Palatial Homes

20th century French architect and city planner Le Corbusier once affirmed, "God is in the details." He found divinity in a dwelling. He believed in creating a structure in order to create a life. And he would hae enjoyed meeting Mark Creamer.

Mark Creamer’s attention to detail has not only generated more than 20 years of success for his company, Palatial Homes, Inc., but it also produced on Brams Point one of the most exquisite waterfront homes in Spanish Wells Plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Like Le Corbusier, Creamer finds delight in development. He believes a house should be a home. And he lives up to his personal promise: “Where elegance and luxury are essentials.” The home of Jon and Jan Zachrich is a perfect example of Creamer’s commitment to excellence and the little things. From start to finish, from modern conveniences to antebellum accents to custom-made features, this home radiates a spectrum of special touches and thoughtful planning.

“This is our fifth house in 10 years,” says Jon Zachrich. “Usually the builder helps 95 percent and the last 5 percent gets ugly. But this was not the case with Palatial Homes. To have this type of quality when we weren’t there is amazing.”

The relationship between builder and homeowner is one of mutual respect. Creamer works hard to understand his client’s lifestyle, design preferences and family needs. “They have been one of the greatest clients to work with,” says Creamer. “They just got so excited about everything we designed for them. It was such an enjoyable process.”

The Zachrichs found Palatial Homes while perusing the Hilton Head Home Builders Association Home Show in February 2005. Cheryl Hofmann of Palatial Homes recalls, “The Zachrichs stopped by our booth and were thrilled with our architectural model of a house. They had just purchased an ocean-front lot in Spanish Wells. I called them a couple of days after the home show and the rest is history.”

And fate. Though the Zachrichs had originally planned on building an entirely different house, Palatial’s well-presented booth and well-informed staff opened their eyes to what they now call “our dream home.” “When we saw their models, we thought, ‘They build houses we can’t afford,’” explains Jon Zachrich. However, after speaking with Mark’s brother, Rick Creamer, and seeing some of Palatial’s other projects, the Zachrichs were pleasantly surprised and decided to move forward. Now, having moved into their new home, the Zachrichs could not be more pleased.

“This is very much a party house,” says Jan Zachrich. “We have five to 50 people over all the time. This house is meant for entertaining.”

At 8,125 square feet, the house provides plenty of space and plenty of reasons to have a good time. According to Hofmann, “Jan Zachrich worked with Deborah Van Plew with J. Banks Design Group to create a relaxed but elegant home where you’d feel very comfortable hanging out but still be in awe when you look around the place.” Hofmann’s point is obvious as you walk in the front door. The spacious 24-foot-high foyer invites you in and provides a warm welcome with ample natural light and soft, cool colors. A close second in the “wow factor” category is the 8-foot, octagon-shaped skylight and massive windows in the living room—the spectacular view is a major reason so many people choose to live in the Lowcountry.

Equally awe-inspiring is the kitchen. Hoffman says, “One designer commented that Palatial doesn’t build kitchen islands, we build continents.” The effect is an Old World Italian feel that makes family gatherings and friendly entertaining tasty options for the eyes as well as for the stomach. The kitchen includes a separate entertainment- type bar, state-of-the-art appliances and a warming drawer.

Throughout the house you will find custom cabinetry, granite counter tops, twopiece crown molding and 7-and-afourth- inch baseboards, coffer and tray ceilings with trim carpentry and rope lighting, rounded drywall corners, niches and arches, numerous balconies, walnut saturnia floors throughout the main level, cast-stone fireplace mantels, specialty tile in the bathrooms, oil-rubbed bronze hardware and Bolection doors.

And you will also find a marriage of materials and architectural elements. Inside, the combination of oak and wrought iron on the staircase and upper hallway brings a sophistication you can feel. Outside, the weight of the cast-stone balustrades, rails and steps at the front and back entrances is balanced by lofty arches and curved wrought iron railings on the balconies.

The master suite comes complete with a morning kitchen, a massive walk-in closet with custom cabinetry and island, and a large bathroom with his and her water closets. It is so plush that you might never want to leave its comforts, except for the impulse to play in the billiards room and bar, see a movie in the home theater, find a good read in the library and retreat to the study, get cozy by the fireplace on the veranda, or venture out to the 2,000- square-foot party deck on top of the house, where you can admire miles and miles of the magnificent Lowcountry landscape.

The 4,000-square-foot pool area features a 40-foot-long pool with a cast-stone bridge and a waterfall. As if that was not grand enough, there is a 10-foot spa under the waterfall, an outdoor kitchen with custom cabinetry, and appliances to accommodate any party need.

Convenience also was a consideration when the home was designed. The garage has a pool bathroom and a massive storage area that can easily fit eight cars. In addition, there are two laundry rooms - one on each floor- and several bathrooms and powder rooms.

When asked why the little things were such a big deal, Creamer responds, "Anyone can build a box. What is important are the details that go into it."