17 minute read
Southern Sweetgrass
SWEETGRASS
BY NICOLE CRAM PHOTOS SUPPLIED
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CHARLESTON CARRY SISTERS CREATE CUSTOM-MADE SOUTHERN ACCESSORIES
It all began in 2014 when Kathie Hall Rainsford was planning her wedding with a little help from her sister, Karen Hall Caraway.
One of the first engagement gifts Kathie and her then-fiancé received was a beautiful sweetgrass basket created by artisans in Charleston’s renowned City Market.
Kathie loved the basket so much, she chose to incorporate sweetgrass material into her wedding, referring to it as “Sweetgrass and Seersucker” themed.
Kathie’s husband, Adam Rainsford, was born in Charleston proper, so it was important to the couple to incorporate a Lowcountry flair into their wedding.
While purchasing several sweetgrass pew markers, Kathie and Karen were inspired to create little bags with sweetgrass handles for the flower girls to carry.
From there Charleston Carry was born. Within a year, the sisters had a website up and running, and word was quickly spreading about the sweet southern staples and accessories coming out of Charleston Carry.
Since then Charleston Carry has flourished into a thriving accessory business throughout the Lowcountry. Each of Charleston Carry’s bags are designed to be one-of-a-kind.
One aspect that makes Charleston Carry a truly local treasure is the guild of weavers that the business has supported along the way.
SWEETGRASS SUCCESS
A Charleston Carry Bicycle Basket.
PHOTO COURTESY ASHLEY SEAWELL
PHOTO COURTESY ASHLEY SEAWELL PHOTO COURTESY KAREN HALL CARAWAY A Charleston Carry Soiree Sipper handbag.
To this day Kathie and Karen always pay fair market value for each sweetgrass ring they purchase.
They allow the weavers to set the price each time, which is a great way to encourage their business and give back to the community, too. All proceeds made with the sweetgrass material in Charleston Carry’s bags go directly back to the artisans.
Speaking of local, you can find Charleston Carry bags in select boutiques throughout Charleston.
Kathie and Karen’s motto is, “Be gracious. Be graceful. Be grateful.”
The sisters try to uphold that motto in all aspects of life, especially their business.
What’s next? They have some exciting new prints rolling out this year, including a Rainbow Row print that’s in the process of being uploaded to their website. Their logo is also getting a facelift, with some bags featuring a gold, embossed logo.
One of their newest items is a Charleston Carry sweetgrass bike basket, which was inspired by one of Kathie’s anniversary trips with her husband.
“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cute to see a sweetgrass basket on a bike,’” she said.
Not only is it a cute accessory for your bike, but the lining can be removed from the basket to display it as an heirloom piece.
“It’s beautiful and functional; a true piece of art,” she said.
Kathie and Karen’s relationship has only grown stronger since creating Charleston Carry. “We’re best friends and do everything together already,” said Kathie.
SUMMER
S.M Bradford Co.
149D Lighthouse Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 smbradfordco.com
Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store
1000 William Hilton Parkway, Village at Wexford B-2, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 smbradfordco.com
Shoes: Gorilla KICKZ Sneaker Store
The Fresh Market Shoppes 890 Wm. Hilton Pkwy. Ste. 33 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 843-715-1459
Maggie & Me
6 Bruin Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 707-9083
ASHLEY IS WEARING: CURRENTS
149 Lighthouse Road, Suite #C Hilton Head Island, SC (843)-671-1919
ON SCARLETT AND LIAM: ISLAND CHILD
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 shopislandchild.com
ON SCARLETT AND LIAM: MOONLIT LULLABY
55 Bridge St, Bluffton, SC 29910 moonlitlullaby.com
HASKINS & CO
Coligny Plaza 1 N Forest Beach Dr Unit A9, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
haskinssupply.com
JOHN BAYLEY
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 715-0713
SEA BEES CHILDREN’S STORE
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, C2 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 seabeeshhi.com
Cocoon
6 Promenade St, Bluffton, SC 29910
BUILT FOR LUXURY
NEW BUILD ON GREEN HERON ROAD PART OF FAMILY TRADITION
BY DEAN ROWLAND PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
In a way, what Paul Bailey Builders on Hilton Head has done is replicate the Boardwalk and Park Place spaces in the Monopoly board game.
