European Grandeur

We just placed our first order with Aidan Gray, a furniture company established in 2003. The pieces exude European Grandeur and we can't wait to carry them st RKI, and at the Pop Up Shop! Don't you love the use of burlap and nail heads on this traditional French frame?

While looking like originals, Aidan Gray has mastered the art of reproducing these pieces for the modern life.

The lighting is beautiful as well - we love the tulip detail on the finial and shade of this table lamp.

And RKI loves anything mirrored! This distressed chest above and side table below would make a nice accent in any modern home.

For more information or to place an order, please contact us!

Mannequin Modeling at the POP UP SHOP Tomorrow!

Mannequin Models from Charleston Power Yoga charlestonpoweryoga.com, the Digitel www.thedigitel.com, and the Charleston Ballet Theater will be modeling shop items all day long!

We will be open from 10 to 6 all day Saturday and Sunday. Hope to see you there!

Local Designers and Artists Featured:

• Lindsey Carter www.troubadourclothing.com http://www.carterhumphrey.com/


• Theodosia Jewelry http://www.theodosiajewelry.com/


• Ross Kenan Interiors http://www.rosskenaninteriors.com/


• Julie Wheat Handbags http://www.juliewheat.com/


• Library Archives of Fashion (High End Vintage Clothing) http://www.libraryfashion.com/


• Kate Long Stevenson (Fine Art) http://www.katelongstevenson.com/


• The Walk Gallery http://www.walkgallery.org/


• Proud Mary (Fair Trade Textiles) http://www.proudmary.org/


• Ashley Reid Fashions http://www.clewisreid.com/
  
  
  

Check out more pictures courtesy of The Digitel at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29456235@N04/sets/72157618541582272/show/

Stay tuned for upcoming events and news from the POP UP SHOP!!

Pop Up Shop GRAND OPENING

Pop Up Shop Grand Opening Sangria and Shopping party tonight from 4-8pm at 501 King Street! Check out a sneek peak of the shop below.

Hope to see you tonight!!

Sea Life

While setting up the Pop Up Shop today, everyone was raving over our framed Sea Fans. The Florida artist who makes them also makes other framed sea life curiosities such as starfish and sand dollars (above), polished tortoise shells, and sea life inspired pillows (above).
Light blue framed Sea Fans with Acid Stained frames create a soft yet dramatic grouping. The Sea fans come in a variety of colors and two sizes.

The artist's brown tortoise shell, as well as her banana leaf pillow. The Tortoise shell also comes in a white lacquer finish.

Green sea fans as well as two different leaf pillow designs.

The Starfish pillow in light blue and white.

We'll be carrying a selection of these pieces at the shop, so come by and check 'em out at 501 King Street in downtown Charleston!

pop up shop grand opening thursday, may 21 4-8pm

South Beach

I just returned from a weekend in sunny South Beach and thought I would share some pictures of my favorite places and hopefully warm you up on this unseasonably freezing morning!

The Delano has long been one of my favorite hotels since I first visited it about eight years ago. The idea of the billowing white curtains, soft techno, and play on scale never get old to me and always stimulate the senses. I love the dramatic columns and floor to ceiling curtains in the lobby and the sparse furnishings!






A guest room at the Delano.

The infamous Rose Bar is one of my favorite places to stop in for a drink in the evening, or cool off from from the sun during the day.









A cabana at the Delano at night.
















The soft glow from the Cabanas and pool at night.

















Asia De Cuba is one of my favorite restaurants in New York. We tried it's South Beach location Saturday night for the first time and I love it equally as much for it's decor and cuisine!

A view of the outside, covered dining area.



We stayed at the Delano's sister hotel and close neighbor, the Shore Club. Above it it's Red Bar.


Sky Bar at the Shore Club is a magical place to visit at night with it's lanterns and over sized plantings.

The lobby of the Shore Club.

Happy Monday!

Finally...Good News in Real Estate

I was delighted when I looked at today's Post and Courier and found some good news about Charleston's historic properties, one of my favorite subjects. The paper reported that despite the overall slowdown in the real estate market due to the recesssion, there is still a demand for the Peninsula's valuable historic homes.

19 East Battery recently sold for $5.4 million.

39 Church Street, the George Everleigh House sold for $4.2 million

37 Meeting Street, the James Simmons House listed at $7.7 million is expected to close on Friday. If the home sells at this price, it will be a record for in downtown Charleston.

These homes have retained century defining architectural elements that cannot be replicated in new construction. Hopefully this demand will continue through tough economic times so that the unique historic fabric seen throughout downtown Charleston can be preserved for generations to come!

Pop Up Shop - Charleston

We've been busy getting together our inventory for Pop Up Shop and can't wait for the opening night party - Hope to see you all there!

*What is this POP UP SHOP?
POP UP SHOP defined: (pop-uhp-shop) - *noun* - restaurants, clubs and shops that spring up in unexpected locations, cause a storms of enthusiasm and disappear just before the next big thing.

*Where is it located?
501 King Street in downtown Charleston (between Morris and Radcliffe)

*How long will the shop be there?
Beginning Friday, May 22 through June 22 With the Kickoff "Shopping Party" on Thursday May 21 from 4-8pm.

Charleston’s newest retail phenomenon – the POP UP SHOP located at 501 King Street will bring unique designer pieces to Charleston for a limited time. The shop will celebrate its opening on Thursday, May 21st with a kick-off party from 4pm – 8pm. The idea is to bring brand awareness to local up-and-coming artists, designers and businesses while also benefiting and bringing traffic to the shops of upper King Street; generating buzz and filling empty storefronts during the high foot traffic time of Spoleto. POP UP SHOP also has a reciprocal relationship with walkgallery.org, an organization in the same vain, benefiting artists. Artists, designers and businesses participating in the temporary boutique include Lindsey Carter (CFW Emerging Designer Competition finalist) of Troubadour http://www.troubadourclothing.com and co-founder of Carter Humphrey http://www.carterhumphrey.com with Leigh Humphrey, Sterling Kenan and Caroline Ross of Ross Kenan Interiors http://www.rosskenaninteriors.com, Library: Archives of Fashion vintage collection http://www.libraryfashion.com, Harper Poe and Molly Purnell of Proud Mary http://www.proudmary.org, custom handbags by Julie Wheat http://www.juliewheat.com, Jenny Thompson with Theodosia Jewelry http://www.theodosiajewelry.com, artist Kate Long Stevenson http://www.studiokate.net and eco-friendly clothing designer Ashley Reid of Clewis Reid http://www.clewisreid.com. For the latest on hours of operation, special events, sales and other updates, follow POP UP SHOP on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/POPUPSHOP and Facebook enter POP UP SHOP - Charleston.

About POP UP SHOP:
POP UP SHOP is a collaboration of 9 local up-and-coming artists, designers and business owners to take place in Charleston , SC from May 22 - June 22, 2009.