My family and I are just back from a week’s vacation on beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia. I highly recommend checking out this sweet little coastal town if you ever have the chance!
Above: the view from the bridge heading over to Tybee Island
The back story: my husband Eric and I had planned to explore the North Atlantic coast this summer; to take the kids to see Providence, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and more…. Then COVID happened and our plans seemed uncertain, at best. One thing we did know for certain: we HAD to get a change of scenery!
That’s when I remembered my Instagram friend, Jane Coslick, and her colorful coastal cottages in southern Georgia. I first spotted them years ago in Coastal Living magazine. Tybee Island has been on my bucket list ever since. (Fun fact: even before I launched my first textile collection, I kept a folder for inspiration … tear sheets of Jane’s happy cottages are in it!! I have no doubt she helped influence my work and first Coastal collection).
I messaged Jane to see if by chance any of her cottages were available. She immediately replied, “Call Jim!” Long story short, not only did we luck out in finding a cottage rental for the week via Tybee Cottages — but one that Jane herself saved and lovingly restored. Check it out: below is the enchanting view upon our late evening arrival!
Above: our home away from home for a week on Tybee: the sweet little Bead Cottage, complete with star cut out doors designed by Jane Coslick.
Below: the view from the screened in porch at Bead ... dive in!
Jane and I share a love of color and conservation: she is known for saving, refreshing and decorating dozens of coastal cottages across the island, bringing them to new life with lots of reclaimed wood painted white and just the right amount of happy colors. She even has her very own curated paint color collection, check it out here!:
Above: Jane Coslick's favorite coastal inspired paint colors.
Here are more pics of the cottage we stayed in and Jane's signature colorful, old coastal cottage style:
Above: Bedroom #1 - complete with fresh flowers upon arrival and local art.
Below: Bedroom 2. The space actually hosts two twin beds with these sunny, cozy quilts. Jane's thoughtful touches of coastal art and vintage finds help make the space.
Below: Bedroom 3 - the largest of the rooms, it's still a cozy but super sweet space with windows all around, white bead board walls, more local art and sweet decorative pillow touches. Fun fact: this space used to be the back porch! Jane converted it to a bedroom.
Jane came over one evening and we enjoyed a visit (6 feet apart!) on the lovely screened in porch she designed and built at Bead cottage some years ago. I felt like we were kindred spirits! It was such a treat to meet her in person and hear her stories about life on Tybee and preserving Tybee’s cottages -- including buying this one for a $ dollar to save it from being torn down:
Above: Palm Cottage, spotted on an evening walk on Tybee and located just a few blocks away from Bead Cottage. Also preserved and restored by Jane Coslick.
Brave and determined, Jane got her general contractor’s license years ago when few women were working in the field. A fan of the old style tin roofs and true Tybee style, she shared she always had a vision for each cottage and won't take on a project on unless the clients have a 'good spirit'. “You become a part of them when you’re working on their home”, she explains.
Today, Jane is credited with restoring over 100 cottages(!) on the island.
It was an honor to meet Jane and I am so grateful for her early influences on my work. AND, I highly recommend a visit to Tybee Island and its cottages! It's a sweet coastal town and Jane's colorful, preservationist approach make it all the richer of an experience to savor. Happy Summer!
xo, Kate
p.s. JUST FOR YOU! - Wish you could get to Tybee, too? If you can, we have a treat for you! Jim Heflin at Tybee Cottages is generously offering a 20% discount(!) off their base rate to any of our readers, effective October 1st until March 1st, 2021. Simply mention this post and he will apply the discount! (Note: discount does not apply to clean up charge, reservation fee or 14 per cent hotel/motel tax).
p.p.s. There was so much design inspiration to see on this trip, I will be posting a Tybee Island Part II post next with more pics of coastal cottages and views that inspired me. Until then, Happy Summer -- and hope you get to enjoy a little getaway, too! UPDATE: Here is the link to see more of what inspired me on Tybee!