Next Stop: Kiawah Island

Author:Lindsey Shook

Slow days, stunning nature, divine design—The Cape Club at Kiawah Island Club is as close to heaven as it gets

Sprawling across South Carolina’s coast, Kiawah Island sits on 10 miles of tranquil shoreline, wrapping around ancient maritime forests, tidal creeks and dune fields. Known globally as one of the most pristine barrier islands and ecologically rich coastal environments on the East Coast—not because of what has been built on it, but because of what has been so carefully left alone—its magnificence lies not only in its ecological splendor but also in its carefully curated architectural communities, premier food and beverage offerings and outdoor recreation. “Unlike many barrier islands that face ongoing beach erosion, Kiawah benefits from a unique natural process that continually adds sand to its shoreline, resulting in some of the healthiest beaches and dune systems along the South Carolina coast,” says Amanda Mole, chief of architecture and design at Kiawah Partners. “More than half of the island is permanently protected, creating an extraordinary habitat for wildlife, including more than 300 species of birds, loggerhead sea turtles, dolphins and countless native plants and marine life. The exaggerated building setbacks from the beachfront further ensure that development remains subordinate to the natural beauty of the island. Kiawah’s natural beauty is woven into everyday life.”

From the beginning, the goal for the members-only ownership concept was to seamlessly blend the natural beauty with architectural builds that remain committed to preservation. “Environmentally sensitive design can best be achieved through a careful, well-thought-out response to the configuration of a property, the Low-Country climate, the existing vegetation and the topography of the building site,” Mole notes. “Design solutions should extend beyond the building walls to include the entire site, varying in design to complement and enhance their natural surroundings.”

Each of the five communities on the island is assembled from homes conceived less as objects placed on land and more as extensions of it, including the island’s newest chapter—The Cape Club. “The Cape Club site was chosen in order to nestle its pool and surrounding decking along the edge of the dune field to capture sweeping views of the beach and ocean,” Mole says. “Its low-slung massing complements the rise and fall of the dune ridges.” Located on the island’s western end, the new private beachfront community features two two-bedroom cottage apartments, which were conceived by Hart Howerton with interiors by internationally recognized designer Cortney Bishop and landscapes by Kennon Williams Landscape Studio, which members and their guests can rent during the year. “The cottages belong to the same world as the main Cape Club buildings, but the experience is more intimate and residential,” says Bishop. “We carried through the larger project’s connection to the landscape, with an earthy palette and an emphasis on natural materials, while softening the expression for a place where guests would settle in and stay.” 

Known for her welcoming, soulful and layered interiors, Bishop curated a signature “Kiawah safari” aesthetic by weaving together stained woods, textured and printed textiles, rare vintage pieces and an organic palette. “Kiawah safari became our shorthand for the wildness and natural beauty of the island,” Bishop recalls. “Kiawah is coastal, but it is not simply blue and white; it is marsh grass, live oaks, sandy earth, shifting water and dense vegetation—there is something almost untamed about it. The idea was never to interpret safari literally, but to capture that same sense of exploration—layered, elemental and a little adventurous.”

Adventure continues at The Cape Club’s hub, which houses an infinity pool surrounded by a restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Drew Souvanna and culinary advisor and chef Chef Mike Lata, who fused a menu of Latin influences with the Low-Country’s seasonal ingredients. Lata’s longstanding commitment to simplicity and local sourcing, shaped by his experience at Charleston’s FIG and The Ordinary, helps ground the menu concept in the region’s abundant fresh seafood. The result is food that feels globally inspired yet distinctly rooted in the Low-Country—“luxurious in its simplicity,” as Lata describes it. And this is just one of 11 dining destinations members and their guests can enjoy. Whether craving a more upscale experience like Cassique or a more casual snack by the pool at The Beach Club, there is rarely a need to go off-island. 

That ability to appease the entire family for many days through residential comfort, endless activities and culinary delight plays out in the economics of the island as much as its emotional pull. “Proximity to Kiawah’s most sought-after amenities is often a key factor in both buyer preferences and long-term property value,” says Dan Whalen, president of Kiawah Island Real Estate. “Buyers are not simply purchasing a home; they are investing in a lifestyle. Kiawah Island is a place your grandchildren’s grandchildren will enjoy just as much as you do.” Their newest offering of architecturally driven residences called “Ocean Pines” is a prime example of how this design-forward community is continuing to evolve for generations who appreciate contemporary coastal architecture and crave island living. Whalen remarks, “We are not selling homes; we are selling lifestyle and the legacy left to future generations. It’s more than a place; it’s a purpose.”