Design & Build

From the very beginning, Crane Island was envisioned as a place where timeless design meets enduring craftsmanship. Inspired by the historic architecture of Fernandina Beach and the great traditions of the Sea Islands and Charleston, we partnered with leading architects, landscape designers, interior designers, and artisans—from metalworkers to masons—to shape an authentic sense of place. Working alongside custom home builders who share the same dedication to detail, the result is a living collaboration: homes and landscapes that honor history, elevate design, and celebrate community.

Crane Island Florida. Aerial view of a coastal neighborhood with houses, trees, and docks by the water, under a cloudy sky.
Crane Island Home. A white two-story house with a metal roof and a front porch, surrounded by a garden with green shrubs and trees, under a clear blue sky.
Crane Island Home. Exterior view of a modern house with white and gray siding, large windows, black accents, and a metal staircase with potted plants outside under a blue sky.
Crane Island Home. Exterior view of a house showing a two-story porch with white railings, ceiling fans, and a roof with exposed rafters and a chimney.
Crane Island Homes. Close-up of a house's gable and window with decorative details, siding, and a brick chimney, under a clear blue sky with tree branches overhead.
Pearce Scott Architecture - Crane Island - Lowcountry Architecture.
Historical Concepts - Crane Island. View of a modern house with large glass windows and a metal roof, surrounded by trees with some leaves and branches in the foreground, under a clear blue sky.
Lake & Land Studio - Crane Island. A white modern farmhouse with a metal roof, large windows, and a small leafless tree in front, under a clear blue sky.
View of a backyard with a small swimming pool, surrounded by tropical plants and trees, seen through a white lattice fence. There is a house with white siding and windows in the background.
View of a brick chimney with a metal cap, seen from below between the eaves of a house, under a clear blue sky with some wispy clouds and green leaves in the foreground.
Front porch of a house with a large wooden door, two vintage black lantern wall lights, hanging and potted ferns, and two glass-paneled windows.
Park District at Crane Island. Exterior of a white house with a brick chimney, large windows, and palm trees, under a blue sky.
Moser Kelly Design Studio - Crane Island Intracoastal Home. A modern house with a metal roof, large windows, and a front porch with steps, surrounded by trees and landscaping in a rural area.

Inspiration Just Moments Away

We didn’t have to search far for inspiration. Just a few streets away in Fernandina Beach, the story of Lowcountry architecture is written in the homes themselves. Generational in nature, these houses evolved as families grew and needs changed—porches extended, rooms added on, and details crafted by hand. They remind us that architecture here has always been about adaptability, community, and creating places meant to last.

A large, two-story, Victorian-style house painted in light blue with white trim, surrounded by lush green grass and trees, during sunset. Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of Lowcountry Architecture.
A large two-story white house with black shutters, a front porch, and a staircase leading to the entrance. Flags are displayed on poles along the porch. There is a brick pathway lined with small bushes and plants, leading to the house. Several chairs
A large blue Victorian-style house with white trim and a front porch, surrounded by green lawn and trees. Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of Lowcountry Architecture.
A white house with a covered front porch, decorated with intricate woodwork, greenery, and an American flag hanging from a pole. Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of Lowcountry Architecture.
Front porch of a house with white railings, two red rocking chairs, an American flag, and lush green trees in the background.Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of Lowcountry Architecture.
A house with a porch featuring white trim, two rocking chairs, and potted yellow and white flowers on the steps, with a small garden in front. Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of Lowcountry Architecture.
A two-story purple house with white trim and a metal roof, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with a porch and steps leading up to the front door, and an American flag hanging from a pole on the porch. Downtown Fernandina Beach, FL - Examples of

Collaboration

Historical Concepts & Heather Chadduck. 2019 Southern Living Idea House. Five people gathered around a table looking at plans or documents, with large windows showing trees outside.

At Crane Island, every home begins with collaboration. From the first walk of the land—understanding its natural character and environmental opportunities—to shaping how a home will capture views and embrace family life, the process is a true continuum. Developer, architect, designer, builder, and artisan all come together with the owner at the center, ensuring that every decision serves both the individual and the community as a whole.

Architects & Designers

2019 Southern Living Idea House Sketch

There’s something magical about life on a private island—a blend of adventure and the quiet joy of feeling a world apart. At Crane Island, that dream becomes reality. Tucked just a moment away from Amelia Island, our close-knit community is rooted in connection, discovery, and the shared wonder of this beautiful journey called life.

At Crane Island, we’ve assembled a remarkable team of architects whose work reflects a deep respect for Lowcountry traditions. Their attention to proportion, detail, and history ensures that every home honors its setting while feeling timeless and enduring.

