Built to last

The spot Henry and Greta Dimming chose for their new South Atlantic seaside home is surrounded by powder-soft sand and lush vegetation. Many of the grand homes that were built there in the early 1900s have been carefully renovated and reconstructed to preserve the style and architecture of the times. The Dimmings' place is no exception. Sided with stone and slate, the house looks as if it has been there for more than 100 years. The colonial style continues inside the house, with features such as traditional counterweighted windows, nine stone fireplaces, and mahogany woodwork throughout. "It's a home of very solid construction," Henry explains, "and we expect it to be standing for another 300 years, at least." Durable materials and rugged construction will certainly help the house endure Mother Nature, but the modern electronic systems the couple chose for the abode are just as crucial to its longevity. "It's critical that a house be well wired in order to take advantage of new and upcoming technologies," Henry explains. He should know. The Dimmings have upgraded the controls for their whole-house music system three times in four years, without ever having to add new wire. See this slide show

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