Charleston Home + Design

Just Marbleous

Known to many across the Lowcountry as “The Countertop Lady,” Julie Alfred of East Coast Granite & Design has helped innumerable clients choose the best countertops to fit their homes and their budgets.  

Perfect pairings, whether it’s a shirt and tie, wine and cheese, or even peanut butter and jelly (it’s all about the ratio), are sometimes difficult to pull together. Not so with Julie Alfred of East Coast Granite & Design, who teamed up with Nathan Sullivan of Sullivan Custom Cabinets and designer Dani Silver of Dani Silver Designs to create a kitchen of elegant proportions. Dani’s clients came to her with a plan in mind, and the rest is history, as the old adage goes. The homeowners already had their colors and cabinets picked out when they met with Julie. “They sought my advice about which stone would be the best fit for their kitchen,” she says. “But
there’s more to choosing countertops than picking granite or marble in a color you like.”

Naturally, the mineral makeup of granite versus marble is a huge factor in the decision-making process, but there are also finishes and edges to determine. Shoppers must additionally consider the size of the slab, a treatment to prolong the stone’s life, and the striations of the stone. “The most popular colors in countertops are grays and whites, which are most often a type of marble, but a lot of people are scared of marble,” Julie expounds. When it comes to scratch resistance, granite is generally considered to be stronger, but what most people don’t know is that marble can withstand high temperatures better than any other stone on the market.  Julie also highly recommends that marble countertops should be treated with a high-end sealer. “The sealer will gradually become part of the composition of the stone and make it exponentially stronger.” 

These particular homeowners took Julie’s advice and chose a marble called “Super White,” which they installed in the kitchen, master bath, and the first-floor powder room. In this particular kitchen, the team at Sullian Custom Cabinets had to build the island to custom measurements to accommodate the whole slab of “Super White.” Because the homeowners opted to have no seams in the island countertop, the team at East Coast Granite honed an entire slab and then lifted it in with a crane. “It was quite a production,” she concludes with a laugh, “The results speak for themselves.”  

For more information, call Julie Alfred at East Coast Granite at (843) 343-6536 or visit eastcoast-granite.com. For information about the cabinetry, call Sullivan Custom Cabinets at (843) 554-5880 or visit sullivancustomcabinets.com.

 

Lowcountry Escape

When Charleston residents need a quick getaway, where do they go? One vacation cottage in Palmetto Bluff proves to be the perfect hideout for a Mt. Pleasant family. 

Just a two-hour drive from their home in Mt. Pleasant, a weekend cottage sits waiting for Josh and Chrissy Zollweg (along with their children and their beloved German Shorthaired Pointer). The couple discovered Palmetto Bluff—a residential and recreational community nestled in Bluffton, South Carolina—and decided to build a home in the neighborhood. Josh notes, “Palmetto Bluff is truly a hidden gem in the Lowcountry. It’s less than two hours away from Charleston, making it a great getaway, especially if you’re an outdoor enthusiast.” Josh, owner of Moss Construction, knew that he wanted to work with his time-tested subcontractors from the Charleston area, so he organized for several local companies to travel south for his family’s project. 

For the kitchen, he worked with Charleston Cabinets, a custom cabinet company that has been in
business in the Lowcountry since 1992. Because Josh, as a builder, was familiar with the trade, he knew exactly what he wanted in the small kitchen—white, shaker-style cabinets with simple knobs and pulls. The light color and unadorned design worked to make the space feel large and bright. Niki Komorek of Charleston Cabinets states of the shaker-style doors, “They’re very minimalistic. The door doesn’t have a lot of grooves or detail to it. It’s perfect for homeowners trying to make a small space seem bigger or for those who want something with a very clean look.” Josh adds, “Niki and Charleston Cabinets have a great sense of design when it comes to tight spaces. With this particular house, space was limited, but her design really made the kitchen feel open and spacious.”   

Niki knows, however, that most homeowners—who aren’t experts in the building field—don’t know to ask for something specific, like shaker-style doors. Niki confirms, “In a lot of cases, homeowners don’t really know where to start.” Because of this, Charleston Cabinets has a system in place to discover the needs of the homeowner and to create a highly functioning kitchen. First, if the homeowners are working on a remodel, Niki meets them in their own space to determine what works and what doesn’t. If she is tackling a new-construction project, she pores over the blueprints and interviews the homeowners about likes and dislikes in the kitchen. Next, the team chooses colors and coordinates granite, plumbing fixtures, and appliances. Appliances are actually one of the first items on the list of purchases because their sizes determine placement and depth of the cabinets. 

