Charleston Style & Design Winter 2023

Melissa Koger Watson President

Photo by Margaret Wright

Photo by Leigh Webber

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Photo by Katie Charlotte

Photography by Callie Cranford

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by: Red Shutter Studio

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These markets — they’re a wild ride. But we’ve seen it before. And with a Merrill Advisor, you can do more than just hang on — you can charge forward. Backed by world-class insights. Cutting-edge technology. And a personalized plan to help you thrive. Don’t just ride it out. Ride with the bull. Ride with Merrill.

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Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 75 Port City Landing Suite 500 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 877.971.4572 fa.ml.com/svgroup

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Photo

Jenan McClain

Jenan McClain

Poetic Painter

Photos by Patrick Brickman

M.P. DEMETRE JEWELERS

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON | 253 KING STREET

MY LAGOS MY WAY

LUXURY IS

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WE PROVIDE LUXURY SERVICE AT EVERY PRICE POINT

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At Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, we are local experts with a global reach, showcasing your property to the widest audience to achieve the highest price-point. High-touch, service-minded, and technology driven; our representation goes above and beyond all others.

At Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, we are local experts with a global reach, showcasing your property to the widest audience to achieve the highest price-point. High-touch, service-minded, and technology driven; our representation goes above and beyond all others.

At Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, we are local experts with a global reach, showcasing your property to the widest audience to achieve the highest price-point. High-touch, service-minded, and technology driven; our representation goes above and beyond all others.

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“A Gift of Love” 24x18 palette knife oil on canvas

AMELIA ISLAND · CHARLESTON · CHARLOTTE

PHOTOS BY: ZEKE RUELAS

Photo by Holger Obenaus

Design

IS OUR LANGUAGE

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

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CHARLESTON MT. PLEASANT SUMTER

Photo by Sean Reagan Photography

RICHARD FERGUSON FINE ART

“Tuscon Morning” Venetian Plaster on Wood

“Red Gold” Acrylic on Canvas

Photos by Julia Lynn

Photo by Julia Lynn

Photo by Holger Obenaus

Photo by Holger Obenaus

Photo by Julia Lynn

Photos by Holger Obenaus

KIAWAH ISLAND VAIL LAKE PLACID

MICHAEL CYRA PHOTOGRAPHY

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Corcoran has the key to South Carolina’s first city.

has the key to South Carolina’s first city.

Corcoran HM Properties has arrived in Charleston.

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Jennifer Patterson

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Uprichard Residence

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"Real comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room."

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Copper Ceiling Mounts by Coastal Copper Alexandre Fleuren Interiors

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Pierre Verona brings modern luxury to homes by crafting semiprecious minerals into functional art

204

Design Comes Knocking at the Door

Evolving

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publisher’s letter

Welcome to 2023! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season as much as we did! We are kicking off the year with an amazing magazine. The past few years we have seen tremendous growth in Charleston Style & Design , and we are excited to see that continue.

Our home features showcase two incredible projects. The first is an interior design project under the vision of Margaret Donaldson Interiors. The homeowners

decided to build a gathering place for their children and grandchildren. They envisioned a modern, rustic home where everyone could be together for holidays and vacations. The result: a casual, sophisticated home with a little bit of a California vibe mixed with farmhouse style.

Our second home feature is a new build on Fish Tail Island. Built as a spec house, Novella Homes built a home with a lot of warmth and a California style. The house is all about outdoor living and connecting with the environment. Perfect for Charleston.

We had the pleasure to check out Victor’s Seafood & Steak just before its reopening. The food was amazing! We’ve featured some fantastic local companies, too: FACE FOUNDRIÉ, Yoj Events, Atlantic Stone, Landrum Tables, Design On Tap, Front Porch Properties SC, Dunes Properties, Gateway Supply, Lowcountry Hurricane and Protection Shutters, Peace Sotheby’s and Renlita Custom Opening Solutions. Also in this issue are artists Stephen Moscowitz and Joe Davis and physician Dr. Bernard Taylor. We hope you enjoy the issue!

—Quentin Senise Publisher

PHOTOGRAPH

BY EVAN LAETTNER

SUBSCRIBE

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If available, back issues may be purchased for $6 plus postage per copy. Contact us by phone or email.

EXPLORE OUR PAGES

To learn more about our magazine, take a virtual tour and share links from current and past issues. Then join the conversation on Facebook.

INQUIRE AND SHARE IDEAS

Would you like to write for us? Do you know of an individual, institution or business we should feature in our pages? Please contact the editor at editor@charlestonstyleanddesign.com.

As Charleston South Carolina’s Premier Auction and Estate Services Venue, we offer renowned expertise and extraordinary service. Charleston Estate Auctions is the place for people looking to buy, sell, appraise, or authenticate fine objects of value.

With over 50 years of industry experience including Auctioneering and Auctioneering Technology, Estate Sales, Certified Personal Property Appraisals, GIA Graduate Appraisals and Museum Quality Fine Art Restoration and Conservation. We command record-breaking prices in the national and international auction marketplace. Private consultations always available.

Please call us at either 843-817-6552 or 843-696-3335 if we can be of service. www.charlestonestateauctions.com

Charlotte was able to quickly identify and understand our priorities and aligned our search based on her amazing knowledge of the many neighborhoods within Mount Pleasant. From short-notice virtual showings to navigating aggressive multiple offer scenarios, Charlotte’s professionalism, patience, and sense of humor was on display throughout the entire journey. We are now in our dream home and it would not have been possible without Charlotte!

— Mount Pleasant Homebuyer

DESIGN TRENDS

FABULOUS FINDS

EMBLER’S JEWELERS

The Confetti Collection showcases this flush set, scattered diamond, 14K yellow gold cigar band with a brushed finish. The perfect addition to any collection. 843.216.7349 emblersjewelers.com

TROPICAL TAPESTRY

Limited-edition print on recycled paper is hand crumpled, aged and antiqued for a vintage patina. Artist Helli Luck paints in oils for a contemporary, impressionist feel for these French wall panels. 615.300.3092 tropicaltapestry.com

WELL FURNISHED

This matte white temple jar with a hand-painted abstract pattern revamps a traditional form with a modern-day twist. Available in three sizes: 15", 18" and 21" tall. 843.225.5500 shopwellfurnished.com

DEGUISE INTERIORS

Arranged in petals, the Venus mirror is made from real saddle oyster shells in a champagne finish. The shells graduate up to 12" as they radiate out from the mirror’s center. 843.971.1491 deguiseinteriors.com

ZINNIA

This handmade blown glass azure pitcher is crafted using recycled material and fits with décor styles ranging from contemporary to coastal. Complete the set with matching glassware. 843.388.9433 shopzinnia.com

REINERT FINE ART & SCULPTURE GARDEN GALLERY

Laura Teste’s Sea of Sun is one of the three Sea Sisters Each figure engages with the seashore through a unique point of view. The seashore’s trinity of elements—waves, wind and sun— manifest as stamina, muse and brilliance in this series. 843.694.2445 reinertfineart.com

DANCO HOME

Defined by its excellent neck and lumbar support, and high back, the Stressless Wing Signature Recliner features medium-soft padding, a bucket seat and modern styling. 843.884.2256 / dancohome.com

CHD INTERIORS

Inspired by nature, this lamp is made up of stacked glass pebbles in an aqua glaze with a clear base and silver-finished accents. 843.357.1700 chdinteriors.com

JEFFREY BANNON

Create a dramatic focal point with the Layla chandelier. The elegant form is sculpted with an acrylic frame and features delicate gold leaf detailing. 843.414.7170 jeffreybannon.com

M.P. DEMETRE JEWELERS

OMEGA’s Seamaster Aqua Terra 41mm model has been crafted from 18K Sedna gold and stainless steel, with a wave-edged design on the caseback. 843.722.2073 demetrejewelers.com

KIERSTEN ELIZABETH FINE JEWELRY

Radiant, fancy yellow 18K and platinum diamond earrings. Total weight is 2.68 carats. 843.906.1352 kierstenelizabeth.com

HARBOR CLASSIC

The Seward Harbor outdoor dining extension table showcases the simple beauty of natural teak in a weathered gray finish. Ideal for outdoor entertaining, the table expands from 64" to 94". 843.564.7517 harborclassic.com

ZINN RUG GALLERY

This antique handwoven Karabagh kilim dated 1939 brings a contemporary pop of color that mimics sunset hues. Measures 4'1" x 6'6". 843.834.2425 zinnruggallery.com

GATEWAY SUPPLY CO.

The Allaria bath collection begins with simple forms. Alone each is unassuming, but combine the elements and a transformation occurs, creating an alluring force. Pictured in the luxe gold finish. 843.554.0450 gatewaysupply.net

CLEOD GLASSWORKS

The Kona lamp features the company’s signature prism pattern. The refreshingly modern look is perfect for any room. 843.789.4031 cleodglassworks.com

GWYNN’S OF MOUNT PLEASANT

The Tony boot is a sleek, knee-high equestrian boot crafted in Italy from black, soft vachetta leather and elevated on a 70mm block heel. This timeless style is a must-have for the season. 843.884.9518 gwynns.com

COASTAL COPPER

The Chantilly lantern is available in gas or electric application and a variety of sizes and finishes. 843.696.7560 coastalcopper.com

M. DUMAS & SONS

The perfect complement to your favorite jeans, khakis and suede shoes, the buffed American alligator L.E.N. belt is tanned and finished in France and features velvety soft detail. Matching edge and border stitch. Signature solid brass hardware in a brushed nickel finish. 843.723.8603 mdumasandsons.com

TAXIDERMY

Available in an array of colors and two sizes, the Liz traveler tote is the bag you need for a walk down the block or a flight across the country. Shown in orange pebbled leather. 843.297.5233 shoptaxidermy.com

ZINN RUG GALLERY

This antique Leski Derbent rug has a seductive blend of mocha, blue and hints of blush in a transitional pattern that pairs well with contemporary and traditional styles. Measures 3'11" x 6'3". 843.834.2425 zinnruggallery.com

CHD INTERIORS

Make a statement with this oversize clamshell bowl. Use for storage in a bathroom or as a centerpiece. 843.357.1700 chdinteriors.com

TROPICAL TAPESTRY

Limited-edition, 4' x 4' print on recycled paper from France by Charleston artist Helli Luck, Magnolia is hand-antiqued, glazed and crumpled for a vintage patina. Luck paints in oils in a loose, impressionist style for these wall panels. 615.300.3092 tropicaltapestry.com

SOHN & MCCLURE

14K white gold 25.02-carat weight diamond lariat necklace. 843.853.3968 sohnandmcclure.com

HARBOR CLASSIC

The Harbor Classic Charleston outdoor club chair has a streamlined silhouette and perfect proportions. Weather-hardy Sunbrella cushions are included. 843.564.7517 harborclassic.com

EMBLER’S JEWELERS

These 18K yellow gold earrings bring the vintage feel everyone is looking for. The detail of the filigree and perfectly set diamonds throughout make this pair the go-to earrings for every occasion. 843.216.7349 emblersjewelers.com

TERRA DESIGNS

Gorgeous bathroom vanities in floating and freestanding styles. A faux Belgian linen resin surface and faceted knobs are among the many handcrafted details that set this vanity apart. 843.856.3991 terradesignsinteriors.com

TAXIDERMY

The Sayre sling mini crossbody is made from soft pebbled leather. It has a wide shoulder strap, zipper top and roomy back pocket. It’s a must-have for travel or daily use. 843.297.5233 shoptaxidermy.com

GATEWAY SUPPLY CO.

The Murano collection combines age-old artisanal tradition with contemporary design and function. Expert Italian glassmakers produce these spun-glass sinks using techniques handed down over many generations. 843.554.0450 gatewaysupply.net

KIERSTEN ELIZABETH FINE JEWELRY

GIA 4.47-carat oval yellow diamond ring with 2.36 carats of colorless accent diamonds. 843.906.1352 kierstenelizabeth.com

L&M CARPETS

Raw, natural wool is blended with soft, fine New Zealand wool to create a heavy, thick and dense flat weave construction. Available in 15 colorways as shaded plain carpets, or the colored yarn can be used in L&M’s patterned flat weaves. 201.951.0980 lmcustomcarpets.com

M.P. DEMETRE JEWELERS

The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra 34mm 18K Sedna gold and stainless steel ladies wristwatch is presented on a stainless steel bracelet with 18K Sedna gold links. 843.722.2073 demetrejewelers.com

PAINTERLY HOME

Sunflowers in Vase from the Gallery Pillow Collection. Shown is the 22" square with image on both sides and contrast welt; comes with down insert. 571.220.8678 painterlyhome.com

M.P. DEMETRE JEWELERS

Marco Bicego’s love of nature takes shape through the handengraved 18K yellow gold petals that pay homage to its inspiration, the Lunaria flower. 843.722.2073 demetrejewelers.com

CLEOD GLASSWORKS

The Hilo pendant lamp shines with a brilliant display of light and texture. 843.789.4031 cleodglassworks.com

ELLIOTT BROTHERS WOODWORKS

Antique beams are authentic old-growth timbers salvaged from warehouses, barns and industrial structures from the southeastern United States. Choose from reclaimed and “pecky” cypress. The beams are kiln-dried or fumigated. Available unfinished or finished to specifications. 206.949.1447 ebwoodworks.com

OUTSIDE IS IN

The traditional, classic design of this table features corner legs, allowing for comfortable seating. Various sizes available. 843.718.7181 outside-is-in.com

PAINTERLY HOME

Introducing our 100% cotton and linen tea towels, which will bring a cheerful vibe to your kitchen or tea tray. Measures 16" x 24". 571.220.8678 painterlyhome.com

REINERT FINE ART & SCULPTURE GARDEN GALLERY

Sculptor Robert Allison creates from day-to-day interactions and his love of mythical, whimsical characters, showing the grace, courage and inner strength of the male and female. Shown here is Vendemmia in bronze. 843.694.2445 reinertfineart.com

COASTAL COPPER

The copper Pineapple Pendant lantern is available in gas or electric application. The lantern is made to order in the size and finish of your choice. 843.696.7560 coastalcopper.com

ZINN RUG GALLERY

This eye-catching, antique Turkish Oushak (Uşak) rug gets its golden yellows from saffron. Measures 3'4" x 5'4". 843.834.2425 zinnruggallery.com

LIFESTYLE REFLECTIONS

THE NOT-SO-CRUEL SUMMER

by MICHELLE THOMPSON

We were going to have a “ real ” summer vacation, I told myself. After shutdowns, travel bans and the overall weirdness of the last couple of years, I had visions of a European getaway to put it all behind us. Toes in the Mediterranean sand with a cocktail in hand. Brunch at a Parisian boulangerie with a fresh baguette and wheel of Brie. Oui!

We were at a point when I could look back at what had happened and breathe a sigh of relief that it was behind us. Starting high school in a remote environment during a pandemic is tough any way you slice it, but I had watched my daughter, once a vivacious, straight A student, transform into a withdrawn nocturnal creature who was either sleeping all day or staring at her phone. Even though we were physically together more than ever, I felt there was a disconnect between us that I really didn’t know how to fix. I now know that like so many other kids, she was experiencing anxiety, depression and an ambivalence toward virtual school that resulted in a precipitous drop in her GPA.

Thankfully, things got much better when school resumed in person, and she pulled herself up by her bootstraps and made a concerted effort to get her grades up. I was so relieved and proud of her that I promised a fun summer trip abroad. After much debate, we decided on Switzerland. It was her dream destination, and one of the few countries my son wouldn’t be visiting. He, too, was heading to Europe for a monthlong backpack trip with his friends, so we decided to not cramp his style and accidentally (not accidentally) run into him—or as he envisioned, jump scare him from an alley in Venice.

The travel planning commenced, and the summer of fun was destined to become a reality.

And then it wasn’t.

My husband, his friend and I were heading out for an evening of dinner and a concert (yay, live music was back), and then I stepped out of the car. It was the POP heard around the world. I’ve been told it wasn’t heard around the world, but I heard it, isn’t that enough? It wasn’t a fun sound, like yummy buttery, salty popcorn popping. But I digress. All I knew was that POP was the sound of another cruel summer knocking on the door. I sat down on the curb—not by choice—and the gentlemen

gallantly picked me up and human-crutched me into the restaurant, where I propped my leg on a barstool and ordered vodka and an Uber home.

As he reviewed my MRI, the look on the surgeon’s face said it all. Au revoir summer of fun. Hiking in the Alps changed to surgery and crutches, and this time the fallout of life’s curveball was a healthy dose of mom guilt and a seriously bummed-out 15-year-old daughter stuck in the in-between zone. Her friends were all gone for the summer, she was too old for summer camp, she didn’t have a driver’s license, and the minimum employment age was 16 everywhere she wanted to work. Oh, and her brother was sending us pictures from a Metallica concert in Madrid. Ouch.

But as we shuffled through my post-surgery summer, I realized there was a silver lining that caught me completely by surprise. I couldn’t drive, and with a ton of medical appointments, I needed more than one chauffeur. My daughter had her driver’s permit so I tapped her to be my assistant.

We spent a ton of time together in the car over the summer, and it was pure magic. We chatted about her life, her friends, her dreams, her favorite clothes, games, books and music. I learned she wants to study abroad, become a psychiatrist and live in either a cottage in the French countryside or a swanky apartment in Manhattan. She showed me pictures of her dream wedding and all the tattoos she wants to get when she turns 18 (I’m not sure about the spider one). She teed up the driving playlist each day, and we sang out loud together at the top of our lungs.

Now as I write this, I’m all healed up, and we are planning a redo in the form of a Canadian ski trip this spring. And I’m definitely watching my step as I get out of the car, because I have no desire to be the target of another unexpected curveball. But I’ll always remember last summer and smile. It was the summer I rediscovered and reconnected with my daughter, and for that I am eternally grateful. *

Michelle Thompson is a children’s book author, freelance writer and marketing guru. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, two dogs and a cat.

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LIFESTYLE ARTS INSIDER

by BILL THOMPSON

Iwas there the day the terrace theatre opened and the local independent film scene was saved Today, the Terrace on James Island is a hybrid theater showing both small independent features and larger mainstream films, but in its early days, it was the last bastion of art house cinemas in the city, with the Stage One Cinema folding its tent, the Roxy about to drop the curtain, and the South Windermere Twin Theater—which had more lives than a cat—barely scratching out a continued existence.

I like to think that the coverage I brought to bear for 19 years as the Post and Courier’s full-time film critic and columnist contributed, in some small way, to the success these theaters enjoyed. If for no other reason than making readers more aware of them and the movies they showcased. The theaters, in turn, provided me with countless hours of stimulation and fun—usually as a one-man audience at official (and unofficial) press screenings. The job was a privilege I never took for granted, especially as small-city movie reviewers began going the way of the dodo.

Championing intelligent, innovative independent films as opposed to bloated, mass-audience blockbusters, and

encouraging people to experience them, was one of the most rewarding aspects of writing about a lifelong passion: the movies. The local scene has changed significantly, of course, with megaplexes having crowded out the indies. But the Terrace survives.

Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the theater has prospered under three owners: Marcie and Mike Marzluff, who founded it; successor Mike Furlinger, who introduced a creative marketing element to the business; and Paul Brown, himself an independent filmmaker who came down from Canada to sustain the enterprise. Of the three, Brown’s tenure has been the longest, and he has added periodic film festivals to the bill of fare. In a nice bit of karma, the manager is the Marzluff’s daughter, Amy.

When the Marzluffs debuted the Terrace in 1997, the independent cinema in America was enjoying its Golden Age. The middle ’90s flooded nationwide theaters with quality art house product, much of it domestic, while also showcasing the best foreign language movies that could be obtained. And small-market Charleston got a disproportionate share, thanks in large measure to the persistence of local owners, loyal audience support—largely older filmgoers—and the dogged

determination of New York-based booker and Angelica Theater owner Jeff Jacobs, who booked the Roxy and, later, the Terrace.

