Herlong Architects

The majority of our designs dot the Charleston coastline and Lowcountry landscapes, but our firm has embarked on a new project taking us across the water and into the Caribbean.

Christophe Harbour, the latest venture from Kiawah Development Partners is a 3,000- acre upscale development on the southeast peninsula of the island of St. Kitts. 

A number of architectural firms were invited to a kickoff meeting to learn more about the Christophe Harbour project. Layne Nelson, design director at Herlong & Associates says, “We got so excited about the project that we immediately started doing sketches.” Nelson has been working closely with company owner Steve Herlong to create designs for potential rental properties in the developments first phase, Sandy Bank Bay.

Though our architects are used to designing homes for coastal living, these island homes are a very different style, Nelson explains. Because the average temperature remains in the 80’s year-round, the homes are typically very open and usually don’t have heating and air conditioning units.

Herlong designers are taking their experience creating outdoor living spaces here in the Lowcountry, and using it to design island homes, where the living areas are a seamless blend of indoor/outdoor space. The homes, Nelson says, are typically a collection of independent dwellings with open living areas and private bedroom suites woven together by water features and the lush tropical landscape.

Even though Herlong has long done projects throughout the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast, this is its first project in the Caribbean and a great new venture. “This is just a brand new door that’s opened that we’re exited to walk through,” Nelson says.

Check out the On the Boards section of our site for more Christophe Harbour designs.

This month, we’re all abuzz here at Herlong & Associates because our company is featured in the April issue of Coastal Living magazine.

The Sullivan’s Island house belongs to owner Steve Herlong and his wife, Susan, and is part of a feature on living green on the beach. Taking inspiration from a local lighthouse that had been destroyed by a hurricane in the 1800s, Steve and Susan designed a 4,200-square-foot house with a lighthouse tower facing the water, spectacular views and a comfortable feel – all created in an eco-friendly manner.

You can check out the article on the Coastal Living Web site and see the amazing photos of this home.

With a dream of being an architect since the sixth grade, Steve is inspired by Charleston’s history, open spaces and water views. His home is a combination of that history – with its tribute to a 19th-century lighthouse – and the amazing ocean vista that flows into the house through its large windows and open porches.

Even though the house has several green features, many are tucked away and are an example of how architectural design can incorporate green and gorgeous.

As pointed out in the magazine article, the living room has a cypress, V-groove, barrel-vaulted ceiling, but what’s behind the ceiling is a closed-cell spray foam insulation that seals the home and helps regulate the temperature. Low VOC paint was used in the house along with reclaimed wood countertops in the kitchen and light-colored steel that extends about 2 feet beyond the walls of the house to create shade for the windows below.

“To me, green architecture means designing an efficient and enduring house,” Steve says in the article. “It just takes a different way of thinking.”

Steve Herlong, Jim Henshaw and Layne Nelson of Herlong & Associates were selected, along with approximately 20 other residential architects and designers from across the country, to provide design assistance at the International Builders Show held last week in Las Vegas.  Over the course of three days, the American Institute of Architects Plan Review Workshop gave builders and homeowners from all over the United States a chance to have their plans reviewed free of charge in 30 minute sessions, in an effort to increase the livability, style, or resale of the home.  Here is a sampling of how some of the conversations started:

Email Laura Anne Moore at laura_anne@herlongarchitects.com to set up an appointment, call (843) 886-9199 or simply comment on this blog to let us know if you would like to take part in this workshop.  We hope to see you here!

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It’s not every day you read a blog about an office building restroom, but…. 

A few months ago we asked ourselves ‘How could we make the experience of coming into our office even more enjoyable for our clients?’  Our office looks out onto the Intercoastal Waterway and we have design sessions in comfortable conference rooms that gaze onto this incredible landscape.  But when our clients ventured down the hall to the restrooms, they were treated to linoleum floors painted white sheetrock, and cheap plumbing and electrical fixtures. What a difference the transformation of this space into a beautiful room has been.  Employees love it, clients rave over it – we can’t get people out of there! 

Many thanks go out to Theresa and Sarah of Herlong & Associates, who selected the materials, finishes and fixtures, and coordinated the overall effort.  They always know how the individual parts will come together in the end and it turned out beautifully.

