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what is a low country home

by Cathrine Renner Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A Lowcountry

South Carolina Lowcountry

The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. Once known for its slave-based agricultural wealth in rice and indigo dye, often referred to as indigo, that flourished in the hot subtropical climate, the Lowcountry today is kno…

style home is simple and practical while maintaining an air of elegance, grace, and history. Along the coast of South Carolina lies the geographic and cultural region known as the “Lowcountry.”

With abundant windows and doors and large shade porches, the distinctive features of Low Country style are designed to keep the home comfortable in marshy Southern marshy climates. A Low Country home is often raised and resting on piers to capture cooling breezes and prevent flooding.

Full Answer

What is a Lowcountry style home?

Mimicking the comfort and flow of the deep south, Lowcountry style homes are meant to be simple and practical with the subtle suggestion they have evolved over time and have great stories to share.

What are the characteristics of the Low Country?

Traditional Low Country homes were fairly simple with rectangular or square floor plans, elevated floors, generous windows and porches to catch breezes and enjoy warm evenings. Newer Low Country style homes can be larger and may incorporate multiple stories. Often Low Country houses have attractive, sturdy standing seam metal roofs.

What is a Lowcountry area?

The term "Lowcountry" was created to describe these areas since they are located below the Fall Line, which is a geographic region in which the hard rock of the mountains reaches the softer sand of the coastal plain.

What is a low-lying country?

(Entry 1 of 2) : a low-lying country or region especially : the part of a southern state extending from the seacoast inland to the fall line low-lying region along the Atlantic coasts of South Carolina and Georgia

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What is a Lowcountry home?

Lowcountry homes, Southern homes, and Charleston-style homes — whichever you wish to call them, are essentially a piece of history in architectural form. Residences vary widely in style based on the local climate and culture that shapes their architectural manner and subsequent features.

What does the term Lowcountry mean?

Definition of low country : a low-lying country or region especially : the part of a southern state extending from the seacoast inland to the fall line.

What is Lowcountry architecture?

Lowcountry architecture dates back to the 1700's, when English and French settlers first came to the shores of the southeastern states. These early coastal dwellers brought with them a style that was rectangular and formal, with wide columns and symmetrical layouts.

What is a Lowcountry farmhouse?

DESCRIPTION. Classic Southern architecture, breezy colors, and a dose of cozy textures give this new home a comfortably old feeling. To create a timeless look, the plan offers elements like a gracious porch and a wide central passageway.

What states are considered Lowcountry?

The Lowcountry is defined as the Southern, Easternmost area of the Palmetto State. It comprises twelve counties: Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston.

What states are Lowcountry?

The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands.

What style is Lowcountry?

“The Lowcountry style is meant to be practical, simple and understated,” according to Jenny. “The home should feel like it has evolved over time, just like the area.” Many architectural features of Lowcountry homes from years past were utilized for the practical purpose of keeping residents cooler and more comfortable.

Is Florida considered Lowcountry?

The Lowcountry, loosely defined, lies along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Even more loosely defined, it's the coastal region between the two Jacksonvilles — the town in Florida and the town in North Carolina.

What is Lowcountry chic?

0:020:59What is Lowcountry Style? | Southern Living - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI would define the low country style you know as basically a raised living area you're gonna have aMoreI would define the low country style you know as basically a raised living area you're gonna have a masonry lower level of some sort that's usually a little more utilitarian.

Can you mix coastal and farmhouse decor?

Absolutely you can combine coastal style and farmhouse style. The combined look creates a beachy feel that is comfortable and relaxed. The coastal farmhouse style is both traditional and trendy.

How much does it cost to build a Southern Living House plan?

Pre-drawn house plans from Southern Living vary in price from $500 to over $5,000, based on which plan and set option you choose. This is a fraction of the cost to hire a local architect to design a custom plan, which can run between 4% to 12% of the total construction cost.

What is modern country farmhouse style?

Modern farmhouse design takes the comfortable, relaxed farmhouse style and adds modern touches such as smooth lines, glossy accents and neutral color schemes. It's less rustic, more sophisticated and uses contemporary design elements like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and sleek lighting.

Is Myrtle Beach considered Lowcountry?

The Lowcountry extends from Georgetown (just south of Myrtle Beach) down through Charleston, and finally to Daufuskie Island, at the Georgia border.

What is Lowcountry Florida?

The geographical fact is, the lowcountry extends from the Santee River north of Charleston down past Savannah, Georgia, all the way to the St. Johns River that runs through Jacksonville.

What is considered Lowcountry cuisine?

Like most Southern cuisines, Lowcountry is comfort food, best eaten in the warm familiarity of someone's home. It's centered around large, one-pot meals like gumbos, catfish stew, shrimp and grits, benne-oyster soup, and seafood boils.

Is Georgia considered Lowcountry?

Few regions in the United States pack in as much history, culture, and natural beauty as the Low Country—a 200-mile (322-kilometer) stretch of coastal South Carolina and Georgia.

What is the Lowcountry known for?

The Lowcountry is identified as much by its character as a precise spot on the map. You'll know it when you see it: Saltwater and marshlands thick with cordgrass; live oaks and Spanish moss; sweetgrass baskets and rich Gullah culture; she-crab soup and shrimp-and-grits and all kinds of seafood deliciousness over rice; raised houses with deep porches and tall shuttered windows; pluff mud and palmettos.

Is the Lowcountry watery?

Bounded by the Atlantic on one side and the Savannah River on the other, the Lowcountry is one watery place, and the marshlands and sea islands that buffer the mainland coast from the throes of the Atlantic make for the kind of vistas that will have you taking pictures of everything. On the other hand, there's plenty to do.

