Amelia Handegan in Charleston

Creative collaboration is at the heart of Urban Electric Co.‘s design philosophy. Over the last ten years, working with several long-time designer clients on custom pieces has led to product collaborations for the line. One such designer is Amelia Handegan in Charleston. Her work is known for its understated mix of old and new, of eras, styles and design sensibilities. You may remember her beautiful work on a Virginia Greek revival home in Veranda featured here in June. One of the special treats on our recent trip was to visit two of Urban Electric Co.’s designers’ homes and on a blustery Wednesday morning last week, we were welcomed into Amelia Handegan’s charming house on Folly Beach, only minutes from downtown Charleston but seemingly worlds away.

amelia handegan

Through a groomed jungle-like path, you enter the property with the promise of a screened porch aerie ahead. Up a flight of steps, the porch beckons on the left with a cheerful mix of blue and orange.

amelia handegan

Even on a gray day the colorful melange lent the porch a cozy and appealing vibe.

amelia handegan

In her renovation of the 1940’s bungalow, Handegan opened the ceiling up for additional height, painting the resulting exposed beams and added wide horizontal planking a unifying white.

amelia handegan

Whether creating understated elegance for historic homes or as here, a relaxed beach chic, Handegan’s designs all feature a level of comfort and livability.

amelia handeganIt’s that undecorated look that may seem effortless but takes an experienced eye and skilled vision

amelia handegan

to create such alluring moments.

amelia HandeganBut it’s the eclectic mix of fabrics and accessories, many accumulated on trips to India and afar that give this house its soul. It’s personal, authentic and uniquely chic.

amelia handegan

Even the bathrooms are furnished with exotic finds. Here a 19th century Asian table is enlisted as  a vanity with a Turkish bowl as sink

amelia handeganamelia handeganand Urban Electric Co. Oculus sconces designed by creative director Michael Amato.

Amelia Handegan

A walk down the painted floor hall that I featured in my sneak peek on Friday, and you arrive at the bedroom wing. Up the stairs

amelia handegan

where no opportunity is overlooked for surprise and delight. A landing serves as a double entendre for this sculpture and antiqued mirror, illuminated by Handegan’s Ya-Ta’ Hey lantern designed for Urban Electric Co.’s 10th Anniversary Collection.

amelia handegan

In a guest room, the charm of Indian cotton bedspreads mixed with a striped kilim and contemporary prints.

amelia handeganLocal beach finds were at home with the eclectic mix.

amelia handegan

Who wouldn’t want to be a guest in this enchanting retreat

amelia handegan

where comfort and relaxed elegance go hand in hand with whimsy.

amelia handegan

I loved the treatment of the bathroom vanity with coordinating fabrics and the small version of Amelia’s Urban Electric Co. Belle Meade sconce.

amelia handegan

Another guest room featured paneled walls of natural cypress, a hearty indigenous wood, and testers from Bungalow Antiques.

amelia handegan

And in this bath, another repurposed chest served as a vanity with Urban Electric Co. Tom Scheerer-designed Lyford Wall sconces.

amelia handegan

The final guest room was a restful respite of bohemian chic laced with a feminine twist. A hanging antique suzani

amelia handegan

mingled with a sand dollar-like matelasse and John Robshaw’s Mathura Kashmir.

amelia handegan

The fresh charm of a check mixed with floral and aviary motifs are a captivating combination. And the larger version of her Meade sconces offer statement without heft.

amelia handegan

The master bedroom wove a visual tale of Handegan’s many interests and travels.

amelia handegan

A cabinet of curiosities was a feast of treasures from near and far.

amelia handegan

I loved this sunny corner where each object told a story.

Amelia Handegan

After touring, we enjoyed a lovely brunch on a lower deck with a breeze from the ocean and the warmth of the sun. I could imagine not easily tiring of life on Folly Beach in Amelia Handegan’s charming bungalow.

10 thoughts on “Amelia Handegan in Charleston

  1. I have a pal who has some rentals in Folly Beach and has extended an open invite…after seeing this I will pack my bags. So refreshing after years of the typical beach designs…FAB!

  2. Good golly!! This is wonderful…it made me smile, it made me gasp, it made me appreciate “good design whimsy”…it is wonderful. Charleston has moved to the top of the list; sorry Atlanta. franki

  3. I’ve loved seeing your journey through Charleston. As someone who lives in NC we get down there a couple times of year, but I’m obviously missing lots of intriguing things. Fabulous posts!

  4. What a gorgeous home. I love that screened porch. You are right, the colorful and unique fabrics and finds give it so much soul. This is my favorite kind of design. Personal, a little whimsical, welcoming and happy. Lovely.

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