When Jason and Lisa Annan decided to build a new home for their family, they weren’t looking to leave Mount Pleasant, Jason’s hometown where they were raising their two sons. But their house off Long Point Road had reached a crossroads: they could invest in a major renovation or start fresh. “It was very dated, and things were falling apart,” says Lisa. “Do you refinish floors, redo the bathrooms, and replace the hot water heater,” asks Jason, “or do we start anew with something more open, more airy, more us?” They chose the latter.
After exploring several options, including purchasing a tear-down cottage in the Old Village and considering a spot in Remley’s Point, they landed on a lot in Olde Park. Nestled between I’On and Wakendaw Lakes, the neighborhood appealed with its large lots, wide streets, and proximity to downtown and the water. The corner positioning presented some challenges, including building around mature trees, but it also offered marsh access, a quiet setting, and the opportunity to create a home that blended traditional architecture with the couple’s love of natural light, open space, and the outdoors.
Another bonus: it’s just one cove over from Somerset Point, where Jason grew up and his parents still live. “We can kayak over to their house,” he says. “I love that this area still retains a feel of what it was 30 years ago, when Bowman Road was pretty much the end of town,” he continues, recalling when small farms occupied what are now high-end neighborhoods.
The Annans began construction on their new home in 2021, bringing together a team that included architectural designer Julie O’Connor of American Vernacular, interior designer Melissa Lenox, landscape architect Julie Hensley, and Jeff Suiter of Cobalt Custom Home Builders. The 4,600-square-foot house is designed in a coastal Lowcountry style that nods to Olde Park’s Colonial aesthetic while reflecting the Annans’ modern sensibilities.
With five bedrooms and layered living spaces that transition seamlessly between indoors and out via multiple French doors, the home feels simultaneously spacious and intimate. “We wanted it to be open and airy and for every part of the house to serve a function and be used,” says Jason.
The L-shaped layout was designed to work around the lot’s existing trees while orienting toward a “built” view: an elegant courtyard and pool framed by glimpses of marsh. Porches run along both sides of the home, offering several areas to unwind—chaise lounges shaded by umbrellas, a fireplace nook with wicker seating, and two classic porch swings. “We’re outside people,” Jason says. “We’re always doing something, sports, swimming, fishing in the ponds. We wanted the home to make that easy.”
“Jason and Lisa wanted a home they could grow with—somewhere their sons could enjoy now and they could enjoy after the kids are grown,” says O’Connor. “And they really emphasized the outdoors. That was central to everything.”
Indoors, Lenox leaned into the family’s affinity for nature. The soft, neutral palette and layered textiles create warmth amid the soaring ceilings. “The vision was understated elegance—elevated, but nothing flashy,” says Lenox. “They both love birds and the outdoors, so we focused on soothing, calm colors and nature-inspired art.”
Despite the home’s nearly 20-foot ceilings and expansive windows, Lenox kept the space feeling grounded. “Lots of light; neutral colors to allow for layering of drapery, rugs, and more than 80 pillows; plus built-in furniture and wood accents throughout help balance the openness,” she says.
In the living, dining, and kitchen areas, O’Connor introduced varied ceiling heights and rooflines to distinguish each space. The living room features exposed beams on a flat ceiling, the dining room is topped with a vaulted wood plank ceiling, and the kitchen combines exposed beams with a soaring white vault. Rich wood tones lend depth and contrast to the otherwise airy palette, blending traditional and modern elements for a clean yet warm feel.
In the living room, Lenox paired washed walnut sideboards on one end and built-ins around the brick fireplace on the other to visually shrink the large space. Drapes soften the French doors, their wood frames complementing the exposed beams and walnut-stained white oak floors, bringing warmth and structure.
A reclaimed oak table in the dining room adds rustic charm—a nod to Lisa’s love of the North Carolina mountains. The kitchen features white cabinetry, dolomite countertops, and a stainless steel Thermador range, lit by classic metal lanterns that continue the farmhouse aesthetic.
The primary suite, located at the end of a long hall, is a private retreat. Floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides offer natural light throughout the day, and a small sitting area is perfect for morning coffee or evening TV. The exposed beams continue into this space, adding texture to the lofty ceiling. In the adjoining bathroom, white shiplap walls and satin nickel accents reinforce the refined, rustic feel.
Upstairs, sons Cooper (18) and Finnegan (13) each have their own bedroom, and there’s also a guest room and a shared sitting area. The Annans incorporated flex spaces throughout the home, designed with both their current needs and resale in mind. “We designed not only for what we wanted but for what someone else might want,” says Jason.
These spaces include a fifth bedroom on the main floor, a butler’s pantry that now serves as Finn’s homework nook, and a finished room above the three-car garage that houses a pool table and gaming area for the boys. The fifth bedroom, located off main entrance, serves as part study for Jason, part homework room for Cooper, and part elegant sitting room, furnished with four Verellen swivel chairs around a marble table.
For the Annans, building in Olde Park allowed them to stay close to all that they love—family, friends, and the water—while creating a home that supports how they live today. “We’re still in Mount Pleasant, still close to everything and everyone,” says Jason. “It just feels like a better fit—for right now, and for what’s next.”
