A Little More Charleston

Happy Friday.

I hope you have enjoyed my tour of Charleston and my review of the great things we had to eat in Charleston and Savannah.

In Charleston, I took so many photos of the beautiful scenery ~ many of which I’ve shared here at Bluesky Kitchen. In looking back through my “photo album”, there were still many that I had not shown you. And they were just too good not to share.

Here is just

A Little More Charleston

When we checked into our room at The Planter’s Inn, this cute guy was sitting on the bed waiting for us. You can take one home with you if you like. By the way, I can’t say enough about The Planter’s Inn. The location at Meeting Street and Market Street, just across from City Market is ideal. The service, from the concierges to the bartenders in The Champagne Bar, was outstanding. Each morning, we walked out the side door past the courtyard dining area and through this beautiful walkway to the street.  Our room overlooking Market Street was lovely, the beds were super comfortable, and the WIFI worked great!

As I’ve mentioned, the homes in Charleston are beautiful. Whether large or small, each home we passed had such a welcoming feeling. The window boxes full of flowers make you want to stop and well, “smell the roses”. But what also attracted me were the colors. Can you guess what is a popular color combination?

I loved, loved the front of this house. Clapboard siding, shutters, the decorative sidelights and transom above the front door, the balcony. White with black accents. Move me in.

Many homes in Charleston are asymmetrical. The front door on the side actually opens to a porch and the real front door is farther back. This one has everything: window boxes,  shutters, a balcony, decorative moldings and columns. More white clapboard and black accents. Are we feeling a trend here?

I love the coach lights beside the front door. Although cream is used here, the light colored siding with black trim must be the most popular exterior look. Charlestonians must love their black and white.

But every now and then, they go for color. Remember the houses on Rainbow Row? Check out these houses.

Pink, anyone? Notice the front door on the side? This house, although not small, could not afford the luxury of a side porch for company.

This house opted for a soft pale yellow and dark green front door and shutters. It has the side porch accessed through the home.

This house has stucco on the first level in a yellow that the Italians call ombre. Sort of olive on the siding.

This house, although small, pops up with a soft pale aqua on the front. See the blue concrete blocks on the sidewalk?  Those were used for ladies to step out of their carriages. Pretty thoughtful.

And if a whole house of color is too much, some owners went for just a touch of color on the front  door.

This salmon color might not appeal to everyone, but how about 2 balconies above?

I think this blue is beautiful on the front door and shutters. Is it periwinkle, sky blue, coastal blue?

Most homes don’t have front yards or large front porches, but this one definitely did. Notice the pop of color on the second story awnings. And the hammock on the front porch. Where’s my glass of sweet tea?

This house’s front porch was gorgeous. I love the ivy, the hanging baskets, the palm tree, the curtains to block the sun (or the neighbors), the wrought iron chairs. And that light fixture! Order me one.

 

I wanted to walk through the open beautiful wrought iron gate to see the garden of this home, but Sweet Shark wouldn’t let me, so I had to settle for this photo. How about the ivy wall and the little coach light.

Balconies were everywhere and this one behind the ivy wall and through the trees just looked so inviting. Let me get my hoop skirt out through the door to fan myself on the balcony waiting for my beau. This was as close as I could get.

This large formal garden was at the side of one of the much larger mansions. Obviously a wealthy homeowner: a sea captain,plantation owner, merchant?

I honestly can’t remember where I took this picture, but it was too pretty to pass up. Notice another pinkish painted home in the background.

I’ve mentioned shutters several times. Most were held back to the wall with these decorative wrought iron S~shaped hooks. They turn to allow you to shut the shutters. I know. I checked. Notice more wrought iron over the actual window. For security or looks?

Always keep your eyes open and turn your head as you walk the streets of Charleston. Little alleys, mews, side gardens are everywhere. I was lucky to snap this photo of a mother and son strolling down this lovely shaded walkway. How soothing and relaxing would it be to discover this shady path? What’s at the end of the path? We’ll never know.

When we returned home, our June Southern Living was waiting for us, and the exact same picture was on page 10 of the magazine ~without the mother and son. Boy, did I feel special.

 

 

I brought home 2 books to help me remember Charleston ~ not that I needed anything. I bought both in the shop at The Charleston Historical Foundation store inside City Market. (If you order through the CHF, there is no tax and it supports Charleston restoration projects.) The first is a book of beautiful essays, photography and artwork with wonderful low country recipes called Magnolias, Porches, and Sweet Tea by Pat Branning. I love it.

And I found this small book called Very Charleston by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler. I wished I had this before we went to Charleston; it would have been my travel guide. So much information about the “history, culture and low country charm”. What I love is the awesome illustrations.  If you are ever going to Charleston, or you have been there before, I highly recommend you get this little book. It will fit in your purse.

And then I discovered this photograph by an amazing photographer based in Charleston, Christopher Shane. Can you believe the connections? If you love beautiful photography follow him in Instagram @cshanephoto.

Well, that’s it for our Charleston adventure. It was a amazing trip and everything I hoped it would be. I hope you’ve enjoyed helping me relive it. I’m already thinking about when we can return. Christmas? The home and garden festival next spring? My birthday next year?

Have a great weekend. Stay cool. Next week I’ll take you to lovely Asheville NC and a tour of the beautiful Biltmore Mansion.