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.
