Lowcountry Style: What’s Hot in Home Design in Charleston
Lowcountry style: What’s hot in home design in Charleston
One of the most exciting things about building a new home is getting a chance to personalize fit, finish, and floorplan to your exact lifestyle. If the thought of choosing every detail intimidates rather than excites you, have no fear. Building with Saussy Burbank means working with the best-of-the-best in home design. Here in the Charleston region, that means Sarah Staton Nash, our head Design Consultant.
In fact, we can get the design education started right now! We recently sat down with the design maven for a chat about what’s trending and what’s tried-and-true in coastal home design. Read below and let us know: are you ready to build your Saussy Burbank home in Charleston?
Coastal kitchens: white, shaker still rules
It’s no coincidence that the first design element we discussed with Sarah is one that first originated more than 200 years ago: the best designs always stand the test of time. Shaker-style cabinetry first appeared in 1770 colonial America as a reaction to the more ornate Victorian flourishes of the time. Because of the simplicity and clean-lines, the style fits beautifully into modern homes.
The top cabinetry color choice is also a classic – a nice, clean white. We asked Sarah why white is such an enduring color choice in the lowcountry. “There’s something about a simple white tone on cabinetry that feels fresh and clean in the kitchen. And it’s a nice base for layering in décor in bright, beach-inspired colors like aqua and coral.”
“White shaker cabinetry can also go more traditional or more contemporary, depending on the hardware you choose. So there’s a lot of flexibility in the choice, too,” she added.
Light on your feet
Light wood tones in flooring are big this year. “I’m seeing requests for more white-washed and natural wood toned flooring with a matte or satin finish,” Sarah explained. Like white shaker cabinetry, light wood flooring is a great base for layering in personality through furnishings, giving the homeowner the opportunity to change out their homes’ look from year-to-year without a major renovation.
It also reflects, rather than absorbs, light. “Light wood flooring adds a brightness to the home,” she told us.
Color gets warmer
After years on top, grey is still the most popular paint color requested for interior walls, but Sarah sees a slight shift happening: homeowners are asking for warmer hues with undertones. “People are still loving the neutrality of grey, but they’re craving warmth,” she shared. “We’re not going all the way back to a true beige, but somewhere the middle. More like a ‘griege.’”
It’s a tone that still complements Charleston’s tried-and-true coastal palate, and mixes well with whites and other in hues. “It’s a good counterbalance,” Sarah explained.
Hardware and fixtures get a new tone
Say See ya to brushed nickel hardware. “It’s been the number one choice in finishes for decades, but interior designers are replacing brushed nickel hardware with matte black and even bright chrome in new homes,” Sarah shared. “Matte black finishes, particularly on cabinet hardware or door handles, adds a subtle sophistication to a room, while bright chrome fixtures feel fun and fresh.”
If you want to add a little luxe to your new build, try a satin finish brass. “It’s an easy way to make your home look higher-end without breaking the budget. Satin brass fixtures and hardware add all the richness of gold without the gaudiness a shiny finish might bring. New homeowners have fallen in love with this simple upgrade,” Sarah explained.
Ready to work with Sarah on your new Charleston home? Explore our communities, floorplans, and homes ready for move-in. Then reach out. We can’t wait to get started.
