Historic, buzzy, essential, a place somehow apart: That’s the summary magic of Charleston, South Carolina. Its epicenter is the palmetto-and-live-oak-lined streets of a narrow peninsula flanked by two rivers and pointing toward the sea. Packed with a breathtaking inventory of residential and commercial buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, Charleston is as close to a living museum of American architecture as exists on the continent, and its decorative arts equal the built environment—on and off the peninsula. Which is to say, a visit to the Holy City is heavenly indeed: an immersion in visual splendor, complex histories, and inspiration. It’s a feast for the mind as well as for the eyes.
And for lovers of shopping, that history steeped in beauty abides. From antique and art dealers to artisan makers for home and garden, from purveyors of estate jewelry to direct-from-Paris style, Charleston holds her many wares in jewel box shops, industrial warehouses, and even suburban-style outbuildings across her rivers.
It can seem overwhelming. But here, three of the city’s brightest design lights lead the way, sharing their shopping favorites on the peninsula (downtown) and off, whether hunting a piece for a client, a gift for a hostess, or a score for their own homes. They also share a few trade hotspots for designers, as well as the hotels they’d suggest their own friends stay when in town. Welcome to Charleston. Let’s go shopping.
Jump to
Best Downton Shops
Essential Antiquing Field Trips
To-the-Trade Hot Spots
Where to Stay
Plan Your Visit
Meet the Experts
A graphic artist originally, Angie Hranowsky was so inspired after renovating (and decorating on a shoestring) her first Charleston home in the early 2000s, she dove into interior design and has emerged as one of the top decorators in the Southeast and a passionate advocate for modernism amid the city’s traditional practitioners.
When it comes to antiques, John Pope is the first name on everyone’s lips. He came to Charleston with a degree in historic preservation and launched his antiques business in 2007. With that eye, it’s no wonder his personal residences have made the pages of magazines in the U.S. and the U.K.
The consummate Charlestonian (born and bred), Sarah-Hamlin Hastings knows everything from the best places for church lady lunches to legacy wedding registries, but she primarily commands a style-forward position in the city’s hottest new design district with Fritz Porter, her interior design business and showroom.
Wentworth
The love for Gregory Blake Sams’s June 2024 entry into retail that touches on home, craft, and entertaining is about as table-pounding as Charleston ever gets. “It’s a captivating store,” says John, who lives a few blocks away from the shop and counts Sams as one of his oldest friends in Charleston. While Sams’s main business, John says, has been designing events and weddings, “it’s always been a dream of his to have a store.”
And what a dream it is: Antique and vintage finds like a pair of fireside chairs in the style of Gio Ponti to new tableware from brands including Alix D. Reynis and J. & L. Lobmeyr; linens; accessories, and a breathtaking wall of more than 30 colorways of candles. “Wentworth is one of my favorites,” says Sarah-Hamlin. “It’s the first place I would go for a really special gift.”
Sams’s genius for entertaining, Sarah-Hamlin says, infuses the shop with a similar frisson. “It’s just eye candy,” she says. “You walk in and oh my god, it’s so beautiful.” Excellent news: Wentworth is expanding the store into the space next door, so there will be even more to crave. 162 Wentworth Street
David Skinner Antiques & Period Lighting
With a city-wide reputation for 18th- to 20th-century furniture and lighting, dealer David Skinner is the ultimate source for designers, many of whom have followed him for 30 years, from King Street to his recent, expanded space on Warren to the north.
“In Charleston we have big rooms, and David always seems to find pieces that are just perfect,” John says. Plus, he adds, Skinner restores and rewires exquisite chandeliers and sconces so that “they’re ready to go right into a house,” and his access to Caribbean antiques such as mahogany four-poster beds and cane benches fits Charleston’s decorative zeitgeist like a hand in a glove.
Angie agrees. “We were just on the phone, and he told me about an estate he just bought from Jamaica,” she says. “I’m going in to see it next week.” 19 Warren Street
The George Gallery
When Sarah-Hamlin is looking for a piece of art that will give a room “just the right amount of punch without being overwhelming,” she goes straight to Anne Siegfried’s gallery of contemporary American and European art. “She’s got a really good eye and some great artists,” Sarah-Hamlin says, adding that Siegfried curates and commissions pieces for specific spaces.
