Design

Pool Perfection

Clear Blue Pools brings luxury and relaxation to your backyard
By Katie Wells | Photography by Holger Obenaus

Every Charlestonian is familiar with the dog days of summer in the Lowcountry—the heat, the humidity and the endless search for the perfect pool to hop into to cool away the day. That search has ended, because Clear Blue Pools, Charleston’s premier pool provider, turns that summer fantasy into a reality in as little as four to six weeks. This locally owned small business has been serving the Charleston area for the past 13 years, providing high-end custom pools to homeowners who wish to soak up the blue waters, vitality and sunshine only a refreshing swimming pool can offer.

Clear Blue Pools is a company built on a friendship that began almost two decades ago. The company president, John Waite and Mike Greer, vice president of sales, met over 15 years ago while working for another pool company in Charleston. They became fast friends and were both passionate about creating high-end custom pools. “We decided to start our own company and we have never looked back. The great part about our relationship is we have worked together for almost two decades and still remain friends,” says Mike Greer.


The fact that Clear Blue Pools was born out of a friendship is no coincidence. Building relationships is core to the company’s mission and a key to their continued success in Charleston. The award-winning pool company can assist homeowners with all things pool-related, from design, placement and add-on’s to installation, care and maintenance for the life of the pool. “We believe in building relationships with our customers,” says Mike Greer, “Our customers are our customers long after the pool is built.”

It is important to Clear Blue Pools not only to build a beautiful pool but also to provide service to the pool owners. In addition to the service and maintenance programs, Clear Blue Pools backs up their craftsmanship with a warranty. They also offer renovations, repair and weekly pool care. Once the details are finalized, they begin building the pool by grading the site and framing the shape of the pool. Next in the process is the pre-plumbing, electrical and wall construction, followed by finishing touches like decking, landscaping and accessories. Clear Blue Pools manages the project from start to finish.

“We are a small company that takes a lot of pride in what we do,” says Greer.

And what they do isn’t just about building a functional pool. A beautiful pool can become a sanctuary for the family. Just as the kitchen is the heart of the home, the pool is the hub of family fun! The staff of Clear Blue Pools agrees. “We love what we do. The end result is fun for the customer,” Greer says. “We are building something for entertainment and relaxing.” Clear Blue Pools thinks that the experience of buying and building a pool should be a fun experience. “Although at times our work can be challenging, we try to maintain a sense of humor and really get the customer to enjoy the process,” shares Greer. With the goal of creating a relaxing environment in mind, Clear Blue Pools often incorporates unique elements into the design to create the perfect retreat. Natural elements, such as fieldstone or travertine, blend into the outdoor environment. Other popular additions include sheer or rock waterfalls, vanishing edges, beach entry, LED lighting, fountains, decking, seating benches and pool bars. The waterfalls are always a chic water feature. If the homeowner has a picturesque backdrop such as the ocean, river or marsh, a vanishing edge complements the view. To highlight the pool and offer mood lighting, LED lights provide ambiance. A lighted spa, accompanied by a starry night and the crisp fall air brings romance to the back yard; it’s a home addition that can be enjoyed year-round. An especially popular trend this past year was the sun shelf, an oversized shelf built into the side of the pool. It is approximately nine to 12 inches deep, and can incorporate an umbrella stand. Voila! The sun shelf provides an instant place for sunbathers to soak up the sun, while still staying cool in the pool. A homeowner with a penchant for entertaining may be fond of the pool bar, which is a great feature for a party or gathering.

This past year Clear Blue Pools completed more than 25 pool projects. Two were memorable not only for the pool, but because of the relationship with the clients. One of Greer’s favorite projects was building a pool for a client in Huger, S.C. “It was a spectacular pool with tons of rock work, a swim-up bar and a beach entry. It is a pretty amazing pool, and the client was great,” says Greer. A second favorite project was a pool built for a couple living on the Harbor. “The pool was simple but elegant, and the setting was unreal.”