Niki then ensures that the space meets the basic level of functionality—the triangle. The triangle, she explains, is “the range, sink, and refrigerator, which are the main, most-used components in the kitchen.” They should be arranged so that there is easy, unobstructed access to all three. With the triangle in place, Niki begins the fun part of the design: the addition of lazy susans, trash bins, pullout pantry drawers, and other add-ons that aid in convenience.  When it’s all said and done, all homeowners leave their project with a full knowledge of their kitchen and a thorough understanding of their own needs in the heart of the home.   

For more information, call Charleston Cabinets at (843) 554-7800 or visit charlestoncabinetsinc.com. To learn more about Moss Construction, call (843) 442-9032 or visit mossconstructionsc.com. 

 

What Does a Landscape Architect Do?

A majority of people can agree that curb appeal is important to most homeowners and significantly impacts the value of a home. Landscaping can help make your property feel inviting, 
attractive, and can be practical when it comes to environmental concerns. Not many people are aware how to assemble flora that creates a perfect landscape which  is not only aesthetically pleasing, but is functional as well. Nor do they know who they should actually call. I caught up with JR Kramer, owner of Remark Landscape Architecture, to find out what a landscape architect does, why you need one, and how using one can save you money, time, and heartache down the road. 

To start, one may ask “Do I really need a landscape architect and what types of projects do they usually work on?” JR clarifies that landscape architects provide services in a wide variety of areas from residential design, master planning, urban planning, campus design, as well as green roof design. Bottom line- if you’re designing an outdoor environment, you need a landscape architect. They can design outdoor living spaces, such as courtyards, patios, driveways or pool houses, and so much more. One example of a landscape architect’s particular skill set is how JR worked with a client who was adding a garage and wanted to make sure it sited correctly. JR was hired to provide a site plan for the garage and guest parking and a landscape master plan that integrated the new garage and parking with future patio and gardens. 

Your next question might be “how is a landscape architect’s work different from that of a landscape designer or lawn care specialist?” First things first: A landscape architect has a college degree in landscape architecture, has at least two years of training under the guidance of a licensed landscape architect, and has taken a rigorous national certification exam to ensure competency to practice landscape architecture. Pretty intense, but very important! This education and training qualify him or her to be able to take on larger and more complicated projects that include small structures, detailed hardscape designs, and drainage solutions such as rain gardens. As opposed to a garden designer, who may not have to have formal training, a college degree in design or horticulture, or even have a certificate. Keep in mind that basically anyone can call themselves a landscape designer in South Carolina but to be a landscape architect you must be licensed. A lawn care specialist provides services retailed to cutting grass, fertilizing, and maintaining other aspects of the landscape. It’s always vital to ensure that a lawn care professional has proper training as well as certificates for fertilization  and any other kinds of chemical installation.  

Now you see how important it is to use a landscape architect for your hardscaping and outdoor design needs. However, is it worth the cost? Speaking of cost, how much are we talking
here? JR explains that Fees range widely, but a good rule of thumb is for a fee to be 10% of the construction cost and up to 20% for a smaller complicated project. A typical landscape master plan starts at $2,500. Again, there are a lot of variables, such as the client’s specific budget and base plan (survey, plat, the site measurements), the construction details needed, varying degrees of required research, how many concepts to be provided, and the number of client meetings. Another aspect to keep in mind is the general timeline for your project. You were already wondering that, anyway, right? JR postulates that the normal process right now, from time of initial meeting to final design, takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the size of the project, review process (HOA, ARB), and the promptness of client review and feedback.

So you decided to build a new home or office building. Congrats! But the decisions don’t stop there. Should you wait until construction is finished before planning out your landscaping? JR recommends a homeowner should hire a landscape architect as soon as possible. JR explains, “It’s important to bring on a landscape architect to help set budgets, provide feedback in house placement, drive and walkway design, preserving trees (or taking out trees that will impede construction), and provide grading and drainage plans.” Also keep in mind that if a landscape architect is hired early enough, a client can roll fees into a loan to ensure all costs are covered.

Aside from planting the usual grassy lawn, perhaps a few shrubs or flowers, and maybe an occasional stone path, is there really much else to landscaping? You betcha! There is a lot more to landscaping than meets the eye. JR notes that outdoor living space which incorporate native or low maintenance plantings and simple clean lines in the design currently trending in the Lowcountry. Clearly JR can demonstrate how important landscape architects are and would be happy to help you with your next landscaping project. Learn more about JR and Remark by visiting remarkstudiollc.com or by calling his office at 843.952.7817. JR also welcomes questions and project ideas by email at [email protected]. 

Hidden Innovation

A Montagu Street home proves to be the perfect example of elegantly blending modern technology and antebellum charm.  

 A television doesn’t mix with brickwork from 1849, and cat-5 wiring doesn’t complement a Tim Hussey original work of art. Furthermore, speakers and plaster are not two peas in a pod. How does a homeowner of an historic abode incorporate modern conveniences, like security systems and surround sound, into a house without compromising that old-world feel? The secret lies in hiding—hiding the wires, hiding the cable boxes, hiding the equipment. If items cannot be fully hidden, then subtlety is the key. 