It’s a treasured designer-dealer relationship, and the gallery, Angie adds, is also a great spot for anyone shopping on the peninsula who just wants to pop in and browse. “And she’s on Broad Street,” Sarah-Hamlin says, “which is a really great place to park.” 54 Broad Street
Charleston Gardenworks
For garden-mad Charleston, it’s been a thrill to welcome Patrick Bradley and Glen Gardner’s showroom—two stories high and with a verdant space in back—on Meeting Street (the two have been sourcing exquisite outdoor pieces for clients since 2014).
“Charleston didn’t have anyone focusing just on the garden,” John says. “Patrick travels to Italy, France, and England, and ships containers back to Charleston. He also has great sources for American pieces.” That bounty of benches and chairs, urns and planters, sundials, fountains, and statuary populate the pair’s vibrantly shoppable Instagram account, but to stroll the pieces is a special treat (by appointment). 717 Meeting Street
The Boutique
A visit to this Charleston institution is a must, says Sarah-Hamlin. Since its founding in the 1950s, The Boutique has been the wedding registry of choice for generations of Lowcountry brides, including Sarah-Hamlin. “You go in there with your mom and pick out your linens and your china and everything,” says the designer, who works with owner Lois MacRitchie on linens for home installs.
MacRitchie moved The Boutique to a graceful Beaux-Arts building on King Street in 2022, where a striped awning is a cheery prelude to her blend of sumptuous tableware, bed and bath linens, and gifts including local books, scarves, prints, and photography. 302 King Street
Croghan’s Jewel Box
Quintessentially Charleston and a treasure box (quite literally) of estate, antique, and new jewelry, Croghan’s is the oldest family-owned jewelry store in the city. Two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters of founder William Croghan keep the shop as historic—and yet relevant—as ever.
“They could have faded into the sunset, as in, you know, old lady jewelry store that your grandmother used to shop at,” says Sarah-Hamlin. “But they’ve kept it current by bringing on the next generation.” 308 King Street
Elizabeth Stuart Design
John doesn’t mince words. “Elizabeth Stuart is a fabulous store,” he says about the designer’s showroom that lures clients and shoppers to its live oak-shaded enclave in the charming embrace of the Old Village district. Elizabeth Stuart (Muffie to friends), has paired retail with her design business for nearly 30 years, expanding most recently after the pandemic to include an expansive outdoor space and full-fledged nursery.
“I remember the day I walked through it,” John says. “I felt like I had been transported to Provence.” Whether it’s shopping for antiques and finely tuned decorative objects and art inside or reveling in picking out a lemon tree or olive tree en pleine air, the pleasures here are well worth the jaunt from downtown. 215 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant
Antiques of South Windermere
Sarah-Hamlin and Angie put this family-owned group shop across the Ashley River from the peninsula as their favorite for antique and vintage client finds, particularly pieces with a regional provenance. “It’s my number one go-to,” says Sarah-Hamlin. “They’ve got good stuff and great prices, and it’s changing all the time.” Her favorite finds: bookcase items and art, “but they also have beautiful chests and end tables.”
John, who has a booth here and at sister shop 17 South Antiques (see below), leaves the praise up to the designers, but adds that he’s thrilled to be at both shops. Angie confesses that the pieces she often walks out with are from John’s displays, and notes that across the parking lot is a darling spot for fueling up: Three Little Birds Cafe. 22 Windermere Boulevard, West Ashley
Found Antiques
When established dealers move north from the tighter confines of the historic downtown, it’s exciting to witness the transformation. Such is the delight, John says, in Kristin and Sterling Chambless’s new, warehouse-style digs in North Charleston. The move from Church Street has “allowed Kristin’s inventory to really grow,” he says. The pair, who specialize in 18th- and 19th-century English and French pieces, now come home to Charleston from sourcing trips “with a whole container.” 4365 Dorchester Road, North Charleston
17 South Antiques
The sister shop to Antiques of South Windermere offers a mix of dealers that’s mostly different (excluding John Pope, who is at both) and slightly higher-end inventory, says Sarah-Hamlin. Both designers, though, always try to hit both locations every time they’re hunting and gathering. “These two shops are the designer game in town,” says John. “Everyone shops in those stores.” The sister shops also have a strong and active Instagram presence, a rarity overall on the Charleston antiques and vintage scene. 4 Avondale Avenue, West Ashley
Mount Pleasant Mall
Gather your wits about you: Charleston’s largest resale and vintage co-op mall sprawls over 25,000 square feet in a big-box-store style building that houses more than 100 vendors who carry everything from an antique silver desk box inkstand to a vintage Gucci belt. Which means it’s not for the faint of heart. That said, Sarah-Hamlin says there are plenty of dealers here with “cool things,” so smart hunters and gatherers like designers will hit the emporium on Friday, “when the dealers have restocked” before the place gets swamped on weekends. 708 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Mount Pleasant
While the below showrooms and makers are only open to designers and do not offer retail goods (in other words, the public can’t shop), they represent a growing design epicenter in North Charleston’s historic Navy Yard and the dynamic Neck area (north of downtown). Decorator field trip? You bet.
