Landscape architects Remark helped blend the home into its natural surroundings with a selection of native plants.
Natural fit: David and Sonya Dunn swapped life on a sailboat for an idyllic lot on James Island. Architecture firm Rush Dixon designed a modern coastal residence that embraces the river views and puts outdoor living front and center, courtesy of a spacious pool house, plenty of porches, and deck space.
Viewfinder: “It was my job to protect the view with each interior design element,” says designer Deborah Way, explaining her choice of a simple, monochromatic color palette in the main living space. The room is dominated by a wall of windows looking out over the river, and the wood and furnishings blend into the view. .
Pops of color come from the couple’s art collection, including Molly B. Right’s Roosterfish bottle-cap painting (above), and antique pieces, such as the vintage Lucite stools flanking the fireplace.
Modern Minimalism: The open dining/kitchen space is centered on the oval table the couple inherited from the prior owners of their midcentury modern home in Columbia. The table is accented by a custom Cam Crockford “pick-up stick” brass light fixture and black wicker chairs, which pull from the striking slab of Nero Dorato marble in the backsplash and quartzite countertops. An outdoor dining space can join the room thanks to accordion doors and retractable screens.
Moody Blues: The half bath off the main living space is one of the few rooms with color, painted in Benjamin Moore “After Midnight.”
Simply Perfect: The light-filled primary bedroom suite has a cozy, organic feel.
The headboard and side tables are integrated with the walls and windows, adding function and form. Two Nelson “Cigar Bubble” pendant lights and a vintage leather bench bring a touch of style to the simplicity.
In the adjoining bath, a soaker tub is topped by a black pendant light from Visual Comfort.
Cabana Fever: The spacious pool house can double as a guest room and features several midcentury modern pieces from the Dunns’ Columbia home. A special find is the vintage GE stereo console, for playing their collection of LPs.
A screened porch provides a perfect spot to catch the sunsets, with the smoked mirror above the fireplace reflecting the sun’s glow.
The open plan incorporates a kitchen area and the living room, with a ceiling accent that mimics the wood theme of the main house.
The main house is aligned along a single axis, with a bridge connecting to the spacious pool deck and down to the deepwater dock.
River Rooms: Upon entering the home, visitors are immediately connected to views of the Stono.
The modern riverside retreat on James Island blurs the lines between indoors and out
