Designed with classic coastal-style architecture mixed with touches of craftsman detailing, this exquisite two-story elevated home is a gleaming beachfront gem along the shores of South Carolina’s Isle of Palms. A charming barrier island nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, this seaside paradise is just minutes away from historic Charleston. Pristine beaches, championship golf, world-class eateries and sea turtles are just a few of the area attractions. Proudly poised amidst this scenic locale, the breezy 5,960-square-foot home—a creative, collaborative effort between architect, builder and interior designer—radiates the same blissful coastal allure that characterizes this beloved isle.

“I describe the home’s design as edgy beach house style,” says Carl McCants III of Mc3 Designs, the architect for this project, which was completed in the fall of 2022. “I use the term edgy because of the structural design’s departure from the norm. I lean more toward a contemporary feel but reach back to timeless massing and forms to avoid trendy design.”

McCants also wanted the home to connect seamlessly with nature—to marry the interiors to the outdoors. But he wanted to do it in such a way that celebrates the controlled living spaces along with the uncontrolled exterior areas. “I wanted the owners of this house to feel that they are part of the beach and ocean as they enjoy all the comforts of modern life,” he adds.

“This is a beautiful beachfront property centrally located on Isle of Palms,” says builder Trae Redmond, director of construction at King & Society Construction in Mount Pleasant, who worked alongside the design team. One of the finest and most respected builders in the Charleston area, Redmond and his colleagues firmly believe that every new project begins and ends with a great team.

With more than 20 years of experience in both the residential and commercial industry, Redmond prides himself on not only building quality homes but also building lasting and meaningful relationships with every client. A Charleston native and former U.S. Army combat veteran, Redmond is a third-generation builder who followed in the footsteps of his father, a local industry expert. His success and community involvement have earned him the 40 under 40 award by the Charleston Regional Business Journal in 2014 and the General McArthur Leadership award in 2012. The company’s diverse portfolio ranges from historical renovations to high-end custom homes. Its team of professionals brings a sense of passion and steadfast commitment to superior quality and dedication to every home they build.

“The interior and architectural style for this Isle of Palms project is classic, coastal-contemporary design,” notes Redmond. “We wanted something different than your typical beach décor—a timeless design utilizing subtle but distinct color palettes, materials and clean lines.”

The well-centered design functions and flows around large, open common areas. The team also wanted to capture the outdoor living spaces and views with large side and rear porches and decks, a ground-level pool with a spa partially nestled underneath the porch overhang, and a large, centrally located outdoor kitchen. The design includes a spiral staircase leading up to an observation roof deck where you can see endless miles of beach and gaze up at the stars at night.

“We went with neutral colors to highlight the beachfront views and natural colors of the landscape,” says interior designer Wendy Mauro of Wendy Mauro Design, who worked closely with Redmond. “Trae is great and gave me visual autonomy over decisions and selections. I would say, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and he would find ways for it to be done or the materials we could use. He allowed us to pick our selections and gave his opinion on quality or function when needed.”

The team selected textures and exterior framing such as shaker siding and board-and-batten as a tribute to the craftsman look. Since the dwelling was built as a spec home, they decided to incorporate a clean and contemporary aesthetic, the signature look of Wendy Mauro Design. “Our goal was to create a modern coastal vibe without being beachy,” says Mauro. “We infused the natural colors and textures in the tile, countertops and cabinetry, and added contemporary lighting to give it a more modern feel that emulates the style of the exterior.”

“With this home, I looked back to craftsman detailing but added an edgy twist,” says McCants. “It’s just enough to nudge the idea of craftsman architecture but still keep it eclectic. Wendy followed through with this nod to craftsman architecture with her interior detailing.”

For the foyer, the team created a modern-traditional grand entrance with white oak herringbone floors and a large black-paned front door. As with most houses, the kitchen is the true heart of the home. Its breezy, open floor plan provides a central focal point with splendid ocean views. The original plan included a double island, but Mauro felt it was too heavy for the space and did not highlight the views. A single island clad in white marble and a white-painted base offers a light and airy alternative that makes the space feel more open. Mauro also created an inset range wall with a marble backsplash. She added a vertical white oak surround to the range wall and echoed the look in the adjoining living room’s bookcase. “We infused the same wood tones in the bathrooms,” she adds, “and complemented the aesthetic with tile and countertops in natural hues.”

The home also features a wonderfully spacious walk-in pantry and laundry area awash in blue cabinetry against natural wood floors. The room provides an abundance of storage space, including a wine tower, and creates a convenient prep area behind the scenes when the homeowners want to entertain.

Mauro also chose elevated classic styles in modern-traditional finishes and married the hardware styles of the plumbing and lighting fixtures throughout. She selected window treatments from The Shade Store to visually connect with the bathroom tile from Garden State Tile. Lustrous polished nickel and matte black plumbing fixtures from Gateway Plumbing coordinate with the dramatic lighting choices from Visual Comfort in the kitchen, foyer and bathrooms.

“We had a great working relationship with King & Society Construction,” says Mauro. “They allowed us to help select the interior and exterior materials, so we truly had complete autonomy over all the selections as long as we were within our budgetary allowances. We had weekly meetings on-site to review details, measurements and design, and we had a lot of fun planning and seeing each other every week. I remember discussing how we wanted to go to a party at the house when it was finished with the pool, outdoor kitchen and the beach right there. We really look forward to working with King & Society again.”

“Since this project originally started as a spec home, the overall look and style emanate a timeless but classic spin on your traditional beach house design,” says Redmond. “Wendy Mauro was able to take a subtle beach/nature-inspired palette and materials and turn it into something special. Our working relationship with Carl McCants, Wendy Mauro and the homeowners—who purchased the property midway through construction—was very fun and collaborative. We like to leverage each other’s strengths and creativity to generate the best ideas and deliver superior results.” *

Jeanne de Lathouder currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama, where she works as a freelance writer for books and publications across the country. A former writer and editor for Southern Accents magazine, her work appears regularly in Florida Design, Southern Home, Charleston Style & Design and Dallas Style & Design. Contact her at jdelathouder@gmail.com.