69 Otter Is, Kiawah Island, SC 29455

The estate at 69 Otter Island Road sits on more than 1.6 acres of an exceptionally private peninsula beside the blue waters and peaceful marsh grasses of Bass Creek. Enjoying its own bird sanctuary frequented by eagles, in-deck pool, pool bath and outdoor shower, grilling nook, and spectacular views of both sunrises and sunsets, the home sits between two stretches of marshland. A modern interpretation of the historic Mediterranean Revival style by esteemed Kiawah Island architect Christopher Rose, the property features multiple layers of outdoor living spaces, starting with a pebbled pathway meandering along the shoreline, continuing with a large terrace and pool deck, and concluding with a wide second-story balcony, all of natural stone. The sounds of trickling water rise from the wall fountain at the front of the home. The private bird sanctuary to the far side of the property includes native grasses and plants along with newly built wooden decking and a curving bridge with foot lighting. Upon completion of its original landscape, the property was awarded the 2010 Gold Sweetgrass Award for landscaping highly respectful of nature. Crowned by a top-level atelier and topped with clay tiles, the estate enjoys high ceilings, spacious guest suites, and fine finishes, including mahogany wide-plank flooring, crown molding, wainscoting, and a four-story staircase. A wide entry vestibule leads to a formal living and dining room with a stone-mantled gas fireplace, rough-hewn ceiling beams, and multiple sets of arched glass doors opening to the rear terrace and marsh views. The more private family spaces begin with the adjacent hearth room, where a spacious yet cozy conversation space is anchored by another stone fireplace. It opens to the kitchen with its wood-coffered ceiling, long center island with a sink, trash compactor and hand-painted Dutch tile backsplash above a La Cornue™ gas stove in the renowned oven maker’s signature French blue. The Miele® dishwasher and Sub-Zero® refrigerator are paneled. A white farmhouse sink lies beneath tall windows beside a breakfast nook, and a wooden Dutch door opens to a dedicated outdoor grilling station with a new stainless Wolf® grill. To the kitchens opposite side is a sunny scullery with windows on two sides, stacked Wolf microwave and wall oven, wine cooler, icemaker, and built-in desk. To the rear corner of the main level is the primary suite. Its bedroom, lined with tall windows and arched glass doors opening to the pool deck, is a private sanctuary completed by a bath with a marble freestanding tub by British luxury brand Victoria + Albert™, walk-through rain shower with multiple showerheads, his-and-hers vanities and water closets, a separate makeup vanity, a glass door to a private balcony, and generously sized his-and-hers walk-in closets with cream-colored custom cabinetry. A windowed powder room with thick crown molding, separate water closet and a carved marble-block sink whose faucet produces the precise amount of water pressure to prevent splashing from the basin lies near the home’s three-story mahogany-trimmed staircase. A vertical tandem chandelier of wrought iron with three contiguous light fixtures, commissioned from Charleston’s nationally renowned American College of the Building Arts, hangs from a vaulted ceiling of mahogany. An elevator paneled in mahogany, with a low-relief coffered ceiling and subtle ceiling arch, is also nearby. Upstairs is a second showpiece. Beneath a vaulted ceiling, a wood-trimmed home office features not only a custom desk built into a semi-circular rotunda, offering 180-degree views of Bass Creek, but a climate-controlled wine cellar with space for 2,000 bottles and a secret entrance amid the built-in bookshelves. A separate beverage nook includes a bar sink of hammered bronze along with an undercounter Sub-Zero fridge and icemaker. Across the space, a glass door opens to the estate’s wide second-story balcony. Three spacious guest suites on this level offer tall windows, his-and-hers closets, and finely appointed baths. A wide glassed-in shower in the windowed bath of the front corner suite connects directly to a soaking tub with handheld showerhead, and both his-and-hers sinks and a bedroom sitting area for two welcome pairs of guests. A hallway with a sunlit window seat leads to a central suite sleeping four beside glass doors opening to the balcony, and then to a rear corner suite with a row of windows showcasing the waters of the winding tidal creek. Its closet doors open to a surprise: a coffee nook with stainless sink and plentiful shelving and cabinetry. To the other side of the room is private access to the balcony, while his-and-hers sinks and a frameless-glass shower alcove await in the windowed bath. The crowning feature of the home is the atelier of the top level. Enjoying panoramic views of the tranquil landscape beneath a beam-accented vaulted ceiling, it also contains a beverage nook with a bar sink of hammered bronze and an undercounter Sub-Zero fridge and icemaker. A special treat is a closet with arched wooden doorways which leads to a deep attic offering extra storage space. Additional features of this 6,500-square-foot estate, offered partially furnished, include an option to build a dock with access to the ocean via Bass Creek and the Stono Inlet, extraordinarily solid construction incorporating insulated concrete forms in the walls for optimal heat and sound insulation, top-tier impact-rated windows by Germany’s Gayko™ that can open two ways, extra-tall five-panel interior doors, a trash compactor, a windowed laundry room with sink and two new LG® washers and dryers, a side-entry garage with space for up to five cars, spacious ground-level storage, geothermal heating and cooling with five independent climate control zones, a replastered pool, and professional landscaping integrating low-maintenance native plants, landscape lighting, an irrigation system, and a mosquito misting system. Located in one of Kiawah’s most private enclaves beside its eastern tip, this estate enjoys close proximity to the Island’s immaculate beach and world-class amenities. Both the boardwalk and the popular Beach Club are just a six-minute bicycle ride away in different directions. The world-renowned Ocean Course, host of two recent PGA tournaments and site of the historic War by the Shore, requires only a seven-minute drive along tidal creeks, blue ponds, and scenic marshes. A Kiawah Island Club Golf Membership is available with the purchase of this property. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified.