Charleston Home + Design

Early Islanders

Homeowners Anne and Bill Stevens have been residing on Daniel Island for over twelve years; their second house in the area proves to be their best investment yet.  

In 1997, Daniel Island was little more than a rugged plot of paradise situated at the confluence of the Wando and Cooper Rivers. Early in the island’s development—in 2003—Bill and Anne Stevens saw the potential of the community, and they decided to construct a home for themselves. Watching the growth of the town (which now consists of approximately 2,000 single-family homes) and welcoming new neighbors made them love the locale even more. Anne explains, “When we first looked at Daniel Island, there were already sidewalks. We didn’t see these on Isle of Palms or some of the other areas. Sidewalks mean that there are permanent residents and a sense of community. We wanted that, so I said, ‘This is it.’” Years later, the couple decided to downsize. The Stevenses considered living in no other part of town; Daniel Island was (and is) their home. 

As they searched for a builder, Bill and Anne came across Donnie Smith of JD Smith Custom Homes, and their personalities immediately clicked. They had located a lot and were prepared to move forward with construction, but they couldn’t sell their first home. The Stevenses, sadly, had to halt construction and back out of their original plan. Bill recalls, “As luck would have it, several months later someone came in and bought our house, and we were suddenly in a rush to find a new place.” Bill and Anne came back to Donnie and were able to build on the same lot they had originally chosen. Donnie was constructing a spec house on the property, but the contractors had only reached the framing stage. Donnie set out to adapt the plans, designed by Architrave, and create the Stevenses’ second Daniel
Island residence. 

“We actually flunked a little bit of the downsizing part,” says Anne with a laugh. “We now have ten grand children, and we actually needed more space than we thought.” The home boasts several guest rooms well suited for family visits, a downstairs master suite, a den, formal and informal dining areas, and a cheerful sunroom. In each and every room, one key factor played a major role in the design—storage. “We customized the house exactly how they wanted it, and that included adding more storage spaces,” describes Donnie. Anne requested extra closets wherever she could make room, as well as accessible attic storage (with full-sized doors and carpeted floors) connected to each second-floor walk-in. Donnie happily accommodated by collaborating with the architecture firm to tweak the original plans.  

The builder-homeowner connection couldn’t have been any better. The three even have a running joke—Donnie and Bill had a knack for showing up at meetings wearing matching shirts. What did they do on closing day? They both donned their green-plaid button-downs for the occasion. In more seriousness, though, Donnie worked with the Stevenses each week to make sure that the project was progressing on schedule by putting Anne in touch with the right subcontractors to hash out the details of the flooring or trim work and by taking her ideas (sometimes sketched on a napkin) and bringing them to fruition. The finished home is exactly what the Stevenses were seeking. Bill and Anne are looking forward to spending the next decades in the community that they’ve grown to adore. 

For more information, call JD Smith Custom Homes at (843) 881-8843 or visit jdsmithcustomhomesllc.com. 

 

Lake-House Allure

Husband-and-wife duo Tommy and MeLinda Welch, with the help of their team at 1st Class Painting and Restoration, transformed a 1950s bungalow into a bright, modern lake house. 

Imagine a humble house on a grand plat near Lake Moultrie, often overlooked and underestimated. Tommy Welch of 1st Class Painting and Restoration saw the potential in the 1955 bungalow as well as the surrounding terrain. “We bought the house from a guy who was going to restore it, but then he purchased a waterfront property instead,” says Tommy. “There was no way we could pass this opportunity up.”

The corner-lot location, distant neighbors, and proximate lake activities are just a few aspects of what drew Tommy to the property, even with its dated exterior colors and interior décor. Both Tommy and his wife, MeLinda,
knew everything needed an overhaul. What wasn’t obvious (until later) was just how much structural help the home needed. “It had to be stripped to the studs,” he begins. “We thought when we bought the bungalow that it would only need new plumbing and wiring and that it would be a fairly quick process.” Hindsight makes him chuckle at the assumption.

After a structural engineer helped open the floor plan and bring all of the framework up to speed, the team replaced the siding, added a dormer, and re-roofed. With a new master bedroom upstairs, the home’s vertical space expanded by around 400 square feet. The addition also allowed the team to add things that South Carolina homeowners love, like a new porch connected to the master bedroom and more deck area on the first floor, all while maintaining the ’50s charm. 

