Published: June 01. 2012 2:00AM

Written by Kim Hassold
Photographed by Owen Riley

When a couple from Baltimore starts looking for a second home in the Carolinas, there are many options, but none quite fits the bill for this family like the open floor plan and sustainable design used here.

Scott Johnston, along with David Andersonn of the Johnston Design Group, did the design for the home and Johnston says the surrounding property played a big part in the plan.

“We wanted to maintain visibility throughout the home to take advantage of the spectacular views,” he explains. “Exterior selections were made with colors and textures rooted in the surroundings, and green features were incorporated from the beginning.”

Linda McDougald and Adrienne Fulmer of Postcard from Paris worked with the couple to choose interior furnishings to complement the style.

“We chose clean-lined styles with comfortable, textured fabrics,” Fulmer says. “Antique Persian rugs were paired with natural material rugs, and soft, neutral gray and brown fabrics with references to natural materials or nature continue the look.”

Solar shading, solar thermal water heating, water-efficient features, and rainwater collected from the roof and stored in underground cistern used for irrigation are just a few of the environmentally friendly features that make this get-away the perfect place for a custom designed place that feels like home.