Fritz Porter
“Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful in there,” says Angie about Sarah-Hamlin’s trade-only showroom that moved to North Charleston’s buzzing Navy Yard in 2024. In addition to design services, the airy, sunlit space showcases Fritz Porter fabrics and wallcoverings, as well as Sarah-Hamlin’s keenly curated collection of other brands, including U.K. textile sensation Franquemont London. Angie recommends designers bring a client along for an outing; conversely, clients should talk their designers into a similar excursion. Appointment suggested. 2060 North Hobson Avenue, Building 44, Navy Yard
The Urban Electric Co.
“Now that Fritz Porter is in the Navy Yard,” Sarah-Hamlin says, “we are right across the street from Urban Electric. So, I tell designers, a fun outing is to come up to the Navy Yard and take your client to both!” Who can resist? David and Jen Dawson’s visionary lighting startup with Creative Director Michael Amato has grown over 22 years into an international powerhouse that features high-profile collaborations with designers including Steven Gambrel, Martin Brudnizki, and Ken Fulk. The showroom—part of the company’s multi-building manufacturing campus in the Navy Yard and open to the trade only—is a brilliant and inspiring place. Do not miss the new-since-2023 custom shades collection. Navy Yard; 2154 Noisette Blvd
Rebecca Atwood Designs
A fine artist who transitioned to wallpaper and textile design in 2013 (and moved to Charleston from Brooklyn in 2021), Rebecca Atwood’s studio in the city’s northern area called The Neck is a find for local (and visiting) designers, Sarah-Hamlin says. “Rebecca has a beautiful space,” she says, “and it’s cool to see where she designs everything, all her fabrics. It’s great to meet with her and talk to her.” To the trade and by appointment. Upper Meeting Street in the Refinery Building
For the Antebellum Architecture Addict
A superb preservation project, Zero George Hotel wraps five historic single houses (two of which were carefully relocated) in stylish serenity and style, just two blocks from Charleston Harbor.
For the Midcentury Maven
Who thought a circa-1964 federal building could be a design-loving city’s hottest hotel, not to mention the spot to meet for drinks? Visionary Atlanta developer John Dewberry, that’s who, and The Dewberry was born. More to love? John Pope pops up a shop here during Charleston by Design.
For the Sanctuary Seeker
A word-of-mouth darling, this single house with double piazzas plus a dogtrot cottage comprises the jewel box boutique hotel 86 Canon downtown. Credit designer Betsy Berry with superb interiors, including hand-stenciling by local painter Suzanne Allen.
When to Go
Though Charleston retains its charm year-round, these popular design events provide a great reason to visit.
- The Charleston Festival: March 13–April 13, 2025
- Charleston By Design: March 13–16, 2025
- The Charleston Show: March 21–23, 2025
- Spoleto Festival USA: May 23–June 8, 2025
- The Fall Tours: October–November
What to Pack
This list of carefully selected essentials will ensure you have everything you need for a memorable (and stylish!) time in Charleston. Just leave a little room in your suitcase—you’re sure you’ll be coming back with a treasure or two.
Getting Around
To plan the perfect shopping trip, consult this customized map of our experts’ favorite shops and stays.
Tracey Minkin, an award-winning writer and editor for more than 30 years, is a contributing editor at VERANDA. With deep reporting and far-ranging expertise in the arts, culture, and travel, she covers a wide range of stories for VERANDA, from luxury travel and high craft to the worlds of restoration, design, gardening, jewelry, and watches. She is also a keen chronicler of her stories through her own photography and videos, which frequently appear in VERANDA's and other brands' social media feeds. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley, where she co-authored an art and antiques-focused guidebook for WILDSAM in 2021.