Eric Moser - Moser Kelly Design Group. Portrait of a man wearing glasses and a light blue button-up shirt outdoors with green foliage in the background.
Large, elegant white house with a brown shingled roof, surrounded by well-kept landscaping and a white picket fence.
Lake & Land Studio - Southern Living Idea House. Large white house with a front porch, surrounded by a green lawn and trees, with a paved driveway leading to a three-car garage.
Pearce Scott Architects - Crane Island. Large two-story house with white exterior and expansive wraparound porch, set in a green yard with palm trees.
Cooter Ramsey - Allison Ramsey Architects - Crane Island. A smiling man with a bald head, light beard, wearing a black zip-up sweater, standing outdoors with a background of tall plants or trees.
Jim Stricklan - Historical Concepts - Heather Chadduck. 2019 Southern Living Idea House.
A modern two-story white house with a blue metal roof, front porch, and balcony, surrounded by a white picket fence and greenery.
Jim Strickland - Historical Concepts Founder. A smiling man in a navy blazer and beige pants standing with arms crossed in a bright, modern room with large glass windows and a view of a balcony or patio.
Hansen Architecture - Crane Island, FL. A large two-story white house with a screened-in porch on the upper level, multiple windows, and a brick staircase leading to the front entrance, surrounded by a green lawn and trees.
A large two-story white house with gray shutters, a front porch, steps, a pathway, trees, and a lawn.
Two-story white house with a large front porch, surrounded by trees and small bushes, with a pathway leading up to the front steps.
Perce Scott Architects - Pearce Scott - Crane Island. A smiling bald man in a blue button-up shirt standing outside in front of trees and a house.
John Hillman & Dawn Hillman Cabana Lane. Four people engaged in conversation at a networking event, holding tote bags and brochures, with a brick wall and outdoor heater in the background.
Lauren Kelly - Moser Kelly Design Group - Crane Island. A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a red knit sweater, standing in front of a light-colored wall.
Court Atkins. Architects at Crane Island. Court Atkins Group of diverse adults gathered on an outdoor patio for a social gathering or party, sitting at tables and standing, smiling and engaging with each other.
Court Atkins Architects - Crane Island. Large white house with a metal roof, multiple windows, and front porch, surrounded by trees and manicured shrubbery.

Interior Design

Southern Living Idea House. Porch at Crane Island, FL.

From the front porch to the gathering spaces within, our interior designers carry the Lowcountry story indoors. Blending coastal textures, natural light, and thoughtful details, they help transform each house into a home with a warm, authentic sense of place.

Gordon & Johnson Interior Design - Crane Island. Two men standing on a porch, smiling, with construction plans and tools on a table in front of them.
A woman in a blue dress standing in a modern white kitchen with black and gold accents, preparing food at the counter. The kitchen features large windows, pendant lights, and a variety of food and drinks on the counter.
Leah Bailey Interior Design - Crane Island. A woman in a blue and yellow embroidered dress smiling in a decorated living room with shelves, lamps, and a large potted plant.
Anne Pappas Interior Design Crane Island, FL. Four women standing outdoors, smiling at the camera, in front of a brick wall and window, dressed in casual summer clothing.
Outdoor porch with white cushioned furniture, grey and white patterned pillows, wooden table with a tray of lemons and greenery, surrounded by green trees and plants, on a sunny day.
Anne Pappas Interior Design - Crrane Island.
Living room with large windows, floral curtains, white sofa, beige armchairs, wooden coffee table with green plant, patterned rug, side tables with lamps, chandelier, art on walls, and outdoor view with trees.
Lola Interiors - Crane Island. A woman in a blue and white floral dress standing in a bright, decorated room with striped wallpaper, a wooden console table, lamps, and blue and white vases.
Lola Interiors Crane Island. Group of nine women gathered in a bright, stylish living room with white walls, blue and white decor, and a large mirror on the wall.
Kelly Carron Interiors Crane Island. A smiling blonde woman with long hair, wearing a black blouse with ruffles, standing indoors with green plants and windows in the background.
Bright living room with white walls and ceiling, dark hardwood floors, large windows and glass doors, white furniture, a fireplace, and a mounted television.
Bright, airy living room with white walls, large windows, and neutral furniture including a beige sectional sofa and blue armchairs. A coffee table holds decorative items and plants, with a modern chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The open floor p

Builders

Two men reviewing blueprints outdoors next to an open truck bed with a cardboard box in a wooded area.

The custom home builders at Crane Island share our passion for detail, craftsmanship, and authenticity. Each builder was carefully selected for their ability to honor Lowcountry architecture while also listening deeply to the needs of each family. From foundation to finish, they bring together artistry and precision, creating homes that are both timeless in character and uniquely personal. Together, their work reflects the shared vision of building not just houses, but a lasting community.

2019 Southern Living Idea House at Crane Island - Living Room
Cabana Lane - Builders at Crane Island. A middle-aged man and a woman in white shirts talking and smiling inside a bright room with wall art and hanging ropes.
A middle-aged man with brown hair and a beard, smiling, sitting outdoors at a wooden chair with a dock in the background.
A man in a blue checkered shirt sitting at an outdoor wooden table by the water with a dock in the background.
A smiling middle-aged man with short dark hair, a beard, and wearing a plaid shirt, sitting behind a wooden chair on a dock near the water.
Group of five people standing outdoors near water and trees, smiling for the camera.
Dawn Hillman & Chuck Drace. Cabana Lane Builders at Crane Island. A smiling man and woman standing at a table with architectural plans and books, in a room with wood paneling and wicker baskets on the wall.
A young woman with long wavy brown hair wearing a white blazer, white shorts, white sneakers, and a black baseball cap, standing indoors near a white fireplace with her hand resting on the mantel, smiling at the camera.
A smiling man sitting on a wooden chair at a dock by a body of water with a bridge in the background.
A man and a woman sitting at a glossy black table in an office showroom, with three abstract paintings on the white walls behind them, a large aerial photo of a modern building and landscape above them, and a display of paint color samples on the rig
Hickory Creek Builders - Builders At Crane Island. Three people smiling on a beach with the ocean in the background.

Architecture Blog Articles

Contact Us

Seven years in the making, and a lot has been learned and figured out. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions & ideas of how to join the community and build your dream “forever” home on Crane Island. I’m here to help you with each step in the process.

John A Hillman - Crane Island Realtor & Developer