WHEN A CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF experience constructs a residence for his own family, every decision carries additional weight. For Greg St. Pierre, co-founder of St. Pierre Construction, building his family’s home in Awendaw’s Mossey Grove Lane community was both a personal milestone and a professional statement. After two years in planning and 11 months in construction, the completed 2,900-square-foot residence is a tangible example of the principles, craftsmanship and uncompromising standards that have defined the company since 2002.

St. Pierre Construction began as a family endeavor when St. Pierre and his brother, Jeff, who are Lowcountry natives, recognized an opportunity to bring their skills to a region experiencing significant growth. Over the years, the brothers have fine-tuned their expertise in the Lowcountry’s distinct construction and renovation challenges. From Sullivan’s Island to Daniel Island and throughout the greater Charleston area, St. Pierre Construction has earned a reputation for its expertise in coastal building requirements and the delicate work of preserving century-old structures while integrating modern functionality.

Working with a carefully selected team of skilled tradespeople, as well as local architects, designers and suppliers, the company manages projects from initial architectural drawings through completion, handling scheduling and budgeting, and coordinating all construction phases. St. Pierre Construction’s membership in the National Association of Home Builders, the Charleston Home Builders Association and the Preservation Society of Charleston reflects its commitment to professional excellence.

When St. Pierre and his wife, Rachel, decided to build their own home, the couple had already relocated from Mount Pleasant to Awendaw in pursuit of a lifestyle shift toward quieter surroundings, immersion in nature and being within walking distance to their boat on the Intracoastal Waterway. “Greg and I moved to Awendaw to give our kids the childhood we had when we were growing up,” Rachel St. Pierre says. “We wanted them to be outdoors and in nature as much as possible with less time on screens. After a couple of years, we knew this was the life we wanted, and we wanted to build a St. Pierre home for ourselves.”

The couple purchased an open lot next to their existing home and made an unconventional choice that says a lot about their philosophy. Rather than rushing into construction, they built a 700-square-foot garage apartment and moved their family of five, including a rambunctious Newfoundland poodle mix, into a compact space for the three years of planning and construction. “As a family, we love to play and enjoy our time together,” St. Pierre adds. “When planning our home, we wanted the indoor and outdoor space to feel inviting and open enough to entertain our large group of family and friends.”

To translate their vision into architectural form, the St. Pierres engaged architect Heather A. Wilson, whose work was recognized by Southern Living as one of the 50 People Who Are Changing the South. Wilson’s reputation for streamlining the Southern farmhouse while maintaining its essential character aligned perfectly with what the couple envisioned. She had long admired Wilson’s aesthetic, and the collaboration produced what they describe as Lowcountry-eclectic architecture, blending a modern sensibility with classic elements and unmistakable warmth. “Choosing an architect was difficult,” St. Pierre says. “Greg works with so many talented architects, but we were drawn to Heather’s homes because they have a somewhat untraditional layout with a modern look that still felt welcoming.”

High ceilings, expansive windows that capture landscape views and an open floor plan create a sense of airiness throughout, while Rachel St. Pierre’s interior design and carefully selected materials ground spaces with texture and color.

The home’s design incorporates two distinct entries, each reflecting the architect and builder’s understanding of how families actually function. The informal entrance, accessed via a pathway along the home’s right side, opens into an informal foyer and boot room that is both practical and beautiful. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry in soft, pale blue-gray lines both walls, hiding storage for coats, shoes, bags and everyday essentials.

Elegant brass hardware adds subtle warmth, while a striking, black-framed glass door with classic grid panes floods the space with natural light. A modern circular chandelier provides unexpected elegance overhead, embodying the couple’s belief that even utilitarian spaces deserve beauty. Equipped with a washer and dryer, a sink, a designated area for dog bowls and two large pocket doors for privacy, this entry handles the chaos of kids and pets coming in from the water or the woods with efficiency that only someone intimately familiar with residential Lowcountry construction could design.

The formal entry offers a different experience. Outside, visitors pass through a garden area that features raised beds of vegetables and flowers before stepping into the foyer, where unique checkerboard Calacatta marble floors flow seamlessly into adjoining spaces. The foyer soars with high ceilings and dramatic fixtures, making statements without overwhelming the cozy vibe Rachel St. Pierre valued so much.

Throughout the home, the architect and builder successfully blended contemporary architectural elements with natural materials, creating a refined modern home that also invites you to put your feet up.

Moving left from the formal entry, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and perhaps the space where the builder’s expertise shows most dramatically. High vaulted ceilings with rich wood beams create architectural interest, but the showstopping feature remains the exposed brick wall rising to meet the peaked ceiling. The St. Pierres visited Downtown Charleston repeatedly to find precisely the right brick color, studying historic structures until discovering perfect variegated tones of brown, tan and cream. Though choosing the perfect brick color was time-consuming, Rachel St. Pierre wouldn’t accept anything less than perfection. “This is our home but sourcing authentic materials and careful attention to detail reflect the same standards we bring to every project,” Greg St. Pierre says.

