Shingle Style Architecture: Custom Coastal Home Design for Kiawah Island

At the turn of the 20th century, as American wealth expanded, entrepreneurs began building exquisite oceanfront getaways. From this era emerged the classic Shingle style—an eclectic, sophisticated mix of Colonial, classical, Victorian, Edwardian, and agrarian vernacular. Known for rustic cedar shingles and exceptional carpentry details, these homes defined coastal luxury.

Today, this timeless vernacular remains the premier inspiration for custom residential architecture along the South Carolina coast. When designing a new home or historic house renovation on Kiawah Island or within the historic fabric of Charleston, our goal is to capture that same sense of permanence.

By blending traditional hand-drawn blueprints with site-specific modern layouts, we honor the exquisite craftsmanship of the past. Whether you are envisioning a coastal estate or a historic neighborhood addition, we craft enduring spaces rooted in regional history.

Coastal Shingle Style House with Stone Foundation drawn, and completed by Tom Felton Architect

Here’s a hand-drawn rendering of the project I did quite a while ago. The imperfections present in drawings really add to the texture and charm of the composition

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Historic House Renovation: Reviving a Mid-19th Century Stone Estate