The densely wooded lot posed a challenge that Cumulus Architecture & Design overcame by fitting the home in the spaces between, creating a tree house-like feel and softening the volume of the 5,500-square-foot home.
The beauty of the Lowcountry is easy to take for granted, but there are moments when it catches you by surprise: a spoonbill wading through the marsh while you walk the dog or a sunrise over the harbor as you cross the bridge. Then there’s Kiawah, where the landscape makes it nearly impossible to forget the splendor surrounding you. Along the winding road toward Ocean Park at the island’s eastern tip, marsh vistas open beside dense maritime forest, while dunes roll toward the Atlantic. It was this setting that captivated one family so completely that they abandoned a long-held family tradition to put down roots on the barrier island.
Noreen and Frank Britt had always traveled by one rule: never vacation in the same place twice. The world is too big, they told their three children—Tyler, Lexi, and Clayton. Over the years, the family checked off Alaska, Italy, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and a 14-day national parks tour through the Midwest. The system worked perfectly.
Then came Kiawah. In 2013, the couple visited on the recommendation of close friends, bringing along their three teenagers. Everyone fell in love with the island immediately. “There’s something for everybody—golf, biking, tennis, swimming, and the beach, not to mention the independence being in such a safe place afforded our kids,” says Noreen…