Dianne Kett is the principal architect and founder of DK Studio in Austin, Texas, a boutique residential architecture firm nearing its 20th anniversary, as well as the co-host of Design Oracles, a podcast explaining the ins and outs of residential design. Her projects range from contemporary renovations in downtown Austin to peaceful Hill Country retreats. So, when presented with a chance to design a relaxed southern coastal home in Charleston, she grabbed a glass of iced tea and got to work on a whole new style.
“At DK Studio, we believe in design for the spirit,” said Dianne. “Which is to say we create designs centered around our clients’ unique tastes and needs. When one of our previous Austin clients reached out to have us build their new house in Charleston, we were excited for the opportunity to create something for their changing lifestyle. We had the chance to design for the Charleston spirit, a style we don’t typically get to explore here in Texas.”
As with all of her projects, Dianne and her team began the process by researching the architectural style and history of the region. Charleston is regarded as one of America’s most beautiful cities, with over 2,500 historic buildings dating as far back as the 16th century. The Charleston style incorporates elements of Colonial, Georgian and Federal design. These styles typically include symmetrical exteriors, light-divided windows, Greek Revival columns and decorative trim work. In Charleston, these formal elements are broken up with relaxed design choices, like front porches and soothing coastal color palettes. Two common floor plans in Charleston are “single houses” and “double houses.” Single houses are long, tall and skinny, optimizing small downtown lots with side entrances and piazzas. Double houses are broad and prominent, typically featuring a large front porch. Since the homeowners purchased a tranquil lot outside the city, Dianne’s team created a double house-inspired design.
“We worked very closely with our clients on this 3,609-square-foot new construction home located in Mount Pleasant just across the river from downtown Charleston,” Dianne explained. “In keeping with the Charleston-look, we incorporated both front and back porches, adding clerestory windows to flood the interior with light. We are exceptionally proud of the great room design, where we planned for incredibly intricate paneling. The builder, Cook Bonner, did a great job carrying out our plans. The homeowners joined in with their interior designer, B. Berry Interiors, to complement some of these formal finishes with more casual pieces for that coastal feel. We particularly love the pastel-pink dining room color selection, which nods to the colorful homes of Charleston’s Rainbow Row.”
While this new construction home was finished in 2018, it feels as though Charlestonians have been toasting glasses of iced tea on the porch for decades. As Dianne and her team show, knowing your design history yields a timeless home!
DK Studio Architecture
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