How to add a touch of lowcountry charm to your home.
The subtle hues, textures and patterns in the Hilton Head area landscape are a giveaway…this is quintessential lowcountry. Most visitors immediately fall in love with the natural beauty found in local marshes and wetlands, the sprawling ancient oaks, and the colorful southern gardens. There’s also an abundance of Southern culinary treats that delight the palette such as lowcountry boil, farm grown vegetables, fresh seafood, and berry cobblers. These temptations are what I call “more-ish” – they have everyone coming back for more.
Once you’ve seen and experienced what lowcountry living is all about, it’s hard to get it out of your mind. Some visitors are so taken by the casual elegance of the lowcountry that they decide to move here and make it their home. Others will return home taking a bit of the southern coastline with them.
Whether you live in the South or elsewhere, it is possible to capture that special lowcountry flavor and charm in your home by following these tips from a design expert:
1. Go for a lowcountry “collected” look instead of a “decorated” look by mixing the old with the new. This farmhouse table is the perfect setting for everyday meals and large celebrations and including a sea grass area rug adds a bit of texture and interest.
2. Combine textures like crushed oyster shell and savannah brown brick in a fireplace or a special area of your home. Add simple lantern fixtures and lowcountry sea grass baskets as art. Sustainability is big in the lowcountry so try using a piece of reclaimed wood for a beautiful fireplace mantle. Draw attention to rich color tones in local artwork to create focal points throughout your home.
3. Use paint colors in rich hues that don’t compete with the beautiful views from your windows. Install wood shutters in bedrooms to control the light and let natural breezes in. Incorporate painted furniture. Draw the eye upward by installing multi-layered tray ceilings with paint-washed cedar planks.
1. Plan for a backyard haven with a firepit to keep the fall and winter chills away. Incorporate a seafood shucking station for that fresh lowcountry “catch of the day.” Use pea graveled paths to remind you of unpaved roads and the simple life.
2. A farmhouse sink is perfect size for cleaning up large stew pots from typical southern lowcountry meals.
3. Claw foot or stand alone bath tubs are perfect for washing little ones and for long soaks. Incorporate doors that lead to southern wrap porches so you can enjoy your morning coffee outdoors before facing the day. Four-piece patterned marble floors and walls are a timeless classic, adding charm and sophistication at the same time.
4. Detailed tile layout patterns make small bathrooms feel luxurious.
