CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE SHOWHOUSE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

March 12, 2017

It is truly remarkable to witness a showhouse coming together and the village of volunteers, artisans, and designers that donate their time and talent to make it all happen. We have just returned from installing our space at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League Showhouse which opens this week and I cannot wait to get back to the lowcountry in a few short days. The timeline of a showhouse is intense. From start to finish, we only have a few weeks to conceive, implement and install our visions. My favorite part of working on these are the friendships formed with other designers. We ended our installation by christening our Veranda with afternoon cocktails with our new Charleston design friends.

I had to really flex my creative muscles to figure out how to decorate an outdoor space without any walls as well as design around Mother Nature. We spent last Spring Break in the Bahamas and that provided the spark to begin designing this exterior room. Inspired by the coral pinks and emerald sea greens of Harbour Island, the Veranda is a throw back to grand old school Bahamian houses. A long banquette piled with pillows offers seating to accommodate many guests for Happy Hour or the perfect spot to curl up for an afternoon nap. Whimsical hanging chairs add another spot to perch with a Goombay Smash in hand. Drapery panels can be pulled to block the sun and rattan accent pieces add more dimensions to this outdoor room. A painted floor adds an unexpected touch underfoot while potted palms and hanging flowering baskets provide the finishing touches to this lovely haven.

INSPIRATION

“The Pink House” in Dunmore Town, Harbour Island

Alessandra Branca’s Harbour Island Home

BEFORE

The magnificent circa 1840 Society Street House is a beautiful Greek Revival structure just a few steps from historic Charleston harbor. Sporting beautiful decorative plaster ceilings, original moldings and fireplaces, gracious rooms and dramatic double piazzas, the house is a stunning platform for award winning local and national designers.