Charleston

C risp whites, striking blacks, and warming woods and wovens blend seamlessly to create organic perfection—an aesthetic the name ‘Lisa Sherry Interieurs’ is synonymous with on the East Coast and beyond. The inspiration behind the designer’s newest undertaking: The pristine landscape of Kiawah Island, South Carolina. “Summer, sunshine, wind, and surf are the inspiration for this home,” Principal Creative Director Lisa Sherry says, “Kiawah Island is a magical place. This home feels like part of the flora and fauna of the area.” Sherry’s ties to the location began years ago with her purchase of a house on a nearby barrier island, just off the coast of North Carolina. Even though she no longer owns the home, Sherry says the opportunity to work with Kiawah Island clients felt “like a bit of a homecoming” for her. “It faces a wide expanse of waving marshlands,” Sherry says. “As a designer and a creative person, I am drawn to water. I know and love the atmosphere. For me, it’s oxygen.” Unlike many of the interior designers of conventional Atlantic Coast beach homes, Sherry—true to her nature—opted for a more natural design path. Sunwashed woods fill the space, with pops of neutrals to create modern elegance. Soft patterns and textures are placed strategically to lead the eye through the main living, cooking, and dining spaces to the open air decks, screened-in porch, pool, and swaying marsh trees beyond. “My clients sought me out for this fresh approach, especially the embrace of a neutral palette, organic elements, and a certain free-flowing fluidity, the casual sophistication,” Sherry says. “I look to Nature for inspiration, and She never makes mistakes.” For the designer, functionality and aesthetics always coexist without the need for compromise. Sherry says the design style, while slightly unusual for the area, felt second-nature to both her and the picturesque landscape of Kiawah Island. “While this home is refreshing and happily uncommon for the area, everything works in harmony with the natural world,” Sherry says. “Every detail. In a very real sense, this home and my style feel more authentic and indigenous.” No matter her client, inspiring relaxation is an unwavering goal for Sherry. These specific homeowners, busy professionals with houses in the U.S. and Europe, called for an especially tranquil environment. “When they come to Kiawah, I want them to feel at home and agenda-less,” Sherry says. “Like a big exhale. Regardless of locale, being at home should feel natural, effortless, easy, and beautiful, regardless of the pin drop.” *Maybe lined along the bottom?* Tips From the Designer Backgrounds Don’t Fade to Background “All the backgrounds—flooring, wall color, and hardscapes (like stone, tile, and hardware) are all chosen with care as a single, although wonderfully diverse, foundational environment. This creates an essential harmony.” A Neutral Palette is Like a Peace Sign “Warm or cool tones of white, beige, gray and black, flesh tones, and hues borrowed from nature are calming and restorative. The absence of strong color is invigorating.” Texture is the New Color “The texture in this space is very intentional. In this home, texture is expressed in natural fibers, weaves, and layers; tactile surfaces, found objects, reclaimed wood, stones, and metals. Smooth is even a texture. I use texture rather than bold and divergent colors to add personality to a space. It’s dynamic. And subtle.” Embrace All the Senses “In my world, a successful design plan embraces all the senses, pleasing to the eye and the hand with sight, sound, and scent touchpoints. What we take in through our senses, we give back to family, friends, ourselves, and ultimately the world. I can feel the ebb and flow in this beach house. I know my clients do too.” Architect: Heather A. Wilson Architect. http://heatherawilsonarchitect.com Builder: Knight Residential Group. https://www.krgbuilds.com Photograph: Alexandra Cabral. http://alexandracabral.com

ZERO RESTAURANT CHEF VINSON PETRILLO

