kitchen countertopsNear Mount Pleasant, SC

This streamlined Lowcountry home is set off Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. See how the family of 6 made it a perfect fit for them.

Shrimp boats, kayaking outfitters, and lively bars and restaurants line the commercial side of Shem Creek, the gem of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina's Old Village Historic District. But north of the Shem Creek bridge, the waterway winds through quiet neighborhoods where children roam on bikes and go crabbing off backyard docks. "My husband dreamed of being on the water, and we fell in love with this lot. We're drawn to older areas where kids can run around," says owner Maggie Bullwinkel. She and husband George, a Charleston native, had two young children when they began renovating this 3,200-square-foot house that was built in the 1970s. Their third child was 9 months old when they moved in. Maggie refers to her then-infant sidekick as "my design assistant."

While the Bullwinkels had renovated and sold houses before, this one would be a keeper. "It had great bones. We loved the back porch and knew this could be our forever home," Maggie says. Working with architect Hunter Kennedy and designer Sidney Wagner, they spearheaded family-friendly changes to the four-bedroom abode that have definitely paid off. Today, the Bullwinkels have four kids under age 10 and plenty of yard, a great porch, and a frequently used outdoor kitchen to accommodate their active lifestyle.

"Overall, the footprint didn't change much," says Sidney, who squared off the kitchen to make it more functional. As the home's command center, it now opens up to a bright eating nook, which is one of Maggie's favorite spots. "Family dinners are a priority," she says. What was previously a formal dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, became the kids' playroom. They removed an attached garage to make way for a new mudroom/laundry area off the kitchen. "It's basically where I live," quips Maggie. They also elevated and enlarged the back porch to be a seamless open-air extension of the family room, ground zero for entertaining during Clemson University football season. "I love that we really do live in each space," Maggie says. "We use it all."

Brighten It Up

A monochrome kitchen keeps Maggie happy. "It helps to have a clean look in a busy room," she says. Streamlined light fixtures by Cedar & Moss and vintage Lucite barstools scooped up at a local antiques mall add to the airy feel in the room.

Remember That Simplicity Rules

"With four kids, there is plenty of chaos," says Maggie. Namibia marble countertops and Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) paint make her kitchen a calming space. Plus, they allow the Hampton Faucet by Waterstone to shine as the statement piece.

Let the Landscape Lead

Reorienting the kitchen to open into a family dining area was Maggie's top priority. Hunter bumped out the eating nook to add windows on all sides, inviting in sunlight and creek views. A mid-century modern table and slipcovered chairs keep lines simple, and Roost's whimsical light fixture "softens all the hard surfaces," says Sidney. The fabric used for the curtains (Katana by Kelly Wearstler) is also on the barstools, where it's laminated to be indestructible.

Choose Flexible Design

"We needed comfortable pieces that are easy to rearrange," says Sidney, who was mindful of not blocking the French doors that open to the porch. "I love how the vintage-reproduction chairs are movable and sculpturally interesting from whatever angle." A sofa slipcovered in Crypton fabric is ultrapractical, and bare windows keep things light and airy while connecting well with the porch, she says.

Lean On A Natural Palette

Sidney painted the porch floor in Benjamin Moore's Kennebunkport Green (HC-123), the same color that's used on the exterior trim, and added soothing blue accents to complement the surrounding outdoor hues. "We didn't want to distract from the view," she says. Wicker chairs from CB2 add natural texture, and a fun Annie Selke rug anchors the blue tones. Floor-to-ceiling screens and a vaulted ceiling help the porch feel cool in summer.

Prioritize All-Purpose, All-Season

Two years after moving in, the Bullwinkels worked with architect Chris Heinlen of Heinlen Design to add a backyard shed with a full attic to supplement the home's limited storage. Adjacent to that, they created an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. "This is our favorite spot for birthday parties, neighborhood suppers, or sometimes sunset sips after the kids have gone to bed," says Maggie. A metal roof, green trim, and white siding tie the shed to the main house.

Stretch Family Space

"I love the playroom right off the kitchen. It's our cuddle area," says Maggie. A big barn door can be closed to contain toys and messes. Commissioned pieces by local artist Michelle Owenby add grown-up flair to the room, designed to one day transform into a family hangout space.

