VACATION HOME ON DANIEL ISLAND Soucie Horner, Ltd Joshua S. Welch Location Charleston, SC Building Type Single Family Home Area 5500 square feet Facing west, the Living Room affords spectacular, unobstructed views of the marshland. The Living Room is flooded with late afternoon light and provides a casual yet elegant backdrop for guests and family alike.
T he entry needed to be elegant as well as comfortable and casual. The fully paneled stair hall provided an impressive entry into the home while not overwhelming. The whitewashed walls helped to create a coastal aesthetic as well as the simple turned balusters and chamfered newel posts. The large light fixture by Holly Hunt is grand, yet whimsical as is the sculpture in the niches at the top of the stairs and the clients art adds a calm to the space.
The Kitchen is a mix of painted cabinetry and rift white oak. Simple detailing, such as chamfered edges on the island keep the cabinetry cohesive to the overall design of the trim details throughout the house. Light fixtures from South of Market provide a simple but dramatic effect above the island.
Providing a large open floor plan allowed the clients to host family and friends in a casual atmosphere. The Kitchen serves as the hub for the Dining Room and Den and the layout of the Kitchen allows those preparing food to easily converse with those in the Den or watch television. Above: The Dining Room is bathed in afternoon light and the large windows provide a spectacular view across the marshlands. A simple wood and metal light fixture from South of Market provides ambient lighting for evening dinners. Left: The coffee bar provides a space for preparation of coffee and beverages as well as storage for glassware above. The backsplash in antique mirror, which reflects the abundant natural light.
The Den provides a comfortable place for conversation and television viewing. The same rift white oak used in the Kitchen continues into the Den as the fireplace surround. The custom cast-iron fireplace was designed with simple bolection moldings but intricate detailing around the firebox. Simple features, such as the plinths and the gentle curves of the moldings hinted at the language used in other trim features throughout the home. The fireplace was fabricated by Gentner Fabrication. The wooden belt driven fans are by The Woolen Mill Fan Company.
In anticipation of grandchildren, the Bunk Room was designed. Two sets of bunk beds mirror each other in the space to accommodate four to six people. Double size beds were included at the lower bunk so that adults could comfortably use the space as well. Storage is provided beneath the bunks as well as beneath the window seat for toys and board games as well as additional blankets. A ships ladder provides access to the upper bunk and each bunk has its own lamp for bedtime reading.
GOLD COAST RENOVATION Soucie Horner, Ltd Joshua S. Welch Location Chicago, IL Building Type Vintage Mid-Rise Area 2500 square feet T his Gold Coast apartment was remodeled in three phases, beginning with a Parlor, Library, and Powder Room, then progressing to a Master Bedroom and Bathroom, and finally the Kitchen, Breakfast Room, and Guest Suite The building was built in 1928 and retained much of its original splendor, however the Kitchen had been remodeled in the 1980s and lacked any cohesion with the rest of the style of the apartment. The Kitchen was combined with a smaller room that was once a maid s bedroom to create a larger Kitchen/Breakfast Room space. We worked with original details, such as a zinc sink in the Butler s Pantry and carried through details in the crown molding, casing, and flooring to make this new Kitchen feel as elegant as the rest of the apartment. The original designs included a Delft tile backsplash and a full overlay door, however after further consideration we selected slab backsplashes and a more traditional inset door, with a simple ogee detail.
Left: The sink wall included upper cabinet for most of the clients everyday dishes as well as food storage. The microwave was concealed in the upper cabinets as well to keep as much counter space open for food preparation. The tall cabinet conceals the stacked washer/dryer as well as additional overhead storage. Below Left: What was original a maids room was transformed into a Breakfast Room with low cabinetry surrounding the space as well as a large hutch with open shelving for the client s extensive collection of cookbooks. The open hutch also was designed to hold a flat screen television. The low cabinetry also conceals a radiator behind a polished nickel screen and provides space for wine storage. Below: The original zinc counter in the Butler s Pantry was polished and reinstalled in the new cabinetry. New glass doors provide access to the client s crystal barware, which is highlighted by concealed xenon lighting.
TRUE HOMES DEVELOPMENT Soucie Horner, Ltd Joshua S. Welch Location Charlotte, NC Building Type Single Family Home Area Varies W orking with the Charlotte, NC based developer, True Homes, Soucie Horner came up with The Designer Collection. These are a series of unique, traditional home plans designed with a high quality of materials and an attention to detail not often found in a residential development. We worked with many traditional details of the Georgian style to come up with four special plans. Each plan had multiple options for built-in millwork pieces, additional bedrooms, and various levels of finishes for plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, and trim work. This home, The Taylor was conceived with 4-7 bedrooms, 4.5-6 bathrooms, and grand living spaces, including a Study, Formal Dining Room, and a grand two story Great Room. Top: The Taylor was built in the Georgian style. The painted brick façade was highlighted with a small front porch with an elegant six-paneled door with sidelights. The house has steep gabled roofs and generous dormer windows. Above: The Study was elegantly designed with a beamed ceiling, wainscoting, and a gracious double door entry off the Entry Hall.
Top: The Kitchen was designed open into the Great Room. The Island was custom designed to add a unique touch to the Kitchen and provided seating as well as a generous work space. Semicustom cabinets were selected and high end appliances were specified. Right: Directly off the main entry, the Formal Dining Room offers an elegant setting for meals, with details such as the paneled wainscoting and crown molding.
A nother home plan that was conceived for True Homes was a Country French style home with a lower level Master Suite a large open floor plan. There was great attention given to the circulation inside all the houses, including ample formal spaces. In the French style product, a large formal stair hall, just off the main door welcomes visitors. The developer also wanted a formal dining space located off the Kitchen. By placing the Dining Room in this location, we were able to get large windows on two of the walls, which provide views into the back yard and onto the terrace.