Getting to Know You:  Kym Davidson, Broker and Realtor

Cue Deborah Kerr singing:  “Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you, Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me…”

Welcome to our first edition of the Getting to Know You segment where our CSP team members share a little bit about themselves through a series of rapid fire questions. 

Our first guest, Kym Davidson, Broker and Realtor, recently joined our CSP team. She brings with her a breadth of experience and genuine affinity for the Wilmington area and all that it has to offer. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Everything will be ok - simple but true.

Name a book you read that positively shaped you. The Four Agreements.

If you had one superpower, what would it be? Why? Flying. I love my flight dreams. It takes you away while giving you speed and a great vantage point.

What is your favorite summer activity? Spending time outdoors as much as possible and going to the beach.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they? Yes - gardening, reading, writing, refinishing and painting furniture, refurbishing items, creating. 

What are your best habits? Dental hygiene - I floss my teeth everyday.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure? There are no mistakes. Out of darkness, comes light.

Have you ever turned a failure into a win? Yes, there are no mistakes...my divorce. It felt like I was walking into the eye of a hurricane, but coming out of it, I realized a calm and sunny day.

What is a talent that you have that would surprise people? Probably drawing and painting - I’m no great artist, but I can copy most anything.

If you had a warning label, what would yours say? “Will stand up for herself AND others”.

When are you most inspired?   When I witness art, kindness, a sunset, a deeply raw human emotion.

What is something you wish you could be good at? Playing a musical instrument.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Ice cream.

How do you manage stress? Spending time outdoors and by the water - walks, swims, bike rides, long talks.

What makes you laugh the most? The unexpected.

What’s your favorite movie ever? Amelie.

Texting or talking? Either, but talking is best.

CSP Partners with The Marty Lyons Foundation to Help Grant Wishes and Inspire Hope

The past few months have been strange and challenging times for many of us. We’ve had to adapt to new ways of performing our everyday tasks and activities to help ensure our own health and safety - as well as that of others. For children living with a terminal or chronic life-threatening illness, every day presents an ongoing challenge to stay healthy, to stay connected and to stay positive.

Coastal Select Properties is honored to partner with Marty Lyons Foundation - North Carolina Chapter to help brighten the lives of these children and to inspire hope. MLF was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1982 by former New York Jets’ defensive lineman, Marty Lyons, to make wishes become reality for children (ages 3 – 17) who have been diagnosed with terminal or chronic life-threatening illnesses. MLF is unique in that it will grant a second wish to a child that may have already had one wish fulfilled by another organization.

Since its inception, MLF has raised over $35 million and helped 8,000 families. It now has ten chapters covering 13 states. Local Cape Fear resident and business-owner, Lynne D’Eramo, operates the NC Chapter which is based right here in downtown Wilmington.

D’Eramo, the chapter president and a life-long New York Jets fan, was first introduced to MLF when she was living in Connecticut and a friend invited her to volunteer with her at an annual MLF fundraising event. In 2018, a decade later, D’Eramo found herself living in North Carolina, helping to run the local Port City Jets Fan Club in Wilmington and being approved to open and preside over a North Carolina chapter of MLF which serves all of North Carolina and South Carolina. D’Eramo is grateful for the amazing support from the community here in Wilmington as well as other parts of NC and SC. “We have granted over 14 wishes since becoming a chapter,” D’Eramo proudly states. “Unfortunately, we were unable to complete a few wishes due to the child’s passing before the wish was granted. We’ve also lost a few wish recipients shortly after their wish had been fulfilled.”

The foundation spends approximately $5500 per wish granted. Some of these wishes include trips to Disneyworld, meet-and-greets with celebrities, computers or gaming systems, swimming pools, shopping sprees and room makeovers. MLF headquarters works with a small staff of three paid employees; all other Executive Board and Chapter Presidents are unpaid volunteers. Of every $1 donation, $.90 goes directly to funding a child’s wish.  