The new year finds the Terrace still thriving, but it’s always a challenge. For some time now, contemporary business realities have compelled Brown to offer more big studio features as part of the mix. The idea of running such vacuous popcorn fodder as Top Gun: Maverick would have been unthinkable in 1997. Today, it’s the price of staying aloft.

The long-standing identity of the art house as a place to see revivals, foreign language films, movies with mature and/or eccentric sexual themes, noncommercial filmmaking and seat-ofthe-pants productions is slowly being eclipsed.

The fact is, few genuinely independent film buyers and distributors (studios) even exist today, having been engulfed by corporate whales. There’s less true independent product to begin with.

But perhaps I shouldn’t be such a cinematic snob about it. Forgive me. For almost two decades it was my task to extol first-rate art house features, to give full credit to mainstream movies that demonstrated a degree of artistry, and to give mindless junk the skewering it deserved.

I like to think I always appreciate excellence when I witness it, or at least an attempt at excellence. And that was the crux of it for me. If a filmmaker made a genuine attempt at doing something exceptional but fell short, you first praise the effort, then point out where, in your opinion, they went awry.

It’s when a talented director with an A-list cast and crew turned out a lazy, slapdash movie that was an insult to its audience that my claws came out.

The Terrace may not always screen the best of the best, but it has respected its audience enough over the past quarter century to deserve our admiration—and keep my claws well sheathed. *

Bill Thompson covers the arts, film and design.

GARY ERWIN: A SHRIMP CITY STANDBY

by BILL THOMPSON

It is rather unlikely that a native chicagoan who also lived in Boston would become synonymous with Charleston. But when everything Gary Erwin touches turns to music, the association was inevitable.

A fixture not only of the area music scene since the early 1980s but of venues around the South and overseas, the exceptionally well-traveled Erwin has made his mark in songwriting, performance, recording, radio and music publishing, and as the guiding hand behind numerous music festivals.

Erwin, 69, goes by the stage name Shrimp City Slim, a moniker recognized by former Charleston mayor Joe Riley

with a day honoring Erwin’s contributions to the city.

His calling card is the blues, steeped in traditions North and South yet also drawing on influences from abroad. Erwin has performed in Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Germany, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

With 12 CDs to his credit, the most recent being Tidal Pool, Erwin did 150 gigs last year, down from his more typical 230 pre-COVID. His record label, Erwin Music (established in 1988), presents the works of other noted blues and roots artists as well as his own.

The shindigs he shepherds include the Carolina

Downhome Blues Festival (2022’s was the 25th annual), Kiawah Island’s Blues by the Sea, the blues segment of the Pecan Festival in Florence, South Carolina, and the Greenwood Blues Cruise. His Lowcountry Blues Bash ran for 22 years.

Erwin’s current radio show, one of several he’s enlivened over the years, is Good Morning Blues on WCOO 105.5 FM. It’s the early riser’s counterpart to his inaugural show, Blues in the Night, which first went on the air in 1984.

Look for him almost any night at a local joint, kickin’ out the jams.

Q: What was the local blues scene like when you moved here?

Erwin: Aside from the old Myskyns Tavern on Market Street, there was very little blues here. In 1984, I did a demo and got a show on WSCI-FM, which at the time was on the U.S.S. Yorktown We finally left the Yorktown in 1995 and moved to the College of Charleston’s language lab to record our shows, and later I was on the Breeze radio network with a three-hour show called Blue Monday. From there, I went to WVVOAM and finally to the Bridge network’s WCOO. We had our eighth anniversary in January. But I was performing live and recording all along.

Q: How did you wind up in Charleston?

Erwin: I had dropped out of college and fell into the shipping business—just a way to pay the bills—but had wanted to move South for a very long time. I was performing in Boston with the band Ancestor Worship but wanted a change of scenery, weather and culture. The question was where? I rode an Amtrak All-America pass all over the East and Central states, then drove out West, keeping a journal the whole time. It came down to Savannah and Charleston, but I got a job here first. I went into music full time in 1983. You do what you love, and the money will follow, as they say.

Q: Do you prefer the intimacy of a small club or the energy of a larger audience?

Erwin: The smaller the better. It’s the feeling I get. When I grew up in Chicago, all the venues were small, and great acts played them. I’ve always preferred it.

Pre-COVID, I started playing more solo, mostly in food and beverage places, like most musicians.

Q: When did you become known as Shrimp City Slim?

Erwin: My original blues band down here was called Blue Light Special. It became Shrimp City Slim in 1992. It seemed a natural choice. But whatever the name, with every gig I do—which are all impromptu—I have to read the audience and the atmosphere and what’s going on.

Q: Which of your recordings exemplifies your work or is closest to your heart?

Erwin: A very personal album for me was Tidal Pool (2016) with 16 original songs recorded all in one session. It’s almost like a chronicle, with songs I wrote from 1971 to 2013 and beyond—a panoramic view of where I was when I wrote the songs.

Q: You’ve long been an avid global traveler. What has it meant to you?

Erwin: I’ve always been an archaeology nut and studied in Mexico. Then I became equally involved with South American culture. There is deep mystery and poetry everywhere you go. For me, the big question is always, “When do we leave again? When do we go back?”

Q: You’re not a kid anymore. How’s the on-stage stamina?

Erwin: The worst thing is not playing. It’s both a mental and physical thing. I’m a piano player, and if you don’t keep going and have to start over, you have to work yourself back into performance shape.

Q: As a purveyor of “world piano blues,” is it musician first or entertainer?

Erwin: Entertainer, which is why I do traditional blues numbers as well as my own stuff. We’re professional musicians. We’re getting paid. The real blues is not a preprogrammed thing. Again, you have to read the audience. It’s ebb and flow for three hours, and it nourishes me. I thank God every day I can continue to do this, and I would like to continue playing until I can’t. *

Bill Thompson covers the arts, books and design.

Photo by Holger Obenaus

LIFESTYLE U ROGYNECOLOGIST

BACK TO LIFE

Dr. Bernard Taylor helps women with pelvic-floor conditions return to their active lifestyles

by ROBIN HOWARD / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

After five years of delivering babies , Dr. Bernard Taylor, a urogynecologist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery, discovered a passion for urogynecology. With more than two decades in the field, today he treats women for various pelvic-floor disorders, including bladder control issues, frequent or strong urges to urinate, urine leaks, loss of bowel control, and prolapse of the uterus, bladder or rectum.

Dr. Bernard Taylor

Photo by Holger Obenaus

“Pelvic-floor disorders are most commonly associated with the events of natural childbirth,” he explains. “We don’t think of childbirth as traumatic because having a newborn baby is such an exciting milestone and celebrated event. Unfortunately, during delivery, some women sustain injuries to pelvic muscles and nerves that can have long-term impacts on the support and function of the uterus, bladder and rectum. Often the injuries are not apparent and may not become noticeable until after multiple pregnancies or as women age. There is a natural weakening in muscles and connective tissue as women and men get older, so the conditions related to pelvic-floor disorders are more common later in life.”

they can’t engage in activities that once defined them. Some can’t live at home anymore because of incontinence issues, so they need nursing care.”

One of his goals is to normalize conversations around these conditions. “I try to develop a dialogue and educate my patients about how common these conditions are so they don’t feel so isolated,” he says. “Those conversations alone can alleviate anxiety and fear and sometimes allow women to open up about other things I need to know to help them.”

Many patients don’t need surgery to treat their condition. “First, we identify lifestyle elements such as diet, chronic constipation or unnecessary lifting and straining,” he says. “Some may need help with yard work, for example, or they may need to alter their job or learn how to perform tasks better. We also try to determine if there are other medical conditions that contribute to their symptoms; sometimes, we can change medication and talk to their other doctors to make changes in medications that are having negative side effects, such as diuretics that cause increased urination.”

Pelvic-floor issues can also present in women who lift heavy weights or are constantly straining. “We’re seeing an increasing number of women who do heavy lifting, highimpact training or CrossFit, and running present with concerns of leaks with exercise or vaginal pressure related to prolapse. This is due to the straining that exacerbates or puts strain on the already weakened pelvic floor,” he says. “Other causes are prior radical surgeries for cancers, spinal surgeries that involve nerves, medical conditions, smoking and poor nutrition, or there is a family history or genetics that predispose certain women to develop these conditions. We don’t have a 100% recommendation to prevent these problems, but we can develop a treatment plan based on an individual woman’s activity level, lifestyle, goals and expectations. We use the term quality of life to address our patient care planning because these conditions rarely cause significant medical problems on the scale of hypertension, heart disease or diabetes, but they can be just as debilitating for many who are suffering.”

Dr. Taylor is passionate about his field, partly because so many women struggle with pelvic-floor issues in silence. “The economic impact of incontinence or urine leakage is in the billions of dollars per year nationwide,” he says. “Over half of the briefs, sanitary pads and liners sold are being used for incontinence. Besides that, people with pelvic-floor issues have a much higher rate of depression and anxiety because

When lifestyle modification isn’t enough, Dr. Taylor discusses moving on to surgery. Before the days of minimally invasive surgery, women spent days in the hospital with weeks of recovery at home. “Now they’re often home the same day and driving themselves back to see me in seven days,” he says. “These procedures aim to minimize symptoms, but sometimes we want to gain or restore function so patients can resume activities that help restore personal identity and self-esteem. One area that is often not emphasized is how intimate relationships can be affected by pelvic-floor issues. It’s very important that we also address how impactful these conditions can be on relationships and families.”

In the past, pelvic-floor surgery required a large incision on the stomach; minimally invasive surgery is done laparoscopically or robotically, resulting in less pain and faster wound healing. “I don’t usually treat life-threatening medical emergencies, so we rarely save lives, but patients often express appreciation for making their lives whole again. After treatment, many patients tell me they’re active with their kids again or finally able to take vacations and enjoy travel without the worry of having accidental leakage. These stories motivate me, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be in Charleston and partnering with Roper St. Francis Healthcare to provide care for the Lowcountry and Charleston community.” *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.

“It’s

LIFESTYLE BEAUTY

FROM LOCKS TO LASHES

Drybar’s new neighbor, FACE FOUNDRIÉ, offers beauty on the go

by CHRISTIANA LILLY / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

In a fast - paced world , even our beauty routines are on a timer. But with the newly opened FACE FOUNDRIÉ on King Street, that’s no problem.

A one-stop shop for facials, lashes, brows and skincare that’s open seven days a week, clients are able to drop

Photo by Holger Obenaus

in for an appointment as short as 20 minutes before heading right back out the door—with the confidence that they look on point.

“You can leave after your 20- or 40-minute appointment at FACE FOUNDRIÉ to head back to work, or you can apply makeup and go out to dinner,” says Charleston franchise owner Anna Chalmers. “All of our services are designed to fit into your schedule with little to no downtime. We become a convenient part of your skincare routine—on your schedule.”

Think Hydrafacials, cryotherapy facials, brow and lash services, and mini treatments when you need a pick-me-up. The FACE FOUNDRIÉ concept was created for women and men—anyone who needs cutting-edge, convenient skincare. As Chalmers says, “If you have a face, you’re a great fit.”

Opening the storefront was born from necessity. Chalmers also owns the business right next door—Drybar, an equally convenient blow-dry bar. Her clients were always asking for recommendations on where they could get their lashes or brows done, so Chalmers decided to bring it to them. She was lucky enough to secure the space next to Drybar.

“The front doors of each of my businesses are about 20 feet apart,” she says. “It gives our customers the ability to go back and forth.”

Originally from Minnesota, Chalmers discovered FACE FOUNDRIÉ when she met the founder, Michele Henry, while opening her second Drybar location in the North Star State. She realized how complementary the two brands were to one another, leading to her opening them side-by-side later in Charleston.

A self-proclaimed “hair idiot,” Chalmers fell in love with the Drybar concept while living in New York City. When she

had her first child, trips to Drybar turned into “me time” treats. Not only was she able to get her hair blown out from a menu of looks—they have clever names like The Mai Tai, The Manhattan and The Southern Comfort—the stylists taught her how to maintain and extend the life of her blowout.

Chalmers also happens to know the people at the top—she worked with brand co-founder Michael Landau when the two were at Yahoo!, then she met his younger sister and cofounder, Alli Webb. Chalmers opened two Drybar locations in her home state of Minnesota, and then had the opportunity to acquire the Charleston location on buzzing King Street in the fall of 2020.

With her experience working at major tech firms and having built and run her own consulting company, Chalmers is able to run the businesses while leaving the hair expertise to her stylists.

“I make sure our team feels empowered as styling experts to really connect with and educate our clients,” she says. “Starting with the client consultation, we make sure to understand what brought them in—whether it’s an event or occasion or just some me time. And we make sure to use the right products, giving them the ability to have great hair even when they’re not with us, too.”

With Drybar and FACE FOUNDRIÉ in such close proximity, customers will be able to get treatments done at both locations back-to-back. With affordable prices and membership options, the services can be penciled in once a month or, in the case of hair styling, even weekly. Both shops offer opportunities to host private events for weddings, bachelorette parties, children’s birthday parties (think braids and fairy hair!), a girl’s night out for facials or hair, or client/ staff appreciation events.

The brands already support several local causes and love to partner with other local businesses for pop-ups and giveaways.

“I am so excited for clients to experience FACE FOUNDRIÉ— the first in the Southeast,” Chalmers says. “We have amazing experts in hair and esthetics and cutting-edge services. I can’t wait for you to bring your face to our place and get your hair in our chair—see you soon!” *

Christiana Lilly is a freelance journalist in Pompano Beach, Florida. See more of her work spanning the arts, community news and social justice at christianalilly.com.

» DRYBAR

556 KING ST. CHARLESTON, SC 29403 843.872.3570

DRYBAR.COM

FACE FOUNDRIÉ

562 KING ST. CHARLESTON, SC 29403 843.814.4495

FACEFOUNDRIE.COM

LIFESTYLE EVENT PLANNING

PHOTO BY DEAR ELIZABETH

by WENDY SWAT SNYDER

Love makes the world go round But help with planning a wedding it does not. That’s when pairing up with a team that’s garnered The Knot Best of Award multiple times can make all the difference, and keep the happy couple happy.

Yoj Events owner and lead planner Monique Semper has a long history of planning and executing top-notch celebrations in the Lowcountry—an approach that makes her fullservice boutique design firm a standout for both clients and industry professionals familiar with the Yoj team’s professionalism. Whether you’re a born and bred Charlestonian or coming to the Holy City for a destination wedding, Yoj Events pulls together with ease all the pieces that go into creating your special day.

“We’re based in Charleston. Our roots are firmly planted here,” says Semper. “We feel we’re ambassadors to the city. And through my relationships in the market, my history and reputation here, vendors and venues want to work with us.”

For Semper, planning a successful event comes from a simple place of listening and caring, qualities she embraced during her early days in the hospitality industry.

“My dad convinced me to work at our family’s restaurant after I graduated from college,” explains Semper, who majored in philosophy. At 21, she became manager of a front-of-house staff of 60 at The Trawler on Shem Creek. “That was my foray into the events industry. I was in charge when guests reserved our private dining room for a gathering. It was nice to execute that different type of application—I loved to see these personal events come together. I gravitated to those more emotional experiences—seeing the mom’s or bride’s face light up as the day unfolded.”

Semper’s father, Horst Semper, was a hospitality veteran whose culinary credentials included circling the globe seven times as a chef on the SS Rotterdam. Both he and his wife, Helena, hailed from Europe. Before the family moved to the South, he’d worked as executive chef at seven restaurants in New York City until heart issues drove the family to seek a milder climate.

“He was a tough boss,” says Semper. “He expected more from me because I was his daughter, but he was very fair and very oldschool. I learned from him that consistency is key—to say what you mean and mean what you say. When your staff sees that, they trust your decision-making. It’s vital to be a steady hand in what can be a very chaotic environment.”

PHOTO BY DEAR ELIZABETH

PHOTO BY ANNE RHETT PHOTOGRAPHY

Semper left the restaurant with a 15-year track record that propelled her into the special events manager slot at the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association.

“Those were big events,” says Semper, who was charged with the planning and execution of annual events like The Taste of Charleston, Lowcountry Oyster Festival and Charleston Restaurant Week. “I was part of the team that launched those events.”

In 2014, Semper says she took a leap of faith, leaving The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association to start her own business. “My first event was at the William Aiken House,” she recalls. A national historic landmark, the sprawling mansion is one of Charleston’s most sought-after wedding venues. “The restaurant association really put us ahead in the event planning industry—people trusted that we would do a good job.”

Elevating the design of Yoj Events is a team of professionals that includes longtime lead planner Jessica Laskow, along with Lindsey Burtchaell and Jordan Simonis. Semper also credits her staff for the company’s agility and responsiveness to a client’s wishes.

“Our planners respond quickly to challenges,” notes Semper. “That ability to pivot was especially helpful during the height of the pandemic, when there was so much rescheduling.” And with many planning firms delivering online-only services,

Semper believes that having a brick-and-mortar establishment in the Charleston suburb of Mount Pleasant is a plus, enabling a planner to develop a face-to-face relationship with her client and understand the client’s personal style.

“The tuxedo shop we have on-site differentiates us too,” adds Semper. “It’s a nice added benefit to offer a couple that option.”

The team’s unique sensibilities combine with a wide knowledge of local venues and impeccable working relationships throughout the Charleston market to create an event that’s a dream come true.

“Food and conversation are the heartbeat of every relationship,” says Semper, waxing philosophical. “The event is an occasion for people to come together—a time of joy.”

And that makes the world go round. *

Wendy Swat Snyder is a Charleston-based freelance writer (sweetgrassandgrits.com).

YOJ EVENTS

PHOTO BY NATASHA COYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

LIFESTYLE WINE

SUNNY LANGUEDOC

by HELEN GREGORY

Sunny and welcoming , the southwestern region of Languedoc in France is home to more than 90,000 acres of vines and some 22,000 winemakers and négociants. Here, white, red, rosé and sparkling wines enjoy 300 days of sunshine and an array of influences from both the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates. The winegrowers of Languedoc are experiencing a renaissance, shifting production to wines of truly high quality that showcase their many natural advantages and a reputation for taking chances. The local community is also fully invested in the health of their vines: Languedoc boasts the most organic vineyard acreage in all of France.

As far back as the first century B.C., Languedoc was known to the Romans for its inventive vineyard practices and olive groves. More than 2,000 years later, Languedoc still has a very open-minded wine culture. The landscape can feel quite wild, scented with sea salt and garrigue, the mix of lavender, juniper, thyme, rosemary and scrub that intensifies as you move into the hills. Languedoc is brimming with potential and very welcoming to outsiders drawn to the affordable vineyard prices and opportunity to make wine on their own terms. “You feel like pioneers; you have the freedom to make the style of wine you want to make, and that’s why we’re here,” explains

These winegrowers offer something for everyone

TASTINGS

FONT-MARS 2021, AOP PICPOUL DE PINET ($14.99)

Elizabeth Bowen, a British expat and winegrower in the tiny village of Fraissédes-Corbières, between Narbonne and Perpignan.

Languedoc has 20 appellations, or AOPs, that variously cover quality designations for still table wines, sweet wines and sparkling wines. Nine of the 20 AOPs are less than 20 years old, fueling a spirit of restless innovation. AOP Languedoc is the base appellation for still-wine production, with much of the vineyard area heavily influenced by Mediterranean coastal plains that stretch west from the city of Montpellier toward Spain. The Mediterranean brings warm, sunny summers and mild, wet winters, while the dramatic limestone cliffs combine with sandstone and clay soils to support 26 official white and red grape varieties. Red wines account for 60% of all Languedoc wines, with particularly notable blends of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. The freshness in these Mediterranean reds makes them extremely appealing. “The quest is one of balance,” local wine expert Claire Henry explains. “Languedoc winegrowers are finding ways to finesse their wines to keep them fresh and manage ripeness without too much oak.” Like many in the region, Mas du Novi in the Languedoc Grès de Montpellier area looks for a fusion of generosity and freshness in its reds. Set in the hills above Montpellier with beautiful views of the Mediterranean, the all-organic Mas du Novi estate dates back to an 11th-century abbey and is committed to preserving 150 acres of wild garrigue woods to naturally shelter its vines from extreme winds and heat. In the cellar, gentle extraction and a mix of ageing in tanks, amphorae and barrels keep rich, full-bodied flavors in balance.

