2024 Spring HOMES - Best of Savannah HOMES

Our 16th Annual BEST of AWARDS

A Lowcountry abode designed by ANNE PAPPAS INTERIORS

Best Interior Design Firm

The word “fiduciary” goes to the heart of what we do and how we do it. We are a team of highly skilled professionals with deep expertise in the fields of finance, business, accounting, and law. We have passion for what we do and discipline in how we do it. Our allegiance flows in one direction: to the needs and best interests of each client. It’s in our name and it’s what we do.

Putting trusted experience to work in our community since 1934.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow...

For 90 years, Bernard Williams & Company has called Savannah home and put our proven, trusted experience to work in our community. As a 100% locally owned company, you can count on us for your insurance and risk management needs at home, work, and play. Established

TABLE of CONTENTS

SPRING 2024

FEATURES

44 It Takes Two

A fascination with architecture led one couple to restore an unlikely pair of homes as an inn within the National Historic Landmark District.

Written by NICOLE LETTS

Photography by ANDREW FRAZIER

58 Built to Perfection

A new-construction Bluffton home delivers on all fronts.

Written by MARY FITZGERALD

Photography by KELLI BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY

68 Traditional With a Twist

A family finds balance between then and now with a newly built, waterfront dream home.

Written by ALLISON LANE FARMER

Photography by MARY BRITTON SENSENEY

76 Best of Savannah HOMES

Our annual, reader-voted poll of top contractors, designers and more across 80+ categories.

Photo

MARY BRITTON SENSENEY

THERE’S NO CITY that shines brighter with the first signs of spring than Savannah. Her oak branches and brick and stone buildings absorb the sun’s lengthening rays with golden gratitude, and as temperatures begin their annual climb, the air seems charged with a frenetic, fresh energy beckoning residents outside.

While the desire for new inspiration and a fresh start seems synonymous with shrugging off the winter slowdown, it may come as a surprise that our team’s greatest source of avant garde inspiration this season isn’t that new at all. Rather, we are enamored with the historic.

We eagerly anticipate crowding private residences with fellow interior design enthusiasts on the NOGS (that’s North of Gaston Street) and Ardsley Park Tour of Homes, gathering inspiration images and ideas for living beautifully. These staples come on the heels of design aficionados like Leigh Keno of “Antiques Roadshow” descending upon the Hostess City for the annual Savannah Antiques & Architecture Weekend, championing our storied architectural past through education and preservation efforts.

On that theme, this issue explores the Printmaker’s Inn, a pair of colorful historic homes with Palladian principle in the National Historic Landmark District brilliantly preserved as comfortable guest houses by architectural enthusiast Peter Galloway (“It Takes Two,” page 44).

In Bluffton, Sarah Wildridge of Kelly Caron Designs, dreams up a 7,000-square-foot family home that oozes traditional charm with fresh takes on finishes and an unmatched level of detailing that provides endless inspiration (“Built To Perfection,” page 58).

To create a home with room to grow, one local couple looked

backward, pulling design directives from their childhoods spent on the water, running freely with fishing rods and tackle boxes bouncing at their sides. With a tight 10-month construction deadline, the couple enlisted Tracey Tollison, Fred Wasson and Lily Brown to pull together their ideas cohesively with plenty of traditional detailing that would withstand wet bathing suits and trends with a new build (“Traditional With a Twist,” page 68).

For heartier inspiration, we caught up with Scottish Stone Craft owner, Alex Skellon, to learn about his remarkable journey across the pond and the epic work his team has done stateside (“Design Q&A,” page 38).

Aspiring to new goals and reaching for new heights this season indoors and out, we tapped Savannah and Lowcountry landscape experts for their best tips and tricks to add architectural interest that is green in nature (“How Does Your Garden Grow?” page 33).

Whatever achievements you have before you this spring, remember, sometimes you must look back before moving forward. And wherever you turn for fresh ideas, curiosity will carry you far.

Margaret Daniel Guest Editor

•

• GIFT LIST/REGISTRY

• INTERIOR DESIGN

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Holly Todd

Subscribe: 800.453.1049

Address changes: savannahmag@emailcustomerservice.com

Advertise: 912.652.0294

CONTRIBUTORS

“How Does Your Garden Grow?” page 33

AFTER TWO DECADES as an interior designer, Savannah’s Stephanie Tallevast shares her industry knowledge through writing and content creation. Her work has been published in HGTV Magazine, as well as multiple regional publications. Offering resources to support DIY interior designers, Stephanie is an advocate for a strong expression of authentic style in the home.

Kelli Boyd Photographer

“Built to Perfection,” page 58

THROUGH YEARS of experience in the world of marketing and design coupled with a well-traveled mind and heart, the language of

Kelli Boyd’s work embodies a unique approach to visual storytelling. Her bespoke sense of style speaks to those seeking an intuitive, creative and unforgettable embodiment of the moment. Her passion for cultivating and sharing an authentic connection through her photographs expresses itself naturally in a style that is joyful, distinctive and artful.

Allison Lane Farmer Writer

“Next-Gen Design,” page 40

“Traditional With a Twist,” page 68

ALLISON LANE FARMER is a writer and photographer whose passion for new places, inspiring design and a great story have led her on Airstream trips down Florida’s dirt roads, to dive bars in New Orleans and more backroad produce stands than she can count. Allison is no stranger to the charms of the Lowcountry, having grown up in neighboring Charleston, South Carolina, but is happy to call Savannah’s Ardsley Park home. While not behind a camera or clacking away at a keyboard, she can be found spending time with her husband, their baby boy, and their three perfectly misbehaved dogs.

Nicole Letts Writer

“It Takes Two,” page 44

NICOLE LETTS is an Atlantabased freelance journalist. Her work has been published by top publications, including AAA Explorer, Architectural Digest, BBC Travel, Fodor’s Travel, Garden & Gun, Good Grit, Southern Living and many more. She is also the author of the new book, “Unique Eats and Eateries of Alabama.”

Andrew Frazier Photographer

“It Takes Two,” page 44

ANDREW FRAZIER has a passion for interior and architectural photography, and it comes through in his work at the helm of Voyage Creative. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Skyler, and they

recently welcomed a baby boy (their first child). When not photographing homes, Andrew and Skyler keep busy renovating houses on Skidaway Island, sometimes with as many as two to three projects in progress at once.

Mary Britton Senseney Photographer

“Traditional With a Twist,” page 68

MARY BRITTON SENSENEY is an experienced photographer with a demonstrated history of working in the industry for more than 15 years. She has produced widely consumed content for lifestyle brands such as HGTV Magazine, RustOleum, Duke’s Mayonnaise, Country Living, Southern Living, Cooking Light, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Weight Watchers, Food Network Magazine, Beringer Vineyards and more. She resides in Savannah with her husband and two boys.

Stephanie Tallevast Writer

Forsyth Metal Works is grateful to be awarded Best Metal Fabricator in Savannah for the second year in a row. We truly appreciate the support of the community, and hope that we can continue to serve you all in your fine furnishing needs. Thank you so much to all the home and business owners, designers, builders, and architects who come to us with all the great projects we are proud to be a part of. Our growing team of designers and builders work hard to bring these residential and commercial pieces to life, and get great joy in seeing them installed in your spaces.

Over the past year we have worked hard to develop our sister company, Brass Hardware Our lines of modular shelving units have been an internet success, spreading our reach across the US and globally. We are excited to take this local Savannah business and expand into the parts of your home where function meets design with the launch of some new products. Our goal is to continue to grow our product lines until every space in your home or business can be a home for one of our products. Check out our website, www.BrassHardware.com, and follow along as we continue to grow this brand. We hope you will enjoy the journey, and think of us the next time you are looking to brighten up your Savannah home.

The Gilded

The Origin Wall Hook

The Origin Toilet Paper Holder

Photography by Daniel Morales & Melyssa Bell

Sabrina Rabhan (left) with resident Ruth Collins (98 years young)

TAKE a SEAT

HOTEL BARDO

Just Peachy

Written by MARGARET DANIEL

TUCKED AMONG THE TREES shading Forsyth Park’s perimeter, Hotel Bardo beckons locals and tourists to trade sleepy tradition for revamped modern comforts.

The stylish hotel soft-launched in September 2023 with the opening of Saint Bibiana, its buzzy coastal Italian restaurant named for the patron saint of hangovers. It now boasts a full list of boutique offerings: 149 guest rooms, including 50 suites, a members-only social outfit called Club Bardo, a health and wellness spa named Saltgrass, and more.

Photo by ANDREW FRAZIER

Beyond the front doors, guests are bathed in the warm peach and green glow of the stylish lobby and beckoned to sit a spell in the captivating courtyard beyond, featuring a pool and bar, Bar Bibi, the hottest spot for an icy, spicy green margarita or afternoon aperitivo before an evening of urban exploration or a happy celebration in the ballroom.

A masterclass in grand design, there’s just one outstanding detail: When you will make your reservation?

Artist Vanessa Platacis adorned the walls in Club Bardo.

ASHER + RYE

Foster & Rye stainless steel cooler

Fhia lantern

Linen tablecloth

Stemless wine glasses with 24K gold rim

ONE FISH TWO FISH

Melamine dinner plates

Bobbin salt and pepper grinders

Take it Outside

Al fresco, anyone?

Local design experts share their essentials for outdoor entertaining this season

Written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY

When it comes to dining outdoors, Jennifer Grayson, owner of One Fish Two Fish, loves to add “hints of color” to her table with acrylic and melamine pieces. Bonus: these materials are safer than glass and make for easy hosting — and clean-up.

• • •

PROPER ENGLISH

Pink willow serving tray

Metal bar cart

Bamboo wicker hurricane

Scalloped wooden bowl

“I always try to create a synergy of the senses for my guests,” says Robin Napoli, co-owner of Jones & Bull. “A whimsical tablescape with fun place settings, linens and utensils sets the tone for the evening and shows my guests that they’re going to have an experience, not just dinner outdoors. I try to make seating arrangements cozy and comfortable enough to take guests from appetizers to dessert and all the socializing in between. Candlelight, soft music and freshly cut flowers always go a long way in setting the overall mood for the al fresco experience. And, of course, anything I can do to prepare ahead of time will allow me to relax and enjoy the evening along with my family and friends.”

• • •

For Chuck Chewning, interior designer and owner of Courtyard by Chuck Chewning, no outdoor gathering is complete without a bar cart — whether you’re entertaining in the courtyard, on the veranda or poolside. “The two levels can hold everything you need for drinks, snacks and more,” he says.