What is a lowcountry home?

A Lowcountry style home is simple and practical while maintaining an air of elegance, grace, and history. Along the coast of South Carolina lies the geographic and cultural region known as the “Lowcountry.”.

When was Lowcountry style architecture invented?

Developed in the late 1700s, Lowcountry style architecture is one of the most distinctive elements of the region. Originally designed to accommodate residents of the subtropical climate of South Carolina, the historical features and designs of these stately homes are still loved by southerners and admired by visitors today.

What was the primary function of Lowcountry architecture?

When it was first designed, the primary function of Lowcountry architecture was to keep the house and its inhabitants cool.

What is a transom in a home?

Transom: This is a transverse horizontal structural beam or bar, or a crosspiece separating a door from a window above it. The window above the transom in a Lowcountry home could be opened to allow ventilation. It would also let in more light.

What is the Lowcountry?

Along the coast of Georgia and South Carolina lies an area known as the Lowcountry. In this geographic region, coastal style mingles with traditional and natural decor to create a luxurious regional look all its own. From Savannah to Charleston, find inspiration to design your own Lowcountry retreat, no matter where you live.

What color is used in lowcountry?

Drawing on its coastal geography, Lowcountry style creates a fresh, upbeat mood with coral and water blue tones. Use these colors to accent a palette of vanilla and golden tones to complete a beach-inspired color theme. Use white to create a bold, fresh contrast in the form of wide trim, crown moldings and baseboards.

What are some of the best accessories to decorate in the Lowcountry?

Take your cue from the Lowcountry's natural surroundings. Landscape paintings, seaside and shell motifs, pampas grass, juniper and swamp palmetto make appropriate themes for accessories. Ample indoor plants, baskets, antiques and family heirlooms frequently grace horizontal surfaces in Lowcountry decorating. Choose palm leaf ceiling fans or modest yet glitzy chandeliers to finish your sophisticated Lowcountry rooms.

What to use for a lowcountry look?

Soften the look with soft upholstered chairs and couches for lounging and accent rooms with rattan, cane-backed or wicker chairs, barstools and small tables. Antiques go well with this style, so look for old pieces or reproductions to get a traditional, homey feel. Try a marble-topped vanity or counter for a touch of glamour and shine that suits a traditional, natural theme.

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This Regional Architectural Style Highlights Southern Comfort and Style

  • On a 200-mile expanse along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia is the Lowcountry, or Low Country, region – so-called because of its low elevation. Stretching from Charleston to Savannah, this geographic area is a favorite with tourists as well as people who love to live in a warm climate and slow-paced environment. Imagine seaside resorts, stu...
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Features of Lowcountry Style Homes

  • What began as simple one-room cottages in the 1700s have evolved into comfortable, elegant, practical, and spacious homes whose architectural design has been adapted to the sub-tropical climate of the American South – from South Carolina to Georgia, Florida, and beyond. Let’s take a look at the key characteristics of Lowcountry style homes.
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Origins of Lowcountry Home Design

  • In 1670 when the British established the first permanent settlement in South Carolina, they brought with them the modest one-room cottage design of English homes – a model that worked in the tidewater regions of Virginiaand Maryland. Small cottage house plans are still popular in the region. Throughout the late 1600s and early 1700s, colonists from France, the Netherlands, Ger…
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Influences on Lowcountry Design

  • While the English were the major influence and the originators of the Lowcountry architectural style, other facets of the design came from other countries. For example, porch columns were inspired by design concepts of Italian architect Andrea Palladio whose work was “strongly based on the symmetry, perspective, and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Anci…
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1.Defining Lowcountry Style | Lowcountry Home Magazine

Url:https://www.lowcountryhome.com/defining-lowcountry-style/

31 hours ago  · Mimicking the comfort and flow of the deep south, Lowcountry style homes are meant to be simple and practical with the subtle suggestion they have evolved over time and …

2.Lowcountry Architecture: Simple, Functional, and Elegant

Url:https://www.theplancollection.com/blog/lowcountry-architecture-mixes-the-simple-functional-and-elegant

33 hours ago Low Country Collection, above. The Low Country Collection of Home Plans is designed to make the most of living on the water in our beautiful coastal region. Designed with elegance, livability …

3.What Is The Carolina Lowcountry? - Southern Living

Url:https://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-carolina/why-its-called-lowcountry

2 hours ago So what is Low Country/Lowcountry? Generally, it's defined as four counties: Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton. However, some sources push it farther up to include Charleston and …

4.Low country Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low%20country

32 hours ago Definition of low country. : a low-lying country or region especially : the part of a southern state extending from the seacoast inland to the fall line.

5.A Brief History of Beaufort’s Lowcountry Architecture

Url:https://celadonliving.com/history-lowcountry-architecture/

29 hours ago A Low Country home is often raised and resting on piers to capture cooling breezes and prevent flooding. What does Lowcountry living mean? : a low-lying country or region especially : the …

6.Classic Southern Lowcountry Home Decorating - SF Gate

Url:https://homeguides.sfgate.com/classic-southern-lowcountry-home-decorating-60793.html

3 hours ago A Lowcountry style home is simple and practical while maintaining an air of elegance, grace, and history. Along the coast of South Carolina lies the geographic and cultural region known as the …

7.Videos of What Is A Low Country Home

Url:/videos/search?q=what+is+a+low+country+home&qpvt=what+is+a+low+country+home&FORM=VDRE

31 hours ago  · The Lowcountry is defined as the Southern, Easternmost area of the Palmetto State. It comprises twelve counties: Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, …

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