This contemporary coastal escape is the ultimate haven for one local family
Perched at the eastern end of Kiawah Island, where marshland melts into the Ocean Course and Atlantic breezes beckon, sits a bold-yet-understated structure. Modern, warm, and subtly interrelated to its natural surroundings, the home is a refuge for Scott and Leslie Fennell. “It’s been a place for healing for our family,” she says.
The couple, who live full-time in West Ashley’s Moreland neighborhood, have a deep connection to Kiawah. Scott’s father helped develop the island in the 1980s, and they’ve vacationed there with their two children, Wilson, now 25, and Madeleine, 28, for decades. Scott, president of Trident Waste and COO of the Fennell Holdings, including the Lowcountry Hotels group, is a Charleston native, and Leslie, originally from Aiken, has lived here for 35 years.
Despite the ties, building a home on the island was never in their master plan. In 2017, they bought a smaller house in Kiawah’s Ocean Park neighborhood. After using it as a home base during COVID, they realized that they wanted to be on the island more often but needed something bigger. With Madeleine planning a family and Wilson recovering from a serious dirt bike accident, Kiawah became more than a vacation destination; it became the family’s sanctuary.
When Leslie spotted that Victory Bay Lane in Ocean Park was being developed, she jumped at the opportunity to secure a larger lot with possibly some of the best views on the island. To realize their vision, the Fennells turned to the firm responsible for their first home, Thomas & Denzinger Architects. Contractor Jay Sifly of Sifly Homes, landscape designer Matt Wilson of Three Oaks Contractors, and interior designer Melissa Ervin rounded out the team. Their directive: a clean, contemporary retreat that preserved the spirit of the Fennells’ old home but with more room to spread out. “They liked the way that house lived, so we had a great head start on the basic spatial relationships,” says David Fisher, principal at Thomas & Denzinger. “Then we added windows—lots of windows. You should be reminded as often as possible why you own this property.”
Completed in May 2024, the 4,200-square-foot home was designed to reflect the couple’s evolving tastes. “We wanted something cleaner and more contemporary,” notes Leslie. The exterior, a striking combination of matte black siding and grey stucco, breaks from Kiawah’s traditional architectural vernacular. “Everything leans more toward contemporary, but not trendy,” says Fisher.
The profusion of windows, particularly in the “high frequency of use” spaces—living areas, bedrooms, and the kitchen—brings the outside in. “The connection to nature is my favorite feature. All the design decisions we made originated with the views,” says Fisher.
Inside, Ervin embraced a similar philosophy—natural textures, earthy tones, and clean lines that support rather than compete with the landscape. “We’re typically traditional to transitional,” she says, “but Leslie really pushed us into another level, which was so much fun—more modern, more restrained.”
That restraint is evident when stepping from the foyer into a quiet sitting room—no TV, just a serene space to decompress. Vertical slat pine paneling echoes the exterior woodwork, linking inside and out, and a soft blue palette and textural wallpaper combined with a Visual Comfort bubble chandelier set the tone: contemporary, calming, and grounded in nature.
To the right, in its own wing, the primary suite offers privacy and panoramic views. A blue headboard continues the color story, and marble and copper tiles with a geometric design in the en-suite bath add visual interest. Wallpaper by daughter Madeleine Warren—an artist and textile designer—graces the bathroom walls, adding a deeply personal touch. “She was just coming out of textile school when we started the project,” explains Leslie. “I asked her if she could do wallpaper because there were a few prints I loved. Melissa found ways to integrate them throughout the house.”
In the center of the home, floor-to-ceiling windows dominate the main living area, providing 180-degree views of the marsh, creek, Ocean Course, and a glimpse of the Atlantic beyond. An adjacent dining room, connected to the living room yet distinctly separate, overlooks the home’s courtyard and fulfills Leslie’s desire for more defined spaces. Here, a lily pad-print wallpaper and leaf sconces from Fritz Porter lend glamour to the built-in bar, while textured, gold-flecked wallpaper provides subtle contrast and a sense of grounded elegance. An expansive window anchors the space with a view of the courtyard.
The living room strikes a balance between comfort and sophistication, with two oversized cream sofas and swivel club chairs upholstered in a bold, black-and-white geometric fabric—ideal for family lounging. Wood paneling from the den continues into the space, transitioning into a striking Italian porcelain feature wall that frames a sleek fireplace and integrated TV. Layered organic materials—stone, wicker, and wood—bring depth, texture, and a sense of warmth.
The open-plan kitchen is designed to maximize space. “In the old house, the kitchen table was practically on top of the sink,” laughs Leslie. “I wanted people to be able to gather without feeling like I was washing dishes in the middle of it all.” Two sinks and plenty of countertops mean there’s room for everyone to spread out. A massive marble-topped island echoes the wood slats in the living area, and a screened dining porch just beyond opens for indoor-outdoor living.
Off the kitchen, a butler’s pantry doubles as a small office and features more of Madeleine’s wallpaper designs. Down the hall, past the spacious laundry room, is the guest room. The suite hosts two double beds with green accents. A central staircase continues the slatted wood motif to the second floor, where the couple’s adult children have their own retreats. Madeleine’s room features a fern-print wallpaper and pale pink accents, while Wilson’s room is outfitted in browns, blues, and a dramatic geometric light fixture. A flex space, currently an exercise room, could one day serve as a bunk room or media lounge.
Outdoor living was key to the design, with several rooms incorporated below the elevated home. A large deck and pool occupy the lower level, along with an outdoor kitchen, lounge, and small sitting area. “I didn’t want the pool in the main view from the house,” says Leslie. “I wanted it more separate, tucked away.”
Additional alfresco spaces include the second-story screened porch off the kitchen, multiple balconies, and a rooftop deck that offers unparalleled views across the island. “With each step up in elevation, the perspective changes,” says Fisher. “It looks otherworldly. Is it Kiawah? The Serengeti? You half expect a giraffe to wander through,” he jokes.
The result is a home that feels both elevated and deeply livable—tailored perfectly to the family’s lifestyle. “This is the first house I’ve done from the ground up,” says Leslie. “It’s been a process—but so worth it.”
For the Fennells, this isn’t just a weekend escape; it’s a place to reconnect, to restore, and to simply be. “We come out here as a family and hunker down,” Leslie adds. “It’s our comfort place.”