With such a large area under vine, Languedoc is a sleeping giant. “Languedoc wines can compete with virtually all categories, from sparkling to sweet and everything in between, at a fraction of the price of their competitors,” shares sommelier Erik Segelbaum. “The whites show intensity and balance; the reds show freshness and terroir. And, best of all, the value proposition across all categories is unmatched.” Beyond the reds, the charming AOP Picpoul de Pinet is dedicated entirely to white wines made from Piquepoul, an heirloom variety with crisp grapefruit and citrus notes. The

Photo by Holger Obenaus

vineyards of Picpoul overlook the Étang de Thau, an immense lagoon renowned for oysters that pair perfectly with the wines. For rosé lovers, Languedoc offers a delicious range, from Grenache to Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan that give Provence a run for its money, especially from the exceptional AOP Cabrières, the original purveyor of vin rosé to the court of Louis XIV in Versailles.

As you move into western Languedoc and the foothills of the Pyrenees, the rocky landscape, the climate and even the language change perceptibly. More influenced by the Atlantic than the Mediterranean, AOP Crémant de Limoux, the sparkling wines of Languedoc, thrive in higher elevation vineyards. As early as 1531, the monks at the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire near the town of Limoux are credited with making the first sparkling wine, some 150 years before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux offers delicious bubblies with modern styles based on Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and the local Mauzac (or Blanquette). This traditional variety also stars in Blanquette de Limoux and Méthode Ancestrale wines, a nod to Languedoc’s sparkling history.

According to local legend, the Holy Grail was hidden for all times on Montségur, a castle of haunting beauty in the peaks of Languedoc. Visitors to the region can lounge on sandy beaches or hike in the footsteps of the Knights Templar and long-forgotten sects like the Cathars, who once controlled the ramparts of the ancient citadel of eastern Carcassonne. Like the wines, Languedoc is an off-the-beaten path destination but, truly, a hidden gem ripe for discovery. *

Helen Gregory is the founder and president of Gregory + Vine. She has worked in strategic brand management and communications for beverage industry leaders such as Moët Hennessy USA, Rémy Cointreau and STOLI, and has led award-winning hospitality, beverage and lifestyle campaigns for prestige clients from the European Union to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Israel, South Africa and across the United States.

LIFESTYLE GARDEN

by PJ GARTIN

Sometime during the early 1960 s , my parents converted our brick and concrete front porch into a “Florida room” and installed a three-tiered fountain in one of the corners. A planter surrounded its base, and my mother filled it with tropical plants. However, I seldom talk about this wonderful device because of mostly negative reactions: “Oh, your family must have been rich.” Nope. My dad, an electrical engineer for a private utility company, bought ours from a Sears and Roebuck catalog. He put in an electrical outlet to run the fountain’s recirculating pump and installed a downlight fixture in the ceiling. Both worked from a wall-mounted switch.

Shortly after our fountain’s gurgling debut, I remember my mother musing that its trickling sounds would take getting used to because she kept thinking a toilet was running. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the “white noise” of water spilling over the edges.

Thanks to that modest assemblage of fake marble, water that’s forced to cascade, trickle, squirt or gush from any sort of vessel continues to captivate me. Plus—probably because I’m the daughter of a left-brained male—I’m inclined to want to know how stuff works. As a result, I’ve discovered that there’s more than one way to coax water into manmade objects.

Fountains have been around since 3000 B.C. The gravitational forces of water swooshing down mountains or bubbling up from springs inspired the first ones. Later, after the Romans invented aqueducts, folks finally had at-home access to water instead of having to continually haul it from a community source. Except for adding an occasional decorative flourish, fountains remained utilitarian until Italian-Renaissance artists intentionally crafted them into splendid works of art. Although most of us associate over-the-top Renaissance or Baroque fountains with Bernini or Salvi, after all, the latter’s Trevi creation was the centerpiece for the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain, Leonardo da Vinci reigned as supreme virtuoso of water flow manipulation. He became so adept with hydraulics that, in addition to designing magnificent fountains, he also devised and made water-driven clocks and robots.

impermeable rock. If you’re lucky enough to accidently drill into one of these compartments, the result is a perpetual source of drinking water. Oddly enough, the town where I grew up is called “The Artesian City” because it has an unusual number of them scattered throughout the county. However, I never heard of anyone having a personal artesian well.

Modern decorative fountains for indoor or outdoor use come equipped with a recirculating pump. They are quiet and won’t interfere with the song of the water. However, no matter where the fountain is situated, it’s imperative that the water pump is wired directly to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Hire a licensed electrician to do this. If you’d rather avoid fossil-fuel dependence, some companies offer solar-powered models. However, I have been advised that they are not yet as robust as standard versions. (Remember how disappointing solar garden lights were when they first came out?)

Of course, we no longer depend on natural aquatic sources for decorative fountains because we have electric recirculating pumps. However, before electronic motors, 19th-century Charlestonians relied on a single artesian well. Situated at Marion Square, it was our city ancestors’ only source of potable water. This well has since been capped, although the water company still knows its location.

Other incidences of artesian water might still exist beneath Lowcountry terra firma, but don’t count on locating one to run a fountain. These extremely rare pockets of pressurized, trapped water are randomly situated beneath a layer of mostly

I have been advised by a purveyor of garden fountains that wall-mounted versions are quite easy for do-it-yourself installation—although you’ll still need an electrician. Wall fountains often give small, hard to accessorize spaces an air of sophistication—something yard art or even tinkling wind chimes frequently fail to accomplish.

I learned about fountain maintenance from my dad. Even though the water that flowed through ours was mostly free from minerals because we relied on a water softener, Dad took it upon himself to refresh the water every couple of weeks. Every now and then, he’d disassemble the tiers and clean them. I never heard him complain about these tasks. I suspect he enjoyed doing them. The point is that water fountains—no matter where they are located—require intermittent care. I’ve seen a few slimy-green examples in Charleston, and I suspect that the goo will eventually compromise their recirculating pumps. *

PJ Gartin is a freelance garden writer who lives in Charleston.

Photo by Holger Obenaus

DESIGN REAL ESTATE

MODERN PARADISE

A newly renovated creekfront home in DeBordieu Colony is full of contemporary style

by ROBIN HOWARD / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

One of the oldest beach communities on the east coast , DeBordieu Colony sits on 2,700 acres of land, with hundreds of acres dedicated to wildlife preservation. As the story goes, when the Marquis de Lafayette landed in the area, he exclaimed, “This land is so beautiful it must be the borderland of God!” Thus christened D’Aborde Dieu, or DeBordieu, the local pronunciation of “Debidue” comes from the Gullah dialect.

However you pronounce it, the DeBordieu community has direct access to secluded beaches and exclusive access to the creek and marsh connected to the North Inlet. For wildlife lovers, DeBordieu Colony has one of the country’s most unique and diverse ecosystems, providing homes and migration stops for hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and plants.

If that sounds like your idea of heaven, you’ll want to see this newly renovated home represented by Shawn Roper and Jane Chapman of Peace Sotheby’s International Realty. Situated on the tidal creek, the 2,980-square-foot single-family home has been recently renovated from stem to stern. Looking for a place where you can just bring your suitcases and start living the dream? You’re in luck, because this home is being sold furnished.

Designed in 1980 by the late Frank Peteet, the unique architecture creates an open plan home with three bedrooms, four and a half baths, and many additional features. Claire Cover, design associate at Sarah Catherine Collective in Charlotte, North Carolina, designed the dining and living rooms, primary bedroom, upper deck and downstairs outdoor living space to maximize the picturesque views of the marsh, creek and spectacular sunsets.

Exterior renovations include a metal roof; contemporary, sliding wood accent shutters, which also serve as storm shutters; and black steel-framed windows. Because the living space is elevated, there is an enclosed room beneath the house for storage, bicycles, a golf cart or beach gear. Among the renovations below the home are a bar carved from a former storage closet and a hot tub. The rear of the house offers versatile space for outdoor entertaining with a low-walled patio living area, and an adjacent wall in the backyard defines fire pit seating that leads to a dock that extends over the water with bar-style seating for four.

The open-air living area by the hot tub and bar, which overlooks the marsh, can quickly become a private oasis with the touch of a button that encloses the area with automatic shutters.

Inside, the kitchen, dining and living areas are surrounded by expansive steel-framed windows that take in the incredible views. Highlights in the kitchen are the sophisticated black kitchen cabinets and accessories that visually anchor the organic materials and neutral color palette. In this multifunctional space, a massive butcher block island is ideal for prep space, while a long pub table is perfect for drinks or casual meals.

CHARLESTON AESTHETICS

A generous polished concrete and wood dining table in the dining area seats eight and borders the open living room with a gas fireplace and floor-to-ceiling painted brick hearth. Designed to be convenient for the upper indoor and outdoor living areas, the dry bar on the living area’s back wall also has a built-in wine refrigerator. On the back of the house, one set of windows and two sets of doors have remote control storm shutters that also serve as blackout shutters.

The palapa-style roof is high enough to accommodate an open loft supported by warm wood beams. The loft is currently used as a bedroom but can be used as an office, den or game room. Off the open loft is another cozy space perfect for a kid’s room or guest room. The loft has a full bath with contemporary touches, such as encaustic-style floor tiles and a black steelframed bath and shower.

Downstairs, the primary bedroom has a sliding steel door that opens to an expansive patio with panoramic marsh views. One of the best surprises in this home are the two en suite baths, one with a shower, vanity and walk-in closet and the other with a contemporary floating slipper tub, vanity and walk-in closet. The second bedroom is nearly as spacious

as the primary, with large windows framing the view and an attached bath with contemporary fixtures.

This sophisticated home offers simplicity and elegance, creating a serene atmosphere where you can enjoy this unique marsh-front location in DeBordieu Colony. The meticulous attention to detail throughout the home and outdoor living space makes 476 DeBordieu Blvd. a spectacular place to enjoy all DeBordieu Colony has to offer, just steps away from the DeBordieu Beach Club and the beach. *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.

Photos by Holger Obenaus

DESIGN ARTIST

BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

Overhead beach scenes score big with collectors

by DANA W. TODD

From new york city to florida , artist Joe Davis has lived a storied career. Although some may disagree with his age-related classification, he says, “I’m an old artist with a perspective going back to the ’70s.”

When he started painting out of college from a studio on 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, Davis could not have predicted he would end up in Delray Beach, Florida, 16 years later with a following for his large-format, overhead beach scenes.

When he left New York in 1995, he took a break from painting and moved south to Delray Beach, where he had family. He took a job in a publishing company, where he learned much about digital prepress processes and wide-format printing. These skills would play into Davis’ work when he finally returned to painting in 2006, opening his gallery and custom framing shop, DelrayART, to introduce his large-format original art to a town that was just beginning to become the foodie and art mecca it is today.

Long before the days of drones and their aerial views, which give us glimpses of new ways to see life, Davis became fascinated with painting from this bird’s-eye perspective. Inspired by both a real estate photo of the beach and his days in New York when he often traveled by plane and saw the view from above the clouds, he painted his first overhead beach scene in an abstract expressionist manner. When he had a few pieces under his belt, Davis decided to put them in his gallery window to see what would happen. “They sold right away, and that reawakened the artist in me,” he says.

From that day forward, Davis has focused on painting overhead beach scenes in an inventive, creative process, combining acrylic paint and resin. His mixed-media artwork takes weeks to complete. First, he prepares a wooden board on which he paints to “lay down the bones” of the water and sand scene, texturizing the sand with a palette knife so it contrasts with the glassy, shiny waves. Then he builds multiple layers of resin to form waves, later painting figures, beach umbrellas, cabanas and beach towels separately and then incorporating them into the artwork. “It’s a unique part of this organic process. Since I cannot paint on top of the resin waves, I paint the people and activities of the scene separately and then cut them out and ‘float’ them in the resin water. Resin is unpredictable; part of the fun is riding the bronco and bending it to your will,” he explains. Davis also uses resin to build unique cloud formations in his beach scenes. Currently on his easel are ocean scenes with cumulus cloud and storm formations with cargo ships on the horizon. In these, he uses epoxy resin in his own unique method to build the clouds in interesting ways.

“The beach artwork tells the stories of how people organize themselves in nature—under cabanas or umbrellas or the anarchy of sprawling on a beach towel where they just drop down,” Davis says. “I’m attracted to visually poetic images but overall paint realistic subjects that show how it could be.”

Davis takes commissions from those who are interested in having a personalized overhead beach painting of their family members participating

Photo by Holger Obenaus

in the activities they enjoy at the beach. Currently, he accepts about 50% of his new artwork as commissions, conducting a full interview process with clients to discover their likes, dislikes and details about the family members they want painted into a beach scene. Davis also exhibits and sells his large-format original paintings and prints at DelrayART gallery.

“Today, I only paint what I like,” he says. “I have created a life for myself, and I no longer care about the artificial categories and distinctions associated with my art. I’m a painter; I don’t retire. I’ll stop only when the work is no longer challenging.” *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.

DESIGN DESIGN CENTER

by ELLEN URIBE / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

ith a successful 20 - year history , a stellar reputation and personalized customer service, Design On Tap can tout a richness of repeat business from architects, builders, homeowners and interior designers.

Photo by Holger Obenaus

Photo by Holger Obenaus

Since its inception, Design On Tap, a division of Cregger Company Inc., has specialized in a vast array of plumbing supplies and recently added lighting and appliances to offer a full spectrum of essentials for the home.

Ashley Hyer, who has been with the company for 20 years and is the showroom manager for Design On Tap, says between her and her fellow consultants, they have more than 100 years of experience in the business, which enables them to provide a great client experience because of the high level of product knowledge.

“When starting a new home project, we usually meet with clients very early on in the process,” says Hyer. “Normally, plumbing is the first step in the renovation or building process, then lighting and appliances would come last, but because of all the recent supply shortages, the customers have begun to order everything earlier.”

Design On Tap showrooms were created as a division of Cregger Company, which is based in Irmo, South Carolina. There are showrooms in North Charleston, Bluffton and Greenville, South Carolina, and the Nest, which is the original location in Columbia, South Carolina, offers plumbing, lighting and appliances.

Since its beginnings in 1978, Cregger Company has grown from one small plumbing supply house in West Columbia, South Carolina, to a company of 39 physical locations throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Colorado, which includes electrical and HVAC branches in addition to plumbing.

The company offers an extensive range of high-quality products for the whole house, including a wide selection of faucets, sinks, vanities, shower systems, tubs, steam showers, toilets, accessories, water filtration, hot water heaters, lighting, appliances and hardware. “We are a family-owned company, and we take our slogan, ‘Our Pride Makes the Difference,’ to heart when it comes to taking care of our customers,” says Morris Cregger, who founded the company with his wife, Sheila.

Cregger says that the all-important customer is priority number one, whether they are a designer, architect or other professional. “The people we hire, the locations of our stores,

The company features top brands in the Charleston Design On Tap showroom, including Rohl, Hansgrohe, Watermark Designs, Dornbracht, Brizo, Kohler, Stone Forest, Blanco, Monogram, Dacor, Currey & Company and Ro Sham Beaux.

the products we carry, the services we offer—they are all optimized in order to give our customers the best possible experience,” he says.

According to Hyer, many of the homeowners who utilize designers and ultimately Design On Tap start out with a Pinterest board. “Most clients have a budget, and they often have already placed images of what they are looking for on a Pinterest board, which is a big help, because from one or two pictures you can identify what they are looking for and what their style is,” she says.

Hyer, who makes a point of staying on top of design trends, says consumers nowadays are looking for clean lines. “We have been seeing so much transitional design for close to a decade now,” she notes. She also says brass and black are still quite popular but warmer tones are starting to replace the grays that have been popular for so long.

Regardless of the size of the project or budget, Design On Tap consultants make a concerted effort to listen to their clients in an effort to deliver everything the customer is looking for and then some.

*

Ellen Uribe is an award-winning journalist and a communications expert. She is a sought-after speaker, participating as a moderator and panelist at numerous industry events, conferences and broadcast outlets. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Palm Beach Life, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Wear Daily and Time Magazine

“We feel our job is to make the process as simple as possible for our clients,” says Hyer. “This is where our years of experience allow us to steer clients into products that offer the style they want at the best quality while trying to work within their budget.”

RENAISSANCE MAN

From birds to motorcycles, no subject is untouched by Stephen Moscowitz

by CHRISTIANA LILLY

There was a racket outside ; you couldn ’ t miss it The cacophony led artist Stephen Moscowitz outside of his Bluffton, South Carolina, home where he found a sight he’ll never forget. Perched in a massive oak tree were hundreds of White Ibis in a chorus, their feathers juxtaposed against the greens and browns of the tree.

This was definitely not something he was used to seeing in New York. Moscowitz started taking photos of the birds and was inspired to paint them on a canvas, leading to years of Lowcountry inspirations that have been hung in the homes of countless art collectors.

“My favorite birds to paint are the Great Blue Herons, because their uniforms are interesting to look at,” he says.

At 86, he has lived in Mount Pleasant for four years and is represented at Perspective Gallery. But his brushstrokes tell sometimes whimsical stories of other animals as well, from wolves on a motorcycle to a duck sitting in a bowl of soup.

Moscowitz’s introduction to art was watching his father prop up an illustration board against a straight-back chair after dinner, where he worked on pastel portraits. Seeing his interest, his father gave him pieces of cardboard from the dry cleaner and broken pieces of chalk to work on his own artwork. Moscowitz spent most of his life around New York state, raising a family of four and working as an illustrator and art director for various companies. While it wasn’t fine art like he had studied at Rochester Institute of Technology, he says, “at least I was drawing.” During one of his jobs, a retoucher taught him how to use an airbrush, which changed his artistic style forever.

“I started working with the airbrush, and that was when a whole new world of illustration got involved around me,” he says.

Other people noticed his talents, too. He took on freelance projects for a number

of advertising agencies. One day he was painting a duck in a bowl of soup, another a pig with a ring in its nose for a local theater poster. With the help of three agents, he did work for a major supermarket chain, illustrated book covers and created a 60-foot ad on the side of a building in Manhattan.

Moscowitz’s art shifted when one of his sons asked if he could paint a design on his motorcycle. It was a new canvas for him, a piece of metal with curves. But he figured it out, and with his airbrush machine he painted an eagle flanked by a snake and a lion, with flames added to the front and back fender. An advertisement on wheels, his son’s motorcycle got the attention of other bikers in the area, and they came to Moscowitz in droves.

“I got to know these people,” he says. “I went to lunch with them, went to drinks with them, went to shows with them, and got to know a lot of people and a lot of what people wanted on their bikes. I found out I could create art, not just do it as an illustrator.”

He became the go-to for motorcycle art and was working on a bike once or twice a week for a decade. He started his own company, called Gnarly Graphics, and a “Gnarly Davidson” tattoo on his arm is a reminder of his days working with bikers. At that time, his studio was in an old factory converted into artist lofts.

In a windowless room, Moscowitz was working on airbrush work and breathing in fumes for hours—doctors believe 30 years of working with airbrushes led to his COPD diagnosis.

While he was mainly working on motorcycles, Moscowitz went back to his roots and toyed with fine art. He did drawings, or he would take a photograph and make a painting based on it. Little by little, he was setting aside the airbrush for the paintbrush— he would airbrush the background and then paint over it for detail work. Even after years of using the airbrush, he was frustrated with how unforgiving the tool was, how any mistake or paint clot could force him to start over.

“I remember coming home from my studio one time and saying, ‘I’m getting to hate the airbrush,’” he recalls.

