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Kiawah is a sea island, or barrier island, on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Located 15 miles (24 km) south of Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina, it is operated today largely as a gated beach and golf resort — the Kiawah Island Golf Resort — with spacious villas, beaches, large and acclaimed golf courses, and other attractions.
There are so many marvelous areas of the U.S. to build a dream.
I am perplexed. It seems South Carolina, this time near Charleston, gets another favorable nod from HGTV. The St. Marys area was the last one.
This is going to take some special designing to catch the public's imagination, imho. Good luck, Jack.
We could use some inspiration.:>) Utah came out well.

Lots of midwesterners love South Carolina--sometimes at Hilton Head it felt like half of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana were there with us. There's lots of interest in the islands off of the Carolinas and Georgia. Can't wait to see what they will do.

Tango, Kiawah was just voted one of the top beach towns to live in by Coastal Living. It's gorgeous. I think this year's Dream House is a stunner. Love that it has a pool. I might move to this one, wouldn't have moved to Utah.

quote:

Originally posted by mythreesons:
Tango, Kiawah was just voted one of the top beach towns to live in by Coastal Living.

Kiwawah area real estate has a listing of $22M and many others in multi million dollars.
When getting a first look at the DH, it's a raised dwelling in a marsh-area. An elevator is optional and may well be included in the DH.

I can't wait to see more.

Travel and Leisure August 2012 World's Best Awards Issue: Top Islands: Continental U.S. and Canada: #5 Kiawah Island South Carolina

Pretty impressive place, if you ask me. I hope I win this one!

If the Observer were here...
he would likely mention the large cement block enclosure located at the right rear of the '13 DH time-lapse photos. It is set directly on the ground, making me think it is a holding cistern for run-off water. But Internet Indigo sales information does not mention anything about it. Any ideas? Is it a lap pool?
The waste water handling system design will be interesting; it is located on land with a high water table.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TangoW,

There is a pool with this house, Tango.

quote:

Originally posted by mythreesons:
There is a pool with this house, Tango.

Splash on! Lap the lap, Esther. :>)
The pool's positioned up high, with no apparent fencing.
Though no one would care, even with a few wrinkles...
Emily Post has plainly stated:
Until the DH is yours, lock and stock,
'tis proper to wear your Jensen!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TangoW,

With adults no fencing on the pool needed, but could have something that could be put up when the grandkids visit.
I think it would be a fun idea and good spot to exercise, they call it a plunge pool.

quote:

Originally posted by nursejudy:
With adults no fencing on the pool needed, but could have something that could be put up when the grandkids visit.
I think it would be a fun idea and good spot to exercise, they call it a plunge pool.

Watt's thet? Maybe they use ice cubes!!!
It's size would indicate it is a bit small for a lap pool; maybe has an impeller for in-place swimming.
This drawing rendition is certainly out there in design presentation.
I have never seen an infinity edge pool, if that is the design, that didn't have a safety ledge..
Waiting long enough, the DH pool will come to life. It will probably be a hit of the home.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TangoW,

Master developer Mark Permar and another architect, Christopher Rose are mentioned with some others in an internet-searched site explaining the 2013 design.
This post is of the opinion kind, if you dare indulge...
or just s o b.

The location is in hot, humid, marshy low lands near an ocean, also described as five months of chilly often cold, humid, marshy low lands near an ocean. It's a dreamer in a steamer; Hot or iced coffee, served with a creamer.
It is not that it is bad design, it's that it is trying to be a dream on stilts. Doesn't sound like I like Jack, but I do.
The design's not a unique dream design for a national sweepstakes, but it is one of several designs available in the Development again this year. I remember Utah and Maryland and Tyler which stood much taller.
The location's restriction-thing again this year is that flood criteria forces special building code on design.
This idea lost groove. They put the dwelling on a raised, twelve foot, thousand square foot* platform without even a few, cantilevered edifications in the layout.
They squared off the interior as well, having now lost almost all groove that is left. That drew the two of Clubs.
Then they put in a loft, an A Frame!!! in the high-humidity climate, a large, an unused, volume of space.
All the while, Dr. Zhivago is striving for LEED criteria!!
To the rescue!!! MAAD- MBers Against Architect Dispensationalists.
Jack, you drew the Old Maid and didn't tell us. :>)
To their imaginative credit, Kudos for the enclosed roof/wall, air-tight enclosure design.
But all that unused A Frame volume is now air-conditioned at the third level's temperatures. That is not LEEDY.
What rhymes with leedy? Seedy is too moribund. :>)

*total square footage is said to be three thousand for the dwelling.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TangoW,

They definite have done a few different things. My favorite dreamhomes have been Tyler, Sonoma (which I had the opportunity to tour), and Utah.It has only been the recent homes where green ideas have become visable. It will be fun to see how this year progresses.

Ah, Judy you are the proverbial optometrist, always improving the "vision!"
I am enjoying the proceedings of that.
As for me, I like to kick the tires. Wouldn't be doing that if I wasn't in the Show Room!

That is why we are good together tango, I the optimist who keeps the dream and enjoyment and you the questioning so we keep focussed on all aspects. Glad you have so much knowledge on green building.

