The ‘Johns Island’/Charleston County (Sandi & Steve Selengut home)

a)  Describe the house...

This large, three level home (with additional ‘eagles nest’) had many design requirements. The homeowners, Steve and Sandie Selengut relocated from New Jersey; they wanted to escape the cold winters they had grown tired of. The lot they purchased was very narrow, which required special consideration when working on the site plan and the design layout. Another item to be considered was the property itself. The property is on Bohicket Creek, which is actually a salt-water marsh, with two daily tides. This close water proximity meant the flood plain needed to be investigated.


b) Describe the customer(s)...

Steve and Sandie Selengut have been married for more than 35 years, with 1 son and 1 daughter. Both children are grown and living their own lives. The Selenguts had visited the area of Charleston and surrounding islands for many years. They always knew they would move to the area, but didn’t have a timeline in place. Eventually they decided to relocate to the warmer climate the area has to offer. With the kids grown and on their own, the couple agreed it was time to downsize from their very formal 10,000 square feet home in New Jersey. They are very pleased with their new 5,000 square feet home, that’s smaller than they’re used to.


c) How did they find Hearthstone?

Once the plan to relocate came to fruition, Sandie contacted a consultant in the area. She requested info on builders, architects, designers and the like. She met with many different options, but they didn’t seem to be a good fit for the couple, until she met architect Hal Minick. It wasn’t until they saw a design by Hal that they knew they would build a timber frame home. “Hal really grasped what we wanted in that design, and we loved it,” Sandie says.


d) Why did they buy Hearthstone?

For many years, Hal Minick has been designing timber frame structures as an independent distributor for Hearthstone, Inc. With much experience under his belt, Hal designed a complex and unique structure with lots of glass to take advantage of the marsh views. They were so impressed with Hal’s design, they wanted to follow Hal’s advice and build a Hearthstone.

e)  Tell us something interesting about the process, include pre-construction, design, production, delivery, and construction...

The building process was a long one, taking almost two years. Sandie came down and lived in a camping trailer for at least a year. The cramped space of the camper meant a lot of use was made of the outdoors, including an outdoor shower. After the new home was beginning to be built, Sandie decided an outdoor shower was a luxury and requested an outdoor shower be added to the new home as well. The Selengut’s wanted an open and relaxed feel to the layout of the home. Even though Sandie and Steve’s home is in a semitropical climate and the weather is pretty sweet year round, they decided to incorporate two fireplaces into the design—one in the center of the great room and one in the bedroom. They wanted the visual effect of the fireplaces to be an architectural focal point.


f) Any other interesting information about the project, customer, or unique circumstance or outcomes?

The design of the home features a timber frame structure in the center, with the wings of the home consisting of Structural Insulated Panels. Many people in the industry refer to this product as SIPs. SIPs provide a very high-energy efficiency, with flexibility for the exterior surface to be any material. SIPs are often used on the roof, because of the energy rating as well as the easy installation. The homeowners also choose to use geothermal heat. This system uses groundwater pulled from wells that are kept at a constant temperature. The water is then coursed through pipes under the floors.


g) Describe the interior finishes...

Sandie is an artist. She is very creative and did much of the painting on the interior walls, etc. She also mixed all the stains and came up with her own “white-wash” color for the White Oak Timber Frame. The Selengut’s were ‘green’ conscious, and chose items that would benefit the environment. The decks are made of recycled material, Geo Deck. The Geothermal heat and air helps make the home more ‘green’. The flooring choice includes Ash and Bamboo. Both these wood species are hard and don’t absorb moisture—an important consideration for humid regions. The stainless steel railing with stainless steel wire doesn’t obstruct the view and gives a modern feel. To prepare for the future, the Selengut’s included an elevator for easier access to all floors as they age.


h) Describe the exterior finishes, landscaping,and generalarea in more detail...

The property is indigenous of the semi-tropical surroundings. The front yard of the Selenguts’ home offers palm trees flanking the porch and towering oaks shading the pristine landscape from the hot Carolina sun. Large oak trees draped with Spanish moss and dotted with holly, pines, magnolias, wildflowers and wisteria offer a breathtaking view of nature. The rear of the home offers much more to take in. The oversized screened in porch offers a great spot to enjoy breakfast. The open deck allows for sunbathing while enjoying the saltwater lap pool. Just a short path from the back yard is a pier that leads to an overlook of the marsh. There is often a slew of marine life that come to visit, including crabs, fish, elegant bird, such as white egrets and blue herons, and even the occasional pod of dolphins. Just across the marsh is Wadmalaw Island, which is a very rural island and Tea Plantation.


i) What would youhave done differently now that the project is complete?

None known.


j) Any customer/sales rep quotes we can use?

”We wanted an unusual-looking house,” Sandie says, “but we wanted to blend into the marsh, too.”