Today, Moscowitz has transitioned to using all acrylic paints. The Mount Pleasant condo he shares with his partner is filled with his artwork, a mix of old airbrush pieces and newer acrylic paintings of wetland birds, portraits and scenes around the greater Charleston area. Shortly after the day he was introduced to Bluffton by the choir of Ibis, Moscowitz remembers being entranced by the impressive wingspan of a Great Egret taking off into the sky.

Even after years of living in South Carolina, the wildlife still provides inspiration for this seasoned artist. *

Christiana Lilly is a freelance journalist in Pompano Beach, Florida. See more of her work spanning the arts, community news and social justice at christianalilly.com.

by CHRISTIANA LILLY / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

Photo by Holger Obenaus

“Mother Nature gets most of the credit for all the beauty of natural stone; it’s truly amazing what was happening inside the earth,” says Joe Sykes, the president of Atlantic Stone on Johns Island.

In one place, customers can be educated about stone selections, fabrication and installation of countertops, as well as smaller projects such as coordinating backsplashes. The showroom displays hundreds of samples in addition to mock countertops for inspiration, so customers are sure to find the piece that matches their style and design aesthetic. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Sykes freely shares his knowledge to help them through the process of selecting stone as well as its installation and upkeep.

Over the decades, Sykes has watched quartz evolve into a popular option, and he’s seen a shift from white and gray color schemes to tans and earthy tones. Paired with bronze finishes, customers are creating warmth and comfort in their home environment.

“They’re looking for a little more color in their life,” he says.

There have also been changes in the industry itself: a move toward more eco-friendly options. Clients are showing more of an interest in sustainability, sourcing and how stone is manufactured. In the same vein, suppliers are also making changes to become carbon-neutral and utilize recycled materials without compromising quality.

Sykes originally worked in the flooring business, and it was through his projects with tilework that he grew interested in the industry. He joined a local stone company

in 2003, then in 2006, he opened the doors to Atlantic Stone, serving both residential and commercial clientele. Today, his company works with some of the top quartz companies around the globe—Cambria, Caesarstone, HanStone and Daltile to name a few—as well as local natural stone and quartz importers.

In 2017, the business expanded to meet a void in the market: maintenance and restoration. It was hearing from clients and other people that they needed service and maintenance on their countertops and tile. Sykes hired one employee to fill the gap and oversee skilled technicians to handle chipped countertops, resealing, stains or pieces that just needed a touch-up. This extends beyond the kitchen counter to cleaning, re-caulking and sealing grout in showers and on floors.

“It’s a necessity that no one in town was really doing,” says Beth Branstetter, the project manager at Atlantic Stone & Tile Care. “I inform and educate them— especially with marble—what products not to use, what causes etching and appropriate cleaners to use. I think 90% of the homeowners I meet don’t realize the ongoing care required to preserve their investment.”

Atlantic Stone works with homeowners, property managers and even competing fabricators for their expertise, and its technicians attend a stone and restoration school so they can identify and remedy issues.

“We’re kind of on that honey-do list,” Sykes says, laughing. “That list sometimes doesn’t get addressed, so we come in and help the homeowner check some of those boxes.” *

Christiana Lilly is a freelance journalist in Pompano Beach, Florida. See more of her work spanning the arts, community news and social justice at christianalilly.com.

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ATLANTIC STONE

2770 MAYBANK HIGHWAY, # F JOHNS ISLAND, SC 29455 843.737.5004 ATLANTICSTONELLC.COM

Sculpture Garden Gallery

Rick Reinert

Brent Cooke

Nancy Crookston

Ann Watcher

Angela Trotta Thomas

PHOTO BY HOLGER OBENAUS

DESIGN CUSTOM WOOD FURNITURE

HANDMADE FROM HISTORY

Craftsman Capers Cauthen is reclaiming the city’s historic structures, one plank at a time

by LESLIE J. THOMPSON

The enduring value of 200-yearold furniture is evidenced by the demand for antiques. The value of 200-year-old wood, however, is often overlooked. After seeing handsome pieces of aged lumber hauled off to landfills when Hurricane Hugo leveled historic homes around Charleston in 1989, craftsman Capers Cauthen wanted to preserve an important part of the city’s heritage.

“It’s amazing how much wood comes out of some of the buildings only to be replaced by steel or modern materials to meet guidelines for renovations,” says Cauthen, who worked for 20 years at a local carpentry company, restoring many of the pre-Civil War properties damaged by the storm. He wanted to repurpose the vintage lumber originally used in the structures, giving it new life rather than it being lost forever. But his idea to create a furniture company wouldn’t take shape until years later, when a series of unfortunate events—including a brain injury and the death of his father—left Cauthen overcome with grief.

Describing himself as a “hands-on kind of person,” the native Charlestonian threw himself into projects to keep his mind off his circumstances. While clearing a collapsed old barn, he had the notion to turn the weathered beams into a table. When the piece sold at an antiques shop on James Island, Cauthen knew he was on to something.

Soon, he started salvaging discarded wood from jobsites and arranged with local contractors to haul off historic timber that could not be reused in construction. Plank by plank, he transformed reclaimed wood more than a century old into tables large and small, using traditional techniques to join pieces by hand. By 2009, Landrum Tables was born.

Since that time, Cauthen has continued to grow the business, creating a catalog of designs and crafting custom furniture for hundreds of residential and commercial clients who want to own a piece of history. “Our designs look good in original weathered condition, highly finished condition and, in some cases, raw wood for outdoor applications,” says the artisan, who now oversees a team of five builders. “These different finishes work in many settings, which attracts many different types of customers.”

True to its name, Landrum Tables is best known for its stunning tables, each carefully crafted to reveal the unique characteristics of the weathered wood. The furniture maker’s current inventory includes rustic farm-style dining tables, coffee

PHOTO BY HOLGER OBENAUS

tables and consoles with clean mid-century lines. Landrum Tables also offers signature sideboards, kitchen islands, gun racks and writing desks, among other products.

Sink vanities currently are in high demand, thanks to the residential construction boom in Charleston, Cauthen notes. They add a touch of historic flair to a new home and provide a distinctive focal point for bathroom renovations. “Each vanity will have its own thumbprint, whether live-edge, pecky cypress or reclaimed heart pine,” he says, adding, “No two are alike.”

Although antique wood is a precious commodity, Landrum Tables’ 4,000-square-foot warehouse is filled with Charleston heart pine timbers from downtown homes and buildings. “We also have several exclusive sources for river reclaimed cypress, which is a perfect match when combined with the antique Charleston heart pine. This combination allows the antique wood to be used to its fullest potential,” he says.

Whether ordering a custom piece or selecting from Landrum Tables’ signature designs, customers can choose their preferred style of wood and their desired wax, finish or stain to get the right look. Each piece is lovingly handmade, as the oncediscarded lumber is transformed from a piece of forgotten history into a work of art.

Landrum Tables recently added an online catalog on its website, where customers can view the current inventory for sale and photos of commercial work created for restaurants, retailers and corporate offices. The furniture maker’s North

Charleston showroom on Dutton Avenue also features a collection of available furniture and photos of signature designs and pieces created for other clients.

But owner Capers Cauthen prefers to be out among the people. A member of Lowcountry Local First, the Preservation Society, the Exchange Club of Charleston and the Program Advisory Committee for the American College of the Building Arts, Cauthen has deep ties to the community. On Saturday mornings, he can be found at the Charleston Farmers Market, happily showing his wares. “I field all kinds of questions from locals and visitors, and especially woodworkers,” he says, with a grateful smile.

Thanks to Cauthen’s dedication to reclaiming hidden treasures from historic Lowcountry homes, those who share his passion for the past have plenty to talk about. *

Leslie J. Thompson is a Dallas-based freelance writer with a passion for interior design and international travel. Read more of her work at lesliejthompson.com.

LANDRUM TABLES

5534 DUTTON AVE. CHARLESTON, SC 29406 843.764.9091

LANDRUMTABLES.COM

PHOTO BY MIKE LEDFORD

GIFTS FROM MOTHER EARTH

Pierre Verona brings modern luxury to homes by crafting semiprecious minerals into functional art

by DANA W. TODD

From fashion design to luxury home décor design , Verona Disdier has been bringing exquisite taste and on-point concepts to her clients for more than two decades. She is the owner of Pierre Verona, which crafts semiprecious mineral works of art—vessels, bowls, and other lapidary accessories and furniture—that are coveted by interior designers and homeowners for their statement-making capability in the home.

A friend introduced Disdier to a property in Mexico near one of the country’s biggest volcanoes, whose heat and pressure over the millennia created a unique blend of quartz and onyx buried within the land. For generations, a group of native artisans used this quartz-onyx stone to fuel their artistic creation of lapidary pieces, such as small statues and bowls and holy water fountains. Disdier saw the potential of the unique mineral and gemstone blend to carve larger home décor accessories and even furniture such as dining room tables. She purchased the land and began quarrying 12 colors of this special quartz-onyx along with pockets of fluorite and calcite while simultaneously forging strong relationships with the local artisans who could bring her designs to life. The fluorite found there is unique to this part of Mexico; it grows in squares and pyramids, which Pierre Verona’s quarry extracts in green, purple and rainbow hues.

The dynasty of artistry in this part of Mexico continues to evolve, and Pierre Verona is introducing this modernized tradition of mineral art to U.S. homeowners. “The artisan-fathers who hand-carved lapidary art from huge boulders of quartzonyx have passed down the tradition to their artisan-sons, who are helping Pierre Verona grow a new category of art for the home,” Disdier says. “I have an emotional connection with the artisans. I dream it and design it, and they are the hands that make it happen! Together, we are creating art from raw stone; it’s a magic that not everyone knows how to do. Pierre Verona is a pioneer in creating home accessories from these natural formations. No one has created such large vessels, bowls and furniture for interior designers throughout the world until now. Quartz-onyx is a rare find, and we would not have been able to access it if not for the movement, explosions, heat and pressure within the Earth’s core associated with volcanic activity that brings it closer to the surface.” Referencing the sleek white onyx coffee table in her living room, she adds: “Onyx is an incredible stone. I feel the fantastic energy every time I come home to enjoy my space.”

Although Pierre Verona’s luxury items have a heritage of artisanship that dates back many generations in Mexico, they also

incorporate a modern flair honed through Disdier’s many years as a fashion designer. Regardless, she says the company’s quarrying methods are “not super high-tech” as it removes the best veins of minerals from one to two miles out of the Earth, and she wants to keep the artisanal heritage intact from past generations. “The goal is not to let the art form die,” she says.

Pierre Verona sells to the trade, but homeowners get a chance to buy directly from the company two times per year at the Round Top Antiques & Design Show or from the 6,000 stores worldwide that carry some pieces of the company’s luxury mineral and gem wares. For designers, she has showrooms in many markets—in the Dallas Design Center; High Point, North Carolina; Atlanta; and Las Vegas. No matter where she takes her products, Disdier says she is on a mission to bring

the beauty of minerals to her clients. “Minerals balance energy and are good for the soul. I’m not only selling vessels but providing energy for enjoyment in the home,” she says. *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art. PIERRE VERONA

DESIGN EVO DOORS

by ELLEN URIBE

Design has come a long way In the new age of construction and renovation projects, aesthetic and practical solutions can come in many forms—one of the most notable is the incorporation of motorized doors that can appear as a window, wall or door.

Renlita Custom Opening Solutions, based in Bonham, Texas, is the parent company for EVO-Doors, a revolutionary concept in the industry. Since 2005, Renlita has been the industry leader in custom, vertically opening doors,

windows and walls that can transform architectural designs and redefine interior and exterior spaces.

“EVO-Doors offer a beautiful and simple solution for opening your residential and commercial buildings,” says Mike Brewer, director of marketing for Renlita, a company with about 50 employees. “It’s a turnkey, safe and cost-effective way to elevate and refine your home or retail business aesthetic. Clients can get custom-designed and engineered openings that can be installed by a local contractor or, in some cases, by themselves if they are fairly handy. Each custom project is carefully handcrafted by a team of specialized artisans, right here in the United States.”

EVO-Doors are available as a single panel swing-out system or a two-panel vertically bifolding system that creates an awning when opened, and Brewer says there are a myriad of design elements that can customize any door. “With multiple color options and super-durable powder coating, our customers can design their own vision with the knowledge that it will last,” he says. “About half of our doors are countertop systems that open up bars or kitchens to patios or other outdoor living areas, and the other half are full height walk under systems.”

EVO-Doors are sold direct to anyone, including builders, homeowners or anyone who needs an easy and secure way to create flexible space, says Brewer.

The doors start at about $10,000 and can be folding or

swing-out style; they come complete with the motors, glass, powder coating, a built-in battery backup system, and a stylish touch screen control panel.

“These custom-built systems end up in all sorts of places, like restaurants and bars, high-end residences, and even historical districts where we need to match the original details of the building’s storefront,” says Brewer. “Options that really make a big difference, such as motorized bug screens or the builtin battery backup, keep these openings useful when they’re needed, and keep the bugs out.”

The doors are specifically designed to match the client’s design intent. The company provides custom-engineered drawings and details of the unique project to the designer or owner prior to fabrication. “Our design consultants take the client’s ideas and literally create their vision,” adds Brewer.

The doors presently come in two options—with plans for other designs coming soon. The EVO-Vue is a single swing-out panel that is much cleaner looking than drafty garage doors, and it packs an aesthetic punch. The two-panel EVO-Wave is a vertical bifold that folds upward and sticks out about four feet to create a dynamic overhang space that upgrades a building with a unique and sleek look.

The majority of Renlita’s EVO-Doors are custom sized for your opening and built by hand using steel frames, aluminum glass captures, and quarter-inch to inch-thick insulated glass; they can also include low-E coatings for better efficiency.

EVO-Doors were first released in the summer of 2020 and just recently won the 2022 Architizer A+Product Awards in the windows and skylights category.

“Though we have the capacity to build truly massive systems in our flagship Renlita lines, these electrically actuated EVODoors typically are 100 square feet or less and have some design flexibility built in,” says Brewer. “Besides customizing the size, glass type and color of the systems, we can also add bug screens or sunshades, locking pins, different mullion designs, and we offer the added security of strong, electric actuators that do the heavy lifting and also act as a locking mechanism when the doors are down. Battery backup systems come standard and allow a user to open or close a door even in the loss of power. Understanding the technical aspects, options and potential pitfalls can be a daunting task, but we make it easy. We are noticing quite a bit of interest from developers, and several builders have included these doors as part of their new build options. We are seeing a lot of people doing custom homes on the coast and in the South, where people want to take advantage of beautiful days, and these doors maximize the home’s living spaces and beautiful views.”

As Brewer points out, EVO-Doors have gained wide acceptance in a short time. “Think about opening up an entire wall of a restaurant or a beautiful home on the water during a nice day,” notes Brewer. “We do a lot of restaurants and homes in the $1.5 to $2 million range, where a typical garage door

won’t cut it. Who wants overhead tracks, panels stacked on your ceiling, and loud, drafty garage doors in your living room? I mean they’re called garage doors for a reason.”

In areas or states where there is a lot of growth, such as Florida, Illinois, Texas, California and the Carolinas, Renlita’s business is escalating at a rapid pace, but the concept is fairly new to many homeowners. “The number one question we get is, ‘How expensive are these?’ I think a lot of people familiar with architectural vertical openings expect these to run a little higher than the $10,000 starting price,” Brewer says, adding, “But also, these hand-built, custom openings don’t price the same way a typical garage door does.” *

Ellen Uribe is an award-winning journalist and a communications expert. She is a sought-after speaker, participating as a moderator and panelist at numerous industry events, conferences and broadcast outlets. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Palm Beach Life, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Wear Daily and Time Magazine.

DESIGN KITCHEN & BATH SHOWROOM

by DANA W. TODD / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

most technologically advanced plumbing, hardware and home accents in its kitchen and bath showroom.

The company constantly evolves to meet consumer needs. This family-owned supplier has served homeowners and professionals across South Carolina and parts of North Carolina since the mid-1960s. Just three years ago, the company moved to a new North Charleston showroom that provides expansive display space for a growing range of new products and brings even better design services to customers. Today, Gateway Supply is once again transforming its Charleston showroom to introduce the “try it before you buy it” service. “Working fixtures in displays throughout the showroom enable our customers to test out faucets, showerheads and tubs to ensure they are getting exactly what they want,” says Garrett.

In its latest showroom refresh, Gateway Supply introduces a host of new kitchen and bath products. Innovative kitchen displays exhibit newly arrived Kohler fixtures in designs that encompass a stylistic range from transitional to traditional and modern. “We display all the options, not just what’s on trend in today’s market,” Garrett says. The showroom regularly adds advanced products to its displays. A trendsetting Moen kitchen faucet, for example, is expected to hit the showroom in fall 2023; it operates without a handle since it is totally motion activated. Also in the showroom, popular farmhouse sinks sit beside kitchen workstations from Elkay and Kohler with customized inserts, such as cutting boards, colanders and bottom grids that help the home chef move effortlessly from meal prep to entertaining to cleanup. “You can pair a modern workstation with a traditional faucet and see it firsthand to make sure that’s the right style for your home,” Garrett adds. Perhaps a semicustom product from California Faucets is more in line with a home’s

aesthetic. Customers can choose from more than 25 finish options, mixing and matching faucet handles and spouts in this vendor’s line.

Stylish bathroom displays showcase a variety of freestanding tubs, vessel sinks and digitally controlled fixtures for the ultimate user functionality. In addition to popular cast-iron and acrylic freestanding bathtubs, Native Trails concrete tubs add an interesting twist to the bathroom and also can be installed outside in an outdoor living arrangement. There is even a polished stainless steel tub in the revamped showroom.

Similarly, fashionable sink styles add excitement to one of a home’s most utilitarian features. “Native Trails vessel sinks with a swirling mix of colors are perfect for a powder room where you want a focal point for guests to see,” Garrett says. Native Trails’ Murano collection showcases the beauty of hand-formed glass vessel sinks, which are truly pieces of functional art. Gateway Supply carries a range of vessel sinks in many shapes and finishes—from clear, faceted and frosted glass to hammered copper and nickel-plated versions—and from several manufacturers.

For those who like their bathrooms high-tech, Alexa-enabled showerheads and faucets bring the ultimate voice-activated control to the room, allowing homeowners to turn on faucets, play music and adjust the temperature with just a few spoken words.

One of the best features about working with Gateway Supply is the showroom’s speed in fulfilling orders. A recent investment in its distribution center enables the company to deliver kitchen and bath products to customers without the supply chain delays common in the current marketplace.

While an endless resource of new products could be overwhelming for some homeowners, Gateway Supply provides in-showroom design consultants who provide no-cost services to homeowners who need guidance choosing product styles and features that best fit within their project’s parameters. From the Digital Showroom button on the company’s website, homeowners can quickly schedule a meeting with a design consultant to walk them through the process of choosing products. “You also can create a wish list on the site and link to a substantial number of inspirational photos on our Instagram feed,” Garrett says. *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.

GATEWAY SUPPLY CO. 2035 SPAULDING DR. NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406 843.554.0450

GATEWAYSUPPLY.NET

Ralph Harvard Ralph Harvard

Ralph Harvard

DESIGN REAL ESTATE

SECOND LIFE

A 1960s Isle of Palms home gets a face-lift to accentuate its mid-century modern roots

by DANA W. TODD / photography by DONNIE WHITAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Acomplete renovation of one of isle of palm ’ s most noteworthy homes is making waves on the island. Unlike the traditional beach cottage, this home at 1900 Waterway Blvd., which currently is listed for sale by Dunes Properties, is a throwback to a simpler time on the island. Its mid-century modern design is highly desirable in today’s marketplace, so the builder/architectural team decided it was the perfect project for a to-the-studs renovation to preserve its island legacy.

“Unlike many other older houses on the island, the owners decided not to tear it down to build a coastal-style home but to renovate it to its former glory while adding modern amenities to fit today’s lifestyle,” says Realtor Layne Kipp of Dunes Properties. Wes Mahaffey of Ironhorse Construction, the builder-in-charge and one of the property’s owners, says, “We bought it to renovate and so had full creativity to implement our vision.”

