The Current

Austin-based interior designer Fern Santini on reinventing the spec house with her wildly successful full-house project Meadowbank—plus, lessons on the power of creative collaboration and the simple pleasure of a sublime soufflé.

Coastal living is a unique kind of freedom, and evokes a bit of the pioneer spirit of old. Sea breezes and fresh air remind us that nature is a force, and inspire us to channel boldness, too: push boundaries, test limits, embrace new ideas and remain open to the unknown possibilities. And the impact isn’t just about facing outward and contemplating the vast horizon beyond; it also extends to creativity that originates from within. From coast to coast within the US, and across distant global shores, locations like the ones pictured here speak to the power of place, and the ability of an environment to shape creativity—in architecture, through design, and manifested via lifestyle. Together, they represent a modern version of the frontier spirit, and a reminder that perspectives do and should shift with the views and landscapes at hand.

Bursting with an energy and enthusiasm that far out punches its relative size, Charleston’s creative community is filled with incredible talents and intriguing personalities that rival any design-centric destination. A progressive and interconnected network of thoughtful artisans and experts as enthralled by each other's work as they are passionate about their own. It’s these aesthetic innovators—a cross-section of shelter luminaries, a father-daughter design duo, a multi-talented metalsmith and others—many of whom over the years we’ve found ourselves intertwined, that best illustrate the artistic fabric of the city and it’s many and varied expressions. 

When it comes to Charleston, our roots run deep. So we tapped our team–a mix of lifetime locals and more recent, but no less intertwined, transplants–to show us their favorite discoveries. From fishing holes to watering holes, each of these places is a lesson in how, even in a city full of charms, we all have spots we find most meaningful. 

While last year we explored a sense of place by traveling to all corners of the globe, this year we’re celebrating our world more immediately here in Charleston. And the journey has been no less imbued with fresh and untapped discoveries—in fact, proximity has sharpened our view of the city where we live and work. Across artistic styles, complementary cultures, changing landscapes and the creative thought that flows from growth and progress, Volume 3 of The Current pays tribute to what it means to be at home, and how the power of discovery can transport us into the familiar unknown in the process.