experience in the roofing slate industry, we pride ourselves on detailed knowledge of our products and their application.
We focus exclusively on roofing slate together with the needs of home owners and contractors installing it. We have well-established and long-term relationships with many of the best slate producers all over the world. When it comes to any slate roofing project, A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. delivers unparalleled service and expertise. We look forward to working with you on your next project.
We offer the following roofing services:
• Roof Tear Offs
• Roof Repair
• Tile Roofs
• Shingle Roofs
• Flat Roofs
• Slate Roofs
• Gutters|Downspouts
• Gravel Roofs
• Energy Saving Roofs
• Fascia Board Replacements
• Torch-Ons
• Roof Coatings
• Plywood Installations
• Hot Mopping
• Solar Fans|Skylights
• Balconies and Decks
• Wood|Composite Shake Roofs
• Attic Ventilation
• Dry Rot Repairs
• Spanish|Mission Tile Specialist
• Inspections|Certifications
• Gutter|Downspout Cleaning
• Built-Up Roof Systems
• Preventive Maintenance
Please browse our website to find out what you need to know about our company, our services and our reputation. We’re sure you’ll agree…you can depend on A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. to build or repair your roof to last!
We want you to be completely satisfied with your new roof. That’s why we spend so much time with you before we even set foot on a ladder.
We have the quality and experience you can trust. We are licensed Illinois Roofing Contractors, bonded, and insured. Call us today at (847) 827-1605 for a free estimate!

With family life and entertaining in mind, we built this 4,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full baths and 2 half baths house from the ground up! To fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, we constructed an English Tudor style home, but updated it with a modern, open floor plan on the first floor, bright bedrooms, and large windows throughout the home. What sets this home apart are the high-end architectural details that match the home’s Tudor exterior, such as the historically accurate windows encased in black frames. The stunning craftsman-style staircase is a post and rail system, with painted railings. The first floor was designed with entertaining in mind, as the kitchen, living, dining, and family rooms flow seamlessly. The home office is set apart to ensure a quiet space and has its own adjacent powder room. Another half bath and is located off the mudroom. Upstairs, the principle bedroom has a luxurious en-suite bathroom, with Carrera marble floors, furniture quality double vanity, and a large walk in shower. There are three other bedrooms, with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and an additional hall bathroom.
Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together.
Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.

With family life and entertaining in mind, we built this 4,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full baths and 2 half baths house from the ground up! To fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, we constructed an English Tudor style home, but updated it with a modern, open floor plan on the first floor, bright bedrooms, and large windows throughout the home. What sets this home apart are the high-end architectural details that match the home’s Tudor exterior, such as the historically accurate windows encased in black frames. The stunning craftsman-style staircase is a post and rail system, with painted railings. The first floor was designed with entertaining in mind, as the kitchen, living, dining, and family rooms flow seamlessly. The home office is set apart to ensure a quiet space and has its own adjacent powder room. Another half bath and is located off the mudroom. Upstairs, the principle bedroom has a luxurious en-suite bathroom, with Carrera marble floors, furniture quality double vanity, and a large walk in shower. There are three other bedrooms, with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and an additional hall bathroom.
Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together.
Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

