The Classic Story

Susan White was born with a passion for an industry that today she dominates. Growing up in a graceful Cape Cod style home that her mother designed and her father built, she was eager to prove herself. Opting for a powerful and prestigious career in medicine with the intention of becoming a pediatrician, Susan graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with degrees in both chemistry and zoology. With a love for beauty and a penchant for fine art, Susan’s electives consisted of every art and design class she could work into her already overloaded schedule.

Following college, Susan won the respect of her peers as a chemist and later as a biology teacher before she and her husband made the courageous decision to launch their own real estate firm.

The McKinneys now call the Grand Strand home. Drawing from their extensive travels, and with the help of Classic, they created a casually elegant home, tailor-made for their relaxation and entertaining. A handsome iron-forged door welcomes guests and serves as a gateway into this home and offers a picture perfect view to the outdoor living space beyond. The beautiful stone details on the home’s exterior are reminiscent of not only the Southwest, but also the mountains of North Carolina, two of the McKinney’s favorite places.

Much like his mother, Berkley wanted to choose his own path in life. While he enjoyed building, he wasn’t sure this this was the career for him. With the intention of becoming a veterinarian, he attended Appalachian State University earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and math. To defray college expenses, Berkley worked for an area contractor, continuing to gain experience as a builder. It wasn’t long until he, too, knew he found his calling; leaving behind the field of medicine for building. Berkley White became a third generation builder, and oh what a builder! In 2013, Berkley was named South Carolina’s Builder of the Year.

Today, Susan and Berkley are joined by a team of experienced professionals including Berkley’s wife, Kim, an Auburn University graduate with degrees in architectural drafting and building construction. Kim’s inherent eye for design and her attention to detail are an integral part of Classic’s recipe for success. Along with Susan, Kim oversees Roofline Designs Inc., an in-house residential design firm that drafts many of Classic’s custom floor plans.

Classic Examples

While always at the industry forefront, Classic took center stage in 2012 when the Grand Strand welcomed this area’s first Southern Living Showcase Home–a home designed by Roofline Designs, Inc., built by Classic, and decorated by Classic Interiors.

Thousands toured the home because of its exterior beauty, but an equal number came simply to see its stunning interior.

Well known for their ability to create living spaces that are welcoming, comfortable, and withstand the test of time, Susan and her team at Classic Interiors had created a masterpiece. With its warm, rich hues and a global collection of furnishings, the interior was as exquisite as the home itself!

The Southern Living Showcase Home is certainly one of the feathers in Classic’s cap, but not the only one. The firm takes pride in building homes that are influenced by modern amenities, lifestyle preferences and geographic location. As a result, in 2005, Classic became the first builder in South Carolina to build to the FORTIFIED for Safer Living standards offering homeowners an option which specifies code-plus protection measures to increase a home’s disaster resistance to natural weather hazards.

Make Mine a Classic

Classic, a member of the prestigious Southern Living Custom Builder program, has built nearly 1,000 homes in the Carolina’s and is a premier builder for the Grand Dunes where over 150 homes can be called ‘Classics’.