If there’s one thing designers and builders in South Carolina’s Lowcountry agree, it’s the hot and humid weather has always been a major influence on design, no matter what the style. “Conventional South Carolina Lowcountry houses were developed to buffer the harsh, hot, humid climate,” states Jane Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects. “To take advantage of the summertime Southern breezes, the houses had tall ceilings for the heat to grow and porches on the south to color the inside and generate a place of respite from the heat.”
While “Lowcountry” calls to mind double-stacked porches shaded by live oaks dripping in Spanish moss, facing side yards in downtown Charleston, these gorgeous traditional houses are not the only way around. “The beauty of the Lowcountry is that it allows a number of styles to flourish authentically,” states Amy Luff of Margaret Donaldson Interiors. So, Luff declares, “The Lowcountry is a fantastic place to call home.”
Christopher A Rose AIA
“Something which produces a design clearly Lowcountry is the use of piazzas or porches,” says architect Chris Rose. “These make the most of our light seasons to enjoy the view or garden and color the house from sunlight.”
Frederick + Frederick Architects
1 distinctive Lowcountry design move that never goes out of design is a raised first floor. “The first floors were lifted off the floor to keep the floodwaters and allowing breezes to circulate beneath the home,” explains Frederick.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
“They were just one area wide to maximize the flow of air and to increase the quantity of lighting to cut down on mould and mildew,” says Frederick.
Other identifying Lowcountry architectural styles include the Charleston- style home with all the narrow end facing the road and the porch on the south, as well as the Beaufort-style T-shaped home: one area thick, using a porch wrap three sides.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
Frederick has looked to the past to inspire green design today. “As people are more interested in sustainable design, we are turning into the lessons learned from the vernacular traditions. A few years ago we started exploring other Southern vernacular types, particularly the dogtrot, which will be two legends with an open breezeway between,” she states.
The area above occupies the breezeway of a dogtrot home. Frederick finds that “dogtrot” is one of the most popular search phrases that leads potential clients to the business’s website.
Alix Bragg Interior Design
Lowcountry design is in the smaller details. “There are many things which produce a house clearly Charleston, but the shutters are exactly what does it on this house,” says interior designer Alix Bragg. “The old-school style of the louvered shutters (painted Charleston green) is a staple in the Lowcountry. Of course, the palm trees and metal roof give it away also!”
Watch the rest of this home
Walsh Krowka & Associates
Tom Krowka of Walsh Krowka and Associates makes notice of another identifying Lowcountry porch detail: “Big porches and overhangs shield living or windows areas from the harsh sun.”
Walsh Krowka & Associates, Inc
A lot of the structure responds to sinking cool atmosphere and rising hot air. “Tall ceilings and spaces allow for air flow and maintain the warmest air farthest away from people in the ground level,” states Krowka. “Many old houses had double-hung windows — the aim was to open the floor and top partway. Cool air comes in at the base; warm air goes out the surface.”
Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.
“A misconception is that Lowcountry design is all the same,” says Courtney Windham of Wayne Windham Architects. “There are lots of variations of Lowcountry architecture — formal, relaxed, farmhouse design, Barbados/tropical, modern and more.”
Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.
No matter what the design, South Carolina Lowcountry design has a strong connection to the outdoors and ample outdoor living spaces, states Windham.
Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.
“Porches are becoming bigger and wider to expand outdoor living. Roll-down screens and mosquito misting systems are also being integrated to produce these spaces [more] flexible/enjoyable,” she states.
The way to banish the bugs from your porch
Allison Ramsey Architects
Cooter Ramsey of Allison Ramsey Architects concurs. “Even through the holidays, grillin’ and chillin’ is a frequent event in the Lowcountry. Our outdoor spaces are essential for your quality of life we like to reside in the South, therefore a fantastic home in the Lowcountry has got the capability to maneuver outside at every chance.”
Allison Ramsey Architects
Allison Ramsey Architects
“Sometimes we need our rooms to feel as the exterior so much, we will fill in a porch to reach it,” says Ramsey. “This is a picture of a good keeping room that’s a kitchen off. The windows and ceiling have been treated similar to those on a converted porch.”