Whatever the project, Clear Blue Pools can help homeowners turn a vision into reality. Unique and unusual pool projects are their specialty. “We don’t build basic projects, although we do enjoy the basic pool. We have built some of the most outstanding pools in the Lowcountry,” says Greer.

No matter what size, shape or features you decide, Clear Blue Pools is committed to building a beautiful pool to bring years of fun, luxury and entertainment to your backyard. Greer puts it best, “Our work speaks for itself. I think what separates us from the competition is our commitment to do what is right. Many companies will say it, but very few actually do it. We are one of the few.” When you need a pool company you can count on to create a unique, one-of-a kind design with excellent service and a fun-loving spirit, Clear Blue Pools is for you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Clear Blue Pools
7110 Rivers Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-300-4143
www.clearbluepools.net

Design

The Organized Life

A Closet Case brings order to storage spaces
By Holly Fisher | Photography by Holger Obenaus

About 10 years ago, the wire shelves in Colleen Adams’ closet fell down in the middle of the night. She was offered some melamine shelving and went to work on a solution. The experience, which prompted her to research a line of custom shelving, led to the launch of A Closet Case in 2003.

A Closet Case, located on Daniel Island, provides custom shelving solutions for clothes closets, media centers, laundry rooms, home offices, pantries and garages. The company designs and assembles closets using a range of products to create just the right storage solution.

Adams, who has a background in construction and sales, stresses that her goal is to take her knowledge of organization and efficiency and apply it to a client’s needs and budget. Along the way she gets to know her customer very well—after all, what’s more intimate than learning what’s tucked away in someone’s closets?

Adams says closets come in different sizes, meet varying demands and hold a variety of objects; therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

“We try to define what makes sense for each client,” Adams says. “Sometimes it’s simply organizing their current closet.”

Once A Closet Case assesses the situation, the solution can come in a variety of forms.

Sometimes all it takes is clearing out the clutter. Other times, swapping out hangers and organizing clothes by color makes a huge difference. Adams, who owns only 75 pieces of clothing, believes if you know what you have you’ll be less likely to buy duplicate items, and you’ll cut down on the time it takes to select an outfit for the day.

A Closet Case helps clients group their items into “keep,” “donate” and “recycle” piles, then it takes the items to Goodwill or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This benefits both the environment and the charities, while the client clears some clutter, Adams explains.

“It’s rewarding when people can find the garage floor and park the car in it,” she says.

The initial visit involves measuring the space and consulting with the client on storage needs. After that, Adams can provide some options within 24 hours. She offers two or three choices and a range of pricing, so clients can decide what works best for their situation and budget. Once a client makes a decision, A Closet Case is ready for installation in four days.

Because space organization is all about efficiency, features like a drawer for jewelry or a three-quarter-length mirror that slides out and pivots are ways to maximize space and keep items organized.

This year, Adams is diversifying the company to expand on the professional organizing component of the business. “A Basket Case” will focus solely on home organization, independent of closet design.

Also added this year is Monkey Bar, a line of garage storage systems typically used for longterm storage solutions. “It gives us some variety,” Adams says.

At A Closet Case, there’s more going on behind the scenes than design and organization. Adams is an avid supporter of The Brittney Strom Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Dayna and Kenneth Bledsoe. Adams met Dayna Bledsoe through a mission trip and decided she would be a perfect in-house designer for A Closet Case.

The Strom Foundation supports Camp Brittney in Costa Rica, a Christian youth camp, named in honor of 14-year-old Brittney Strom who wanted to become a missionary to Costa Rica. Tragically, Brittney and her family were killed in a plane crash. The Bledsoes decided to form a foundation to honor Brittney’s memory.

Adams has been on two mission trips, both with her teenage son, Jake. The company supports the Strom Foundation financially because it is part of their overall business philosophy to give back.

