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Duck Crossing is a mini compound built over time for our family in Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC. We began with the small one story guest cottage, added the carriage house for our daughters and then, as we determined we needed one gathering space for friends and family, the main house. The challenge was to build a light and bright home that would take full advantage of the lake and preserve views and have enough room for everyone to congregate.
We decided to build an upside down/reverse floorplan home, where the main living areas are on the 2nd floor. We built one great room, encompassing kitchen, dining, living, deck and design studio - added tons of windows and an open staircase, vaulted the ceilings, painted everything white and did whatever else we could to make the small space feel open and welcoming - we think we accomplished this, and then some. The kitchen appliances are behind doors, the island is great for serving and gathering, the tv is hidden - all attention is to the view. When everyone needs their separate space, there are 2 bedrooms below and then additional sleeping, bathing and eating spaces in the cottage and carriage house - it is all just perfect!
This single door entry is showcased with one French Quarter Yoke Hanger creating a striking focal point. The guiding gas lantern leads to the front door and a quaint sitting area, perfect for relaxing and watching the sunsets.
Featured Lantern: French Quarter Yoke Hanger http://ow.ly/Ppp530nBxAx
View the project by Willow Homes http://ow.ly/4amp30nBxte
The site for this new house was specifically selected for its proximity to nature while remaining connected to the urban amenities of Arlington and DC. From the beginning, the homeowners were mindful of the environmental impact of this house, so the goal was to get the project LEED certified. Even though the owner’s programmatic needs ultimately grew the house to almost 8,000 square feet, the design team was able to obtain LEED Silver for the project.
The first floor houses the public spaces of the program: living, dining, kitchen, family room, power room, library, mudroom and screened porch. The second and third floors contain the master suite, four bedrooms, office, three bathrooms and laundry. The entire basement is dedicated to recreational spaces which include a billiard room, craft room, exercise room, media room and a wine cellar.
To minimize the mass of the house, the architects designed low bearing roofs to reduce the height from above, while bringing the ground plain up by specifying local Carder Rock stone for the foundation walls. The landscape around the house further anchored the house by installing retaining walls using the same stone as the foundation. The remaining areas on the property were heavily landscaped with climate appropriate vegetation, retaining walls, and minimal turf.
Other LEED elements include LED lighting, geothermal heating system, heat-pump water heater, FSA certified woods, low VOC paints and high R-value insulation and windows.
Hoachlander Davis Photography
This gorgeous modern farmhouse features hardie board board and batten siding with stunning black framed Pella windows. The soffit lighting accents each gable perfectly and creates the perfect farmhouse.
Forget just one room with a view—Lochley has almost an entire house dedicated to capturing nature’s best views and vistas. Make the most of a waterside or lakefront lot in this economical yet elegant floor plan, which was tailored to fit a narrow lot and has more than 1,600 square feet of main floor living space as well as almost as much on its upper and lower levels. A dovecote over the garage, multiple peaks and interesting roof lines greet guests at the street side, where a pergola over the front door provides a warm welcome and fitting intro to the interesting design. Other exterior features include trusses and transoms over multiple windows, siding, shutters and stone accents throughout the home’s three stories. The water side includes a lower-level walkout, a lower patio, an upper enclosed porch and walls of windows, all designed to take full advantage of the sun-filled site. The floor plan is all about relaxation – the kitchen includes an oversized island designed for gathering family and friends, a u-shaped butler’s pantry with a convenient second sink, while the nearby great room has built-ins and a central natural fireplace. Distinctive details include decorative wood beams in the living and kitchen areas, a dining area with sloped ceiling and decorative trusses and built-in window seat, and another window seat with built-in storage in the den, perfect for relaxing or using as a home office. A first-floor laundry and space for future elevator make it as convenient as attractive. Upstairs, an additional 1,200 square feet of living space include a master bedroom suite with a sloped 13-foot ceiling with decorative trusses and a corner natural fireplace, a master bath with two sinks and a large walk-in closet with built-in bench near the window. Also included is are two additional bedrooms and access to a third-floor loft, which could functions as a third bedroom if needed. Two more bedrooms with walk-in closets and a bath are found in the 1,300-square foot lower level, which also includes a secondary kitchen with bar, a fitness room overlooking the lake, a recreation/family room with built-in TV and a wine bar perfect for toasting the beautiful view beyond.
Seating and fire pits create intimate exterior patio spaces. Iron railings wrap the light wells providing access and natural light to a generous full basement from the rear yard area. Painted brick and shutters accent the modern adaptation of traditional detailing. Gutters, rain leaders and roof overhangs are refined and deliberate.
Situated on a secluded site, this home was inspired by the architecture of southern Louisiana, a blend of French Acadian and Creole influences. The Creole raised cottage shares common elements with its Carolina cousins, as both evolved to address similar concerns of climate and culture. The Creole influence is evident in the massing of the large hipped roof, integral porches, and flared eaves with deep overhangs; at the same time, the raised foundation, tall ceilings, and axial plan are traditional features intended to maximize air circulation in a coastal climate. By combining these vernacular elements with regional influences, the Creole Cottage balances the owner’s design goals with local traditions as well as the demands of both climate and site.
Photography: Richard Leo Johnson/Atlantic Archives