The renovation included major architectural changes, such as a roofline adjustment to modify the slope for a correct mid-century aesthetic. Exterior natural wood vertical siding provides a striking contrast to white stucco and is a nod to

mid-century modern style as it highlights long exterior lines. Adding a new garage and enclosing the existing carport to create a large primary suite almost doubled the square footage of the home to 4,350 square feet with a total of five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. With its high ceilings, it lives large in a smart footprint.

The design team reconfigured the entire home’s interior spaces, opening up the main living area to capture tropical views and create a seamless flow between the kitchen, dining room and living area. The reconfiguration enabled the addition of features and rooms important for modern living, such as dual laundry rooms, two built-in bars, a home office and game/flex room, walk-in closets, utilitarian mudroom with built-ins, and a modernized kitchen with a spacious pantry and high-end finishes, including upscale European appliances, a custom-paneled built-in refrigerator and marble countertops. Striking interior features such as wooden ceiling details, ceiling beams, vertical shiplap and custom pecky cypress accent walls continue the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired feel throughout the entire home. A period-appropriate color palette of mauves and moody greens, brass hardware and designer-grade Circa Lighting fixtures ensure continuity.

One of the most dramatic enhancements is a result of the investment in landscaping and hardscaping that provides a full outdoor living and entertainment space just waiting for a new family. From the main living area and kitchen, an outdoor living view comes into focus through two sets of sliding glass doors. Once outside, a stunning, custom Brazilian hardwood deck surrounding a tiled pool, outdoor shower and fire pit with adjacent seating area for enjoying cool nights steal the show. A covered cabana with private dining and cooking space gives way to a lush, green landscaped backyard ringed by native palmetto trees. “This half-acre lot is large for the island and enables quite a spectacular outdoor living setup,” Kipp says. “The continuation of main floor living into outdoor living highlights the best of what the island has to offer—year-round outdoor living that is incredibly special. You can enjoy your days lounging by the pool and cooking meals in the covered cabana and finish your nights with cocktails by the fire. This is truly the epitome of Lowcountry living at its finest.”

In true mid-century modern style, this home features clean lines, large windows to enhance the symbiotic relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, and an open layout that is abundantly functional for family living. “It’s a unique property

but one that people are craving on the island,” Kipp says. “At Dunes Properties, we sell where we live, so we are attuned to what people want in island living. Between myself and my father, Realtor Cal McCombs, we have owned properties and been a part of the Isle of Palms since the mid-1970s, and we specialize in helping families find the right fit here.”

For those interested in living in a piece of mid-century modern heaven, tours and information are available by contacting Dunes Properties. *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.

DESIGN SHUTTERS

PHOTO BY EBONY ELLIS

SHUTTING OUT THE STORM

Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters helps protect homes during Mother Nature’s storms

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

Underneath the spectacular scenery of the Lowcountry marshes and waterfronts, the threat of violent storms buzzes like a current, always there to temper the beauty. Every year, hurricanes, strong winds and thunderstorms all threaten homes along the coast, making fortification not only advisable but necessary.

“The Lowcountry needs to be prepared for any hurricane season,” says JD Cooper, founder and owner of Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters. “It’s not if we will have a storm, but when we will have a storm.”

There are, of course, various methods of prepping a house for a storm. Windows are an especially vulnerable point of any home, making them an extremely important detail never to overlook. And while covering them with sheets of plywood may be effective, it’s hardly a simple task—both in the installation or removal. Shutters, however, provide both ease and functionality as well as aesthetics—something that plywood is undeniably lacking.

As a native Charlestonian, Cooper saw the potential of starting a business focused on providing high-quality, custom hurricane shutters, taking his expertise in the construction industry and his entrepreneurial drive to launch Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters in 2005. “I have always loved the water,” he says. “At the age of 15, I became a commercial fisherman. As our town grew, I wanted to get into the construction industry and found my niche with exterior shutters in 2004 as an installer. I’d

always had a passion and drive to start my own business, so a year later, I took that ambition and started my own company. I have the benefit of helping people protect their property and making people happy by improving the look of their homes and businesses.”

Specializing in the manufacture of top-quality products and providing the best installation of hurricane-rated and decorative exterior shutters, the team at Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters prides itself on what it offers clients in both experience and excellence. “From our first interaction to our last, we strive for great customer service, ease of mind and comfort in knowing we will do our best to do it the right way the first time,” says Cooper. “We’re the only company in Charleston that is a full-service, turnkey company, with an in-house sales team; a manufacturing team building and painting or powder coating our own shutters; and a full-service installation team. We fully stand behind our products.”

Over the past 17 years, Cooper and his team have made Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters a trusted name and a go-to source for homeowners throughout Charleston. And though the ease of use and visual appeal may be strong selling points, there are a few other factors that make shutters an incredibly wise investment. Peace of mind is one, while the others are more financial. “Exterior shutters add value to your home or business, plus you reap the benefits of insurance discounts for installing hurricane-rated products to protect your home or business from damage,” says Cooper.

PHOTO BY MATT BOLT

ELLIS

Naturally, the company offers various styles of shutters, but there is a definite standout in popularity. “Our operable louvered, hurricane-rated Bahama shutter is the most popular style,” says Cooper. “Customers love the ability to get the aesthetics of the Bahama shutter while also having the ability to adjust the louvers so the view is unobstructed and natural light is allowed in. These shutters can also withstand 150-mph hurricane-force winds.”

Color options are also in ready supply, as the wood or composite shutters can be painted any SherwinWilliams or Benjamin Moore color. The aluminum products, however, are powder coated rather than painted. “We have over 200 standard colors,” Cooper notes. “We also carry the ever-popular ‘Charleston Green,’ and if a client is looking for a specific color, we can do a custom color match.”

On average, installation requires only one or two days, making it a relatively short project. The deciding factor is how many openings need shutters. And, like any home project, it all starts with a consultation. “When a potential client is interested in our shutters, one of our knowledgeable sales team members will meet them at their home when it is convenient,” says Cooper. “They then discuss the openings that the client is interested in and determine what will make sense for each. From there, we take field measurements and present them with a free custom quote. Once we iron out the details, we go under contract. To make sure we do things right the first time, either our director of operations or I will complete the final engineering of the openings. We then manufacture and paint the shutters within the given lead time, and our installation crew installs the finished product on our client’s home. The hardest thing for our installation crews is making sure that the opening is structurally sound to apply our products. We take pride in the aesthetically pleasing look of our shutters, but we also want to make sure they are truly functional and will protect our clients’ biggest investments.” *

Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on Twitter at @laswrites or download novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

PHOTO BY EBONY

DESIGN REAL ESTATE

by DANA W. TODD

hile working in accounting for 15 years , Audra Walters daydreamed about interior design and real estate, perusing the web for photos and information on the subjects whenever she got a break in her workday. At

nights and on weekends, she dipped her toe in the waters by flipping homes that she moved into, renovated and sold with her husband. Walters says she remembers coming home one day to their first house in Savannah, Georgia, to find her husband had removed an entire wall of windows. “It was a poor installation, so we rebuilt them more solidly,” Walters says. “Next, we ripped out the kitchen. I realized we could turn something ugly into something beautiful; it was how my love of real estate started.”

Once she made the leap to full-time real estate sales in Charleston in 2014 through Front Porch Properties SC, she enjoyed instant success, which hooked her even more into a love of everything related to residential real estate. Along the way, she realized she was spending a lot of time trying to sell vacant homes and thought there was a better way to help homeowners market their properties to sell faster. “I bought tons of furniture so I could stage the homes in appealing ways,” Walters says. “It was scary as hell, but I just knew I could make a difference for my homeowners.” When she found her clients’ homes sold so much faster after staging them, she formalized her design process through a new company called Staging Charleston.

The convergence of Front Porch Properties SC and Staging Charleston was gold. “In a market that is slower compared to six months ago and leaning toward being a buyer’s market, staging has become almost mandatory,” she says. She tells the story of a recent West Ashley condo listed with two other real estate agents before she got a chance to sell the property. It had languished on the market for 80 days, but Walters staged it and sold it within one week of taking the listing.

In a recent study, the National Association of Realtors® discovered 82% of agents report that staging a home made it easier for homebuyers to visualize it as their next residence. The International Association of Home Stagers reports that staging a home increases its sales price by up to 20% while helping the sales contract close three to 30 times faster than an unstaged home.

It’s not surprising that other Lowcountry real estate agents find it helpful to have Walters stage their properties through Staging Charleston. “I include staging as a no-cost real estate service if homeowners use Front Porch Properties to market and sell their homes,” Walters says, “but I also help out other agents who need a designer’s touch to boost their market potential.”

Walters has a few tried-and-true rules when she stages a home. “It’s hard to stage when every room is a different color,” she says, and she often begins by unifying the house by painting every room in a neutral color, such as Benjamin Moore’s ‘Chantilly Lace.’ “Then declutter, declutter, declutter,” she adds. “But most people don’t understand what that really means. It’s not just about removing the knickknacks and family photos but also scaling down the design to only the big pieces of furniture. Have a rocking chair in the corner? That probably needs to go as well as your collectibles on top of the kitchen cabinets.”

Joyful Soul Felicia Neil

Poppy Fugue Alexandra Kassing

Preening With Waterlilies Yvonne Rousseau

Glory Glory Hallelujah Rachel King

Daydream

Cheryl Considine

Ying-Yang Judy H. Jacobs

She also advises homeowners to remove patterned curtains and window coverings in dated colors, replacing them with white ones. Similarly, neutral upholstery with added pops of color via throw pillows or well-placed accessories is more appealing to buyers who are trying to visualize themselves living in the house.

From staging homes to moving clients’ furniture in one of her trucks or even storing it in her warehouse until the family can find their new home, Walters provides all the extras— included at no additional fee—through Front Porch Properties SC. “Whatever it takes,” she says. “If a home seller lists with me, I pull out all the stops to find them a buyer as quickly as possible.” *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.

Gaye Sanders Fisher

FINE ART GALLERY Original Lowcountry Watercolors

This season came in with a plan to stay awhile. It came bringing high temperatures, lots of humidity and plenty of rain. IT’S TIME TO FOLD! 124 Church Street Charleston, SC 843-958-0010 gayesandersfisher.com

RESTAURANT

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Victor’s Seafood & Steak serves up classic Bennett hospitality

by WENDY SWAT SNYDER / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

n the roughly 10 years since opening up as a high - end Downtown Charleston bar that specializes in craft cocktails like The Hemingway for washing down caviar and oysters, the Victor Social Club recently reemerged as Victor’s Seafood & Steak with a full-service dining concept. And why have a one-hit dining room when you can have two under one roof? With the former Michael’s on the Alley space, the Holy City Hospitality sister properties now offer dual dining experiences—each with its own unique vibe. One upscale and casual, the other an intimate, classic steakhouse, they are linked by a shared entryway, menu and vision.

For owner Michael Bennett, a 40-plus-year hospitality veteran and Charleston native, the endeavor is all about the guest, offering options and welcoming all like family. The son of self-made Irish immigrants, Bennett’s entrepreneurial bent grew from his family’s strong work ethic. As a teen, he began a business at the City Market renting out bicycles and mopeds to visitors. By the time he was 21, he’d purchased his first of several downtown fixer-uppers, jump-starting a lifetime of thoughtful development.

“I was a foot soldier in Joe Riley’s army,” says Bennett. “The mayor was a visionary and very motivating. He’d say, ‘We’re gonna build the best waterfront park—the best of everything.’ There weren’t many young developers at that time; we saw it happening and loved it.”

He says Riley’s progressiveness helped people like him— hardworking but unconnected—to participate in the city’s redevelopment.

previous: Dual dining rooms at Victor’s Seafood & Steak offer distinct experiences. Luxury reigns in this intimate space with its gilt-framed family art inviting the guest to “dine with the Bennetts” in upscale steakhouse style.

Jennifer Bennett, Michael Bennett, Tony Cuajunco, Jack Bennett and Dalton Fischer

Bold seasonings and great marbling distinguish the 14-ounce ribeye—a steak lover’s steak, cooked to perfection.

Bennett’s real estate ventures expanded from those early first steps in the 1980s under the brand of Bennett Hospitality—one of Charleston’s largest locally owned development companies. Today, the entrepreneur’s portfolio includes event venues, multiple restaurants, hotels and resort properties around the country—last year, his recently opened Hotel Bennett was named the No. 1 luxury hotel in the country by USA Today

“It’s a classic little jewel box—my love letter to the city,” notes Bennett, saying his recipe for success is to look at guests as friends of the family.

Bennett’s affection for the Holy City mirrors his strong family ties. Victor’s Seafood & Steak pays homage to his father, Virginia’s on King to his mother—both of whom, he says, built their lives from nothing. Throughout the organization, staff execute on a daily basis Bennett’s vision of hospitality—one that is family-forward and adheres to high standards. I met with Tony Cuajunco, Victor’s Seafood & Steak director of operations, for a chat and found his enthusiasm for the reimagined concept palpable.

“What’s so special about this project is it’s more accessible for guests,” notes Cuajunco, who joined Holy City Hospitality in 2018 after a 20-year career at Outback Steakhouse. “I call it upscale casual. There are a lot of fine dining restaurants in Charleston. Michael wanted to create a space that offered an upscale experience and a little lower price point.”

“We genuinely care about every guest who comes in. We want the guest to be so impressed that they’re already thinking about when they can come in again.”

Guests sip signature cocktails at a centerpiece marble bar and sup under soaring ceilings in this stunning dining room, where an upscale, casual vibe reigns.

left: A succulent lobster roll with roasted lemon and drawn butter joins other shellfish classics on the appetizer menu.

Signature cocktails—a longstanding specialty at Victor’s Seafood & Steak—include the Barrel Aged Black Manhattan, Last of the Oaxacans, Aviation and Rodeo Queen.

left: A perfectly cooked 14-ounce bone-in pork chop packs the wow factor. Plating includes an autumnalspiced pear puree, smashed fingerling potatoes and an herb crème fraîche.

A lofty burger featuring 10 ounces of beef brisket comes piled high with aged cheddar, lettuce and tomato on a rich potato bun.

Old Charleston brickwork, a wall display of over a thousand bottles of wine and plush banquettes of Italian leather combine with top-quality dishes and top-notch service in a setting where everyone is family.

Victor’s Surf & Turf features a 12-ounce New York strip and marinated jumbo shrimp served with remoulade and seasoned steak fries.

Cuajunco says Bennett also wanted everything “down my alley” to feel comfortable, a reference to Hutson Alley, where Victor’s, Michael’s and two other sister eateries—Coast Bar & Grill and Vincent Chicco—were carved out of a block-long strip of former warehouses.

The property was part of a parcel Bennett purchased from the heirs of Vincent Chicco, a local businessman who’d operated Charleston’s first “blind tigers,” which offered liquor during the Prohibition years. The eponymous restaurant Bennett opened on the property honors Chicco’s memory and his close relationship with the family.

Dinner service unfolds in the dual dining rooms

overseen by Dalton Fischer, executive chef.

“We’re a restaurant group but it’s all about family,” Cuajunco says. “I try to maintain that sensibility throughout my organization. The most important piece is to be genuine, put the right team together—staff that love food and love people— you can’t fake hospitality. We genuinely care about every guest who comes in. We want the guest to be so impressed that they’re already thinking about when they can come in again.”

The interior of the former Victor Social Club side of the restaurant still impresses with its soaring ceilings and a centerpiece marble bar that serves signature cocktails as well as barrel-aged spirits, beer and wine. Artwork depicting vivid sports fishing scenes painted by renowned Charleston artist John C. Doyle flank the elegant dining space.

A few steps away is a more intimate and slightly more elevated dining space that offers live piano on weekend evenings. Rich woodwork, plush banquettes and Bennett family antiques embrace the guest in a warm hug. Generations of family history unfold in framed photos of parents and siblings— hunting, fishing, playing baseball—on surrounding walls.

“You’re sitting down to a dinner with the Bennetts,” says Cuajunco with a smile. “They’re a very active, outdoor family. And very welcoming.”

Dinner service unfolds in the dual dining rooms overseen by Dalton Fischer, executive chef for both Victor’s Seafood & Steak and Vincent Chicco. His approachable menu pairs local seafood with steakhouse classics—offering shareable appetizers, like a seafood tower and oysters Rockefeller;

hearty entrées, such as ribeye, filets, bone-in chops and surf and turf; loaded potatoes and more—all with his own special spin. An inspired self-starter, the Tennessee native earned his credentials on the job, landing his first restaurant gig as a teen who knew nothing about grilling but gamely knocked out steaks on a busy Friday night.

“I’m constantly studying anything I can get my hands on,” he says. “I owe a lot to Harold McGee, a James Beard Foundation award-winning author. He’s best known for his seminal work, On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen The book is used in most culinary schools.”

Fischer’s tenure with Holy City Hospitality spans almost a decade, with time spent in the kitchens of 39 Rue de Jean, Vincent Chicco and both iterations of Victor’s. He says he learned early in his career to stop thinking about what you can add to the dish, but rather what you can take away and still maintain its integrity.

“Vincent Chicco has always been my passion. I love the simplicity of Italian cuisine,” says Fischer, adding that he’s parlayed that respect for ingredients and Lowcountry sources into a plan to make Bennett’s vision of Victor’s come to life.

I visited Victor’s prior to the official reopening with a guest in tow, and we were plied with a steady stream of the aforementioned steakhouse classics. For starters: oysters Rockefeller—embellished with a parmesan crema—the chef’s spin on the half-shell classic.

Toasted pancetta replaced the customary bacon in the clams casino, which showcased cherrystones, which Fischer says pack more of a wow factor than littleneck clams. A velvety lobster bisque came embellished with thick bites of lump crab.

Lightly toasted flatbread arrived for slathering with a superelevated spinach dip—savory local greens were blended into a sauce enriched with white wine, alliums and herbs and thickened with a bit of cream cheese.

Tender prime rib—a whole rib loin—was generously rubbed with Victor’s house seasoning blend, reverse seared, then paired with a signature twice-baked potato served in deep-fried skins, a technique Fischer says helps Victor’s stand out a bit.

We finished with a refreshing slice of key lime pie the kitchen spices up with a citrusy seasoning blend called Tajin.

Our experience at Victor’s Seafood & Steak was easily a standout for us and a testimony to the vision of Michael Bennett and his passion for Charleston and hospitality. He says with a smile: “I love renting bicycles, renting rooms, serving people. From our family to yours, welcome to Charleston.” *

VICTOR’S SEAFOOD & STEAK

39F JOHN ST. CHARLESTON, SC 29403 843.203.3002 HOLYCITYHOSPITALITY.COM/VICTORS-SEAFOOD-AND-STEAK

Wendy Swat Snyder is a Charleston-based freelance writer (sweetgrassandgrits.com).

HOMES

INTERIOR DESIGN

ISLAND OASIS

by ROBIN HOWARD / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

Margaret Donaldson Interiors creates a Kiawah Island haven for a family to gather

previous:

Designed for family gatherings, the five-bedroom Kiawah Island home is comfortable and sophisticated. When the family isn’t in residence, the home can be rented for vacations.

Two islands, one for prep and one for seating, have quartzite countertops that match the backsplashes behind the wet bar and cooktop. White oak floors and cabinets are anchored by black metal elements.

When a virginia couple decided to build a gathering place for their children and grandchildren, they envisioned a modern, rustic home where everyone could be together for holidays and vacations. Nestled into a tree-lined parcel just a block from the beach in Vanderhorst Plantation on Kiawah Island, this home has five bedrooms, six baths, two half baths, a media room, a bunk room, a sitting room and a reading nook. To bring their vision to life, the homeowners turned to a team of experts, including Margaret Donaldson Interiors (MDI).

MDI has decades of experience on Kiawah Island and is known for its proficiency with family-friendly design. Founder Margaret Donaldson and lead designer Alex Hendricks Feisal worked alongside Robbie Lesslie of Cumulus Architecture and builder Matt Byrd of Byrd Builders from inception, so they were able to help the client with every selection. “I wanted a home that was really comfortable,” the homeowner says. “I wanted it to be casual but sophisticated with a little bit of California vibe with farmhouse mixed in—a compilation of the styles I love.”