“It makes how we do business make more sense to us,” Adams says.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

A Closet Case
Daniel Island, SC 29492
843-971-9069
www.AClosetCase.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday and by appointment.
The Brittney Strom Foundation
www.CampBrittney.com

Design

Downsizing with Ease

Merrill Benfield helps clients separate the classic from the clutter
By Jason A. Zwiker | Photography by Holger Obenaus

In English composition, students are advised to either kill your darlings or omit needless words, depending on whether the professor has a flair for the poetic or the prosaic. Regardless of how it is phrased, it’s sound advice. It keeps writing clean and orderly. The meaning of a story shines through more clearly when the meandering is stripped away.

But stories are hardly restricted to the printed page. Walk a guest through your home: a story is very much being told. What is important to you? What have you chosen to keep and why? How do the various elements of your personal style relate to one another? Is the meaning clear?

For more than three decades, Merrill Benfield has assisted clients not only in designing their living and work spaces, but also in transitioning those spaces when their needs change. The latter half of that sentence is important; one great truth of life is that our needs will change over time.

Today, he finds that many of his clients are ready for smaller, simpler, uncluttered  surroundings. There may be economic considerations involved, but the rationale could just as easily be refinement. They still want their homes to tell the unique story about them, but with fewer “words.” Simply put, they wish to downsize with ease and elegance.

Merrill is happy to help them do exactly that. He assists with all aspects of the experience, from the selection of a residence that best suits a client’s furnishings to the design and decoration of that residence.

He begins, as a gentleman should, by ensuring that he knows his people well. The elements of design are, or should be, reflective of our passions, lifestyle and personal taste. Deciding what among the accumulated gatherings of a lifetime should stay or go is where the art comes in.

As he makes an assessment of what a client currently owns, he asks: which items fit into the new facet of life? What is the cost of keeping an item? What needs to be refinished, recovered or restored?

“Antique rugs may need to be restored and paintings cleaned or reframed,” he says. “Whatever is required, including items being moved, sold, restored, or refinished, I will handle all aspects of it for my client.”

Equal consideration is given to the disposal of pieces that won’t be making the transition to the new space. “Antiques might be gifted to heirs or sent to the level of auction house that will best represent them,” he notes. “Some items may be given to charity for the tax advantages.” These decisions, for each item in question, are made to best serve the individual needs of the client

The transition does not end in the home’s interior. Collector cars are one of Merrill’s specialties, after all, and choosing which car or cars will carry a client through the streets is every bit as important to him as balancing color and light in a living space. See his 1952 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn parked at a curb in Charleston and you know: Ah, Merrill is around. That’s the heart of the idea. The objects with which we surround ourselves should comment on our characters, tell the story of our personalities, the life we’ve lived and the people we’ve loved.

Merrill comes by his exquisite sense of taste honestly. Early in life, he antiqued with his mother, who helped acquire pieces for the White House during the Kennedy Administration. He’s made the finest things in life, and especially the presentation of them, his expertise over the length of his career.

It’s not simply which antiques and artwork are placed in a room, he reminds us, but how they are arranged in relation to one another, as well as how the colors and light all work together with these furnishings to achieve a desired effect. “Chic and elegant” is the effect that’s most often desired when downsizing, according to Merrill. And he is happy to help clients achieve that.

“Most of them are empty nesters,” he says. “They are ready for their next phase in life, and they’re ready for it to be designed with perfection.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Merrill Benfield Design
28 Hasell Street
843-452.5600

Design

Remarkable Remolders

Creative outdoor living concepts help this company thrive
By Holly Fisher | Photography by Holger Obenaus

Thanks to the economy, business for The Renovators is booming.

This may sound strange coming from a construction and remodeling company, but for this Mount Pleasant business, it’s an example of a business diversifying to meet customer demand.

Two years ago, the company’s three partners started Outdoor Concepts by The Renovators to focus on the growing outdoor living market. This year, the Home Design Trends Survey, conducted by the American Institute of Architects, showed an increase in homeowners’ requests for outdoor living space—60 percent versus 56 percent in 2010. “Customers were clearly interested, so we added this division,” says Chris Hicks, a partner in The Renovators, who manages the Outdoor Concepts division.