There are certain cities where the food is so decadent – that it is difficult to come up with something innovative that draws notice from locals and travelers alike. Charleston, South Carolina is one of those cities with a reputation for its cuisine and talented chefs. Kevin Joseph, founder and CEO of Empire Oyster and NYC’s Oyster Week, has officially opened one of Charleston’s hottest restaurants – Raw Lab. Raw Lab is in Charleston’s historic downtown market and offers the worlds only Omakase Style Raw Bar Experience. Kevin remarks, “I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have found a way to make a living while living on purpose right here in Charleston. I am excited to provide an opportunity for my guests to consume food that is whole, live, raw, and bioavailable - and to inspire them to think differently about the food that they eat.” Joseph is more than just the idea behind the concept - he is the chef, server, and the ultimate guide to his nine course decadent meals complete with wine pairings. The restaurant offers an intimate dining experience with only 12 seats available nightly with one seating at 6:30pm. The menu will expand far beyond oysters to include uni, caviar, a local shrimp ceviche and Willipa Bay scallops. Raw Lab will offer Marine Cuisine [a term that Joseph coined himself] which represents a culinary ethic and style which features smaller and lesser-known species to provide enhanced options for chefs and consumers. Joseph adds, “When this is done well, it creates opportunities to reduce costs and make serving and eating fish more affordable and healthier. This is Seafood Version 3.0”. “I am here to ‘Raise the Raw Bar’ by creating ways to be of value to all stakeholders in oysters and seafood - Growers, Distributors, Restaurants, Chefs, Shuckers, Servers and Consumers,” Kevin says. With a profound understanding and experience with aquaculture and the oyster business, his plan is to elevate seafood. With a passion for gourmet, Joseph does not see Raw Lab as the final stop for him in his creations. He imagines a time in the future when he can relocate his boat - The “ RAW BARge ” - to Charleston for the summer season, and to Palm Beach for the winter season. Here, he could provide his clientele with an epicurean experience, right where the foods they are enjoying were caught or grown. Until Raw Barge sets sail, you can visit Raw Lab which is currently open Wednesday through Saturday. Reservations can only be made online. https://www.empireoyster.com/rawlab

Recently opened, The Sweetgrass Inn is situated on four acres of pristine South Carolina coastline in the gated community of Wild Dunes. It is connected to the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway and it is about 30 minutes east of Downtown Charleston by car. The property was inspired by the sweetgrass that’s indigenous to the area. This makes Sweetgrass Inn a representation of what South Carolina is all about. Sweetgrass is what holds together the dunes of the area, offering stability, retaining history, and fostering life. Only 12 miles from downtown Charleston, South Carolina, Wild Dunes Resort and Sweetgrass offer 1,600 acres of world-class golf, top-ranked tennis, an award-winning restaurant, and miles of pristine beach. Wild Dunes, a private community on the northern end of the Isle of Palms began development in 1972, when the Finch Family bought the completely untouched property. It became the first Planned Residential Community in the state of South Carolina. The Finch family worked with Charles Fraser of the Sea Pines Company (Hilton Head) to develop Wild Dunes, originally known as the Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club. As the resort grew, the decision to introduce golf became apparent and The Wild Dunes Links Course was created and designed by Tom Fazio. This would be his first solo design project. He went to great lengths to protect the environmental landmarks. The Wild Dunes Links Course opened in 1980 and became a world-ranked course by Golf Magazine within a little more than a year. He created a masterpiece with the two final holes overlooking the Atlantic.The prestigious Links Course almost immediately became a cornerstone for the resort and residential community. By 1981, the Wild Dunes Links Course had received such high acclaim that Finch Properties combined the name of the course with the name of the resort, thus becoming Wild Dunes Resort. The name Wild Dunes came from and Edgar Allen Poe's poem. Mr. Finch was such a fan of Poe, that many of Wild Dunes original structures were named from Poe’s stories. There is rumor that a large oak tree located in the fairway of the 13th Hole of the Links Golf Course is the Gold Bug Tree from the story "The Gold Bug”. Poe wrote the story while stationed on nearby Sullivan’s Island. The breathtaking beaches, the delicious cuisine, the rich culture—there is plenty to enjoy at the Sweetgrass Inn. This hotel features tons of unique accommodations and exceptional views. Coastal vibes are prevalent throughout the property, and the long-standing culture of the area is rooted in the foundation. Sweetgrass Inn blends together the past and future to create a space that shows togetherness, growth, and natural simplicity. