Home Showcase: Built on friendship
They say never to let business and friendship mix, but this Oldfield home proves that the two can create magic together.
Story by Barry Kaufman + Photos by Keen Eye Marketing
It started with a simple request among friends. Ron Boshaw, principal and founder of Boshaw Residential, had known Jack and Lisa Borden for some time when the couple purchased a marshfront lot in the beautiful heart of Oldfield. When it came time to build a home on that lot, it was a no-brainer for them.
“They saw the homes I built, and they said, ‘We want to live in a home you build,’” explained Boshaw.
Naturally, he was excited to work with friends but also wary of mixing business and pleasure. “When you build a house, there are always going to be bumps,” he said. “But we are good enough friends that we trusted each other, and the process went spectacularly.”
It definitely helps that the collaboration between friends created a truly remarkable home, one that perfectly balances livability and beauty against a backdrop of mesmerizing marsh views. The Bordens love to entertain, a notion that led to wide open spaces surrounding the great room that exude hospitality. They also love to spend quiet moments to themselves, so Boshaw made sure Jack had a man cave for his collection of Philadelphia sports memorabilia and Lisa, a multi-functional space for her many crafts.
“Everything is custom, and it gave me a great opportunity get creative with what they wanted,” he said. “It was a collaboration that really made the home beautiful and functional.”
Putting their own stamp on the team effort were Sam Liberti of Low Tide Designs and Sara Boyles of Kelly Caron Design, coming together for a home that enchants as soon as you enter. This was recognized by the judges of the 2022 Lighthouse Awards who awarded top accolades to the home.
“We swept all four categories, and the house wound up on the cover of the 2023 Lowcountry Home,” said Boshaw. “Both the homeowners and our building team couldn’t be more pleased with the finished product, an award-winning home that was designed and built to meet the expectations of our clients and friends.”
Culinary enchantment
The kitchen was important not only for the Bordens’ love of entertaining but for Lisa’s passion for cooking. “They do a lot of entertaining, so we created a chef’s kitchen with a back kitchen,” said Boshaw. Concealing the pantry in a corner cabinet, putting appliances behind panels and allowing for prep space out of sight in the back kitchen made for a space as functional as it is beautiful.
A stairway to splendor
The soaring timbered staircase that rises up from the main foyer was actually one of the first ideas that came out of Boshaw’s brainstorming sessions with his friends. “They wanted the staircase to be a prominent part of their home,” he said. “With the open dormers above, it creates that feeling of walking into a grand foyer.”
Customized elegance
A feature that lends a subtle visual flair to the home is the way that the team eschewed some of the more traditional trim styles and molding to create something that truly felt customized. “The Bordens wanted something more unique than a traditional coffered ceiling but that would still break up the ceiling in a casual and elegant way,” said Boshaw. The “compromise” of dramatic beams turned out not to be a compromise at all but a compelling statement as soon as you enter.
Three things only a custom builder can do
Three takeaways from this Oldfield home, showing the difference a custom builder can make.
1. Adapt, improvise and overcome: Oldfield required that Boshaw preserve the live oak out front, resulting in an inspired double garage layout that allowed for carriage houses that added more private spaces.
2. Vaulting over obstacles: With the view such a key part of the home’s appeal, Boshaw seized the opportunity to add elevation after the first renderings of the back porch carried the same roof line across the back. Adding in a vault allowed the tabby fireplace to make a statement.
3. Spread out: Having Sara Boyles involved from the beginning allowed Boshaw to know exactly how big the master bed’s headboard would be so he could adjust the windows to fit. Spreading them out kept the trim from overlapping with the bed.
Oldfield required Boshaw Residential to preserve the live oak out front, resulting in an inspired double garage layout that allowed for carriage houses that added more private spaces. The home serves as a shining example of Lowcountry luxury, blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings while providing an unrivaled living experience.
