Waterview Properties, LLC has taken Hilton Head’s classic condo and completely renovated, renewed and restyled it.
The units have a chic, contemporary feel. Think modern Miami and Manhattan or New Port Beach. Picture high-end condos, clean and crisp with pops of bright colors, cutting-edge appliances and modern furniture.
“We’ve done what most would consider an over-the-top project,” explains Ravi Wijesinghe, owner of Waterview Properties. “I can honestly say there’s nothing that looks like our project on the Island.”
Inside these 600-square foot condos, leather couches, textured-looking tiles, sleek backsplashes and new artwork await.
The kitchens, which have brightly colored cabinets and mosaic tile backsplashes, are complete with Bosch dishwashers and microwaves and Samsung fridges with a glass table centerpiece, which acts as a transition point to the living room.
The bathrooms feature new toilets, vanities and showers with glass doors and Moen fixtures. The solo bedroom features a leather bed frame with a foam posturepedic mattress and flat screen TV.
The units all have names in accordance to their personality, which is vibrantly expressed through color.
Mediterranean Sun has yellow accents all throughout, while pops of pink infuse the Wicked Rose and purple saturates Royal Flush. Their other units include The Red Room and Orange Peel, as well as the toned-down Stroke of Midnight and Skyfall, which feature grey and black accents.
“We’ve got some pretty exotic colors in our units. We use greens, fuchsias, reds and some people look and say, ‘oh my gosh.’ But the younger generation love it and absolutely get it,” Ravi revealed.
The whole thing was a family project.
After running a family business in Marietta, Georgia for 12 years, Ravi and Naomi Wijesinghe moved to Hilton Head, where they’d been vacationing and buying real estate for several years. Formed in 2012, Waterview Properties didn’t rent out the units until April 2015, because of the extensive renovations. With the help of their daughters Stephanie and Priya, and son-in-law Jerry Crumpton, they gutted the units. All of the walls except one remained. The ceiling got scraped, floors replaced, PEX plumbing installed, new water heaters put in, new tile laid, granite countertops placed, new kitchen cabinet area created and a whole new line of fixtures and furniture.
Before the renovation, wood paneling and laminate floors flooded the space. The 30-year-old units had popcorn ceilings, plastic tubs and bunk beds.
“It took us around two years, just trying to decide what to do and get the renovation started,” said Stephanie Wijesinghe, vice president of Waterview Properties. “A lot of those units had bunk beds in the hallways, but we took the wall down so it really opens up that bedroom. Now our units are specifically for couples, because we kind of took out the ability for anyone else to sleep anywhere else.”
And that’s what really makes these units stand out—the fact that they’re specifically tailored to couples. Everything from the layout to the amenities, decor and furniture hint to that.
At about $275 in season (not including the cleaning fee and tax), these units find a home in the market for young professional couples, who are willing to spend a little to get something more. They line up against the Westin and Marriott, and even have the amenities and perks, since all of the units are located mid-island in Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort at 40 Folly Field Road. The resort not only has 10 lighted tennis court, an oceanfront pool and beach access. There are three onsite restaurants and a convention center, which can hold up to 2,000 people.
But the perks go beyond the amenities and nice features.
“We do some very unique things, wanting to give our client a true high end experience,” Ravi said.
They don’t just mail the keys to the owner or leave them to pick up, but greet them with all kinds of extras, including fluffy bath robes and a gift pack with Bath & Body Works with shampoos and lotions, not to mention some surprise chocolates.
“For us, it’s more than a business,” Stephanie explained. “It’s not like we’re just taking money from them; we give them the whole experience. That’s a little bit different than most people. Most people are like, ‘Hey, how much money did I make off of renting my place? How much did it cost me to pay the maid?’ Then that’s their profit for the year. For us, it’s way more than that.”
Waterview Properties is on their way to build a legacy here in the Lowcountry. They believe that people are looking for something a little different than the typical vacation rental found on the Island.
“We want to build a brand. We want people to say, if you rent or buy from us, you can expect a certain quality,” said Ravi.