8 min readHow do you blend the magical ease of Mediterranean life with the coastal charm of South Carolina’s lowcountry? After an enchanting vacation in Greece with their three daughters, Megan Molten’s clients wanted their new build on Daniel Island to capture that unique, transportive feeling they fell in love with—and they asked the Charleston-based designer to help them achieve it.
Alongside builder Wes Whittle of EasTech Property Development, Molten was involved from the very beginning, crafting the blank canvas into a residence that balanced the sun-drenched elegance of the Greek islands with traditional Lowcountry living. The designer went all in on every detail, relying on high-quality craftsmanship, custom pieces, and handmade elements to bring life to every room.
Upon entry, guests are greeted by a hand-painted, botanical-themed mural by local artist Jenn Griffith. “The mural’s objective was very specific,” says Molten. “The homeowners wanted a design that captured elements of both the Mediterranean and the Lowcountry.” Turn to the other side and find a plaster-covered stairwell by artist Emily Pope Harris, an addition that sets the tone for the whole home. Move further into the home and find a hand-painted floor that shines in the craft room, created using a stencil from Etsy and a few Sherwin-Williams paint colors—it’s playfully fabulous and still somehow timeless. “Clients do not typically splurge in rooms that are not front and center, so this was a real treat to bring to life, especially knowing how much their daughters love to craft,” the designer adds.
Elsewhere, a larger portion of the budget was split between the lighting and the kitchen. “Statement lighting in the house was always prioritized,” Molten says. “The homeowners also agreed that the lighting was important and needed to be special. I was finally able to use some light fixtures that I have been eyeing for years!”
As for the kitchen, it was more difficult to know where to splurge and where to save, a predicament the designer finds herself with on most projects. However, looking now at the honed limestone backsplash, green quartzite countertops with an integrated sink, and a plaster hood by Pope Harris, it’s clear that she made the right choices.
Even with all the home’s beautiful elements, the fan-favorite among Molten’s team ended up being the pool just outside the kitchen. It’s lower than most Molten has worked on in Charleston, making it one of the most unique she’s seen. Flanked by archways and paired with two spas and a raised hot tub, it fully captures a Grecian grotto feel.
Even with all the one-of-a-kind features and elevated furnishings, the home is a place where life is meant to be experienced to the fullest. “The spaces are to be enjoyed without hesitation,” Molten explains, “creating a beautiful, practical environment for a life well lived.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Megan Molten
Architect: DLB Custom Home Design
Builder: EasTech Property Development
Location: Daniel Island, South Carolina
The Space: A six-bedroom, seven-bathroom new build spanning 6,000 square feet.
ENTRYWAY
A curved plaster stairwell is the focal point upon entry.
The beauty of this entryway starts outside with the front door. Made locally by Maebeck Doors, it’s an arched shape with a grid pattern that serves as a charming “wow” moment upon entering the home.
Once inside the house, the awe continues, from the curved plaster stairwell to the custom botanical mural by artist Jenn Griffith. “The homeowners wanted a design that captured elements of both the Mediterranean and the Lowcountry,” Molten adds. The final touch? A stone table in the notch at the base of the stairs, perfect for placing keys or bags at the end of the day.
LIVING ROOM
The artwork inspired the color palette for the entire home.
Molten’s client wanted a large, comfortable sectional that could easily seat her family and any guests, so when the team saw these two at High Point Market, they knew they were perfect for the space. A travertine table, nestled between the two sectionals, made the pieces feel like one long, continuous design, and both were upholstered in Crypton performance fabric for added durability.
To complement the space, Molten added a plush armchair and topped the room off with a modern light fixture that doesn’t add much noise. “The artwork above the sectional is from the homeowner’s own collection,” Molten says. “It served as the catalyst for the colorways used throughout the home.”
KITCHEN & DINING NOOK
An integrated sink adds functionality to the island’s quartzite countertop.
A calming, functional space, the brightness of the kitchen is achieved not through a classic all-white kitchen, but through shades of light green, from the quartzite countertops to the greenish-gray cabinets. Rattan pendant lights bring in that casual Mediterranean feel, especially since the floor-to-ceiling windows on the left overlook the pool below.
To keep it family-friendly, Molten applied one of her favorite tricks: leather on the counter stool seats and fabric on the back. “Wiping off messes and letting the leather patina is both practical and pretty,” she adds.
This dining nook really needed to be functional, since it’s where Molten’s clients and their three children sit for breakfast every morning and dinner every night. Durability for daily use played a huge part in the furniture choices; they sourced a long wooden table and used the same seating upholstery trick here as they did with the counter stools in the kitchen. For a touch of whimsy, Molten crowned the nook with a coco bead chandelier.
Instead of plaster on the double-sided fireplace as she had initially intended, Molten went with a zellige tile façade that produces a lovely shine.
BREAKFAST NOOK
The coral cabinet color was pulled from the Lee Jofa wallpaper.
