Beach House Haven

Text by Linda Wright/Photography by John O’Hagan

When Mary Sullivan was designing this family beach retreat her husband, Richard, took note of her hard work and surprised her with a sign, naming their cottage by the beach, “Mary’s Place.”

Mary grew up several hours from the water and always wanted a place at the beach where her family could spend time together. “I have a sister and friend living in the same area, so it was easy for me to decide where to build.” She worked on plans for about a year, and then it took almost another year to build. But it wasn’t until after Hurricane Katrina that the couple was able to move in and enjoy summertime at the beach.