Silhouette by Design
Through its built-for-sale program, Kiawah Partners offers a refined path to ownership in Cassique—one that combines the creativity of custom design with the ease of a move-in-ready home.
Story by Barry Kaufman | Photographs by Julia Lynn
For many, the idea of building a custom home from the ground up can be daunting. Every choice—from floor plan to finish—rests on the owner’s shoulders, and navigating the Architectural Review Board (ARB) process can add complexity. The built-for-sale program simplifies that journey. Each home begins with a thoughtfully conceived plan developed by architects who deeply understand Kiawah’s design standards and the ARB’s expectations. These plans, already vetted for approval, give buyers confidence and a head start—offering the beauty and individuality of a custom home without lengthy timelines or uncertainty.
Within that framework, homeowners still enjoy meaningful choices: architectural styles, finishes, and furnishings that reflect their personal taste. The result is a faster, more seamless process that preserves what makes Kiawah’s communities so distinctive—architectural integrity, craftsmanship, and harmony with the natural landscape.
Nowhere is that balance more evident than in this built-for-sale home on Estuary Lane in Cassique, where a thoughtful collaboration between architect, landscape designer, builder, and interior designer produced a residence that feels both bespoke and deeply rooted in its setting.
“This particular homesite was unique in that when you’re on the course, you see it when you’re looking toward the green,” says Amanda Mole, Chief of Architecture and Design for Kiawah Partners. “This put a unique burden on design colors and landscapes because our goal at Cassique is that the home is a silhouette. This house is a focal point as you’re playing the course, so we challenged the team with making sure the outdoor living was more subtle.”
Architecturally, this meant keeping the rear roofline low and sloping, creating a darker color palette that would blend with the surrounding forest, and softening the rim of the infinity pool with natural landscaping.
“It was a matter of screening the pool and patio from the golf while preserving those views,” says landscape designer Josh Dunn. “We did that by putting in a shorter layer of dwarf Fakahatchee grass right around the pool that stays green all year, then sabal palmettos and native grasses toward the pond.”
Like everyone else on the team, Dunn approached the project with the mindset of blending structure and setting—preserving sightlines and adhering to Cassique’s aesthetic—while working closely with the homeowners to fine-tune the design. “Once the owner gets involved, we’ve already come up with the design,” he explains. “It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about making adjustments.”
For Bill Senst of Vinyet Architecture, the built-for-sale framework provides both structure and freedom. “In Cassique there are still limitations and guidelines we have to abide by in terms of the English Arts and Crafts style architecture,” he says. “If you design within those guidelines and that inspiration, you can let the design go.” The home’s façade reflects Cassique’s signature massing and proportions, while a stair element running up the front adds a touch of surprise to the curb appeal. “I’m a big fan of that stair tower—both for the view from the outside and from the inside.”
Inside, Senst’s design takes full advantage of the scenery and the breezes that roll off the course, creating an easy flow from indoors to out. The interaction between the great room and porch is a highlight, unified by a bar alcove just off the kitchen that anchors the home’s social spaces. As the owners joined the process, they requested additions—including a room over the garage and a pool—each carefully integrated to meet ARB standards.
“The house wasn’t designed for a pool initially, so we worked closely with the builder and the ARB to make sure it was still meeting those guidelines,” says Senst.
With the home’s exterior and layout finalized, interior designer Stephanie Molster added the finishing touches. In a home where the architecture sets the tone and the owners bring it to life, Molster worked to bridge the two with timeless interiors that could evolve naturally over time. “Initially I start by letting the architecture lead,” Molster says. “This house is inspired by Voysey architecture, with an emphasis on simplicity and functionality. So I ran with that—classic, enduring selections.”
Upon meeting the owners, Molster refined the design, swapping tiles and fixtures so they could make the space their own. As part of the built-for-sale process, each buyer is given ten hours of design time to personalize finishes and furnishings—an opportunity this couple used to great effect. “This house in particular was interesting because the homeowner decided that instead of tweaking the shell and hard surfaces, they wanted to start with furniture plans,” says Molster. “That was their way of personalizing the house and envisioning how they would live in it.”
Their vision extended to every detail—from Scalamandré’s Kersti wallpaper in the bar to Currey & Company’s Tirrell chandelier in the primary suite. “It’s much easier when you have the homeowner involved because you can envision how they live in that space,” Molster says. “And the built-for-sale program is a great way for homebuyers to have a starting point. Approaching an empty lot is pretty intimidating, and having a sense of things before they begin is really helpful.”
That head start is a hallmark of the program. Homebuyers work with plans already approved by the ARB, saving time and streamlining construction. They bypass most of the major decisions, reducing stress. And when it’s all said and done, they get a home that feels entirely personal—without the overwhelm of starting from scratch.
“Most builds are fairly lengthy due to the complexity of custom homes, and this shortens that timeframe,” says Mole. “It’s a partnership with the buyers. We give them the opportunity to do things more quickly, but if they pause and tweak the design, that’s just part of the fun.”