Sweet Georgia Summer Beach Home
This sweet southern shore house, set on Tybee Island in Georgia, was not necessarily the cheery home that it currently is. When designers Joel and Erika Snayd of Rethink Design Studio initially visited, it was a 1,100-square-foot cinderblock structure. “We were scared to death when we saw the home,” says Erika. “Everything was cold and cement, like a bunker.”
The home is owned by three sisters; his grandfather built it in the 1940s. Since he’d built it personally, the sisters were reluctant to do a complete rebuild and originally just wanted to add a new bedroom and bathroom. But the Snayds and their staff could convince them to begin all over. By getting creative with substances and utilizing family mementos, Rethink Design Studio was able to create a cozy and comfortable summer home for the family on a budget.
in a Glance
Who lives here: 3 sisters and their families during the summer
Location: Tybee Island, Georgia
Size: 2,400 square feet
That’s intriguing: To preserve a palm tree which the grandfather had initially planted on the house, the tree had been eliminated and then replanted following building.
20 Spectacular Beach Houses | Browse shore house photos
Rethink Design Studio
The original cinderblock structure consisted of tiny bedrooms and no open spaces. The Snayds wanted to provide the home a more modern sense but also bring in elements that would highlight its history and make it timeless. Clapboard siding along with a light shade palette gave the new home a new look.
Rethink Design Studio
The design group was inspired by traditional beachfront architecture from the 1940s. “We wanted to take that home and elevate it to a level at a new build that it was meant to be,” Joel says.
Initially, the site had no landscaping at all. The group transformed the barren lot into a lush lawn, maintaining a palm tree the sisters’ grandfather had initially planted in the yard. A side lot was turned into a yard with a fieldstone paver patio.
Rethink Design Studio
The group had to maximize the footprint of the home nearly to the edge of the small site to gain more square footage. Since there was not a ton of room for landscaping, they added in a large screened front porch — a must in mosquito-laden Georgia.
Outdoor furniture: vintage, reupholstered with Sunbrella and Trina Turk to get Schumacher cloth
Rethink Design Studio
The structure takes advantage of natural lighting. The ceilings were lifted to 10 feet on the first floor along with 14 feet on the next — a switch that made a difference in the house’s feel.
The budget for both the interior and the exterior design was limited, so the team had to get creative when it came to style. Luckily, the homeowners gave them nearly free rein. Their one specific demand was that the walls have been coated in white boards. The walls at the open living room, dining room and kitchen are produced from horizontal 1-inch-by-10-inch buttocks joint paneling.
Rug: GDC Home; sofa: Hickory Chair; pillows: Thomas Paul for Duralee, Schumacher
Rethink Design Studio
Function and ambiance were the priorities. An open kitchen, living and dining room made the most sense for this holiday home. Even though this isn’t a full-time residence, the group had to look for large quantities of individuals, since multiple households remain here at once.
Open shelving in the kitchen keeps it bright and casual, while slate tile flooring are both durable and stylish. The kitchen cabinets were done at a simple Shaker style and painted to match the granite countertops. The Cooper and white milk glass ceiling fittings in the kitchen have been salvaged from an old saloon. The light above the dining room table is from Circa Lighting; Joel had the trim and hood painted powder blue to give it a vintage look.
Table: Hickory Chair; chairs: Crate and Barrel
Rethink Design Studio
The loft area upstairs is completely open, which not just creates a communal space but also saved money on framing. “This residence is not about partitions and constraints; it’s about becoming communal and together as a family,” says Joel. Rather than walls, curtains from Pottery Barn were dangled from iron curtain rods with rope. The floor material in the attic is painted porch-grade hardwood, which also cut down to price.
Rethink Design Studio
Even though the sisters were originally hesitant about the attic area, it’s now an integral part of their holiday home. “When you have a custom home, it evolves and continues to evolve. It is organic by nature,” says Joel.
Rethink Design Studio
Flea markets and garage sales were scoured for cheap but quality pieces, and simple furniture from big-box shops filled in the blanks. “At a shore home, you can get away with much more,” says Joel. Twin beds allow for more sleeping area — this upstairs area can sleep four to six. The yellow headboards are now outdoor floor cushions using handles which can be taken down and used for additional seating when needed.
Bedding: Amy Butler; baskets: World Market; carpeting: West Elm kilim; nightstand: refurbished classic
Rethink Design Studio
Cane furniture at the loft’s living room creates a cozy sitting area in which the family often spends mornings. Some of the accessories and furniture came from the sisters’ elderly mother, who passed away during the project; they add a personal element the sisters love.
Rug: GDC Home; java table, cane chairs and console: refurbished classic
Rethink Design Studio
A vintage desk set obtained a makeover using bold yellow paint and glass drawer pulls, making the ideal dressing table for the upstairs bathroom. Timeless subway tile and simple sconces keep the space lighting, bright and functional.
Knobs: Pinch of the Past; seat cushion: Sunbrella; sconces: Circa Lighting
Rethink Design Studio
Each of the bedrooms are paneled with batten strips at a traditional coastal fashion. Joel applied walnut strips right to the sheetrock as an inexpensive way to find the look the sisters wanted. Simple dressers were emphasized with sea-green hardware, a simple and affordable touch which feels high end.
Bedding: vintage and West Elm; side table and mattress frame: classic
Rethink Design Studio
Because a lot of the residence is about family, Joel and Erika wished to pay tribute to its origins. Sentimental touches are visible all throughout the home — quilts the sisters’ mother made are folded carefully in closets, family art is framed on the walls, and also photos of their sisters when they were blown up and hung in the dining room.
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