New & Noteworthy

Seeking some tropical reprieve after a long winter? Find an escape without leaving Savannah at Peregrin. The sought-after rooftop bar atop the Perry Lane Hotel (256 E. Perry St.) recently unveiled a design refresh with help from SCADPro, the innovation studio of Savannah College of Art and Design. The revamped look includes a bright mural by artist Kipper Millsap and punchy yellow-and-white striped fabrics on the outdoor lounge furniture — while still boasting some of the city’s best skyline views.

Artist Kipper Millsap with his new mural at Peregrin

Test your green thumb this spring with a trip to Cast & Grey Botanical (2411 Waters Ave.). Inside, find an ever-rotating selection of houseplants, planters, hangers, watering cans, soils, amendments, fertilizers, tools, accessories and more. … For larger projects, head to the new 10-acre home of Cobia Clarke Nursery (5015 Abercorn St.). Owned by Savannah native Mike Neal, and previously located in Pooler, the expanded location offers a wide range of landscaping supplies and plants, from shrubs and trees to the most subtropical plants, with a seasoned staff who offers a wealth of planting and horticulture knowhow. … Across the bridge, EmmaJames, Hutchinson Island’s upscale mixed-use community fronting the Savannah Harbor Marina Development, now boasts an impressive art collection. Find works by regional artists, such as Abigail Chase Miller, Honor Bowman Hall, Katherine Knowles, Hilarie Lambert and Underhill Photography, curated by EmmaJames interior designer, Cindy Munn of Charleston, South Carolina-based S. Wilkins Interior Design, and Hugo Aguilera, director of art at Savannah College of Art and Design. … Headquartered on Hilton Head Island, the international residential and hospitality interiors firm J. Banks Design appointed Chris Burden as the new president, furthering the growth that began in 1996 with the firm’s founder, Joni Burden, who is now serving as the executive chairman and creative director.

Left to right: Tanner and Meghan Reed, Tonya and Todd Reed

Cast & Grey Botanical

EMILY HINNERS

SPRING

MARCH 29JUNE 1

Laney Contemporary presents “water ways,” a solo exhibition of works by Savannah-based artist Katherine Sandoz, with a reception on April 4. The ambitious exhibit includes 44 new mid- and large-scale canvases, resulting from Sandoz’s three-year study of “The Lotus Sutra” paired with her ongoing survey of Coastal Empire floodplains, rivers and ponds.

APRIL 9-11

Experience what’s now and what’s next in the world of aesthetics during SCADstyle, Savannah College of Art and Design’s annual summit. Learn from icons in fashion, interiors, structures, beauty, forecasting and content creation. All events are free and open to the public.

APRIL 13

Spend the day in one of the city’s most picturesque and historic neighborhoods during the Ardsley Park Tour of Homes & Gardens. Tickets are $50, with proceeds benefiting the ongoing beautification of the green spaces and central parks in the Ardsley Park-Chatham Crescent neighborhood.

APRIL 19-20

Enjoy a rare look behind courtyard gates during the NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens. Hosted by the Garden Club of Savannah, this self-guided tour grants access to some of the city’s most secretive and luxurious private and historic gardens north of Gaston Street and an elegant tea tasting at the landmark Green-Meldrim House, with proceeds from the tour donated to local garden-related organizations.

APRIL 23-25

Hit the road to join design enthusiasts and industry leaders from across the Southeast and beyond at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center for DESIGN ADAC Three days of programming includes a lineup of keynote speakers, refreshing showroom presentations, remarkable collaborations, exciting celebrations and more. While admission is free, advanced registration is required.

MAY 2

Each year, the Historic Savannah Foundation Preservation Awards Ceremony celebrates the pinnacle of preservation with a special program that recognizes projects, individuals, organizations and companies that embody and practice excellence in preservation in Chatham County.

THROUGH JUNE 23

Bird lovers rejoice. “Of a Feather: Birds in Art” at Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center explores the many ways in which birds have captured artists’ imaginations, highlighting works of fine and decorative arts from the museum’s permanent collection.

COURTESY LANEY CONTEMPORARY FINE ART

“(marga) the sun” by Katherine Sandoz

DESIGN

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Take your home’s curb appeal to new heights with tips from local landscape pros

Written by STEPHANIE TALLEVAST

MANY CAPTIVATING HOMES throughout Savannah and the Lowcountry feature irresistible exteriors adorned with masses of lush climbing greenery as well as manicured garden accent plantings. Stair railings, columns and trellises that accommodate mature vines — both orderly and wild — and whimsical espalier trees along house and garden walls collectively become a curb-appeal exclamation point. Here, local landscape experts offer a few considerations to help achieve maximum impact and perennial beauty.

GOING UP

Joshua Beckler, owner of Beckler Design Studio, advises designing with climbing plants to create an extension of the home. “Structures like pergolas, trellises and arbors, covered in ornamental climbing vines, offer shade and privacy, [creating] the feeling of outdoor rooms,” Beckler says. For durability and quality, his company specifies kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT) lumber or powder-coated aluminum to fabricate outdoor structures. Embarking on the addition of climbing plants into a landscape plan requires underpinnings to be long-lasting, so as not to lose the framework beneath a mature plant later.

PAPRIKA

Jennifer Frerichs of Everbloom recommends providing a structure for climbing plants, such as a wooden or metal trellis, rather than allowing them to grow directly on your house.

To avoid mold growth, plant vines in a sunny spot, says Everbloom’s Jennifer Frerichs.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

When selecting plants, Low Country Landscapes of Savannah advises evaluating the upkeep requirements for any variety of climbers that you plan to incorporate. Notable varieties like star jasmine, also known as Confederate jasmine, English and Algerian ivy, climbing fig, clematis and honeysuckle offer significant visual impact with minimal maintenance. And, while some of the aforementioned do bloom annually, for larger and more showy flowers, experts suggest planting Cherokee roses, wisteria, bougainvillea, climbing hydrangea, passion vine and trumpet vine — most of which require only regular pruning to maintain their shape once established.

ROOM TO GROW

With vines, keeping watch of what they attach to is key. Jennifer Frerichs of Everbloom always recommends providing a structure, such as a wooden or metal trellis, rather than allowing climbing plants to grow directly on your house. “Climbing plants need something to support their weight as they mature,” Frerichs says. She adds that if left unattended, these plantings can damage a home’s exterior and take over other vegetation. To inhibit mold growth, plant vines in a sunny spot.

LOCAL FAVORITES

Due to its ease of establishment, low maintenance, evergreen quality and dramatic appearance, Beckler agrees that Confederate jasmine stands out as a top pick for Southern coastal gardens. “Confederate jasmine requires some sort of training structure like wire to grow up a wall. It will self-feed through posts and ironwork,” Beckler says. To avoid the yellowing and dropping of leaves caused by acidic clay, Beckler recommends planting 3-gallon containers of the heritage vine in well-drained soil. “Confederate jasmine can grow successfully in both full shade and full sun, but full sun produces more flowers,” Beckler notes.

As an alternative to the ubiquitous Confederate jasmine, Frerichs likes incorporating clematis in landscapes. Some varieties of clematis, such as sweet autumn (clematis paniculata), die back each year, blossoming heavily in the fall. For a vine with year-round oomph, she recommends evergreen clemaits (clematis armandii), “which retains its long, glossy leaves throughout the year and produces fragrant blooms in early spring.”

PAPRIKA SOUTHERN // COURTESY OF EVERBLOOM

CLIMBING THE WALLS

Interested in a more structured look to the landscape enhancement of your home?

Consider the espalier. Espaliers are trees that have been trimmed repeatedly to purposely grow flat against something, such as a wall or fence. Frerichs suggests using lemon or orange citrus trees, which are well-suited for the region, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone map.

At the Zero George Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, a charming magnolia espalier tree stretches against the exterior of the 1820s carriage house and surrounds its courtyard fountain. “Espaliers are a wonderful way to incorporate height, visual interest and textures into tight planting spaces because of their flattened appearance,” says Kelly Megeath, owner of Garden Elegance, who designed the hotel’s landscape.

Before getting started, she cautions that an espalier tree takes careful monitoring and maintenance, especially while the plant is being established. “They are often attached to surfaces via anchors and garden wire that need to be properly maintained to prevent the gridling and damaging of tree limbs, [with] additional anchors needed to accommodate growth over time,” Megeath says.

While spring is the perfect season to try your hand at climbing vines and espalier trees, Frerichs encourages the home gardener to take time to make a plan for placement, accounting for aesthetics as well as sunexposure and drainage suitability. “Enjoy the process of creating something beautiful in your own yard,” she adds.

A magnolia espalier tree flanks the courtyard fountain at the Zero George Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina.

KEEN EYE MARKETING

Kelly Megeath, owner of Garden Elegance, says espaliers are a wonderful way to incorporate height, visual interest and textures into tight planting spaces.

Challenge Accepted

ALEX SKELLON

Owner and Master Mason, Scottish Stone Craft

Written by MARGARET DANIEL

ALEX SKELLON

“I’d like to be remembered for doing what I said I would do and doing it well ...”

ALEX SKELLON is the ideal dinner party guest. International, with a charming Glaswegian accent to boot, wildly accomplished and endlessly compelling with his delivery, the Scotsman brought his master stonemasonry business stateside nearly three decades ago and has been enriching the Hostess City and his repertoire ever since.

Following a five-year apprenticeship with Hugh McKendry Stonemasons, Skellon began his career outside Glasgow restoring castles until a commission and chance encounter lured him to the Southeastern U.S., where he has constructed monuments, aided in the historic preservation of the SCAD Museum of Art and Kessler-Armstrong Mansion and

even broke a Guinness World Record for relocating the country’s tallest lighthouse in Buxton, North Carolina.

Here, Skellon shares his career highs, lows and the legacy he has set in stone.

ON HIS JOURNEY STATESIDE

I started my own business when I was 21. I ended up restoring castles [in Scotland], and I met Virgil Graham, a gunsmith, from Wilmington Island who was visiting Graham Castle, which I was restoring. One thing led to the next, and I said I had always wanted to come to America.

Within a year of meeting him, I had packed everything up, sold everything, took my then-7-month-old son and 7-yearold stepdaughter, along with my wife,

COURTESY ALEX SKELLON

learned how to drive on the other side of the road and set up Scottish Stone Craft within two weeks of getting to Savannah.

My first job in America was for Julie Backus Smith, of the former Backus Cadillac on Victory Drive. We redid their factory’s whole drainage system, which worked very successfully until it was sold. I also did brick pillars and a little stone fountain at her house. That was a posh job.

