A Retro-Chic Condo with Coastal Flair on Hilton Head Island

A beach condo’s bold remodel takes cues from a brilliant backdrop and retro roots, layering color and texture across a spectrum of styles.  

Most homeowners would have tried to eliminate any hint of the disco era, but when Lori and Larry White revamped their 1974 townhouse villa in Hilton Head Island’s picturesque Sea Pines Resort, they made efforts to preserve some of its vintage flavor. They embarked on a full renovation, bringing the aesthetic into the 21st century while infusing it with accents that evoke its history and locale, including a lacquered turtle shell, antique coral, and a rare designer parrot lamp produced the year the home was built.

“I was going for upscale beach chic,” says Lori, who scoured secondhand markets and social media sites for pieces with plenty of character. “I wanted it to have an island feel, but not have seashell lamps and seahorses everywhere.”Sea Pines was built with unassuming architecture meant to blend seamlessly into the stunning natural environs. After purchasing the vacation home, the couple made cosmetic changes that satisfied them for more than a decade. When they decided to update the interior of their condo with the help of Hannah Zoe Fulton of J. Banks Design Group, the Whites followed suit in echoing their surrounds.

Although Lori had launched a meticulous search for just the right selections, from recycled furniture with original hardware and fresh lacquer to a plethora of punchy fabrics, the five-hour commute from her permanent residence in Clemmons, North Carolina, started to take a toll. Hannah came on board toward the end of the construction phase and pushed structural changes over the finish line.

With the mantra “warm, casual, and coastal,” Hannah used color as a driving force for the décor. Sandy neutrals mingle with unexpected vibrant tones such as coral pink in the master bedroom and vivid orange in a guest room. “Designing second-home beach properties typically allows owners to be a little more bold than in their primary homes,” Hannah explains. “With that in mind, we wanted to play off of the pretty greens and blues and tie that coastal story together.”

Distinctive sea-inspired accessories, many of them sought-after antiques, bring the outdoors inside: a cluster of authentic coral atop the entry console table; custom alligator vinyl on kitchen barstools; and ample bamboo, seagrass, and wicker. 

One of Lori’s favorite finds is a ‘70s Mario Lopez Torres reed floor lamp that presides over the dining table with a parrot perched under the shade. “I love that it was made in 1974, and it is the only thing in the home now that is original to that year,” she says.

With such diverse design elements at work, the team achieved balance through traditional furnishings that anchor each space, subdued hues on most of the upholstery, sleek surfaces like Carrara marble, and a single paint color on the walls throughout.

Lori’s extensive collection of contemporary abstract art adds contrast and energy. “Every room, including the bathrooms, is filled with art from an amazing female Southern artist. That is special to me,” says Lori, who tries to visit once or twice a month with her husband and, whenever possible, their two adult children.

For both Lori and Hannah, the home comes together in this masterful mix, skillfully curated in a way that allows so much variety to live in harmony. “The worn and weathered pieces create the warmth that many remodel projects lack,” Hannah says. “Our selections gracefully combine the new—original artwork, wallpapers, light fixtures, and fabrics—and the old [elements] to create a lived-in feel that is comfortable and timeless.”

Text by Elizabeth Bonner Czapski 
Styling by Hannah Zoe Fulton
Photography by John O’Hagan

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