A custom house is so much more than just timbers, concrete, stone, and metal. It’s the sum of all the knowledge that goes into it: The architect, who understands the subtle language spoken in the angles of a roofline or the span of a doorframe; the builder, whose craft is written in solid forms, rugged durability and studied craftsmanship; and the owners, who put the final touches on the entire design, molding the final result into something that speaks to them.
This Palmetto Dunes home is a free-standing testament to that melding of minds, and the masterpiece their shared creativity created.
Borrowing a page from the more rustic aesthetic of homes on the mainland, this space takes the timeless textures of brick and tabby and reworks them into something a little more coastal.
“This is the fourth project we’ve done with Tony and Karen Smaldino, a melding of minds and creativity resulting in a level up from anything we’ve done before,” said Tristan O’Grady, listing agent with COAST Brokered by eXp Realty. “It has a real quality feel with a coastal elegance that cuts a nice upmarket profile.”
With its elevated views across the 11-mile lagoon toward the 15th green at Robert Trent Jones and down the 16th fairway, the lot itself provided the perfect canvas for creating an elevated experience.
“We picked that lot because it’s a nice, big open corner with a great location, just an eight-minute walk to the beach and right on the lagoon, so you can take your boat down to Alexander’s for dinner,” O’Grady said. “And with the living space so high up, it has almost a treehouse feel to it.”
The architects of Shore Line Design Inc. took full advantage of the home’s lofty heights, framing it by wide sliders across the breadth of the entry to the great room. Bearing hallmarks of Old World elegance, like a deep coffered ceiling and expansive arched built-ins, its formality is tempered by both those views and the modern sophistication of clean white lines.
Opening to the chef’s kitchen across shiplap wainscoting, this space’s elegant craftsmanship transitions into a powerhouse of function and design. Rich veins on a center island’s granite slab match the backsplash beneath custom cabinets, but these visual flourishes just add to a gourmet wonderland, along with a commercial-sized refrigerator, and the gas range topped with a custom hood.
Just off the kitchen, the cathedral ceiling and panoramic views of the Carolina room cast a more intimate retreat from the home’s more open spaces, creating an inspiring getaway looking out over the water and the outdoor living spaces. Along with those sliders in the great room, doors open wide here, directly onto the expansive screened porch, with heaters that allow for year-round outdoor relaxation.
Borrowing a page from the more rustic aesthetic of homes on the mainland, this space takes the timeless textures of brick and tabby and reworks them into something a little more coastal. The result is an outdoor anchor to a design that bridges resort sophistication and Lowcountry casual elegance.
“It’s not designed as a typical beach house,” O’Grady said. “It’s not what everyone else does – it’s more low-key, but with an exceptional amount of quality running throughout. And while it wasn’t conceived to be a rental property, it certainly can accommodate.”
This space’s elegant craftsmanship transitions into a powerhouse of function and design.
Oddly enough, one of the biggest hallmarks of a home built for the rental market is a massive pool that can accommodate multiple generations and huge parties. And 2 Midstream definitely comes through on that score, with a sparkling oasis crafted by Coastal Pools and Fountains stretching alongside covered outdoor space.
Each bedroom benefits from the custom craftsmanship of detailed millwork and a premium on size.
“People really enjoy that rectangle design – it never goes out of style,” said Daniel Geoffroy with Coastal Pools and Fountains. “At 15 by 30 feet, it’s a good-sized pool and it’s not overwhelmingly hard to maintain, and the waterfall and tanning pad add a lot.”
Building so close to a lagoon can occasionally be a headache for pool crews, but Geoffroy said this one was a roughly nine-week breeze. “The process was just great. Palmetto Dunes is our bread and butter so we work in there a lot, and their ARB is so great,” he said. “We’ve previously worked with JJ &R Construction before as well, and they are amazing.”
Across its five bedrooms and the bunk room, this property gives every member of the family their own private retreat.
So yes, 2 Midstream does offer the kind of extravagance and spaciousness of a home built for the rental market. But where the architects and builders truly made their mark here is in the living spaces. Not just designed for visiting, but for living, each bedroom benefits from the custom craftsmanship of detailed millwork and a premium on size.
With the expansive garden tub and walk-in shower of its opulent en suite, the atmosphere of relaxation stretches to every corner.
“They could have put more bedrooms in, but they went for bigger bedrooms and more living space,” O’Grady said. “The numbers don’t lie. These higher-end beach homes are now typically being built for families that want a second home or a primary home for large family events.”
Across its five bedrooms and the bunk room, this property gives every member of the family their own private retreat. Perhaps nowhere did this trade-off of extra beds for extra space carry greater benefit than in the primary suite. Enjoying private access to the rear porch, it gives the owner daily inspiration in a quiet place to sip a favorite beverage. Tall, coffered ceilings carry the theme of elegance from the great room, lending a sense of airiness to the suite’s already grand design. With the expansive garden tub and walk-in shower of its opulent en suite, that atmosphere of relaxation stretches to every corner.
“There’s just so much to recommend with this property – new construction, close to the beach, great bedroom separation, all the bells and whistles and exceptional quality in every aspect,” O’Grady said. “Palmetto Dunes itself is such a highly appealing community, with all the pickleball, golf, and tennis, and all the improvements they’ve made across the resort.”
Schedule a tour by emailing tristan@tristanogrady.com.