ON HIS MOST REWARDING — AND CHALLENGING — COMMISSION

I was here less than a year when I got the contract to restore the Tybee Island Light Station & Museum from top to bottom with International Chimney Corp. That was

when I got the big opportunity to go up to Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks, home to the country’s tallest brick lighthouse. It had been commissioned to be moved just under half a mile because of erosion.

I worked with my six men and International Chimney’s men for 24 hours a day to mine and pull the granite out from roundabout the lighthouse. The lighthouse was right on the beach, and every so often, at high tide or when there was a full moon, the water would come in and be up to our knees, and it was absolutely freezing cold and wet with the Atlantic Ocean blowing in. We had 5,000 tons of granite and 208 feet of brick above our heads, and the mining machines we used for the granite were huge with two- or three-foot lead

See photos of Skellon’s projects at scottishstonecraft.com

drill bits. They were damaging guys’ hands, fracturing the bones.

The lighthouse was then raised and rolled away from the beach, and I rebuilt all the stone around it. It was in the “Guinness Book of World Records” in 1999 as being the tallest lighthouse moved the farthest.

I’ve always liked a challenge, but I wouldn’t fancy doing that again, no. It’s going to have to be moved in another 70 years because of the erosion, but I don’t think I’ll be here for that one.

ON TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP

Years ago, I trained two or three people and passed some of my knowledge and wisdom down. I had been called by a [local college], and they asked me if I would take on some people to give them an apprenticeship to teach them to be stonemasons for six weeks. I said, “Six years; there’s no six weeks. I can’t even teach them to get out of bed and come to work on time in six weeks, let alone how to hold a chisel properly.” They weren’t too happy with me, but I don’t care. You can’t teach anyone what I do in six weeks. It’s impossible.

It’s a shame because the apprenticeships are few and far between for this kind of work. It’s dying out here. There are apprenticeships for stonemasonry in Scotland, and I guess we are relying on them.

ON THE HALLMARK OF HIS CAREER

Quality, of course. As a wee example, take the Pulaski Monument downtown. I rebuilt it 20 years ago.

I’d like to be remembered for doing what I said I would do and doing it well, for good workmanship and reliability. We never let anyone down.

That’s the best thing you can have in life no matter what industry you are in: to be a good, respectful person and to leave behind good, quality work.

COURTESY PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT

Left: In 2018, Skellon’s team stabilized the foundation of all existing buildings at Plant Riverside District. This page: A look at Plant Riverside District today.

Next-Gen Design

Meet four rising design stars who find joyful inspiration in the Hostess City

Written by ALLISON LANE FARMER

“LIFE IS SHORT. You’ve got to invest in the things that make you smile,” says Natalie Schaake, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) graduate and creator of the Hug chair, a user-crafted chair designed to relieve stress.

For Schaake and other emerging furniture designers, a surprising and delightful common thread has emerged: Each of these designers seeks to inspire joy.

Whether through whimsical pattern play on an interior rug, a cushioned lounger with a crafty side, mixand-match light fixtures, a customizable digital print chair or an orb lamp that invites interaction, these four SCAD grads are shaking things up and changing the way the world thinks about furniture design.

The Hug chair

NATALIE SCHAAKE

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER, HUG CHAIR

When it came time for Natalie Schaake to decide on her senior thesis at SCAD, she knew it had to be something in the furniture design space, preferably a chair. “Designing a chair is very difficult,” Schaake says. “It’s almost like a rite of passage.” But before she could think about design, she knew she had to find her why. “I decided I wanted to focus on anxiety,” Schaake explains. “It was something I was really dealing with at the time.”

Enter the Hug chair. Designed to reduce anxiety through the crafting of the chair, Hug is an uber-comfortable lounger that feels like, well, a hug — a warm and stylish hug, to be precise. The construction of Hug is just as important as the end design, prompting users to assemble the frame of the chair and then handcraft a variety of cushion and upholstery options. Whether crocheting, knitting, punch needling, or any combination of the three, Hug allows its users to tap into their crafty and creative side. This isn’t just for show, either. Schaake found that 45 minutes of crafting can reduce anxiety by 75 percent. “It’s an ongoing project, and it’s calming your anxiety along the way,” Schaake says.

Schaake has received numerous awards for Hug, including a Fast Company 2023 Innovation by Design Award, and is working toward making the chair commercially available. Until then, check Schaake’s website, natalieschaake.com, for updates to craft your very own Hug.

ANNA ALBURY TEXTILE AND RUG DESIGNER

Isle of Hope native Anna Albury discovered a fascination with patterns and their hands-on applications early on. With a fibers degree from SCAD behind her, Albury has channeled that fascination into her work as a textile and rug designer for Crosby Street Studios in New York City. Albury’s process is an ode to her first love of painting, and she begins each project with a colorful combination of watercolors, gouache, markers, crayons and collage techniques. “Finding a career that allows me to paint, collage, tear up paper and have fun at the beginning stages is what interested me in textile design and rugs,” Albury explains.

Her designs are imbued with color and personality and, to every designer’s delight, totally customizable. “It’s cool to see people’s interpretations of the same design,” Albury says. Her line for Crosby Street, entitled High Fives, was initially marketed toward children but, to this day, has yet to be used in that application. Instead, her whimsical designs can be found gracing the spaces of Sir David Adjaye, famed architect of Adjaye Associates. “Aamir [Khandwala] used it in this Chelsea loft,” Albury says. “We did a handful of different rugs that all went together that were all cobalt blue, lilac, and really pretty dusty blue and chunky shapes.”

The ultra-cool designer also freelances as an interior stylist and content creator, and just celebrated the 200th issue of her newsletter, coolstuff.nyc, written in collaboration with her husband and fellow designer, Garrett Albury.

COURTESY STUDIO WAAH

PAUL GODWIN/COURTESY ANNA ALBURY

COURTESY NATALIE SCHAAKE

Anna Albury

The Orb

CAITLYN CAMPANELLA FOUNDER, NELLA LIGHTING

Founded on the simple goal of giving the world playful home decor, Caitlyn Campanella created Savannah-based Nella Lighting. The then-senior was pursuing a degree at SCAD in furniture design and wanted to produce something playful and practical. Lighting fit the bill, and inspiration was found in unlikely spaces. “I love children’s furniture, which is funny,” Campanella says with a laugh. “The really simple design of it and how approachable it is, how playful it is — I wanted to take that concept and that look and elevate it a little bit.”

What emerged is a cheerful collection of table lamps designed with interchangeable shades and bases made from compostable materials. Users can mix and match different shade silhouettes and base color options, including banana cream, nectar and dove white. “Nella is very motivated by a sense of cheer,” Campanella explains. The lamps are easy to assemble and bring a charming depth with their subtle textures and silhouettes.

Up next for Campanella is a floor lamp with whimsical stackable shades, another nod to her signature customizable lighting line, which prompts users to determine the fixture’s height and overall appearance.

SHREYA SOMANI + SHAUNAK PATEL CO-CREATORS, STUDIO WAAH

Setting out to create “waah” moments (“waah” is the Indian translation for “wow”), SCAD graduates Shreya Somani and Shaunak Patel established Studio Waah. The pair found themselves inspired by the Gulf Coast’s green waters and orange skies and developed a piece that could mirror these colors down to an exact hex code and be customizable by architects and designers. Behold, the lean-on chair — an uncomplicated bent-ply approach with minimal waste and bold, clean lines. “We named it lean-on because we thought, finally, the architect or the designer could lean on the furniture within the space to tell the story of the space,” Somani explains. There’s a sense of joy and playfulness to the piece, which eschews traditional design and pushes its users to rethink what exactly makes a chair … a chair.

This meta-unboxing approach to furniture design led the pair to their next project: the orb. “We took this very tactile experience of light and then tried to translate it to something very touchable but in modern form,” Somani says. “We really wanted it to have this magic to it.” The orb invites interaction from its users through a simple design — the orb can be placed on three different levels, with the brightest light shining at the top placement and the dimmest at the bottom. Users of the orb revel at its magical dimming effect, and for the duo, it felt like introducing a child to a new toy. Waah indeed.

As for what’s next, they’re already dreaming up new designs that inspire waah moments — a utensil that can turn into a mirror, aromatherapy, engagement rings for each other and a highly anticipated side table to go with the lean-on chair.

COURTESY STUDIO WAAH

COURTESY NELLA LIGHTING

Nella Lighting table lamp

Lean-on chair

Guests are encouraged to enjoy the historic accommodations by unplugging with games or a book.

In the attic of the Printmaker’s Inn Hills-Galloway house, owner Peter Galloway created a perfect perch for games and conversation under antique beams with a traditional polished brass chandelier and original 12-over-12 window lighting the room.

REAL HOMES

SPRING 2024

It Takes Two

A fascination with architecture led one couple to restore an unlikely pair of homes as an inn within the National Historic Landmark District

Written by NICOLE LETTS // Photography by ANDREW FRAZIER

PETER GALLOWAY’S VOICE shifts to an excited pitch as he recounts his interest in bygone buildings. His best childhood memories surround trips from his home in the Chicago suburbs to visit family in the South or to trudge as a tourist through England and Scotland. “[Those trips] were my first intro into really old stuff,” he says.

Later, as a student at Clemson University in the early aughts, Galloway pursued architecture. That is, until a computer-aided design (CAD) professor turned him off from the field, completely shifting his path to graduate with a degree in international business and beginning a career in the corporate world at Johnson & Johnson. After a move across the country to California, Galloway felt that familiar tug back to the South. “I missed old towns; I missed the old buildings. I missed the coast. I wanted to get involved in that [lifestyle],” he says.

When he found the Nichols House at 303 W. Gwinnett St. and its neighboring empty lot, he convinced his wife, Kristen, to move to Savannah to take on the first of several restoration projects. That was 2015. Today, nearly a decade later, Galloway’s property has grown to include not one, but two homes. They comprise The Printmaker’s Inn, a boutique accommodation featuring eight

The facade of the Hills-Galloway House has been meticulously restored to reflect its original glory.

suites with architecture, interiors and furnishings spanning three centuries.

The location couldn’t be beat, but the 5,000-squarefoot Nichols House needed some work. Originally built in 1884 for William Nichols, Savannah’s premiere printer at the time, the home later served as a refuge for underserved youth, and beyond that, apartments for Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) students. It is even said to have been owned at one point by jazz pianist Nat King Cole.

Despite several iterations over the years, many of the home’s historic details remained intact, including Eastlake ceiling medallions and a reproduction metal fence outside designed by the previous owner’s son, a SCAD graduate. After making mostly cosmetic upgrades, Galloway filled the suites with Victorian-era furniture and antiques, ranging from the Civil War years to the early 1900s.