Allison Ramsey Architects
“This also works nicely on the exterior of the home, giving it an appearance that the home has evolved over time,” explains Ramsey. “It’s a great trick to use to break down the bulk of a home and to make it fit better on its own site.”
Bill Huey + Associates
Architect Bill Huey looks to the past and the future when designing for the Lowcountry today. “A current fad, and the new norm, would be to wed the traditional Southern details which have historically been built using timber with more contemporary materials. A good instance of this would be the use of HardieShingle, HardieBoard and HardieTrim (pictured on the home), since its life is a lot longer than traditional materials when exposed to the harsh, polluted atmosphere of the South Carolina Lowcountry.”
WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC
Many of double-stacked porches include a distinguishing detail you are going to have to look around see. “Another traditional Lowcountry detail is your haint blue ceiling, which has a rich background here and remains found on the majority of porches,” states Jeff Thomas of WaterMark Coastal Homes.
WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC
“We are also seeing a trend of more modern twists on the standard Lowcountry home, where clean, simple lines replace the more traditional details,” states Thomas. “They still have the classic Lowcountry features of deep porches and overhangs, but they have been stripped into their more fundamental elements. I think most men and women think contemporary and Lowcountry don’t necessarily go together, but we are definitely beginning to see otherwise.”
WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC
Here is a good example of a modern spin on the Lowcountry tradition. “It still has the double porch and deep overhangs, but spins the traditional particulars. The arches around the second-floor porch are a reference back into the arches often found on historical houses throughout Charleston and the Lowcountry,” states Thomas.
Sandra Ericksen Design
Taking a closer look inside, interior designers allow us know what makes a space distinctly Lowcountry and also let us know about the most recent trends. “I enjoy the interplay of traditional, often formal antiques utilised in casual, even beachy rooms,” says interior designer Sandra Ericksen. “You often see Chippendale pieces which are whitewashed or worn and still working beautifully alongside slipcovered upholstery.”
“Style is so important in the South,” states Ericksen, “and having your house work in the most appropriate and casual situation is a must. We throw parties frequently! By using formal pieces alongside furnishings which are not as precious, you make your house more versatile.”
Margaret Donaldson Interiors
A misconception about design in the Lowcountry is the fact that it’s stuffy and traditional. “The Lowcountry because we know it in Charleston, South Carolina, is exciting and moving forward while respecting the past,” says Luff. “We are not afraid to throw in some midcentury pieces or a contemporary coffee table.”
Margaret Donaldson Interiors
“A fashion, along with the remainder of the nation, is your idea of repurposing, whether it’s repurposing old barn wood to develop into a dining table or recovering your grandma’s wingback in a wild fabric to update the design,” Luff states.
Margaret Donaldson Interiors
Luff describes several types of homes found in the Lowcountry. “Barefoot beach houses are observed on Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach, and hark back to the glory days where life was slower. Frequently one-story with a large front porch, these houses are the epitome of a Lowcountry summer retreat. With simpler furnishings, relaxed finishes and maybe a whitewashed floor, your blood pressure drops as soon as you kick off your shoes in the door.”
Margaret Donaldson Interiors
“With the abundance of neighboring islands (Johns Island, Wadmalaw and down into the Ace Basin), the Lowcountry is evenly distinguished by marsh houses and country houses. These houses nestle into the encompassing live oak trees and collaborate with their environment in colour and feel,” says Luff. “The interior colors are pulled from character with soft neutrals, greens, blues and grays. Frequently you will find custom-made case merchandise from reclaimed wood. These homes tend to focus on the idea of filling the home with friends and family — relaxation and a quiet elegance”
Margaret Donaldson Interiors
“The coastal house is your very trend-oriented yet timeless type of home. Charleston and the Lowcountry possessed the concept of the coastal home before the publications took the trend nationwide,” Luff states. She includes elements of this look as “all-white living rooms, turquoise and blue, driftwood and glass lamps.”