Perfectly Balanced
This Spring Island stunner walks the fine line between opulence and tranquility.
Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by Rob Kaufman
It’s as beautifully modern as it is subdued and classical. It catches the eye with arrow-straight sight lines of clean white, then soothes the soul with natural materials and a deference to the natural beauty all around it.
It is the Spring Island home of Sherie and Tim Maloney, and its sublime sense of balance between contemporary and classic is the key to its beauty. It’s a perfect blend of the art of home building and the natural wonder that is the Colleton River.
“We wanted to respect our environment,” said Sherie, pointing to a decorative sofa that anchors a grand open living space of modern lines and colors, a piece whose colors echo the movement of the river just beyond the windows. “We didn’t want traditional Lowcountry, but we wanted that feeling.”
“It’s not a stark modern home. We didn’t want something sterile or imposing. We wanted these natural elements,” added Tim, pointing to tabby accent walls and textures of steel and wood that lend a subtle organic motif.
Built by Crast Custom Homes, the home was artfully crafted to take full advantage of the wide lot on the banks of the Colleton River. The spaciousness of the property allowed the Maloneys to build a wide fenced run for their Australian shepherds, that also enjoy an in-home grooming spa after a day in the great outdoors.
Tall ceilings with skylights in the kitchen bathe the entire living space in natural light, while providing sight lines to a pair of gardens. To one side, a patio bristles with herbs that routinely make their way onto the couple’s dinner plates. To the other, through custom doors, a secret garden dazzles with Meyer lemons, key limes, hydrangeas and papyrus.
“If I’m cooking, I have the view; if I’m doing the dishes, I have the view,” said Sherie. “It’s the heart of the house so you have that view no matter where you look.”
That view also finds its way into the tall windows of the stunning master suite and the parlor of the guest house. It also was crafted with inspiration from the natural areas around it.
“What’s most important is to know the topography and the plants and trees on site,” said architect Joel Newman. Before he ever put pencil to sketch pad, Newman walked the property seeking out ways to incorporate the natural beauty of the lot into the home. It paid off splendidly, not just in the way the sun follows the windows around the house. A stark change in elevation across the property allowed for a stair-step effect running from garage to guest house, subtly creating more space with each step. The orientation of the front door, opening onto a breezeway between the main house and the guest house, channels the light breezes that blow off the Colleton. The Ipe-crafted bridge that guides you to the breezeway passes over a bed of river rocks, marking a channel that rainwater naturally collects in during storms.
“We want to make sure that whatever we do fits hand in glove with the particular piece of property it’s on,” Newman said. “It needs to fit their life plan, but it needs to be fine tuned specifically to that piece of ground.”
And this home achieves that, striking the perfect balance.
THE HOME TEAM
Builder: Crast Custom Homes + Architect: Joel Newman, Thomas & Denzinger Architects Counters: StoneWorks + Interior Cabinets: Dustin Qualls, Palm Bay Cabinet Company Flooring: Burchette & Burchette Hardwood + Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson
Electrical Fixtures: Vallen + Loewen Windows: Builders FirstSource
Custom Steel Doors: BelleHaven Specialities Limited
