Elements of Unusual Design

The custom home by Buffington Homes features unique attributes of vaulted ceilings and exposed beams and a “storm tower”

Family-owned and operated out of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Buffington Homes brings to life custom homes under a mission to, “Build It As If It Were Our Own.”

Buffington Homes serves clients on Kiawah Island and the Charleston communities, providing custom homebuilding and renovation services to the areas for over 27 years. The homebuilder has been distinguished 10 times nationally and by the Wall Street Journal with its Dream Builder award.

A stand out amongst its projects is Ocean Park Sanctuary.

One-of-a-Kind in South Carolina

The home is located on Kiawah Island, a place known for its natural beauty, wide Atlantic Ocean beach and proximity to luxurious amenities, making the locale a highly desirable place to be. In particular, the home is situated in Kiawah’s guard-gated Ocean Park community, near the famed Ocean Course golf course.

Buffington Homes served as the builder on the project alongside Charleston, South Carolina-based architect Camens Architectural Group and Rancho Santa Fe-based interior designer Claire Sturtevant Interiors. 

“When building a custom home, building the team as early as possible is crucial,” shared Buffington Homes Partner and Office Manager Joanna Buffington. After selecting the custom homebuilder, the client worked with Buffington Homes to find an architect and interior design team who aligned with their collective vision. 

What came to be of this collaboration was a 9,178-sq.-ft. two-story home (total heated square footage coming out to 5,486) and 763 sq. ft. guest house sitting on a 38,140.9 sq.ft. lot. 

A Variety of Unique Design Attributes

The completed residence boasts many unique design qualities, giving the home its character. The expansive family room features vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, with an abundance of natural light peering in from large windows overlooking the lawn. Meanwhile, the second-floor bunk room details a view through the beams to the marsh beyond. 

Another unusual design feature is the “storm tower” located off of the primary bedroom. “The homeowner loves to watch the rain and lightning over the marsh,” said Buffington. “She will go out and view the sky through the high-framed opening in the wall of the screened porch.”

Alongside these unique elements are many energy efficiency features. 

The first level of the home has three-inch-thick closed-cell foam insulation while the second floor has 10-inches of R-19 fiberglass batt insulation. The exterior walls have R-30 Johns Manville Spider Plus Blow-In insulation. Additionally, the ceiling is 10-inch fiberglass batt R-30 insulation while the roof has three-inches of closed-cell foam insulation, and all interior walls feature sound batt insulation.

Combating a Harsh Climate

South Carolina, despite its relatively small size, boasts a rather diverse climate. “Many builders are surprised to hear that the climate in South Carolina is harsh, especially on the ocean,” shared Buffington. Most of the state falls within the humid subtropical (Cfa) Köppen Climate Classification, resulting in hot, humid summers with mild winters. 

Moisture is one of Buffington Homes’ biggest problems. These climate challenges call for closed building envelopes to prevent air intrusion. The builder’s standard process in combating such is to use a Blower Door test to detect air leaks before closing the home. 

For this particular build, the project team was up against not one, but two hurricanes during construction in addition to the area’s first snowstorm since 1989. “We also feared the possibility of water flooding the home since it is located on the marsh very close to a large tidal river,” said Buffington. 

Challenging nonetheless, the South Carolina residence, inspired as a “kid magnet,” now serves as a place where the homeowners’ family can return to after years of prior family island vacations for the future generations to enjoy forever.