Houzz Tour: Tree House Living Inspires Southern Home
Embracing nature but with comforts like a hanging hot tub, this South Carolina house lets the homeowners enjoy the best of both worlds
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
When a couple decided to build their full-time home on South Carolina's Kiawah Island, they were not interested in the traditional ornate detailing seen throughout the Lowcountry region. Inspired by worldwide travels, they wanted a home that was clean, simple, and Zen-like. "They loved the idea of the tree house mentality," says architect Scott Anderson of The Anderson Studio of Architecture and Design. "The placement and design of the house was totally site driven; we only had to remove two trees to build it here."
Perched above a marsh in a grove of live oaks, the home's design mixes Asian, modern, local and rustic elements. "The look we were going for overall was a design that's strong because of its simplicity, a tree house/camp aesthetic with a calming Japanese influence," Anderson says. The result is a tree house–like building that embraces nature and makes the most of the beautiful views and the site.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Kiawah Island, South Carolina (about 25 miles from Charleston)
Size: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Who lives here: A couple with 2 grown children who love to visit and 3 dogs
That's interesting: The island hosts populations of sea turtles, deer, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, river otters and osprey.
Perched above a marsh in a grove of live oaks, the home's design mixes Asian, modern, local and rustic elements. "The look we were going for overall was a design that's strong because of its simplicity, a tree house/camp aesthetic with a calming Japanese influence," Anderson says. The result is a tree house–like building that embraces nature and makes the most of the beautiful views and the site.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Kiawah Island, South Carolina (about 25 miles from Charleston)
Size: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Who lives here: A couple with 2 grown children who love to visit and 3 dogs
That's interesting: The island hosts populations of sea turtles, deer, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, river otters and osprey.
A hot tub hangs over the pool, which in turn hangs over the path to the marsh. "When you're in the pool, the sight line of the water is at the top of the marsh grass," describes Anderson.
"The bridge connecting the sleeping and living structures allows cool ocean breezes to pass from the marsh to the front yard," says Anderson. "Decks and stairs to the pool and terrace visually connect inside and out." The enclosed part is the dining room; the area overhead is a connecting balcony that has views over the marshes out to Folly Beach and the Atlantic.
A grid of tabby pavers (concrete with oyster shells mixed in) in sod keeps clean edges within the immediate landscape around the house.
A grid of tabby pavers (concrete with oyster shells mixed in) in sod keeps clean edges within the immediate landscape around the house.
| An al fresco dining area under the bridge enjoys the marsh breezes. The ceiling is southern yellow pine coated with a marine varnish. The flooring is tabby, which is very common in the Lowcountry and is an example of using a vernacular material in a modern form. |
"The landscape is the art in this home," says Anderson. Soaring ceilings, cedar beams and extensive glass make strong connections between the house and its setting. Lights are built into the beams, keeping the aesthetic streamlined and simplified.
The great room feels like some sort of natural habitat; besides the great views, a live-edge side table, root-ball bases on the coffee table, plants, natural finishes and plenty of open space connect the space to its surroundings even more. Here you can see how hugging as many trees as possible in the site planning can pay off — not only are the live oaks beautiful to admire, but they provide a shade canopy that cuts down on energy costs during the long, hot summer months.
| Off the great room is the bridge, which contains the dining room. To the left is the entry to the master suite. Floors: walnut |
Horizontal lines create a tight rhythm at the opening to the more intimate master bedroom space. The pocket doors allow the owners to keep their quarters open to the bridge and the rest of the home when the mood strikes.
| The glass shower has a Caribbean feel and a strong connection to the outdoors. The glass knobs on the vanity tie into all the large windows. Counter: Carrara statuary marble |
The architecture connects to the outdoors in as many ways as possible. These stairs connect the hot tub to the master bedroom above and the pool level below.
Anderson designed the deck around the tree you see beyond the stairs.
The exterior materials stand up to the saltwater air. They include a Galvalume metal roof, cedar clapboard siding with a semitransparent stain and Ipe railings.
Anderson designed the deck around the tree you see beyond the stairs.
The exterior materials stand up to the saltwater air. They include a Galvalume metal roof, cedar clapboard siding with a semitransparent stain and Ipe railings.
This is the view from the more public street side, which is quite closed in contrast to all the glass and other perforations on the marsh side. Once you enter through the door, the entire house opens up into the glass-filled great room. Likewise, the tabby paver path leads out to the pool area that opens to the marsh.
The home is elevated because of storm surges, and this facade is a nod to the gabled roofline and overhang, commonly seen in Lowcountry architecture.
More:
5 Fantastic Homes With a Tree House Feel
Outdoor Design: Save That Tree!
The home is elevated because of storm surges, and this facade is a nod to the gabled roofline and overhang, commonly seen in Lowcountry architecture.
More:
5 Fantastic Homes With a Tree House Feel
Outdoor Design: Save That Tree!
Comments
olldbobbi Beautiful and natural - I'm jealous!
12 months ago · Like
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Stanhope Design Love this house
12 months ago · Like
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sooosally WOW! Never noticed this house at Kiawah before. It certainly is not the standard Kiawah architecture. All the windows are wonderful!
12 months ago · Like
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mitchb62 The architecture and interior of design of this house are amazing!
12 months ago · Like
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jwheeringa I would be jumping into the pool from the hot tub ... hope that's safe? Seriously, Three open sides of the great room may be too open for me but apart from that this house is really great and would be amazing to live in. Having beer & oysters in the outdoor living space with the island breeze - Carolina heaven! This is the kind of beautiful architecture the area deserves.
12 months ago · Like
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gillianne One of the most appealing marriages of house and site I've seen. Thoughtful, non-ostentatiously elegant, calm--the sort of understated beauty that taste and generous budget can create. Lovely.
12 months ago · Like
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erinstewartokc Out of all the homes you have ever shown, this is by far my favorite!
12 months ago · Like
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jojosail2 This is probably the best house I have ever seen. I'm normally more traditional, and do not like so much bare wood, but I cannot find a single thing to dislike with this gorgeous house.
12 months ago · Like
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janeisgreat I love this house but aren't all those trees going to go straight through the glass when the first hurricane rolls through?
11 months ago · Like
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Susan Mills Design Beautifully done, every detail well thought out and executed.
11 months ago · Like
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midmodfan The interior of the house and the marsh views are stunning. Love Kiawah.
11 months ago · Like
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tayod Beautiful, wish I could live there even for one day!!
11 months ago · Like
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Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Wonderful! I just read two Pat Conroy novels; no wonder he loves the low country. So pretty.
11 months ago · Like
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janet4784 This is my new dream home...
11 months ago · Like
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Rana Doyal I love everything about this house! My husband and I want to move to Hawaii in the near future - I feel this house would do well there too!
11 months ago · Like
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Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel The setting so overwhelmed me that I didn't comment on the architecture.The geometry of the beams, the roof angle and the angle created by the two wings make this so beautiful and not boxy. The exterior materials are not only chromatically harmonious, but stand up to moist salt air, which tends to eat wood, or supports critters who do. The interior is magnificent, with walnut floors! Yikes, I could probably buy a cabin for what the floors alone cost. Thanks for showing us this dream home.
11 months ago · Like
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Becky Harris Laurel, you hit the nail on the head with "harmonious." I think that wonderful balance is what makes this house appeal to those who usually like traditional and other styles - it is just so relaxing and peaceful and works so well with nature.
11 months ago · Like
lesleeht If anyone is interested, this home is listed for sale by Kiawah Island Real Estate at KiawahIsland.com.
11 months ago · Like
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lesleeht All your kind comments / compliments are appreciated!
10 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 7, 2012.
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