A Morning in the Upper King Design District
Local makers, curated home shops, and modern showrooms sit within a few walkable blocks of each other.
Start at the Top of King
Upper King has grown into Charleston’s design corridor, and the best way to see it is on foot before the lunch crowd. Park once, wear comfortable shoes, and work your way down the street with a loose list of what you are looking for, whether that is a lamp, a rug, or the right console for an entryway.
Begin at Workshop, 609 King Street, where furniture and home goods from regional artisans are shown side by side. It is a good place to see what local craftspeople are doing with wood, metal, and textiles.
Curated Shops and Modern Showrooms
Heading south, Harvest Moon Home at 441½ King carries a curated mix of Southern accents and smaller furnishings that work well for finishing a room. Nearby, West Elm at 484 King covers the cleaner, contemporary end of the spectrum for sofas, bedding, and lighting.
Take a short detour off King to Celadon on Ann Street. It is one of the larger home stores downtown, with furniture, rugs, mirrors, and accessories from all over the world, and it is easy to lose an hour there.
Lunch on the Way
Upper King is also one of the city’s best food stretches. Leon’s Oyster Shop is a short walk for fried chicken and oysters, and Rodney Scott’s BBQ sits farther up King for whole-hog barbecue.
Finish With Antiques Downtown
If there is time left, continue down to Lower King, where George C. Birlant & Co. has been dealing in English antiques for generations. The full list of shops is in the Furnishings guide.