Countryside Primary Suite Addition
Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Expanding Without Losing Character
The clients came to me with a Wishlist of goals they wanted to achieve and one caveat—the home had to expand but its character needed to remain unchanged. The addition needed to feel natural to the home and not added on. Fortunately for them, this is a specialty of mine and something I knew I could deliver.
This custom home addition in Fountain Inn, South Carolina blends architectural detailing that respects the home’s original design while introducing the comfort and functionality expected from modern residential architecture.
Relocating the Primary Suite
The existing plan already provided for a primary bedroom and bathroom on the main level of the house, but it was located next to the kitchen, was too small, and had a bathroom and closet that didn’t work well for the owners. I crafted a design plan to relocate the primary suite to a new wing of the house that would provide it with the privacy it deserved and the space it longed for.
The existing bedroom suite would be transformed into a family room and new and improved laundry room and mudroom. We relocated the existing half bath to the new wing and turned the existing one into a beautiful walk-in pantry. This tailored home expansion enhances flow and livability while maintaining harmony with the original structure.
Vaulted Ceilings and Spa-Like Details
The addition balances the massing of the house, making it feel symmetrical and natural. The new single-story structure appears to be 1.5 stories tall, allowing for dramatic vaulted ceilings and romantic dormer windows that provide unexpected clerestory windows in the primary bedroom.
Cathedral ceilings in the new full bath are sheathed with warm wood planks, making the space feel like a luxurious spa getaway. A serene freestanding tub with classic floor-mounted tub filler and traditional hand sprayer, nestled in a historically designed cradle, is centered on the walkway leading from the bedroom to the bathroom—creating a stunning visual scene.
This custom residential architecture project captures the essence of luxury living while remaining practical for everyday use.
Thoughtful Spaces for Everyday Living
A custom tile shower with full glass surround, separate vanities, seated make-up station, and private water closet complete the bathroom, adding the style, drama, and additional space desired by the owners. A private study with direct access to the new bathroom completes the addition and creates a lodge-like lounge accentuated by a soaring stone fireplace.
The new family room was designed to give just the right amount of extra space to the existing kitchen, dramatically improving its flow and function without requiring a full remodel. The new laundry room feels at home in the space formerly used as the primary bathroom.
The large picture window that once sat above a garden tub provides a wash of sunlight for the new living wall feature. Folding surfaces, shelving for laundry baskets, tilt-out drying racks, and built-ins for jackets, bookbags, shoes, and sporting equipment check off the final items from a Wishlist that is now a reality.
This addition stands as a reflection of Kerl Design’s commitment to contextual, client-focused residential design that enhances both comfort and architecture.