The rate of people buying homes with cash is on the rise. The proposition is already attractive from the buyer’s point of view, saving them the expense and headache of securing a mortgage. On top of that, sellers are often willing to take a reduction in asking prices for a faster and less risky closure. However, the trend is causing problems for some first-time buyers.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by florieB:

Welcome, Florie,
Sounds like you have a foot in the realty sector. Glad to see your input on MB.
Have a good time here.
Where do folks get the cash, even for $150K investments? Maybe retirees are reducing to single home living?
I am guessing the 2013 Dream Home is going to be, for some future owner, a second home-vacation-criteria, $1.2 M investment.
Its insurance premium in the Hurricane Zone, utilities, property taxes and Assoc fees would reach $1600 a month.
We'll see what HGTV lists the total prize and what a mortgage would cost in January, using 20% down. IMHO presently, not too many would qualify, even at 6%@ 15 years.
Our FL is back to '92 base valuation where we bought it. But higher mill rate and misc fees have doubled the total prop tax.
Though paid for, but because of capital improvements, (excluding normal maintenance) we are under water, so to speak.

Those costs are sure a concern tango. Realestate in Florida is still unstable as you mentioned and many people are still underwater all over the country.

It will be interesting to see what the total appraised cost presents itself to be. It looks really neat.

HGTV did a good job with their videos with Jeff. It's worth a look at them.
My enthusiasm is picking up a bit.There are many green construction ideas. The geothermal heating seems good, even though they state the payoff will take seven to ten years. I have no experience with this thermal design or its maintenance. I assume that the cooling of the 3000 foot home with geothermal will require more continuous electrical air circulation in this humid climate than electric air conditioning. Anyone have experience with geothermal and its efficiencies in this area?
The same continuous heater fan operation requirement would hold true for its heating demand, versus gas heating; snow is a possibility.
The pool is not screened, meaning, bugs, and also pine needles and deciduous tree leaves will enter the pool. But it is a luxurious presentation to not have a screened area over the pool.
The pool's location on the East side is to keep the water cool. That is perhaps fine three months of the year. The lack of sun will be missed the rest of the time, even though this is a plunge pool design.
The Home's living area height provides a grand view. The multi levels should have an elevator, plain and simple, since there is no living at the surface level.
Curb appeal is not one of the draw cards. Coastal living codes are doing a number on curb appeal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TangoW,

The bright lady developing the Kiawah Dream Home project is green-oriented, so inferred through her remarks for the new home.
Perhaps Observer, were he here posting, might mention that the Kiawah home has no mention of even a few solar panels on the Dream Home.
Payoff years of the project just to get to parity with existing power company costs is the issue coming into intelligent discussion...some areas like this Kiawah home simply aren't solar panel suitable. Steep roof angles; azimuth toward the sun along with foliage interference are Kiwawh discussion topic stuff.
Solar capital costs:
Persons interested in solar should take note that acquiring a solar system via a lease is not proving favorable. Carefully taking a look at the sunny West, (Solar City's leasing projects, for example in CA, on internet sites,) one can deduce that leasing is nightmarish. Lease payments increase each year, soon reaching monthly power cost.
The payoff of the solar installation onus is on the home owner if he/she is looking to sell the property and a prospective buyer isn't lease motivated.
shoeshine boy

Lot of thought producing information Tango.I enjoy reading your creative narrative as it makes reading about the information more fun. I do not belive seeing a mention of an elevator, but time will tell as they often come up with surprises as they provide additional information. You are correct cooling such a high interrior would require alot of energy and with the mention of green perhaps this type of cooling might be favorable. Has anyone found any addtional information on this type of system.

I am noting more solar on homes here in calif. and I get alot of telephone solictation on the product. I have seen more and more business'and school dostricts putting cover over their parking specifically to house the solar on top.It will be interesting to see how cost affective this all works out.

The two million dollar homes buyers within the Dream Home's entourage are offered a Guest Cottage option.
I don't see a rendition of a cottage, though, but rather a motel-like outside stairs/entry that leads into one of two bedrooms, and a bath. You go to the main building for everything else.
Missing is the cozy reading room, the charming
kitchen, the storage, the fireplace and the dining area?

Regarding the dining, kitchen area: HGTV writes,
"You don't have a place for artwork, a big mirror or a piece of furniture," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "So you are looking for ways to do more than just chairs, a table and a rug."

I am sympatico, Ms. Linda. That! was cut out for you, quite literally.
Does anyone know exactly what she did?

After you Minnesotans shovel off the ten inches of new snow, and before you sleigh off to work... (Merry Christmas, by the way)
gander via the videos at the view from the main porch area of the DH, out into the waters and surround. What a great vacation setting.
The Sweepstakes entry date is coming soon!

I was disappointed, the only color is upstairs. An all white kitchen just doesn't cut it for me, but apparently a lot of people like painted cabinets. The location is great, the colorless design, not a fan. Of course I'd take it anyway.

Think the location and home are fantastic. Very clean modern lines and colors. Feel relaxed just viewing it! Kudos to the team who designed and built this home.

There is a new forum for Dreamhome 2013,come join us.