Kiawah Island Home Blends Seamlessly with Coastal Landscape

Houston designer Marie Flanigan creates a serene 9,933-square-foot retreat that connects to its extraordinary setting.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:30pm

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On Kiawah Island in South Carolina, a new 9,933-square-foot home designed by Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan and her team was built with the goal of blending seamlessly with its coastal surroundings. Architect Jeffrey Dungan's architecture set the tone, emphasizing rhythm and proportion to create moments of intimacy and openness. The interiors feature natural materials like wood, plaster, and stone, paired with thoughtfully layered textiles and approachable furniture silhouettes to give the home a grounded, soulful feel that connects it to the landscape.

Why it matters

This home exemplifies how thoughtful design can create a deep connection between a residence and its natural setting. By drawing inspiration from the Lowcountry marshlands and Atlantic Ocean, the design team was able to craft a retreat that feels like a natural extension of the landscape, rather than an imposition upon it. The project highlights how architecture and interior design can work in harmony to produce a cohesive, site-specific experience.

The details

The home's six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms were designed to orient daily life toward the sweeping marsh and ocean views. Dungan's architecture emphasized rhythm and proportion, with smaller-scale spaces that feel deeply connected to the human experience. The interiors lean into natural, organic materials like wood, plaster, and stone to further the dialogue between the home and its surroundings. Highlights include a kitchen that blends British and American design influences, a wood-clad home office with a view of the backyard pool and marshland, and a charming bunk room designed for the homeowners' grandchildren.

  • The home was newly built in collaboration with architect Jeffrey Dungan and Grossman Building Group.
  • The design process began with a singular challenge: how to connect the home meaningfully to its extraordinary Kiawah Island setting.

The players

Marie Flanigan

The founder of Marie Flanigan Interiors, a Houston-based design firm known for creating timeless, luxury interiors that blend beauty, comfort, and intention.

Jeffrey Dungan

The architect who designed the home, known for his ability to choreograph compression and expansion throughout a space to create moments of intimacy and openness.

Kristin Fitzgerald

A designer at Marie Flanigan Interiors who worked on the project.

Kristin Carter

A designer at Marie Flanigan Interiors who worked on the project.

Grossman Building Group

The construction company that built the home.

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What they’re saying

“Designing this home began with a singular challenge: how to connect it meaningfully to its extraordinary setting.”

— Marie Flanigan, Founder, Marie Flanigan Interiors

“Jeff has a remarkable ability to choreograph compression and expansion throughout a home. The smaller scale spaces feel deeply connected to the human experience, creating moments that are welcoming, comfortable, and quietly refined.”

— Marie Flanigan, Founder, Marie Flanigan Interiors

“The final choice feels classic and timeless. The burl wood island became a defining feature of the room.”

— Kristin Fitzgerald, Designer, Marie Flanigan Interiors

“What we love most about this home is how deeply personal it feels. Beyond the beautiful scale and the intimacy of the spaces, the true magic lies in how the clients' story is thoughtfully woven throughout the design.”

— Kristin Fitzgerald, Designer, Marie Flanigan Interiors

The takeaway

This Kiawah Island home demonstrates how thoughtful, site-specific design can create a seamless connection between a residence and its natural surroundings. By drawing inspiration from the coastal landscape and embracing natural, organic materials, the design team was able to craft a retreat that feels like a natural extension of the Lowcountry setting, rather than an imposition upon it.