Budget & Advice: Bargains & Best Bets

Printer-friendly version

Northern Exposure

New York-based interior designer (and shameless Charleston admirer) Eric Cohler descends on the Lowcountry this spring for a pair of events. First, hear him speak at the Charleston International Antiques Show’s annual Luncheon Lecture, Friday, March 19, at 11:30 a.m. (Go to historiccharleston.org for ticket information.) Then, on Thursday, March 25, from 5-8 p.m., catch Cohler at Circa Lighting’s King Street showroom as part of the company’s “Meet the Designers” event (more industry heavyweights like Suzanne Kasler and Alexa Hampton will appear at Circa’s other Southeastern showrooms). Circa Lighting, 426 King St., (843) 937-5990, circalighting.com

Open Door Policy

Don’t miss the Spring Design Walk Thursday, April 15, 5-8 p.m., when shops from Calhoun Street north to Spring Street keep doors open late for shopping, wine, and nibbles.

Seat Yourself

Staci Ranew of Imagine Interiors in Mount Pleasant has developed a private-label upholstered furniture line, offered to retail and trade customers alike. The seating collection includes everything from side chairs to settees, all made with solid wood frames with spring and down cushions. The line is made in Atlanta, where Ranew ran a shop before opening at her current spot in I’On. Keep an eye out for Imagine’s upcoming line of chandeliers and area rugs, handcrafted by South African artisans. 353 N. Shelmore Blvd., Mt. Pleasant; (843) 352-4010

Strike a Deal

Seeking second-hand goods on the cheap? The Lowcountry is full of secret stashes, but hiding in plain sight at Mount Pleasant’s Fabric Emporium are a dozen or more furniture castoffs, including everything from leggy Chippendale-style sofas to sturdy wingback chairs. Prices start at $200; nab discounts with in-house re-upholstering. Wando Crossing Shopping Center, Mt. Pleasant; (843) 216-0008

Trade Up (for a Good Cause)

From April 8-May 10, comfort giant La-Z-Boy Galleries will take your old furniture and give you credit toward a new chair or sofa. Don’t have an oldie to trade in? Cash donations of $25 or more are also accepted. Contributions of both kinds cycle back into the community, primarily to the American Cancer Society’s Calhoun Street Hope Lodge (where patients can stay for free) and the Lowcountry Food Bank. In the three years since inception of its trade-in program, La-Z-Boy Galleries has raised more than $5,000 for local outreach programs and donated more than 200 pieces of furniture. 7671 Northwoods Blvd., North Charleston; (843) 553-8070

Hit the Road

If hand-hewn trappings are just your style, head to HandMade: The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture & Design Expo in Asheville, June 25-26 at the North Carolina Arboretum. HandMade features scores of custom-designed rooms created especially for the event, each one filled with artisan decor from pottery to lighting, furniture, and more. handmadeinamerica.org

Water Wizard

Charleston-based tech outfit OneZone Solutions released an intelligent irrigation system that boasts a “brain,” which keeps an eye on your water bill. Designed for residential use, the nifty system assesses rainfall, temperature, humidity, and wind before dispensing water and can cut waste by up to 40 percent. Like the sound of that? They’ve got
many more energy-saving gadgets for indoors and out,
including indoor climate monitors and lighting controls.
onezonesolutions.com

Get Cooking

Charleston has more than its share of cooking classes for a city its size, but score a particularly good deal at King Street Kitchen Company. Every third Wednesday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m., guest chefs like Jimi Hatt of Guerilla Cuisine and Frank Lee of S.N.O.B. whip up a selection of small plates with wine pairings there for just $20 per ticket. (Six-ticket bundles cost $90). The best part? All proceeds go to local charity Louie’s Kids, which encourages healthy eating habits and regular exercise for children.
(843) 408-0543; kingstreetkitchencompany.com