The story 19th-century manse's updated interiors include contemporary furnishings, clean finishes, and fresh textiles
As any owner or lover of historic houses knows, it takes work—a lot of work—to keep those centuries-old edifices shining bright. In Charleston, a city famed for its commitment to historic preservation, there’s nothing particularly eyebrow-raising about a time-honored property getting a facelift. However, when construction began at the Carrington-Carr house—an iconic Holy City property better known by its address, Two Meeting Street—brows not only lifted, they furrowed. Many thousands of people, from honeymooning tourists to locals looking for a relaxing night away, have slept within the bed-and-breakfast’s 133-year-old frame, and many more are familiar with the property’s love-laced history.
So when signs of a renovation emerged, there was collective intrigue from neighbors, tourists, and the inn’s former guests. Who was behind it? Would they do the beloved property justice? And what would become of the inn? Here, we answer those questions and offer a look inside the newest iteration of this legendary manse.
In 1890, Waring P. Carrington, a King Street jeweler, wed Martha Williams, the daughter of George W. Williams, a wealthy banker and former Civil War blockade runner. As is noted in historian Jonathan Poston’s book The Buildings of Charleston: A Guide to the City’s Architecture (USC Press, 1997), the elder Williams gifted the couple $75,000 for their wedding. The dowry was generous enough to fund the construction of a new house on a sizeable lot at the corner of South Battery and Meeting streets overlooking White Point Garden, just a few hundred feet south of the Williams Mansion (formerly known as the Calhoun Mansion) at 16 Meeting Street, where Martha’s parents resided. After honeymooning in Europe for two years, the couple returned to a resplendent 6,000-square-foot Queen Anne Victorian home.
Fine Dining: The interiors marry quality antiques with contemporary furnishings, clean finishes, and fresh textiles. “Like that Murano glass fixture in the dining room, for example—that’s an old period piece, but because of the color, it feels fresh,” says Connor; (inset) The design team repurposed furnishings when possible, like the mahogany Chippendale chairs, which were refinished and reupholstered.
Adding to the property’s romantic pedigree, the couple installed two Louis Comfort Tiffany windows in the living room (which are still in place today) to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. And in 1907, they donated the bandstand in White Point Garden in honor of Martha’s parents.
The house stayed in the Carrington family until 1946, when a neighbor, Minnie Spell Carr, purchased the property to use as a guest house. Years later, she opened Two Meeting Street Inn to the public as a boutique bed-and-breakfast, which the Spell family continued to operate for decades. In 2022, South Street Partners—the Charlotte- and Charleston-based private equity real estate group that owns Kiawah Island, among other developments—became the third owner of the historic property and set out to carefully restore it to its full splendor.
“We had always looked for a downtown amenity as there are so many Kiawah Island Club members who have limited or no connection to Charleston,” explains Jordan Phillips, a managing partner at the firm. The South Street team aimed to offer club members a downtown sanctuary that would feel like a hospitable friend’s well-appointed home. When they caught wind that Two Meeting Street was for sale, they jumped at the chance to carry on its legacy. “Two Meeting Street Inn’s location and history are irreplaceable,” says Phillips.
After decades of hosting guests from around the globe, and having undergone only one major renovation in the 1980s, the Victorian mansion was in need of some TLC. “It’s transformed, that’s for sure,” says Tammy Connor of Tammy Connor Interior Design, who worked hand-in-hand with Eddie Fava of e e fava architects and Tupper Builders to bring the property into the 21st century. While the former inn felt like a relic from eras past, the new property, into which South Street Partners invested $14 million to create a members-only bed-and-breakfast, feels tidy, fresh, and inspired. “Victorian is a tricky era to work in and preserve—to freshen it up while still being mindful of the history and the period,” notes Connor.
During the renovation, a room located in the heart of the second floor was transformed from a closed-off guest suite to an open sitting room allowing for unencumbered access to the second story’s grand piazza. Once the former bedroom’s interior wall was taken down, light flooded in, filling the hallway and spilling down the grand staircase into the lobby, where ornate oak paneling original to the home adorns the walls and ceilings of the foyer and formal dining room.
Window Dressing: Now outfitted with comfy custom pillows and a cushion, the landing between the first and second floors beckons guests to sit and chat, read and relax.
“We reevaluated the finishes throughout the house,” notes Connor. “For example, the wood in the foyer was really dark and heavy, almost orange. So, keeping it all, of course, and keeping the same species, we just changed the finish to lighten it up.” Doing so was no easy feat and underscores the care the team took to preserve and restore as much of the architectural details as possible. “All of the original oak wall and ceiling paneling, stairs, and rails were carefully stripped with dental picks and toothbrushes down to the bare wood,” says Fava of the foyer’s millwork. Once the old finish was gone, a new custom stain with cooler undertones was applied, setting the stage for the calm palette of the property’s new decor.
Paying homage to the region’s sandy coastline and maritime forests, Connor outfitted the inn in blues, greens, and warm neutrals like cream and ivory. “ One of our starting points was the wallpaper in the foyer,” notes the designer, adding that many of the inn’s bathrooms are wrapped in wallpaper as well, in keeping with the Victorian era’s flair for all things ornamental. Framed botanicals and nature-inspired artworks sourced largely from Lowcountry galleries add local flavor, while a smart mix of antiques and contemporary furnishings marry the past with the present.
Another noteworthy change took place on the third floor, where the team removed eight-foot drop ceilings, likely added during the 1980s renovation, and reconfigured the layout of rooms. “We knew there was more height up there,” says Fava, “so once confirmed, taking full advantage of it was imperative.” The result? A handful of unique and airy guest suites rife with character, just like those on the floor below.
At Your Service: (Counterclockwise from top) A butler’s pantry stocked with self-serve snacks and beverages connects the kitchen to the first floor’s wraparound porch, which was added to the property in 1930. Landscape architect Elizabeth Pope upgraded the inn’s green spaces. “Our job was to make it look like nothing happened,” says Fava of the restoration.
“See that little curved section in that room right there, that’s the backside of the turret,” explains Fava, standing in one of the third-floor suites. “It had all been concealed. Exposing it added to the charm of the space.” The team let the property’s original architecture be their guide, both in terms of structural changes and decor. “We try to let the architecture lead our decision-making process,” says Connor. “In order to create a space that feels both fresh and rooted in tradition, it was important to make design selections that complement the architecture, rather than compete with it.”
With painstaking attention to detail, the team restored every original element of the home they could, including sections of the grand piazza that had previously been infilled and were inaccessible, as well as the driveway’s porte cochere. In February, their efforts were recognized by the Preservation Society of Charleston, which awarded Two Meeting Street a Carolopolis Award for excellence in historic preservation. “Our team worked very hard on this, and we’re confident that the thoughtful reorganization of non-original spaces and the restoration and reproduction of historic details, trim, railings, and floors allowed for the home to sensitively provide proper common areas, like the kitchen, and guest suites/baths,” says Fava. “Our goal was to do so in a way that retained a gentle sense of place, home, and comfort for this iconic structure—worthy of its historic legacy and location.”
