There’s nothing quite like spending time with family and friends in a second-home getaway. Whether situated along the coast or up in the mountains, such retreats offer the comforts of home without the hustle and bustle of daily life. In the July/August issue, we feature a number of luxurious second homes, each personalized to meet the vacation needs of its owners.
For semi-retired clients wanting a place to spend time with grandchildren, Virginia designer Janie Molster merges the past and the present with a mixture of antiques and contemporary pieces in a new penthouse condo. And for a couple wanting to make Florida’s Scenic 30A their permanent home, architect Paul Geary and designer Courtney Dickey deliver easygoing elegance in a house that offers plenty of space for welcoming weekend guests. Plus, designer Meg Braff shares her secrets for creating rooms that exude sophisticated comfort, whether in a second home or a full-time residence. And if you don’t own your own vacation retreat but are still looking for that idyllic getaway, check out our feature on Blackberry Farm.
Sneak a peek at what’s inside then grab a copy of your own to inspire beautiful summer living!
Designer Q&A with Meg Braff
Mixing a buoyant palette with down-to-earth practicality, New York-based designer Meg Braff creates rooms that exude style and comfort.
Serene Sophisticate
When Richmond designer Janie Molster signed on to help clients Stevie and Marshall Wishnack downsize from a house to a condo, she expected the usual challenge of trying to shoehorn a house of furniture into a smaller space. The couple’s previous residence, a grand Monument Avenue mansion, had served them well as they raised their two children. But with those children grown and living in Richmond and the Wishnacks now residing in Florida, a brand new penthouse condo seemed the perfect solution for frequent visits with grandchildren.
Home Grown
Not surprisingly, when Elliot decided to build her forever house, she picked the area she grew up in and used a local design team. “Christie’s a Virginia girl through-and-through,” says interior designer Stuart Nordin, who collaborated on the new build with architect Christine Kelly and builder Wakefield Homes. “She wants to support Virginia businesses and artisans as much as possible.”
Gracious Getaway
For Sallie and Warren Williamson, it was familial history and a pristine view that beckoned them to the quaint Florida town of Mary Esther. Thirty-five years ago, the Greenville, Alabama, couple chose a second home along the Intracoastal Waterway, just as Warren’s grandfather had done in the 1930s. Their mid-century modern retreat became a coastal escape for the Williamsons, their three daughters, 11 grandchildren, and a coterie of guests. “The Lord gives people various talents—ours is entertaining,” laughs Warren. It was during one of their many dinner parties that one particular guest’s arrival would prove most serendipitous.
Point of View
It was a 1980s Sheetrock soufflé,” designer Marcus Mohon says of this home, which sits on the edge of Texas’s Lake Austin. “But the location—right on the water—was spectacular.” The lake, which runs through the city and is a destination for boating and water sports, may have been a draw for Mohon’s clients, but the home itself left something to be desired.
