Coterie Crush on Blogger & Journalist Shani Gilchrist

We have a Coterie Crush on blogger, journalist and essayist Shani Gilchrist because she joined The Southern Coterie and immediately became one of those members that regularly shares her personal tastes and musings.

Out of Columbia, S.C., Shani’s aesthetic is very smart and chic. She shares this regularly on her blog, Camille Maurice. On any given day a reader can find a unique design space, an inspiring meal, a mind-blowing work of art, funny family musings, or thoughts on a current event.

We enjoyed catching up with Shani and discovering some of her latest loves. Here are her favorites.

Fabric collection:

I discovered Dominique Picquier on Studio Four NYC’s website a while ago and fell in love with the rich colors and unique approach to patterning. (side note: Studio Four NYC’s co-owner, Kate Temple Reynolds, is a South Carolina girl!)

China pattern:

I’m a huge advocate for formal dining at home. L’Objet’s Perlee pattern in gold makes a beautiful statement for a fun dinner party.

Design blog:

One? Yikes! I love following Jennifer Bowles at The Peak of Chic and The Style Saloniste. Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo is a multitalented friend who blogs at ABCD Design Sketch Book.

Paint color:

When my friend Christy suggested painting our living room mantel in Valspar’s Chimney Smoke, I almost keeled over and died! But I ended up falling in love with the dark, mysterious shade.

Candle:

Buenos Aires by Vie Luxe is a wonderful, stress relieving scent to burn when working on deadlines in my home office.

Antiques Shop:

It actually isn’t open yet, but I had the opportunity to tour Kevin Perry’s store in Camden, SC. He purchased and renovated a c. 1815 home on Broad Street that was once owned by the Daniel Family of Charleston. When he opens mid-year, he’ll have difficult-to-find works of art, furniture, and antiques that people usually travel to New York and Boston to purchase.

Artist:

That’s such a hard call because I spend so much time writing about great artists on my Insider’s blog at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com. I love just about everything by Whitney LeJeune. Laura Spong is also a great Southern artist who works hard to advocate for other artists.

Interior designer:

I have four or five favorites, but for the sake of space and time, I’ll list two. Of course, I love Christy Edens and everyone at Verve Interiors because Christy helped me with my living room. Hillary Thomas speaks to both my bohemian side and my glamorous aspirations.

Collection:

It’s strange… Just the other day I noticed that I don’t really have any collections outside of my books! Frequent reading is an occupational hazard that I love, but I’ve also amassed a fun collection of big, glossy art and design books from the United States and Europe. I do need to start collecting more trinkets, though.

Southern Essential:

Artistry and creativity are an organic part of the soul here. Southerners put special craft into everything from cooking a meal for friends to setting the perfect scene before the punch line of a joke at dinner. I can’t explain what makes this happen, but it’s certainly the reason why so many brilliant artists, designers, writers, and creatives have Southern roots!

Shani’s style in five words or less:

Contemporary luxury meets welcome traditions. (That may only make sense in my own head!)

Images: Chimney Smoke.jpg VIA, Dominique Picquier.jpg VIA , l-objet perlee gold VIA , lejeune 4 25 11 inbetween working75.jpg provided by Whitney LeJeune, mary mcdonald interiors book.jpg VIA

Also ENJOY spotlights on other interior designers and tastemakers –

Cullen O’Steen of Cullen & Co Interior Design

Holly Phillips of The English Room

Anna Kristin Yarbrough and Cameron Weaver of Interior Canvas

Lisa Mende of Lisa Mende Design

Courtney Barnes of Stylecourt

Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac and Kole Interiors

Roger Higgins of R. Higgins Interiors

Haskell Harris of Haskell Harris Creative

Tami Ramsay of Tami Ramsay Design

Mary Bryan Peyer of Mary Bryan Peyer Designs

Susan Hable of Hable Construction

XOXO – CHERI HARDEN LEAVY