I have this thing with hotels. I love the design of hotels, staying in hotels — the works. I have even gone out of my way just to stay in a specific hotel. 86 Cannon in Charleston, SC is one of those places I would go out of my way to visit. Named for its street address, this three-story gem has a classic French vibe while still feeling modern and regal with an elevated Southern style. Not an easy feeling to master, to say the least.
Established in 1862 by Capt. Christian Baker Sigwald, 86 Cannon was built during the early days of the Civil War. The historic property was later owned by several Charlestonians, including James R. Cantwell, Adelaide Gibbes and Peter P. Poinsette, whose sister was Septima Poinsette Clark, the noted civil rights leader. The home remained in the Poinsette family from 1952 to 2015, when it was sold to Marion and Lori Hawkins. The Hawkinses turned to Betsy Berry of B. Berry Interiors to turn this home into the hotel it is today. “The minute I walked the property, I could see the elegance of the outcome of the renovation,” Betsy shares. “I was lucky to have kind and generous clients that not only trusted me, but encouraged my vision. Septima Poinsette Clark is said to have hosted Martin Luther King at this home on his trips to Charleston. This, to me, gave the property such presence and strength. A lot happened on this site.”
The former Poinsette House is now a fully restored luxury boutique inn located in the heart of downtown Charleston. Blending the original historic architecture, Lowcountry charm and sophisticated interiors, 86 Cannon aims to offer an immersive Charleston experience in the city’s vibrant Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood. The property features five guest rooms, as well as common areas for relaxation, including two spacious open-air piazzas, a salon, café, and library. “I couldn’t sleep for days when pulling this concept together,” Betsy recalls. “The house itself is beautiful and I really wanted to do it justice as well as deliver Marion and Lori their dream of running a boutique luxury inn. When I presented my concept, they did not say a word. I thought, ‘they hate it.’ A full minute later (or it felt like it!), they simply said, “we love it — we don’t want to change one thing.’ That does not happen in this business. I cried tears of relief afterward. That began a great partnership in the beauty of 86 Cannon.”
Working with a home from the 1800s can often present problems. Scale has changed since building standards of that time, as Betsy learned on this project. She had to have the historic door frames removed to make way for the custom furniture on the third floor. “In older homes there was no need for a ‘great room,’ so we were dealing with smaller rooms that need the amenities of today’s world. The key to this is the scale of all the furniture. A lot [of] the furniture within the space is completely custom to feel as it should — made for the room,” Betsy shares. Her end goal was to provide an escape for guests, yet evoke all the charm and elegance of this beautiful city through the details of the space. I hope you enjoy this tour as much as we do. —Erin
Photography by Katie Charlotte Photography / @kcharlottephoto
Image above: Looking out over one of the two open-air piazzas, from one of the five guest rooms at 86 Cannon.
from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2018/03/a-hotel-is-a-serene-escape-for-charleston-s-c-getaways.html
from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/171557003264
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