P.S. I HART This: How to Open a Store in 10 Days
We opened a pop-up shop! We’re so excited and genuinely grateful for the chance to take over the sweetest pint-sized corner storefront at 225 King Street in (further) downtown Charleston. Our flagship uptown at 650 King is still rocking and isn’t going anywhere. This pop-up simply felt like a serendipitous opportunity to catch some extra foot traffic and add a little cherry on top of our Charleston presence.
The landlords said we could have the space, but we had to open quickly—in less than three weeks—which meant our team had about literal days to design, plan, and pull everything together. I’m honestly so proud of how it turned out. A million tiny decisions went into this little spot. Huge thanks to our team, especially Bee, for helping bring it all to life.
This pop-up has been a real lesson for me in trusting my taste and embracing the quirks instead of apologizing for them. So what if it’s not perfectly polished like the jewel box of a big-budget brand? It’s charming. It’s a little weird. It’s perfectly imperfect. We poured our sweat and hearts into it. It feels like us. It feels like HART.
Here’s a tour!
Layout
Color Scheme
I knew I wanted a jewel-box feel: transporting, enveloping, and memorable, but still calming. The answer? Color drench of a dusty blue, with pops of ochre and marigold for warmth. After five paint samples and a frantic, 30-minute deadline before the painters arrived (a real nail-biter), we landed on Wedgewood Gray.
Moodboard
Collage moodboards are signatures in our stores, which I have learned to construct myself in my backyard. After years of trial and error, I’ve finally mastered how to build them with glue, nails, .5” birch-finish plywood, cork, batting, and simple ticking fabric.
Art and Decor
I wanted the space to feel like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities, filled with intriguing art and objects that make you want to linger a little longer and discover what inspires the brand. We didn’t have a huge budget to source fine art and antique objects. So I happily spent a few afternoons in thrift stores and good ole’ Habitat for Humanity hunting for quirky paintings, hardback design books and funky trays, vases, and boxes.
Painting
It has become a bit of a tradition that I paint a large-scale piece for each of our stores. This one measures 5 by 4 feet and was inspired by the palettes and movement of Lee Krasner and Elaine De Kooning.
Lighting
I love a sconce. Specifically, a pair of sconces. They’re so satisfying and proper. The symmetry says “Look how put-together I am!” but without being snooty. These cordless sconces by Pooky are a low-budget’s bestie since they don’t require hard-wiring. I was also drawn to the wonderfully odd proportions of the Nickey Kehoe woven ‘bonnet’ pendant, which hangs over the cash wrap.
If you're local or visiting Charleston, I hope you'll visit our new space at the corner of King & Market Street.