“We would go to an auction every other week and buy Eastlake mirrors and marble-topped tables,” he recalls. Scouring the internet to find the best auctions and estate sales came to serve Galloway well, especially when it was time to purchase a second,

This page: Inside the first floor of the Hills-Galloway House

even older property. Only this time, the home wasn’t in Savannah … yet.

“We saw the Hills House for the first time in East Hartford, Connecticut,” Galloway says. Originally built in 1693 for Lt. Jonathan Hills and his wife, Dorothy Hale, the house was expanded in 1742 to its current state by their grandson, Captain David Hills. According to Galloway, the house was essentially preserved in that era for almost 280 years before it was threatened with demolition. The pine flooring, raised panel walls, doors and even the corner cupboard were in their original condition. The real challenge was keeping the house in its pristine state throughout its 917-mile move south.

Every floorboard, timber frame, joist and crown molding was meticulously labeled. Even the chimney, with its original stone and brick likely cured onsite near the Connecticut River, was numbered piece by piece to be reassembled at 303 W. Gwinnett St. “You have your schematics to put it back together, and you just hope it all fits,” Galloway jokes.

Historic paint colors were carefully selected for accuracy and style. Galloway spent months collecting period furnishings to add to the charm.

The historic property has been updated with modern bathrooms for guests.

“[The home’s exterior] is proportioned exactly to Langley’s Palladio proportions and is what he would have done in the 1740s for this style of home.”

— Peter Galloway, innkeeper, Printmaker’s Inn

Like an enormous puzzle, the home was rebuilt to its envisioned glory, right down to its paint. In the parlor bed-chamber, for example, lamp black, a lead white mixed with black pigment, remains the color to this day.

On the exterior, the goal was to achieve the same look that the interior represented. Scouring Palladio pattern books by Batty Langley, an English architect in the early 1700s, Galloway settled on an exterior design. “It is proportioned exactly to Langley’s Palladio proportions and is what he would have done in the 1740s for this style of home,” he says. Woodwork and trim were chosen from Langley’s “The Builder’s Jewel,” as well as his 1740 book, “The City and Country Builder’s and Workman’s Treasury of Designs.” The latter also inspired George Washington’s Venetian window in the New Room at Mount Vernon.

For the decor, Galloway insisted on period furniture and art, focusing his attention on items from the 1690s through the federal period. “Ultimately, it shows the family’s progression as they lived through the house from the 1690s to the early 1800s,” he explains. A desk made by renowned Newport cabinet maker Job Townsend in the 1740s sits in the parlor. In the hall, there is an English portrait by William Beechey, the portrait painter for King George III.

Despite the fine furnishings, the innkeeper wants the Hills Galloway House to feel welcoming for guests as a living, hands-on house museum. He wants people to use the house, sit on the furniture and enjoy the brick bake oven. “We cook oysters; we do wings; we make little pizzas for our kids. We use it all the time, and we’d like for guests to learn how to use it, too,” Galloway says.

What’s more interesting than cooking in a 280-year-old oven? Perhaps spending an entire weekend in its surrounding house.

In the Captain Hills suite, the original paint is still visible and inspired the paint color choices through the Hills Galloway House.

CERTIFIED

SITTING: Anne Gant, Rebecca Wayman, Dawn Morgan, Laura Celaya

STANDING: Susan Dailey, Susan Ross, Matthew Lufburrow, Alison Jett, Andresa Mueller, Beth Vickers

*Listing – 89 Waterway Drive, Savannah, Ga 31411

Details

Innkeepers: Peter and Kristen Galloway

Year built: 1693

Construction/renovation

timeline: Research, city approvals, dismantling (2017-2019); reassembly (Jan. 2020-Jan. 2023)

Neighborhood: Victorian/Historic District

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms

Square footage: 4,000

Architects: Leonard Baum; Christian Sottile (front portico)

Builder: Peter Galloway; Anthony Koncul, JAK Homes

Appliances: Samsung

Furniture: All antiques, estate sales

Tile: Mike Adams

Flooring: Peter Galloway and Anthony Koncul

Art: antiques

Paint: Brouns and Co Linseed Paint

Windows and doors: William Gould windows/window architraves; doors original; front doors recreated by Steve Cook

Lighting: Antique lighting from auctions and some recreation lighting from Tin Bin

Landscape: Chatham Nursery

Noteworthy: All original woodwork, floors, period door hardware and furniture from the 1690s–1830s

All details supplied by the innkeepers

REAL HOMES

A brick archway acts as a transitional element from the kitchen to the adjoining dining and living areas.

Built to Perfection

A new-construction Bluffton home delivers on all fronts

Written by MARY FITZGERALD Photography by KELLI BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy KELLY CARON DESIGNS

AFTER MANY YEARS of vacationing with friends on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, a Pennsylvania couple decided the time was right to purchase their own Lowcountry escape. The home, however, proved to be more elusive than the dream.

“Our initial plan was to purchase an existing home ‘as is,’ or one that we could renovate,” the homeowner says. “But we could not find a house that was just right. We saw many that had much of what we wanted — but not everything.”

Not willing to settle, they opted to start from scratch with a new build. They lucked into a coveted peninsula lot with an amazing marsh and Colleton River view in the private Bluffton community of Berkeley Hall. The property owner was Antoine Iskandar of ACH Custom Homes, a builder whose work they had seen and admired. Iskandar presented a conceptual plan and, according to the homeowner, “It all came together.” They were finally ready to break ground.

But building a nearly 7,000-square-foot home is a tall order — especially from hundreds of miles away. “We had never done a ground-up build before,” the homeowner recalls. “The amount of detail and decisions can be overwhelming.”

In addition to ACH, they wanted to bring an interior designer on board. The couple enlisted the services of Kelly Caron Designs, and designer Sarah Wildridge took the lead on behalf of the firm. “The homeowners needed a hands-on approach and someone skilled with a design background to help make selections for them,” Wildridge says. “They gave me the project and said, ‘Here you go, we trust you.’”

Design directives included an open concept plan in the main living areas with a comfortable and not-too-modern aesthetic. Every room was to receive equal attention and detail. “We wanted all the rooms to have a specific purpose, but to all tie together,” the homeowner notes.

Because the clients did not want to draw any attention away from the stunning water views, Wildridge carefully selected the color tones: a subdued palette of soft shades of blues and greens

for continuity. Occasional and strategically placed pops of pattern add just enough visual impact.

The design team’s hand is evident in every part of the home — no surface went untouched. Ceilings and walls received paneling, shiplap or wallpaper applied in unique ways, and doors were painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Peppercorn, a bluegray hue, for an unexpected note of color against quiet Benjamin Moore Cloud White walls. Floors were laid with white plank pine (hand-selected by the clients and Iskandar on a field trip to Zeagler Farms in Sylvania, Georgia), patterned brick and graphic tile.

Utilitarian spaces, too, were thoughtfully and thoroughly designed. The laundry area boasts botanical-papered walls, hexagon floor tile from Savannah Surfaces and even a chic dog washing station. The modern reeded-glass Dutch door does double duty as a doggy gate for a very pampered pup.

At the center of the home, the kitchen is a masterpiece of form and function with not one, but two massive islands topped with seamless, leathered-finish quartzite. The rich mix of materials and finishes includes Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl on the island cabinets and stained wood on the wall cabinetry. To add a bit of intrigue, a hidden passageway — a door disguised as a cabinet — leads to the pantry.

Iskandar came up with the brilliant idea for the brick archway, which acts as a transitional element from the kitchen to the adjoining dining and living areas. The Hickory White dining table, paired with jute rope chairs from Palecek, is large enough to comfortably accommodate friends and family. Wildridge specified distinctive lighting for every room in the home, including this linear chandelier from Visual Comfort.

In the living area, a pair of raffiawrapped coffee tables by Mr. Brown London services the fireside stools and Vanguard sofa and chairs. The fireplace features a custom-colored, cast stone surround. Wildridge layered a large rug from KPM Flooring with a more expensive Jaipur hand-knotted antique — a trick

she uses to add dimension and texture to a room while also keeping costs down.

The dramatic staircase leads to a second-floor landing and sitting area. Stair treads and railings are color-matched to the wood flooring throughout the home, and the black iron spindles pick up the black in the custom-bound runner by KPM Flooring.

In the primary bedroom, shiplap was applied vertically to the walls to emphasize the height of the room and to create a more modern look. The bed, by Bernhardt, is upholstered in a custom blue crushed velvet and flanked by bedside tables from Villa & House and mother-of-pearl mirrors by Made Goods.

The adjoining bath is a scene-stealer, not only in size but in materiality. The shower holds court with three different tile designs from Savannah Surfaces — the most dramatic of which is a blue-gray, white and black marble mosaic lining the back wall. “We wanted it to be a piece of art, really captivating and pretty,” Wildridge says. The designer upgraded the shower hardware as well, specifying a Classic Brass door handle with knurled detailing. “The client will see it every day,” she notes. “It elevates it and gives the shower another design detail.”

A family room on the second level is yet another inviting space to watch TV, play games or have a cocktail. The fireplace wall is clad in a wood veneer wallpaper (Palazzo from Phillip Jeffries) in a geometric pattern. A Vanguard sofa and chairs, upholstered in family-friendly performance fabrics, surround a Hickory White cocktail table wrapped in a fun, yet-practical, vinyl animal print with a removable tray. Grass window shades from Budget Blinds are layered with Pindler fabric draperies.

His-and-hers offices, with matching views of the marsh, are on separate floors. His is upstairs. “Sharing an office was not a good idea,” the husband quips. “Let’s just say I am not as neat and organized as my wife.” Moody and masculine, the room is furnished with a leather desk from Made Goods and illuminated by an Arteriors table lamp and a tiered plaster chandelier

OPPOSITE PAGE: The dramatic staircase leads to a second-floor landing and sitting area.

ABOVE: In the primary bedroom, shiplap was applied vertically to the walls to emphasize the height of the room.

LEFT: An inviting ottoman from Hickory Chair is the perfect spot to sit and relax in this glamorous bath suite.

His-and-hers offices, with matching views of the marsh, are on separate floors. His is upstairs and features a leather desk. Hers is on the main level, with green woven paper and a cascading alabaster chandelier.

The fireplace wall in the second-floor family room is clad in a wood veneer wallpaper (Palazzo from Phillip Jeffries) in a geometric pattern.

