Discover how Delpino Custom Homes elevates the charm of the historic city of Charleston
Operating with the firm belief that building the ideal home should be achieved through partnership, Delpino Custom Homes (Delpino) works one-on-one with each client to stay on time, on budget, and exceed their every expectation. Led by Owner Nathan Delpino, the company has been building stunning homes in the Charleston Low country area since 2010. Nathan kicks off the conversation by providing some background on Delpino and his own career.
“I started working in construction at a young age and was fortunate to have my father-in-law, a seasoned builder specializing in Victorian style homes, as a mentor. Additionally, I worked alongside another Lowcountry builder to gain a lot of hands-on experience early in my career. This helped me learn about construction processes and the critical aspects of putting a home together. While textbooks and theoretical knowledge are valuable, there is still no experience better than having hands-on experience from the foundation to the roof ridge, and applying that knowledge to all aspects in between. This is especially true when dealing with the more complex, larger homes involving various construction methods and processes, similar to the homes that are currently being built in the Coastal Charleston region,” he begins.
After accumulating such valuable experience and insights into the homebuilding sector, Nathan decided to establish a business of his own, Delpino. “For me, building homes is deeply fulfilling as it involves transforming a concept into reality, often refining a rough sketch into a detailed architectural plan. These plans ultimately evolve into spaces people will live in, cherish, and truly make their own. I also really enjoy the creative aspect and the natural flow of homebuilding, where we continuously encounter challenges and make adjustments throughout the process. At Delpino, our expertise lies in crafting modern style homes with large open spaces, requiring specialized engineering to achieve their distinctive features. Our goal is not just to translate a concept into reality but to address all the little details in between. This commitment is what drove me to establish the company early on in my career. I was fortunate to have people who significantly helped me understand and learn the craft. However, upon founding the company, the focus began with an eye toward quality combined with a vision for design to achieve making the houses appealing with a goal of achieving homes with comfortable living, and in tune with the stylish contemporary design and trends,” he continues.
Natural elements
Over the years, Delpino refined its homebuilding style and went beyond simple contemporary design. “As one of the oldest cities in the US, Charleston boasts a wealth of traditional architecture. Visitors flock to Charleston because of the significant efforts invested in maintaining and safeguarding these historic structures that are emblematic of the early history of our nation. Many cities with a comparable historical legacy have seen such structures lost over time as their cities have grown to make way for newer, bigger buildings or developments. However, Charleston went to great lengths to preserve and protect its unique feel, which has contributed to its enduring popularity. This perspective has inspired us to concentrate on bridging the traditional and the modern in our home design. We focus on designing large spaces with large format windows, following modern architectural principles and infusing elements of coastal living with a farmhouse aesthetic to create comfortable, whimsical, and airy atmospheres. By doing so, we create homes that emphasize the architectural and natural elements of the Coastal Charleston region so that our customers can enjoy all of the reasons why they are moving to Charleston. We focus on providing spacious rooms, expansive views, and the familiar comfort of the urban, suburban, or coastal areas they are from, all while maintaining our city’s traditional feel. The result is a harmonious collision of all three styles: traditional, coastal, and modern,” Nathan explains.
Design styles
Delpino’s expertise in blending these styles has earned it six building awards in Charleston. Nathan reveals one of those projects in more detail. “Located in the neighborhood of Daniel Island, our 214 Fell Point project is a modern industrial style home featuring very high ceilings, polished concrete floors, and a commercial style kitchen boasting opposing marble countertops. To soften the industrial aesthetic, we incorporated wood accents throughout the house, such as mahogany, for a deeper, richer, and warmer tone. Likewise, we incorporated a Frank Lloyd Wright plumbing line into the master bathroom, featuring wood grain detailing on the plumbing fixtures like the faucets and shower heads. Here too, we added warmth to a home that would typically have nickel plumbing elements, softening the overall metal feel with the distinctive wood grain accents of Frank Lloyd Wright’s fixtures. The house features a U-shaped layout running parallel to the street, with two perpendicular wings extending toward the rear property line. In the center lies a large pool and pool deck, so the homeowners are enveloped by the home, ensuring privacy. To enhance this privacy, we added tropical plantings such as bamboo, banana trees, and palm trees, creating a lush oasis atmosphere. This outdoor setting offers a contrast to the modern industrial design found inside the house,” he describes.
Modern coastal
In the same neighborhood, Delpino has crafted a house of which Nathan is equally proud. “217 Captain Goddard is another home we built in Daniel Island, which embodies a coastal theme with a touch of modernity. It features a floating staircase in a street-facing stair tower, complemented by large-format windows. To capture the modern coastal aesthetic, we were looking for unique wall covering options for the stair tower and ultimately settled on vertical tambour, a convex style wall paneling with a mid-century vibe. The home also boasts a fantastic open kitchen with an oversized island, high-end Sub-Zero appliances, custom plaster hood, and a floor-to-ceiling plaster fireplace that adds texture and character. Additionally, there are exposed wood beams throughout the house, elegant light fixtures, and a charming plunge pool at the back,” he adds.
Through these and other ambitious projects, Delpino showcases its expertise in masterfully blending timeless tradition and modern flair.