Though the team had to navigate a few COVID-related supply chain issues, the result is a welcoming home with an integrated interior design that serves as a cozy, elegant backdrop for living well and making memories.

From the exterior, it’s clear this home is unique. A threestory rectangle makes up the vertical heart of the home, with four different sizes of house-shaped structures connected to it. The compact shapes make it feel as if the home has been added onto over time without making it feel sprawling or rambling. On the exterior, expansive black steel windows and warm stacked stone introduce the natural vibe.

The living room is designed to maximize seating with a large sectional that faces both a fireplace and the TV. Overhead, two streamlined black pendants were chosen to blend with fixtures in the kitchen and dining room.

A reading nook between the first and second floors has built-in seating, storage, and a bookshelf, making it the perfect place to curl up with a book or an iPad.

For interiors, the client wanted a home with organic materials, lots of natural light and layers of texture. “The client had a distinct vision,” Hendricks Feisal says. “She wanted a mix of clean lines and light colors, and she wanted things with character.” Throughout the home, the soothing neutral color palette is infused with texture and character in the form of soft, fluffy wool rugs, textural fabrics, iron details, and warm white oak floors, beams and cabinets. Most windows run floor-to-ceiling and walls are trimless, creating an ultraclean look that’s also practical.

As we enter, the foyer has a stone floor with a small pattern later repeated in a larger scale in the adjacent sitting area. The verdant view is through the back of the home to the extra-long infinity-edge pool and trees. The living room is to the left, and the kitchen and dining areas are to the right. The sitting room has a unique aesthetic, with a groin vault ceiling and plaster walls and ceilings. Intended as a transitional area, this room serves as a clutter-free landing zone from the entry or as an overflow while entertaining.

In the living room, the client wanted to be able to seat as many people as possible, which required creative furniture orientation. “The way the room is laid out, to maximize seating, the sectional had to face the fireplace,” Hendricks Feisal says. “But the client didn’t want a TV over the fireplace, so we put a picture frame TV on the other wall.” When turned off, the TV blends in with its surroundings. You can face the TV or the fireplace by shifting where you sit on the sectional.”

The kitchen is an essential functional area for the family. It features two islands: one with an extra-wide prep sink with two faucets and two dishwashers, and one with seating for drinks and casual meals. To the left, a bar has a sink and plenty of room for mixing drinks, plus upper cabinets with steel-framed glass doors to corral drinkware.

Up another half flight of stairs, a cozy reading nook is carved into a landing between the first and second floors. With a bookcase, builtin benches with storage and lots of pillows, this is the ideal place to curl up with a book.

The custom 144-inch-long dining table is always ready for a crowd. A small niche carved into the arched pass-through provides storage and a display for family treasures.

The

left:

small study is ideal for working from home as needed.

The star of the homeowner’s bath is a Japanese soaking tub in front of a large diamondpattered window.

The second floor has a game room with a large table for puzzles or cards. A black steel door leads to a balcony with comfortable seating.

Custom white oak cabinets are topped with quartzite countertops that match the backsplash behind the gas range. Floating shelves and triple-stacked cabinets flanking the range offer plenty of handy storage for cooking. The expansive square hood has a custom plaster finish with iron details that match the steel-framed glass doors. Behind the kitchen, a large butler’s pantry provides storage and a second refrigerator.

For the dining room, the client wanted a large table that didn’t require an extension. The custom 144-inch-long black table has ball-turned legs that add visual interest to the serene space. Using benches instead of chairs on one side of the table prevents the view from the kitchen from being disrupted by a row of chair backs. Here, and throughout the house, black design elements such as the table and fixtures echo the black steel windows and anchor the organic color palette.

One of the designers’ most significant challenges was selecting light fixtures for the living, dining and kitchen areas because all are visible at the same time. The client fell in love with a Scudo Saraceno light fixture from Italian designer Fortuny, so whatever was chosen for the kitchen and living areas had to work with it instead of competing. In the living room, the designers chose two minimal round black pendants, while in the kitchen, they selected four simple glass pendants with a smoke luster finish. The result is visual harmony across the open areas, with individual fixtures contributing to the rooms’ personalities.

The client’s first-floor bedroom is soft and comfortable, with shiplap walls, high windows and a rounded white oak door. A floor-to-ceiling window and door provide views of the trees and pool. Two sets of arched white oak French doors lead to the primary bathroom, the highlight of which is a deep Japanese soaking tub placed in front of a large diamondpatterned window.

Up a half flight of stairs, the generous bunk room has four sets of built-in bunks with extra-long twin beds. Each bunk has a built-in niche with a reading light and outlet for phones and iPads. Instead of ladders, access to each upper bunk is via a broad set of stairs with white oak handrails and treads. Upper bunks have a double wood railing that makes these berths feel substantial, private and cozy. Rattan basketweave pendants hang from the vaulted ceiling, making the room feel extra spacious. Directly outside the bunk room is a walk-in closetsize nook with cubbies, hooks and a bench to corral visitors’ bags, shoes and towels. The bunk bathroom has a white-tiled tub, shower and a separate powder room for privacy.

Up another half flight of stairs, a cozy reading nook is carved into a landing between the first and second floors. With a bookcase, built-in benches with storage and lots of pillows, this is the ideal place to curl up with a book.

The second floor is home to a game room, media room and three bedrooms. The game room has a puzzle table and cabinets for storing games. Pocket doors lead to a media room where a massive sectional sofa takes up most of the

The homeowner’s bedroom is cozy and streamlined with floorto-ceiling black steel windows and a view of the trees and pool.

room. A handy bar with refrigerator drawers for beverages, remote-controlled blackout shades, a large TV and surround sound are at the ready for movie night.

There are three spacious guest bedrooms on this floor, each with an en suite bathroom and unique touches such as statement light fixtures and vinyl wallcoverings in the bathrooms. The fourth guest room on the third floor is purposefully special. “The client wanted this bedroom to feel a little more old-fashioned, like an attic bedroom,” Hendricks Feisal says. A four-poster bed, shiplap walls and a marble vanity with an antique vibe give this suite its own personality.

Outside, the pool deck has enough sun loungers and seating for a crowd. A covered patio with a fireplace, seating and a TV is perfect for watching sports or movies outside on cool evenings. To the left, an outdoor dining table for eight next to a built-in grill station is the ideal spot for lunch or a casual dinner.

Because the designers, architect and builder worked together as a team from the beginning, the home radiates functionality, comfort and unified design. Though this was built primarily as a family home, the clients also rent the house through ESPM Vacation Rentals.

“I love every part of this house,” the homeowner says. “It’s my dream house, and it’s exactly what I envisioned. We had the best team—the architect was amazing, the builder was fantastic, and I loved every minute of working with Margaret and her team.”

“We really loved this project,” Donaldson says. “It was a very cohesive team in very challenging times. When the entire team has the client’s best interest in mind, we all want each other to do their very best. We all benefit, but the client benefits most of all.”

“Working with Matt Byrd and MDI has become an easy recommendation,” Lesslie says. “The craftsmen Matt employs on each jobsite and his natural eye for how things should come together make our work as architects much more enjoyable. Margaret and her team bring a distinct vision to each design, and their eagerness to home in on the detailing brings life to that vision. Working with Matt Byrd and MDI on this home resulted in what we view as a work of art.” *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.

MARGARET DONALDSON INTERIORS 1557 MEETING ST. CHARLESTON, SC 29405 843.722.2640

MARGARETDONALDSONINTERIORS.COM

BYRD BUILDERS INC. 3690 BOHICKET ROAD, #4C SEABROOK ISLAND, SC 29455 843.243.0343

CONTEMPORARY COASTAL STYLE

A new home on

flair

Island

living

Fish Tale

adds California

to Charleston

by ROBIN HOWARD exterior photography and photo editing by HOLGER OBENAUS interior photography by MARGARET WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY HOLGER OBENAUS

previous:

Open shelving, maple floors and white brick keep the kitchen clean and bright. The dark gray ceiling visually anchors the light space.

When architecture and design are streamlined , it allows a home’s inhabitants to focus on what’s most beautiful and essential in life. A gorgeous, serene new home on Fish Tale Island masters this discipline. The 4,500-square-foot house is one of seven homes in the private Daniel Island enclave. It has expansive views of Beresford Creek, a half-acre of privacy and a contemporary coastal vibe that is a welcome change from the traditional Lowcountry architecture.

This home is the brainchild of builder Steve Guaglianone of Novella Homes. Because it was built as a spec house, Guaglianone had free rein to take a different approach.

“My vision for the house was to build something more contemporary, but I wanted it to be laid-back too,” he says. “No bright whites everywhere. I wanted a lot of warmth and a little bit of California style.”

Teaming up with architect Damien Busillo of DLB Custom Home Design and Jesse Vickers of JLV Creative for interior design, Guaglianone created a home that is open but cozy and highly functional. Their complementary expertise and vision for the project resulted in a brilliant collaboration. It was important to the team that the elements of the home enhanced the natural surroundings and didn’t compete with the views. By working together from the beginning, they collectively combined their skill sets and ideas, which ultimately ensured the cohesiveness and continuity of the design throughout the home.

As we walk in the front door, we’re in a two-story foyer that leads to the open dining room and kitchen. It is clear right from the start that this house is all about living outside and connecting with the environment as much as possible. There isn’t one thing, architecturally or aesthetically, that distracts from the setting.

The sight line from the front door passes straight through to the back of the house, where light pours in the floorto-ceiling windows. We’re looking at expansive views of Beresford Creek and the home’s sparkling infinity-edge pool. To further protect the view, Guaglianone installed mechanical screen doors that descend from the porch columns, eliminating the need for permanent screen doors.

Set on Beresford Creek on Daniel Island, this contemporary coastal home is a blend of East and West coast design.

A double-sided stucco fireplace divides the living room and dining room. A bar with a wine fridge, icemaker and floating shelves straddles both rooms.

The dining room features a California-style stucco passthrough fireplace. The wet bar with beverage cooler straddles the living room and dining room.

The dining room features a double-sided stucco fireplace that divides the space from the living room and gives it an understated California vibe. An exceptional contemporary chandelier defines the room without stealing the show. Straddling the living and dining rooms, we find a generous bar with a wine fridge, icemaker and plenty of floating shelves for glassware.

Teaming up with architect Damien Busillo of DLB Custom Home Design and Jesse Vickers of JLV Creative for interior design, builder Steve Guaglianone

Also on the main floor, there is a powder room with a robin’segg blue enamel sink and beautiful black-and-white mosaic tile that extends to the ceiling. There is a crisp, tidy laundry room with a sink and cabinets that echo the powder room’s color scheme. To the left of the foyer, there is a 300-bottle wine room with steel doors.

In the kitchen, brick tile walls contrast nicely with Omega cabinets stained a warm toffee. Maple floors are slightly lighter than the cabinets and have lovely black flecks and lines running through the wood. The Calacatta marble island is double thick, and countertops made of “Super Grey” marble echo the dark gray painted ceiling.

The range hood is stucco, mirroring the fireplace mantel, and the True refrigerator has unique pewter hardware. Three massive casement windows open to the kitchen sink. As if all of this isn’t enough, there is a scullery to the left with a second dishwasher, sink and pantry.

Bright turquoise tile in the shower and on the floor gives this bathroom a shot of color, which runs throughout the house in other permanent design elements.

left:

The light-filled living room has completely unobstructed views of Beresford Creek. Eliminating floor and ceiling moldings gives the room a contemporary vibe.

The main bedroom overlooks the marsh and the creek. By keeping architectural and design elements spare, the home allows nature to take center stage.

right: Built-in organizers in the mudroom create a functional and tidy drop zone for the family.

On the other side of the fireplace, the living room is a serene, light-filled gathering space with 10-foot steel windows. A second reclaimed wood mantel adds warmth, and a purposeful lack of molding and trim keeps the room’s lines streamlined.

The main bedroom has vaulted ceilings with reclaimed oak beams and 10-foot windows that overlook the marsh. Doors open to the deck and lush island views. There is an organized walk-in closet and a quiet, private office just off the bedroom.

In the main bathroom, Guaglianone created a spacious wet room with a steam shower and bath. There are no neighbors to the right, so there is no need for viewblocking window treatments. Nonetheless, the builder installed one-way tinted glass in the wet room so the homeowners can see out, but no one can see in. To add to the warm theme of the house, Guaglianone added a oneperson infrared sauna. The water closet lies behind a semihidden door that blends in with the wall.

Up the stairs, we find four more bedrooms and a charming entertainment room with a powder room and river views. Wallboards are hung in a column pattern, a refreshing take on horizontal shiplap.

Back downstairs, we step through the sliding patio doors off the dining room onto an extensive outdoor living area with a fireplace, outdoor kitchen, dining table and several seating areas. It’s here that the home’s privacy pays off; we’re looking at nothing but marsh, river and the home’s deep-water dock. To the right of the outdoor kitchen and dining room is a saltwater infinity pool with a sun deck. Wood steps lead to the ground floor and a second garage door facing the dock. The second garage is convenient for storing boat gear, kayaks or paddleboards. From here, we can take in the mixture of rooflines that help this home feel as if it’s been added on to over the years.

Italians have a saying: Tutto semplice è difficile (Everything simple is difficult). This home has the kind of elegant simplicity that can only be pulled off when you’ve mastered your craft. “I knew it was going to be special right from the start,” Guaglianone says. And it is. *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.

NOVELLA HOMES

295 SEVEN FARMS DR. SUITE C-193

CHARLESTON, SC 29492 843.709.2505

NOVELLAHOMES.COM

The main bathroom has oneway glass that eliminates the need for window coverings. The infrared sauna is one way the builder brought warm elements to the home.

IN his past life as a creative director of advertising, Rick Schneider’s artistic vision was a strength that he constantly played to, but he knew that he wanted to create work of his own—something that would bear his style and his name. In 2016, he began working on pieces of art that, to his great pleasure, seemed to resonate with people and capture their interest.

It took some experimentation, but Schneider eventually found his niche, using handmade papers and ephemera images from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s to create dimensional art that literally pops from the canvas, “assembling” his work with the assistance of an X-Acto knife and superglue. “They can be anything, from trees, textures and rocks to people, just anything from that period that gives me an idea for a piece,” he says. “I love unusual, colorful items, so my work is not subtle—I’ve been told that it’s the kind of art that grabs you by the lapels, it’s so colorful and bold. I don’t use a muted palette, and everything is very saturated with color—often very unusual colors, at that.”

What results is something that, besides being extremely colorful, is also very dynamic in its imagery. Having developed a signature style, Schneider adopted his pseudonym, Marlowe, both because it is his middle name and it is greatly referential to the pulp fiction character Philip Marlowe. “I started out doing what I call pulp fiction art, so it seemed fitting,” says the artist.

MARLOWE

MARLOWE

Much like his pieces, Marlowe has more than one dimension—a fact that can be seen in the softer pieces he creates, works whose subject matter runs toward the natural rather than the fictional. And while the dichotomy of the two may be striking, they are still fully Marlowe, drenched in color and full of dimension.

“I’ve noticed that I’ve gotten farther away from fantasy artwork in the past year or so, closer to nature scenery,” he says. “Where I live in North Carolina is so scenic, and local clients gravitate more toward natural settings. I’ve also begun using dye inks and pastel highlights in some of my work to enhance the colors and introduce mediums that I haven’t used in the past because it seems to create more texture and sharpen the colors.”

Marlowe is represented at New Elements Gallery in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Artistic Transfer in Dallas.

GD WHALEN PHOTOGRAPHY

AS a child, Gary Whalen fell in love with photography, taking photos with his Kodak Instamatic camera and finding magic through the lens. In college, he took photography classes and had a darkroom in his bathroom. Despite his clear passion for the craft, he did not pursue it professionally but instead followed his athletic acumen onto the professional tennis circuit and owned a tennis club in Florida. It was not until his later years that Whalen seriously turned his focus to photography, working in various formats including largeformat film, medium-format film, 35mm film, medium-format digital and FF digital.

Utilizing light and shadow much the way Rembrandt did in his paintings, Whalen tends to be very classical in his style, capturing sharp images and employing little, if any, Photoshop work with his animals and landscapes. “I used to do a lot of portrait and fashion work,” says Whalen. “I was originally inspired by the works of Steichen, Stieglitz, Edward Curtis, Rembrandt with light, and Rodin with the power of the subject. Steichen’s image of Rodin’s Balzac was a very powerful influence on my vision.”

Whalen’s work includes glossy fashion magazine covers, including one in Paris, and he now utilizes the lighting skills he learned as a fashion and portrait photographer in his landscape and animal work. “I shoot my nature work as if I am taking a portrait of whatever the subject

GD WHALEN PHOTOGRAPHY

is,” says the Asheville-based photographer, who is hands-on with every step in bringing his work to life, from printing and processing to laminating and framing. “I try to find the beauty and purity of every subject I decide to shoot, whether it be animal or landscape. Even landscapes have a ‘feel’ to them that I try to bring out.”

That “feel” is one of incredible life and movement, leaving viewers with a sense that they are seeing something unfold, candidly part of a moment that they might not otherwise experience. “I think people love the honesty of my images and the fact that I try to portray all my subjects in their best light,” Whalen says.

Whalen is a member of NANPA and PPA as well as a Nikon NPS member. He is presently participating in art festivals all over the South and has a complete online store on his website.

JUDY WALTERS FINE ART

THE rich colors of sunrise and sunset, the coastal waters of the Lowcountry—these are the greatest source of inspiration for Judy Walters, and her paintings are a love story to the region she has come to call home.

The daughter of a coal miner, Walters was raised on a working farm in the Eastern Kentucky Mountains of Appalachia. She grew up knowing the meaning of hard work, and her mother—a homemaker—taught her that beauty can come from humble beginnings. Walters carried those lessons with her throughout her life, and as an artist, she now sees that beauty coming from simplicity. “As I pursue an art career, I am reminded that something lovely can be created simply with my paint and love of a subject,” she says.

Before becoming a full-time artist in 2017, Walters spent years in the real estate industry as a developer and commercial appraiser. All the while, she harbored a desire to improve the artistic talent she’d shown since she was a child. It wasn’t until retirement in 2008, however, that she fully immersed herself in painting. Determined to hone her skills, she began taking art workshops and traveled to Europe to study with artists, attending the Florence Academy of Art and learning plein air painting. Nearly 10 years of study gave her the confidence to begin showing her work, and she has since become a treasured member of the Charleston art community. Even now, the work ethic she learned

JUDY WALTERS FINE ART

from her father shines through in her tireless pursuit of artistic achievement.

From sunsets washing the sky in a riot of color to the marshes of Daniel Island, Walters uses her surroundings to give her paintbrush direction, finding her muse in the constantly changing beauty she sees. She also loves to depict the sights of her childhood on canvas, using vibrant colors and brushwork to bring her memories to life.

Admittedly, Walters finds her greatest challenge in “loosening up” and trying new techniques. Values have also been hard for her to master, as the accomplished painter still struggles with the desire to use a pop of bright color in places that they may not particularly fit. Her style, however, is precisely what has so endeared her, and Walters has created a successful career in art that some only imagine. She currently shows her work at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery and Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant.

MITAL PATEL PHOTOGRAPHY

IT’S clear from looking at Mital Patel’s photography that he has an incredible eye and a unique sense of perspective. Patel captures his subjects in a way that leaves the viewer staring in awe at this moment—this one incredible moment—that he has forever immortalized through the lens of his camera. That is the mark of a true artist, and Patel’s talent is undeniable, from his nature photography to his fine architecture and abstract photographs.

Over the course of his career, Patel has created a name for himself as an intrepid photographer, traveling the globe to capture the incredible— and often majestic—shots that he takes. “I enjoy capturing the beauty of this world, and photography is my way to showcase it in a form of fine art,” says Patel, who only embarked on the journey of becoming a professional photographer 10 years ago.