REAL HOMES

Details

Neighborhood: Berkeley Hall, Bluffton

Year built: 2022

Construction/renovation timeline: Early 2022 through late summer 2023

Square footage: 12,065 including patios and covered porch (6,749 heated and cooled)

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 3 beds and 5 baths in main house; 1 bed plus bunk room and 1 bath in guest home

Architect/Builder: Antoine Iskandar, ACH Custom Homes

Interior designer: Sarah Wildridge, Kelly Caron Designs

Landscape: Ramirez Landscaping

Appliances: Livingood’s Appliances & Bedding

Artwork: Ben Ham; Shadow Catchers; Wendover

Exterior lighting: Fourteenth Colony Lighting

Fabrics: Pindler; Romo

Flooring: Savannah Surfaces; Zeagler Farms

Furnishings: Bernhardt; Eastern Accents; Hickory Chair; Hickory White; Hooker; Lee Industries; Lowcountry Originals; Made Goods; Mr. Brown London; Palecek; Sarreid; Universal Furniture; Vanguard; Villa & House

Hardware: Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath

Lighting: Arteriors; Currey & Company; Palecek; Visual Comfort

Paint: Benjamin Moore; Sherwin-Williams

Pantry countertops: J. Aaron

Plumbing fixtures: Classic Brass

Rugs: Keivan Woven Arts; KPM Flooring; Loloi; Jaipur

Tile: Savannah Surfaces

Trim: Samuel & Sons

Wallpaper: Cowtan & Tout; Kravet; Phillip Jeffries; Thibaut

Windows/doors: Muhler

Window treatments: Budget Blinds; Wesley Hall

from Visual Comfort. Thibaut sisal-covered walls and a soft pile Loloi rug complete the cozy retreat. Her office, off the hall on the main level, is more feminine with a green woven paper from Cowtan & Tout and built-in storage with jewel-like lucite and gold hardware. A Made Goods desk sits on a Jaipur rug. The chandelier, with cascading alabaster drops, is suspended from the coffered ceiling accentuated with custom millwork crafted by ACH.

The exterior of the home features the signature Lowcountry elements desired by the homeowners — Tabby siding, Savannah gray brick and the quintessentially Southern front and back porch, plus an enchanting swing to take in the pool and marsh views.

In the end, the accolades from the homeowners say it all: “We have not had any ‘we wish we had’ moments; the house really did turn out the way we envisioned.”

Walls are papered in a colorful botanical print by Thibaut. A hexagon floor tile from Savannah Surfaces is equally stylish but can stand up to dirty paws.

Traditional TWIST

With a

A family finds balance between then and now with a newly built waterfront dream home

Written by ALLISON LANE FARMER

Photography by MARY BRITTON SENSENEY Styling by LILY BROWN INTERIORS

IT CAN BE EASY TO FORGET the countless hours, emails and phone calls that go into crafting and designing a home to feel like a home, but for the owners of this family-centric waterfront abode, it was a long time in the making. The couple, who were relocating from Hilton Head to Savannah with their two small children, wanted to create a home that would serve as a springboard for new memories and pay homage to cherished ones of days gone by.

Drawing upon their childhood memories of summers spent along the water, the couple found and purchased a waterfront lot with views of the marsh and tidal creek access. “[My husband’s] childhood was filled with fishing off the dock and throwing a cast net, so we wanted that for our kids,” the homeowner shares.

With the location secured, the homeowners sought the help of builder Tracey Tollison with Tollison & Co. Construction and residential designer Fred Wasson of Fred Wasson Residential Design to bring their vision to life. The homeowners tasked Tollison with a hard deadline of only 10 months, which she met — with time to spare. “We said, ‘Listen, we have to be able to move into this house for the start of the school year,’” the homeowner explains. “That was a must. And she did it. We were on time.”

After walking through countless homes and scouring the internet for a home plan that felt right, the homeowner put pen to paper and drew the concept herself. “She showed them to me,” Wasson says, “and I instantly knew what she was trying to do and what she was trying to convey with her sketches.”

As the design process gained momentum, Wasson referred the homeowners to Lily Brown of Lily Brown Interiors, and it was an easy fit. While the homeowner typically favored more classic design elements with blues and white, she was open to new ideas from Brown, and what emerged is a testament to the collaborative partnership. “There was a lot of mix between something traditional and then something fresh,” Brown says. “The whole house is built on that.”

This is evident in the great room, where Brown selected family-friendly fabrics with simple, thoughtful details. At the kitchen table, Brown upholstered the bench seat in faux ostrich leather, while on the loveseat and sofa, she added stitched frog closures and an interwoven embroidered trim to the skirt. Brown was mindful of the careful balance between detailed and fussy, and when to take a step back and let the home’s architecture and waterfront view take center stage.

“There aren’t a ton of window treatments,” Brown says, and true to her word, the back wall of the home is almost entirely glass with unobstructed views of the marsh and water beyond. In the dining room, Brown chose only sheer, unlined drapes to soften the space and add a touch of formality. It’s a slight but distinct change in tone and is underscored by the punchy and playful fabric of Ottoman-era figures by Travers on the dining room chairs. “It was a lot of push-pull with some really traditional elements and some really fresh things,” Brown says.

This layered and thoughtful approach to the interior included the paint colors, which weren’t as simple as selecting from a swatch. “The paint colors were really important in this house because of how it gets so much natural light,” Brown explains. “Even though this house is very light-filled, its directional sunlight can be very tricky in the way it makes colors look.”

“A lot of thought was put into the kids growing up there. Not just needs for today but transitioning.”

— Tracey Tollison, homebuilder, Tollison & Co. Construction

Brown selected Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for the walls, Silver Mist for the kitchen ceiling and Boothbay Gray at 50% for the interior doors. In the butler’s pantry, though, Brown eschewed paint in favor of a whimsical Thibaut Daintree wallpaper. “I love rooms that have drama, and I just think this is beautiful and feels like a special hidden space,” Brown says. “We had a lot of fun with wallpaper.”

Brown carried the drama into the downstairs powder rooms and selected Thibaut wallpapers in unique applications. In one, she wallpapered the ceiling and framed it with bold paint, while in the entry powder room, she covered the walls in a printed grasscloth. “She wasn’t afraid to take really thoughtful risks on things or do something unexpected, and I love that,” Brown says of the homeowner.

Outside the entry powder room, the designer selected antique rugs for the foyer and great room and found two sets of reclaimed doors that have quickly become the most complimented pieces in the home.

Upstairs, an open homework space with built-in desks and a window seat reading area is another thoughtful use of space by the homeowners, who considered not just how their children would use the home now but what that might look like in five or 10 years. “A lot of thought was put into the kids growing up there,”

Tollison attests. “Not just needs for today but transitioning.”

In the children’s bedrooms, Brown gave family heirloom pieces a fresh twist, draping a striped fabric in a half canopy over two twin beds the homeowner had as a child. In the other bedroom, she furnished the space with a bunk bed custom-designed with Tollison, feminine draperies and a draped shower curtain for an additional special touch. “It’s so fabulous,” Brown says with a smile. “Her draperies are still my favorite.”

Outside, a spacious screened porch with a large wood-burning fireplace and covered outdoor kitchen opens seamlessly to the pool, dock and tidal creek beyond. This space, the homeowner shares, is perfect in the fall for fish fries with a football game on in the back and a fire in the fireplace. Still, the homeowner can’t pick just one favorite room in the home. “I think wherever we gather is my favorite space,” she says.

Details

Year built: 2020

Timeline of project: 10 months

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 2 half-baths

Square footage: 5,668 heated; 7,125 under roof

Residential designer: Fred Wasson

Residential Design

Interior designer: Lily Brown Interiors

Builder: Tollison & Co. Construction

Custom kitchen cabinets: Williamson Millworks Inc.

Lighting: Visual Comfort; sourced by Lily Brown Interiors

Furniture: sourced by Lily Brown Interiors

Tile: Garden State Tile

Flooring: Morris Wood Flooring

Wallpaper: Thibaut

Art: homeowners’ collection

All details provided by the interior designer

THE RESULTS ARE IN

Our 16th annual readers’ choice survey celebrates the city’s esteemed design community, with over 150 winners and runners-up. Whether the refrigerator needs repair or you are ready to build your dream home, these are the local experts who Savannah and the Lowcountry trust to get the job done best .

Daniel Ravenel

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

WINNER, BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY AND BEST PROPERTY MANAGER

BEST OF THE BEST:

11 Longbridge Road

“A spectacular waterfront listing represented by Realtor Stewart Marshall. Impeccably photographed with a cinematic property video, a reel posted on the company’s Instagram account has garnered over 100,000 views.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“Service beyond expectation is the emerging trend showcased with this property. Recently, Marshall hosted an invitation-only Broker’s Open House featuring bottles of Sotheby’s label wine and gourmet cheeses. The immersive experience highlighted the unmatched lifestyle available to the future owner of 11 Longbridge Road.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

“2024 will see Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty agents travel to the Sotheby’s International Realty Global Networking Event in September. This exclusive opportunity engages thousands of talented agents from around the globe in one location where strategic connections are forged that yield incredible results for the brand’s clientele.”

— Daniel Ravenel Jr., chief operating o cer, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty

HOW THE LIST WORKS:

The Best of Savannah HOMES winners were determined by reader votes alone.

Only one ballot per voter was accepted; duplicate ballots and those without a verifiable name and address were automatically disqualified.

Savannah magazine does not control how honorees campaigned.

BEST ANTIQUE FURNITURE STORE

Jere’s Antiques jeresantiques.com

RUNNER UP:

Seventh Heaven Antiques antiquesinsavannah.com

BEST ANTIQUE MALL

Picker Joe’s Antique Mall & Vintage Market pickerjoes.com

RUNNER UP:

Tapley’s Mercantile & Antiques tapleysmercantile.com

Ellsworth Design Build

WINNER, BEST BATH DESIGN COMPANY, BEST “GREEN” BUILDING COMPANY AND BEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPANY

THE BEST OF THE BEST: Kitchen with repurposed materials

“The homeowner’s desire to feature repurposed materials in her new kitchen sparked a convergence of sustainability and creativity. Salvaged barnwood sourced locally through Re:Purpose Savannah, utilized for floating shelves and cladding for the island and beams, infuses the kitchen with character and warmth. Meanwhile, a vintage door, also found at Re:Purpose Savannah, seamlessly transitions into its new role as the entrance to the pantry, blending charm with practicality. The repetition of the reclaimed material guides one’s gaze throughout the space. With each reclaimed element carefully integrated, the kitchen transcends mere renovation, becoming a testament to resourcefulness and conscientious design — a core value of Ellsworth Design Build.”

— Kelly Waters, interior designer, Ellsworth Design Build

Anne Pappas Interiors

WINNER, BEST INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM

BEST OF THE BEST: Flicker Road residence, Palmetto Bluff

“The clients in this project had a well-curated eye and passion for art. We took design direction from their established collection. Our intent was for the interior design to be intentional and understated.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“While we try to stay away from trends, some of the emerging trends that we feel are timeless are layering texture and bringing back warm tones. One of the hallways features textured wallpaper ceilings and walls with overscale, warm light fixtures. The atmosphere in the study is also another area where we created warmth by lacquering the walls, trim and ceiling in a current, earthy green hue.”

