While we may not top lists of design-centric American cities (New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles), Charleston, with the country’s oldest designated historic district and its centuries of architectural styles, plays host to an intriguing and ongoing conversation about the preservation of the built environment and adapting it for modern life. It’s also a burgeoning metropolis with a growing creative class. At this juncture springs forth a bevy of talent and ideas from architects and designers, artisans and craftspeople that we explore in this design-focused issue.
For our cover story, “A Charleston Revival,” home editor Jennifer Pattison Tuohy details the extraordinary renovation/restoration of the circa-1840 White-Williman House, a 6,000-square-foot stucco manse that had been divided into apartments and fallen into disrepair. It was a massive project that took three years and myriad skilled artisans to return it to its former grandeur. Notably, the architect and design team preserved as much of its architectural integrity as possible, while bringing the home into the 21st century. It’s truly a stunner—that ballroom!—and an exemplary melding of old and new.
How to outfit such a place? In Charleston, you don’t have to look far for exceptional furnishings. In “By Design,” you’ll meet a handful of local designers and artisans who create lighting, tableware, textiles, and more—both preserving traditional trades and providing innovation and inspiration in their industries.
Enjoy!
Darcy Shankland
Editor in chief