Control Clutter

Maggie believes that tidiness is key, even in the playroom. Each child has (and uses!) a designated toy-and-book basket, and a rotating gallery helps solve the what-to-do-with-endless-kids'-art dilemma.

Invite Some Drama

" 'Are you sure about going this showy?' my husband asked about the paint color, and I was—including covering the ceiling," says Maggie of the vibrant Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) she chose for the laundry room. "I love how the boldness brings you in." Custom cabinets add extra pantry space.

Be Bold And Functional

Next to the laundry room, the bold color continues in the mudroom with an added touch of graphic wallpaper. Each kid has their own space for coats and bags in the blue storage wall.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A new 9,000-square-foot dining venue soon will replace a seafood restaurant that started in 1979 in an old fish shed with 35 seats.

Sunsets plans to open in about three weeks at 97 Mill St. in the former R.B.’s on Shem Creek, which closed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The seafood-centric offering between Red’s Ice House and Saltwater Cowboys comes from a partnership between Bottle Cap Group and Southern Entertainment, both based in Charlotte.

The two-story restaurant is designed “to focus on the views and accentuate waterfront dining,” according to Bob Durkin of Southern Entertainment. “Every seat will have an amazing view.”

The lower level features a larger deck that allows more outdoor seating while the second story includes garage door-like features to give it an open-air atmosphere.

“We really wanted to open it up outside,” Durkin said.

The project has been in the works for a couple of years since the business partners homed in on the site after longtime R.B.’s owner Ronnie Boals decided to retire and sell the property.

In 2020, an affiliate of Geyer Morris Co., a privately held Dallas-based commercial real estate development firm, bought the nearly 1-acre property from Boals for $7 million.

The existing two-story structure, built in 2003 after a fire destroyed the restaurant a year earlier, will feature seating for 284 diners on the first floor, according to site plans. Another 218 seats will be available on the second level.

“It’s the ideal location, but everything has taken longer than expected,” said Britton McCorkle with Bottle Cap Group. “We also had to install a sprinkler system, which held us up a bit.”

In addition to seafood, chef Kevin Spencer will offer entrees such as steaks, chicken and pork. Appetizers, sushi and veggie-centric dishes also will be on the menu. Brunch will include mainstays as well as some favorite items from lunch and dinner, Spencer said.

Lighter-fare salads, sandwiches and burgers also will be available.

“We will have something for everyone,” said Andrew Izrael, general manager.

A full bar with local beers, cocktails and wine also is part of the new dining spot.

“The bar includes a playful reimagining of classic items that work with the seafood-forward menu and being on the water,” Izrael said. “They will have touches of flair.”

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays, with later hours on weekends.

The restaurant’s partners also have other business interests in the Charleston area.

Bottle Cap Group includes Snapper Jack’s Seafood & Raw Bar on Folly Beach. Southern Entertainment is involved in developing Farm Haus Butcher & Beer Garden in Moultrie Plaza Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant. Durkin said Farm Haus is several weeks away from opening.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A 20-year-old home overlooking Charleston Harbor at the mouth of Shem Creek has set a new residential sales record for South Carolina’s fourth-largest municipality.

The 7,015-square-foot, Southern-style mansion at 100 Haddrell St. in Mount Pleasant was sold April 17 for $14.95 million, far above the previous record of $8.65 million set two years ago for another home in the town’s pricey Old Village area.

The new owner is 100 Beach LLC, according to Charleston County land records.

The sale appeared to be an all-cash deal, as no mortgage has been recorded with the Register of Deeds. It was an off-market transaction, meaning the home wasn’t publicly marketed or listed.

The 1.32-acre property last changed hands in 2010, when the previous owners bought the five-bedroom, 5½-bathroom house for $7.5 million, setting a new record residential sale price at the time for Mount Pleasant.

Built in 2003, the waterfront house includes a dock, elevator, three-car garage and a saltwater pool.

Nancy Hoy with Carolina One Real Estate represented the sellers. Alex Brener, who was with William Means Real Estate at the time of the sale but has since joined Carolina One, represented the buyer.

