From House to Home (April/May 2005)
by Amanda Daniels
Photography by Jonathan Harper

Rudy and Linda Slucker love Hilton Head Island so much that they have developed a habit of home buying - impulse-style. "The realtors must love us!" Linda laughs.

They have now purchased two homes on the spot after seeing them for just a few minutes each. The area has cast a spell over the golfing family and, as residents of New Jersey; they spend at least 7–14 days a month at their latest vacation creation. Their current vacation home is the Sluckers’ dream house designed by Michael Ruegamer of Group III, and built by Tommy Smith of Sand Castle. Their first Hilton Head Island vacation home lasted them almost 6 years, and when they decided to upgrade, Rudy insisted they be directly on the beach in Palmetto Dunes.

Their decision led to the demolition of a tiny home on a gorgeous lot, and the construction of a cutting edge, Hamptons-style beach home that has brought them unbelievable joy. "It’s our little piece of heaven," Linda says with a smile. With four bedrooms and five baths, the 4,800 square-foot charmer was designed to have an exterior that is as highly detailed and interesting as the interior. Numerous angles were used on the outside and rounded walls were incorporated into as many areas as possible on the inside. The moldings are 14 inches deep and it took almost 16 weeks to complete them. Linda would come down a week per month to pick out doorknobs, drains, and accessories. They decided not to go for a very high tech look in the kitchen, instead they opted for warm finishes and cut out stainless steel all together. They mixed a natural honey color with darker wood - a current trend which has a classic, warming effect.

All carpets are made from sea grass and the colors throughout the home are the perfect sun-baked version of those found during an ocean sunrise. Ruegamer prefers irregular angles and keeping rooms from being "plumb" and plain. He opts for unique room lines that enhance the room’s décor as well as increase the treasured view of the seascape. The living room has all of the aforementioned colors and the color theme came from an elegant tea-stained rug they found after a lengthy search. The master suite has a raised fireplace that is shared by the bedroom and bathroom. The coverlet on the bed has lovely petite point and velvet squares showcasing roses with pink petals and green leaves. This provided the inspiration for the bathroom vanity - made of rare wormy walnut and topped with granite. The backsplash has imported tiles with little rose bouquets on them, resulting in an old English, dresser drawer look.

The entire Slucker family loves to golf, and Rudy worked in the golfing industry for many years. Even Linda's father plays a mean game of golf at the age of 83. They play locally as often as possible at the Arthur Hills course in Palmetto Dunes. The exterior has so many beautiful details that pay homage to the landscape. Even the driveway is made from crushed seashells and the tropical plants are lush and grow quickly. "I told our landscaper that the plants were too tiny. He said I'd be begging him to cut them in 6 months!" Linda exclaims. He was right. After six months the rich soil and mild environment had the foliage taking off in all directions and even the palm trees opened up after only a year. The home is a gathering spot for the Slucker family and Linda and Rudy could not be happier with their glorious beach house. Linda claims that when in New Jersey they literally count the days until their next trip and linger as long as possible in their warm ocean haven.

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