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a family trip, Sweetgrass Inn is the perfect destination. The property features 153 guest rooms and suites, including a large pool deck, top-notch meeting spaces, and a relaxing spa. In addition, guests also gain full access to Wild Dunes resort. The hotel features a fantastic view. Everyone gazes in awe at the expansive Atlantic Ocean, including the lowcountry marshes, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and city skyline of Charleston. The guest rooms include one-bedroom suites, double queen, and king options. All of the rooms feature modern design elements combined with coastal, beachy aesthetics. If you like a bit of Charleston charm, you’ll find it here at Sweetgrass Inn. In need of some rest and relaxation, the Spa at Sweetgrass should be on your list. This amazing 10,000 square-foot facility is ideal for giving your mind and body a reset. There are 14 treatment rooms, both indoors and outdoors, that cover a wide variety of customer needs. Plunge pools and cabanas can also be found in a massive 3,000-square foot private spa garden. From professional massages to relaxing facials, the Spa at Sweetgrass is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and soak in paradise. Most of the spa’s services are centered on the healing powers of the ocean. We highly recommend booking your appointment with Kastner Collier. While the Spa at Sweetgrass is something to be excited about, everyone is captivated by one of the hotel's most recent additions: the new pool deck! This massive pool deck features a zero-entry pool, including a hot tub and exciting splash pad for kids. To get a bite of some local cuisine, head on over to Coastal Provisions. Located at Wild Dunes Resort, this eatery features delectable seafood and chops just steps away from the ocean. With designs inspired by Charleston’s rich sailing history, Coastal Provisions puts you right in the heart of South Carolina culture. The restaurant’s menu focuses on an array of seafood choices, including meats and veggies sourced from local and regional vendors. Since Coastal Provisions is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, southern charm is always served. Guests can choose from several upscale options for breakfast, and lunch can be served poolside with your favorite cocktail. For dinner, experience a delectable seafood dish paired perfectly with a glass of chardonnay. From comfortable, charming rooms to a delicious restaurant with your seaside favorites, there is plenty to enjoy at Sweetgrass Inn. Just one step on the property and you'll immediately realize why guests return here time and time again. South Carolina is one of the country's most beautiful places. Culture is found behind every corner, the beaches are one-of-a-kind, and the scenery can't be beat. The Southern coast is truly a place like no other. If you want to experience what this gorgeous destination is all about, head on over to Sweetgrass Inn. The staff there is extremely friendly and they always keep your needs as the top priority. From the hotel's unique design elements to their incredible accommodations, you’ll enjoy the Southern charm of Sweetgrass Inn.

After spending 6 years in New York City, arguably the global mecca for emerging creatives, multi-media artist Fletcher Williams III returned to his home city of Charleston, South Carolina with a new perspective on the South and a will to change the narrative. Born in Charleston, Fletcher Williams III began creating so early in his life that he can’t quite recall his age. His mother, who studied art in college and was the earliest proponent for Williams’ creative pursuits, worked for a long-standing graphic design company in Charleston and would bring home leftover wood replicas of historic Charleston homes and landmarks. His elementary school art teacher, with whom he still keeps in touch, noticed Williams’ interest in the arts and encouraged him to continue his arts education at Charleston’s magnet arts school, Charleston County School of the Arts. When he did, that changed everything. “The arts school in Charleston was the great equalizer. It was full of kids from all walks of life, socioeconomic statuses, and races. Creativity was in full force all around us, every day. I’d be in my art class and hear violinists practicing across the hall. It was a hugely nurturing environment for creativity,” Williams notes of his experience there. Following high school, which cemented his desire to pursue art, he attended Trident Technical College and the College of Charleston, but it wasn’t long before a professor took notice of Williams’ talents, and encouraged him to apply to the prestigious Cooper Union School of the Arts in New York City. He was accepted in 2007, and to