Every facet of the Bonneau home was updated. AdvanTech subflooring was lain beneath the hardwood floors to prevent even the tiniest bit of moisture, either from the lake or from the coastal climate, from warping the wood. Spray foam insulation was installed for better energy conservation. A tankless water heater and Uponor Pex plumbing replaced the old pipes. Now the pipes will never freeze, and the homeowners never have to worry about dripping faucets. The interior was designed and decorated by MeLinda, who picked everything from the colors and the finishes to the tile and the hardware. Most dramatic of all the revisions is the deck that hides the septic tank. Since septic tanks need maintenance on occasion, the team built a deck that opens along a track system so that one half slides to the right and the other half slides to the left, allowing access to the tank.

“It’s going to be tough to live up to the standards we set with our first whole-home restoration; MeLinda and I weren’t the only ones who wanted to live in it once we were done. It flew off the real-estate market shortly after it became available,” Tommy remarks, then jokes that they might not be so quick to put the next project they’ve already begun in Summerville up for sale. 

 

For more information, call 1st Class Painting and Restoration at (843) 324-6006 or visit 1stclasscharleston.com.

 

Appealing Appliances

When it became time to start appliance shopping and determining the most favorable bang-to-buck ratio, one Lowcountry couple learned that Plugs Appliance Center has been cooking with gas for a long time.

No longer is designing a kitchen just a matter of combining a few appliances and countertops to have a space for weeknight dinners; now, even the average kitchen is focused on the perfect combination of functionality and grace. Many homeowners are reluctant (or even refuse) to buy a home without a kitchen with an A+ rating in space and performance potential.

Of all the variables that make up a functional kitchen, though, appliances are at the top of the list. Choosing just the right cooktop or oven for a space is often overwhelming, as a certain Lowcountry couple nearing the last stages of the homebuilding process learned quickly. That’s when they sought help from Plugs Appliance Center. Whitten Meares, Gene Wallace, and the rest of the team at Plugs embraced the frustrated couple and brought them back to square one. “Our first step is to ask our customers about how they use their kitchen on a regular basis and determine their budget,” says Gene. “Everyone has a budget, whether they know it when they come through the door or not.”

Since eighty percent of time in the kitchen is spent over the cooktop, Gene often advises homeowners to invest a little more in the range. He notes, “Ranges are where you get the most value per dollar. The clients at this home chose a particular Thermador range that has ultra-low simmer settings, which are hard to find on most other cooktops.” He adds, “It’s one of Thermador’s best-selling models for that reason.”  From there, the team at Plugs was able to help the no-longer-frazzled couple select their Thermador double oven with convection cooking, a Thermador dishwasher, and a GE Microwave, all in a beautiful stainless-steel finish that complements the “Shadow Storm” quartzite and slate-colored paint on the cabinets. The best part of choosing the appliances, though, was the deal that Thermador offers periodically, which allows customers who buy a range and an oven to receive a dishwasher for free. 

“Plugs Appliance has been in business in the Lowcountry for nearly 40 years, first as a distributor and now as a retail company. In that time, our passion has become helping each person create just the right kitchen,” Gene explains. Sometimes clients even come to them with sketches and blueprints of kitchens, wondering where to place their ovens or refrigerators; the team at Plugs Appliance sets itself apart by walking each customer through from beginning to end. 

For more information, call Plugs Appliance Center at (843) 531-5132, visit plugsappliance.com, or stop in to shop at 1903 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley or 675 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant. 

Throw a Fête

Robert and Judy Hetz love to entertain, and they’ve turned their Coosaw Creek backyard into a haven for alfresco soirees for that express purpose. 

From their bible-study group members to the entire Charleston Southern basketball team, Robert and Judy Hetz have hosted friends in small numbers and large. “We’re really active in our church, and we work a lot with the kids at Charleston Southern,” Judy notes. “I love to cook, and entertaining is something I’ve always enjoyed doing.” This year, the Hetzes decided to take their parties outdoors by transforming their back patio into a space suited for entertaining in an array of weather conditions. 

After meeting with Craig Turner of Express Sunrooms, Robert, Judy, and Craig were able to develop a plan to breathe new life into their drab patio. They first chose an adjustable pergola, a key element in weatherproofing. Craig describes the awning saying, “The louvers open with a remote control to any angle. You can run away from the sun as it moves or close them completely.” The Hetzes can shield their guests from rain—the pergola is watertight—and the heat of the sun. On cooler days, the pergola can be opened to allow the rays to warm the patio. Judy and Robert also incorporated freestanding heaters and overhead fans to further combat unpleasant weather. To feed their hungry guests, the homeowners requested an outdoor kitchen complete with a stainless-steel grill, pizza oven, trash receptacle, refrigerator, and icemaker. And if watching locals on the golf course isn’t quite entertainment enough, Craig installed a television that tucks into a sealed counter when not in use.


