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Rethinking Architecture: From the Inside Out
Camens Unleashed
T
he artistic and meticulous owners of this Kiawah Island home lovingly call it "Camens Unleashed," as it
explores refined details in their full expression—a hallmark of Marc Camens' work. The owners' seemingly
contrary preferences—she loved horses and wanted a rustic character, and his taste had a refined, old-world
feel—combine in the home as if they were made for each other.
From the Adirondack-inspired Great Room with its interior dormers opposite exterior dormer windows,
to every transition between spaces, the home provides a sense of ease and comfort. Horizontal
molding runs through rooms to visually drop the height and create an intimate feel. The rustic, barn-
like personality of the beams in the Great Room and gently rounded corners in some doorways, which
harken back to English architecture the husband loves, define each space for their purposes while
adding visual interest and a palpable sense of "home."
Necessities of modern life, like the television, were built into the design in such a way that they remain
unobtrusive—the TV is hidden behind the artwork over the fireplace's stone mantel. Outside, a tidal
lagoon pool on a Kiawah-style deck provides a place for the owners to relax. In just another example of
how utterly personalized the home is, a small courtyard for the couple's dog, Tootsie, was constructed
to protect her from alligators.
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
