Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Living the Good Life, Lowcountry Style
Peek inside a South Carolina home designed for comfort, livability and style
Designer Alix Bragg truly knows how to make a house feel like a home. Recently, I had the opportunity to take a virtual tour of her beautiful home in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. When Alix and her husband Mark built this place, they focused on a design that would feel casual, comfortable and wonderfully livable—true characteristics of a lowcountry home. The attention to detail, the quality workmanship and the hand-selected antique and estate furnishings make this house one of my favorites here at Houzz. Come along for a tour!
Alix's husband Mark, owner of Bragg & Company Construction, built their custom home over the span of a year. It has gorgeous heart-of-pine hardwood flooring throughout. The two collected the furnishings over time, filling the home with gorgeous one-of-a kind pieces. The lantern Alix selected for the foyer is an outdoor lantern from Candelabra.
Alix and Mark modeled their home after an older house they loved on Sullivan Beach. Silver was chosen as the color for the metal roof because it reflects the sun's rays, keeping the home cooler.
You'll notice the stairs are incorporated inside the footprint of the home. Alix and Mark were inspired to design them this way in the style of the plantation homes they had seen in Louisiana.
You'll notice the stairs are incorporated inside the footprint of the home. Alix and Mark were inspired to design them this way in the style of the plantation homes they had seen in Louisiana.
A back stairway leads down to this mudroom on the first floor. The counter is a butcher block design and the wood is mahogany.
The family room is designed in an L-shape as one large room. The French doors across the back of the room can be thrown open for parties.
Light-colored fabrics were used to give the home a beachy feel. Mark enjoys duck hunting and fishing, so you'll find some hunt-inspired accents here.
The basket-weave seagrass rugs were custom made for the room. Heriz Persian rugs are layered on top.
Light-colored fabrics were used to give the home a beachy feel. Mark enjoys duck hunting and fishing, so you'll find some hunt-inspired accents here.
The basket-weave seagrass rugs were custom made for the room. Heriz Persian rugs are layered on top.
Alix and Mark wanted their home to feel comfortable and casual. There are "never any worries about anything getting messed up," Alix says.
The fireplace mantel is constructed of antique pine. The wood-plank walls and ceiling are all part of the lowcountry design you'll find throughout the home.
The soft gray paint is "Cloud White" by Benjamin Moore. Alix was inspired by designer Charlotte Moss's use of this paint in a home in New York and thought it the perfect color to incorporate into her family room.
The table with two lamps is an antique found in Thailand, as was the round table on the right.
The fireplace mantel is constructed of antique pine. The wood-plank walls and ceiling are all part of the lowcountry design you'll find throughout the home.
The soft gray paint is "Cloud White" by Benjamin Moore. Alix was inspired by designer Charlotte Moss's use of this paint in a home in New York and thought it the perfect color to incorporate into her family room.
The table with two lamps is an antique found in Thailand, as was the round table on the right.
In this keeping room just off of the kitchen, you'll find a wet bar complete with a refrigerator drawer, wine cooler and ice maker. A black stain was used to define this area and separate it from the kitchen.
Alix says that she and Mark prefer to shop estate sales and antique stores when searching for furnishings for their home.
The chest to the right of the wet bar is a family heirloom.
Alix says that she and Mark prefer to shop estate sales and antique stores when searching for furnishings for their home.
The chest to the right of the wet bar is a family heirloom.
The counters in the kitchen are Carrera marble finished in the classic honed style, not polished.
The beautiful chandelier is from Candelabra.
The beautiful chandelier is from Candelabra.
The dining room, designed with three walls of windows, takes full advantage of the stunning views surrounding the home. The windows are what is known as a six-over-six style.
The chandelier in the dining room is made from abalone shells. It's called "Jenny" and was found locally at Oly Studio.
The chandelier in the dining room is made from abalone shells. It's called "Jenny" and was found locally at Oly Studio.
The Master Bedroom has French doors that open to the porch. The bed is by Craftique and the sisal rug is from GDC in Charleston.
The doors throughout the lower level of the home are 9 feet tall and are constructed of mahogany. Though they look as if they could have come from an historic home, they were actually built by a local craftsman with Charleston Wood Components. He built them in a style Alix and Mark had come across in an historic home.
The doors throughout the lower level of the home are 9 feet tall and are constructed of mahogany. Though they look as if they could have come from an historic home, they were actually built by a local craftsman with Charleston Wood Components. He built them in a style Alix and Mark had come across in an historic home.
The counters in the Master bath are Carerra marble.
The shower is also constructed of Carerra marble.
Here's a final view showing the bathtub in this custom designed bath.
The guest room is large enough to accommodate two queen-size beds and has an adjoining bath. The Persian rug is in the Heriz style.
The walls are painted a Pratt & Lambert color called "Classic Gray." All the ceilings in the home were painted the same color as the walls, but at 50 percent strength.
The walls are painted a Pratt & Lambert color called "Classic Gray." All the ceilings in the home were painted the same color as the walls, but at 50 percent strength.
The lantern on the stairway is the same design as the one in the entrance from Candelabra.
Alix's daughter's room is painted a soft pink called Mellow Pink by Bengmain Moore .
The antique bed was a great find in an estate sale in Virginia.
The toile chandelier was given to her by a friend and has a palm leaf design.
The antique bed was a great find in an estate sale in Virginia.
The toile chandelier was given to her by a friend and has a palm leaf design.
The wool carpet is covered in a beautiful trellis pattern.
Here's a view into one of the dormer windows in this charming bedroom.
The playroom is located near the children's bedrooms. The room is sunny and cheerful and has a roomy window seat with spectacular views of the marsh beyond.
A television is hidden away in the antique French buffet.
A television is hidden away in the antique French buffet.
The beds in Alix and Mark's son's bedroom are vintage and were found in Georgetown, SC.
Their son loves to hunt and fish like his dad. This inspired some of the whimsical touches like the faux moose and bear heads.
The countertop in the son's bathroom is mahogany butcher block. Alix says the wood was sealed when it was installed and it has held up beautifully.
The front of this beautiful home faces Sullivan Island just outside Charleston, South Carolina, on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Beautiful gas lanterns illuminate the front porch.
Alix and her family enjoy spending time together on the back porch overlooking the marsh. Mosquitoes are not a problem thanks to the great breezes off the marsh.
Four gas lanterns create a wonderful ambience for dining out.
Four gas lanterns create a wonderful ambience for dining out.
Wood decking was used around the pool because it doesn't get too hot for little feet.
The pool surface is Pebble Tech, Gray Blue. The pool is heated and has an automatic cover for convenience.
The joggling board is another lowcountry touch. It was found at the The Old Charleston Joggling Board Company.
The joggling board is another lowcountry touch. It was found at the The Old Charleston Joggling Board Company.
The fire pit is actually an iron "sugar kettle" and is from Carolina Kettles.
The adirondack chairs are custom made of sustainable Ipe wood.
The adirondack chairs are custom made of sustainable Ipe wood.
I asked Alix if she had any advice for the novice decorator and she said, "Buy what you love!" And when decorating your home, "lighting is key."
The photographs shown in this ideabook are by Travis Dew Photography.
The photographs shown in this ideabook are by Travis Dew Photography.