Of all the fascinating natural wonders of the Jersey Shore, can you guess which one made the biggest impression on the first Dutch explorers who landed here in the seventeenth century? It wasn’t the fine sands of our gorgeous beaches and it wasn’t the rich variety of marine life teeming in our bays. It was the eggs. The little bird eggs to be precise. Those early explorers found a seaside paradise so uniquely riddled with birds’ nests along the beaches and in the marsh that they were astonished. So abundant were these nests, when they took those first steps off their massive ships, their heavy, sea-soaked boots probably squashed dozens of them. And so they named this place “Eiren Haven,” or

This beautiful fountain is an ideal location for a photo opt. It is located right under the arches at the stunning outdoor cocktail hour space at Mallard Island Yacht Club. This event took place in November, when nature provides us with some of the most beautiful elements in floral design, leaves changing color, flower pods, and berries. We created an overflowing display of natures bounty to welcome guests to this stunning estate. Photo by Alex Rivera, Mallard Island Yacht Club The organic floral towers form a magical cove for the sweetheart table to nestle in. We used a background of locally foraged greenery highlighted with soft timeless blooms such as roses, hydrangeas, spray roses, a

PLANNER | Bogath Weddings & Events PHOTOGRAPHER | Delaney Dobson Photography HAIR & MAKEUP | Beach House Spa BRIDE’S DRESS SHOP | Free Love Bridal INVITATIONS | Crisp Designs by Britt JEWELRY | Atlantic City Jewelry VENUE | Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club CEREMONY ENTERTAINMENT | Ceremonious Strings FLORIST | Reynolds Garden Shop CAKE | Sweet Melissa/The Goodness Café RENTALS | Rustic Drift TABLE TOP RENTALS | The Vintage Table Company MODELS | Emilie and Will Shot by Delaney Dobson Photography, this shoot was a reflection of bohemian inspiration and the summer solstice. We chose a palette of soft yellow and green with stone and wood touches to enhance the natural feel. Pulling it al

The Reynolds Family of Businesses Celebrate a Milestone Birthday In 1980, Mark and Peg Reynolds entered married life on a stable foundation; Mark had a good job in the Atlantic City casino industry while Peg contributed to the family income working as the surgical assistant to a local doctor. Things changed one day, however, when Mark called Peg at work. “I think I’m going to quit this job,” Mark announced, “the smoke in here is killing me.” Peg considered his decision and asked, “but then what will you do?” “I’m going to be a landscaper,” he had decided. She may not have been exactly sure at the time what this involved, however, the seed for what would eventually become Reynolds Landscaping

Have you ever wondered what LBI was like decades ago, just as many of the island’s towns were laying their roots as seasonal resort communities? Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Zack Shore, Realtors—or Zack Shore, as the real estate agency is known on the island—can tell you. Celebrating their 95th year in business in LBI and surrounding towns, this third-generation, family-owned firm is just as much a part of local history as they are historians. Today, under the leadership of Kevin Thomas, President and Owner, along with his daughter, Seton McKeon, Vice President, Broker Manager, and working closely with family member Aileen Kidd, Broker of Record, Zack Shore sells more real estate on Long

A kitchen is the heart of any shore home, setting the tone for the type of lifestyle housed within its walls. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook whose love language is shared meals, an entertainer with a passion for mixology, or in need of a laid-back space for weekend brunch with guests, the design of your kitchen should be a priority, not an afterthought. Builders on the island know this, and that’s why for new construction in Ocean and Monmouth counties, Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork is a top partner for full-service kitchen design and installation, including cabinetry, countertops and flooring. Woodhaven has been in business for over four decades, working with both builders and homeowners

Q. I’m considering having shiplap put up in my family room. Am I making a big mistake? Is it too trendy; will I be sorry? Help! -Valerie, Moorestown A. Shiplap is trendy, but lots of good things are, and there is nothing wrong with that if the trend lasts. My prediction is that it will last for some time to come, because of its subtlety. The trend now is for a more casual, unfussy lifestyle which differs greatly from the more formal one of days gone by. Keep in mind though, if you have swags and jabots adorning your windows, the shiplap won’t work. However, if you have a Coastal, Farmhouse, Country French, or even contemporary style going on, it will be perfect. It will add the much-needed

