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Rethinking Architecture: From the Inside Out
Old World Design for Modern Living
W
hen an Italian family wanted a home that felt like a Tuscan villa—but looked like it belonged
on Kiawah from the outside—Marc was, of course, up to the challenge since he spends time
in Tuscany each year. Working around the massive oak trees still standing on the home's site, Marc
designed a home that integrates with the landscape in a stunning and inventive way.
The floor plan is built around a U-shaped courtyard in the center that features large-scale tiles on the
floor, ornate lanterns flanking the outdoor fireplace, and bold seating. A bridge over the courtyard
serves to connect both sides of the home for more intimacy and showcases the views of the marsh. A
daybed hung from the ceiling swings gently whenever one sits upon it. Beyond the courtyard, a trellis
crowns the pool to keep it to a human scale. Otherwise, anyone enjoying their time in the water would
feel uncomfortable and exposed to the wide panorama of the landscape just beyond.
Inside, the walls were framed out to be 12 inches thick and finished to resemble the villas of Tuscany.
Dark crown molding and wood beams impart an old world feel to the family room. The stone
fireplace—flanked by two custom-built bookshelves—gives the room another Italian accent, while the
pair of arches on either side of the shelves bring a comforting sense of symmetry to the room. The
Italian-inspired kitchen opens to the screened porch for year-round dining and entertaining.
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
