Charleston, South CarolinaBoutique hotel

The Pinch Hotel

An upscale experience that melds the boundaries between hotel and home, with a fresh take on traditional Southern style.

Project info

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Status: Completed, March 2022
Role: Lead interior designer: concept creation, furniture selection and design development documentation
Developer: Method Co. Hospitality (opens in a new tab)
Principal architect: Morris Adjmi (opens in a new tab)
Architect of record: LS3P Associated Ltd. (opens in a new tab)
Photography: Matthew Williams (opens in a new tab), Christian Harder (opens in a new tab)
Press: 15 Most Anticipated High Design Hotel Openings of 2022 (opens in a new tab), Architectural DigestA Charleston, S.C., Hotel to Call Home for a Bit (opens in a new tab), The New York TimesA First Look at Charleston’s Newest Luxury Hotel: The Pinch (opens in a new tab), Forbes

The project

Renovation of three historic buildings in downtown Charleston into a high-end, extended-stay boutique hotel.

The main hotel features an intimate lobby with an adjacent courtyard and 25 guest rooms of mixed sizes: studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms. The carriage house across the laneway holds two one-bedroom suites.

Hotel lobby

The main entry for the hotel, with access from the laneway across from the old carriage house and a view out to the hotel’s private garden. The design concept was to recreate the feel of the classic Southern covered front porch, giving guests an atmosphere they can relate to. The ambiance is warm, casual and inviting.

Rattan armchairs and a blue side table with a sculptural lamp by the tall lobby windows at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Antique wooden chest of drawers with turned knobs in the hotel lobby at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Thistle stems in a speckled ceramic vase on a stone table in the hotel lobby at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Bedrooms

The hotel’s 25 bedrooms were all designed to feel like an apartment, lending a homey, lived-in vibe. Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units are available for stays of up to 30 days, perfect for a remote-working getaway or a proper vacation. Each room emulates Charleston’s old-fashioned charm with hints of modernity, and ties in the city’s lush landscaping with soothing earth tones and natural materials.

Guest bedroom with patterned wallpaper, white double doors and a leather sofa beneath the window at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Bedroom with a graphic navy and white wallpaper, an olive bedside chest and white linen at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Bedroom with a floral wallpaper, a curved bouclé chair and a black bedside table at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Kitchens

Each unit contains a full working kitchen with minimalist Shaker-style cabinetry, solid walnut or marble countertops, a Carrara marble farmhouse sink and unfinished brass hardware by deVOL, the elegant English kitchen brand. The use of open shelves in some of the units reinforces the feeling of apartment-style living.

Guest kitchen with Shaker cabinetry, a marble backsplash and a brass bridge faucet at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Unfinished brass deVOL bridge faucet on a walnut ledge above a marble sink at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Corner of a Carrara marble farmhouse sink beneath a walnut countertop at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

More than a place to stay for a while. It’s a place to belong for a while.
Randall Cook, founder of Method Hospitality Co.

Incorporated dining + workspace

Creating a dedicated space for dining or working was central to the planning of each room’s layout. The offering varies between a built-in, leather-upholstered walnut bench with a bistro table, classic farmhouse-style chairs, and a dual-purpose kitchen island with seating. In every scenario, tying in raw, natural materials such as marble, leather and wood was integral to the feeling of timelessness. Lighting was also carefully considered, for ambiance as well as function.

Kitchen with open shelving, a black range and a bistro table by the window at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Kitchen island with a walnut top and wooden stools, open shelves and a black range at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Living rooms

Living room with a rust velvet sofa, a round coffee table, an armchair and a colorful painting at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Living room corner with a red abstract artwork above a walnut chest and a stack of books at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Living room with French doors open to a balcony, a potted plant and a round coffee table at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Rust velvet sofa with a printed throw and a floor lamp by the window in a living room at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Bathrooms

The use of rich walnut cabinetry, unlacquered brass fixtures and marble countertops carries into each bathroom and pairs with white glazed terracotta tiles for a simple elegance that elevates traditional farmhouse design. Each material speaks for itself in an understated manner.

Bathroom with a walnut double vanity, a marble countertop and unlacquered brass fixtures at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Bathroom with a white tiled shower, a wooden stool and a robe on a brass hook at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Black and white patterned tiles in a bathroom at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

White glazed zellige tile shower with a brass shower head and a niche at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Walnut vanity with a marble top and an unlacquered brass tap at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Suites

Intended for longer stays, the suites feature a grand chef’s kitchen and open-plan dining and living rooms to allow for flexibility. Several suites have an ensuite balcony that opens up to the laneway across from the carriage house, while others incorporate a luxurious cast-iron bathtub in the primary bathroom.

Open-plan suite with a long dining table and benches beneath a white pendant, the kitchen beyond, at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Suite living room with a rust velvet sectional, a round coffee table, a sculptural pendant and full-height curtains at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Suite kitchen with a walnut counter, a brass bridge faucet and open shelving at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design

Suite bedroom with a patterned teal wallpaper, a curved wooden headboard and white linen at The Pinch Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, interior design by Alexandra Peck Design