Lowcountry New Orleans Style

New Construction Home on Daniel Island Blends Southern Style Architecture

Award Winning Best Architecture Single-Family Residence

This home was awarded the 2019 Best Architecture Single Family Residence.

Award Winning Architectural Design

This home was awarded the 2018 ArCH Design Award.

Located in the private, gated community of Beresford Hall, this new construction seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom, 8,000-square foot home was created for  family-friendly fun.  The owner had a vision of bringing some of the style from his native New Orleans and blending it with the Lowcountry to create a perfect family home on Daniel Island.  The style is of this home is New Orleans meets the Battery with Lowcountry charm.

The homeowners, who entertain often, envisioned a space with great flow and an open concept floor plan.  The house takes U-shape around an exterior courtyard–a common feature in New Orleans and Bayou Architecture.    Living in South Carolina, the outdoors is additional living space for much of the year and this family wanted to be able to maximize their enjoyment of the outside.   At the center of the courtyard is the pool with an infinity edge, spa, and spectacular river views.  The spa was placed at the base of the pool with a waterfall that cascades water down into the spa.  A patio encircles the pool with an outdoor living room and entertaining area adjacent to the kitchen, great room, and dining room.   A wall of windows that are are sliding doors allow guests and the homeowner to enjoy easy access to the outdoors.   Acting as a cover from the elements above the living area and outdoor dining area, there is a second story deck that is the entrance to the water slide.   Fire features, which were the brain-child of the homeowner, create sophistication in the night when the gentle glow of the setting sun punctuates the perfect day in this luxury estate home.

Custom details fill the home including a two-story fireplace with integrated water feature.  Metal work fabricated into the shape of a fleur di lis was used on the balustrades of the second story catwalk that encircles the two story great room.  Reclaimed barn wood beams were used in the family room on the vaulted ceiling in the great room and overhead on the covered patio area to bring a sense of grounding and history to this new build.  The kitchen vent hood is another custom made metal work feature.

This project had a bit of an unusual beginning…. The owner had been working with a different architect, but it turned out that the design they’d come up with was unbuildable. In search of an architect who could salvage the clients two-decades-in-the-making dream of a custom home in the Lowcountry, their builder, Buffington Homes, recommended they reach out to Rachel Burton of Swallowtail for help.   We’d worked with Buffington Homes before and they knew our firm’s skill with complex site planning and our keen way of determining a clients needs and wants.  We were able to re-envision the home to meet the stringent requirements of the local building authority, as well as the rigors of design needed in a coastal environment. It was our pleasure to work with Buffington Homes again and to have their high level of skill and pride of workmanship showcased in the build of this beautiful home.

Image Gallery

Architect: Rachel Burton, Swallowtail Architecture
Builder:  Buffington Homes
Photography: Tripp Smith

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