Complete Coastal Conversion

Renovation photos provided by Cliff Woodman / Post-renovation photos by Harlan Hambright

BEFORE

Longtime best friends, the Thomas and Ritche families have been vacationing together for years, frequently on St. Simons Island. Since the Virginia residents have always loved their time here, they decided to look for a vacation home on the island in early 2016. With the help of local realtor Rory Knapton, they began their search. Ted Ritche discovered a property just off Beachview Drive on Conch Shell Lane online and they arranged a walk-through while the families were vacationing on the island in March 2017. What they found was a cottage, well-cared for, but very dark and dated.

The original structure had been built in the early 1940s and several additions had been made to it over the years, including hook-up to public water. (Until the 1980s, the water

BEFORE

for the property was provided by an artesian well that still functions.) The sellers had purchased the cottage in 1973 and had done all work themselves with the help of one local craftsman. The house looked more like a rustic woodsy camp cabin than a beach retreat, with many small rooms, wood paneling, dark paint, and mismatched floors that weren’t level. The backyard and courtyard were overgrown and surrounded by weathered fencing. Despite the obvious need for updating, the Thomases and Ritches knew this was the right spot for them.

After some additional work on Rory Knapton’s part to get issues with the property cleared up, they closed in June 2017 and interviewed a couple contractors to work on the rebuild. While impressed with both, Dan Thomas says they ended up hiring Cliff Woodman of Woodman Builders, LLC. because he had a vision. They left the job in his capable hands and returned to Virginia. The result? Dan exclaims, “It could not have worked out better for us! His talent and skill, with a few ideas from our foursome, really brought life to this place.”

The transformation is simply amazing. Small dark rooms are now bright and airy spaces. The kitchen and bath are entirely updated. The jungle that was the yard is now an inviting outdoor entertaining area with firepit and a tiki bar made from a vintage surfboard. A custom-made porch swing beckons visitors to climb on with some sweet tea and a favorite book. The wooden decking and outdoor shower were built in a way that captured the natural beauty of the property and kept the trees there intact. Goodbye, cabin fever; hello, island oasis! Now a truly charming beach cottage, the ambiance and décor suit the Conch Shell Lane address and welcome guests to relax and enjoy the island lifestyle.

Cliff Woodman is proud of the work he did on the cottage, and

says the renovation is a great story of finding a diamond in the rough and polishing it to show off its true potential. It’s also a nice reminder that we should take care to look beyond the surface and think creatively in order to preserve our older homes and the charm of St. Simons Island. The cottage is listed as a vacation rental with Benji Bennett at Georgia Beach Rentals, although the Thomas and Ritche families wish they could be here to enjoy it more often. You can see the listing at georgiabeachrentals.com.

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