Modern Dogtrot Home

Lowcountry Living
Photo: Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

This Lowcountry retreat exemplifies the historical styling of a dogtrot floor plant. Patricia and Geordie Cole chose to reintroduce the dogtrot floor plan, originally developed centuries ago to accommodate the heat and humidity of the South, in their newly constructed South Carolina home.

Characteristics of a dogtrot floor plan are a large, open breezeway that runs through the middle of a house, with two separate living areas on either side but still under one roof. This floor plan is ideal for a Lowcountry environment because it combines indoor and outdoor living with excellent weather conditions. Discover more about this charming Lowcountry family retreat.

01 of 09

Lowcountry Living

Lowcountry Living
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Modest in scale and rooted in the history of the Lowcountry, it is an architectural style that reflects the quiet lifestyle the Coles envisioned for themselves in South Carolina. It's a classic design, updated with all the provisions for modern-day living.

  • Paint: Oyster Shell (PPG14-13) by Glidden; glidden.com.
  • Trim paint: Snowy Egret (PWN-50); behr.com.
  • Roof: Zinc Standing Seam in Natural VMZINC; vmzinc-us.com.
02 of 09

Entry

Dogtrot House
Helen Norman

Large folding doors replace the traditional front entry that opens to the central hallway.

03 of 09

Exterior

Exterior
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Location is essential when building this house style. This site keeps most of the existing trees for plenty of shade during the warm summer months.

  • Architects: Jane and Michael Frederick, Frederick + Frederick Architects, Beaufort, SC; f-farchitects.com.
  • Landscape architect: Verdant Enterprises LLC, Walterboro, SC; verdantenterprises.com.
04 of 09

Dining Room

Dining Room
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

The house's central hall, modeled on a traditional dogtrot, opens to the front and back.

05 of 09

Kitchen

Modern Dogtrot Kitchen
Photo: Helen Norman, Styling: Rebecca Omweg

Windows in the kitchen are open to the central hallway and reflect the original dogtrot architecture.

06 of 09

Helpful Details

Helpful Details
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Patricia had the refrigerator custom paneled in chalkboard—clever and hardworking! "The second I run out of Earl Grey tea, I write it down," she says, "and there the grocery list is in my face."

The cabinetry color (gray with a slight brown wash) reads differently as the light changes throughout the day, ranging from light gray to green to sky blue.

  • Light fixtures: Edison Collection Pendant Light No. 19 in Old Bronze finish; hudsonvalleylighting.com.
  • Refrigerator: 36" French Door Freestanding Bottom Freezer; dacor.com.
  • Cabinetry paint: Custom blend of Fieldstone (1558) and Gray Owl (2137-60); benjaminmoore.com.
  • Cabinetry hardware: Oval Knob in Barcelona (A1560-BARC); alnoinc.com.
  • Sink: Shaws Original 1½ Bowl Fireclay Apron Kitchen Sink; rohlhome.com.
  • Faucet: Pillar with Ascot Handle; sigmafaucet.com.
07 of 09

The View

The View
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

With a wall of large windows, the kitchen's breakfast nook is an ideal bird-watching spot. The natural materials help create a serene space, but the hanging chandelier adds a touch of sophistication to the area.

08 of 09

Living Room

Dogtrot Hallway Fireplace
Photo: Helen Norman, Styling: Rebecca Omweg

The fireplace mantel in the central hallway is a piece of reclaimed cherry found by the builder. The painting on the mantel is by South Carolina artist Linda Rorer.

09 of 09

Screened Porch

Screened Porch
Photo by: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

The long, narrow screened porch runs the width of the home and is accessible from the formal living room, the central hallway, and the primary bedroom.

  • Paint: Oyster Shell (PPG14-13) by Glidden; glidden.com.
  • Trim paint: Snowy Egret (PWN-50); behr.com.
  • Fans: The Windpointe Five Blade Series, antique finish wide oval woven bamboo blades; fanimation.com.
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