The kitchen centers on a magnificent 10-foot island with honed soapstone countertops sourced from Vitoria International Stone. “I had a hard time finding soapstone that wasn’t too busy with veining, and the owner went above and beyond,” Rachel St. Pierre says. “He had exactly what I wanted shipped from Savannah. I was so grateful.” Both the St. Pierres love cooking, which influenced their decision to leave the island’s lower shelving open for easy access to plates, cups and cookware. Most of the kitchen cabinetry was built by Mark Temple of TempleBuilt.

Four elegant barstools upholstered in brown leather with brass-toned legs provide seating at the island, while two large, brushed brass dome pendants hang overhead. Modern sleekness is achieved through handleless cabinetry finished in “Inchyra Blue” by Farrow & Ball. Black countertops create a continuous dark surface, contrasting beautifully with the brick, and a wall of windows frames the lush landscape beyond. Large-format tile in light neutral tones maintains the modern industrial aesthetic underfoot. On the opposite side, a butler’s pantry and bar area with an additional refrigerator expand functionality, with wallpaper adorning the ceiling and glass cabinetry displaying barware above a bar sink. The Calacatta Cameo countertop in the pantry was sourced from Zimpel Granite & Marble.

Adjacent to the kitchen, the dining room showcases dark vertical wood paneling that creates a rich, enveloping atmosphere, while the warm pecky cypress planking on the ceiling keeps it from feeling heavy. Three large, black-framed windows punctuate the back wall, bringing in natural light and framing views of the surrounding trees. A custom banquette upholstered in moss green velvet runs along the window wall. The substantial dining table is made from beautifully weathered reclaimed wood with a trestle base and is surrounded by mid-century modern-inspired chairs upholstered in cream bouclé fabric. A stunning linear brass chandelier with six glass cylinder shades hangs above.

The living room continues the theme of dramatic architecture softened by thoughtful details. Twenty-one-foot ceilings with exposed wood beams create impressive volume, while a floor-to-ceiling fireplace featuring stucco in dark slate provides a striking vertical element. A rustic reclaimed-wood mantel adds warmth, and the fireplace opening showcases a classic herringbone brick pattern.

The furniture centers on a generous L-shaped sectional, which is flanked by two deep, forest-green upholstered chairs. The fireplace mantel, crafted by Elliott Brothers Woodworks from reclaimed wood sourced from an old cigar factory, is a lovely conversation piece. Expansive, black-framed windows offer panoramic views and connect to a covered outdoor living space. The room’s crowning jewel is a vintage-inspired chandelier with cascading green glass panels that introduce vibrant color. The main living space features 48-inch-square tile that is easy to clean and durable and adds to the modern aesthetic.

Throughout the residence, sustainability-informed choices that don’t compromise aesthetics are another hallmark of St. Pierre Construction’s philosophy. Reclaimed wood appears in the decking, light fixtures found new homes and creative repurposing transformed an old sink basin into a bathroom fixture.

The primary bedroom is serene and tranquil with a dramatic vaulted ceiling clad in cypress wood planking with natural grain patterns. Walls painted in warm sage green create a soothing, spa-like atmosphere, connecting to the natural landscape visible through the expansive wall of floor-to-ceiling black-framed windows. A showstopping golden caramel velvet sofa with vertical channel tufting sits before these windows. The bed rests beneath a striking glass pendant light from Soho Home, which casts beautiful, textured shadows. Blinds by Made in the Shade provide privacy when needed. A large walk-in closet designed by Rachel St. Pierre and installed by Inspired Closets includes a sauna and vanity area with extensive built-in shelving.

The primary bathroom continues the serene aesthetic with a 14-foot-tall cypress ceiling. Large mirrors reflect the outdoors back into the space. A clear glass shower with a generous bench keeps the room feeling open. Rachel St. Pierre designed the vanity with floating shelves and oak pullouts; a custom concrete trough sink with double faucets echoes the cement tile floor.

Downstairs, a family room painted in Farrow & Ball’s “Sulking Room Pink” serves as the family’s favorite movie-watching destination, while upstairs the children’s rooms spread across the second floor. Custom-made steel handrails around the staircase provide modern definition, and a vintage light fixture casts shadows in multiple directions.

At the St. Pierre residence, every decision reflects not just aesthetic preference but a professional understanding of what makes houses function beautifully over time, informed by decades of work throughout the Lowcountry and partnerships with the best trades in the area.

“To keep the job running smoothly, it was crucial to have our own in-house carpenters. The lead carpenter, Javier, has been with the company for 22 years. We wore tool belts together for a long time,” Greg St. Pierre says.

“It was a busy year for me, and I’m so grateful for the team Greg and Jeff have put together,” Rachel St. Pierre adds.

From the brick inspired by historical downtown to comfortable and functional touches that make family life easier, every element of this home reflects the intention and care that St. Pierre Construction is known for bringing to each project. *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.

The home’s design incorporates two distinct entries, each reflecting the architect and builder’s understanding of how families actually function.

Throughout the home, the architect and builder successfully blended contemporary architectural elements with natural materials, creating a refined modern home that also invites you to put your feet up.