Easily accessible from the living room, kitchen, and screened-in porch, this breakfast area—complete with a full bar—is perfect for hosting. Anyone can come in and make themselves a drink whenever they want.
Arched upper cabinets with lattice details create more movement in this space, as well as add in charm, and the chandelier has been on the designer’s list of favorites for a while. “I particularly love the contrast of the black countertop with the coral cabinets,” Molten says.
SCULLERY
Hints of yellow and gold tie in the countertop.
The first thing Molten selected for the scullery was the charming lattice window over the sink looking out onto the yard. Then came the bold wallpaper, which inspired the vibrant cabinet paint color, balanced out with a light Calacatta marble countertop with hints of yellow and gold throughout.
“This scullery is a very functional space that houses their microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, and drawers with snacks, all built-in and panel-ready,” Molten says.
CRAFT ROOM
The flooring isn’t tile—it was hand-painted using a stencil from Etsy.
When her clients told her they wanted a dedicated craft room for their girls, Molten was just as excited at the prospect as their daughters. “A dedicated specialty room like this typically provides a great opportunity for lots of creativity and color,” she explains.
They started with the colorful striped wallpaper on the ceiling, pulling colors from it for the built-in cubby shelf and the painted floors. A neutral light fixture keeps the room from feeling too busy, giving it a more timeless feel. “The floor design is so special, and a bit of a splurge,” Molten adds. “I was so pleased the client embraced this idea!”
POWDER ROOM
The same countertop material can be found in the laundry room.
The unique wallpaper served as the starting point for this powder bath, as Molten designed everything else around it. “The Jamie Young mirror looks like an oyster shell, and the floating stone was a nice feature,” she says. “Painting the trim and ceiling the pink shell color made the wallpaper, tile, and stone come together.”
DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM
A wallpaper border introduces a nostalgic touch.
Molten had never done a wallpaper border before, but she adores how it turned out in one of the daughter’s bedrooms. “It’s a great way to add thoughtful design details to a room and is cost-effective too, as opposed to covering the full room in wallpaper,” she says. The trim color was pulled from this border, which she paired with a signature shade of pink from her own collection with Sherwin-Williams.
DAUGHTER’S BATHROOM
The valance is actually painted wood.
“For the daughter’s bathroom, we opted for a tub/shower combo to accommodate young children,” Molten explains. These children-friendly details are found elsewhere in the room too, like a pull-out step stool under the sink cabinets.
The pink-and-green palette from the daughter’s bedroom is continued here, though in slightly more saturated shades. A local Charleston brand, Mirth Studio, created the painted wood valance to pair with the Pepper Home shower curtain, and Pope Harris continued her plaster work here, covering a Visual Comfort & Co. sconce over the mirror in a custom pink hue.
OFFICE
Bright green built-ins hide paperwork.
Located on the small third floor, the only rooms that occupy this level are the office, the office den, and a guest suite, making it a quiet place to escape when the clients, who share this space, need to get work done. “Our client loved the Tiger Palm wallpaper, so we applied that on all of the walls and at the low part of the angled ceiling to help mask all of the ceiling lines in this room,” Molten says. They even have their own wet bar up here for post-work happy hour.
Designed as a dedicated no-kids zone off the office, this private room is where Molten’s clients get away to watch movies after bedtime, decompress after a long day, and just retreat to when they need time to themselves.
“We opted for a performance velvet on the sofa with velvet textured pillows to create a luxurious, cozy feel,” the designer says. “I love the Currey & Co. chandelier with green glass—it works so perfectly in this small room.”
PRIMARY CLOSET
Custom cabinetry allowed for smarter storage.
“Like the primary bedroom and primary bathroom, the closet is not huge, but it’s efficient and thoughtfully designed,” Molten explains. With her team, they designed a wall of built-ins and paid close attention to the functionality of each drawer and shelf while maximizing the space; then a local cabinet maker brought them to life.
Molten chose soft, luxurious carpet that feels like stepping into a high-end department store and a fabulous Made Goods light fixture.
POOL
Completed with a raised hot tub, two spas, and an outdoor shower.
The architect who worked on this house, Damien Busillo of DLB Custom Home Design, had this lower-level pool incorporated in the original plans, and Molten was able to assist with the tile selections.
“This is such a creative way to use empty space under the house,” she says. “Homes in Charleston are often raised when built due to coastal flooding; however, this was the most interesting and exciting design concept I have seen for this area of the home.” It truly captures that Grecian grotto vibe.
About the Designer
Megan Molten has always been creative, but her love of interiors didn’t fully manifest until she bought and decorated her first house in Charleston, South Carolina. From there, she started experimenting with design as a hobby, sharing her eye with friends and family, before devoting all her time to it and finally deciding to open her own eponymous firm. Now, she shares her elevated coastal style and luxurious Lowcountry vibe with clients across the country.
