Historical Concepts in collaboration with Westbrook Interiors have designed this beautiful home with country-inspired interiors, located on a sprawling estate just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. For a decade, the owners of this property focused on stewardship, undertaking conservation projects to preserve sensitive river habitats.

They then turned to the creation of a home, one that would be fitting of the land and place. Yet, for this site with a long and complex history, they envisioned a home that would be more about welcome and ease than impressions or tradition. The centerpiece is the main house, its great hall, river-facing storytelling room, and kitchen all scaled for entertaining.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Historical Concepts INTERIOR DESIGN Westbrook Interiors BUILDER Terry Hoff Construction LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Hooten Land Design

At the heart of family life, the center of the home was purposefully designed without sleeping quarters. These are located in two flanking brick pavilions: one houses a gracious owners’ suite, while the other contains two guest suites. Together, the three structures frame a traditional courtyard garden, creating a first impression of “approachable classicism.”

With such an expansive property, there were several options for siting the home, yet the architects opted to build it where an original homestead once resided. It is believed that the three prior homes also occupied this same site — all unfortunately succumbing to fire or natural disaster. This latest grand residence was thoughtfully sited amongst centuries-old live oak trees on a rise above the river.

Above: Below the intricate balustrade of the roof parapet is a strongly articulated Greek Doric entry portico.

Above: The entry portico leads into a gracious gallery designed to welcome guests and showcase cherished works of art.

Above: Spanning the front facade, it is flanked on either end by miniature galleries encircled with built-in cabinetry for artfully displaying the couple’s eclectic collections.

What We Love: This stunning South Carolina home embraces historical references, blending classical architecture with a contemporary lifestyle, adorned with decor that is both quietly elegant and playfully eccentric. Guest and master structures flank the main pavilion, where each space has been decorated with timeless appeal. Throughout, the homeowner’s exquisite art collections—from serious to whimsical pieces—grace every room.

Tell Us: What are your overall thoughts on the design of this South Carolina home? Do you think the project team was successful in creating a new home with a classic Southern style? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of South Carolina: This Sullivan’s Island beach house retreat is beautiful and inviting and Tour this breezy and inviting Lowcountry beach house on the Isle of Palms.

Above: This casual dining room exudes country elegance with its assortment of Windsor chairs in various styles and finishes, arranged around an antique farm table to create a curated, collected look.

Above: Reclaimed oak timber trusses in the vaulted ceiling are an intentional departure from the plaster walls with heart pine paneled wainscoting. Above the beams, a roof monitor fills the space with light.

Above: From the great hall, interior windows look into the storytelling room. It was imagined to have once been an open-air veranda facing the river, later enclosed with a wall of steel framed glass.

Above: In this inviting living area, the soaring 13-foot tall windows help to bathe the space with natural light. Wicker armchairs and a chaise lounge provide a comfortable seating area while nodding to the early 1900s country homes.

Above: In the kitchen, a custom freestanding island was designed with a marble countertop. The base was given a distressed look to appear aged. The exquisite pendant lights were sourced from Rose Tarlow. 

Above: A downdraft vent preserves the uninterrupted expanse of counter-to-ceiling windows.

Above: The kitchen’s exposed ceiling beams were milled from pine harvested on the property and hand-painted to give the new timbers an antiqued finish.

Above: A beehive oven was integrated into the kitchen as a nod to the open hearths of Colonial-era homes. Used as a pizza oven, t it combines the charm of a traditional fireplace with modern functionality.

Above: Just off the kitchen, the scullery is used as a potting room. This lovely space features antiqued green cabinets and honed black granite countertops.

Above: A pergola-covered potting terrace serves as an informal entrance to the home and leads into the scullery. This space features crossbeams and an open lattice attached to the side of the home, offering a breezy, sunlit space topped with elegant architecture that makes it feel like a true extension of the house. This design creates the perfect setting for indoor-outdoor living.

Above: For solitude, the owner retreats to this beautiful home library. This space features centuries-old cypress, salvaged from the bottom of the property’s original rice ponds and milled into cabinetry and ceiling panels. This rustic yet refined space is decorated with a spindle-leg farm table and embroidered curtains to add a touch of softness to the overall aesthetic.

Above: In the mudroom, handmade bricks are laid in a herringbone pattern with white mortar highlighting their irregular edges. The shiplap walls, painted a mossy green, draw inspiration from the surrounding terrain.

Above: The guest pavilion is anchored by two brick masses as if once separate outbuildings. Fanlight windows are accentuated with brick arch details; below them, implied carriage doors suggest adaptation.

Above: The fanlight windows bring interest and soft natural light to the interior.

Above: In this guest bedroom, the trim and arches become one with the headboard.

Above: In this cozy guest bedroom, the painted millwork is Newburg Green HC-158 by Benjamin Moore. The walls are painted in Chalk Grey 11-32 by Pratt and Lambert. Additional highlights include upholstered headboards, pieced quilts, and patchwork benches. On the wall, a framed vintage handmade needlepoint that depicts the iconic American eagle and flag.

Above: The powder bath exudes an apothecary vibe, featuring black walls painted in Tricorn Black SW 6258 by Sherwin-Williams and a gallery of shadowboxes showcasing vintage shaving items. The antique sink is elevated with an old millstone discovered on the property, adding a unique touch to the space.

Above: The matching sleeping pavilions, capped by zinc-clad pyramidal roofs, convey a stately unity that frames the front entry to the home.

THE OWNER’S PAVILION

Above: The lighting, plumbing fixtures, and marble hexagon tiles suggest this bathroom was a 1920s or 1930s addition. These features, along with a steel window wall that spans between the two brick end masses, reinforce the idea of a repurposed outbuilding.

Above: Large windows flood this spa-like bathroom with natural light while framing views of nature. A beautiful soaking tub is complemented by nickel plumbing fixtures.

Contrasting with the traditional front facade, the back of the residence expresses a more contemporary layer of history. By blending the elegance of 19th-century Greek Revival with moments of vernacular inspiration, the architects crafted a home that feels formal and informal at once. Its authenticity comes from its scale and proportion and the sense of history implied through its design.

Above: The historic parterre garden has been dated to 1703, presumably the time at which the first home would have been built on this property. The original garden was partially destroyed; however, portions of its pierced brick walls still stood underneath the live oak canopy. With the garden now fully restored to its original glory, this setting roots the new home in history.

Above: The rear elevation of the home, historically the first impression for guests arriving by the river, features a formal facade that evokes a sense of time and history.

Above: Behind the Greek Doric columns that may have once framed a river-facing veranda, a wall of steel and glass floats from end-to-end as a modern counterpoint. This effect is most dramatic at dusk when the entire home glows like a welcoming beacon overlooking the river.

PHOTOGRAPHER Eric Piasecki