The transaction suggests that the upper stratosphere of the residential market is largely unaffected by rising interest rates and other economic challenges.

Last month, a few blocks southeast of Shem Creek, a home at 205 Ferry St, was sold for $8.4 million.

Last week, in downtown Charleston, a pre-Revolutionary War-era house at 13-15 Meeting St. changed hands for $12.6 million.

On Sullivan’s Island, three homes have fetched prices ranging from nearly $8 million to more than $10 million this year.

“As Charleston continues to grow and gets more and more exposure, we are definitely attracting more serious high-dollar buyers to our community,” said Michael Scarafile, president of Carolina One, the largest-volume residential real estate agency in the Lowcountry.

The uptick in interest by deep-pocketed buyers for luxury housing started with COVID-19 as people began to work remotely and sought a better quality of life, Scarafile said.

“That hasn’t stopped,” he added.

Lyles Geer, president of William Means Real Estate, said the recent flurry of big-ticket purchases is being driven in part by low inventory levels for top-tier homes.

“There is a lack of supply in the ultra-luxury market,” Geer said. “When those homes do become available, they fetch a much higher price.”

MOUNT PLEASANT — Discount grocer Aldi is beefing up its presence across the Charleston area.

The no-frills grocer recently leased several acres at U.S. Highway 17 and KOA Campgrounds Road for a second East Cooper location.

Aldi plans to build a 23,000-square-foot store on the land next to South Morgans Point Road. The acreage sits across from Joe Bryant Court, on the opposite side of Highway 17, where a new mixed-used commercial and recreational development is in the works.

The company signed a land lease with property owner Oakland Associates LP for 20 years with the option to renew up to 25 years.

Aldi did not provide timeframes for construction and opening.

“We do not have any information to share,” said Shaun O’Keefe, divisional vice president.

The penny-pinching Aldi doesn’t provide free shopping bags and requires a refundable quarter deposit for a shopping cart.

The chain stocks a variety of standard products, mostly under its own label, as well as fresh meats and produce.

The grocer launched its first store in the Charleston region in 2015 off Dorchester Road on the edge of Summerville and North Charleston. The company then followed with a second store on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant in 2017. Both locations were former bowling alley sites.

Aldi opened its third Lowcountry location in 2020 on North Main Street in Summerville, just south of the Earth Fare supermarket. The company added a fourth site later that year in the former Barnes & Noble Booksellers space on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. A fifth store opened in 2022 on St. James Avenue in Goose Creek.

The low-budget grocer, with its U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Ill., is one of America’s fastest-growing retailers. It will add 120 stores this year. By the end of 2023, it will have 2,400 locations across the nation. It has 48 stores in South Carolina.

Lidl, its competitor that is also based in Germany, opened its first Charleston-area location on St. James Avenue in Goose Creek in 2017. A second location opened in 2022 in Cedar Grove Shopping Center on Dorchester Road in North Charleston, east of the Aldi location.

Lidl signed a lease in 2021 to outfit a former kitchenware shop in Bowman Place Shopping Center on Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant for the region’s third location, but it has not opened. A company representative did not immediately respond for comment on an update for the store.

A new restaurant is in the works near a major intersection in Mount Pleasant, and the Charleston area’s eighth Planet Fitness gym is coming to Moncks Corner.

Damon Navarro is asking the town to annex a 1.51-acre tract on Ira Road between Abide A While Garden Center and Life Storage off U.S. Highway 17 at Interstate 526, where the new dining venture is planned.

The property, across from the Walmart-anchored Wando Crossing Shopping Center, once housed Lamb’s Auto Service Center.

Navarro bought the property last September for $2.1 million through 1434 Ira Rd LLC, according to Charleston County land records.

The planned restaurant is coming through a Charleston investors group called High Tide Provisions LLC and will be called Frank and Jack’s on Ira, according to Stephanie Samuels, project manager and investor. It’s named after two now-passed colleagues of the developers.

Plans presented to the town show a 4,600-square-foot restaurant with a potential wrap-around porch. Plans also include a 625-square-foot covered area behind the restaurant and similar-sized flexible dining space with an outdoor fireplace next to it.

