Who We Are

We Are Great Listeners

And we ask great questions! We ask questions to uncover what will make you feel like you’re living in your dream home. We want to understand what brings you joy. How is happiness defined for you. We then listen and even listen below the surface because designing a home to fulfill these needs is personal. Each client is unique and the vision each family has for their home and the life they want to live within the home is different. It is our mission to help you discover your vision and to translate it into the design of your Lowcountry home. To design a truly custom home, the one that you will pinch yourself everyday because you can’t believe your dream has come true only happens by active listening.

Finding the Right Architect
Don’t suffer being dealt a raw deal.  Learn about the different types of Architects in the high-stakes game of ‘Architype’ and finding the right architect for you and your project.

We Are Local South Carolina Architects

As ‘locals,’ we understand the South Carolina Lowcountry. We know first hand all the unique elements of the Lowcountry, from the environment to the residents, to the many communities that make up the Historic Charleston area.  We draw directly on our experiences to create designs that are embraced by the community and perfectly fit our clients wants.  Get to know the Swallowtail Architecture Team.

Rachel Burton with clients at the groundbreaking of their Mount Pleasant, SC home

Rachel Burton with clients at the groundbreaking of their Mount Pleasant, SC home

We’ve learned so much about designing homes in the Low Country that we wanted to share this information.  We created the following is a collection of free resources and guidebooks specifically for those wanting to build in the Low Country and in a coastal environment.  We talk first about setting goals for the design and build of your new custom home or major renovation.  We help you to understand costs for a custom home in South Carolina and how the process works for finding the right architect for you and your project.  We have also compiled our local knowledge about being an architect and the special design considerations for Sullivan’s Island and Kiawah Island.  Check out each of the titles.  They’re free.

Free Guide: How to Prepare for Your Home Design Project Free Guide: Your Dream Home Starts Here. Planning the design of your home Free Guide: How to Hire an Architect Guidebook Guide Cover, Building Costs on Sullivan's Island Guide Cover, Essential Tips for DRB Submissions on Sullivan's Island Kiawah Island ARB Submission Guide

We Are An Award-Winning Architectural Firm

At Swallowtail Architecture we are known for our inspired designs that merge the beautiful with the sensible.  Our unique and award-winning sensibility has been the foundation since the firm was established in 2012 by Founder and Principal Architect Rachel Burton.  We’ve been selected Best of Houzz for Service and we’ve been awarded several ArCH Awards for Design Excellence. Our work has also been selected for the Charleston Builders PRISM Award and the Pinacle Award.

We consider some of our best achievements all of the “best architect” and “best architecture firm awards” we’ve won.  This includes Best of Summerville, Best Architects in Charleston, Best of HomeGuide, Best Architecture Single Residence South Carolina. The truth is, winning design awards like ‘Best Charleston Architectural Firm‘ are a true honor, but the most valuable honor and reward are the trust our clients place in our hands to design their dream home.

Swallowtail Architecture name best residential architectural firm in Charleston in 2018-2020

We’re the Talk of the Town

Swallowtail’s work has been featured in local, national, and international press and media.

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Luxe Magazine logo
Charleston Home & Design logo
Summerville Journal logo
Charleston Living Magazine logo
Your Modern Cottage logo
Houzz logo
The Business of Architecture logo
AIA logo
The Island Eye logo
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The Charleston Business Journal logo