This past January, the chapter held a fundraiser/wish reveal party for two young wish recipients: one from Charlotte, NC and a 14-year-old boy, Eli from Lexington, SC. Eli had been receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer for most of his life. After relapsing three times, he and his family decided to stop treatment and instead focus on filling his life with adventure. Eli wished to go snowmobiling, so MLF-NC reached out to Big Sky Resort in Montana for help in making his wish a reality. The resort’s concierge team eagerly set to work and created an amazing experience for Eli, his parents and older brother. In early February, the entire family enjoyed riding snowmobiles, snowboarding, skiing, a family photo session and much more. Eli was further surprised by gifts from some of his favorite football and baseball teams! The family was able to forget about medical treatments and instead delight in a dose of fun and adventure together. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them.  A few short months later, Eli passed away. D’Eramo admits that granting wishes is immensely rewarding work, but it is not without its share of heartache.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has put a hold on both granting travel wishes to wish recipients and on fundraising events which are critical to the success of the organization’s mission. Says D’Eramo, “most of our wish kids already have compromised immune systems so until travel is considered safe again, those wishes cannot be granted.” D’Eramo is planning upcoming fundraisers for the Fall and she is hopeful that MLF-NC will be able to host its 2nd Annual “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament. MLF-NC welcomes prospective wish coordinators, event volunteers and, of course, monetary donations which are essential to making wishes come true. A simple way you can make a donation without it costing you anything is by shopping via www.Smile.Amazon.com and selecting Marty Lyons Foundation. 0.5% of each eligible purchase made is donated to the charitable organization.

If you are interested in learning more about Marty Lyons Foundation or becoming part of the wish-making team, contact Lynne D’Eramo, Chapter President at lderamo@martylyonsfoundation.org or call 910-775-0555. 

 Coastal Select Properties Proudly Supports The Carousel Center

Coastal Select Properties continues its ongoing mission to give back, especially during these uncertain times. Although “normal life” has come to a halt for many of us, “normal life” for children living in challenging home environments or who are victims of traumatic events has not. That is why we continue to support the important work of The Carousel Center, a non-profit child advocacy center serving New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties, that  that  offers specialized therapy for children to reduce trauma-related symptoms, such as anxiety, nightmares, and behavior problems, using evidence-based models that incorporate the language of children - talk, art and play.  

Amy Feath, Executive Director of The Carousel Center, is a passionate advocate for the health and safety of the children in our community. She leads an equally dedicated team to provide exceptional service to our youngest citizens. Amy recently accompanied us on a tour of the brightly painted, child-friendly facility in Wilmington and explained the importance of TCC’s mission. In the past, if a child reported that she was being hurt at home, she would need to speak to multiple people – a teacher, nurses, doctors, a police officer, a social worker, a child protective service investigator and a lawyer. It could be an overwhelming, scary process for an already traumatized child. TCC has created a system and environment where the abused child can receive a medical exam; tell her story while a detective, CPS worker and State’s Attorney can listen as a team; and meet with a counselor to help her heal. Additionally, the child’s non-offending parent/guardian is offered advocacy and counseling services to help understand the system and contribute to the healing process.

The medical exams are completed on-site by medical staff specifically trained to gather the essential physical, medical evidence. Specially-trained child interviewers conduct non-threatening, developmentally-appropriate and forensically-sound interviews which are recorded using closed circuit video. Great care is taken to preserve the child’s statements and to meet the investigative needs of social services, law enforcement and prosecution.

To help children heal and get back to the business of childhood, TCC offers child therapy, family counseling services and various types of therapy including traditional talk therapy, art therapy and play therapy. We also met Rudy, the Center’s friendly therapy dog, during our visit.

Coastal Select Properties understands that it is a privilege to serve the community and is honored to be a sponsor of TCC’s recent “Heart of the Matter” luncheon and fundraiser as well as its “2020 Making Legends Local Gala” fundraiser which was originally scheduled for April 25th but has been cancelled in light of the recent pandemic mandates. Although the 17th annual fundraising event will not be held, we will honor our financial commitment by converting our sponsorship to a donation and we encourage our local community to continue to support the important, essential work of The Carousel Center. For more information about TCC and how you can help, please visit carouselcenter.org.

Coastal Select Properties Sponsors Upcoming Cinema Sisters International Film Festival on March 6 & 7

Cinema Sisters International Film Festival (CSIFF) is presented by WilmFFilm, the Wilmington Female Filmmakers Collective. CSIFF’s fourth annual festival on March 6 and 7 showcases the work of female filmmakers from around the world including current submissions from Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Iran, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan and the United States.  

