Charleston Doors at Christmas

Queen St. Charleston, SC 

 Festive Charleston doors at Christmas time. Queen St. 

Bright on Broad

140 Broad St., Charleston, SC 

Bright red! It is eye catching. Thanks to google street view I can see that the previous owner had a traditional wooden door. When it changed hands the new owner must have decided to brighten it up. 

Happy Charleston Holidoors!

Queen St., Charleston, SC

I tried to capture some of the Charleston doors decorated for the holidays this morning and had no trouble finding a good selection.

Folks on the peninsula do put in the effort to keep their properties in fine shape for us wanderers and I appreciated it. It made me come home and get out the rake to gather all the leaves in my own yard and plant a few winter blossoms. Happy long weekend, kids!

Doors of Charleston - Halloween Style

Halloween style! King Street, Charleston, SC 

There seems to be daily sad news lately with today's being the shooting in the temple in Pittsburgh. It is heartbreaking that there is so much hate in this world.

It does me good to get out walking and pound frustrations into the pavement. I am grateful for these home owners who made me smile as I went by.

Protecting Smith St.

Guard lions of Smith St., Smith St., Charleston, S.C.    

These lions guarding an entrance door on upper Smith St. always make me stop and smile and after all, that's what it's all about, right? If I didn't stop and smile and grab a shot the blog wouldn't even exist. Thanks folks!

Charleston Quotes

Charleston, SC 

Charleston has a landscape that encourages intimacy and partisanship. I have heard it said that an inoculation to the sights and smells of the Carolina lowcountry is an almost irreversible antidote to the charms of other landscapes, other alien geographies. You can be moved profoundly by other vistas, by other oceans, by soaring mountain ranges, but you can never be seduced. You can even forsake the lowcountry, renounce it for other climates, but you can never completely escape the sensuous, semitropical pull of Charleston and her marshes.

Pat Conroy

Christmas doors - Charleston

Charleston, SC   

I think the owners of these houses should earn a tax deduction for entertaining the folks who pass by and stop to admire their home. After all, that is why Charleston keeps winning tourism awards, right? The historic homes are maintained so beautifully, and it costs a fortune. Thank you folks. We appreciate it each time we walk by. Merry Christmas to you and thank you for your beautiful home which we all enjoy,

Charleston doors

Charleston doors, Nunan St., Charleston, SC 

I believe I have enough images to do my own alternative Doors of Charleston poster. These finds are on Nunan St. I love the textured blue in the shot above and below is one of Shepard Fairey's images.

Look for the red door

Red door, Charleston, SC   

Maybe they just like red! It adds a bright splash of color on the white building and the blue shutters are a lovely touch. Just in case there was a deeper meaning I found this - the last reason is the best:

A red door symbolizes several things including welcome, sanctuary and status. In feng shui, the positive energy of the color red is drawn to the front door, which is considered the mouth of the home. Red also invites good luck and happiness during the Chinese New Year
A sign of welcome and warmth, a red door is thought to signify the safety of a house along the Underground Railroad, a route for African slaves escaping captivity and traveling north during the 19th century. In Scotland, a red door signifies the status of a paid mortgage. Some Protestant and most Lutheran churches painted church doors red to identify them as part of the Reformation. Albert Einstein painted his front door red so he could find his house.

Doors of Charleston

Doors of Charleston, Charleston, SC    

I could make the Alternative Doors of Charleston poster to compete with the Doors of Charleston poster.  Trust me. I have the collection.

Boo! 

Doors of Charleston - Bull St.

12 Bull St., Charleston, SC 

This appears to be a door upon a door that is being used as a message chalkboard for the College of Charleston's Department of Art and Architectural History Albert Simons, Jr. Center for Historic Preservation. This building at 12 Bull St. is called the Cameron House after builder Hugh P. Cameron built it in 1851. Here is a slideshow of the property showing the interior.

12 Bull St c.1851

Built in 1851 by Hugh P. Cameron, a crockery merchant, this house has an unusual plan, with two parlors in front, a small room and stairhall at the rear and the entrance in a pavillion on the east side. The interior was remodeled in the 1890s in the Colonial Revival style. The initials of one owner, David Bentschner, a clothing merchant, appear in the cast iron gate.

Straighten up, Charleston!

Charleston Single House, Charleston, SC  

Straighten up, Charleston! I remember thinking what an odd look this was when I first moved here. The porches or piazzas are built on a slant so the rain water runs off and since so many open porches have a front door they must be trimmed to fit.

