Beacon of History

Inspired by a local lighthouse destroyed by a hurricane in the 1800s, architect Steve Herlong created an eco-savvy home for his family on Sullivan’s Island

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Bright Idea
Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Bright Idea

Having port-hopped through Europe on a sailboat, Steve and Susan Herlong have a love of lighthouses. When the couple bought property on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, they researched local light stations. “We were charmed by images of the first wooden lighthouse on the island; sadly, it was lost to a hurricane in the 1800s,” Steve says. “We incorporated its design into our house.”

To satisfy strict codes that limit the size/footprint of houses and mandate that new construction look “compatible” with existing houses, Steve reserved the bolder design choices for this 4,200-square-foot house, like the lighthouse tower, for its waterfront side. He elevated the four bedrooms/four and a half baths to the second story, and kitchen and living space to the third, above the flood zone.


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