Last week I had the best time in Charleston with ten of my favorite home decor blogger friends. It still feels surreal that I get to live here now. This was my first chance to fully explore our new city with friends, and it did not disappoint. We dined at all the restaurants I’ve wanted to try, shopped at all the shops, sipped drinks on rooftops and poolside, had a pajama party, so many laughs, and more.
This is such a fabulous group of ladies who traveled across the country for this trip, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. Here are some highlights, favorites, and Charleston recommendations from our trip ~
Favorites to eat and drink ~
I’ve had Husk on my list of places to try for so long, and we were lucky to get our group in for a Saturday brunch. It was delightful. My absolute favorite place to eat though was Sorelle. We ordered just about all the appetizers and tried each other’s entrees. Everything was amazing. I may even start eating seafood on the regular living here 🙂
A few other favorite places to eat and drink are The Black Door Cafe for coffee, The Citrus Club for lunch, Satellite for rooftop drinks, Ruby Royale for dinner, Bin 52, and the Post House Inn in Mount Pleasant is worth a quick trip over the bridge.
Shopping ~
Charleston has so many beautiful shops that you could spend an entire weekend shopping. A few favorites are Juliska, Beau and Ro, Lake Pajamas, Amanda Lindthrop, Etu Home, Love Shack Fancy, Charleston City Market, and the shops at The Charleston Place. I keep adding more shops and restaurants to my list to visit, so if you have any favorites I missed, let me know!
I loved creating table settings in the registry room at Juliska with all their beautiful tableware. This brand is new to me, and it was dreamy perusing the store. I can’t wait for dinner parties al fresco in our new house (the countdown is on until it’s complete!). These woven placemats and gorgeous napkins are on my wish list. You can also shop the lovely Capucine De Wulf jewelry at Juliska.
My favorite thing to do in Charleston ~
A walk along Rainbow Row to see the colorful house and strolling through the Battery top my list of *things to do* in Charleston. The homes and architecture are gorgeous, and if you have the time, walking through Waterfront Park and to the iconic Pineapple Fountain are great sightseeing spots.
Where to Stay
I loved our stay at the newly renovated, historic Mills House. It’s the cutest pink building with a great pool and a lovely coffee shop right downstairs called The Black Door. The location was perfect, close to shops, restaurants, Rainbow Row, and the Battery. It’s the perfect spot to be if you want to stay in downtown Charleston. I’ll share our summer rental home details later in another post, which is 15 minutes from downtown and close to Sullivan’s Island beaches.
Outfits and more ~
Summers are hot and humid in Charleston. Since moving here, I’ve had to revamp my summer wardrobe quite a bit. I’ve added a lot of lightweight, colorful, and fun accessories to my closet. I’ll link some favorite things below ~
This blue Staud dress has been a favorite all summer. It’s lightweight, but the fabric is heavy enough not to blow in the wind. I love that I can dress it up for a night out or casual for a day of shopping.
Since we’ve spent a lot of time at the pool and beach, my Summersalt swimsuits have gotten the most wear. My personalized tote with bamboo handles has also been used almost daily, from the pool to brunch and more.
Swimsuit / Floral earrings / Tote / Monogrammed Hat is from The Preppy Stitch
The most fun night in our pajamas ~ These Lake Pajamas may have been my favorite thing to wear the entire trip 🙂 They are so soft and cozy!
*The Charleston Stack* We all got matching bracelets ~ a perfect souvenir to remember the weekend.
A girl’s getaway was the best way to end summer break, and I loved spending time with this inspiring and wonderful group of ladies. After chatting with some on Instagram for years, this was the first time we met in real life! It felt like getting together with old friends and I will link everyone’s Instagram handles below if you want to follow along too ~
Thank you to Kathryn and Marie for organizing this trip! Also – if you are a Master Chef fan, watch for our friend Jennifer, a contestant on the show now. We are all rooting for you Jennifer! And Kati (Beyond Gray), whose home will be featured in the upcoming issue of Better Homes & Gardens 🙌
From left to right, here’s everyone’s Instagram ~
@sugarcolorhouse / @thesouthernsource / @beyond_gray / @kathrynpackard / @blossominginteriors / @shiningondesign (me!) / @chapplechandler / @jennifermaune / @ashleegoulddesign / And linking @shannongolddesign and @patricia_mae_olson too who were both on the trip too but missing from the pic 🙂
