Building a Custom Home in the Lowcountry: The Discovery Process
At Shoreline, we’ve made it our mission to discover the meaning of home—and in the process, we’ve learned that the definition is specific to every individual homeowner.
Our team includes professional project managers, superintendents, and interior designers, and together, we offer a full range of services. For our clients, this means that from the earliest stages of floor plan design to the construction process itself, we’re committed to infusing every detail of your home with character. And it all begins with our tried-and-true Discovery process.
The Goal
To personalize the planning of your custom home, effective communication is absolutely essential. With over a decade of experience crafting Lowcountry custom homes, we have developed our Discovery process to make sure we firmly grasp your unique definition of home from day one.
As conceptualization begins, it’s imperative for our team to take the time to listen well. The more we learn about your predilections, previous experiences, and concerns as they relate to home building, the better equipped we are to direct your project and deliver a home truly tailored to you.
The Process
During the Discovery process, we’ll discuss your tastes, preferences, background, and target budget. It goes without saying that customizing a home comes with a lot of decisions—but rest assured that we have structured our process to ensure no single decision ever feels too daunting.
From the topography of your homesite to interior and exterior aesthetics, we like to start with your overarching goals for the property before tapering the conversation down to include specific design elements. Ensuring we understand the big picture from the very beginning makes it much easier to navigate the details of your design as the project progresses.
Seemingly small choices can make all the difference in your custom home, and a thorough understanding of your preferences will make selecting the appropriate finish levels of your build fun rather than fatiguing. As we delve into finishes and functionality, you’ll have access to plenty of resources to help you visualize your design options and communicate your vision.
Your Preferences
Prior to our first meeting, arm yourself with a list of must-have features for each space in your home. This will allow us to spend more time fine-tuning the details with you during the Discovery process. Here are a few ideas to kick-start your hunt for inspiration.
Your Interiors
Fluid indoor-outdoor designs are a quintessential part of the Lowcountry lifestyle. During the Discovery process, we’ll guide you toward the options that best play off the landscape and natural features of your homesite.
Soak your living room in natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows. Use a mix of French and multi-fold doors to increase flow between spaces. Add fresh air to your abode with a seamlessly integrated screened porch. As you daydream about your design, keep in mind that using your exteriors to help shape your interiors is always a good idea. There are plenty of avenues we can take to illustrate this principle within your plans.
Your Favorite Features
Curating ideas is fantastic—but try not to overload yourself with too much of a good thing. Rather, pay close attention to the features that excite you most. Whether it’s a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub or a stunning butler’s kitchen complete with Sub Zero appliances for wine storage, part of the beauty in building your custom home lies in the ability to build a custom lifestyle right along with it.
Our team will provide plenty of insight during the Discovery process to ensure your future home isn’t just fit for you, but for all your friends and family too. Entertain guests with enthusiasm by opting to include amenities like a gorgeous guest suite or beautifully-appointed bunkroom.
We like to place a healthy focus on design aspects that will increase the fluidity and functionality of your floorplan from the get-go. While aesthetics are important, building a custom home is about more than the fixtures and flooring. Concentrate on your day-to-day needs now to help discern which specific features will make life a little easier in your new home.
Your Exteriors
What kind of siding strikes your fancy? Which outdoor light fixtures catch your eye? From the front door to the foundation, a custom Lowcountry home is accompanied by countless ways to create a distinct coastal aesthetic and cultivate some serious curb appeal.
Be sure to make porches and patios a high priority during any backyard brainstorming sessions. If your plans include a pool, start thinking about which amenities your perfect pool zone should include too.