We also had many friends and vendors contribute materials and craftmanship to this effort including the following: 

Kellie Hall & Nancy Griffin from Artisan Clay Interiors & Painting added a beautiful blue clay to the walls above the wainscot and onto the ceiling. Chip Dukes & Will Albrecht from Southern Lumber were instrumental in the new wainscot on our walls. Ashley Hyer from Design on Tap deserves thanks for the elegant faucet, glass vessel sink and low flow toilet.  Tom Werner & Pat Devaney of Charleston One Source helped with the bleached oak floor.  Fisher Recycling owners Elizabeth & Chris Fisher created a beautiful recycled glass countertop with beautiful blues.  Butch, Phil & Sarah of William C. Pritchard Cabinetry made the painted sink base cabinet and helped with the hardware.  Christine Reilly owner of Foxworth Decorative Hardware contributed the doorknob & hardware.  Ali Sherrill and Bonnie from Charleston Lighting selected the sconce above the mirror.  Thomas Mallaga for the flat panel solid wood door (painted a brilliant blue!). 

And finally to Phillip Smith and Tony Reilly of Phillip W. Smith General Contractors, who coordinated the demolition and construction of the bathroom in a professional and methodical manner.   It was through Phillip’s office that – Michael Ruffano (trim), Ralph Bell (painting), Bill Sparks & Ralph Bennett (electrical and plumbing) – this amazing feat was accomplished.  They took steps to minimize the noise and disruption to our office, and went out of their way to make even this small bathroom transformation a place everyone could be proud of. 

Below is an image of the transformed space.  We don’t have a ‘before’ image, but just think linoleum floor, white walls and ceiling, melamine cabinets, etc. and you get the picture. 

Nice Work Everyone!!

The New Bathroom at Herlong & Associates

Herlong & Associates just celebrated two milestones: entering our second decade of business and obtaining our first EarthCraft certified green house. 

Over the years, people are drawn to our homes for the design, and how beautifully the house takes advantage of the views and the sun orientation.  But as a company we are known for designing beautiful custom homes not necessarily ‘green’ homes. We know that our homes are extremely energy efficient, as we design a tight building envelope, we use high performing low-e double glazed windows, and spray insulation. We take care installing the windows and doors so that they are flashed properly, and do not have any air leakage around the edges. We install multiple mechanical systems, one for each separate zone in the house and specify energy efficient 15 seer dual speed HVAC units. But we did not have a test case to prove that our typical house was in fact a ‘green’ house. High performance yes, but actually certified, no.

The Silverman’s new home on Daniel Island changed all that.  At just under 4,300 square feet, the Silvermans wanted to build a sensible but comfortable home, one that would fit the Earthcraft model. The mechanical system used was no different than one we would typically place in a house. They did not limit their selections based on the newest green hype (concrete countertops, bamboo or cork floors); they chose what they liked and what suited their needs. In fact, we did not add any green products just to make the house ‘green’. What we did do is follow the model we have set in place for each home we design – create a high performance, healthy and comfortable home that reduces energy bills and protects the environment, all part of the EarthCraft guidelines. We accomplished this by obtaining the EarthCraft certification for the house and creating a special place for a special client.  

In the end all we can say is, ‘Welcome home Silvermans, welcome home’.

EarthCraft home designed by Herlong & Associates

As we prepare to host an oyster roast to celebrate our company and our clients, I can’t help but look back and appreciate the work we’ve done over the past decade.

We live and work in a remarkable setting that can be at once casual and elegant. The towns and islands surrounding Charleston are full of history, and yet are progressive and youthful. Daily Herlong & Associates strives to design spaces that reflect the comfort of this lifestyle, and assist our clients in the realization of their dreams. Over the past ten years, we have worked with our clients to create homes that are a source of pleasure and pride, and that are a lasting investment in many ways. The addition of both interior architecture and interior design departments has enabled us to create some of the most beautifully integrated homes in the country.

For those of you who don’t know us, our office looks out onto both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, and is situated on Breach Inlet between Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. In the middle of the summer we experienced some terrific spring and neap tides that presented a great opportunity for us all to wade out to the sand bar in the middle of the waterway for an office picture. What a great place to work!