Architecture & Design // 4 min Read

Get Smart

Written by Palmetto Bluff

The HGTV Smart Homes are in a league of their own. The homes are cleverly constructed with advanced technology, gadgets, and smart solutions to enhance entertaining and everyday living. The 2018 home at Palmetto Bluff is the 11th in the Smart Home series and the designer, architect, and builder carefully planned every detail of the custom construction to ensure high innovation and efficiency to attract a tech-savvy homeowner.

Designed by Greenville, South Carolina-based Markalunas Architecture Group and built by Bluffton-based Shoreline Construction, HGTV’s Smart Home 2018 is a Southern coastal sanctuary. True to its setting in Moreland Village, you’ll find that interior designer Tiffany Brooks makes generous nods to the outdoors and the Palmetto Bluff lifestyle in her design.

And, it can be yours. You’ll have a little competition though: the HGTV Smart Home 2017 had 87 million entries. But, if you are feeling lucky, here are the details.

The HGTV Smart Home Giveaway 2018

In addition to the residence and all its furnishings, the winner will receive a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Plug-In Hybrid and a $100,000 cash prize provided by national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®.

When does the HGTV Smart Home 2018 sweepstakes run and how can I enter?

The HGTV Smart Home 2018 sweepstakes opens for entries on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, and runs through Thursday, June 7, 2018. Eligible viewers can enter twice per day at HGTV.com. Full rules are available at HGTV.com.

Features of the HGTV Smart Home 2018

  • Elevated Southern style that sets the pace for living the Lowcountry lifestyle
  • Three bedrooms and three and a half baths with approximately 2,850 square feet
  • Smart technology and energy-efficient materials throughout that blend with traditional Southern architecture
  • Open-concept kitchen with custom storage solutions
  • Spacious master suite with vaulted ceilings, diagonal shiplap, and abundant natural light in the bedroom, a full walk-in closet, and a spa-like bathroom that includes smart mirrors, a concealed coffee pot in the vanity, and a waterproof shower television
  • Hidden virtual reality room with a gaming system and VR headset
  • Luxurious screened porch with a dining area, a drink table, lush greenery, and a concealable television
  • Backyard features a four-seat fire pit and grilling area, bringing sanctuary and relaxation for the perfect smart getaway home

Kitchen:

HGTV Smart Home 2018 features a beautiful open-concept kitchen full of unique storage solutions. The mix of materials used—butcher block and quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, brick backsplashes, glass cabinet fronts—results in a space that feels both rustic and modern at the same time, while the soft blue cabinets serve as a focal point and pop of color for the eye.

Master Bedroom:

The master bedroom in HGTV Smart Home 2018 utilizes custom design to create a unique take on modern Lowcountry style. With oversized windows and four skylights providing abundant natural light, elements like the diagonally oriented shiplap and floral drapes stand out against pure white walls while highlighting the room’s dramatic vaulted ceilings.

Flex Space:

In a nod to both smart technology and smart design, HGTV Smart Home 2018 features a second-floor flex space that can be used as a craft area, a library, or even a home office, complete with a window bench and plenty of storage. The bookcase opens up to reveal a hidden gaming and virtual reality room with built-in lights that pulse and change color according to the music.

Host and Designer, Tiffany Brooks

Tiffany, a wife and working mom, is the owner of a residential design firm and winner of HGTV Star season 8.

Design Notes from Tiffany Brooks

What is the design aesthetic you chose for this house?

“‘New Lowcountry Lake House,’ which is a term I made up! I wanted to take classic elements from what is so familiar out there and put a new spin on them. For example, you’ll see a ton of different takes on the paneling, which is normally shiplap. Instead, I used wood textures and diagonal paneling. I used modern lines in furniture, but I wanted to keep the same traditional/casual-feeling fabrics in the pieces.”

In keeping with the vision for Palmetto Bluff, how did you work to blend the indoors and outdoors in this home?

“Porch design and views were definitely a big consideration. A lot of time was spent making the screened porch as fashionable and thoughtful as the rest of the home. I also carefully selected window treatments and coverings that enhanced, rather than obstructed, the views of the surrounding grounds. The plants were also a part of the design story—the living greenery we used is really a tribute to the beauty of Palmetto Bluff. Casual fabrics were another piece, as I picked them carefully to make sure they gave a nod to the outdoors.”

Photography provided by HGTV%GALLERY%

Photos © 2018 Scripps Networks, LLC. Used with permission; all rights reserved

Club Life
5 Reasons for the Season: Why We Love Fall in the Lowcountry

The golden glow of the marshes, the crisp air, and the sense of calm after a busy summer season all make this time of year unforgettable. Whether you’re enjoying the Bluff or exploring the wider coastal region, here are 5 reasons why fall is when the Lowcountr...

Oct 2025

Conservation
Watching Birds, Supporting Science: FeederWatch at Palmetto Bluff

Here in the Lowcountry, the Conservancy brings FeederWatch to life with guided sessions at the Conservancy’s bird feeders. Education and Outreach Manager Aaron Palmieri leads these gatherings, teaching attendees how to identify wintering species, choose the ri...

Sep 2025

Culture
Chef Beth’s Lowcountry 7 Layer Dip with Pimento Cheese

Ingredients 2 cups cooked sea island red peas, crushed with a fork 1 recipe of pimiento cheese dip (recipe below), room temperature 2 cups crème fraiche 1 cup fire-roasted bell peppers, sliced into strips 1.5 cups grilled corn, husked an...

Sep 2025

Real Estate
The Benefits Of Buying A Newly-Built Home In Palmetto Bluff

At Palmetto Bluff, newly built homes are more than residences—they are carefully crafted retreats offering the best of Lowcountry living. Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Co. Agent, Amanda Cutrer, shares the benefits of buying “new” in the Bluff. Builder Support ...

Sep 2025

Conservation
Lowcountry Canvas

Visionary land planner Mark Permar reflects on Palmetto Bluff's rich history and its enduring connection to the land. With Anson on the horizon, the legacy of designing with nature lives on.How did you first get involved with Palmetto Bluff?  I believe it was ...

Sep 2025

Architecture & Design
Palmetto Bluff Homes with Guest Homes and Casitas

Explore Available Listings with Room For the Whole Family At Palmetto Bluff, life moves at the pace of the tides; slow enough to savor, yet rich with moments worth sharing. And when it comes to welcoming the people you love most, the right home makes all the ...

Aug 2025
2025 bluffton real estate

Real Estate
Real Estate Sales Report: Palmetto Bluff’s 2025 Midyear Update

Real Estate in Bluffton, SC: Trends, Updates, and Insights The first half of 2025 has been nothing short of remarkable for Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, with sales volume, transaction count, and market share setting a strong pace for the year ahead. As ...

Aug 2025

Architecture & Design
Your Complete Guide to Lowcountry Landscaping

Enhancing Coastal Living With Lowcountry Landscaping Trends The Lowcountry lies along the southeastern coast of the United States, a region known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and unique culture. From the charming streets of Charleston to the...

Aug 2025

Conservation
Loyalties Divided

By Katie Epps, Palmetto Bluff Archaeologist Standing on the bluff that rises above the May River, gaze across the vast expanse of marsh and sky. This is a landscape virtually untouched by time. Imagine this vista in the eighteenth century, in the throes ...

Aug 2025

Club Life
Back to School at the Bluff

The school year has officially begun, and the sound of school buses can be heard throughout the Lowcountry. As is true for much of South Carolina, Bluffton and the surrounding areas have experienced exceptional growth over the past 10 years, and so have the op...

Aug 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us