As someone who has been creative for as long as he can remember, Patel has always been drawn to art, but photography speaks to him in a way that no other art form ever has. “I was 12 at the time I had my first camera,” says the self-taught photographer. “In the early days, my camera was always capturing and documenting family moments. Over time, my travels and learning of Ansel Adams led me down a path to landscape photography. After my first visit to Africa, I became hooked on wildlife photography. I like to see things a little different, and I work to portray that in my art.”

MITAL PATEL PHOTOGRAPHY

“Different” is what gives Patel that perspective, helps him see the shot that turns into an incredibly mesmerizing photo. He focuses on fine art photography, printing his images on museumgrade fine art paper or on Lumichrome acrylic. Within the wide scope of his work, and in all his travels across the world, Patel’s favorite subjects are larger than life. “At this time, I’d say my favorite thing to photograph has to be elephants,” he says. “They are one of the largest animals while also being graceful and gentle.”

While Patel is based in Dallas, he considers the world his studio. “I have traveled extensively around the globe, touching all but one continent,” notes Patel, who recently travelled to Antarctica for the first time. His work is represented by the Christopher Martin Gallery in Dallas, Houston, Aspen and Vail.

THERE’S a poetry to the paintings that Jenan McClain creates, a fluidity and abstraction akin to the lines of a poem. She lets her emotions and soul guide the brush and follows the dictates of the words on her heart, both written and unwritten. And that is why her work speaks as powerfully as it does to the viewer, drawing out emotions and stories that create a personal connection to the work on the canvas.

“I realized that there is some emotional undertone in my paintings that resonates on another level with people,” says McClain. “It became apparent that my purpose is to translate healing, joy, light and hope, and that emotion has been felt by people— especially women—across the country who see my work.”

Knowing McClain’s back story and how her art evolved as the result of a period of grief and struggle during her daughter’s health crisis as a child, one can understand how her work would hold such force. Her art comes from that place of pain and fear over the unknown, that place where struggle gives way to surrender and spirituality. Having come through that dark time, there is a depth in her work that conveys so much—all without words.

Words are important to McClain, however, as she expresses herself through poetry just as she does through paint. And the two frequently go hand in hand. “Poetry is a big part of my life and my work,” she says.

JENAN MCCLAIN

JENAN MCCLAIN

Oftentimes, her paintings are named from the poetry she has written, as one inspires the other.

A relatively new artist to the professional scene, McClain studied art in school at the Fine Art Center in Greenville, South Carolina, but did not pursue it professionally. Rather, she followed a path that led her first to banking and then to luxury real estate in the Caribbean. It wasn’t until 2020 that she decided to finish her work in the Caribbean and focus her efforts completely on painting.

A self-described “intuitive” painter, McClain’s style is abstract impressionism, focused on subjects in nature that she views as abstractly maternal: florals, waterscapes and landscapes. Painting from her home studio in Mount Pleasant, she paints her poetry in both large and small scale and accepts commissions. Her work can be found at The Vendue and the Miller Gallery in Charleston, as well as at the Grand Bohemian in Greenville, South Carolina, and AnArte Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.

AS far afield as clinical psychology may be from painting, Carolina native Brenda Orcutt has done both, exploring all the avenues of the mind, from the emotional to the logical to the creative. And creativity is where she shines brightest, having launched a career as a professional artist 25 years ago with hand-painted glassware for high-end local retailers before becoming a fine art painter of oils on canvas. Twelve years after establishing Orcutt Fine Art, she seems to have found her niche, painting landscapes and florals using high-quality oil paints straight from the tube. “I’m wary about using thinners or mediums,” she says. “I feel confident my work will last for generations.” Her subjects range from cloudscapes to waterways, from gardens in bloom to painting from a floral setup in her home studio in the Old Windermere area of West Ashley, not far from Avondale.

Orcutt comes by her talent naturally, having been raised by a mother who was into various types of crafts, including ceramic painting, decoupage and knitting. “I had such fun going to workshops with her to learn something new,” says Orcutt, whose father went to art school on the G.I. Bill. “It must have been in my blood, and the passion to create kept tugging at me throughout my

ORCUTT FINE ART

ORCUTT FINE ART

adulthood. I honed my painting skills and began to realize, as sales increased, that collectors had a keen eye for my unique style.”

That “unique style” was created through time and, of course, trial and error. “I trained in oil painting with the familiar classical approach of using bristle brushes,” Orcutt explains. “At one point, I could see a shift in my style with bolder color, heavier paint and more use of the palette knife. By 2010, I realized I could create an entire painting using just the knife, which is a challenging skill to master. I’ve found the technique allows me to apply rich, bright colors in ways that accurately describe my subject but also express the freespirited joy I feel when I’m ‘in the zone’ of creativity.”

Orcutt is a longtime member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society and American Women Artists, as well as the Charleston Artist Guild. Her work is represented by the Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan’s Island as well as Dare Gallery in Charleston. Her paintings can also be found online at her website.

STEPHEN MOSCOWITZ

FROM as early as he can remember, Stephen Moscowitz has been artistic. The son of a father who was a furrier by day and a pastel artist by night, he was given broken chalks and paper and pieces of cardboard from the launderette to use for his own masterpieces as a child. In school, his talent was noticed by teachers who encouraged him to help other students during art— though his oversight didn’t always win him fans among his peers.

As he grew older, honing his natural talent became more of a priority. By high school, he was taking two art classes a day instead of French, algebra and science, learning the techniques and mediums of both fine art as well as commercial art. Moscowitz’s proclivity toward commercial art won him scholastic art awards throughout his high school career, culminating with a scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Art & Design.

By college, Moscowitz lost patience with the finer points of fine art and focused on what had always been his strongest point: commercial art. After graduating from RIT, he went to work for a retail furniture company, creating ads. This opened the door to a career in commercial art, taking him to New York, where he later became an art director for the advertising company where he worked.

Still, Moscowitz had an insatiable need to keep learning. He took part-time courses at local art schools, where he was introduced to the wonders of

STEPHEN MOSCOWITZ

illustration—and the success that could come from it. After getting an agent, he began taking assignments with ad agencies and publishers, eventually becoming known on a worldwide scale for his work.

The advent of computer illustrations was, unfortunately, the end of Moscowitz’s boom, but serendipity intervened and brought him a new medium: motorcycles. Beginning with his son’s motorcycle, the paintings he created on the bike’s gas tanks were a rolling advertisement for his work. Since then, he has painted hundreds of motorcycles, many of which have won awards at bike shows.

What the motorcycles proved to Moscowitz was that he could paint. And paint, he did, creating fine art pieces that depict the Lowcountry scenery and wildlife that he has fallen in love with since moving to the area. “Life is the inspiration for my work,” he says. “Something is happening, and I want to create the image.”

Moscowitz is represented by the Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant.

RICHARD FERGUSON

WHILE his previous career as the chairman of a regional bank may have required that he color inside the lines, Richard Ferguson’s lifelong creativity eventually won out, inspiring him to pick up a paintbrush once he’d left the fast-paced corporate world. “After retiring and leaving behind all of the rules and deadlines, I wanted something with freedom from deadlines, something where I could bend the rules or make my own, something to do when and how I wanted to,” he says. “On a trip through Asheville, North Carolina, years ago, I was struck by the art galleries and artists and decided to start my journey into the art world. I became a sponge, taking every online class, watching every art video and reading all the art books I could find.”

Over the past seven years, Ferguson has created a name for himself as an artist. His relationship with art is one that embraces freedom and eschews boundaries—much like it did in his childhood. “I’ve always been a doodler and loved doing art since I was young,” he says. “I was always envious of the kid in grade school with the 84-color crayon box but learned to do with my dozen. I was also constantly in trouble for drawing in my schoolbooks and on the covers.”

In school, Ferguson enjoyed mechanical drawing, which gave him a greater understanding of perspective and relationships in art. As much as he loved it, however, he majored in finance and pursued a more

RICHARD FERGUSON

traditional career. Now, art has become a passion for him. “For me, painting is an exciting adventure into the unknown, where I can explore, experiment, make my own rules and feel excitement as a painting takes shape,” says Ferguson, who works in oil, acrylic and Venetian plaster. “I love creating, playing with textures and throwing paint. It’s really playing and having fun. I draw on memories of unusual places I have been, things I have seen and experiences in life, from being outdoors with my family, in the military and during travels to various countries.”

Ferguson splits his time between his home in Columbus, Ohio, and Bluffton, South Carolina. He is a member of the Charleston Artist Guild and the Society of Bluffton Artists. His work is represented at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery and the 400 West Rich gallery in Columbus.

RICHARD FERGUSON 614.565.3008 RICHARDFERGUSONART.COM

LOCATED in the hip Pineapple Grove arts district of Delray Beach, Florida, DelrayART has become known as a cuttingedge art gallery since it opened in 2006. Owner Joe Davis is a renowned painter, illustrator and graphic artist whose work has been exhibited worldwide, from New York and Los Angeles to Tokyo, boasting appearances in national publications, including The New Yorker, as well as being included in the collections of the John Paul Getty Estate, Universal Studios, Nicholas Cage and Seibu in Japan. Part of the East Village ’80s art scene, Davis became known for his vibrant paintings of Times Square and the Lower East Side.

“I used to worry a lot about categories like abstract versus representational, because galleries and collectors made clear distinctions and very few artists did both simultaneously,” says Davis, looking back over a career that has spanned decades and encompassed many different styles. “I was slated to have a one-man show when I was 25 at a prestigious gallery on 57th Street when I decided I didn’t want to make abstractions any more or be locked in as an ‘abstract’ painter, which was all that gallery showed. I went ‘underground’ just as my career was taking off to create an entirely different body of work. This pattern has repeated itself several times over the years, but looking back, I see that they are all the same—the ‘bones’ of my work are recognizable throughout, whether it’s an abstraction or a painting of Times Square or a Florida beach.”

DELRAY ART

DELRAY ART

As prolific as his career has been, Davis puts much of it down to process. “Process is the most important thing—particularly if you are like me—and I find many artists are in this respect,” he says. “I go through intense cycles of creativity, followed by a low. It’s vital to keep working, even when you are on the low end of the wave. If you learn to love even the boring or difficult aspects, like building a big stretcher by hand, it can allow your mind to repair and prepare for another artistic assault.”

Focused on works that express a sophisticated coastal sensibility, the art at DelrayART is selected to blend with both contemporary and traditional décor. The gallery represents Davis’ paintings and prints and also specializes in custom and large-format printing on canvas, aluminum and acrylic, as well as epoxy-resin coatings. Prices range from “beginning collector” to high-end décor.

PATRICIA RENO HUFF GALLERY & ART STUDIO

UTILIZING the strengths she gained teaching high school, Patricia Huff has created a name for herself as an art teacher in Kiawah Island, and her gallery has become a showroom for the burgeoning talents of her students.

A painter herself, Huff was artistic as a child and was encouraged by her mother, who made sure to keep her well equipped with art supplies. As creative as she was, however, Huff lost confidence in herself during her teenaged years until she met a fellow student at Georgia State University who, despite his severe cerebral palsy, was pursuing painting. After that, Huff’s desire to paint was reignited, and she began taking workshops and even studied abroad in Italy. Inspired by the Greek and Roman art and architecture that surrounded her, Huff’s passion for painting intensified even more, and she began a tireless quest to learn and refine her techniques. “You never stop learning as an artist,” says Huff. “It’s a constant process of learning new things, growing and changing.”

Professionally, Huff did not pursue art as a career until later in life, after seven years of teaching economics, history and political science to high school students and working in the real estate industry. The Atlanta native was also highly active with volunteering, serving on the board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Designer Showhouse for a number of years in addition to filling the role of chairman for one year, as well as working with

PATRICIA RENO HUFF GALLERY & ART STUDIO

many other organizations and earning the Leadership Sandy Springs award. After retiring, she established her own gallery in 2015, where she began offering art classes. Moving to Freshfield Village in Kiawah Island in 2020, Patricia Reno Huff Gallery & Art Studio continued to be a learning center for those who aspired to become artists, giving them both a place to hone their abilities as well as an entry into the public arena. “It’s intimidating to expose yourself to the public eye,” Huff says. “The work my students create and then choose to display is a very personal thing for them. I love being part of that and seeing them learn and find their style as painters.”

As an art instructor, Huff has had to become adept at many different styles and techniques, as her students all have individual styles and very unique personalities. “I need to be adaptive to their needs so that I can give them the tools they need to develop—including the fundamental background in drawing and composition,” says Huff. “I love exploring different styles in my own work, as well.”

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PATRICIA RENO HUFF

GALLERY & ART STUDIO 404.245.5766 PATRICIARHUFF.GALLERY

ART ON THE SQUARE FINE ART GALLERY

OPEN since November 2019, Art on the Square Fine Art Gallery is the Charleston area’s newest art hub, representing more than 30 award-winning local artists to offer a wide variety of paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, artisanal woodwork and stained glass.

Located in Nexton Square in Summerville, South Carolina, the 2,000-square-foot gallery holds a rich abundance of pieces—all of which are incredibly unique displays of local talent.

With a collection of artists whose work offers great appeal to clients with a wide variety of interests, the pieces represent various painting styles and explore different mediums, offering the best of realism, impressionism and contemporary abstraction. The gallery’s vast assortment of art is inspiring to behold, and it’s the perfect place to find a piece that will become a cherished treasure.

Current artists include Jo Gilpatrick, whose painting A Classical Still Life reflects the richness and style of the Old Masters, and Sally Fleming, whose painting Autumn exhibits a fun, whimsical style depicting the fall season.

Artists represented at Art on the Square are brought in through a juried process that the artist participates in after applying to join the gallery as an art associate.

VICKI P. MAGUIRE

DURING her childhood in rural Massachusetts, Vicki Maguire discovered her first art classroom where the woods ran deep and ponds of fish were abundant. Nature was an inherent passion explored in her poetry, drawings and songs, and all of God’s creation was her inspiration.

After graduating from New Mexico State University, her career in technical writing took her to the Bay Area— and yet another classroom with an abundance of coastal landscapes. During an exploration of the beauty of Carmel, she realized her desire to paint. Her many and farreaching travels, including plein air painting in rural France, as well as her 23 years residing in Charleston, add to her depth as a coastal artist.

Painting largely in an impressionistic style, Maguire prefers oil on linen applied with a palette knife for a thicker look and multidimensional feel. “Painting is a diary of the beauty seen and felt on canvas,” she says.

Maguire’s work can be found online and in the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and Atrium Health’s Breast Cancer Lobby in Pineville, North Carolina, in addition to fine art galleries and private collections around the country.

DENNIS FULBRIGHT

WHILE he may have followed a more traditional path with his career as a landscape architect, Dennis Fulbright never abandoned his love of art or his desire to paint. In his professional life, he used his artistic skill to bring vivacity and color to the renderings of his projects, painting landscapes and architecture with technique and attention to detail. After retiring in 2015, he turned a greater focus to transparent watercolor and entered many juried shows in South Carolina and Georgia for which he won awards. He has been featured at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition twice and will be at the 2023 event.

With a style that seems to blur the line between impressionism and realism, Fulbright depicts landscapes and seascapes with manmade objects incorporated to “help develop scale and mood.” His medium of choice, transparent watercolor, is one that creates a much different effect than oils or acrylics. “Transparent watercolor is the application of layers or glazes of watercolor pigments onto paper in a manner that allows light to penetrate through these layers and reflect back through the pigments, giving the color brilliance and luminosity.”

Fulbright works from his home studios in Charleston and Cleveland, South Carolina, and his work may be found online on his website.

SUSAN KLAVOHN BRYANT

THOUGH Susan Klavohn Bryant has been an artist in some respect for all of her life and majored in art education in college, it wasn’t until 2017 that she became one professionally. Previously, she had been capturing homes, landscapes, wildlife and other subjects through photography, with hopes of eventually returning to painting. Now, she balances a career in real estate with her pursuit of art, creating paintings that capture the scenery and people of the Charleston area with energy, color and emotional qualities that make her work unique.

Through the use of acrylics, oil and mixed media, Bryant paints a variety of subjects, including landscapes, still life, expressive portraiture and abstracts. Though she is still relatively new to the artist community, her undeniable talent has made her stand out, placing her in a position to help others learn to paint and inspire established artists to try new techniques or subjects. She has served as past president of the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild and is involved with the Charleston Artist Guild Pet Helpers project. She also assisted in the development of other area galleries. Her work is represented by the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.

In early 2023, Bryant will have an abstract show at Serendipty Labs in Summerville, South Carolina.

CHARLESTON ARTIST GUILD

THE Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) was founded in 1953 by a small group of local artists, including Anne Worsham Richardson, Alfred Heber Hutty and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner—all of whom sought a way to display their works, network with other artists and become more involved in the community.

More than 70 years later, CAG has approximately 700 members and operates the CAG Gallery, where more than 70 of the Lowcountry’s most well-respected artists display and sell their work. In 2020, the gallery was voted the Lowcountry’s Best Art Gallery, boosting its reputation as Charleston’s premier gallery for high-quality, diverse local art that represents a wide range of mediums and styles.

A nonprofit organization, CAG fulfills the vision of its founders and members by hosting annual community outreach programs for youth, residents of area Alzheimer’s care facilities and other partner organizations. It has also become a family to its members, giving them a place of support and learning.

New artists are juried into the gallery twice annually, and educational programs, critiques and other artistic development opportunities are held throughout the year. The gallery is open daily at 160 East Bay St., from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

DEBRA PAYSINGER

DEBRA Paysinger’s master’s degree in biology has informed her subject matter, as she primarily paints birds, lures, sea life and rabbits—or the raddits, as she endearingly refers to them. She owns the registered trademark for the term “the raddit” and each whimsical creation is uniquely numbered within the painting.

Paysinger assigns a notto-be-repeated human name to each expressive bird she paints. These names are found on the back of each work. These striking animal portraits stand on their own yet have a grounded familiarity with the others. It’s as if Paysinger knows the personality of every raddit and bird and finds a way to let that personality shine through.

You can find Paysinger’s art in Studio 151 Fine Arts Gallery on Church Street in Charleston.

PERSPECTIVE GALLERY

ART is a wonderful escape from everyday life, and as East Cooper’s largest and most diverse gallery, Perspective Gallery is a wonderland of beauty and color. Tucked into the corner of Crickentree Village Plaza, its humble facade may seem unremarkable but its assemblage of paintings in every style and technique are proof that one should never judge appearances.

Open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., the gallery is a popular place to discover new finds or add to a collection, but note that parking can be a challenge at lunchtime. The works displayed are a feast for the senses and depict a wide variety of subjects all created by Lowcountry locals. As the gallery exhibition venue for the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild, Perspective requires potential exhibiting artists to go through a jurying process in order to maintain a diverse selection of work from the most skilled Guild members—many of whom have received awards and accolades for their work.

Displaying the works of more than 35 artists, the gallery supports locals, and a portion of every sale is given to the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild annual college scholarship fund. Perspective also offers a variety of open workshops taught by exhibiting artists as well as regionally and nationally known instructors.

BETSY JONES MCDONALD

CHARLESTON artist

Betsy Jones McDonald began her artistic training as a teen with watercolorist Geri Davis of Columbus, Georgia. She went on to study fine art at Columbus State University, and her eye for design was later put to work as a design manager during her years working in visual merchandising.

After moving to Columbia, South Carolina, McDonald began doing murals, which is when she realized her true love lay in largeformat painting. She’s pursued oil on canvas ever since and paints using her own custom-mixed hues. McDonald also co-owned Island Art Gallery in Pawleys Island for four years, where she continues to regularly teach color theory workshops.

These days, McDonald’s art is inspired by the marsh surrounding her Daniel Island studio. “I love the colors of the marsh and the way they change with the seasons and the tides,” she says. “Every time you look at the marsh, you see something different, and I’m fascinated by that.”

You can find her paintings exhibited at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet and Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant.