Outdoor Concepts by The Renovators will take on any hardscaping or outdoor living project, from adding pavers to installing a full outdoor kitchen with fireplace and seating area. Thanks to Charleston’s mild climate and residents’ desire to spend time outside, adding an outdoor living division made a lot of sense. “It’s such a part of the lifestyle here,” says Mike Johns, head of the company’s commercial division. “It’s an obvious market.”

Outdoor fireplaces, pizza ovens, fire pits and places for an oyster roast are high on the list of outdoor must-haves. Pavers are maintaining their level of popularity as well, and, accordingly, The Renovators specializes in natural bluestone, a kind of sandstone often quarried in Pennsylvania and New York.

These elements were part of an extensive outdoor living project the team recently completed on a 14,000-square-foot Charleston style plantation on Johns Island. The job was just as grand as the house itself. It included a 14-foot-tall fireplace made of hand-chiseled stone and a table made of cypress on a slab of bluestone. The table, weighing 900 pounds, was built on site. The Renovators also added a deck around an infinity-edge pool as well as an outdoor kitchen complete with gas grill, sink, warmer and a Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. The project, which took three months, demonstrated the kind of comprehensive project The Renovators can complete when it comes to bringing indoor comforts outside.

But not all projects involve fire pits and pools. The Renovators tackle entire house renovations as well as smaller projects. They may do a $200,000 addition one day and simple drywall replacement the next. Sunrooms and screened porches are also popular. “Anything you need done to your home, we can do,” says Shannon Davidson, manager of day-to-day construction work.

Complete home renovations are more common nowadays. Homeowners are forgoing the idea of new construction or trying to make a move in a weak housing market.

Davidson says homeowners are opting for full-home makeovers rather than just adding a porch or redoing a single bathroom. They are doing these renovations plus updating moldings, flooring and paint, he says. It’s typically an entire house update, so that three, four or five years down the road they will be ready to sell—or stay in their homes for the long haul.

But this company’s success is also attributable to excellent customer service. The Renovators offers in-home consultations, including a free estimate in 72 hours or less, along with a free conceptual design with an in-house designer. Many of their customers become friends, visiting with them and even going to Hicks’ house for dinner. When you’re renovating someone’s house you basically become part of their family, Hicks says. You see people in their pajamas or putting their kids to bed. They call in the middle of the night when the wind blew something loose and the roof is leaking.

Hicks says faith and prayers are part of the company’s business plan too. The team participates in twice-weekly Bible studies and tries to stay focused on what they do best, not what the competition is up to. “You don’t worry about how tall your neighbor’s grass is, you pay attention to your own,” Hicks says.

The combination of focus and faith coupled with the partners’ management and marketing skills have proven to be a successful formula for The Renovators. The company is growing and plans to open a showroom in Mount Pleasant in the coming months.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Renovators
843 345-3214
www.TheRenovatorsSC.com

Design

Air Care

Check your ductwork
By Denise James

Nobody likes to crawl underneath the house or through the attic. But sometimes, you just have to know what’s going on in those areas.

“A lot of homes have air leakage from their crawl spaces,” explains Kenny Bates of Myatt & Bates Heating and Air. “When you’re heating your house, the heat can leak out if the ductwork is faulty.”

Myatt & Bates works hard to educate homeowners about how to heat and cool more efficiently, thus lowering their power bill and enhancing comfort.

“Many homeowners are becoming aware of leaky duct work in their homes,” Kenny says. “That problem can make a real difference in their power bill. If it’s leaking 30 percent, for example, then it’s driving their heating and cooling costs up by 30 percent. That equates to raising their overall power bill by around 15 percent. We’re seeing that a lot.”

“It doesn’t make sense to keep buying a new unit when the ductwork is really the problem,” adds Stacie Bates. “The unit isn’t always the source of the problem. If you buy a 20 SEER (seasonal energyefficiency rating) unit and the ductwork is leaking 30 percent, then you are really only getting 14 SEER out of a 20 SEER system.”

