An outdated ranch-style cottage is given a new life by a Georgia couple who literally took the roof off to raise 8-foot ceilings and apply their fresh aesthetic. The resulting luminous feel is centered on a white backdrop, countered by deep ocean blues, citrus-toned accents, and unvarnished brass for a style that is breezy and modern.
“Everything I was drawn to was white—the bright, the happy, the cheerful just worked for us,” says homeowner Marti Tolleson, who renovated the St. Simons Island, Georgia, abode with her husband, Tee. For the front door, Marti chose a custom bright yellow to match the entrance of her nearby retail shop, Two Friends. A spectacular golf course view and magnificent oak trees are part of the allure.
The dining room ceiling was raised as much as possible and paneled with pecky cypress, a nod to homeowner Tee’s multigenerational family lumber business. Light floods the room from two windows and a pair of French doors bedecked in blue-and-white curtains. A circular brass chandelier, ginger jar lamps, and antiques add to the casual elegance.
Open to the family room, the revamped kitchen houses a wet bar and a large island where friends and family gather. Marti selected brass-and-white light fixtures over the island and used the same design in her boutique, which she redecorated at the same time as the home. Over the bar, a painting by artist Daly Smith echoes the verdant surrounds of coastal Georgia.
In true cottage style, Marti initially selected white for the entire interior space, but she eventually changed the main bedroom walls to a barely-there green. “I decided I need a smidge of color,” she says. Her timeless blue-and-white pieces—like the lamp on the bedside table—are used throughout the home. Outfitted with a pair of double beds, the Tollesons’ son’s room continues the home’s unified color palette.
The main bedroom suite opens to the patio, where family pet Lucy relaxes on a chaise longue. An intimate side courtyard offers a place to relax and enjoy the view.
Find the full feature in our Southern Style at Home 2018 issue.
Photography by Kelli Boyd
Styling by Whitney Wise Long
Discover inspiring style ideas, seasonal recipes, and more by ordering your Southern Lady subscription today!
