Take it outside: Taking it to the edge

Soak in the outdoor oasis of this Port Royal Plantation home.

Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by Anne

For a family that loves to entertain in the Lowcountry, outdoor spaces are of the utmost importance. With this Port Royal home, Ben Kennedy of Brighton Builders pulled out all the stops. Cleverly elevated to meet the heightened profile of the main living spaces, this expansive pool deck incorporates not only large spaces for crowds but smaller areas for intimate get-togethers. “It’s very tempting to always be outdoors here,” said Kennedy. “And the cool thing about this location is that the pool looks like it’s cascading down toward that lagoon.”

EDGE OF POOL

Whether you call it zero edge, negative edge, infinity edge or vanishing edge, this uniquely stunning pool design feature never fails to impress. Especially in a space like this, where the outdoor space backs up to a natural body of water, creating a sense of unity between the home and the lot. “It definitely makes a statement,” said Kennedy.

DECK

“(Homeowners) don’t just entrust you to build a house, they entrust you to bring a life-long vision to life,” Kennedy said. That level of trust was crucial in creating this outdoor living area. “After we started construction, we wanted to push the pool another 8 feet away from the house, because there wasn’t going to be enough space to use the deck the way they wanted. They were all for it.”

OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Just within the screened-in enclosure lies another focal point of the outdoor space: the kitchen. Whereas outdoor kitchens tend to either skew toward utility or a more informal look, this gorgeous space reflects the elevated design of the interior. 

“They wanted an outdoor kitchen, but they wanted materials that spoke to them,” said Kennedy. “That countertop from Coastal Countertops and Tile is like a work of art.”