Why We Love Working (and Playing) in Charleston
It’s impossible to be the best Charleston contractor without loving Charleston. Providing excellence in service and workmanship to Charleston homeowners and their homes require dedication to the city and the people who live here.
Charleston is full of beautiful, unique homes, and as a contractor, you have to understand those homes and preserve (and hopefully improve) their beauty with every renovation project. It’s that passion for Charleston that drives us to improve our clients’ lives and help maintain the architectural splendor of the greatest city on the Carolina Coast.
Our love for Charleston obviously goes beyond roofing, siding, decks, and windows. We love workingand playing in Charleston.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but we’ve compiled a list of 10 things we love about Charleston:
1. The People
Charleston offers Southern Hospitality at its Finest. Charlestonians are genuinely kind and considerate. If you have your arms full, someone will inevitably hold the door open for you. When your barista asks how your day is going, she’s genuinely interested.
People in Charleston are polite and talkative, because they care about one another and they care about their community. Charlestonians treat residents and visitors alike with courtesy, kindness, and respect.
We love working with Charleston homeowners, because they’re Charlestonians. We couldn’t ask for better friends, family, and clients.
2. The Shopping
The Charleston City Market has been going strong since 1804. Whether it’s the day market or the night market, we love the variety of locally-made goods we can buy. Jewelry, wood carvings, clothing, and (possibly best of all) the sweet grass baskets all keep us coming back whenever we can.
We can’t forget King Street, either. It’s been compared to a miniature version of Rodeo Drive for a reason. From the high-end clothes in the Fashion District, to the huge variety of breathtaking antiques in the Lower King Street Antiques District, we’re always excited for a visit to King Street.
3. The Food
A recent Washington Post article about Charleston’s food scene stated “Charleston might be giving New Orleans a run for its money in the South.”
The article goes on to talk about many Charleston restaurants, and we love all of them. Bon Appetitwrote a great article about Charleston restaurants last year, too. This was our favorite line:
“The food has all the appeal of Grandma’s cooking—with a fresh spin. Much like the fresh yet historic feeling of Charleston itself.”
From Hominy Grill’s shrimp and grits to Fig’s huge selection of seafood, Charleston shows the rest of the world how good low country cuisine can, and should, be. There are hundreds of amazing restaurants in Charleston and we’re working on trying them all.
4. The History
Charleston is one of the most historic cities in the United States. With 3,000 historic buildings from Colonial and Civil War Eras, history seeps out of every pore in the city.
For visitors, the Charleston Museum is a great starting place-- and it’s great for lifelong residents, too. When we want something more casual, though, we can just go outside and take a walk. History lives and breathes all around us.
Charleston is so historic that the oldest living thing East of the Mississippi is an oak tree on Johns Island.
5. The Beaches
Charleston is surrounded by water, which is amazing in and of itself-- but that also means Charleston is surrounded by beaches.
Charleston has miles and miles of beautiful beaches, from Isle of Palms to Folly Beach. Wherever we are in Charleston, we’re never too far from being able to put our toes in the sand. We’re eternally grateful.
6. The Architecture
We work with Charleston architecture all the time. You can’t be the best Charleston contractor if you’re not constantly thinking about the architecture. Much of the work we do for homeowners needs approval from architectural review boards and homeowners associations, so we’re constantly thinking about the city’s architectural presence. It’s one of our favorite things about Charleston.
Charleston is an architecturally beautiful city, with Georgian, Greek Revival, Federal, and Italianate-style homes-- but it’s also an architecturally unified city, thanks to those architectural review boards. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Rainbow Row” is our favorite destination. Seeing that stretch of candy-colored historic homes never fails to delight us.
7. The Weather
It’s sunny and warm for 90% of the year. The weather couldn’t be any better. What more could we ask for and what more is there to say?
8. The Culture
Charleston boasts the first public museum in the United States-- The Charleston Museum. The Playhouse in Dock Street, founded in 1736, was one of America’s first public theatres. The College of Charleston, founded in 1770, is the oldest educational institution South of Virginia and the 13th oldest college in the United States. The College of Charleston is commonly recognized as one of the best educational institutions in the country.
Charleston is also home to tons of music, arts, and festivals. Whether it’s seeing a live band, taking in an art gallery, enjoying the Lowcountry Oyster Fest, or soaking in the Charleston International Film Festival, we’re never lacking for something fun or educational to do.
9. The Great Outdoors
If you love the great outdoors like we do, it’s hard to find a better place than Charleston.
The fishing is great, but you can also enjoy plenty of boating opportunities with or without your fishing rod. From what we’ve seen, Charleston homeowners take gardening so seriously we think their commitment to their gardens must take as much time as their full-time jobs!
The golf and the tennis are great, too. The first golf game ever played in the United States was played in Charleston, so we’re glad to keep the tradition alive whenever we have a spare afternoon.
10. The Best
We’re not the only ones who love Charleston. Conde Nast voted Charleston the best city in the United States four years in a row. Who are we to argue with good taste?
We really do believe you can’t be the best Charleston contractor without possessing a deep love for everything Charleston. The city’s culture, shopping, food, and outdoor recreation, but it’s the people of Charleston that keep us motivated and working hard. We’re honored and privileged to serve Charleston homeowners every day.
Premeditated Excellence
Randy Hann