The site also would include a 1,000-square-foot courtyard in the rear, a 400-square-foot children’s outdoor play area and 1,875 square feet of outdoor space dedicated for adult games such as shuffleboard and bocce ball next to a bar.

The linear development would include 73 parking spaces and an overflow area in the rear for employees and guests to park.

If annexation is approved, the site’s zoning would fall under the areawide business classification. Samuels hopes construction could begin by August with an opening by next spring, but the timeline is dependent on how quickly plans move through the town’s approval process.

Getting fit

The Charleston region’s eighth Planet Fitness site is in the works.

The workout business plans to open a 21,704-square-foot location at 110 Bi-Lo Drive in Moncks Corner in a shopping center anchored by KJ’s IGA supermarket.

The gym is going in next to Pointe North Church in a building that once housed Walmart before the big-box retailer moved to the northern side of town several years ago. It’s expected to open in September.

A company representative did not immediately respond for further comment.

A food assistance program called Feed Berkeley once operated in the site where the fitness facility is going. Feed Berkeley has moved to 207 Newell St. in Moncks Corner Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Planet Fitness has other Charleston-area locations in Goose Creek, James Island, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville and West Ashley.

On the way

Two new shops are coming to a developing neighborhood in the Cainhoy area of Charleston.

Viva Tacos & Tequila plans to open in a 4,000-square-foot site next to a 2,000-square-foot Modern Movement Yoga studio at 836 Foundation St. in the Point Hope development, according to Bryan Fogle of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic, who handled leasing for the tenants.

The building is under construction next to a similar 6,000-square-foot structure to be built where Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe plans to open in about half of the building. The two venues will share a patio between the structures next to Clements Ferry Road. A fall opening is expected for the businesses.

Sweet treats

A new gourmet cinnamon roll bakery will make its South Carolina debut with a shop opening in downtown Charleston on April 7.

Cinnaholic at 415 King St. will host its grand opening 10 a.m.-2 p.m., offering a $2 cinnamon roll special, DJ, giveaways and samples.

The shop has more than 20 frosting flavors and 20 topping choices.

Also part of the Charleston rollout, the downtown location will have three limited-time offerings: lemon icebox pie roll, coconut cream pie roll and lemonberry coffee cake.

Franchisee Kishan Patel also has a location in Statesboro, Ga.

On the way

A new shop is on the way to a shopping center in Goose Creek.

Crafty Beer Sales LLC has applied for a state license to sell beer and wine for both on-site and off-site use at 214 St. James Ave., Suite 160.

The vacant space was once a dry-cleaning shop and is in the Planet Fitness-anchored Shannon Park Shopping Center.

On the way

A new commercial retail building is in the works for North Charleston.

Ironclad Construction recently submitted plans to environmental regulators to build on a 4.6-acre parcel at 8680 Dorchester Road, just west of a retail center that includes Great Harvest Bakery and Cafe and other tenants near Club Course Drive.

Tenants have not been announced. The site has 1.88 acres of wetlands with planned disturbance to about 1.76 acres, according to site plans.

Gassing up

A Charlotte-based convenience store chain recently purchased a 6-acre parcel where a nursery once operated in Moncks Corner.

Circle K Stores Inc. paid $1.05 million for the property on U.S. Highway 52 at Ben Barron Lane last month, according to Berkeley County land records. The previous owner was ZZ Real Estate LLC, an affiliate of The InterTech Group of North Charleston.

The purchased site is on the northern end of the former 686-acre Carolina Nurseries wholesale plant farm that closed in 2010. Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s headquarters and other businesses are now located on part of the sprawling tract. A new housing development is being laid out behind the Circle K parcel.

Cleaning up

A Michigan-based car wash company recently broke ground on its first of four planned locations in the Charleston area.

Tommy’s Express is bringing its first Lowcountry site to 3680 Ashley Phosphate Road, next to Republic Services, in North Charleston. Two others are slated for Summerville and another on Tanger Outlet Boulevard in North Charleston.

The wash tunnels are designed with a rounded transparent roof and full-size windows running along the length of the tunnel. Floor mat washers, vacuum stations and membership programs also will be available.