School is back in session leaving everyone in a whirlwind of coordinating carpool, scheduling after-school sports activities, ordering school supplies and navigating new curriculums. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Delpino Custom Homes is also in a windstorm of ordering materials, scheduling subcontractors and navigating new projects. We have three major projects forecasted to finish in the next two months and we are gearing up to prepare for their landfall.

Our first house to hit is our newest Park Circle Coastal Cottage located on Justice Street. This light blue new construction cottage is nestled underneath several huge, fern decorated, live oaks. This home’s master suite is a custom design that features a balcony that sits in the canopy of these oaks creating a private sanctuary from your busy schedule. The interior accented grey, white and gold kitchen opens up into the great room and has spectacular views, through the double glass front doors, of the front porch and the live oaks. As this deadline rapidly approaches, there is a flurry of final lighting and plumbing fixtures arriving by mail truck and barge every day! We can’t wait for our new homeowner to see the finished project at the end of this month!

Our second house to hit is our Scott Street luxury addition & renovation on Daniel Island. This project is strengthening by the day as the forecast shows cabinets, countertops and tile getting installed throughout September. A gust of light fixtures has blown into our office this week and we can’t wait to add them to this custom design palette. This scope of this project is our custom Daniel Island upfit that includes a major renovation of the first-floor kitchen, living, dining, office, laundry and master suite as well as an addition of a large screened-in back porch. The kitchen’s navy colored island, gold fixtures and schoolhouse pendants, from Rejuvenation, are major design elements of this project. We hope our clients are blown away by the progress and transformation upon their arrival back in the states in a few weeks. We can’t wait to show them!

Finally, our third house has been brewing for several months and the cone of uncertainty is on track to touchdown mid to late October. This is our “Row House Reno” on Sumter street, located in the Westside neighborhood downtown on the peninsula. Movement on this project has started to get heavy with cabinets & tile getting installed next week. Our design center is preparing for the electrician’s arrival and the painters have stirred excitement in the neighborhood as the exterior transforming colors have been added. Be on the lookout for more sneak peaks of the final design on our social media: Instagram, Facebook & Twitter!

On top of our current projects, we have a surge of exciting marketing campaigns floating around the Twittersphere. We hope you have been following our “Lot of the Week” live feeds in search of the perfect lot to build your custom dream home. These short informational videos have a large focus on the pristine & private Captain’s Island but be on the lookout for exclusive information regarding lots in other parts of Charleston that are not on the market yet. We are also excited for our fall editorial feature in Charleston Home + Design’s next issue (Page 158. Look out for our new ad as well!). We know you will love the before & after of this high-end project! Photographer Eliot Tuckerman will be releasing photos from our marsh front project in the next few weeks- did you see our sneak peak of the photoshoot featuring the playful boarder collie Pearl? Last but not least, we have some VERY exciting new projects that are about to hit the radar so stay tuned for more information on these!

With the bustle of projects finishing, school starting, and new projects on the horizon, a hurricane is the last thing we all need to worry about. Unfortunately, we are in the midst of hurricane season and Hurricane Florence looks to be heading toward our coast. We have compiled a list of hurricane preparations that you can do to prepare your self and your home for this season’s storms. Stay safe!

Hurricane Prep:

Check into flood insurance.

-Develop an emergency communication plan with your friends and family. Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity and water. Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or the fire department, and which radio station to listen to for emergency information.

-Create an emergency supplies list. This should include food, medicine, 1^st aid kits, flashlights, batteries, multi-functional tools, tape, writing supplies, local maps, clothes, bedding and bathroom items etc.

– Store a three-day supply, or more, of water for your family. One gallon per person per day is recommended for drinking, cooking and washing. Remember to include water for pets.

-Clear dead limbs off trees and clear loose debris around your property. Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools; anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.

– Examine the roof from the attic. If many of the nails have missed the rafters, you may need to re-nail the sheathing. Are end gables securely fastened to the rest of the roof? Is the roof fastened to the walls with hurricane straps?

– Are double entry doors secured at the top and bottom? The exterior walls, doors and windows are the protective shell of your home. If the shell is broken during a storm, high winds can enter the home and put pressure on the roof and walls, causing serious damage. For each double door, at least one of the doors should be secured at both the top of the door frame and the floor with sturdy sliding bolts. Most bolts that come with double http://www.charlestoncounty.org doors, however, are not strong enough to withstand high winds. Your local hardware store can help you select the proper bolts. Some door manufacturers provide reinforcing bolt kits made specifically for their doors.

– Has the garage door been properly secured?

– Are windows protected by storm shutters? Installing storm shutters is one of the most effective ways to protect your home. Purchase or make shutters for all exposed windows, French doors, sliding glass doors and skylights. There are many types of manufactured storm shutters available made of wood, aluminum or steel. You can also make storm shutters with 5/8-inch-thick, exterior-grade plywood.

– Is the main electric panel board located above potential flood waters? The main electric panel board (electric fuses or circuit breakers) should be at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation for your home. Are electric outlets and switches located above potential flood waters? Are the washer, dryer, furnace and water heater above potential flood waters?

–  Make sure the gas tank in your car is full.

– Anchor or stow small boats.

– Visit www.charlestoncounty.org 2018 hurricane guide for more detailed information and evacuation routes.