Coastal Select Properties (CSP) recently spoke with Rebecca Busch, storyteller extraordinaire and co-director of both CSIFF and WilmFFilm to discuss the upcoming festival and the inspiration behind both the festival and the filmmaker’s collective.

WilmFFilm was born in 2014 from a desire to gather and provide support to local, like-minded women interested in film and the art of filmmaking. Busch’s passion for telling stories and for supporting the creative process of other women storytellers inspired her to co-create WilmFFilm. While less than 10% of all films are made by women, the collective seeks to support all aspects of filmmaking and offers educational workshops to help sharpen the skills necessary to realize cinematic visions and expand women’s contributions to filmmaking. Some of WilmFFilm’s past filmmaking workshops facilitated by industry professionals focused on fundraising for artistic projects; shooting and editing a movie with iPhones and DSLRs; and working with sound equipment.

In 2016, WilmFFilm gave birth to Cinema Sisters International Film Festival (CSIFF) to celebrate female screenwriters and directors and to provide additional opportunities for them to showcase their work. Sister filmmakers are asked to share their completed short films of any genre (narratives, documentaries, animation, etc.), that are no longer than thirty minutes and that are directed by women.

Busch is inspired and motivated by how CSIFF has evolved over a few short years. The first festival featured only female filmmakers from North Carolina, growing in its second year to include filmmakers from the Southeastern United States and expanding last year to include international submissions. CSP has been honored to sponsor the festival since its inception.

This year’s two-day festival on March 6 and 7 at Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, will feature 39 films selected from approximately 100 submissions. An all-access pass to CSIFF includes a Friday night feature and festive Shrimparoo Kickoff Party, Saturday grant-writing workshop and four blocks of short films. Individual tickets for film blocks, opening night feature and the party are available at the box office on the day of the event. For passes, schedule and more information, go to https://csiff.org.

As a woman-owned business, CSP appreciates and encourages the professional and creative contributions of women in our community and beyond. Supporting the arts in Wilmington is a natural fit with our mission and we are proud to sponsor the Cinema Sisters International Film Festival for our fourth year.

30 year fixed rate mortgages are the lowest they have been since October at 3.69%!  Don't miss your chance at home ownership.  Don't have a lender?  We can help!  We have a team of lenders we work with to help you find the best product for your home purchase.  Read the entire article here:  https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2020/01/08/mortgage-rates-fall-further-and-buyers-are-swooping-in

213 Jamaica Drive 

This 1125 square foot brick ranch is move in ready and priced to sell! The home has 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, a screened porch and detached garage/workshop. Laminate flooring in the living area and one bedroom, tile in the kitchen and bath and carpet in the remaining bedrooms. Large back yard with fire pit is partially fenced. Updates include new roof, newer HVAC and water heater. The home is connected to city water and sewer.... Read more here.

2 bedrooms | 1 bathroom

Neighborhood: Sedgefield

List price: $179,000

OPEN HOUSE this Saturday

December 7th 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Please contact Jennifer Davidson for details 📲 910-617-1292

521 South Front Street

Looking for a newer home with historic charm, located in a great walking town? Then don't miss this rarely available Italianate Townhome with rocking chair porch overlooking the Cape Fear River, fenced pocket yard and 2 off street parking spaces. This beautifully and fully furnished two story home with 2bdrs/2.5 ba, gas fireplace, washer/dryer, hardwoods and perfect layout is waiting for you! Newer 30 year roof, remodeled bathrooms, granite counters, light-filled rooms, easy to maintain, and great location.... Read more here.

3 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms

Neighborhood: Downtown Wilmington

List price: $278,000

OPEN HOUSE this Saturday

December 7th 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Please contact Steve Swart for details 📲 910-617-6388

Wilmington is pretty rich with artistic and multi-faceted people. So, when Tara and Shannon Gilmore arrived here 13 and 21 years ago consecutively, they fit right in. They’ve since established lives together here full of friends, a long list of clients and employees, and an intense love for this town. 

When it was time for them to find the home of their dreams together, after attempting to go it alone, they called long-time friend and Coastal Select Properties agent, Angie Greer.