Signs that your ducts may be leaking include a high amount of dust in the home, a constant draft and an unusually high electric bill.

With a few diagnostics, Myatt & Bates can check to make sure everything is working properly. Otherwise, you risk paying good money to condition air that is literally disappearing from your house.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Myatt & Bates
843-769-4771
www.myattandbates.com

Design

A Better Idea

Custom shutters built to last
By Denise James

Sam Wood understands the importance of window treatments that look great and last a long time. He and his partner, Mike Van Axen, co-owners of A Shade Above the Rest, have been in the business for eight years.

“Mike got into window fashion right after high school,” says Wood. “He left his previous company and we started this one together. He has 15 years of experience.”

At first, the new company wasn’t so different from everyone else.

“We started like a lot of others in the area, buying shutters from outside companies and retailing them,” says Wood. “Then we found a company in Atlanta that sold the materials.

“We started creating our own ‘poly’ [engineered wood] shutters. That was about two years ago.”

The change has been a good thing for both company and customer. With the shutters made in-house, there’s less turn-around time for clients. The shutters are also better suited for the individual home.

“We’re more flexible time-wise than buying a product from overseas,” says Wood. “We also know what will function best in your windows. We can modify the fit and paint the shutters at no extra charge. We do all the work ourselves.

“We have a large showroom, where potential customers can come in and test out the shutters, see how they work,” says Wood. “We sell a few wood shutters as well, but we make our own poly shutters. The material usually lasts longer; it doesn’t tend to expand and warp the way wood can.”

This winter, get that sun out of your eyes by contacting Wood and Van Axen—and tell a friend who needs new shutters. Check out the company’s website,

FOR MORE INFORMATION

A Shade Above the Rest
www.ashadeabovetherest.com

Design

Two Sides of the Coin

This couple focuses on both form and function
By Warren Cobb | Photography by Holger Obenaus

The kitchen and the bathroom are at opposite ends of life in a home.

The former is often the center of the home, a place where family and friends can gather and share. The latter is a place of supreme, blissful solitude. And while their functions are vastly different, each is an important living space.

For not quite eight years now, Designer Kitchens and Baths Inc. has built a reputation for creating perfect spaces in Charleston. But quality and craftsmanship are not the sole reasons for this company’s success. Owners Morelle and Rhoda Jones pride themselves, first and foremost, on customer service and an ability to listen to their clients. They create kitchens and baths that are tailored to clients’ specific needs. The result: everyone feels really good about the finished project.

“I love taking an ugly duckling and making something grand out of it,” says Rhoda Jones, the visionary half of the couple, who honed her customer service skills during a long career at BellSouth. “I try to guide people to make choices they’ll walk in and still love five years from now.

“Working in kitchens and baths, you’re affecting a person’s life everyday,” says Morelle Jones, a licensed architect, Vietnam veteran and a stickler for design details. “Hopefully, you’re improving their quality of life.”

The two met at St. Andrew’s High School in West Ashley. Both had previous marriages. Both had long careers working for others. Casting about for a business opportunity, the two bought into a cabinet and flooring company in late 2003.

After a year, wanting to put Morelle’s architectural skills to work, they created a company that would offer custom design for both new construction and renovations. They would oversee their projects from beginning to end, from manufacture of the various pieces to installation. Designer Kitchens and Baths Inc. was born.

Two years ago, the company relocated from North Charleston to St. Andrew’s Boulevard in West Ashley. The move was challenging. On one hand, they were locating to a safer, more centralized part of Charleston. On the other, they were losing 1,000 square feet of showroom space.

The Joneses rolled with the changes, becoming more selective about what they would carry in the showroom. In the end, they felt the move increased the morale of their employees and their ability to help their clients have an easy, pleasurable experience with Designer Kitchens and Baths.

Today, the company designs and builds more than 40 projects per year. Some are new construction, but most are remodels or additions, lines of work the company entered almost immediately after opening.