the Big Apple he went. “I was surrounded by the most insanely talented, disciplined, creative, intellectual people I’ve ever met,” Williams says. “Cooper Union gave me access to resources, equipment, people, and experiences I otherwise never would have had. I could not have asked for a better environment,” he adds. There were no required majors at Cooper Union, which meant that Williams dabbled in just about every discipline, though he studied a lot of graphic design, painting, and sculpture. As with most emerging artists, life immediately after graduation was challenging. He remained in New York, and while his connections to creatives and collectors alike ran deep in the city, his colleagues and friends slowly startled trickling away to graduate school, jobs in the arts, or abroad. To make ends meet, he worked on small commissions and projects for clients, but that wasn’t where his heart was. “I wasn’t doing what I really loved and wanted, and that was hard for me. I made the difficult decision to move back to Charleston, rented a Suburban, and packed all my stuff up,” he recalls. That was the summer of 2013. Charleston hadn’t changed much, but Williams had. What started as a challenging re-entry into life in his hometown turned into the spark that became the fire for Williams and his work. Though he grew up there, he explored Charleston in a way he never had before, and dove deep into the Southern cultural vernacular—stories of Charleston’s history, its pronounced social hierarchy, and the race divisions that still plague the city. While working at a hotel, he met some young kids making and selling the popular souvenir Palmetto roses, a long-standing symbol of the South’s beauty and charm, on the streets of downtown Charleston. For Williams, however, this iconic symbol represented something more—one of cultural adaptation, self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, and master craftsmanship. Out of that dichotomy came Souvenir, his first solo project that juxtaposed the destruction and displacement of Charleston’s African American communities with the charm and beauty of southern culture, demonstrating his interest in social commentary and aesthetic formalism. “The Palmetto rose is a cherished souvenir representing everlasting love. I questioned how I could subvert this object and bring attention to it with a new narrative, by memorializing the African American community,” Williams says. “It was a successful formula, this juxtapositioned work, that caught a lot of people’s attention, because it wasn’t customary to walk into a gallery in Charleston and be confronted by a jarring image. I felt this responsibility to honor something and celebrate the material, while challenging our existing perceptions,” he adds. Much more followed that inaugural project, building Williams’ reputation as an artist who pushes boundaries and re-interprets both materials and symbols in search of deeper meaning. In his most recent exhibition, Promiseland, he examined one of the most commonly known iconic symbols of achievement of the American dream: the white picket fence. While most see it as representative of prosperity and opportunity, it spurred something much different inside for Williams—that of division, oppression, and the separation of the free from the enslaved. And so he re-imagined this concept, too, drawing on a re-interpretation that offered both a personal and public reckoning with an iconic metaphor so commonplace and accepted in society. What results from these transformations is work that is equal parts emotionally charged and strikingly beautiful. Presented at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum in Charleston, the exhibition offers works on paper, sculptures, and multi-media installations that “disrupt this historically complex symbol but offer opportunities to re-imagine the social and cultural landscapes of the American South.” Now that Williams has carved out a niche for himself, the natural question lies around what is next. Having recently moved to a new studio space in a warehouse chocked full of other creatives, Williams is eagerly looking toward the future with big ideas, and plans to build upon the cultural dialogue and impact he has already created in the city. “I want to experiment. Collaborate with other creatives. Transform small ideas into big ideas. Doing those things helps me avoid becoming stagnant. I’m excited about the future,” Williams says. Williams returned home uncertain about his next artistic chapter. What he found was a brand new perspective and a city that could serve as context for changing the conversation, and magnifying the realities in a way that only artists can.

