Lowcountry Sources

These are some of my favorite vendors in the Lowcountry. It is best to call and make an appointment before visiting.

Appliances:
Livingood’s
63 Riverwalk Blvd
Okatie, SC
843.379.5800
www.livingoodsonline.com

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road
Bluffton, SC
843.815.6080

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Billy Wood Appliance
6 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.681.8441
www.billywoodappliance.com

Bath Fixtures:
Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road 1563 Sam Rittenburg
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC
843.815.6080 843.571.5712

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park 1081 Morrison Drive
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC 843.815.5625 843.577.5440
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Design on Tap
69 Sheridan Park Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
ph 1-843-815-7644
fax 1-843-815-7645
www.designontap.net


Hardware:
Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.5625
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Lighting:
The Light Post
40 Pennington Drive
Sheridan Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.8080
www.thelightpost.com


Candelabra
404 Coleman Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC
843.849.7714
www.shopcandelabra.com


Smart House:
Coastal Home Technology
2121 Boundary Street, Suite 106
Beaufort, SC
843.5229333
www.coastalhometechnology.com

Genisystems
843.470.0700

Stone Slabs:

Distinctive Granite & Marble
516 A Browns Cove Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.689.3237

Stone Horse Imports

1181 May River Road
Bluffton, SC
843.757.7866

AGM Imports
4250 Scott Street
North Charleston, SC
843.747.0088

www.agmimporters.com


Stone Paving:

Savannah Hardscapes
64 McDowell Circle
Hardeeville, SC
843.784.6060
www.savannahhardscapes.com




Tile:

Creative Interiors
1404 Boundary Street
Beaufort, SC
843.524.2612

Garden State Tile

2500 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA
912.234.1122
www.gstile.com


Custom Cabinet Makers:

WD Bosworth woodworking
59 Luther Warren Drive
St. Helena island, SC 29920
843.838.9490

Marshland Millworks
50 Palmetto Bay Road, #11

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

843.341.3070

Bay Point Contractors
343 Sea Island Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29907
843.522.0083

Southern Living Award

We are really excited that our project was recogonized by Southern Living. Here is a link to the article http://tinyurl.com/csu438

Details

As I mentioned last month, the detailing of your house is extremely important because the details of your project can tie your rooms, site, and overall design together. The goal is to design the details to reinforce the overall concept of the project; to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. To accomplish this you want to have a consistency of materials and language throughout the house. Whether your house is traditional or contemporary, use regionally appropriate building materials and respect the natural qualities of the materials. In the Lowcountry, a stacked stone fireplace and chimney look out of place because there is no local stone. Likewise, materials that try to be something that they are not scream at you. An example of a confused material that is often seen in fast food restaurants, is a brick shaped floor tile with a wood grain pattern.

A holistic approach to detailing also simplifies your design decisions. When choosing your hardware, decide on a finish that will be carried throughout the house. You might choose oil rubbed bronze or stainless steel, but you should almost always use the same finish on your door hardware, bathroom faucets, bathroom accessories, metallic finishes on light fixtures, window hardware and cabinet hardware. Similarly, you will want the door and window trim to be the same throughout your house.

Staircases, both interior and exterior, present an opportunity to create a sculptural focal point in your house. In one project the clients’ had a collection of Pacific Island art, objects and furniture, to build on the island concept we used bamboo flooring and designed a custom stair rail out of bamboo with leather lashing at the newel posts. In another project with a grand exterior entry staircase, we designed a custom iron railing with a cascading fountain along one side. The glass tile surface on the fountain sparkles with the water.

Fireplaces are another major sculptural element in many houses. Consideration should include not only the form but the materials of the chimney, the height and width of the firebox, the height of the hearth, whether there is to be a mantel and what is it’s material. The interior firebrick is a material that is often left to happenchance. All fireplaces have to have noncombustible material around the firebox; stone slabs, brick, and tile are common choices.

The exterior and interior detailing of your house should be harmonious in order to bridge the connection. For example, exposed rafters in an interior room should continue to the exterior as exposed rafter tails.

The details are what make a house a exceptional place. The best description of the importance of details was by the architect, Jeremiah Eck, “Details transmit an enduring sense of quality, warmth, and character.”

Kamel Meattle's Ted talk on Growing your on Fresh Air

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/490

This is a facinating talk on three houseplants impact on indoor air quality