Text: Margaret Zainy Roux
Photography: Jessie Preza
“Growing up, there was always that one house where all the kids would end up, and I wanted our home to be ‘that house’ for our twelve-year-old daughter and her friends,” says interior designer Tiffany Hinton of Lola Interiors.
How could it not be? Located on one acre overlooking the river, the Hintons’ Amelia Island new build boasts resort-style amenities—a gym, pool, and putting green, to name a few—combined with all the comforts of home. The neighborhood tweens are not the only ones who have declared the residence their de facto headquarters. On many Saturday afternoons, husband Wes can be found sipping cold drinks on the porch with this golf buddies and, on most Sunday nights, four generations of family are gathered around the kitchen table for supper.
5. Tiffany Hinton’s Amelia Island Home Combines Resort-Style Amenities with the Comforts of Home
4. Tiffany Hinton’s Amelia Island Home Combines Resort-Style Amenities with the Comforts of Home
3. Tiffany Hinton’s Amelia Island Home Combines Resort-Style Amenities with the Comforts of Home
2. Tiffany Hinton’s Amelia Island Home Combines Resort-Style Amenities with the Comforts of Home
1. Tiffany Hinton’s Amelia Island Home Combines Resort-Style Amenities with the Comforts of Home
“When we embarked on the design, our foremost goal was to create a comfortable atmosphere that reflects our style while embracing our active lifestyle and love of entertaining,” Hinton says. “From the easy floor plan to the hardworking materials to the coastal chic furnishings, I believe we achieved just that.”
In the main living areas, open spaces are bound together by engineered French oak floors that are easy on the eye but tough enough to withstand the tropical Florida climate and daily wear and tear of roller skates, golf spikes, and puppy paws. Custom cabinetry in the kitchen, pantry, living room, and laundry room also marry form and function to maximize both style and storage. Even the millwork elevates the everyday with old-school wood and glass pocket doors designed to separate spaces while offering character and contrast to the bright whites and light blues that abound.
“I had a lot fun with the millwork,” Hinton says. “To stay true to the Lowcountry vernacular, I chose interior doors with traditional details but painted them blue for an unexpected twist. I took it one step further and used a lighter shade of blue on the tongue-and-groove paneled ceiling in the kitchen and dining area as a wink to the iconic haint blue porch ceilings seen across the South. The pops of color help punctuate whitewalled rooms while fostering a sense of cohesion between them.”
To warm up the cool color scheme, the interior designer got heavy-handed with texture and strategically integrated wood tones and natural materials into the design. Antique tables and case pieces drenched in patina mingle with chairs and accessories crafted from cane and rattan, while linen-clad windows encase restful rooms with crisp cotton cushions and bedding. To create visual interest with the limited palette, she piled on pattern by weaving striped, geometric, and floral fabrics into rooms grounded by graphic carpets and floor tiles. Playful patterns even climb the walls.
“It is safe to say that wallpaper is my love language,” Hinton exclaims. “I have now installed it in eight rooms, and I don’t want to stop until every wall is covered! I love the life and lightheartedness it brings into space—not to mention the fun!”
