Lowcountry Local Products
Lowcountry style, but with a unique twist, is an idea we have gotten pretty familiar with here at Frederick + Frederick. We believe that houses should be integrated into their place, they should belong. One way to achieve this goal is to use building materials that are native or made here in the Lowcountry. The house often features tabby (a concrete aggregate made with oyster shell), handmade brick, and native wood species. There are a number of products being made here in the Lowcountry evoke the vibe.
Lowcountry Originals is based in Bluffton, SC. Their handmade light fixtures reflect the natural materials and patterns of the area.
Savannah Surfaces has developed a paver product that we have been using a lot and it looks great! It is a porcelain paver that is patterned to mimic the look of tabby. Tabby is so quintessential “Lowcountry” but its not great underfoot. The porcelain “Old World Tabby” brings the desired look to a material that is better suited for pavers and pool decks.
This custom iron stair railing was designed by Michael Frederick. It’s meant to be evocative of the colors and shapes of the marsh grass that surrounds our islands.
Ahern’s Anvil fabricated this hammered iron stair rail (above) for a custom touch at a Hilton Head Island project.
Charleston Architectural Glass creates gorgeous custom glass- we have used their antiqued mirrors in interior transoms where privacy is desired. The effect is a subtle reflection of the room and the light without being too highly reflective.
Vetrostone is a countertop material that is manufactured in Yemassee, SC. They use recycled glass and shell mixed in quartz to create a uniquely coastal material.
January Construction
Fripp Island
This Fripp Island house is almost finished. We love happy clients, and these clients are really happy! Here’s what Cindy (the homeowner) said:
My husband found Frederick and Frederick and they are a perfect fit for “build avoidant” me. They worked tirelessly with us on the front end in the planning phase to alleviate surprises and last minute costly change orders. They listened diligently to our wants and needs and got our hopes and dreams on paper. The materials used in our home are the newest and most efficient as well as storm resistant. We have the latest and greatest in our home. Best of all, they manage the construction itself. There is someone in our corner who understands the process, the materials, the applications and they work for us. Michael Frederick is on-site every week to make sure the build process is happening according to our specifications, no shortcuts are taken and in general that things are being done correctly. Michael reviews all of our builder’s invoices prior to us paying them. Michael is on top of everything and works diligently to make sure we are happy. Guess what? We are happy. Actually we are beyond happy with how things are working out for us. We love our new home and can’t wait to move in in February.
So anyone out there who is looking for a top notch, full service architecture firm, check out Frederick and Frederick in Beaufort, SC. Tell them Cindy & Steve sent you.
Groundbreaking at Long Cove
Steve and Julie had a glass of champagne and threw out a golden shovelful of dirt to mark the beginning of construction on their Long Cove Club house. Steve owns Coastal Signature Homes and is the builder on our big Brays Island renovation. Its fun to have a colleague as a client!
Brays Island Renovation
On the Boards- Lowcountry Cottage
There is something very satisfying about a compact and efficient cottage, especially here in the lowcountry where most of us would rather be outside most of the time. This little house will serve as a guest cottage with rental potential after the owners build a bigger place on their land. It's really got everything you need though, and with all those solar panels on a house that is just over 800 square feet, you can bet it'll be net-zero!
The clients on this project are interested in using hempcrete, which is a lightweight, cementitious insulating material made from the stalks of hemp plants and lime. We are still learning about hempcrete, but it seems like a wonder-product. The raw materials are renewable, it sequesters carbon, it insulates well. We are very intrigued, and will report back about the practicality of using it.
Under Construction- December
While other parts of the country put construction projects on hold so they can dig themselves out of the snow, our projects are moving full-steam ahead! See the latest site visit photos in our December construction update.
Benjie went down to St. Simon's Island for his first site visit there this week. We are excited that this project is getting started. And we approve of dog-help on job sites!
Spring Island
The Spring Island house is coming along very nicely. Currently, Esposito Construction is installing interior trim and wood floors. They are going to begin installing cabinets and tile next week.
Port Royal Plantation
There has been good progress at the Port Royal Plantation house. I love the front elevation, its really going to look great with a bright red front door!
Long Cove Renovation
Our major renovation in Long Cove has drywall hung and they will begin installing trim soon.
Factory Creek House
All the drywall is hung in the Factory Creek House and the painters are beginning to prime the walls. The views from this house are stellar, the clients are going to love having all those windows!
Factory Creek House 2
This Factory Creek house should be finishing up soon.
Brays Island Renovation
We are counting the days until this renovation is complete. 
Best practices to mitigate stormwater runoff
Here is an example of a rain garden that Thomas Angell, of Verdant Enterprises, designed for the Cole Residence.
In David Lauderdale’s interview with Al Segars in last Sunday’s paper, Al said that we need to “go above and beyond. See that your homeowners’ association maintains it stormwater retention ponds so they function as promised.” You can read Lauderdale's article here.
Beaufort County has a stormwater runoff management ordinance for new single family houses in unincorporated areas of the county that are not in an approved community stormwater runoff system and single family houses that are renovated in excess of 50% of the appraised value of the building. The ordinance requires the mitigation of the stormwater within the property limits.
For the rest of us, we should all go above and beyond by reducing the amount of stormwater on our properties that needs to be mitigated. The easiest way to reduce runoff is by reducing the amount of impervious surfaces on the property. This includes: using gravel or pervious pavers for your drive; and limiting the amount of patios and terraces or paving them with pervious pavers. Lowcountry Pavers has some good options for pervious pavers here.
