Unlike many large, blocky homes often found in coastal neighborhoods, this residence was intentionally designed not to overwhelm the lot. The goal was to create a custom home that feels settled into the site, with smaller connected structures, outdoor living spaces, and carefully framed views toward Futch Creek.
The house is broken into a series of distinct forms organized around a courtyard and rain garden. Covered porches, a screened porch, and a shadow-dappled entry trellis connect the individual structures, creating a relaxed coastal compound that supports indoor-outdoor living.
The main entry follows the trellis along the edge of the central courtyard and leads through a large center-pivot door. The artist’s studio and garage are positioned near the entrance, offset to establish the main entry axis and frame views through the home toward the creek and natural landscape beyond.
The main level, including the artist’s studio and garage, is designed to be “one-room-wide,” a strategy that improves cross-ventilation, natural daylight, and connection to the outdoors. Every primary living space opens to an outdoor room, including the screened porch, rain garden, courtyard, trellis, or covered porches.
The upper level includes two modest bedrooms and a shared hall bath, each oriented toward views of Futch Creek. These spaces continue the same one-room-wide design approach, allowing the home to benefit from natural light, breezes, and views from multiple directions. Above, the tower level provides a unique bird-watching retreat with both a covered porch and an open deck.
Daylighting was a major part of the design. Impact-resistant, non-UV-transmitting triple-wall polycarbonate clerestory glazing brings natural light deep into the home, even on overcast days, while helping protect fine art from direct sunlight. The artist’s studio uses northern clerestory light, favored by painters, while the main living area receives southern clerestory light.
Rather than relying on oversized waterfront glass walls, which can create glare and heat gain, this custom home uses deep porches and overhead clerestory daylighting to create bright, evenly lit interiors. The result is a coastal home that feels open, comfortable, and protected.
The material palette draws from the vernacular architecture of coastal North Carolina. Cedar-shake volumes are capped with galvalume standing-seam walls and roofs, while white-painted trim around the glass, porches, and trellis gives the home a simple beach-house character. The result is a modern coastal residence softened by familiar regional materials and thoughtful detailing.
This Wilmington-area custom home reflects a careful balance of modern design, coastal durability, natural light, outdoor living, and respect for the site.