Parts Unknown featured Anthony Bourdain in Cuba last night which was of interest to me since I've put a down payment on a trip in January. Now the preview is out for the Charleston visit which includes Chef Sean Brock and Bill Murray and will air November 15. This looks like fun!

Pink on pink

Charleston, SC   

I have the exact same climbing blossoms on my fence this year but I can't recall the name of them. They are making a dramatic show this summer. To be clear this is not my home but a pretty entrance I keep an eye on and photograph frequently. 

It's been a busy day, kids! Hang on. Friday's around the corner. 

In other news, now that Rick Perry is out of the Presidential race, it's time for my Perry family members to stock up on random Perry for President merchandise.

Looks like they recycle

I liked the contrast of the blue recycling bins in front of the door. The building is behind Memminger School on Beaufain St. so I imagine the bins are from the school since it doesn't look like anyone lives in this building. I'd love to see it fixed up but it has been abandoned as long as I can remember.

Goodnight kids! It's been a full day.

 

Doors of Charleston - Jasmine

Jasmine covered door, Montague St., Charleston, SC 

I was in the right place at the right time this morning. I was heading down to the College of Charleston for a reception for the REACH program this morning when I came across this door on Montague St. with the jasmine in full blossom.

There was a car parked right in front so I had to squirm around it to get the shot without the vehicle showing. I was almost tipsy with the scent of jasmine in the air. It is a beautiful time of year in Charleston.

Doors of Charleston - mini version

Doors of Charleston, S.C. 

I spotted this in the area close to Hampton Park and it made me pause and smile. Someone is ready for the little people.

I've had a busy but good day. I sold over $5,500 in cookware at work today. Occasionally I have vendors come in to set up in a classroom to sell their wares to our staff. For years I told the vendor, "No one will buy pots at work". He proved me wrong. After the sale I get a modest percentage to play Lady Bountiful and support the hospital by purchasing wheelchairs, blanket warmers etc.

G'night kids!

Doors of Charleston

Doors of Charleston, S.C.

When I come across something like this I am almost emotional. Seriously? Someone did this for ME!? Someone I don't even know gave me this gift. Thank you unknown artist.

This won't make it on the artsy Doors of Charleston poster but it is a perfect addition to my collection.

Stay cool kids. It's mighty hot out there. You can follow my walk this morning by the sweat trail.

Doors of Charleston - the alternative collection

Burns Lane, Charleston, S.C.

Hey, I thought it was supposed to rain all day! It wasn't a bad day at all.  I stayed up most of last night reading a book on my tablet so it was a good thing I didn't have to leap out of bed and get to work this morning.

Here are a couple of additions to my Charleston Doors series. It doesn't quite match the poster that is sold to tourists that can be found here: Doors of Charleston Poster. My first shot is on Burns Lane and is the back entrance to Tasty Thai restaurant (Green Curry ....Mmmmmm) and the graffiti door below looks like Patch Whisky's work.

North Charleston, S.C.

North Charleston, S.C.

Doors of Charleston

South Battery, Charleston, S.C.

One of the coolest entrances in Charleston. Isn't this different? Interesting woodwork as well as great iron work.

It's been happy chaos at work this week. I've had holiday luncheons for volunteers at Roper Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, the Patient Representative Volunteer group. One more luncheon tomorrow when the Ambulatory Care nurses cook for their volunteers and those ladies can cook! I may need to be carried out of the hospital.

Doors of Charleston - the alternate series

 

 

 

Doors of Charleston, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Why do you think this one was left off the Doors of Charleston poster? Huh, huh, huh? I spotted it on King St. and couldn't resist grabbing a shot.

Meanwhile in other news, the purpose of my walk this morning was to replace my broken Charleston Pirate Mug only to discover that the Margaritaville shop is closed. Sob. I've been drinking out of my favorite mug with no handle for weeks and this was the day I was going to take care of it. Sob. How will I drink my tea? I've already burnt my fingerprints off holding the hot mug with no handle.

I hope everyone is having a good long weekend. I send thanks to all the good volunteers who are staffing the desks at Roper St. Francis Healthcare so I can have the day off. Y'all are the best!

Here is another door for our Alternative Doors of Charleston poster. This one is in the building behind Memminger Elementary School on Archdale St. 

Doors of Charleston, Archdale St., Charleston, S.C.