The rural landscape and local history inspired the design of the true-blue Southern house in Colleton County, South Carolina. The house itself sits on a former rice field on the banks of the Combahee River, inspiring architects Frederick + Frederick to use many of the region’s vernacular forms and materials in their design — from the clapboard siding and big screened-in porch to the brick rice-mill-style chimney.
The customers are a retired couple of the architects had worked together before. They love being outdoors, fishing and hunting, and though they were a bit, room to store their outdoor equipment and exhibit their mementos was crucial.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The chimney dominating the great room was designed to be shaped like those utilized in rice mills.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The landscape around the home is rural farmland, so Frederick chose to include many of the details from the region’s old farmhouses. Conventional materials were utilized, such as old brick for the foundation, hand-formed terne metal roofing and clapboard siding.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The home is laid out around a central square living room. There’s a front porch, a screened-in porch, and two wings on either side of the great area — one wing is completely private from the remainder of the house, and one is semi-private.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The screened-in porch on the rear of the home is constructed of Ipe, a sustainable exotic wood that’s obviously water and decay resistant. Double-hung Weathershield windows allow light from your spacious porch to seep into the great room. The exposed rafter tails in the edge of the porch add to the real Southern farmland vibe.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The front porch, entry, and screened-in rear porch are about the exact same level as the great room. These outdoor areas include a view of a now-impounded rice pond, once a functioning portion of a mill with this property.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
The great area — that comprises a living, diningroom, and dining area — concentrates on the house’s massive four-sided fireplace. “Everything radiates from the chimney,” Jane Frederick states.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
Straightforward iron pendants hang above the kitchen island. A table and stools belonging to the customers mix beautifully with the antique heart pine floor and ceiling rafters.
Pendants: Hubbardton Forge
Frederick + Frederick Architects
A blue soapstone sink from Green Mountain was set up into the 2-inch-thick cherry countertop on the island. The kitchen cabinetry has been custom made from reclaimed heart pine (like the floor ), and is outfitted with pastoral hardware.
Sink: Green Mountain Soapstone
Hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware
Frederick + Frederick Architects
A large pantry and a pine-paneled wine cupboard are situated near the central kitchen in the great room. Some of the couple’s trophies from past hunting expeditions litter the great room.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
This hallway leads to the next wing of the home with the guest bedroom. The guest wing includes its own on rear entry, so Frederick added a built in bench for boot removal and a lot of hidden storage for coats and outdoor equipment.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
Cypress siding has been used throughout the exterior and interior. The interior siding has been roughed up with a whitewash finish to give it a Southern country look. A freestanding classic Kohler tub sits close to the window by an eye-opening hyena-hide carpet, a memento from one of the customers’ hunting trips.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
Straightforward greenery and timeless white fencing round out the house’s traditional Lowcountry appearance. The terne metal roofing creates a surprising announcement contrary to the house’s whitewashed cypress exterior.
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