This Charleston Hotel Decks Its Halls With 1960s-inspired Decor for the Holidays

Ranked among the best hotels in Charleston in Travel + Leisure’s 2020 World’s Best Awards, The Dewberry is a one-of-a-kind property. Originally a 1964 federal building located across from Marion Square, the mid-century modern structure was transformed into a luxury hotel in the heart of the city, complete with a vintage-inspired rooftop cocktail club and spa. This year, the hotel got a retro holiday makeover, and it looks like a perfectly mid-century Christmas postcard with plenty of tinsel, lights, and 1960s-influenced decor.

This December, The Dewberry Charleston partnered with event designer Rebecca Gardner to launch the Houses & Parties holiday pop-up shop and deck the hotel’s halls for the holiday season. The federal structure was commissioned by John F. Kennedy, so many of the festive touches are a nod to the former president’s legacy.

Gardner told T+L, “Well, the hotel was a JFK commission, and its elegant mid-century details inspired a nod to Kennedy’s charming and old-fashioned Christmas trees at the White House. Vintage reflector ornaments! Colored lights! Tinsel! These all bring unabashed joy to the hotel, which is one of my favorites. The collection of Sputniks hang from the front awning as an homage to the dashing president’s race to the moon.”

A collection of 24 starbursts and chandeliers light up the hotel’s entrance with a space-inspired design, and inside, guests will find a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree covered in lights and ornaments, bringing a holiday glow to the cozy Living Room space. Gardner’s pop-up shop offered guests the chance to browse fabulously unique gifts this weekend, but don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to Charleston before it closed — you can still shop for barware, home goods, off-beat gifts, and chocolates shaped like Brussels sprouts on the Houses & Parties website.