Island residence featured in November ‘Architectural Digest’

BY LIZA STROUT - Almost two years after Steve Meylan of Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s International made a video showcasing the 11th Street residence of Bill and Nancy Morton, the couple received a phone call. Architectural Digest, to whom Nancy had submitted the video, wanted to do a feature on their island home.

After a small stack of forms had been filled out, permissions received and questions asked about the source and history of furnishings and decor, a camera crew arrived in Boca Grande to give the home the model treatment.

Over a long weekend, lighting experts and photographers made the most of the beautiful setting. The house, designed by F. Burrall Hoffman, Jr., was built in 1940 and has remained in Bill’s family since.

Nancy, an interior designer and president of the island design firm Ginger Lily, has put her own stamp on the home.

“I’ve changed things slowly,” she said. “It has been a pet project over the years.”

The biggest change was the addition of two rooms to the house.

View More images >>Nancy, a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, called the photo shoot “painless.”

“The group came in and set up their lighting,” she said. “They arranged a few things for the shoot, and just made it as easy as possible. They were all very pleasant and it was an excellent experience.”

The response to the November, 2012 edition of the magazine has been wonderful.

“Oh, my goodness,” laughed Nancy. “People have been calling from all over. Of course, the magazine is probably more easily accessible in larger towns. We just keep getting calls from friends who are excited to see the story.”