Designer Kitchens and Baths has the ability to build a kitchen literally from the ground up.

“We’re a mini design-build firm and licensed builder, so we can pull permits,” says Rhoda. “Morelle does the drawings for custom cabinetry, then has them manufactured and installed. Often we will do a kitchen, then the client will invite us to do the bath, and viceversa.”

The Joneses attribute their success to their emphasis on giving clients exceptional, personal customer service.

“We start with a home consultation and look not only at what the current kitchen has or what the remodel needs, but also at the lifestyle of the homeowner and how the kitchen will be used,” Rhoda says. “I cook a lot. That’s why I love working in kitchens.”

“She’s a stickler about the function of everything,” says Morelle with a nod to his wife. “And he’s a stickler for precision and detail,” Rhoda says. “Ask him the time, and he’ll build you a clock.”

Rhoda often accompanies their clients through the many hurdles of redesign, helping pick the tile, the paint and the plumbing fixtures. She admits there is a tinge of vanity in her work. “In the end, I want to be proud of it,” she says as she pulls one of her volumes of “before & after “photos off the bookshelf and displaying the pages. “I like to show it off later.”

As with their design and construction work, the Joneses take a philosophical view of their role in ensuring customer satisfaction. “There’s a certain amount of altruism we bring to our work,” Morelle says. “In the end, we really try to help people. Ethically, we feel we owe our clients the very best we can give. With our kitchens, we want to help give people a sense of family and togetherness.”

“The home is really an investment,” Rhoda says. “But, then, again, we’re conscientious of our clients’ needs. You might be on a budget, but I can make your kitchen look like a $100,000 kitchen for much, much less.”

The couple’s kindness, sincerity and honesty in doing business is what has kept their customers coming back and spreading the gospel of Designer Kitchens and Baths.

“We both have a strong sense that there are a lot of other people that do this kind of work in town,” Morelle says. “The comprehensive nature of our business is primary. And we think customer service is first and foremost. Our clients are our biggest salesmen.”

“The key,” says Rhoda, is how happy you leave them.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Designer Kitchens and Baths, Inc.
1106 St. Andrew’s Blvd., Suite A
Charleston, SC 29407
843-763-7717
www.designerkitchensandbathsinc.com

Design

The Tile Authority

A Different kind of Toy Shop
By Denise James

Look around the Lowcountry and chances are no matter where you go—country clubs, churches, hotels, car dealerships, restaurants, retail stores or private homes—you’ll see the handiwork of craftsmen from Lowcountry Tile Contractors.

Founded in 1997 and a member of both the Marble Institute of America and the National Tile Contractors Association, this homegrown company specializes in tile and natural stone installation and repair.

Whether working with new construction projects, remodeling or commercial applications, the Lowcountry Tile team dedicates itself to turning an ordinary space into an exquisite environment. Given the company’s long-standing relationships with the most reputable importers and distributors in the industry, Lowcountry Tile offers a wide variety of quality tile and natural stone to fit any need, design and budget. Because Lowcountry Tile has an in-house fabrication shop, craftsmen can guarantee quality work and custom-cut granite and marble for fireplaces, vanity tops, kitchen counters, floors, walls and much more. The full-service company offers:

• Design consultations (custom design ideas,layouts and patterns, unique applications)

• Custom tile and stone installations

• Laser etching

• Waterjet technology

“We pride ourselves on the quality material and craftsmanship that we offer. Whatever your taste might be, we can find the tile or stone to satisfy even the most unique request. From smooth surfaces to distressed and worked textures, we have access to thousands of options and the expertise to customize it for your specific space,” says Jeff Singletary, president and owner of Lowcountry Tile Contractors.