ON WHAT’S NEXT:

“We were recently hired by HGTV to consult, design and procure furnishings for a home in downtown Savannah being featured on ‘100 Day Dream Home.’ The episode is scheduled to be shot this May and will air later this year.”

— Anne Pappas, principal interior designer, Anne Pappas Interiors

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX Merritt at Whitemarsh themerritt.org

RUNNER UP: The Ellis Apartments theellissavannah.com

BEST APPLIANCE STORE Livingood’s Appliance and Bedding livingoodsonline.com

RUNNER UP: TVC Appliance & Bedding tvcentersavannah.com

BEST ARCHITECTURE FIRM Shah Architecture & Interiors shaharchitecture.com

RUNNER UP: Hansen Architects hansensavannah.com

MICHAEL SCHALK

Make space for design excellence.

It takes a team of like-minded experts to bring inspired designs to life. At Coastal Sash and Door, we refuse to compromise on your vision. It’s why we partner with Marvin to deliver high-performing windows and doors with unparalleled quality. With Marvin, we make space for every detail, so you can make space for results homeowners love. Experience Marvin’s exceptional quality and design at one of our showrooms today.

“THE

Savannah

Amelia

coastalsashanddoor.com

BEST of SAVANNAH

HOMES

BEST ASSISTED LIVING/ RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

The Marshes of Skidaway Island marshesofskidaway.com

RUNNER UP:

Thrive on Skidaway thrivesl.com/skidaway

BEST BATH DESIGN COMPANY

Ellsworth Design Build ellsworthdesignbuild.com

RUNNER UP:

Kitchen Design Solutions kitchendesignsolutions.com

BEST BATH SUPPLY COMPANY

Sandpiper Supply sandpipersav.com

RUNNER UP:

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery ferguson.com

BEST BLINDS/SHUTTER COMPANY

Savannah Blinds, Shutters and Shades savannahblinds.com

RUNNER UP:

Budget Blinds budgetblinds.com

BEST CABINET MAKER AWD of Savannah awdsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

Custom Cabinets by Williamson Millworks custom-cabinets.net

BEST CARPET CLEANING SERVICE

Culver Rug Company culverrug.com

RUNNER UP:

Crystal Clear Cleaning Company crystalclearcarpetcleaning.com

Savannah Blinds, Shutters and Shades

WINNER, BEST WINDOW TREATMENT COMPANY AND BEST BLINDS/SHUTTER COMPANY

THE BEST OF THE BEST: Baby nursery

“We outfitted the room with two window coverings. This project showcases Hunter Douglas Pirouettes and customtailored draperies. Together, the two treatments give the family the most control over light in the room. When used in the closed position, the combination will be great for making the room as dark as possible for daytime naps and privacy. The pirouettes are also a great option for a nursery. Using the sheer portion of the shade provides a softer light source in the room.

This project is especially close to our hearts, as we welcomed the newest addition to the owners of Savannah Blinds’ family. Since the chosen window treatments are timeless and in a classic neutral, the room can easily be repurposed as the baby ages.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“Sheers and multi-window coverings. … This gives more options for how much light you would like coming through a particular room or window. These are becoming very popular as people are shifting how they utilize their rooms in their home and changing home lifestyle schedules.”

— Nikki Petitt, CEO, Savannah Blinds, Shutters and Shades

BEST CARPETING COMPANY

Culver Rug Company culverrug.com

RUNNER UP:

The Rug Shoppe rugshoppeflooringamerica.com

BEST CHIMNEY SWEEP

Anderson Chimney Sweeps & Gas Log Specialties gaslogspecialties.com

RUNNER UP:

The Chimney Guy

BEST CLOSET COMPANY

Closet & Cabinet Experts closetspecialist.com

RUNNER UP:

Closets by Design – Coastal South Carolina closetsbydesign.com

Pace Lighting

WINNER, BEST LIGHTING SHOWROOM

THE BEST OF THE BEST:

Massey residence featuring Pace Lighting in collaboration with lighting expert Sarah Milton; interior designer, Chad Mabry, The Design Guy; and builder, Redmond Construction

“This home is the definition of coastal luxury in every way. The design allows so many amazing features to shine, and every lighting selection is thoughtful and works beautifully in each space.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“We love seeing the nature-inspired motifs, too, which is an ever-growing trend in the lighting space — especially when a fixture uses the play of light and shadow to create stunning shadow patterns on your ceilings and walls.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

“Pace Lighting is already the most awarded lighting showroom in North America by our industry peers, and in 2024, we are expanding in new and exciting ways! With the growing additions to our home decor, furniture and gift items, we are looking to be a ‘must-visit’ shopping destination for Savannah for all kinds of unique finds. We are also launching a new web-only brand, Silk and Sand, this spring to provide curated decor representing coastal living and trends.”

— Lisa Bartlett, owner and CEO, Pace Lighting

BEST CONCRETE COMPANY

Waters Construction and Concrete watersconstructionandconcrete.com

RUNNER UP:

CurryCrete lcpaver.com/currycrete

BEST COUNTERTOP COMPANY

Counter Fitters counterfitterssav.com

RUNNER UP:

Walsh Custom Surfaces walshcustomsurfaces.com

BEST CUSTOM ART

FRAMING COMPANY

Savannah Framing Company savannahframing.com

RUNNER UP: Friedman’s Framing friedmansframing.com

BEST CUSTOM HOME BUILDER

Alair Homes Savannah alairsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

Brooks Construction Group brooksconstruct.com

BEST DOOR RETAILER

Savannah Hardscapes

WINNER, BEST STONE/ HARDSCAPE COMPANY

BEST OF THE BEST:

Driveway with clay pavers for an elevated look “Savannah Hardscapes has a long-standing relationship with the area’s premier communities. We are familiar with the unique look and feel of each community, and this particular project was inspired by the historic Southern charm of the Lowcountry. The scale also allowed our team to deliver a custom design that best suited the layout of the property.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“Clay paver driveways continue to grow in popularity over traditional concrete. The historic look can be tailored to match your home’s exterior, and the quality and durability of clay pavers mean longer-lasting results with fewer repairs over many decades.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

“Savannah Hardscapes just celebrated 27 years in business! We have recently expanded our sales team to cover more territory in Georgia, from Savannah to Brunswick. Our team is excited to take on more residential and commercial projects in 2024.”

— Brittany Leffler, marketing and social media manager, Savannah Hardscapes

Coastal Sash & Door Corporation coastalsashanddoor.com

RUNNER UP:

HomeSouth Architectural: A Guerry Lumber Company homesoutharch.com

BEST ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

Braddy Electric braddyelectricco.com

RUNNER UP (TIE):

Joyner Electric and Security joynerelectricandsecurity.com

Mr. Electric of the Coastal Empire, GA mrelectric.com/the-coastal-empire

BLAKE CROSBY PHOTOGRAPHY

To do list: A round of golf at The Landings. A round of drinks back home.

When you live at The Marshes, you can keep your Landings Club membership. Which means you can still participate in all the activities you’ve come to enjoy. Plus, you get all the benefits of your new Marshes home, including maintenance-free living, gourmet meals, and neighbors you’ll soon call friends. It’s literally the best of both worlds.

To schedule a visit, go to marshesofskidaway.org or call 1.866.905.4446.

HOMES

BEST FABRIC COMPANY

Sherry’s Honey Pot Fabric facebook.com/sherryshoneypotfabric

RUNNER UP:

Savannah Fabric Company savannahfabriccompany.com

BEST FENCING COMPANY

JDH Decks and Fences jdhdecksandfences.com

RUNNER UP:

Savannah Fence Company savannahfencingcompany.com

BEST FURNITURE STORE – NEW Whelan’s Furniture whelanshome.com

RUNNER UP:

One Fish Two Fish onefishstore.com

BEST FURNITURE STORE –OUTDOOR

Teak + Table Outdoor Living teakandtable.com

RUNNER UP:

The Goods Savannah facebook.com/people/Thegoods/100086724450356/

BEST FURNITURE STORE – USED

Clutter Furnishings & Interiors cluttersav.com

RUNNER UP:

Cents and Sensibility centssensibility.com

Beckler Design Studio

WINNER, BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGN COMPANY

BEST OF THE BEST:

Darden residence, Isle of Hope

“Janet Darden came to us in the fall of 2023 disappointed with her existing landscape. She has a classical, symmetrical, clean white home overlooking the marsh across from Wormsloe Plantation, but the landscape was disordered and lacked a vision. Janet trusted us to implement a low maintenance landscape diverse in texture and color that was architecturally appropriate and had interest yearround. In early 2024, we used a mix of shrubs that would never get taller than the client’s windows — limiting the need for maintenance. Shrubs like wintergreen boxwood and pringles podocarpus accented by

BEST GARAGE DOOR COMPANY

Overhead Door Company of Savannah overheaddoorofsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

Padgett Overhead Garage Doors padgettgaragedoors.com

Cerise Charm loropetalum create unity for the foundation, while splashes of color fill in focal points. As part of a two-phase installation, the remainder of the flowers and courtyard rose garden will be planted in the early spring.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

As of February 2024, Joshua Beckler is now a registered landscape architect in the state of Georgia. “We look forward to continuing our residentialfocused design business while also pursuing opportunities in the public realm with the design of parks and plazas.”

— Joshua Beckler, owner and landscape architect, Beckler Design Studio

BEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Alair Homes

Savannah

alairsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

American Craftsman Renovations americancraftsmanrenovations.com

BEST “GREEN” BUILDING COMPANY

Ellsworth Design Build ellsworthdesignbuild.com

RUNNER UP: Robin Restoration robinrestoration.com

BEST “GREEN” DESIGN COMPANY

Greenline Architecture greenlinearch.com

RUNNER UP:

Felder & Associates felderassociates.net

BEST HANDYMAN

Mr. Handyman of Greater Savannah mrhandyman.com/greater-savannah

RUNNER UP:

Richards Coastal Construction richardscoastalconstruction.com

Herb Creek Landscape Supply

WINNER, BEST NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER

BEST OF THE BEST: Tropical landscape around a pool “This project was special to the company due to the challenge of satisfying the homeowner’s requests while staying practical. A South Florida-style landscape was desired but had to be accomplished using plant material that would thrive in our climate. It is also worth mentioning that Low Country Landscapes — the sister company to Herb Creek — does all landscape installations.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“The demand for beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces is on the rise. Not only do they provide an aesthetically pleasing space to entertain, but they also increase the value of your home.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

“Our Sandfly location is celebrating 20 years, and the Thunderbolt location is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Our Digger’s Club is celebrating its 13-year anniversary and honoring the life of Jimmy Buffet with our tagline: ‘It’s Herb Creek O’Clock.’” — Ami Zipperer, co-owner, Herb Creek Landscape Supply

COURTESY

Sandpiper Supply

WINNER, BEST BATH SUPPLY COMPANY AND RUNNER-UP, BEST KITCHEN SUPPLY SHOWROOM

BEST OF THE BEST:

Remodeled showroom at 4101 Bull St.