They have built or remodeled seven homes on Green Heron Road in Sea Pines during the past 33 years, a prime stretch of land from North Sea Pines Drive to the ocean. It’s real estate gold.
Each home, of course, is worth millions now and it began when patriarch Paul Bailey Sr. built his first home at 14 Green Heron Road in 1989. He had already constructed another home in Sea Pines at Red Cardinal Road in 1984.
He and his wife, Vicki, founded their business in West Virginia in 1971 and moved to South Carolina in the mid-1980s with their two sons, Paul and John Bailey, after visiting the island.
“He and my mom taught me everything I know,” said Paul II, the second-generation builder.
Paul II and his father worked together on several projects and separately on others until Paul Sr. died in 2011.
The son hammered his first home separately in 1995 at Hilton Head Plantation and continued building others on the island thereafter. He also branched out from construction and founded Alliance Roofing in 2012.
“We have built six properties on Green Heron Road from scratch and remodeled another one, for me, friends, or my family,” Paul said. “We just really like the street and
Photo: Supplied Second floor coffee bar. Homeowners, builders and Interior designers: Paul and Carrie Bailey
Cool coastal colors and natural fabrics are featured throughout the home.
The port window in the large butler’s pantry contributes to the house’s island vibe.
the opportunities that presented themselves. It was serendipitous. We felt like that was where we were supposed to be. For a good friend, we will be remodeling an oceanfront in early 2023 that he just acquired; this will make eight.”
What the company builds and sells are unique island homes that showcase understated “classy elegance” with top-of-the-line amenities and a devoted attention to detail, Paul said.
“We’re trying to appeal to the luxury home buyer,” he said.
What home lookers will find in the collection are multiple balconies, heated pools with waterfalls, outdoor living spaces with kitchens, open floor plans with state-of-the-art appliances in the custom-designed kitchen, six to seven bedrooms and bathrooms, enclosed porches, wine coolers, hot tubs/spas, ocean views and several thousand square feet of interior living space.
“Every home I build I feel like I’ll be living there with all the features I want,” he said.
Coastal architecture style is coupled with a coastal chic design.
Outside living features an outdoor kitchen The primary bathroom features heated marble floors.
He marvels at how much homebuilding has changed since the arrival of their family on the island.
“We look at the first one dad built (at Green Heron Road) in 1989, and we look at the one my wife, Carrie, and I just finished in 2021-22,” he said. “We’ve come so far in the way we’re building. These houses were beach cottages and now they are full-fledged luxury homes.”
The Baileys are comfortably living at home now at 10 Green Heron Road, where the couple has followed their successful real estate formula for years.
“My wife and I build homes and live in them or sell them,” he said. “I build every home as if I am going to live there.”
The company also handles home additions for select clients.
They acquired their current property through a relationship he and his parents had with the owner who had owned it for more than 20 years.
From there, the project was a teardown and rebuilt by Paul and his building team with Carrie providing an artist’s eye and coastal inspiration to the interior.
The fifth-row custom-built ocean home — listed at $4,999,999 — includes 4,633 square feet of living space, six bedrooms, six full bathrooms.
“The home boasts a coastal architecture style with relaxed coastal chic design elements that evoke a feeling of being on the water,” Paul said.
It’s a mix of coastal cottage, Cape Cod, California and Sea Pines.
The subdued exterior consists of a simple natural color palette with multiple peaks and rooflines, deep overhangs with a large screened-in porch, tall ceilings, large windows and an open floor plan.
The interior design is casual, coastal trendy with a modern flair.
“It consists of light and airy color palettes, earthy tones with accents of color, playful textures for added depth and the feel of coastal living,” he said.
Oversized furniture pieces consist of natural wood, linen upholstery and rattan. Coastal accents tastefully placed throughout the home compliment the relaxed beachy feel.
