Southampton style on Hilton Head Island

PRE-PLANNING
"I knew exactly what I wanted, but it was strictly in my head," recalls Linda Slucker. "I wanted a classic beach house, a warm, inviting, Cape Hatteras- or Cape Cod-style home."

And that's precisely what Group 3 architect/principal Mike Ruegamer pledged to give her. From the very beginning, Slucker says, Ruegamer grasped her vision in its entirety.

"On the inside, they had a relatively good idea of the floor plan and general flow they wanted," Ruegamer says. "They also had a second-floor master retreat in mind. The interiors were to be very relaxed in color and materials, but still upscale, eclectic and European in flavor."

It was a tall order for any designer - to create a Southampton beach house with European appeal on an oceanfront lot in South Carolina. But it was an order Ruegamer and his team at Group 3 nonetheless believed they could deliver.

"With Mike I felt comfortable articulating my vision," Slucker says. "We clicked immediately. From my general descriptions, he understood precisely what I wanted."

But understanding a client's general vision and actually designing that vision in full detail are usually two entirely different things. Incredibly, however, in the case of this nationally award-winning Group 3 home, Ruegamer's initial renderings would remain virtually unchanged from concept through completion – a testament to the architect's unique "inside-out" design talents and acute sensitivity to the client's overall vision.

PLANNING & DESIGN
"The interior and exterior of the home had to work hand in hand," says Slucker. "That's why we hired Mike. Because he was both an architect and an interior designer, he could design the exterior and then create an interior that perfectly complemented the home."

They had purchased the Palmetto Dunes property specifically for its ocean views. Everything was to open onto the beach, and all possible rooms were to face the beach. After the initial design concept and vision were established, Ruegamer says, "the original design was enthusiastically embraced and no changes were made" - a surprising achievement, especially given the complexity of the project.

"It was amazing," Slucker agrees. "Mike's very first draft, of which he made a watercolor rendering, is almost identical to the house we built! Mike got everything out of my head and onto paper almost perfectly."

The home has an open, flowing plan, Ruegamer says, although rooms are clearly defined by architectural elements. The space plan is quite contemporary, despite many of the refined details throughout, such as the large columns and wrought-iron transoms.

The design, according to Slucker, was absolutely unique. "I had never seen anything like it before. When Mike presented the design to the Palmetto Dunes Architectural Review Board, they actually wrote us a letter that called the design 'exciting,' saying that it broke the barriers of everything that had been built in Palmetto Dunes."

With the full support of the client and ARB behind the design, Group 3 engaged Sandcastle Construction to build the home, a decision that would earn that contractor a national award from the largest and most prestigious building association in the US.

CONSTRUCTION & COMPLETION
"When I first entered the finished home it brought tears to my eyes," Slucker recalls. "It turned out better than I could have ever imagined. Every time we arrive here from New Jersey, my husband simply stands at the entrance. He says he feels a sense of relief from head to toe, just knowing that we are entering our own personal paradise."

"The New England style is very eye-catching," agrees Ellis Smith of Sandcastle. "And the interior has a number of wonderful details, such as the stairway and dining area. There were also many unique paints and finishes that contributed to the extraordinary look-and-feel of the place."

Ruegamer admits that the "inside-out" completeness of the home sets it apart. "No area was left to chance, yet it looks effortless and understated, not over-designed."

"The cabinetry and millwork were quite complex and elaborate, yet subdued," Smith says. "The millwork would have been much more difficult without Mike's very detailed plans. His design of the home was truly incredible."

"They took our dream of a home and turned it into reality," Slucker says simply. "Mike provided me with his undivided attention every time I came down. In working with the review board, he advocated for us. The few small, required changes he seamlessly incorporated in a way that did not compromise the design of our home. Group 3's wonderful sensitivity, creativity and sense of humor made the process exciting, fun and very rewarding!"

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