this photo: A chair offers a cozy reading spot in the master bedroom. opposite: Homeowner Alice Kendall and her daughter Sophia enjoy the barefoot comforts of their Sullivan s Island, South Carolina, home. 44 Modern Farmhouse Style
centered family A New England couple draws on memories of Maine summer houses to create a new beach home in South Carolina. Writer: CATHY STILL McGOWIN Photographer: BRIE WILLIAMS Producer: SANDRA L. MOHLMANN Modern Farmhouse Style 45
this photo: The Kendalls new, but traditional, beach house, with its clapboard siding, exposed rafter tails, metal roof, and wide porches, recalls the couple s vacation homes from summers in Maine. 46 Modern Farmhouse Style
There s just something about an old-school beach house the kind with the wide porches, plank floors, metal roofs, and carefree attitudes. They re the ones that show up in romantic movies and, if we re lucky enough, in our own childhood memories. Originally from Boston, Alice and Rusty Kendall were both fortunate to grow up experiencing summers in Maine where the rustic styles and simple clapboard island houses would eventually inform the design of their own home. Life led the couple and their four kids to Charleston, South Carolina, where they discovered Sullivan s Island, a place that recalled the nuances of those laid-back Maine summers. Engaging architect Heather Wilson and designer Cortney Bishop, the Kendalls set about creating their version of a modern farmhouse at the beach. Our goal was to build a house with lots of light that would be very open and accessible to the outdoors, Alice says. We wanted it minimalist and very functional. Focusing on her clients wishes, Wilson designed family gathering spaces with smart built-ins, a multitude of porches, and an abundance of large windows and doors. The couple s bedroom is downstairs, and the kids are up. Aside from the kids rooms, our home lives like a one-story house, which we love, Alice says. Wilson also planned for hidden storage with a large pantry and mudroom to keep living spaces clutter-free. Finishing details are equal parts farmhouse, beach house, and midcentury modern, with boho influences stirred in. Authentic materials and custom furnishings ground the open, airy rooms. We punched it out by adding bold, bright-colored accents against the all-white walls, Bishop says. Darker, midcentury-inspired wood stains and artisanal and vintage rugs and fabrics warm up the white-washed palette. In both architecture and interiors, the Kendalls home is youthful yet refined, and above all, centered on what matters most to Alice and Rusty family. During the summer we try not to leave the island on the weekends, Alice says. It feels like we are on vacation. For resources, see page 96. above: The dining area ducks off of the main living area, delineated by a lower ceiling and a wall of windows. A built-in window seat and a trestle table constructed from salvage accommodate the family s four kids and friends. We frequently have a couple more at our table, Alice says. I knew we would need something very large. Modern Farmhouse Style 47
We went out of our way to avoid window treatments. We wanted to keep things simple and enjoy the views and natural light. homeowner Alice Kendall An open floor plan unites the living room, dining area, and kitchen. The plaster fireplace soars to the vaulted ceiling. Wide plank shiplap walls create interest. I love the way the shiplap adds enough texture to the walls that we can leave much of them bare, Alice says. Doors open onto a side deck and screen porch. 48 Modern Farmhouse Style
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form + function Minimalist design done right is anything but plain or boring. Here s how clean lines can deliver a lot of character. CUE HISTORICAL STYLE. Timehonored features such as a metal roof, exposed rafter tails, wide porches, and clapboard siding all inspired by Maine farmhouses and beach houses give a new home old-house charm. FOCUS ON AUTHENTICITY. The architect and designer used natural, organic materials inside and out. The home features white oak floors, wood plank walls, Carrara marble accents, and environmentally friendly or vintage furnishings and fabrics. CHOOSE BOLD, CLEAN ARCHITECTURAL ACCENTS. Even without any flourishes, the custom plaster fireplace in the living area creates a strong focal point. Other standouts include tall windows and doorways, a seamless Carrara marble backsplash in the kitchen, and shiplap walls. CREATE CLEVER STORAGE. To keep clutter to a minimum, large ancillary rooms easily close off from the main living areas. Our clients are true minimalists and live by buying what they need, in place of excess or want. They are also a family of six and needed the home to be highly functional to keep up with the chaos of such a large clan, designer Cortney Bishop says.
this photo: Sconces free space on bedside tables in the master bedroom. The bed, a custom design, is finished in the same walnut stain as the kitchen island. opposite, clockwise from top left: A seamless slab of Carrara marble creates the kitchen s backsplash, while shiplap cabinet fronts cover the refrigerator, and an adjacent pantry hides hardworking items. A flat track door adds architectural character in an upstairs hall. Simple white flowers add visual texture. A double vanity topped by Carrara marble offers plenty of storage in the master bath. A built-in bed with drawers nestles under a wall of windows in an upper-level kid s room. modern farm made lesson For an all-white interior that number doesn t feel like a white box, 5 think texture. Whitewashed oak floors show a hint of grain while shiplap plank walls wrap the rooms in horizontal lines. Modern Farmhouse Style 51