ELLA W. RICHARDSON FINE ART

THIS year marks Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art’s 21st anniversary. Housed in a 2,700-square-foot historic property at 58 Broad St., the gallery opened its doors on November 2, 2001.

The gallery specializes in American and European oil paintings, and bronzes by the late American artist Glenna Goodacre. Her sculptures are prized for their convincing emotion and expressive composition. Canadian wildlife sculptor Richard Loffler is also represented by the gallery. Visitors will find fascinating works in porcelain by Anna Kasabian, etchings by renowned Charleston Renaissance artist Alfred Hutty and jewelry by Julie Vos.

Lindsay Goodwin’s European scenes are a longtime favorite of collectors from coast to coast. Her oils possess exquisite detail and ambience. Jeff Jamison’s works are sought after by a diverse clientele. His works intrigue the imagination with their moody, atmospheric air.

Richard Oversmith paints both plein air and in his studio. He travels extensively and creates light-filled landscapes and streetscapes from Charleston to Italy and beyond.

Offering exceptional artwork from established and emerging artists, the gallery strives to meet the needs of its clients. The range in its catalogue includes a wide variety of art, from impressionist oil paintings and contemporary abstracts to black-and-white photography. ELLA W. RICHARDSON FINE ART 843.722.3660

HELLI LUCK FINE ART

WHEN Londoner Helli Luck picked up her first paintbrush at 5 years old, she knew that she wanted to be an artist—and that dream carried her through to making it a reality. Winning her first award at 12, she went on to have her work displayed in the Mall Galleries in London and did a campaign with Pall Mall before traveling to Europe.

After studying at St. Martins in London, Luck went on to work as an art director with Saatchi and Saatchi, a job that took her all over the world, giving her a unique opportunity to see new cultures and artistic expression in a more global way.

Luck’s travels have provided her with a range of captivating subjects, inspiring her to paint her surroundings. She also has the desire to capture the passage of light through a scene and conjure the feeling it created in that moment. “I love to try and evoke an impression, leaving room for the viewer to feel the emotion,” Luck says.

The artist is drawn to the rich texture of oils, starting with a loose, thin sketch that resembles watercolor before building up to thicker paint. Now living in Pawleys Island, she paints the local scenery and wildlife.

Luck’s work is represented at Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, Wynsum Antiques & Interiors in Charleston and Stellers Gallery in Jacksonville, Florida.

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

0 FAIRINGTON DR.

» SUMMERVILLE

One of the last opportunities to own buildable waterfront property along the Ashley River. An amazing opportunity to develop a nearly 50acre waterfront community. With large oaks and ponds, the property is rich in beauty as well as history. Deep water with access to the Charleston Harbor and the Atlantic. Only 30 minutes to historic downtown Charleston. Plans are preliminary and 6-8 docks are possible. 47.38 acres: $25,000,000

CONTACT: LISA PATTERSON & HOLLY

HAMILTON PHONE: 843.991.6809 WEBSITE: 0FAIRINGTON.COM

133 FLYWAY DR.

» KIAWAH ISLAND

Designed by renowned architects Shope, Reno & Wharton, this architecturally significant home sits on a rare 2.07-acre double oceanfront lot with 200 feet of ocean frontage, located within the Southeast’s most exclusive and desirable resort, Kiawah Island. A private 400-foot driveway leads you to this sprawling seaside estate, which provides a saline pool with a travertine surround, a separate pool house and a back lawn with a bridged walkway to the beach. 10,500 square feet, 9 bedrooms, 9.5 baths: $20,000,000

CONTACT: MIDDLETON RUTLEDGE PHONE: 843.345.9137

WEBSITE: 133FLYWAY.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

3 COCHRAN COURT

» CHARLESTON

Welcome to The Crescent, Charleston’s finest residential community. Adjacent to a premium private school and only 5 minutes to Downtown Charleston, this home is located on a quiet cul-de-sac with a lovely park and incorporates the best of modern construction, including 9-foot-plus ceilings, dual primary suites and luxurious finishes throughout. Over 5,000 square feet of interior living includes a dedicated office, a luxury media room complete with a wet bar and much more. 5,064 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths: $3,799,000

CONTACT: RUTHIE RAVENEL PHONE: 843.696.8858

WEBSITE: 3COCHRAN.COM

2 SAINT MICHAELS ALLEY

» CHARLESTON

In the heart of Charleston’s Old Walled City, down a quiet one-way street shaded by distinctive Italian cypress trees, this one-of-a-kind architectural treasure (c. 1740) has not been on the market in 50 years and offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a truly exceptional Downtown lifestyle. Winning a Carolopolis Award in 1978 for preservation, the historically rich property features 11-foot ceilings, brilliant hardwood floors, original mantels, wainscotting and a private courtyard garden. 2,340 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, 2 half baths: $1,750,000

CONTACT: MIDDLETON RUTLEDGE PHONE: 843.345.9137

WEBSITE: 2STMICHAELS.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

14 N. TRACY ST.

» CHARLESTON

Located in the highly desired North Central neighborhood, this property is completely remodeled with granite countertops, wood floors, vaulted ceilings and every convenience. Built in 1935 on a high lot. Flooding is not a problem (currently in an X zone). Open floor plan. This is a great starter home for Downtown convenience and is close to parks, schools and restaurants. Off-street parking. 1,336 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths: $795,000

CONTACT: DANIEL RAVENEL

PHONE: 843.343.5944 WEBSITE: 14NTRACY.COM

16 MORRIS ST.

» CHARLESTON

This well-located and well-rented duplex is a great investment property for anyone looking to plant roots in the Charleston rental market. Located just one block off King Street and a short walk from MUSC and the College of Charleston, this income-producing property provides proximity to all that Downtown Charleston has to offer. Original pocket doors, fireplaces and staircase combined with a renovated kitchen and new appliances. 2,160 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths: $985,000

CONTACT: RUTHIE RAVENEL

PHONE: 843.696.8858 WEBSITE: 16MORRIS.COM

517 KING ST., UNIT #13

» CHARLESTON

Located in the center of fine dining, nightlife and fabulous shopping, this updated condo has 14-foot ceilings and a deeded off-street parking space in a gated lot. The loft unit with an open floor plan has beautiful hardwood floors and an industrial look and is a canvas waiting for your touches. The unit is a great lock-and-leave and centrally located to everything Charleston has to offer. 1,275 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths: $750,000

CONTACT: LISA PATTERSON

PHONE: 843.991.6809 WEBSITE: 517KING13.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

4017 KAOLIN ST.

» CHARLESTON

Lowcountry life awaits with a turnkey build project, complete with plans and design for a magnificent custom home and dock and only 15 minutes to Downtown Charleston! A brand-new dock can be enjoyed from day one. Situated on just under half an acre, this estate-sized lot is build-ready with plenty of space for a sizeable home with endless possibilities. 0.43 acres: $1,250,000

CONTACT: RUTHIE RAVENEL

PHONE: 843.696.8858

WEBSITE: 4017KAOLIN.COM

4049 KAOLIN ST.

» CHARLESTON

A brand-new ipe dock with a 12,000-pound boat lift and floater can be enjoyed from day one. Situated on over half an acre, this estate-sized lot is build-ready with plenty of space for a sizeable home with endless possibilities. The Settlement at Ashley Hall is a premium Southern Living community with luxury amenities, including a neighborhood dock, dog park and historic features, including one of the oldest structures in the state. 0.67 acres: $1,495,000

CONTACT: RUTHIE RAVENEL

PHONE: 843.696.8858

WEBSITE: 4049KAOLIN.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

150 MOURNING DOVE DR.

» WATERFORD HEIGHTS

Secluded, private neighborhood. Short distance to Pawleys Creek. Live oaks, tropical birds and flowers. Two-story, cedar-sided Colonial is recently updated throughout. Tastefully decorated. Large, open floor plan. Large screened back porch for quiet summer evenings. Large lot with mature, beautiful live oak trees. Fire pit, storage shed and fencing. A large part of the Waterford Heights area is protected by a conservation easement. Pawleys Island offers golfing, fishing, fine dining, boutique shopping and much more. 2,652 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath: $1,299,000

CONTACT: PAMELA GIESE PHONE: 843.318.1317

WEBSITE: PGIESE.PEACESIR.COM

235 DELAHOW ST.

» DANIEL ISLAND

One of the best and centrally located properties in Daniel Island Park. Nestled beneath moss-draped grand oaks, this home offers incredible privacy. As you enter the property through the custom iron gate, handmade by a local Philip Simmons apprentice, the natural landscaping draws you into this private and calming oasis. The entry, with three sets of custom doors, allows the living room to flow onto the front porch to enjoy a morning sunrise or a cool evening. 4,590 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 1 half bath: $2,250,000

CONTACT: BART JACKSON

PHONE: 843.224.8944

WEBSITE: BJACKSON.PEACESIR.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

417 BEACH BRIDGE ROAD

» PRINCE GEORGE

Oceanfront home in the exclusive gated community of Prince George on the south end of Pawleys Island has something for everyone, even a pool! With the size to accommodate family and friends, room to gather and quiet cozy nooks, it really does have it all. The inverted layout has a grand entrance into the guest level and an elevator to each floor. A rooftop deck offers panoramic views of the coastline, marsh and more. 6,811 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 8 full baths, 1 half bath: $4,950,000

CONTACT: THE ROPER GROUP

PHONE: 843.450.8273

WEBSITE: THEROPERGROUP.PEACESIR.COM

511 RICE BLUFF ROAD

» PRINCE GEORGE

Eclectic, extraordinary, one of a kind. These superlatives only begin to sum up this Prince George River home nestled among the live oaks overlooking historic rice fields and the Waccamaw River. Large open spaces—both inside and out—provide ample opportunity for both casual and gracious living. The home was built to exacting specifications by its owners and represents a great opportunity to those who expect and require the very best. 6,523 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 4 baths: $2,850,000

CONTACT: PEACE GROAT

PROPERTY ADVISORS

PHONE: 843.240.9530

WEBSITE: PGPA.PEACESIR.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

221 E. ARCTIC AVE.

» FOLLY BEACH–RENTAL

This beautiful home is perfect for your family vacation! Enjoy watching the dolphins play from the open sun deck. This house is only two blocks from downtown Folly. Walk to the wonderful local restaurants or enjoy shopping at the beach shops. Open porch, deck and elevator for handicapped or just those who need help with stairs. Owner has added a Tempur-Pedic mattress in the master.

2,016 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths

CONTACT: LAJUAN KENNEDY

PHONE: 843.588.2325

WEBSITE: FREDHOLLANDREALTY.COM

1639 E. ASHLEY AVE.

» FOLLY BEACH–RENTAL

This beautiful, large oceanfront house is perfect for your extended family’s vacation. Spread out and relax in one of the two living rooms. Keep the kids happy and stock both kitchens (one upstairs and one downstairs) with refreshments and snacks! Enjoy the ocean view from a large screened-in porch with rockers and a picnic table. The sun deck has a walkway that leads directly to the beach.

2,932 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 4.5 baths

CONTACT: LAJUAN KENNEDY

PHONE: 843.588.2325

WEBSITE: FREDHOLLANDREALTY.COM

LOWCOUNTRY REAL ESTATE

201 W. ARCTIC AVE.

UNIT 107

» FOLLY BEACH–RENTAL

Beautiful 4-bedroom oceanfront condo. Complex has two swimming pools. Easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. All new furniture and paint. Great unit to bring the family. Ocean views from master and the living/ dining area. Balcony facing the ocean. Two elevators for easy access. This is a gated complex. 1,620 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths

CONTACT: LAJUAN KENNEDY

PHONE: 843.588.2325

WEBSITE: FREDHOLLANDREALTY.COM

1699B E. ASHLEY AVE.

» FOLLY BEACH

Incredible ocean views abound in this oceanfront single-family home. A full-size elevator services all three levels, including the roof-top terrace with wet bar. Panoramic views of the ocean, marsh, Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge and Morris Island

Lighthouse. An open floor plan is ideal for entertaining. Multiple oceanfront porches, large gourmet kitchen, great room, recent upgrades. Being sold fully furnished with rental bookings in place. 2,812 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath: $2,990,000

CONTACT: JOSH BRADNER

PHONE: 843.588.2325

WEBSITE: FREDHOLLANDREALTY.COM

CHARLESTON STYLE & DESIGN

Accucom Integrations Group .....................163

Alexandre Fleuren Interiors ...................42-43

Alexandra Kassing, Artist .............................231

All About Windows.............................................6

Allison Chambers, Artist .................................77

Angela Trotta Thomas, Artist ......................191

Ann Watcher, Artist .........................................191

Aquatica Pools....................................................36

Art on the Square ............................................231

Atlantic Architectural Windows & Doors ...7

Atlantic Stone ...................................................167

Belle Anderson, Artist....................................231

Betsy Jones McDonald, Artist ...................205

Bill Huey + Associates ......................................33

Blue Haven Pools ................................................91

Brenda Orcutt, Artist.................................54-55

Brent Cooke, Artist ..........................................191

Burwells Stone Fire Grill ................................155

Camens Architectural Group .................74-75

Carmella’s Cafe & Dessert Bar ...................223

Charleston Aesthetics....................................165

Charleston Artist Guild Gallery ..................199

Charleston Estate Auctions ..........................110

Charleston Heart Pine ....................................130

Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery ........207

Charleston Style & Design....................113, 134

Charleston Tuxedo ..........................................105

Charleston’s Smallest Bar ...............................149

Charlotte Lemon, The Real Buyer’s Agent..112

CHD Interiors .......................................................93

Cheryl Considine, Artist ................................231

Choice’s Gourmet Market & Deli................183

Classic Kitchens of Charleston ...................197

Cleod Glass+Works.....................................20-21

Coast Bar & Grill ...............................................149

Coastal Copper Lighting ................................97

Corcoran HM Properties ..........................80-81

Danco Home ......................................................104

Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s .......................48-49

Debra Paysinger, Artist ..................................193

deGuise Interiors ................................................87

Del Ray Art .....................................................70-71

Dennis Fulbright, Artist .................................159

Design on Tap .....................................................38

Drybar ..................................................................109

Eleanor Pitts — Roberto Coin .......................88

Eleven81 ..............................................................225

Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art ...................9

Elliot Remington ..............................................108

Elliott Brothers Woodworks............................8

Embler’s Jewelers.............................................131

Emily G. Johnston Family Law Firm.........147

Esther Piazza Doyle, Artist ...........................110

EVO-Doors ...........................................................37

Face Foundrié ....................................................112

Fashion Fabrics ................................................134

Felicia Neil, Artist .............................................231

Fiber-Seal ............................................................89

Finicky Filly .................169, Inside Back Cover

Frames by Wendel ..........................................107

Fran J. Davies, Artist.......................................199

Fred Holland Realty .......................................203

Front Porch Properties .......................................157

G&S Home Remodeling.....Inside Front Cover

Gateway Supply Co. .......................................103

Gaye Sanders Fisher Gallery ......................233

GD Whalen Photography ................................17

Ginny Versteegen, Artist...............................179

Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston..........229

Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant ................................4-5

Harbor Classic ..............................................58-59

Harper & Hartford ..............................................25

Helli Luck Bransford, Artist ..........................127

Herlong Architecture+Interiors.....................14

Holy City Hospitality ......................................149

Hutson Alley ......................................................149

Ike Behar ..............................................................99

Interior Motives.................................................187

Island Shade Shoppe .......................................92

James Jennings, Artist ..................................199

Jean’s Custom Workroom.............................161

Jenan McClain Art ......................................34-35

Jeffrey Bannon .................................................130

Jennifer Black, Artist ......................................106

Jimmy Rich Art .................................................156

Joe Davis, Artist ...........................................70-71

Jordan Lash Charleston ...................................13

Judy H. Jacobs, Artist ....................................231

Judy Walters Art ................................26-27, 199

Julie Byrd Diana, Artist ..................................199

Kathryn Parker, Artist .....................................199

Kathy Clark, Artist ...........................................189

Kathy Watson, Artist ......................................199

Kiersten Elizabeth Fine Jewelry ....................3

King & Society Construction .......................195

Kitsy Stratton, Artist .......................................199

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Koniver Aesthetics .....................................82-83

L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs...................29

Landrum Tables ................................................221

Lauren Zurilla, The Boulevard Company...109

Laurie Loparo, Carolina One .......................107

Leeward Point Mortgage .................................41

LePrince Fine Art .............................................107

Linda Greenberg Landscape & Design, LLC ............................111

Longevity Club .................................................185

Lowcountry Hurricane Protection and Shutters ....................................................217

M. Dumas & Sons ...............................................95

M.P. Demetre Jewelers — Omega.............10-11

M.P. Demetre Jewelers — Lagos ............46-47

M.P. Demetre Jewelers — Marco Bicego .....39

M.P. Demetre Jewelers — Mikimoto........52-53

M.P. Demetre Jewelers — Rolex ....Back Cover Mallory Agerton, Artist ......................................9

Maris | Dehart .......................................................16

Margaret Donaldson Interiors........................19

MARLOWE .....................................................50-51

Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Art..................143

Mary Sayas, Artist ............................................199

Matt & Jackie Scarafile, Carolina One........111

Merrill Lynch ........................................................32

Mital Patel Photography ...........................30-31

Mollie Vardell, Artist........................................104

Molly Ramey Ratchford, Carolina One Real Estate............................108

Mount Pleasant Kitchen and Bath .............181 Muretti Kitchens ................................................84

Muse Restaurant & Wine Bar ......................175

Nancy Crookston, Artist ................................191

Naramore Construction Co.....................66-67

Next to New ........................................................171

Nicole Norris Design Studio, Inc. ..........62-63

North Charleston Sports Medicine, Dr. Dustin Hambright ....................................141

Novella Homes ..................................................139

Outside is In .................................................68-69

Oyster Point Real Estate Group ..................40

Painterly Home .................................................104

Palm Casual........................................................213

Palmetto Moon Synthetic Turf ..................320

Palmetto Outdoor Kitchens .........................101

Patricia Reno Huff Gallery ......................44-45

Peace Sotheby’s International Realty......133

Perspective Gallery .........................................189

Phillip Muldrow, Artist ....................................156

Pierre Verona .......................................................24

Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas..................86

Rachel King, Artist...........................................231

Rachel Urso Realty .............................................15

Reinert Fine Art .................................................191

Remark Landscape Architecture ................28

Renlita Custom Opening Solutions ............37

Richard Ferguson, Artist.........................64-65

Richart, James J., DMD –

Northbridge Dental ....................................219

Rick Reinert, Artist ...........................................191

RM Buck Builders...............................................85

Robyn Branch Design ...............................56-57

Rue de Jean .......................................................149

Sally Accetta, Artist ........................................231

Schirmer Insurance Group ...........................129

Sculpture Garden Gallery at

Reinert Fine Art ............................................191

Sheppard Construction ............................78-79

Shine Medical Spa ...........................................145

Signature Kitchens & Bath .............................76

Sohn & McClure ....................................................2

SOL Southwest Kitchen & Tequila Bar ....201

Southern Shades Design ..............................215

Spartina Kitchens & Baths.................................1

Stephen Moscowitz, Artist ......................60-61

Stono Construction.........................................173

Structures Fine Homes & Renovations ..72-73

Susan K. Bryant, Artist ..................................209

Suzie Smith, Carolina One............................125

Sweatman’s Heating & Air...........................227

Tavern & Table ....................................................211

Taxidermy ......................................................22-23

Terra Designs ......................................................90

The Fire Place ....................................................135

The Gentry Todd Group, Corcoran HM Properties ................................12

The Teak Hut ................................................68-69

Universal Marble & Granite ..........................137

Vicki Maguire, Artist .......................................167

Victor’s Seafood & Steak ..............................149

Vincent Chiccos................................................149

Virginia’s on King .............................................149

Well Furnished ..................................................106

William R. Beebe, Artist ...................................18

YOJ Events .........................................................105

Yvonne Rousseau, Artist ...............................231

Zinn Rug Gallery ..............................................135