When architect Marc Camens designed this classic Nantucket-style, shingle-clad home on the northeastern edge of Kiawah Island, he had to maximize every square inch of space. Surrounded on three sides by marsh, the shape was dictated by the curves and width of the land. Camens angled the main living spaces to capture the panoramic view of the Kiawah River and Folly Beach beyond, while the home’s entrance, garage, and driveway bring up the rear.
Large windows with decorative transoms combine with glass doors leading to the deck and pool to provide an expansive view of the surrounding marsh. Interior designer Caroline Willis selected warm neutrals for the living room so as not to compete with the beauty outside. Benjamin Moore “Swiss Coffee” walls and a light beige Schumacher fabric for the sofa complement the custom chairs covered in a soft blue Travis & Company fabric.
The chairs surround a stone and metal coffee table from the Mrs. Howard design showroom in Atlanta.
The large screened porch with its massive brick fireplace and outdoor kitchen is the family’s favorite room for most of the year. Kingsley Bate wicker furniture surrounds the hearth, while a candelabra-style “Darlana” chandelier from Visual Comfort illuminates the space.
A bar area adjacent to the kitchen leads to Susan’s office.
In Susan's office the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball “French Gray,” a Hickory Chair desk, and Visual Comfort bubble lamp light fixture add feminine flair.
In the downstairs powder room, a pair of Vaughan sconces from England flank a French reeded-bamboo mirror from Foxglove Antiques in Atlanta above a custom vanity by Dutchman Furniture.
Decorative trim work throughout the house creates a cohesive, classic aesthetic.
The open-plan kitchen and dining room pair light wood accents with Shaker-style cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore “Van Courtland Blue.” An expansive island topped with honed quartzite is a central gathering place.
The Urban Electric light fixtures were painted to match, while the black chandelier above the dining table, also Urban Electric, provides contrast.
A custom reproduction rug from Moattar in Atlanta defines the dining space, while the large oil painting by France Jodoin from Pryor Fine Art continues the color scheme.
The Kiawah River wraps around the house, which boasts views of the island all the way down to Folly Beach. “The shape and the setbacks of the property determined what form the house would take,” says architect Marc Camens. “But while these constraints represented a challenge, they are also the home’s biggest asset.”
In the upstairs sitting room that connects the children’s bedrooms, a Josh Brown acrylic painting depicting baby sea turtles plays off the pops of blue in the decor.
The primary bedroom suite is a tranquil space with minimal furniture thanks to dressers built into the spaces created by the home’s roof line.
The white, marble-clad bathroom is similarly simple yet stylish and features a striking Remains Lighting chandelier.
An infinity pool spills off the rear of the home, offering views along the marsh and out to the river.
A cozy porch on the second floor, off the primary bedroom suite, is Stewart’s favorite spot to sit and soak up the scenery, while Susan prefers the porch swing on the far edge of the lower deck.
