Such was the case for the Kiawah Island, South Carolina, vacation home of Christina Anderson, her husband, and their four children. Used as an escape from the big-city life of Manhattan, the oceanfront abode revels in the beauty of its natural surroundings. Perched 800 miles south of the structured daily schedule that includes school and work, the house abandons all formality to usher in relaxation and play. But a change in location didn’t leave behind Christina’s discerning level of taste and refinement—or her keen attention to detail. She clearly articulates a style that heralds the street style of New York and the craft of the Hudson Valley. In the family vacation home, however, she wanted to retain those elements within interiors that exude the feeling of a serene oasis. “My parents bought a house there, so I grew up on that street looking at that house,” Bishop, a 2014 New Trad honoree, says. “Back then, the house looked very different.” Today, it boasts the beauty of a structural renovation for this family by architect Mark Maresca. “He recommended me for the project to take the interiors the rest of the way, so they would be more youthful and modern than what is traditionally seen on Kiawah Island,” Bishop says. “It’s not unusual to have a house that becomes old and dated over time,” Maresca says. “But what made no sense, in this case, is that the house didn’t take advantage of the gorgeous views. There was no connection to the ocean or the surrounding trees. Now most of the rooms have at least two exposures to the outdoors. It’s no longer just about the house but the location as well.” Maresca layered in a warm, tactile architectural quality with beamed ceilings, shiplap and beaded-board paneling, and marble on bathroom walls. Bishop took the cue and enhanced it using natural textiles, patterned rugs with nubby finishes, leather, and furniture in sculptural forms, some of which the Andersons brought from their New York home. “We were excited about the bold pattern of the tile,” Bishop says. “We needed strength in color without going to solid black. This kitchen isn’t huge, so the pattern gives it the backbone to stand up against the larger rooms. The darkness of the floor, range, and cabinets allows the cerused oak island to shine.” “Christina knows that this is a special time in her children’s lives, and she wanted them to be together,” Maresca says. “Bunk rooms should be tight and intimate. The kids can see and talk to each other, all while taking in the view of the ocean.” Bishop stretched a tribal-theme runner across the length of the bunk room to lay a lighthearted path to the playroom, where a round table and shapely chairs guarantee that the room is functional and good-looking, too.