Forget about pomp and circumstance, mad cleaning frenzies, or lavishly long dinner parties with grand, extensive menus. Today’s unprecedented times throw the indoor formality of entertainment to the wind. With the social distancing practices in the era of Covid-19, person-to-person contact changed and entertaining has changed with it. Suzanne Pollak believes human connection is the key to any social gathering. As a social strategist known for her scrumptious recipes and cooking, hospitality and design, and weekly Zoom Sips with Suzanne (http://www.charlestonacademy.com/sip-with-suzanne), this worldly Charleston resident knows all about entertaining. She is the co-founder of the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits, where she leads and instructs on platforms designed to build relationships through interactions. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Pollak was raised in Africa for eighteen years, and has harnessed her travel and entertaining experiences abroad to hone in on what makes an event rich and meaningful. As a former resident of one of South Carolina’s historical civil war hospitals turned private residence, Suzanne intrigues me. I was eager to hear her perspectives on entertaining in the downsized environment of COVID -19, and especially the art of hosting gatherings informally outside. When asked about her hook for creating a fabulous gathering, she explains, “For me, it’s about the connection between people who attend the gathering. I like to do odd numbers, like 3 or 5, as it encourages everyone to talk and get to know one another. For example, when the party is two couples, usually the husbands end up talking to the husbands and the wives to the wives.“ Pollak adds, “I also like for a friend to bring a new friend who has not met anyone else in the group. In this situation, people often open up and meet interesting and long- lasting friends.” Going from formal to informal is a breeze for Pollak, who once owned 300 place settings. I pressed for more of her secrets to outdoor entertaining with pizazz. Below are some of the helpful hints I gleaned during our talk: Be short and sweet. Just one hour can be a lovely drop-in with cocktails and small plates Help your guests feel your hospitality outside; if you are hosting by a fire pit, place cozy blankets or shawls on the seats Fire in any form creates a sense of warmth, a phenomenom since the prehistoric times. Use it! A firepit, fire ring, etc., in the spring, when weather may not be quite so welcoming outside, will light the night Serve soul-warming food, such as French Onion Soup in eclectic pottery cups of a single serving size Have a specialty cocktail theme. For nights with a chill, an Irish coffee will do the trick Repurpose fun dishes to serve mini sized desserts, such as demitasse glasses Fresh air, stimulating conversation, tasty nibbles, festive drinks, and smaller outdoor gatherings are the key to enjoying connecting with others this spring. Let’s get outside and embrace the season!

Although golf is often associated with a somewhat genteel sporting tradition that took its time migrating across the Atlantic, the game's origins are disputed by historians. Some claim that the sport dates back to ancient Rome, while others place its birthplace in what is now China. Contemporary thinking says that the modern game of golf evolved in the uplands of Scotland where the grass was kept conveniently short by the grazing activity of flocks of sheep, and shepherds batted around small rocks with wooden sticks to alleviate their boredom. Disagreement exists whether the first golf game played on New World soils was actually a Dutch game known as kolven that took place in Albany, New York, and was played on the ice of the Hudson River rather than on green pastureland. The first reliable historical references to the Scottish form of the game are found in the American South in the state of South Carolina. What experts don't dispute is that golf clubs and balls made their way to the United States around the middle of the 18th century, that it really didn't gain national mainstream momentum until the latter part of the 19th century, and that the southern portion of the country has some of the best courses in the world. Here's what you need to know about the grand tradition of golf below the Mason-Dixon line. Golf's South Beginnings Fortunately, golf's historical narrative is clearer than its past in other parts of the country and the world. The first golf clubs arrive on what is now South Carolina shores when the region was still colonies of England in the year 1739, and immigrants from Scotland began enjoying games of golf in green, well-grazed areas that resembled their home turf. One of the favorite places to play was called Harleston Green. Slightly less than thirty years later after the first golf clubs hit southern soil, the first golf club was established on that same green expanse in the year 1789, shortly after the colonies would declare themselves independent from outside rule. Harleston Green is now considered not only the true birthplace of golf in the American South but in the entire country as a whole and enjoys current renown as one of the finest golf courses in the world. Golf, however, remained a private sport until the first public golf courses began to appear in the picture during the last few decades of the 19th century. Aiken Golf Club Although Aiken Golf Club was developed several generations after its ancestor in Charleston, it's still considered one of the oldest courses in the country. Built in 1912, it offered year-round golfing opportunities because of the area's mild winters, and the club has enjoyed status since the beginning as a favorite of golf greats seeking to keep their skills sharp for the professional circuit as well as celebrities looking for ways to indulge in their favorite pastime in a comfortable outdoor environment during winter. The Aiken Golf Club was also the first in the country to feature tees specifically for women who wanted to get in on the game. Whether you tee off at Harleston Green in Charleston or go to the western side of the state to enjoy a round or two at Aiken Golf Club, you'll find that the historical ambiance combines seamlessly with state-of-the-art amenities to provide you with the best of both worlds. Note for Picture : This diorama, displayed in the Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum and Shop in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, was created by R.N.S. Whitelaw, it illustrates the 1786 match at Harleston Green in downtown Charleston.