River Marsh Residence
Terrapin Island, South Carolina

This residence, located on the tip of Terrapin Island, is surrounded on three sides by marsh and river. In this spectacular setting, the house possesses a somewhat nautical air, like a Victorian sea merchant’s home.

The landscaping blurs the edge between living and built material. The driveway and parking area are composed of compacted aggregate, covered with pinestraw and set with large, seemingly random Tennessee field stones, which draw the eye towards the off-center main entrance. The edges of the mulched parking area bleed into drifts of hardy “deer proof” perennials, which in turn are banked up with billowing wax myrtles and pines, with Needle, Saw and Mexican Fan Palms offering a textural contrast. This mass of vegetation screens the perennials from the street while maximizing the colorful view from the elevated pool deck.