Wonder Walls

"They fall in love with the marsh, the trees, the wide open spaces they find here, and they want to bring the outside in," says Aki Kato, who works for Camden Field at Home, in Beaufort, where he specializes in faux finishes, murals and trompe l'oeil.

On Hilton Head, Alison Fargione specializes in the same techniques. She agrees with Kato, but thinks there may be more to it than that.

"I find that a lot of my clients are starting over, in a sense, when they move here." she says. "So they may be more daring than they've been in the past. They're looking for a new life, and are willing to take some chances in their new home."

So, your realtor found the perfect lot, your architect has worked his magic, and you've hired a reputable builder. Your Lowcountry dream is on its way to becoming reality. But, wait - there's one more expert you need to bring on board. A landscape contractor. Here in the beautiful, temperate Lowcountry, where the line between indoor and outdoor living is so often blurred, the environment surrounding your home can be just as crucial to your happiness as the home itself.

Romancing the Stone

Much like the right paint job, the right tile job can turn a ho-hum space into a room of true distinction. This is old news. But some of today’s most popular trends in tile and stone are anything but old. Homes on the Market sat down with Brad Wolff, who has been operating his own tile installation business, Wolff Custom Tile, in Beaufort County since 1998, to discuss some of these cutting-edge developments.

Mortgage Application Process

You have been going to open houses for months now, and you finally found it − the perfect house. Great news soon follows when your offer is accepted. Now you are eager to buy the home, move in and get settled. But, you have one big task ahead of you − getting a mortgage loan.

We know that for many people, buying a house could be the most confusing, stressful and exciting financial transaction they will ever undertake.