Make Yourself at Home
The ravages of Hurricane Matthew proved to be a golden opportunity for reinvention in this stunning Tybee Island home.
Lukejohn Dickson of LaSource had just finished renovating the luxurious Tybee Island home of Barry and Sophia Weiner when Sophia, standing amid the modern splendor of her kitchen, said something oddly prophetic.
“She always joked that it looked amazing, but she’d probably get bored with it and have to redo it all in five years,” says Dickson. It turned out she didn’t have five years. Within a year, Hurricane Matthew would slam the Southeast, surging stormwater into every corner.
“Hurricane Matthew just trashed this house,” says Dickson. “It was totally redesigned a second time. (Mrs. Weiner) is much happier with this version.”
That’s not to say the original wasn’t breathtaking, it’s just that the 2.0 update brought in a sophisticated balance of formality and shabby chic, with custom touches everywhere that fulfill Dickson’s philosophy on creativity: “You can always do it better.”
Start with the kitchen, where a darker, more formal, look was lightened up with a jumbo slab quartz counter that better complements the Savannah River views just beyond the windows. A stacked stone backsplash was replaced by an intriguing antique mirror, adding a pop of visual flair. And the innovative galley workstation with its Waterstone “Gentry” faucet lends stylish utility to a kitchen built for entertaining.
“The unique thing about the kitchen is that it’s formal and informal at the same time,” says Dickson. “There’s an element of playfulness to it.”
Coloring the cabinetry of the center island is Farrow & Ball paint in Charleston Grey, an ideal shade for the light-filled room. The unique “refraction” property found in the premium paint was used throughout the house to create dynamic tones that work with the natural sunlight.
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