Charleston Home + Design

Tips from Miller Gaffney: How to Care, Repair, and Live with Art and Furniture

 

 

I met up with Miller Gaffney at Park Cafe on Rutledge Ave for a glass of rosé and some “art” talk. Miller, a South Carolina native, is an expert in collecting art and antiques for investment purposes. She has appeared on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and Market Warriors and will be starring in Ovation's Art Breakers this fall. Miller offered a few essential tips for how to care, repair, and live with art and furniture after you buy it.

Miller reminds us there are a few things to consider when bringing home your treasure since art does not always come with instructions for how to take care of it.  A common mistake Miller warns against
is placing art too close to direct sunlight as fading will likely be a result. Some collectors prefer  UV reducing glass and plastics, but best practice is to avoid large amounts of sunlight near your art altogether. Miller reflects on several scenarios where children or pets have accidentally damaged a piece of art or furniture leading to a decline in overall value. It is vital to keep your art out of harms way by displaying it away from small fingers or sharp claws. Routinely checking the temperature of the room where your art will be displayed is also extremely important. Rooms that are too hot or humid can damage art over time. Changes in temperature may cause flaking and cracking in the paint called craquleure. Abstain from storing your painting or art next to a hot light or fireplace as this may cause paint and materials to become soft or brittle. Never use household cleaners or similar liquids to clean paintings. If your art needs to be cleaned, make sure to hire an art conservator for the job. 

 For more tips from Miller, look for her new book, The Essentials -Passions Collecting Art & Antiques this Fall. Her book promises to demystify collecting and offer a practical art guide for  everyone from beginners to connoisseurs. 

 Miller Gaffney will be at our Charleston Home + Design Show: Fall Edition to share her vast knowledge of the world of art collecting. So whether you're thinking of starting a collection, investing in more art, or need to learn about protecting the art you already have, join us for Miller’s seminar, “Passions: Collecting Art and Antiques” on August 28th from 5:00 −6:30pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (843) 577-7652 or visit charlestonhomeanddesignshow.com. Furthermore, Miller will be conducting free appraisals on August 29th and 30th. Bring your treasured piece to the Charleston Area Convention Center either day between 1pm and 5pm to find out the value of your unique antique!

 

Posted by Heather Epps, Social Media Director, Charleston Home + Design

Top 10 Taps for Kitchen and Bath

 

 If you have decided to take on a kitchen makeover or a complete bathroom remodel, a faucet may seem almost unimportant when looking at the big picture. However, it's worth putting the same amount of thought into choosing a tap as it is for that glamorous marble countertop. Why, you may ask? Keep in mind that paying for quality now can save you searching for a plumber in the future.  The product experts at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery compiled a list of the top 10 taps for the kitchen and bath. 

The list includes faucets that are:

• Eco-friendly: WaterSense and Cal Green compliant

• Trending: showcasing modern and contemporary designs

• High-tech: featuring innovative functionality  

 

 

 

 

Posted by Heather Epps, Social Media Director, Charleston Home + Design

Hurricane Preparedness in the Lowcountry.

The official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season in the U.S started on June 1st and will continue until November 30th. Although this year is predicted to be a relatively calm season, predictions are not always perfect, and it takes only one storm to cause a disastrous situation. The last major hurricane to hit Charleston was the infamous Hugo on September 22,1989. Hugo ripped through the Lowcountry with 140 mph winds at landfall and a 18 to 20 foot storm surge.  Hugo left nearly 60,000 people homeless after destroying 5,100 homes and leaving more than 12,000 Lowcountry homes uninhabitable. Since 1980, the occurrence of weather related disasters has increased by more than 230 percent.

Local Allstate agency owner Kevin Shealey explains that along the South Carolina coast, insurance can be more complicated than other areas. He recommends that homeowners should review their policies with their agent at least annually to make sure they are properly covered. Flood policies are offered through The National Flood Insurance Program and can be purchased from most local insurance agents.  Furthermore,  in some areas of the Lowcountry, homeowners may need to purchase a separate policy for wind damage.