We deliver restaurant grade firewood directly to your home or business.
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We understand the importance of a hassle-free experience. That's why we offer a seamless delivery service. Premium firewood for cooking, grilling and smoking should be positioned in the right place at the right time. Our firewood delivery system can be trusted by professional chefs and pitmasters for long-lasting quality, consistency and dependability. We deliver, stage and hand stack our Texas seasoned firewood where it is most convenient for YOU.
Whether you're in the heart of Fort Worth or Dallas, we proudly serve the entire DFW Metroplex and all of North Texas.
Through our land clearing services we can harvest fresh Texas hardwoods ourselves. Our focus is repurposing trees cleared from land development and utilizing storm / tornado downed trees. Then we let the wood season naturally and deliver via our own trucks to eliminate delays and markups.
So if you're seeking the best logs for a commercial oven or cozy fireplace, you've come to the right place. Discover the warmth and peace of mind that only Pitmaster Wood Supply can deliver.
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Transform Your Home with Expert Wallpaper Installation by Windy City Painters
This dining room in Evanston, Illinois, recently underwent a stunning transformation, thanks to the team at Windy City Painters. As a trusted Chicago painter and wallpaper installer, we specialize in elevating spaces with expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. For this project, we installed bold, eclectic wallpaper on both the walls and ceiling—a design style that’s making a huge comeback in modern home décor.
The ceiling wallpaper, in particular, is the highlight of this room. This intricate pattern required careful planning and precise installation to achieve a seamless look. Ceiling wallpaper installation is one of the most challenging aspects of our work. Gravity, delicate materials, and complex patterns make it a task that only skilled professionals should tackle. Every seam, alignment, and adhesive application must be perfect, as even minor mistakes can be glaringly obvious on a ceiling. This is why hiring an experienced wallpaper installer is essential, especially when working with expensive, custom, or delicate wallpaper.
The process of wallpaper installation begins with careful surface preparation. Walls and ceilings need to be cleaned, repaired, and smoothed to ensure the wallpaper adheres properly. Next comes the meticulous measuring and cutting of wallpaper pieces, taking into account pattern repeats to ensure a flawless design flow. For ceilings, additional steps include precise alignment and support systems to keep the wallpaper in place as the adhesive sets. It’s a time-intensive process, but the results speak for themselves—creating a space that feels polished, cohesive, and unique.
Bold, busy patterns, like the one used in this dining room, are becoming increasingly popular. This eclectic style is perfect for homeowners looking to add personality and drama to their spaces. When paired with complementary furniture and décor, it creates a harmonious yet striking aesthetic. In this case, the rich blue tones, paired with natural wood accents and mid-century modern furniture, make the room feel both elegant and inviting.
At Windy City Painters, we pride ourselves on being a top Chicago painting contractor and wallpaper expert. Whether you’re looking to enhance your walls or tackle the challenge of ceiling wallpaper, our experienced team has you covered.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact us today to learn more about our wallpaper installation services and start transforming your space!

Transform Your Home with Expert Wallpaper Installation by Windy City Painters
This dining room in Evanston, Illinois, recently underwent a stunning transformation, thanks to the team at Windy City Painters. As a trusted Chicago painter and wallpaper installer, we specialize in elevating spaces with expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. For this project, we installed bold, eclectic wallpaper on both the walls and ceiling—a design style that’s making a huge comeback in modern home décor.
The ceiling wallpaper, in particular, is the highlight of this room. This intricate pattern required careful planning and precise installation to achieve a seamless look. Ceiling wallpaper installation is one of the most challenging aspects of our work. Gravity, delicate materials, and complex patterns make it a task that only skilled professionals should tackle. Every seam, alignment, and adhesive application must be perfect, as even minor mistakes can be glaringly obvious on a ceiling. This is why hiring an experienced wallpaper installer is essential, especially when working with expensive, custom, or delicate wallpaper.
The process of wallpaper installation begins with careful surface preparation. Walls and ceilings need to be cleaned, repaired, and smoothed to ensure the wallpaper adheres properly. Next comes the meticulous measuring and cutting of wallpaper pieces, taking into account pattern repeats to ensure a flawless design flow. For ceilings, additional steps include precise alignment and support systems to keep the wallpaper in place as the adhesive sets. It’s a time-intensive process, but the results speak for themselves—creating a space that feels polished, cohesive, and unique.
Bold, busy patterns, like the one used in this dining room, are becoming increasingly popular. This eclectic style is perfect for homeowners looking to add personality and drama to their spaces. When paired with complementary furniture and décor, it creates a harmonious yet striking aesthetic. In this case, the rich blue tones, paired with natural wood accents and mid-century modern furniture, make the room feel both elegant and inviting.
At Windy City Painters, we pride ourselves on being a top Chicago painting contractor and wallpaper expert. Whether you’re looking to enhance your walls or tackle the challenge of ceiling wallpaper, our experienced team has you covered.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact us today to learn more about our wallpaper installation services and start transforming your space!

