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Charming Charleston

by habituallychic

04 . 17 . 19

I was going to try to write a post this morning before my friend Andrew Brown arrived from Birmingham but the weather is gorgeous and I want to get outside and explore more of Charleston. The last time I was here it was winter and a little chilly so this weather is a treat.

I had the day to myself yesterday and walked over seven miles enjoying picture post card weather. I especially love exploring the historic South of Battery area and all the big old houses. I ran into some ladies from the Historic Charleston Foundation who were directing visitors for the Festival of Houses and Gardens who could not have been nicer. I wish their tours had fit into my schedule this week so I might have to some back for it next year.

I’ve also had so many lovely Charlesonians reach out to me yesterday and today like preservationist and interior designer Olivia T.M. Brock and photographer Lucy Cuneo. I appreciate their last minute suggestions on where to get green juice to off set the biscuits I ate from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits and other antique shops to visit.

I wish Laura Pelzer had reached out yesterday about stopping by her new “clean” nail salon The Water Room yesterday when I could have really used Epsom Salt soak and foot massage. I’m sure we’ll be walking more the rest of the trip so I look forward to stopping by during my trip.

The garden above is from the Pineapple Gates House on Legare Street. It’s owned by author Margaret Bradham Thornton and her husband. I bought her book, A Theory of Love, when I was in Sag Harbor last summer. For this trip, I ordered her other book Charleston and look forward to reading it if I’m not too exhausted. When I was on the street, a few of the horse and buggy tours stopped to give details of the garden. One guide said it was referred to a gentleman’s garden because there is no grass to now. In reality, there is no grass because it was designed before they had lawn mowers. You can read more about it on Garden and Gun.

We’ll be visiting plantations historic houses on Friday and Saturday to scope them out for my book on historic houses. If you want to follow along in real time, check out my Instagram Stories. I will be saving them in highlights too.

XOXO,

HC