Great Room Style

Michael Frederick, Benjie Morillo

Frederick + Frederick Architects, Beaufort, SC

This small house lives large and is loosely based on a dogtrot, with the center hall acting as the Great Room that can be opened up to let the breezes blow through. The interiors were designed to be clean and modern so that the clients’ antique collection could shine.

The front door opens right into the middle of the kitchen and dining area in the Great Room. The challenge for Michael Frederick and Benjie Morillo was to design a streamlined kitchen that didn’t feel too “kitcheny,” allowing it to blend in the space.

An antique mirror on the custom ventilation hood with Wolf insert acts as a focal point that draws the eye up. Below it sits a Wolf Legacy induction cooktop, with Wolf M Series wall oven and microwave to the right. To the left, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer are paneled to blend into the design.

The simple flat panel custom cabinets are stained black and recede into the background. The wall cabinets feature edge pulls from Emtek and include touch latches to create a clean look. The clients collect alligators, and a happy surprise – according to the architects – was the impression of an alligator rising out of the water in the bookmatched dolomite backsplash.

The island continues with the black cabinets and dolomite surfacing and includes a Kohler Iron Tones white sink, Waterworks Regulator faucet in a golden tone that coordinates with the antique mirror, and Bosch 500 series dishwasher in black. Recycled heart pine flooring allows the black cabinetry to pop.