 When City Councilman Michael Seekings and his wife, Michele, purchased their Montagu Street
home (within Michael’s District-8 territory), the couple knew the space needed some updating. Previous owners made many valuable upgrades to the property, but the Seekingses wanted to make sure the space fit their day-to-day needs, which included a technology package. “When we moved in,” Michael remembers, “it was a house that had great potential, but it needed some modernizing. The objectives were to keep it historic and make it livable.” The beginning steps of achieving this goal began nearly five years ago when Michael partnered with David Smith of tech company AV Lifestyles. The duo set out to bring the home up-to-speed with technology trends and keep it current over time.

David explains, “We strove to centralize as much as possible. In an older home, there are not many places to hide technology, so we had to choose one or two strategic closets to conceal the majority of the wiring and the audio-video equipment. Once we figured that out, we were able to mount TVs on walls without seeing cable boxes, DVD players, or cords. We wanted the technology to be as unseen as possible because we didn’t want to take away from the beauty of the home itself.” Michael adds, “The concept was to integrate technology that was absent to the eye.” Other than hiding the boxes and wires, David and his team installed a few other hidden elements: invisible speakers in the living room, light and window-treatment switch plates faux painted to match the walls, and televisions recessed behind paintings. 

Because David understood not only the Seekingses’ need for invisible technology, but also the couple’s hectic schedule, he chose to run all of the homes elements—the security system, the lights, the televisions, and the audio—through a Control4 system, which allows Michael and Michele to control their home on the go via their smartphones. And, as technology changes (as it seems to do daily), David is able to continually update the couple’s house with the latest conveniences. Michael notes, “We’ve come a long way on this whole project. Our home is livable, but it wouldn’t be if we didn’t have the technology. It’s been a terrific project, and I know there’s more to come.” In fact, David and Michael are already making plans to swap out a television in the kitchen for a new, slightly larger smart model.  

 

For more information, call AV Lifestyles at  (843) 277-0059 or visit myavlife.com. 

 

Architectural Dream: One family brings contemporary style to a Kiawah Island vacation home.

Rarely do homes in the Lowcountry exude modernism; it’s a style most commonly reserved for swanky New York City apartments overlooking Central Park. However, when two homeowners chose to carve out their own piece of Kiawah paradise, they wanted to bring with them their penchant for the contemporary. To do this, they partnered with architect Bill Huey of Bill Huey and Associates. 

Bill’s goal and plan was clear, and it involved creating balance. In order to incorporate the modern panache of the homeowners and still please the vision of Kiawah’s Architectural Review Board, Bill established equilibrium between contemporary and coastal. He describes, “This house was a little bit of a challenge for us; it’s atypical for our Kiawah clients. The homeowners wanted this house to have a contemporary edge to it, yet still fit into the Kiawah ambiance. Because of that, what we have in this house are cleaner lines and more modern materials. For example, the entire first floor is tile instead of the default hardwood.” Other modern features include neutral colors, minimalist Siematic cabinetry in the kitchen, a linear fireplace, metallic accents, and absolutely no clutter. 

Order and cleanliness are of utmost importance in modern design. For example, you won’t see things like knickknacks or exposed bookshelves in a minimalistic space. Bill achieved this clutter-free look by designing an overabundance of closet space into the layout. “Now that we use spray- foam insulation in homes, the eaves and attics become ideal for conditioned storage spaces. We used every inch we could. There’s quite a bit of storage in this house that isn’t really seen,” Bill reveals. Furthermore, he placed hidden nooks and crannies throughout to hold everyday items (like a sliding granite piece that hides the spice rack behind the stove and a behind-the-wall cabinet that conceals the television remotes). 

 

 

 What sets this Kiawah home apart from those New York apartments, though, is its warmth. The space is far from institutional or cold. It’s livable because of Bill’s incorporation of curves and natural-wood textures in strategic areas. “The house has a level of detail that is inviting. A modern design can be very hard and angular, but we introduced curvilinear elements and accessories that soften the look. The curvilinear theme is evident in the exterior, foyer, and ceiling over the dining table,” explains Bill. To separate the kitchen and dining areas from the living area, Bill created a ceiling element in a rich wood tone that acts as a subtle, curved divider in the modern room. Traditional light fixtures—like the chandelier adorning the arched foyer—also help to bring warmth to the space. 

 

Eventually, this house will become the owners’ permanent dwelling, and it was designed to function as a full-time residence, not merely a vacation home. Until that time, though, the owners will enjoy their contemporary-coastal spot near Kiawah’s peaceful beaches each summer (and every other possible opportunity for a quick getaway). 

 
For more information,call Bill Huey and Associates at (843) 805-6700 or visit hueyarchitect.com.