European White Oak flooring enhances the house’s airy and beachy feel. The home features: • European white oak hardwood floors • Heated marble floors in the primary bathroom and shower • Eleven-foot-high ceilings • Rugs of sisal, sea grass and other soft coastal hues throughout • Sand, sea and sky color schemes throughout • Custom white oak beams in the great room • Multiple owner’s suites with feature finishes • Chrome and polished nickel finishes • Oversized windows • 4-inch custom plantation shutters • Multiple laundry rooms • Front and back porches • A two-tier heated pool with spa/hot tub • Built-in outdoor kitchens • A Thermador Appliance package • A whole house generator
“Our favorite rooms are always the kitchen and the main master bed/bath,” Paul said. “After all, this is where the homeowner spends the majority of their time.”
Each kitchen is designed with the latest in design trends, with functionality, storage and flow in mind. Materials and finishes selected are of the highest quality to withstand hard water and everyday living.
Another favorite is the butler’s pantry to hide all the countertop appliances away from the main kitchen and serve as a beverage center.
Building quality homes is a Bailey family tradition, one that continues to thrive.
The house is located just steps from the beach.
VENDORS
Builder: Paul Bailey Builders Architect: Neil Gordon Interior Design: Carrie Bailey Lumber and Materials: Espy Lumber Windows: Jeldwen (manufacture) Windows: Espy Lumber (supplier) Cabinets: Decora (manufacture) Cabinets: Carolina Custom Solutions (dealer) Flooring and Tile: Floors to Go Flooring and Tile: Specialty Flooring Roofing: Alliance Roofing Gutters: AGC Gutters Plumbing Fixtures: Cregger Co, Inc. Countertops: Savannah MultiStone Appliances: Billy Wood Appliance Pool: Clearwater Pools Electrical: Oceanside Electric HVAC: Leeway Heating and Air Landscaping: Landscaping by the Sea Framing and Siding: Hilton Head Carpentry Group Plantation Shutter: The Louver Shop Realtor: Hilton Head Home Group, REMAX Island Realty
In a way, what Paul Bailey Builders on Hilton Head has done is replicate the Boardwalk and Park Place spaces in the Monopoly board game. They have built or remodeled seven THE LOWCOUNTRY PREPS FOR ATLANTIC homes on Green Heron Road in Sea Pines during the past 33 years, a prime stretch HURRICANE SEASON of land from North Sea Pines Drive to the ocean. It’s real estate gold. Each home, of course, is worth millions now and it began when patriarch Paul Bailey built his first home at 14 Green Heron Road in 1989. He had already constructed another home in Sea Pines at Red Cardinal Road in 1984. Paul Sr. and his wife Vicki, founded their business in West Virginia in 1971 and moved to South Carolina in the mid1980s after visiting the island. “He and my mom taught me everything I know,” said Paul II, the second-generation builder. Paul II and his father worked together on several projects and separately on others until Paul senior died in 2011. The son hammered his first home sepa-STORM
SEASON IS HERE
BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY
The Lowcountry is prepping for Atlantic hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30, with the heaviest months usually in August through October.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that we will see between 14 and 21 named storms this year. They say three to six of those storms could be major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher with winds of 111 mph or higher.
The NOAA predicts a 65% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
To help the state prepare, the South Carolina Emergency Division has an informative website: hurricane.sc. The site is an online guide to hurricane season resources.
Said Stephen Combs, Bluffton’s emergency manager: “Since the impacts of Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, the state overall has learned many lessons, but our area specifically has firsthand experience with property damage and the corresponding impacts to our local economy. It is important residents plan now for the possibility of a hurricane making landfall in or near our area.”
Residents should give themselves enough time to prepare for a hurricane; make sure everyone in the household knows the family’s hurricane plan; and know where you will go once an evacuation order has been issued. Here are some tips to stay safe.
• Know your evacuation zone. Evacuations are announced by designated zones. View the map found on the S.C. Emergency Management Division website (scemd.org), and identify your hurricane evacuation zone and routes. Do not rely on your GPS or seek shortcuts, which may be blocked off or unsafe.
