Drayton Hall, an authentic colonial period dwelling in Charleston, is the earliest and finest example of Palladian architecture in the United States – how the main house and surrounding buildings were designed, built, used and adjusted over time tells a unique take about the people who lived and worked there. In partnership with Drayton Hall and in the spirit of celebrating the roots of classical design and architecture in Charleston, join nationally recognized, next-generation practitioners to hear how the principles of classicism remain a great influence on their work through houses, interiors, and even exhibitions. Moderated by Haskell Harris, founding style director of Garden & Gun magazine, the talented group of panelists will include interior designer Elizabeth Lawrence, Partner, Williams Lawrence, New York City; architect Steven Spandle, Principal, Steven W. Spandle Architect LLC, Hoboken, New Jersey; and Dr. Carter C. Hudgins, President and CEO of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, Charleston, South Carolina.
About Haskell Harris
Haskel Harris is the founding style director at the national luxury lifestyle print magazine Garden & Gun, now known as G&G. She joined the magazine in 2008 and has helped infuse it with stories about homes, gardens, and products that are not only beautiful but have great stories behind them. In her recently published book The House Romantic, (Abrams, 2024), she expands on that theme, visiting jubilant, gorgeous, story-filled houses in the art and interiors world that she calls “kindred spirits.” Each chapter also includes a “Story Behind the Stuff” jaunt to the studio of an artist or a purveyor—of antique quilts, glassware, linens, and more. Over the course of her twenty-year career in the shelter and lifestyle magazine world, Harris has contributed to dozens of publications, including Cottage Living, House Beautiful, Southern Accents, and Better Homes & Gardens.
About Carter C. Hudgins
Carter C. Hudgins, is the president and CEO of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, a 501c3 responsible for the operation and administration of Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Charleston, S.C., and one of the finest examples of American architecture to survive from the colonial period. Dr. Hudgins has worked in the fields of archaeology, history and historic preservation for more than 25 years. Prior to coming to Drayton Hall, he worked as a senior staff archaeologist for the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities Jamestown Rediscovery Project. He has completed archaeological field work throughout southeastern North America and the Caribbean, in addition to instructing undergraduate and graduate students. After graduating with a B.A. in history from Hampden-Sydney College, Hudgins received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history and material culture from Royal Holloway, University of London. He has lectured and published on the history, archaeology, and material culture of early America and post-medieval England with a particular focus on the seventieth and eighteenth centuries. Hudgins is an advisory board member of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), a board member Porter Gaud Alumni Association, an advisory member of the Charleston World Heritage Coalition, an advisory member of the American College of the Building Arts, an advisory member of The Mayor’s Walled City Task Force in Charleston S.C., and a project member of the First Colony Foundation.
About Steven Spandle
Steven Spandle is the founding principal of Steven W. Spandle Architect, which specializes in residential design with projects throughout the United States. The firm has undertaken a diverse array of commissions—ranging from single-family homes to Manhattan penthouses as well as historic restorations and museum renovations. A practitioner of classical design with a love of history and the decorative arts, Steven is a former member of the U. S. Commission of Fine Arts and is the architect of the Tennis Pavilion – a classical structure and the first addition to the White House grounds in decades. He most recently completed a Manhattan penthouse renovation with the iconic designer Bunny Williams and her New York team at Williams Lawrence. A native of Georgia, Steven’s life-long fascination with architecture, art, and design began with childhood visits to museums and historic houses, including Drayton Hall. These places and the history within profoundly shaped his professional pursuits as an architect and influenced his understanding of design.
About Elizabeth Lawrence
Elizabeth Lawrence has spent her career working alongside Bunny Williams, designing projects across the country, from Manhattan to Palm Beach to Los Angeles. Since being named Bunny’s only Partner in 2017, which led to the renaming of the firm as Williams Lawrence in 2023, she and Bunny have run the Bunny Williams umbrella of brands together. Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Elizabeth attended the University of Richmond and then the New York School of Interior Design. She was honored by The New York School of Interior Design at their annual gala in 2020 and her work has been widely published in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Veranda, Galerie, House Beautiful, and many others. A few of her current projects include a new country estate, a glamorous New York City townhouse, a Palm Beach getaway and a young family’s apartment overlooking Central Park. Elizabeth and her family live in New York City and Elizabeth often shares snapshots of her work, travels, tablespaces, great design finds, and other adventures on her personal Instagram. Follow her @elizabeth_m_lawrence and see more of the firm’s work @williams_lawrence_interiors and williamslawrence.com.
About Drayton Hall
Drayton Hall is Charleston’s finest plantation. The plantations of Charleston which are open to the public are all located about ten miles outside the city area of Charleston, SC. Drayton Hall is the oldest and only preserved and accurate plantation house that can be visited and toured in Charleston.
Unlike other plantations in Charleston, Drayton Hall is the only authentic colonial period home that you can tour. The other plantation homes in Charleston were either burned and no longer have houses or the houses were built in the 20th century. Drayton Hall survived both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and is the only plantation tour in Charleston of a house that survived both wars and legitimately dates to the 18th century. Drayton Hall has remarkable museum galleries and exhibits on both the pre-Civil War and post-Civil War time periods and the role Drayton Hall played in the history of Charleston.
About The Charleston Show
The Charleston Show now in its fourth year presents a Collection of Antiques Contemporary Design, Fine Art & Jewelry.
The Thursday evening Preview Party on March 20th benefits the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust. This gala opening event provides an opportunity to support the collections and preservation of the historic estate as well as a chance for a first look at the antique show’s offerings. Open to the public Friday March 21st through Sunday 23rd, the Charleston Show brings together 30 exhibitors from the United States, England and Europe showcasing the best period to mid-century furniture, traditional and contemporary art and ceramics, jewelry, folk art, oriental rugs, silver, prints and maps, garden and architectural antiques.