Kevin has lived in Charleston all of his life and remembers Hurricanes David, Hugo, and Floyd. He knows the devastation and emotions the local community goes through during a catastrophe. Kevin reassures, “My staff and I will be here along with the Allstate Catastrophe team to help put the pieces back together should we have another storm.”

 So how does one prepare for hurricane season? One of the most important things you can do to prepare yourself for a serious property-threatening hazard is to take inventory of what you have in your home. Kevin points out that if you were to close your eyes and name everything you have in your home, you would likely forget some items. When you add in the stress and anxiety you may feel at the time of a loss, chances are, you will not remember as well as you can right now. To help supplement out memories, Allstate has developed an app called the Digital Locker, which can help you with your home inventory. It is free and available to anyone, even if you are not an Allstate customer. Visit Kevin's office at 781 Saint Andrews Blvd, Charleston, SC, 29407 or call (843) 573-4777 for more information about how to get your home and valuables protected. 

Interested in learning more about how to get prepared for the hurricane season? 

The Allstate Foundation and Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, are bringing their 14-city disaster preparation tour and education campaign to Charleston with a booth at the City of Charleston’s First Day Festival. You can attend this free event where community volunteers and Allstate agency owners will work side-by-side to help hundreds of Charleston residents build free disaster kits they can use to keep safe in the event of a disaster or unforeseen emergency. The free kits include a hand-crank flashlight, first-aid kit, cleaning supplies, and other items proven to keep people safe and prepared. Volunteers will also help educate Charleston residents on the importance of preparedness.

The event will be held at the Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St, Charleston, SC 29401. The Allstate booth will be set up during the City of Charleston’s First Day Festival on Sunday, August 16 from 1:00-4:00pm.

 

Miller Gaffney's Favorite Places to Shop in South Carolina

 

I met up with Miller Gaffney at Park Cafe on Rutledge Ave for a glass of rosé and some “art” talk. Miller, a South Carolina native, is an expert in collecting art and antiques for investment purposes. She has appeared on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and Market Warriors and will be starring in Ovation's Art Breakers this fall. Miller offered a few essential tips for finding and investing in art. Here is a list of Miller's Gaffney's favorite places to shop in South Carolina, and a few tips when searching for art- "on the hunt."

 Miller explains how important it is to check items thoroughly for distinguishing marks that will give you a clue as to where the item came from, how old it is, who made it, and its value. Miller encourages doing some detective work on the object to get a better understanding of its history. For example, inspect the piece for a makers mark when looking at an object. For artwork and photographs, look for a signature and limited edition print. Hallmarks on silver indicate the purity of the silver, and possibly the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith. When looking at furniture, check to see if the item is handmade or factory made. Don’t be afraid to open drawers and look for handcrafted joints, dovetails, as well as any inscriptions or manufacturer’s stamps. Miller recommends using the internet as a resource to find a high and low comparable to help figure out the condition and value of the item. Most importantly, Miller urges anyone collecting or buying art to find out what your passion is and buy what you love. 

 

For more tips from Miller, look for her new book, The Essentials -Passions Collecting Art & Antiques this Fall. Her book promises to demystify collecting and offer a practical art guide for everyone from beginners to connoisseurs.

Miller Gaffney will be at our Charleston Home + Design Show: Fall Edition to share her vast knowledge of the world of art collecting. So whether you're thinking of starting a collection, investing in more art, or need to learn about protecting the art you already have, join us for Miller’s seminar, “Passions: Collecting Art and Antiques” on August 28th from 5:00 −6:30pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (843) 577-7652 or visit charlestonhomeanddesignshow.com. Furthermore, Miller will be conducting free appraisals on August 29th and 30th. Bring your treasured piece to the Charleston Area Convention Center either day between 1pm and 5pm to find out the value of your unique antique!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Heather Epps, Social Media Director, Charleston Home + Design