Transform Your Home with Expert Wallpaper Installation by Windy City Painters
This dining room in Evanston, Illinois, recently underwent a stunning transformation, thanks to the team at Windy City Painters. As a trusted Chicago painter and wallpaper installer, we specialize in elevating spaces with expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. For this project, we installed bold, eclectic wallpaper on both the walls and ceiling—a design style that’s making a huge comeback in modern home décor.
The ceiling wallpaper, in particular, is the highlight of this room. This intricate pattern required careful planning and precise installation to achieve a seamless look. Ceiling wallpaper installation is one of the most challenging aspects of our work. Gravity, delicate materials, and complex patterns make it a task that only skilled professionals should tackle. Every seam, alignment, and adhesive application must be perfect, as even minor mistakes can be glaringly obvious on a ceiling. This is why hiring an experienced wallpaper installer is essential, especially when working with expensive, custom, or delicate wallpaper.
The process of wallpaper installation begins with careful surface preparation. Walls and ceilings need to be cleaned, repaired, and smoothed to ensure the wallpaper adheres properly. Next comes the meticulous measuring and cutting of wallpaper pieces, taking into account pattern repeats to ensure a flawless design flow. For ceilings, additional steps include precise alignment and support systems to keep the wallpaper in place as the adhesive sets. It’s a time-intensive process, but the results speak for themselves—creating a space that feels polished, cohesive, and unique.
Bold, busy patterns, like the one used in this dining room, are becoming increasingly popular. This eclectic style is perfect for homeowners looking to add personality and drama to their spaces. When paired with complementary furniture and décor, it creates a harmonious yet striking aesthetic. In this case, the rich blue tones, paired with natural wood accents and mid-century modern furniture, make the room feel both elegant and inviting.
At Windy City Painters, we pride ourselves on being a top Chicago painting contractor and wallpaper expert. Whether you’re looking to enhance your walls or tackle the challenge of ceiling wallpaper, our experienced team has you covered.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact us today to learn more about our wallpaper installation services and start transforming your space!

With family life and entertaining in mind, we built this 4,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full baths and 2 half baths house from the ground up! To fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, we constructed an English Tudor style home, but updated it with a modern, open floor plan on the first floor, bright bedrooms, and large windows throughout the home. What sets this home apart are the high-end architectural details that match the home’s Tudor exterior, such as the historically accurate windows encased in black frames. The stunning craftsman-style staircase is a post and rail system, with painted railings. The first floor was designed with entertaining in mind, as the kitchen, living, dining, and family rooms flow seamlessly. The home office is set apart to ensure a quiet space and has its own adjacent powder room. Another half bath and is located off the mudroom. Upstairs, the principle bedroom has a luxurious en-suite bathroom, with Carrera marble floors, furniture quality double vanity, and a large walk in shower. There are three other bedrooms, with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and an additional hall bathroom.
Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together.
Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.

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.

With family life and entertaining in mind, we built this 4,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full baths and 2 half baths house from the ground up! To fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, we constructed an English Tudor style home, but updated it with a modern, open floor plan on the first floor, bright bedrooms, and large windows throughout the home. What sets this home apart are the high-end architectural details that match the home’s Tudor exterior, such as the historically accurate windows encased in black frames. The stunning craftsman-style staircase is a post and rail system, with painted railings. The first floor was designed with entertaining in mind, as the kitchen, living, dining, and family rooms flow seamlessly. The home office is set apart to ensure a quiet space and has its own adjacent powder room. Another half bath and is located off the mudroom. Upstairs, the principle bedroom has a luxurious en-suite bathroom, with Carrera marble floors, furniture quality double vanity, and a large walk in shower. There are three other bedrooms, with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and an additional hall bathroom.
Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together.
Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.
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