Plenty of comfortable seating at the two tables, the bar, and around the firepit allows the Hetzes to feast with a party of up to 35. Their most recent gathering? A graduation celebration for the basketball-team seniors. Robert and Judy’s outdoor space was fully prepped for this big get-together, and it’s ready for every event to come—rain or shine.


For more information, call Express Sunrooms at (843) 501-0036 or visit expresssunrooms.com. 

CenturyGlide: Bathroom Updating Made Easy

Are you thinking about updating your bathroom without going through the hassle of a total remodeling project? I caught up with Randy Wright owner of Century Glass to see if he had any tips for homeowners in the Lowcountry that are looking for a cost effective, relatively easy way to give their bathroom a modern face lift. CENTURYGlide by Century Glass is a great idea for a new shower door that is compatible with most surroundings such as fiberglass and eliminates metal furnishing and frames to help open up your bathroom with a great design at an affordable price. The best part is Century Glass can install their new CENTURYGlide shower doors in as little as three days starting at $1150.00.  Randy explains his favorite thing about this new product is, “CenturyGlide enables us to bring a frameless, affordable shower door to those with a limited budget and it is exclusive to Century Glass.  Many of our customers like the Glide better than its cousin the Proline, which starts at $1900.” CENTURYGlide comes in two types of finishes, chrome and a brushed chrome combination, making it very easy to coordinate with the rest of your bathrooms decor and style. Have you ever stopped to think about just how much you use your shower? Century Glass has. They ran the CENTURYGlide door through rigorous testing with 14000 open and close cycles represents 20 years of use to show that this shower door is designed to stand the test of time and includes a five-year manufacturer’s hardware warranty. Pretty Impressive! Century Glass has made it as easy as it gets to obtain a fabulous new look for your bathroom that will continue impressing guests. Dreams do come true!

 

For more information about CENTURYGlide or Century Glass please call 843.614.4628 or visit centuryglasssc.com.

The Art of Angles

West Ashley resident Monica Stobbs turns an outdated fifties brick bungalow into an Art Deco vision.

Nestled on a quiet West Ashley street among brick façades, green lawns, and blooming gardens is a circa 1950 cottage with an inviting open door. First time homeowner and hostess Monica Stobbs waves from the doorway, her furry friend Sugar under her arm as she urges her friends to cross the threshold. 

As guests enter Monica’s home, they are transported into an era of chic modernism filled with subtle, calming colors of light green, soft purple, white, and a splash of invigorating orange. “I adore Art Deco,” Monica proclaims. “It’s the best of everything—clean lines, modern furniture, beautiful colors, and a touch of minimalism.” Miriam Ricks, Monica’s interior designer and good friend, had a hand in everything from larger scale details like the fireplace surround to the smaller, yet impactful table in the entryway. “Because I love Art Deco so much, Miriam really came in handy,” she laughs. “We commissioned Mike Weeks, a local iron-and-metal craftsman, to replicate the entry table from a vintage French piece.” The chairs in the living room were also custom designed from a picture that Monica showed Miriam, who then had them fabricated to just the right size. According to Miriam’s expertise, successful interior design is more about proportions than anything else. So a vast mirror was placed over the hall table and slightly lower-back chairs adorn the living room and flank the modern couch.

Built in 1955, Monica’s home is part of the South Windermere neighborhood—one of the first built in West Ashley after World War II. “I fell in love with the character of the neighborhood. The homes are spaced out more and don’t look like each other, as they do in some of the newer subdivisions,” Monica explains. Her appreciation for minimalism lent uniqueness to the adjustments to the floor plan as well. The original entry was closed off from the living room, and the sunroom was forgettable at best. Monica opened the whole floor plan by widening the doorways, which draws the eyes across the living room and into the dining room and gives a peek of the bright sunshine streaming into the sunroom.

 

Monica adds, “Raising the sunroom to be level with the rest of the floors has turned out to be one of the most important changes made to the original floor plan.” Before, the sunroom’s surface was several inches below the rest of her home’s, and it felt incongruous. Removing the door leading to the sunroom helped as well, but as Monica’s favorite room, it needed something extra to fulfill its potential. But what could blend with her color scheme and décor? A beautiful white-marble floor, of course.

The wood floors in the front of Monica’s home are original to the abode, but the carpeting in the bedrooms didn’t fit the bill anymore. Monica and Miriam decided to replace the carpet with new wood floors that match the old in order to keep the charm that aged lumber adds to the overall décor. 

