
Photograph by Rustic White
After a Fourth of July weekend in 2019, Tom and Chris Glavine were on their deck at Alys Beach, enjoying a last view of the Gulf before heading back to Atlanta, and he said, Why are we leaving here, exactly? The family of seven—now with some children grown but 12-year-old Kienan still in school—soon started pondering how to make life on 30A a year-round thing. In 2020, they switched to full-time coastal life.

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White
Their custom-built house was part of the draw, of course. Chris had patiently waited for a prime lot in Alys Beach to become available, and she knew from the start that she wanted the town architects, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt, to design their home. “I’m still in awe of the beauty of Alys,” says Chris. “To me, it’s Greece meets Morocco meets Bermuda. I’m still noticing some architectural details for the first time when we drive through.” The architects created a three-story design that maximized views of the ocean in a relatively small footprint and incorporated some trademark features: private courtyards, dramatic ceilings, Venetian plaster walls, and a stuccoed exterior that reflects the hues of the sun as it rises and sets. To break up the mostly white look of an AB house, they warmed it up with wood: African mahogany on the exterior and white oak inside.

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White
The family’s interior designer from Atlanta, Dana Lynch, was thrilled to step in and go to work with her favorite color palette of sophisticated neutrals. “Design-wise, Dana and I had a mutual ‘no shells’ policy,” jokes Chris, “Not that we don’t love shells, but we didn’t want an expected beachy decor. We both wanted earthy/organic meets a little rock ’n’ roll, and Dana delivered big-time.”

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White

Photograph by Rustic White
Life along 30A suits Chris and her baseball-star husband just fine, with their involvement in local schools, deep-sea fishing, and two dogs to keep them busy. They’re already pondering ideas for a different sort of beach place that suits their next phase of life, but the Panhandle location won’t change much. “We’ve committed to making this paradise our full-time home,” she says.
RESOURCES | Interior design Dana Lynch, danalynchdesign.com Architect Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt, khouryvogt.com Builders Hufham Farris Construction, hufhamfarris.com Entry Horsehair Sconces: Apparatus, apparatusstudio.com. Chandelier: Circa Lighting, circalighting.com. Stools: Blaxsand, blaxsand.com. Lower stairway Art: Jennifer Balcos Gallery, jenniferbalcosgallery.com. Living room Sofas, occasional chairs, ottoman: Verellen, verellen.biz. Rug: Kelly Wearstler, kellywearstler.com. Lighting: Juniper Design, juniper-design.com. Vintage brass tables: Interiors Market, interiorsmarket.com. Dining area Banquette: Khoury Vogt, khouryvogt.com; modified by Dana Lynch Design, danalynchdesign.com. Dining table: Custom through Dana Lynch Design. Dining chairs: Arteriors, arteriorshome.com. Leather fringe stools: Lee Industries, leeindustries.com. Lighting: Juniper Design. Kitchen Counter stools: Jayson Home with custom finish, jaysonhome.com. Sconces: RH, rh.com. Vintage painting: Interiors Market. Bunk room Bunks: Khoury Vogt. Stain on bunks: Custom through Dana Lynch Design. Desk: Four Hands, fourhands.com. Chair: Nuevo Living, nuevoliving.com. Rug: Flor, flor.com. Primary bedroom Double Chaise on porch: Lee Industries. Lounge chairs: Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com. Primary bathroom Leather chandelier: Ngala Trading, ngalatrading.com. Metal side tables: Dixon Rye, dixonrye.com. Tub and sinks: Apaiser, apaiser.com. Guest bedroom Bed upholstered with rugs from Four Hands: Custom through Dana Lynch Design. Rattan pendants: Schwung Home, schwunghome.com. Pool Loggia Moroccan pendant: Tazi Designs, tazidesigns.com. Teak chairs: Sutherland Furniture, sutherlandfurniture.com. Swings: Dedon, dedon.de
This article appears in our Spring 2022 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.