Lowcountry Tile has a staff of eight fulltime crews, all of whom are company employees, not subcontractors, and specialize in custom installations of natural stone, ceramic, mosaic and glass block. The tile contractor, select someone who has been in business a long time and who you are confident is not after a one-time sale. Our teams have specialized in tile for literally hundreds of years, collectively speaking. I, myself, am a third generation tile contractor, following my father and grandfather before me. As far as we are concerned, every job is a custom job. We consider ourselves artists with every installation, and that is what sets us apart.” company’s craftsmen, some of whom have worked there for several decades, have over 400 years of cumulative experience among them.

Proving that tile is timeless, the industry has weathered the economic storm fairly well. Tile consumption in the United States for 2010 was 1.97 billion square feet, up six percent versus 2009, according to a report released by the Tile Council of North America in March of 2011.

Charleston is no exception to the popularity of tile. According to Singletary, a definite trend in the Lowcountry is the use of natural ingredients and a rigidly controlled manufacturing process that utilizes the most advanced processes and technology. Modern porcelain products look very much like natural stone, but are less costly and easier to maintain. For all but some, this is a smart option

“The only place we really can’t use porcelain is in some of Charleston’s historic homes. Sideby- side with real marble or granite, the porcelain faux designs become more obvious. Otherwise, Charleston’s designers and home owners are recognizing it as a great choice,” says Singletary.

The price of a project is determined by several factors, including materials selected and the complexity of the job. But Singletary stresses that you can’t put a price on experience and quality craftsmanship.

“Superior product is very important, but the most critical factor is making sure it’s installed correctly by someone who understands the dynamics of tile and stone. A lot of companies use subcontractors who don’t necessarily specialize,” says Singletary. “When choosing a tile contractor, select someone who has been in business a long time and who you are confident is not after a one-time sale.

Our teams have specialized in tile for literally hundreds of years, collectively speaking. I, myself, am a third generation tile contractor, following my father and grandfather before me. As far as we are concerned, every job is a custom job. We consider ourselves artists with every installation, and that is what sets us apart.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Lowcountry Tile Contractors, Inc.
www.lowcountrytilecontractors.com
1989 Dulsey Road
Charleston, SC 29407
843-763-2161

Design

Life With a View

Elegance and comfort are hallmarks of this Kiawah Island home
By Patra Taylor | Photography by Holger Obenaus

The dazzling summer sunsets over the Kiawah River rarely go unnoticed by Jennifer Powers.

Almost every evening, she sits on her back porch and watches the final rays of sunlight slip below the horizon. Each end-of-day performance reminds her that there is no place on earth she’d rather be than at home on South Carolina’s most exclusive resort island.

In fact, for Jennifer and her husband, Jim, who’ve owned an oceanfront condo on the island for nearly a decade, the spectacular sunsets were a bonus. The couple believes discovering the site—which has a broad view of the 16th fairway of the Kiawah’s River Course— for their custom-built home along the river was a stroke of luck. “Originally, we owned another lot on the island and had actually started the preliminary planning to build there,” states Jennifer. “When this area of Salthouse Lane opened up, Jim and I decided to take a look. We loved this lot and decided to start over. It was absolutely the best decision we ever made.”

For the Powers, the perfect Lowcountry lot required the perfect Lowcountry home. And for Jennifer—who became the family’s point-person on the project to allow her husband to travel back and forth to Charlottesville, Virginia, to run his business—that meant putting together the perfect Lowcountry team.

“R. M. Buck Builders was a given,” she states emphatically. “Through the years, I have toured many Kiawah homes. The quality of everything in a Buck-built home always stuck out to me. During one tour, I met Bob and Renae Buck and their son, Ryan, and loved the family concept. Each one of them plays an integral part in the building process, none more important than the others.”

Jennifer points to the cabinetry in her kitchen as one of the many ways R. M. Buck Builders differentiates itself as a home builder on the island. “They build their own cabinets,” explains Jennifer regarding Buck’s cabinetmaking arm, Island Cabinet Company. “When somebody is a cabinetmaker, every part of the house that involves wood is going to be uncompromising.”