 

To complete the Art Deco feel of the interior, Monica and Miriam teamed up with Bob Corrigan of Three River Homes, Jay Miller of HWC Custom Cabinetry, and the team at Port City Glass & Mirror to redo the master bathroom.  What was once a cramped Jack-and-Jill bathroom is now a sparkling oasis of floor-to-ceiling marble, a Starphire glass shower, and a custom vanity. But the definition of homeownership, as Monica has quickly learned, is an on-going remodeling project. “I wanted to live in my new home a while to really figure out what suits me best, so my next step is the kitchen. And then perhaps a little expansion of the second bedroom.” Watch out world—Monica Stobbs and Miriam Ricks are set to impress with their next endeavor.

 

 

 

Remodeler: Three River Homes 
(843) 200-8868 | threeriverhomes.com

Interior design: Miriam Jordan Interiors
(843) 991-0609 | miriamjordaninteriors.com 

Cabinetry: HWC Custom Cabinetry
(843) 207-0750 | HWCcustomcabinetry.com 

Shower: Port City Glass & Mirror
(843) 577-6500 | portcityglass.net

Scorched and Wire Brushed Siding: Standing Out in an Unexpected Way

Liberty Cedar serves customers all along the east coast, and in Charleston, they’re offering a new product that makes your home stand out in an unexpected way. The product: Scorched and Wire Brushed Siding. Using Cypress or Western Red Cedar, this new product can be applied as an exterior finishing trim or siding, as well as an interior texture. To create a unique appearance, the wood is charred to give it an elegantly, rustic finish. Joe Davies, owner of Liberty Cedar, explains that because Western Red Cedar and Cypress have an innate decay and fungal resistance, burning the siding exponentially increases the wood’s natural resistance to decay. Homeowners can also choose the level of charring to show a dark, medium, or light burn, which provides an endless array of colors. Whether you’re searching for a distinguishing siding, a weathered look, or just something to withstand the weather, this new product is worth checking out.

For more information about the Scorched or Wire Brushed Siding or for information about Liberty Cedar call 843.744.0450 or visit libertycedar.com.

Shopping Swimmingly

The Grundy family—armed with an idea to install an outdoor kitchen—went shopping. Before they knew it, that simple trip morphed into an entirely new backyard oasis. 

“We thought we were just going to be getting a grill, pavers, and an outdoor kitchen,” reminisces Summerville homeowner George Grundy with a smile. As he says this, he leans back into one of two lounge chairs nestled among his new pool, fire table, and Big Green Egg. George and his wife Tahira began shopping, and their small idea for an outdoor kitchen quickly transformed into a dream for an at-home paradise. Tahira adds, “We wanted to be able to go outside and cook because, well, it’s South Carolina. It’s warm and nice out. We went to Leisure Depot, and when we saw all the outdoor-living options, we started getting all these ideas.”

The growth of their plan began with learning about Radiant Pools, hybrid swimming pools that can be placed in-ground, above ground, or halfway in-ground (as the Grundys have chosen). It’s ideal for Lowcountry homeowners, especially those with strict HOA rules for aboveground pools or water tables too high for fully in-ground options. Most importantly, it comes with a transferrable lifetime warranty, so when the Grundys want to move to a new Lowcountry spot, they can include the warranty in the sale. This information was enough to convince the couple that it was time take the pool plunge. 

George and Tahira decided to complete the space with outdoor furniture, a fire table with additional seating, a Big Green Egg, and, of course, the originally planned kitchen. Tahira, who loves to entertain, describes, “It’s comfortable, and everything is always ready. We can have people over at the last minute because there’s no preparation needed.” The pool requires minimal maintenance; a robot and the built-in filtration system clean it regularly and automatically. The grill is connected to the gas line—always ready for firing up. Aluminum frames and weather-resistant fabric keep the furniture constantly prepared for a spur-of-the-moment relaxation session.  

The outdoor transformation has added more square footage to the Grundys’ living space than they thought possible. Frank Jannuzzi of Leisure Depot notes, “Our focus is on the space right outside your door. A lot of people forget that a home extends past the door, and when homeowners furnish the backyard like the Grundys have, it can be such a wonderful living space.” Tahira jokes that the only thing they need now is a hot tub and that George better pull his checkbook back out. George responds in kind, “I haven’t put it in yet. You have to put it in to get it back out!” In a more serious tone of contentment, George concludes, “The project really turned out better than we ever imagined.” 

For more information, call Leisure Depot at (843) 552-7272 or visit myleisuredepot.com.