MAY/JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN HOME 96W
ith its expansive tidal marshes and sea islands, the
Georgia coast has long been a popular destination for
Northeasterners in search of a peaceful refuge and a
warmer climate. This special corner of the map captivated
Heather and Paul Hamilton when they started looking
for a place to retire. After trips to numerous coastal
communities from Florida to the Carolinas, the Connecticut couple found Ford
Plantation in Richmond Hills to their liking and settled on a prime spot overlook-
ing a golf course and lake. And best of all, an existing guesthouse and freestand-
ing barn-type garage on the property provided the couple with a place to live as
they contemplated building their future home.
For the design of the main house, the Hamiltons turned to architect John
Deering of Homeline Architecture and builder Josh Brooks. “Our goal was to
create a cohesive design that would appear continuous in the landscape,” says
Brooks. Adds Deering, “It needed the proper scale and proportions to fit in, yet
at the same time, we wanted it to stand out.”
Acknowledging both of the existing structures and Georgia’s vernacular
Federal-style architecture, the new two-story home anchors the ensemble with