Last month, we went on a short getaway to Charleston, SC. I’d never been before so I was super excited to experience the food, architecture, and design. We stayed in the French Quarter district at the Vendue Inn. It’s a small, boutique hotel and while our room was small, it was decked out in Charleston style.
Here’s the reading room on the hotel main floor.
I immediately noticed, just from walking around the historic district, that many of the narrow homes had ‘front doors’ that really weren’t front doors to the home at all. The door opened to a side porch that runs the length of the home and then the real entrance to the house was a door off of that porch.
We ended up taking a city tour and learned a lot about the history and architecture. In Charleston, those porches are called piazzas. The piazza provided a shaded place to sit and enjoy the nearby garden and catch a breeze in the sweltering heat. This type of house was basically built in response to the weather of the region. Single Houses are only one room wide to allow for ventilation from the piazza.
The city tour ended with a viewing of an old Charleston home in the battery area, the Palmer House. The original owner was a dentist and painted the exterior pink for the color of healthy gums!
The style is definitely antique and ornate but I thought the use of mirrors was fab. I especially love the huge mirror in the second picture below.
Aside from house touring, we walked a lot, ate, and visited the city market. It was a quick trip and we totally enjoyed it.
Have you been to Charleston? Have you toured any unique homes lately? Are you also a fan of huge mirrors?
-J
Images: 2
Charleston is one of my favorite cities! I enjoy walking through the neighborhoods and swoon over some of the beautiful homes. Lovely photos Jae!
I know! And the beautiful gardens! There’s so much loveliness to see!
Wow what a beautiful trip! Charleston is on my list of places to go. I also like the mirrors… have been thinking about using them as I live in an apartment and they make areas feel bigger
Thanks for sharing.Yes Charleston is on my list of places to one day visit.
In 2004 my dad & step mom got married at the Palmer House and we all stayed in the Vendue! They make a couple trips down every year and always stay in the same room at the Vendue… it’s like their little couple thing. How funny that you featured both locations in this post!
Great minds!
Charleston is my favorite southern city. Beautiful architecture, gardens, and great food. Go back for the food and wine festival or Spoleto. Both are great events.
Thanks for the tip!
Have been there once before, a long time ago. Stayed in the historic district too. It’s a most gracious and beautiful area. I swooned (and drooled) also over the beautiful homes in the Battery… and loved the side porches, uppers and lowers. Thanks for a trip down memory lane and your lovely photos!! I’d love to go again sometime in the future.