“Our showroom is open to homeowners, designers, plumbers and builders. We have a great variety of products and finishes to help you choose the right fixtures for your home.”

ON EMERGING TRENDS:

“With our recent remodel, we have added new brands and their displays so we are able to provide Savannah with even more stylish options at a wider price range. We have several brands that are exclusively here at Sandpiper that I’m very excited to introduce to the area.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

“Sandpiper will be awarding our ‘What Makes Savannah Home’ scholarship for the sixth year in a row this April. We are grateful to be celebrating our 47th year of business in Savannah and look forward to ways we can help enrich our amazing city.”

— Christy Ellis,

director of showroom marketing and communications, Sandpiper Supply

BEST HARDWARE STORE

Islands Ace Hardware

acehardware.com/store-details/14407

RUNNER UP: Maycrest Hardware maycresthardware.com

BEST HARDWOOD FLOORING COMPANY

Culver Rug Company culverrug.com

RUNNER UP: Eckard’s Flooring Design Center eckardsflooring.com

BEST HEATING/AC COMPANY

Byrd Heating & Air Conditioning byrdheatingandair.com

RUNNER UP: Canady’s Heating, Air & Plumbing Service canadys.com

BEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPANY

Ellsworth Design Build ellsworthdesignbuild.com

RUNNER UP: Robin Restoration robinrestoration.com

BEST HOME ACCESSORIES STORE

One Fish Two Fish onefishstore.com

RUNNER UP: Clutter Furnishings & Interiors cluttersav.com

BEST HOME CLEANING SERVICE

Hubbard’s Maid Service hubbardsmaidservice.com

RUNNER UP:

Merry Maids of Savannah merrymaids.com/savannah

COURTESY SANDPIPER SUPPLY

HOMES

Soap on a Rope

WINNER, BEST WINDOW WASHING COMPANY AND RUNNER-UP, BEST PRESSURE WASHING COMPANY

BEST OF THE BEST:

Pride in the city’s beauty

“Window washing and power washing are the heart of our company. We pride ourselves in helping homeowners and business owners keep high standards and level up in cleanliness.”

— Meg Poland, commercial and residential coordinator, Soap on a Rope

BEST HOME INSPECTION COMPANY

Savannah Home Inspection inspectingsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

Housemaster of Savannah savannah.housemaster.com

BEST HOME INSURANCE AGENT Timothy Blanco, Chatham Insurance Partners chathaminsurance.com/ timothy-blanco

RUNNER UP: Declan Finnerty, State Farm declanfinnerty.com

COURTESY

BEST HOME INSURANCE AGENCY/COMPANY

Chatham Insurance Partners chathaminsurance.com

RUNNER UP: State Farm statefarm.com/agent/us/ga/savannah

BEST HOME SECURITY COMPANY ADT Security Services adt.com/local/ga/savannah

RUNNER UP: SafeTouch of Savannah safetouchsavannah.com

BEST INTERIOR DECORATOR Linen + Line Designs and Kitchens linenandlinedesigns.com

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM Anne Pappas Interiors annepappasinteriors.com

RUNNER UP:

Curry & Co. currysalandi.com

BEST KITCHEN DESIGN COMPANY

Jamestown Designer Kitchens jamestownkitchens.com

RUNNER UP: Kitchen Design Solutions kitchendesignsolutions.com

BEST KITCHEN SUPPLY SHOWROOM

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery ferguson.com

RUNNER UP: Sandpiper Supply Inc. sandpipersav.com

BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGN COMPANY

Beckler Design Studio becklerdesignstudio.com

RUNNER UP: Tidewater Landscape Management tidewaterusa.com

BEST LAWN CARE COMPANY The Nelson Group nelsongroup.com

RUNNER UP: Tidewater Landscape Management tidewaterusa.com

BEST LIGHTING SHOWROOM Pace Lighting pacelighting.com

RUNNER UP: Visual Comfort & Co. visualcomfort.com/savannah

BEST of SAVANNAH

HOMES

BEST LOCAL FURNITURE MAKER

AWD of Savannah awdsavannah.com

RUNNER UP:

Brian Rickenbacker rickenbackerfurnitureandrepair.com

BEST LUMBER COMPANY

Guerry Lumber guerrylumber.com

RUNNER UP:

Gaster Lumber & Hardware gasterlumber.com

BEST MARBLE/ GRANITE COMPANY

Counter Fitters counterfitterssav.com

RUNNER UP:

AGM Imports agmimports.com

BEST MATTRESS STORE

Green Frog Sleep Center greenfrogsleepcenter.com

RUNNER UP:

Livingood’s Appliances and Bedding livingoodsonline.com

BEST METAL FABRICATOR

Forsyth Metal Works forsythmetaworks.com

RUNNER UP:

Savannah MetalWorks smwog.com

BEST MILLWORK COMPANY

Guerry Lumber guerrylumber.com

RUNNER UP:

Coastal Millworks of Savannah facebook.com/ coastalmillworksofsavannah

BEST MORTGAGE/ LENDING INSTITUTION

SouthState Bank southstatebank.com

RUNNER UP:

First Coast Mortgage firstcoastmortgage.com

BEST MOVING COMPANY

Two Men and a Truck twomenandatrucksavannah.com

RUNNER UP: Savannah Moving savannahmoving.com

BEST NEW HOME BUILDER

Alair Homes Savannah alairsavannah.com

RUNNER UP: Brooks Construction Group brooksconstruct.com

BEST NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER

Herb Creek Landscape herbcreek.com

RUNNER UP: Hester & Zipperer hesterandzipperer.blogspot.com

BEST ORGANIZING COMPANY

House of Von houseofvon.com

RUNNER UP: Orchid Organizing orchidorganizing.com

BEST OUTDOOR LIGHTING COMPANY

Nitelites – The Outdoor Lighting Professionals nitelites.com

RUNNER UP: Visual Comfort & Co. visualcomfort.com/savannah

BEST OUTDOOR SHADE/AWNINGS

Coastal Canvas Products

coastalcanvas.com

RUNNER UP: Savannah Awnings & Outdoor Comfort savannahawningpros.com

BEST PAINT STORE Spectrum Paint spectrumpaint.com

RUNNER UP:

Islands Ace Hardware acehardware.com/store-details/14407

BEST PAINTING CONTRACTOR

Sharpe Painting

RUNNER UP: CertaPro Painters of Savannah, GA certapro.com/savannah

BEST PEST CONTROL

Yates-Astro Terminte & Pest Control yates-astro.com

RUNNER UP: Bee Green Pest Solutions beegreenpestsolutions.com

BEST PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Landings thelandings.com

RUNNER UP: Savannah Quarters savannahquarters.com

BEST of SAVANNAH

HOMES

BEST PLUMBING CONTRACTOR

Henry Plumbing Company henryplumbingco.com

RUNNER UP:

Hutson Plumbing Company hutsonplumbing.com

BEST POOL INSTALLATION COMPANY

Clearwater Pools & Patios clearwaterpools-patios.com

RUNNER UP:

Pride Pools, Spas & Leisure Products pridepools.com

BEST POOL MAINTENANCE COMPANY

Clearwater Pools & Patios clearwaterpools-patios.com

RUNNER UP:

Pride Pools, Spas & Leisure Products pridepools.com

BEST PRESSURE WASHING COMPANY

Mr. Wright Pressure Washing facebook.com/p/ mrwright-pressure-washing

RUNNER UP (TIE): Soap on a Rope soaponaropeinc.com

Window Gang windowgang.com

BEST PROPERTY MANAGER

Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty danielravenelsir.com

RUNNER UP:

Lanier Property Management laniermanagement.com

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Casey Schivera, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty danielravenelsir.com

RUNNER UP:

Ashley Brooke Powell, Ashley Brooke Properties ashleybrookeproperties.com

BEST REAL ESTATE APPRAISER

Chris Cook, Dewitt Cook & Associates dewittappraisals.net/contactus

RUNNER UP:

Stephen Ham colliers.com/en/experts/stephen-ham

BEST of SAVANNAH

HOMES

BEST REAL ESTATE CLOSING ATTORNEY

Douglas McManamy, McManamy Jackson Hollis mjhfirm.com

RUNNER UP:

Matt Toler, Toler Law tmlawsav.com

BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM

The Ezelle Strong Team, Carolyn Ezelle and Lavinia Strong, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty facebook.com/ ezellestrongrealestateteam

RUNNER UP:

Team Callahan at Keller Williams realestateinsavannah.net

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty danielravenelsir.com

RUNNER UP: Keller Williams Realty kw.com

BEST REMODELING COMPANY Tollison & Co. tollisonandcompany.com

RUNNER UP: Alair Homes Savannah alairsavannah.com

BEST RESIDENTIAL AUDIO/ VIDEO COMPANY

Rody’s Audio Warehouse rodysaudiowarehouse.com

RUNNER UP: Sight & Sound Technologies sightandsoundtechnologies.com

BEST RESIDENTIAL MOSQUITO CONTROL COMPANY

Yates-Astro Terminte & Pest Control yates-astro.com

RUNNER UP (TIE): Mosquito Authority bugsbite.com

Mosquito Joe of Coastal Georgia coastalgeorgia.mosquitojoe.com

BEST ROOFING COMPANY

Grassi Roofing grassiroofing.com

RUNNER UP: Michael’s Roofing michaelsroofingsavannah.com

BEST of SAVANNAH

HOMES

BEST RUG COMPANY

Culver Rug Co. culverrug.com

RUNNER UP:

The Rug Shoppe rugshoppeflooringamerica.com

BEST STONE/HARDSCAPE COMPANY

Savannah Hardscapes savannahhardscapes.com

RUNNER UP:

Garden State Tile & Design of Savannah gstile.com/location/savannah-ga

BEST TILE COMPANY

Garden State Tile & Design of Savannah gstile.com/location/savannah-ga

RUNNER UP:

Savannah Surfaces savannahsurfaces.com

BEST UPHOLSTERER

Taylor Upholstering Co. taylorupholstering.com

RUNNER UP: Davis Upholstery

BEST UTILITY COMPANY

Georgia Power georgiapower.com

RUNNER UP:

Atlanta Gas Light atlantagaslight.com

BEST WINDOW RETAILER

Window World of Savannah windowworld.com

RUNNER UP:

Coastal Sash & Door Corporation coastalsashanddoor.com

OTHER OPTIONS: Article

AWARDS:

BEST WINDOW TREATMENT COMPANY

Savannah Blinds, Shutters and Shades savannahblinds.com

RUNNER UP: Budget Blinds budgetblinds.com

BEST WINDOW WASHING COMPANY Soap on a Rope soaponaropeinc.com

RUNNER UP:

Clearview Coastal Window and Pressure Cleaning clearviewcoastal.com

Starstruck

Celebrity real estate broker and reality television superstar, Ryan Serhant, sets his sights on coastal Georgia to grow his brand

Written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY

FANS OF “MILLION DOLLAR LISTING

NEW YORK” may spot a familiar face around the Hostess City. Ryan Serhant, a star of Bravo’s two-time, Emmy-nominated show and founder/CEO of his own real estate brokerage, SERHANT., is expanding his business to Savannah.