Once we caught wind of their colorful back story and looked through their extensive portfolio, we knew we had to know more...so we could pass it on. 

Read the interview below to find out more about one of Wilmington’s coolest couples and the beautiful work and lifestyle they've created together. 

CSP: When did you move to Wilmington and why?

Tara: I moved to Wilmington 13 years ago to get out of the New Jersey metropolitan hustle and to enjoy warmer weather near the beach. Wilmington seemed like a big, small city that could support my business. It also felt diverse enough to eliminate the risk of culture shock.

Shannon moved to Wilmington 21 years ago from Topsail Island. Wilmington better suited Shannon’s social and economic needs. He has always worked in construction and Wilmington was seriously on the rise at that time. Shannon also loves to surf. And, the surf at Wrightsville Beach and on Masonboro Island is far superior to Topsail. 

CSP: Can you give us a little history about your business?

Tara: Of The Essence Designs was created in New Jersey over 15 years ago. We started as a 

decorative painting company, creating unique faux finishes for restaurants, businesses and homes in New Jersey and NYC. When I moved from NJ, starting a business from scratch was not easy. I attended builders association meetings and met with many interior designers to make connections. The business community in Wilmington embraced our work and I found my place in the design/building community. Shannon and I joined forces over 5 years ago and with Shannon’s background in all building trades, we expanded Of The Essence Designs to what it is today. We now don’t only offer faux finishing but remodeling, interior and exterior painting, custom carpentry and cabinet/furniture refinishing. We have grown exponentially since joining forces. Wilmington is a wonderful community that more than supports what we offer. 

CSP: What do you love about Wilmington architecture, design, culture, etc?

Tara: Well, Shannon and I love the beach and surfing. Downtown is historic and we absolutely love the architecture and history the city holds. There is a diverse culture in Wilmington, and an eclectic mix of different foods, music, and activities. It feels like a big city without being a big city. 

CSP: Why did you choose Coastal Select?

Tara: We chose Coastal select because of Angie Greer. Angie knows us very well but, aside from our friendship, she is a great listener and an extremely motivated and driven person. Angie knew our very unique needs for a home and we knew, without a doubt, that she would find us what we needed. And, of course, she did. We couldn’t be happier with the home we chose. 

CSP: Why did you choose your home?

Tara: Our home is EXACTLY what we needed. We were looking for an expansive piece of property in the heart of Wilmington that could support our business as well as our love of entertaining. We now have plenty of room for vehicles to park and a significant amount of open space where we plan to build workshops for the business. There is a pool with a deck off the back of the house to accommodate friends, family, and parties. Our dogs, Clyde and Penny, couldnt be happier with all the room they have to run around! The house is large enough for us host guests comfortably.

We also love the "old house" charm as it was built in 1936. We have a dreamy claw foot tub and  architecturally stunning details throughout the house. Oh, and the kitchen is huge, which is a must as we love to cook. The light that filters in through all of the beautiful windows brings us nothing but joy, and the sun porch, complete with its own separate entrance, acts as our office. It’s absolutely perfect! 

CSP: Given your background, did you try searching for a home on your own?

Tara: Yes, inadvertently. Shannon and I had been working on a home doing repair work for a friend on Peachtree Avenue after Hurricane Florence. In the midst of the project, she decided to to sell and buy a larger home for herself and her family. Her house was on a pretty large piece of property but the home itself was very small. Shannon and I made an offer and decided to buy the property from her. Our plans were to renovate - to build an addition and workshops in the back. But, after purchasing the property, we realized that the house was not going to meet our needs for our business or our lifestyle. So, we decided to turn it into a rental property. That’s when we decided to call Angie, trusting that she could help us find exactly what we wanted. 

CSP: How has your business grown and developed since you’ve been here?

Tara: The business has grown leaps and bounds over the last five years. When Shannon and I became partners five years ago, we added a wealth of services to the business. We were no longer just a faux finish and interior painting company. We became a full remodeling company - interior and exterior painting, and custom carpentry - along with decorative painting and faux finishes. We have become known as a the best choice for home renovation specialty services. People call us when they have unique design ideas or design hurdles. They know we can help them find a solution and bring their ideas to life. We have also recently added cleaning services to the business and this division of the company has taken off. We do a lot of post construction cleans for builders in Wilmington and also have residential clients. We service many Air BnB rentals on a regular basis. 