Local Builder Discusses Client-Centric Philosophy, The Artistic Intent Behind Each One of His Builds, and the Multigenerational Legacy of a Family-Owned Business Richard Aitken and his team are celebrating their 36th year in business on Long Beach Island this season, and they have quite the reason to celebrate. Not only have homeowners entrusted the building of their coastal homes to the firm, but decades later, the new wave of next generation homeowners continues to call on Aitken’s services as well. Thirty-six years since its inception, the Rick Aitken building and contracting team now consists of more than 70 full-time employees, guaranteeing the ultimate customer service commitment no ma

Another type of Saltwater There is something to be said about rolling down your windows or walking outside and smelling that salt air, hearing the waves crash, and swimming in the ocean. The beach has been our favorite destination for generations and will continue to be. It is the saltwater, sand, family, and friends that draw us here. A trend in the landscape industry, and in the Long Beach Island area, is the desire for another type of saltwater. A saltwater pool paired with the comfort of your own home, provides relaxation and security that may be more important than ever at this time. Adding a saltwater pool to your own home is not as simple as digging a hole. However, you can say g

How Proper Planning Today, Will Save You Time, Money and Aggravation Tomorrow Preparation is imperative in order to create an ideal outdoor sanctuary. Whether you’re wanting to add functionality to your property or simply improve curb appeal, proper planning not only paves the way for a seamless process, but it also helps to avoid potential pitfalls. It saves time and money by lessening the chances of delays when landscaping begins, creates an ideal environment for introducing new and additional features, and helps you determine the project’s budget by uncovering any land conditions that could cause additional expense when the work starts. Below, David Ash, owner of the award-winning New Jer

Oceanfront homeowners often get a bad rap. Throughout modern-day media and pop culture, they’ve been reduced to caricatures of greedy, self-absorbed opportunists from the North who could care less about the local community or global environment of the South. Though there have been many a high-profile story where oceanfront homeowners wouldn’t give up access to their properties in order to allow for beach replenishment, those hold outs turned out to be few and far between. Undeniably, there are always a few bad apples that spoil the bunch, but overall, in what Ship Bottom-based architect and builder, Michael Pagnotta, has experienced in his thirty-plus years of designing and building oceanfr

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” - Alfred Austin, English Poet Nothing creates such instant gratification, hopeful anticipation and lasting memories than time spent in the garden--planting, nurturing and observing the cycle of life. Tilling the soil, planting a seed and tending a garden is time well spent and restorative to the psyche. This is especially true during these tiring times of social distancing and forced isolation when life revolves around the confines of the home and life’s simple pleasures create a welcome diversion from the unsettling headlines of the day. Whether pl

Before the foundation of your new construction is poured, there are months, even years, of work that go into building a home from the ground up. But after your dream lot is secured, you’ve hired a builder and architect who work in unison and have captured your vision, and the blueprints are coming to life before your eyes, your work still isn’t done. Before the walls of your home are completely framed, consider the interior design of your new abode—the element that truly turns your new house into your new home. Oftentimes, interior design is seen as a second half play—not quite an afterthought, but not always brought into the beginning stages of planning, especially when it comes to new cons

The Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean County 501(c)(3) Celebrates 25 Years as It Braces for the Days Ahead In New Jersey, long lines at food pantries are becoming an all too familiar sight during these unprecedented times. As inconceivable as it may seem in America’s second wealthiest state, even before COVID-19 hit, nearly 14% of New Jersey households—that’s 1 in every 8 people and 1 in every 5 children—were already classified as food insecure. Food insecurity is when you are unable to provide enough food for every person in your household to live an active, healthy life. Within the LBI region in particular, where local pantries serve approximately 136,000 of our neighbors, almost half of

Long Beach Island is a community of charming architecture and alluring interior design. From multimillion-dollar beach front estates to sweet little bayside cottages—and everything in between— this melting pot of populace from the entire tristate area has yielded a coastal home design market like no other. But whether homeowners are taking on a major construction project or simply assuming to refresh their beachy abode for the season, a unifying principle holds true—one needs not look further than the longest-standing, trusted home décor authority on LBI: Oskar Huber Furniture & Design, of Ship Bottom, NJ. This dreamy home furnishings mecca –celebrating 93 years in business this season—has t