Over the course of his career, Serhant has closed more than $8 billion in sales and accumulated more than 6 million followers across social media. Here, he shares how he is on a “mission to revolutionize and modernize the real estate industry” — and why he feels now is the right time to bring his big-city tactics for selling some of the world’s most expensive listings to coastal Georgia.

ON HEADING SOUTH

Savannah has been on our radar for quite some time because of its vibrant culture and close-knit community. And if you look at the growth stats, Savannah is one of the fastest-growing markets in the state of Georgia. The market spent most of 2023 falling behind 2022’s levels — but now, new listings are up 10% from this time last year. Our brokerage is growing fast, so as we expand we like to look for markets that are growing at our speed.

ON STANDING OUT IN THE MARKET

SERHANT. isn’t just another brokerage — we’re building a global real estate powerhouse for the new economy. We are the most followed real estate brokerage on the planet with over 7 million followers and subscribers. We run a digital-first ecosystem, selling through social media, posting thought leadership on LinkedIn and gaining traffic in unconventional ways. We’re not just selling properties — we’re pioneering new ways to connect with clients and markets.

ON HIS TELEVISION CAREER

People might know my story from seeing me on TV for 10 years. I was cast in Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing New York” when I was 24, after being in real estate for just one year and doing rentals. During that time, I focused on building my brand and becoming the best real estate agent I could be and becoming the top team in NYC before branching out on my own and launching SERHANT. in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. What people might be surprised to learn is that now I’ll be doing both

Ryan Serhant

— running my real estate company, growing like crazy, and we also have some exciting things in the works that really bring everything full circle for me.

ON REAL ESTATE TRENDS

In 2024, we’re seeing the impact of mortgage rates and inventory levels on the real estate landscape. While lower rates have enticed some buyers back into the market, there’s still uncertainty. We’re seeing positive signs with increased new listings and sustained median sales prices, but the competition among buyers could intensify. And then we have remote work continuing in 2024, which is driving migration to new markets. As we expand, we’re adapting to these evolving trends and preparing to help our clients in the best ways possible.

ON HIS PROUDEST MOMENTS

I’m proud of building a real estate brokerage from the ground up in the middle of a pandemic, when everyone said it was a bad idea. Look at us now. Now we’re the most-followed real estate brokerage on the planet, and we’re expanding like rapid-fire and attracting talent from traditional and nontraditional brokerages, independent brokerages and top agents nationwide. I’m so proud to have built a company that is meant for agents and to benefit our ways of working, and to be building it wider with our expansion to new national markets in the past few years, and we are so excited to bring this model to Savannah!

COURTESY

RYAN

SERHANT

LOFTY AMBITIONS

Green is golden at Ann Street Lofts, the first mass timber residential building in the Southeast. Located at 110 Ann Street on the city’s Westside, the minimalist apartment homes are available to lease with eco-amenities like a rooftop solar array and EV charging.

Architecture firm LS3P designed the development with sustainably harvested timber to target Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) goldlevel certification, while also bringing in elements that nod to Savannah’s historic charm, such as the hand-laid masonry and limestone exterior.

Inside, exposed timber columns, beams and ceilings juxtapose with polished concrete floors — creating a luxe, modern aesthetic ideal for design-minded students and young professionals who want to live close to downtown.

LANDMARK PROPERTY

In late 2023, 818 Wilmington Island Road, also known as “Vila Sacadura” sold for $8.4 million — setting a new record-sale price for Savannah. With more than 4 acres along the Wilmington River with 300 feet of deep-water frontage and a floating dock and dock house, the estate’s 28,000 square feet of living space includes the main house, plus two guest cottages and a barn.

The property was listed with Ridley Stallings and Melissa Hall Rowan of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty, who previously held the sale record in Savannah’s historic district at $6.167 million. For Stallings, the landmark price underscores that the property is ”an iconic piece of coastal Savannah” and has “redefined the standards of coastal living on the Wilmington River,” she says.

ANN STREET LOFTS

Ann Street Lofts

818 Wilmington Island Road

SAVANNAH MARKET PLACE

101 Barnard Street #401

Nestled in the heart of historic Savannah, this top-floor condo offers a rare blend of timeless elegance & modern comfort. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by the character & charm with high ceilings, oversized windows offering picturesque views, original heart of pine floors, & exposed brick. The open-concept living area is perfect for entertaining guests or simply relaxing. Features two spacious bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. STVR’s not allowed in the Weed Building. Price: $595,000

Andrew Cosey

C: 601.433.6031

O: 912.354.2100

115 E 36th Street

c. 1890. William Jackson House. A charming 3 bed/ 3 bath renovated Victorian gem in Thomas Square, which offers the ultimate experience of history blended with contemporary life in iconic Savannah. Located on one of the most picturesque streets in Thomas Square. Off-street parking. Offered at $1,050,000

19 Wylly Island Drive

Located in the gated community of Wylly Island on Isle of Hope, this marsh front 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home has been lovingly remodeled with numerous upgrades for true luxury living. From the soaring ceilings and expansive gourmet kitchen to the sumptuous primary suite, every aspect of this home has been designed and curated for optimal enjoyment. High-end finishes abound, including marble countertops, heart pine floors, designer light fixtures, luxurious window treatments, and upgraded decking. Price: $1,750,000

643 E. 35th Street

This 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home is less than five years old. Open concept floor plan with gourmet kitchen serve today’s lifestyles, while beautiful hardwood floors and other details are reminiscent of a historical home. Customizations including soft close cabinets, custom blinds and lots of storage. Primary suite features walk-in closet, double vanity and dual showers. The covered back porch leads to the spacious backyard with a privacy fence and garden area. Convenient to dining, shopping and SCAD.

Helen Johnson

C: 912.658.4436

O: 912.234.3323

Liza DiMarco

C: 805.450.3795

O: 912.233.6000

LizaDiMarco.com

109 West Liberty Street

This elegant Savannah gray brick townhome was built in 1871 as one of the city’s premier single-family homes and offers handsome period details, including spacious parlors, fireplaces, high ceilings, hardwood floors and beautiful plaster moldings. Enjoy 10 stunning en suite bedrooms, elevator access to all floors and garage parking for 3 vehicles plus a separate garden-level living space and carriage house apartment. Non-Owner Occupied STVR certificates transfer with the sale of this exquisite historic property. Offered for $4,550,000.

Staci Donegan

C: 912.247.2052

O: 912.233.6609

staci@stacidonegan.com

Helen Johnson

C: 912.658.4436

O: 912.234.3323

20 West Taylor Street

Enjoy unparalleled luxury at this exquisite 4 BR/4.5 BA freestanding c.1855 brick residence on Monterey Square. Couture-furnished interiors appointed with extraordinary natural materials and quality finishes are defined by light-filled spaces, soaring ceilings, Old World craftsmanship and hand-painted walls by Bob Christian. This architectural masterpiece offers stunning outdoor spaces, a private elevator, garden-level apartment, 2-car garage and more. Listed for $6,475,000.

Staci Donegan

C: 912.247.2052

O: 912.233.6609

staci@stacidonegan.com

SAVANNAH MARKET PLACE

2 Lakewood Court

Splendid 5-bedroom, 5 1/2-bath home with spectacular golf & lagoon views. Showcasing Brazilian cherry floors throughout the main level, luxury kitchen featuring high-end appliances, a six-burner gas stove, and leathered Granite countertops, separate living, dining, and family rooms with wonderful natural light. Enjoy resort-style living with breathtaking lagoon and golf views. Additional amenities include 2 fireplaces, fantastic storage, bonus room with bath and kitchenette over a 3-car garage. Your ultimate dream home awaits! $1,640,000

Wendy Reed

912.598.0500

wreed@thelandings.com

421 E. Congress Street

This beautiful two-story home with a 2-car garage and Carriage House was built in 2004 in Savannah’s Historic District. Featuring 3 bedrooms with 3.5 baths, the master suite on the first floor has a private sitting area, 2 walk-in closets, courtyard access, and a full bath with walk-in shower and garden tub. The private courtyard has a heated pool and BBQ pit. The Carriage House contains 1 bedroom/ 1 bathroom.

David Fowler

C: 912.665.4124

O: 912.234.3323

HAVE A LISTING YOU WISH TO SHARE?

The real estate market

is thriving!

To participate in the next issue or to find out more, contact our Director of Advertising.

JANE TOWNSEND

912.652.0294

jane.townsend@savannahmagazine.com

Drawing upon the natural beauty and unique charm of the Coastal Georgia and South Car olina region, Southern Coastal Weddings offers an elevated and authentic view of the region’s wedding culture … ever after, circa now.

Available at shopsavannahmagazine.com

SOUTHERNCOASTALWEDDINGS.COM

SAVANNAH TYBEE ISLAND BLUFFTON

HILTON HEAD ISLAND BEAUFORT

KELLI BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY

HELLO, GOODBYE

PALMETTO BLUFF

Here Comes the Sun

Set inside a wall of windows, a black-framed, steel glass door creates a light-filled foyer with a modern feel. A glass lantern chandelier and pair of opera benches carry through the symmetrical design, grounding the abstract pillows and curated gallery. The combined effect elevates the entryway — transforming a space made for coming and going into a place that invites pause and reflection.

Interior Design by ANNE PAPPAS INTERIORS // Photography by MICHAEL SCHALK

Savannah’s leading custom stone countertop provider for over twenty years!

Voted best by trusted readers of Savannah magazine