CSP: Can you tell me about the relationships and friendships you’ve established as a result of being here and running a business here?

Tara: We have come to know so many people in Wilmington as a result of running a business here.  We truly believe that relationships are the foundation of our success. Shannon and I are committed to being of service to others. First, we love to help people bring their visions to life. Being a part of others dreams for their homes or businesses brings us great joy. Second, we are committed to our employees and love to teach our trade to younger generations so they can carry on our mission of making dreams a reality for others. Because of our own experiences and hardships in life during our younger years, this aspect of the business brings significant meaning into our lives. We believe that passing along the help that was once given to us is what life is all about.

Many of our employees have come to us with no trade skills and difficult pasts and we have had the opportunity to teach them and watch them learn and grow. It is an amazing experience to do what we love for a living, and at the same time to be useful to others on such a profound level. Things don’t always work out the way we hope and plan but we find so much gratitude in building relationships and providing opportunities for those who didn’t think they would get another chance to repair their lives.  It’s such a gift that we have been blessed with to be in position to be of consistent service to God and others. 

CSP: What does the near future look like for you and your business?

Tara: The winter looks fruitful. We are booked with projects for the foreseeable winter. We are very appreciative for the trust our clients bestow on us and all of the referrals they grace us with. Because of the friendships we have built with our employees, we take vacations together. Work hard and play hard…always. So, we have a vacation planned for after the new year to a much warmer place! We are headed to Puerto Rico for a quick surf and relaxation trip. We need to recharge our batteries from time to time. We try to do this at least once a year. We find that when we treat our employees as equals and fiends, work isn’t so much a chore but a place where we come together and enjoy what we do and work as a team.

CSP: What do you and Shannon love to do in your free time?

Tara: Shannon has surfed for most of his life. The water is where he finds his peace. Shannon is also a drummer for the band Blank Hands. Blank Hands is an up and coming alternative indie rock band. They have recently made their way to streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. They have recorded and released a 4 song EP. and have recently recorded and mastered 5 more singles that will be released very soon. They are having a blast making music and 3 of the 4 members of the band work for Of The Essence Designs. Shannon also plays guitar and sings for fun outside of Blank Hands. Often times after a hard days work, he will serenade me and the puppies! We both have great love for the outdoors, music and animals. I practice hot yoga regularly at Wilmington Yoga center. This is were I find my center and get fulfillment, balance, and creative energy. I also combines my love of art with my work and am always trying to find new mediums to work with in decorative painting. We really love to travel. Seeing and experiencing new places and cultures fills our hearts and spirits. We do it as much as our work schedule will allow. We find that traveling brings a richness to our work and creativity on the job. 

CSP: Do you and Shannon consider yourselves artists?

Tara: Shannon and I are very much artists. I would say that we live artistically in almost everything that we do. We see art in all things and in all of our experiences . We are very fortunate that we get to express it in our work and in personal lives. 

For more information about Of the Essence Designs, visit oftheessence.net or give Tara a call at 973-951-6588.

6005 Appomattox Drive 

This 4 bedroom home with a first floor master bedroom is sure to please. Plenty of space for everyone. Situated on a large private lot with a fenced back yard including a large deck that is ideal for all of your entertaining needs. Some of the homes features include walk in closets, tons of attic storage, high ceilings, stainless steel appliances and lots natural light. .... Read more here.

4 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms

Neighborhood: Battle Park

List price: $259,900

OPEN HOUSE this Saturday

November 23rd 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Please contact Steve Swart for details 📲 910-617-6388

2317 Oakley Road, Castle Hayne, NC

Incredible opportunity to own this unique property just minutes from downtown 

Wilmington. Beautiful farmhouse built in 1930 with modern updates and a large firstfloor master suite. Over 2 acres of land and a 4 car garage/workshop that you have to see! .... Read more here.

3 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms

Town: Castle Hayne

List price: $335,000

OPEN HOUSE this Saturday

November 23rd 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Please contact Pati deOliva for details 📲 910-616-0334