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MARCH 14 - MARCH 17

The Charleston Festival will kick-off with Charleston by Design, a four-day celebration of design and preservation featuring esteemed speakers, designers and tours. The Foundation's Aiken-Rhett House Museum will be the canvas for a select group of designers to create original, site-specific Designer Vignettes for the Charleston by Design weekend opening weekend. 

CHARLESTON BY DESIGN PRESENTED BY: THE DEWBERRY

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Where preservation meets design...

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Designer Vignettes
at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Exclusively for Charleston by Design, Historic Charleston Foundation has invited a select group of celebrated designers to design and create an original vignette in one of the historic rooms of the Aiken-Rhett House Museum. Inspired by the preserved-as-found space, each designer will reinterpret the room into their own vision for one weekend ONLY. The Designer Vignettes will be throughout the first and second floors of the house museum and will draw inspiration from the space to create their new vision of a contemporary living space. Open to the public Friday-Sunday, guests will have the opportunity to purchase tickets view the temporary design installations at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum. In addition to daily tickets to view the Designer Vignettes, there are two exclusive events to engage with the talented designers. 

For a truly elevated experience, join the Foundation and the celebrated designers (including Aldous Bertram, Glen Gardner and Patrick Bradley, Rebecca Gardner, Alison Brewer of Gray Wade Design, Lori DiNicola of Petaloso, Stephanie Molster along with Amy Pastre and Courtney Rowson of Stitch Design) for the grand debut of the Designer Vignettes at the Opening Night Party. To close out the Charleston by Design Weekend, we toast with select designers at Vignettes and Mimosas. 

About the House Museum

The Aiken-Rhett House Museum is one of two Historic House Museums owned and operated by Historic Charleston Foundation. Originally constructed in the 1820s on the edge of a bustling and growing Charleston, the mansion was heavily modified and expanded beginning in the 1830s under the ownership of Gov. William Aiken and his wife, Harriet Lowndes Aiken and again in the 1850’s while the Aiken’s traveled abroad during one of their Grand Tours of Europe. A remarkable and unique property, the Foundation has chosen a preserved-as-found preservation style for this historic site.

 

What does that mean? The historic house is truly frozen in time. Peeling wallpaper, exquisitely preserved moldings and grand staircases create hauntingly beautiful and blank canvas for artists and designers alike. The Foundation activates this unique space with art exhibits and designer vignettes to share history and preservation in a modern way. 

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Opening Night Party

at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum
March 14, 6 - 9 pm

$250

Celebrating the opening weekend of The Charleston Festival...

at the much-anticipated Opening Night Party for Charleston by Design! Enjoy an enchanting evening at the historic Aiken-Rhett House and be the FIRST to see the site-specific Designer Vignettes by the talented guest designers.  Meet and mingle with the creative designers and esteemed speakers along with delicious food, libations and live music. Join us for this opening celebration as we showcase contemporary design and style while honoring Charleston’s unparalleled historic spaces. Due to the historic nature of the space, tickets are limited for this event. 

Opening Night Party (2022)

Meet the Designers

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LECTURES & TOURS

In addition to the original and stunning Designer Vignettes, don't miss the captivating Design in Mind Lecture Series at the historic Second Presbyterian Church OR the custom Home Design Tours curated exclusively for the Charleston by Design weekend. 

Charleston by Design
is supported by:

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