Collecting Rainwater
The best management practice is to collect and store the rainwater for reuse or slow infiltration. There are two options for collecting rainwater; either a rain barrel or a cistern. Both are connected to your gutters and downspouts. A rainbarrel is used to collect water for use in your garden. Be sure that the rainbarrel has a cover so that it is not a mosquito nursery. A cistern is larger and is the storage tank portion in a complete rainwater harvesting system that filters and stores water for any normal household use. If the water is to be used for potable needs it must go through additional filtration and water purification.
Rain Garden
Another option is a rain garden which is a shallow bowl shaped depression of loose absorbent soils that is planted with deep-rooted native perennials and grasses. The runoff slowly soaks into the ground and reduces the amount of runoff entering our marshes and rivers. The design of the rain garden should be incorporated with the entire garden design. According to Garden Design Magazine rain gardens can help reduce stormwater waste by up to 99 percent.
Mitigation Calculations
The county has a very easy to use on-line worksheet that calculates how much runoff needs to be mitigated. http://stormwaterworksheet.createandsolve.com/ To determine the total excess runoff to be mitigated you will need to know the following information before you begin: the square footage of your roof; the square footage of other impervious areas; the square footage of your lot; your soil type, sandy or clayey; and the area of your lot that is irrigated. You next enter the number and size of storage and reuse systems want to use. The worksheet then computes the natural infiltration capacity of the lot to control runoff. If the first two practices do not control all of the rainwater, the worksheet determines the size of a raingarden to capture all of the runoff.
Under Construction
We are all excited about the construction progress at the Factory Creek house. Howell Builders is doing a great job!
The garage and carriage house
It is exciting to see the form of the house taking shape, as the second floor framing goes up.
There is quite a nice view of Factory Creek from the second floor.
This Palmetto Bluff House is almost finished.
The Berkeley Hall project is almost completed, too.
Summer in the Lowcountry
Summer is probably my favorite season in the Lowcountry (good thing, since its our longest season). Sure, it's hot, muggy and buggy, but with water all around us, it is easy to find relief from the heat.
Hunting Island State Park reopened earlier this month after significant damages from Hurricane Matthew. Hooray!!! Thanks to everyone involved in cleanup and restoration!!
Hunting Island sunrise over the ocean. Simply gorgeous! 
Hunting Island may look different than before the hurricane, but that is the nature of a barrier island. It is still a magical and awesome place to visit.
You can find most of our staff on the beach or on the river most every weekend during summer. Our waterways and barrier islands are surely one of the best things about living in Beaufort.
Michael takes advantage of a high tide to launch his kayak from the backyard for a quick paddle with his granddaughter.
Beaufort has a temperate climate (we are in Zone 9 of the USDA map) which means lots tropical plants thrive here. I walked around the garden surrounding our office today, and wow!
Hibiscus coccineus, native swamp hibiscus 
Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' aka variegated ginger 
Strelitzia, aka Bird of Paradise
It's so easy for Beaufortonians to love where we live!
Frederick + Frederick Architects Awarded American Institute of Architect South Carolina 2017 Firm Award
The AIA South Carolina Board of Directors awarded Frederick + Frederick Architects with the 2017 Firm Award at their annual awards banquet on April 21, 2017. The Firm Award is the highest honor that the American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter can bestow upon a South Carolina architectural firm. The award is given in recognition of design excellence and contribution to the profession of architecture that has made a lasting influence on the practice of architecture in South Carolina.
Kate Schwennsen, Director + Professor, Clemson School of Architecture, wrote in her nomination letter, “Frederick + Frederick is unquestionably a Small Firm with Big Impact, and a firm that many other firms look to for exemplary practice. The design excellence of their body of work has been widely recognized … But perhaps what is most uniquely important about Frederick + Frederick, the raison d’etre of their success, and the thing from which other firms could learn the most, is their innovative and supportive firm culture. They are a family-owned business that sincerely treats their employees like family. Jane and Michael moved to Beaufort to enjoy the lifestyle there … [and] so they do.”
Principal Jane Frederick said that they are humbled and thrilled to be recognized by their peers. “We would not be where we are today without all the fantastic clients who have made our work possible.” The Firm Award was first conferred in 1993 and Frederick + Frederick Architects is the tenth firm to receive the recognition in the awards 24-year history. Frederick + Frederick is honored and delighted to be the 2017 AIA South Carolina Firm Award Recipient.
Frederick + Frederick Architects specialize in custom homes for hot, humid climates. The Beaufort, South Carolina, firm was established in 1989 by the husband and wife team of Jane and Michael Frederick.
"Suited to a T"
T House featured in Residential Design Magazine!
The new national magazine, Residential Design, chose to publish our T-House in their second-ever issue! We couldn't be more pleased with the article, which so accurately captures the essence of our town and our firm. This project was great fun and our enjoyment of the design and process is reflected in the final product.
Editor Claire Conroy wrote, “Although much new building in the area evokes the “Lowcountry” look without a thoughtful understanding of its practical aspects and pleasing proportions, several local firms are mining these antecedents in fresh, appealing ways. Frederick + Frederick is one of the best examples. Jane and Michael have a deep knowledge of the climate, sensibilities, and sensitivities of the place they call home and headquarters for the firm. They understand the traditions of the Lowcountry, and the subtle ways to honor and elevate them at the same time.”
The issue focuses on small houses. Conroy commented “A small house is like a poem. Each design choice must fit the rhythm perfectly. It’s often as much about editing out what’s not essential as it is about choosing what to include.”
Check out the article from Residential Design here.
View more photographs of the T-House on our portfolio page, here.
See this project from beginning to end in our video "The Architectural Process."