• Make an emergency plan with your family. Ensure everyone knows what to do. • Have an emergency kit, which should include a minimum of three days of non-perishable food, drinking water, first aid supplies, flashlight with extra batteries, medications, important documents and cash and credit cards. • Place in a watertight container your ID cards, bank information, copies of insurance policies, emergency contact information, pet medical records, medications, doctor contact information and instructions on how to operate any medical equipment you use. Don’t forget to put an ID tag on your pet. If possible, put important identification and medical records into a digital format for easy safekeeping and quicker movement. • Include personal hygiene and sanitation items such as wet wipes, antibacterial cleaning products, hand sanitizer, towels, trash bags, dust masks, feminine supplies and an extra change of clothes for each person in the household. • Keep extra items on hand for children: crayons, paper, books, puzzles. • If you are disabled contact your local government’s emergency information management office. Many local officials create contact lists of disabled residents to be able to check on them and provide help in a sudden emergency.
• If you are on dialysis or another life-sustaining treat-
ment identify a few locations available for treatment. Leave an extra key to your home with a trusted person so they can check on you. • If your medical device needs electricity, ask your healthcare provider or doctor what you should do if there is a power outage. Wear a medical bracelet. • Conduct inspections of drainage features around your house and property including gutters and remove any blockages.
• Turn off irrigation systems.
• If you decide to stay during an evacuation order, emergency services may be suspended due to unsafe weather conditions. If you choose to ignore a mandatory evacuation order, be prepared to be self-sufficient during, and for the first 72 hours after, a storm, the town of Bluffton said. High winds during storms prohibit travel of emergency response vehicles and debris following storms may also prevent travel.
IF YOU EVACUATE
• Turn off gas, electricity and water.
• Charge your cell phone and mobile devices, and have extra chargers. • Prepare your vehicle by getting an inspection and checking your oil and tire pressure before you get on the road. Keep your gas tank full in the days before an evacuation. • Carry emergency items including a spare tire, tool kit, emergency flares, towels, gloves and jumper cables. • Know where you will go. Stay with family, friends or a hotel far inland. If those options are not available, the S.C. Department of Social Services and the American Red Cross will provide a safe place. • The SC Emergency Manager mobile app, scemd.org, and road signs will have real-time information on all open shelters nearest to your evacuation route. • You can text “shelter” and your ZIP code to 43362 to get a list of nearby shelter locations. • If you need transportation to a shelter prior to a storm, call Palmetto Breeze at 843-757-5782.
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE HURRICANE
• Return home only after it is declared safe. • Check gas, water, electrical lines and appliances for damage. • Use a flashlight to inspect damage. • Take pictures of damage, which will help in filing insurance claims. • Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. • Don’t ever swim, drive or walk through flood waters. • Do not touch downed power lines or tree limbs touching power lines. • If you smell gas, leave your home and call the power company. • As soon as it is safe, contact your friends and family through texts and/ or social media to let them know if you need help or that you are OK.
PET SAFETY
• Evacuate with your pet outside of the evacuation zone. • Have a cage/carrier for each pet; a means of containment will be needed anywhere you go. • Counties may have a temporary emergency shelter for pets. The South Carolina Emergency Manager mobile app and scemd.org will list open shelters. • Consider boarding facilities, veterinary clinics, pet-friendly hotels, as well as homes of friends and relatives. • Have photos of yourself with your animals to prove ownership if you become separated. • Information about options for assistance with animals will be provided as soon as possible from SCEMD by way of news briefings and telephone hotlines.
HURRICANE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE
S.C. HURRICANE GUIDE
scemd.org // hurricane.sc TOWN OF HILTON HEAD HURRICANE CENTER hiltonheadislandsc.gov/hurricane TOWN OF BLUFFTON townofbluffton.sc.gov/ BEAUFORT COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT bcgov.net BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NIXLE ALERTS local.nixle.com/register/ CDC HURRICANE PREP cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.html ready.gov/hurricanes FEMA fema.gov NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER nhc.noaa.gov SCDHEC CareLine 1-855-472-3432 S.C. Department of Insurance doi.sc.gov • 803-737-6160 • 803-768-3467
