Most all of us, in some form or another, have been carrying around the blueprints for our dream house in the back of our minds for our entire lives. Someday, we tell ourselves, someday we are going to have that multi-million-dollar mansion with the breathtaking ocean views. With the massive eight-car garage. With the THX-caliber screening room. With the 6,000-bottle wine cellar. With the fully functional Batcave and karate dojo.
(We will admit, that last one might feature on this writer’s own personal blueprints.)
The point is, while all of us walk around dreaming about this house, there are a lucky few who get to live it. In the rarified air of the rich and famous, these aspirational musings enter the realm of reality, attainable for the right price.
As envious as we are, we can’t help but be amazed. Here they are, all of our wildest real estate fantasies made manifest. These are the dream homes we’ve always conjured in our wildest fantasies, somehow conjured into reality through stone and timber. Can we afford them? Probably not. Can we at least take a peek inside to stoke our sense of envy and tantalize ourselves with the possibility that someday it could be ours? Also probably not.
But we can always read about them!
15 Bald Eagle Road, $13,975,000
Boasting an interior that has been brilliantly curated by Sarah Lettice with Kelly Caron Designs, ASID, NCIDQ, this home has already enjoyed its time in the spotlight as a featured property in the pages of this very magazine. But you’ll have to forgive us for gushing, because this property represents one of the rarest opportunities on Hilton Head Island.
“The No. 1 highlight is that this is a brand-new house on the beach in Sea Pines,” said listing agent Tristan O’Grady of COAST brokered by eXp. “It is very rare to see a spec house on the beach because the availability is so limited.”
Its status as the most substantial spec house offering ever made on Hilton Head is just the foundation. On top of that has been built a spectacle of modern coastal design, with sprawling outdoor living incorporating covered kitchen, misting system, fire pit, and infinity-edge pool; commercial-grade appliances in the gorgeous chef’s kitchen; multiple oceanfront suites; and two levels of covered porches. It is currently offered on the rental market as well, through BESTNEST by Beverly Serral.
28 Green Heron Road, $10,750,000
Back in 1958, the very first waterfront property was sold in Sea Pines. The price tag for this lavish lot was a staggering $5,350. Quite a few things have changed in the intervening near-septet of decades, primarily the price tag. These days, the lot alone for a property like this would be north of $6 million. Taking that into consideration, listing this home at just under $11 million is a steal. Especially when you factor in what you get.
“It’s rare to come across a property like this. You have not only a full-size lot with incredible panoramic ocean views, but you also have a completely remodeled house top to bottom,” said Lorri Lewis, broker-in charge with Sea Pines Real Estate. “The additional square footage has added two more full beds and baths on the first floor, with decking across the back of both floors to really maximize that ocean view.”
Beyond the expansion, these renovations have draped the home with all the refinements of modern luxurious coastal living, with wide-plank hardwood floors, magnificent chef’s kitchen, and a marble-strewn primary en suite bath that rivals any day spa in the world.
151 Inverness Drive, $9,000,000
Built into the natural curves of a swooping peninsula on the May River, this home epitomizes the natural beauty and sophisticated refinement of Palmetto Bluff. Each detail within the home was meticulously curated by Mike Reynolds of MJR Builders to create visions of timeless Lowcountry style. From the Savannah brick pavers that line the driveway to the custom-cut pine floors, it’s a masterclass in nailing each detail.
“The owner put three years of his life into it, and it is just one of the nicest houses I’ve ever sold,” said Kevin King with Charter One Realty. “It has a 180-degree a panoramic view of the marsh all the way to Port Royal Sound, the quality is second to none, and the floor plan and the details are all incredible.”
Among the highlights of its 7,834 square feet, you’ll find a huge open kitchen with dual islands set in leathered marble, grand formal dining room with custom-crafted ceiling, expansive wine cellar, library set in rustic timbers and brick, and fully equipped bar facing out on those breathtaking marsh views.
945 Mount Pelia Road, $8,250,000
Every property you’ll read about here offers more than its share of luxurious trappings, stunning views, and exquisite craftsmanship. But this might be the only one on our list that lets you live on a little piece of history.
“The property itself used to belong to a turpentine factory and was built on the landing where they would ship it from,” said Keene Reese with The Ussery Group. “You can still see some of the railroad structures. There’s a ton of history on the property, plus it’s a truly generational property.”
Embracing the Palmetto Bluff ethos of creating generational spaces, the compound incorporates six structures across the 1,600 feet of landing it enjoys on Cauley’s Creek. Flanked by 120 acres of land protected by the North American Land Trust, its exquisite privacy is matched only by the timeless elegance of its classic Lowcountry design. Built for creating a legacy, it engenders possibilities that will pass down through the ages as each generation makes it their own.
“It’s really the perfect property for someone who truly appreciates what sets the Lowcountry apart,” added Reese.
6 Overlook Place, $8,200,000
No detail was spared in creating this gorgeous 7,789-square-foot palace, set on an expansive 1.16-acre lot on the heel of Hilton Head Island in Port Royal. It’s brilliant Mediterranean-inspired exterior transitions to Lowcountry luxury inside, with elevated materials informing a layout that draws magnificent water views into each room.
“It’s one of the few double lot oceanfront homes in the Lowcountry,” said Kevin King with Charter One Realty.
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It’s what the builders did with that space that excites King the most. “It has probably the nicest garage I’ve ever seen, because the owner was a car collector,” he said. “But beyond that, it’s the details you’ll find everywhere. In the bunk room, each bunk has a TV and a fan. It’s a fabulous piece of property.”
That eye for detail is matched by a wider lens that filled this property with the kinds of features that have always haunted our visions of a dream home. A 1,000-bottle wine cellar. Half-court basketball court. Private putting green gazing out toward the water. And, yes, a museum-quality garage for housing all of our favorite toys.
18 Armada Street, $7,495,000
Towering above captivating ocean views, this sophisticated oceanfront manor takes all the grandeur and elegance of classic Southern architecture and reimagines it as a thoroughly modern luxury home. The towering dual porches of the dramatic entryway evoke the stately beauty of the Old South, while the sprawling sun-drenched outdoor spaces echo the hospitable beauty of a five-star resort.
In between, homebuilding brilliance has imbued the elements of the Old World – grand winding staircases, dramatic open spaces, and soaring arched doors – with the subtle sophistication of modern design. The net result is a home offering the best of both worlds, soaking in elegant scenery through wide windows or boasting a sprawling garage perfect for keeping a dream car collection in pristine comfort.
“What sets this home apart is its incredibly stately appearance. The curb appeal of this house is unbelievable. Couple that with the outdoor areas, and you have a really special place,” said Jeff Hunt with Dunes Real Estate. “If somebody wants a property that they can truly make their own, this is it.”
