Fully aware of the type of gravity that this project held, they consulted out the know-how of a blessed design duo, known for infusing historical relevance into modern spaces. The designers-collaborators, who worked on some high rated private residences across the nation, saw the opportunity to create something–a home that could be easily called a museum for living proof of curating artifacts, timeless materials, and sophisticated craftsmanship.
Philosophy of Design: Embracing YΕ«gen
Charleston has been and continues to be founded in Southern heritage, colored by strong influences of Europe. From its early colonial days, the city has received an infusion of architectural influences: English, French, and Caribbean. This is part of the vision the designers wanted to realize in-home interiors.
βIt had to feel like it had been here for centuries,β as one of the designers might put it. βWe didn’t want a space that emulated an old Charlestonian home; we wanted it to tell a story, to carry a weight of history and yet feel fresh and livable.β
To this end, they sourced from original materials in the field. The reclaimed heart pine floors came from a warehouse in the 19th century and were refinished to give them warmth and continuity through the house. Wrought-iron details, like those on the city’s gates, have been carried into stair railings and light fixtures. And antique brick, hand-chiseled by local artisans, framed the grand fireplace in the main living space.
A Global Influence on a Southern Foundation
While the architectural shell of the home remained deeply Southern, the interior matched the family’s travels with a decor that was, in itself, as becoming. From the hand-painted Portuguese tiles lining a kitchen backsplash that told stories of explorations by sea, it continued in a dining room that featured Venetian-style opulent palazzos showcased in the chandelier, a stunning contemporary Murano glass piece.
In a living-room setting where a multitude of textiles forms intimacy and warmth, lie rich handwoven kilims that are from Turkey underfoot, while linen curtains inspired by the breezy, natural textures of Greek island homes billow gently with the sea breeze. “We wanted to create a nice balance of refined elegance with very lived-in sensibility,” the lead designer notes. “Charleston houses naturally have this way of welcoming you in, and that’s exactly what this space needs to do.”
And it would not have been furniture that formed the eclecticism – there was a blend of antiquities mixed with bespoke. A custom oak dining table constructed by a local artisan, sits along a plush Belgian-linen upholstered French bergΓ¨re chair from the 1940s. The library, the family’s most favorite room, captures the grandeur of Old World style: deep mahogany, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a Persian silk rug from the Isfahan markets, and a tufted Chesterfield sofa that begs for one to sink in with a book in hand.
Continue reading for Home Cultural Details.
Each bedroom was created out of a specific cultural idea. The first was to draw inspiration from a grand estate of English countryside historical manorial homes. Floral wallpapers adorn such a bedroom, unlike the guest suite, which was designed to be very Japanese minimal. Shoji-style sliding doors, a low teak bed, and delicate ceramic vases from Kyoto define the guest space.
The sunroom is one of the most obvious in the house; the family calls it their “morning retreat.” Here, the floor of Moroccan zellige tiles reflects the light coming through arched windows. The rattan furniture has been found from a boutique in Bali for cushions that were dyed using indigoβindigo being a subtle tribute to the town’s old trade.
Design for Eternity: A Space that Lasts
The same ethos of creating longevity went into creating a home endowed with a strong cultural narrative. “We wanted this house to feel as timeless in twenty years as it does today,” says the homeowner. Masterpieces were chosen with the idea that they would age gracefully over time. Kitchen marble countertops will develop a patina, copper fixtures take on a beautiful verdigris, and solid wood cabinetry will only become richer with age.
The project has a sustainable heart. A number of the furniture were installed through antique markets reducing the need for other, new materials. The house also boasts energy-efficient windows, a rainwater harvesting system for the garden, and concurrent solar panels installed into the classic slate roof.
Gathering and Storytelling Place
The heart of the home, without a doubt, would be the kitchen and the dining area – those places that were created to entice people to convene. The big farm-style table, seating twelve, is often a site for lengthy storytelling, full-voiced with laughter and sometimes tears, while overhead dangles a pair of salvaged-from-an-old-ship, vintage brass lanterns, a nod to Charleston’s maritime past.Β
In the evening, the family congregates under the soothing gurgling sound of the runs of fountains in the courtyard. An impressive Southern-European charm: boxwood hedges enframe an eastern style with a Charlestonesque flair, while terracotta planters, filled to bursting with aromatic herbs, wrap themselves in Mediterranean homage.
An Old House, Towards the Future
This home of Charleston is a monument to culture, more than a simple retreat. It symbolizes that great design is not mere decoration; it is, among other things, about storytelling in the dignity of the past and the present.
Everything from the antique mirrors reflecting candlelight at dinner to the ancient wood beneath their feet tells a story in this house. Here, the family settles into its coastal sanctuary, where it knows they are not just living in a house. They are living within history, surrounded in the warmth of a space that is deeply personal and yet, in many ways, completely timeless.