Kathryn and David Kossove of Augustus & Carolina

Kathryn and David Kossove

For the Kossove family, it seems that all trails lead to Debordieu. Though Kathryn and David Kossove have traveled far and wide, including countless trips to Hong Kong and much of Asia, they are always drawn back to the peace and tranquility of their beach-front home in Debordieu. Bought and originally used as a beach house, the Kossoves have transformed the house into a one-of-a-kind home. After three renovations, it has truly been a labor of love.

With one daughter in Los Angeles and another in Chicago, the Kossoves try to plan at least one special trip each year to bring all the family together again. Finding the perfect time to suit everyone’s busy schedule can be quite a feat, but finding the perfect location is easy. This past summer, the Kossove family converged at their spacious and elegant abode at the beach to celebrate the fourth of July.  

David’s daughter, Shayna George, lives in L.A. with her husband, Eric, an accomplished attorney, and their son, Kohl, a budding scientist. Shayna is a beauty editor at whowhatwear.com, a fashion-forward, L.A.-based news and media website. David’s second daughter, Nicole Kayes, lives in Chicago with her husband, Tom, also an accomplished attorney, and their daughter, Talia, an ebullient, sweet little girl. Nicole is the Director of Field Human Resources at Crate and Barrel and an attorney by trade.  

The Kossoves, a well-traveled, business-savvy, fashion- and design-forward family, have used their knowledge, experience and success to bless Georgetown. For their first endeavor in Georgetown, Kathryn and David dared to buy and renovate a dilapidated Belk building on Front street and spark a downtown revitalization that exudes today. In 2005, the Kossoves opened Augustus & Carolina, an ever-growing and expanding furniture and design store that boasts both traditional and modern furniture, lighting, rugs and eclectic finds from across the globe. Since then, they have bought and renovated a total of four buildings on Front Street, and Augustus & Carolina now occupies about 65,000 square feet.

David, an entrepreneur at heart, has also owned and operated Phi Enterprises, a Hong Kong-based sourcing business for multi-family builders across the East Coast for over 20 years. Racking up an impressive four million flying miles just on American Airlines alone, Kathryn and David have seen, tasted, and experienced the world. That depth of experience is reflected in their beautiful store in Georgetown and well as their exceptional beach house in Debordieu.  

David met Kathryn, a former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader, during a real estate business deal and apparently lost his bravado when she walked into the meeting. As opposites often attract, David is a self-described “idea man” and relies heavily on his bride, Kathryn, to attend to the practical art of getting things done. And let’s not forget about Lola, Kathryn and David’s dog, a Hungarian Kuvasz, who demands Vienna sausages and perhaps your sandwich upon gracing the floors of Augustus & Carolina.  

The Kossoves are always looking for opportunities to better Georgetown, a community in which they are heavily invested. Each year, a thoughtful contribution is made and their touches can be enjoyed all over Georgetown. As members of the Temple Beth Elohim, located on Screven St. in Georgetown, having a functional and attractive social hall was a project they could get behind. In 2015, the Kossoves renovated the now aptly named Kathryn and David Social Hall, which was an outdated building originally constructed in the late 1940s, so the congregation could have a proper place to celebrate holidays throughout the year.

Next time you visit the stately Kaminski House Museum on Front Street, be sure to wander through the gardens that overlook the river. There you will experience the generosity of the Kossoves. The Kaminski House Museum and its lush grounds are a favorite location for tourists, locals and, of course, stunning Lowcountry weddings. One such wedding, which occurred during the infamous total solar eclipse in 2017, was featured in a New York Times article, even mentioning the Kathryn and David Kossove Garden as a feature of the ceremony. The Kossoves continue to bless our community with their dedication, expertise, and generosity.