The Buck’s strict standards shine in Jennifer’s dream kitchen. The aqua-colored granite countertops sit atop custom-crafted cabinets with inset fronts—all adding a subtle sophistication to the kitchen’s appearance. Complementary glass subway tiles pull in the calming colors of the beach and the ocean. By design, the kitchen lacks upper cabinets, except on one inside wall. This adds openness to the space and helps integrate it with the view overlooking a radius swimming pool and the river beyond.

“The design of the kitchen is a balance of the formal and the casual,” states Sam Furr of Samuel Furr Architects, the architect for the project. “That’s the way the Powers live.”

A butler’s pantry connects the kitchen with the formal dining room. “This is the place for toast and coffee in the morning,” notes Jennifer. “It includes a large food pantry that’s easily accessible to the kitchen.”

The second section of the butler’s pantry was designed to service the dining room. Amazing blue-green countertops with imbedded oyster shells add a touch of elegance to this space that also features an additional dishwasher, wine cooler and storage for the family’s fine china.

“A big part of my love of this house is the outdoor space,” continues Jennifer. “For us, the outdoor space is as important, or even more important, than the inside space.”

Ipe hardwood decking creates the foundation of the Powers’ vast outdoor living room. A fireplace with natural stucco over masonry serves as the room’s focal point with banks of cabinets featuring unique leather-finish granite countertops flanking both sides.

The porch also features a sitting area with a wide-screen television, a large dining table and a grill. It steps down to a terrace made of blue stone, which helps reduce glare while adding texture and durability to the pool area. “It’s all about connecting to the site,” notes Furr.

While the back of the Powers’ cedar shake-style home maximizes the view of the river, the view from the sweeping front porch captures the play on the River Course. Twin peaks connected by what Furr refers to as an “eyebrow” gives the home a distinctive, but welcoming appeal. A guesthouse, connecting to the main house by an elevated walkway, maximizes the use of the space over the garage.

“One of the reasons we chose Sam as our architect is because he grades the fronts of his houses,” says Jennifer. “When you look down the driveway at the front, you don’t see the foundation. And you end up with a wonderful veranda in the front.”

It’s easy for the family and their guests to kick-off their shoes and relax. All the home’s systems are controlled by the latest technology. From the blinds, fans and Lutron window shades throughout the house to the upscale audio/video system to the temperature setting on the home’s geo-thermal heating system, Jennifer controls virtually all the home’s electronics from her iPad.

From the living room, designed for the family to enjoy their favorite ballgames, to the luxurious master suite, to the four comfortable guest bedrooms, the Powers’ home reflects Buck Builders’ uncompromising standards. But the builder’s obsession with the smallest details is most obvious in Jim’s upstairs home office. It features intricate cabinetry and wainscoting that perfectly matches the home’s walnut flooring. Pocket doors with perfect faux stain slide easily out-of-sight, allowing light from the office windows to flow into the upstairs hallway.

“The biggest compliment anybody can give me is to remark how comfortable and homey this house is,” says Jennifer. “That was our goal. I’ve looked at way too many homes that are kind of untouchable. I wasn’t creating a museum here. We have four adult children who come here and I don’t want to be walking on eggshells with them. I want them to be comfy.

“The house has Lowcountry elegance, yet is very comfortable,” concludes Jennifer. “Sam was able to design it, the Bucks built it, and Kathryn McGowan, my interior designer and other vital member of my team, decorated it. Elegant comfort…that’s not an easy thing to create. If we were to do it all over again, there’d be no changes…no changes in our team, no changes in the house. We have no regrets whatsoever.”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

R. M. Buck Builders, Inc
950 Main Road
Johns Island, SC 29455
843-559-1155
www.rmbuckbuilders.com

Samuel Furr Architects
2968 Maybank Highway
Johns Island, SC 29455
843-559-5524
www.samfurrarchitects.com

Kathryn McGowan
KDM Interiors, Inc.
402 Brown Pelican Drive
Wando, SC 29492
843-884-9378
kdmmcgowan@bellsouth.net