It’s hard to miss the newly constructed vacation rental at the corner of Mooring Buoy and Galleon in Palmetto Dunes. The third-row property’s distinct blue and white palette sits in stark contrast to the muted earth tones of its neighbors, yet maintains a strong, undeniable connection to the natural environment Hilton Head Island is most famous for—our blue skies and white sand beaches.
It’s a scheme so different and refreshing, you almost want to congratulate the homeowner for thinking outside the box, when in fact, what she was thinking of was social media.
“When searching for inspiration during the design phase, I found myself exploring Pinterest and Instagram for ‘coastal’ or ‘South Carolina’ beach houses,” owner Ashley Fitzpatrick said. “So many of the gorgeous homes I fell in love with had their own Instagram handles or Facebook pages, and I knew that was something I wanted, too.”
The open-concept main space was designed to host large gatherings, comfortably accommodating up to 18 guests for seated dining.
The idea of designing specifically for social media is not a new concept—countless décor and lifestyle influencers have been doing it for years—but the notion of creating a personality and profile for an inanimate object, in this case a vacation rental, has become a growing trend.
The internet has undoubtedly changed the landscape of travel and rental markets, with companies like Airbnb and VRBO making direct connections between guests and property owners. But in a market like Hilton Head with over 6,000 short term rentals all vying for bookings from our annual 2.5 million visitors, Fitzpatrick knew having a strong social media presence would help The Blue Galleon—a name given in nod to the location and whimsical palette—to attract a clientele who value aesthetics as highly as luxury and comfort.
Blue Galleon’s social media account wouldn’t solely be promoting a rental. It would be promoting a lifestyle and connections.
Entertaining is a breeze with the property’s dry bar boasting additional refrigeration for wine as well a pellet ice maker.
That vision of creating social media-worthy vignettes is boldly on display the moment you pass through the double front doors of the property, the interior colors and concepts carrying through from the exterior. Seemingly miles of crisp white shiplap are grounded by natural driftwood tones, while pops of blue prevent the space from taking itself too seriously. Layers of patterns and textures meld together creating a sophisticated retreat that lends itself to a coastal, Lowcountry ambiance without going kitschy. In truth, Blue Galleon feels more like a personal luxury home than vacation rental. It’s a place where someone would want to live.
This sentiment is quickly echoed by property manager Chris Walker, owner of Luxury Rentals of Hilton Head, who notes the property is “a well-stocked vacation rental that doesn’t look like a vacation rental.”
“A lot of inventory on the island was built in the 1970s,” Walker explained, “so new-build luxury properties are breathing fresh air into the market.”
And fresh air is precisely what Blue Galleon is. With most other six-bedroom homes in Palmetto Dunes being older, the owners focused on designing a property they and their family would want to spend time in and a guest would want to share on their Instagram.
A screened-in porch and pocketing slider make true indoor-outdoor living possible. A fireplace, propane grill, and additional seating – including the swinging egg chairs – make this porch the perfect place for enjoying the outdoors, bug-free.
“It’s a high-end rental,” Fitzpatrick said, “so everything about the house—from the furnishings and finishes to the construction itself—had to match.”
In this regard, Walker proved to be an invaluable asset to the Blue Galleon team. “We’re very involved with our owners, offering insight and guidance from start to finish on the buying process and interior layouts,” he said. “It’s important to have multiple living spaces so guests can spread out and not be on top of each other, and that’s something we did exceptionally well here. We even help clients with finding the right builder, and Randy did a fantastic job.”
Randy, of course, being Randy Jeffcoat, a veteran builder who is celebrating 50 years as owner of Randy Jeffcoat Builders, a business that has grown into a full-scale, family-owned residential design and build firm.
The 11-foot, custom-made double vanity in the master suite makes a bold statement while adding superior functionality to the space.
“We had a really good experience with the Jeffcoat team,” Fitzpatrick said. “Building during COVID was a scary time and tested our patience, especially since lumber prices were so volatile. We genuinely appreciated having a builder who was upfront about post-Covid delays and proactively trying to combat them.”
With lot clearing beginning towards the end of 2021, Fitzpatrick enthusiastically jumped into the selections process, choosing the interior and exterior finishes for what would become Blue Galleon.
“I felt Rhett [Jeffcoat] and his on-staff selections coordinator understood our aesthetic and goals, so the design of the project ended up being one of the easiest parts to navigate,” Fitzpatrick said. “We wanted Blue Galleon to be a luxury home but one that was also comfortable and could easily accommodate all 24 people it’s designed to sleep. So, we were glad the Jeffcoat team supported those elements as much as the luxury.”
Four of the six ensuites house king-sized beds, with this upstairs suite feeling extra cozy thanks to a window seat and nautically themed sconces.
Those aspects are plentiful, starting with a kitchen that begs to host large gatherings. With two islands taking center stage—one for food prep and clean-up, the other for serving or additional dining—it’s easy to imagine lively mealtimes with friends and family spilling over into the directly adjacent dining room, while the nearby back kitchen contributes to the ebb and flow of a space equally suited for formal entertaining as well as casual hangouts.
The main living area, part of the open concept plan, is cozy and well-appointed. There’s also an upstairs family room with an oversized sectional, turning the top level into the perfect space for gaming, movie watching, or a teen retreat.
The upstairs living area provides additional gathering space fantastic for family movie-nights or a teen retreat.
Predominantly using pieces from Restoration Hardware—Fitzpatrick jokingly admitted that, thanks to her children, she knew how well the pieces would hold up over time—she intentionally pulled fabrics and finishes from the collection that supported Blue Galleon’s aesthetic and brand.
With outdoor living equally as important as indoor living, the owners incorporated an almost full-wall pocketing slider between the home’s main areas and screened-in porch, very nearly doubling the main living space when open. Two of Fitzpatrick’s best-loved “Instagram moments” on property are the porch and cabana lounge areas, both oriented around outdoor gas fireplaces and featuring hanging, egg-style swings. “I can’t wait to see photos of kids cuddled up or someone enjoying coffee and a book in those chairs,” she gushed. “They’re my favorite!”
A large swimming pool and heated spa is overlooked by the cabana, which boasts the second outdoor fireplace on property.
The owners were also cognizant that most people don’t spend all day, every day, on the beach, so having fun activities available on site was important. Blue Galleon’s oversized backyard pool, designed to accommodate the home’s full guest capacity, is a prime example of anticipating the needs of visitors and providing Instagram-enticing scenes.
The pool is not surrounded by mulch as so often seen, but by a large verdant area perfect for throwing a football or playing a game of cornhole, all easily observed from the downstairs sheltered cabana. There’s also a downstairs game room offering a host of activities including basketball and ping-pong, to name a few.
Walker agrees social media and Airbnb have been a boon for the industry; however, he strongly believes the management company is a property’s front line, showcasing the entire house in one place, turning followers into loyal renters. “Extremely happy clients write excellent reviews,” he quipped.
As the owners strategize new ways to promote online engagement with Blue Galleon, including an up-coming Instagram Reel series touring the property and highlighting the countless high-end brands within, they have comfort in knowing that, so far, their design and social media instincts as well as their choice in property management have been on point as evidenced by their nearly full bookings calendar. After opening for reservations in February of this year, Blue Galleon quickly filled up for the Spring Break and Heritage season and is already boasting full capacity into September.
Blue Galleon is clearly thriving from a collaborative effort, with Luxury Rentals of Hilton Head fully supporting the Fitzpatrick’s vision and Randy Jeffcoat Builders bringing it all to life. Their Instagram page can be viewed at @TheBlueGalleonHHI.
