Showcase house jazzes up Lowcountry design
It’s the details that draw you in at the 2020 Southern Living Showcase home in Habersham.
Story by Lisa Allen + Photos by Laurey Glenn Photography
The countless bursts of visual flavor come from the feast of local and national craftsmen, designers, artists and builders that put their mark on Lowcountry design.
The floorplan schematic was created by Bridgewater Consulting: The 2,027-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home features ideal living space inside and out. Henceforth, the design plan will be known as the Loudon, named after the home’s Habersham address, 10 N. Loudon.
Drink in the attention to detail, which starts right at the front porch. It’s made of handsome materials that are indestructible in this harsh-on-wood environment we live in. The railings and deck look great and will continue to do so for years to come, with hardly a whit of maintenance.
But that doesn’t mean one can’t find gorgeous natural wood, too. It’s right there with the mahogany front door and functional hurricane shutters, tooled at Grayco’s local millworks. The beautiful, rich wood is bathed in light from the copper gas-flame lanterns made by Carolina Lanterns, called, naturally, “The Beaufort,” that frame the door.
Luxury Touches
Authentic pine wood floors throughout, quartz countertops and custom cabinetry in the kitchen and baths, and exquisite millwork give this Lowcountry cottage the perfect blend of luxury with all the comforts of home.
Once inside, bask in the warmth and relaxation the home exudes, then brace yourself for the bevy of surprises that await.
For example, note the inviting nook office at the front of the house, painted a steel-like blue in contrast to the adjacent white living room, or the James Hardie plank siding, traditionally used on the exterior of the home, but brought inside, forming a backdrop to the bookcase just inside the entryway.
As a Southern Living Showcase home, interior designer Kathryn Lott and homebuilder Allen Patterson were able to enlist the best of the best to bring the house to life.
“We used design elements that appeal to the most people,” Patterson said.
That includes what you can see and what you can’t. You’ll see generous 10-foot ceilings and functional cabinetry in the rear entry that blends style and storage. You’ll see his and her closets in the master suite. Unseen, but equally important, is foam insulation that keeps the house energy efficient, comfortable and quiet year-round.
In designing the home, interior designer Kathryn Lott, owner of kLo Design + Style, shattered expectations.
“I wanted to bring some color into the Lowcountry palette,” Lott said. “There are a lot of ways to add brightness to the earth tones and pastels usually associated with coastal design.”
It wasn’t just color that Lott used to add a little punch to the Lowcountry look. There is nothing subtle about the custom-made, butcher-block waterfall island, created board by board by Lamon Luther Cabinetry in Georgia. Suspended over it is a pair of rustic lights made of rough-hewn dowels and metal framing by Regina Andrew Detroit.
You also won’t forget the riot of wallpaper in the main bathroom. The walls are covered in a Schumacher paper depicting nearly psychedelic flora, while the ceiling is adorned in a blue tile-like pattern.
Lott also skirted predictability by throwing in a few accents from Target at one end of the pricing scale to bespoke Egyptian doors shielding the washer and dryer at the other.
Next, she found a way past ever-present subway tiles by finding some with a refreshing fourth-dimensional wave for the kitchen backsplash and shower enclosure. In the master bedroom, she skipped the usual ceiling fan and went with a beaded rope chandelier from the Coastal Living Collection by Regina Andrew Detroit instead.
Open House
Tour the 2020 Southern Living Showcase Home, now fully decorated for the holidays. Your ticket benefits local non-profit Friends of Caroline Hospice.
Even featured local artist Tei Tober got into the defy-expectations act, offering soft impressionist watercolors in one room to edgy modern oils in another.
The furniture also fits the house perfectly, from the comfortable living room ensemble to sleigh beds in the guest room, all curated by Lott, with the majority of the selections from FWDG in Beaufort.
Outside, one will find more surprises, from the copper flashing over the French doors to the screened-in porch and window trim or the galvanized sink on the potting shed.
From pine floors to high ceilings, from planked to painted walls, and custom accents to Target deals, the Southern Living Showcase house delivers what it promises: great design ideas and creativity running free.
The home is open for tours until the end of the year and is sure to give you design, decorating and holiday ideas. All tours benefit Friends of Caroline Hospice. For more information, visit habershamsc.com.
The HomeTeam
Architectural Design: Bridgewater Consulting
Builder: Allen Patterson Builders
Interior Design: kLo Design + Style
Furnishings: FWDG, Coastal Living Collection for Universal Furniture, Maggie Cruz Home Furnishings , Unique Loom Rugs
Lighting: Carolina Lanterns, Regina Andrew Detroit
Doors and shutters: Grayco
Landscape architect: Mother Earth Landscaping
