You guys know that since I left my job last year as a full-time attorney, I’ve really been focusing on connecting with other bloggers, influencers, and boss babes in Charleston – there is no shortage! I’ve been really fortunate to meet and be inspired by many of these ladies over the past year, and I’m really glad I made the leap from being an “online-only” influencer to being a “real life” / “involved” influencer with an actual physical presence.

Among these amazing Charleston women is Jaime Huffman, from the Charleston Blonde. Jaime is a super fun Charlestonian who blogs about things from travel, parenthood, interiors, fashion, all things Charleston, food, and more!

She lives in Charleston with her husband and son. Her home is gorgeous – click here for the full tour! She’s also got spotlights on local artists, a great guide to styling bookshelves, and more!

We did a little Q&A:

Why did you start your blog? What does Charleston Blonde mean?
I’ve had a blog for over 10 years. My first blog was called Fried Pink Tomato, and it was a mommy blog following my pregnancy with my son Harper and my experiences as a new mom. When we moved to Florida, I had a blog called Sunshine State Skinny that was a lifestyle and event blog for Southwest Florida. Then when we moved to Charleston 4 years ago, I decided to do a similar lifestyle blog for the Holy City. I was trying to come up with a clever name. My nickname has been Blondie since I was little (everyone thinks I look like Debbie Harry), so I decided on Charleston Blonde.

Where do you get inspiration for your interior design?
I find most of my inspiration from Pinterest and other Instagram accounts. My Pinterest boards are super organized for each room, and I especially love looking at gorgeous kitchen designs and ideas for Harper’s room. Some of my favorite interior design Instagram accounts are Kara Hebert Interiors  McGee and Co., and Pure Salt Interiors. I just love the simplicity of their designs and how they have a calming coastal look.

What are trademarks for your design preferences? Anything special about designing in Charleston?
I love really neutral wall colors! White’s my favorite color to paint my walls so I can give the rest of my house room to shine with bright colors and colorful pops through furniture and art. The good thing about living in Charleston is that it’s known for being a colorful city. Rainbow Row is a great inspiration for a lot of color schemes and classic design. A pink home in Charleston is totally normal, whereas other places people might find it a little bit strange. I also look to Sherwin Williams’s Historic Charleston Exterior Paint collection to get ideas.

How do you incorporate fun colors into your interior design?
The biggest way is through my furniture! A lot of people think furniture has to be neutral to last a long time in a bunch of designs and opt for colorful throws or pillows, but I like to go all-in with my colors. One of my favorite pieces of furniture is actually my hot pink credenza from Society Social. It just looks SO good with bright white walls and all the other colors in my home. I definitely leaned in, and I don’t regret it at all. I also love my colorful chairs from Taylor Burke Home and my teal chandelier from Ro Sham Beaux.

What’s your favorite piece of art in your home currently?
In addition to furniture, I also like to have pretty colorful art, but I can’t actually narrow it down to just one. I really prefer supporting local Charleston artists, and we’ve gotten lucky with so many amazing artists in the area. I have a stunning sailboat print from Danielle Cather Cohen, great coastal vibes from Gallavantor Art’s oyster paintings, and a bright impressionist painting from Harrison Blackford. Fun fact: Harrison and I grew up in Spartanburg, SC together! I recently discovered several new artists I’m excited to work with: Kate Mullin Art, C. Brooke Ring Art, and Jordan Connelly Studio. My favorite sentimental art piece definitely has to be a portrait of my dog painted by Megan Carn.

How does the blogging and interior design world intersect for you?
I’ve been really lucky because my followers have really enjoyed my interior design posts. I honestly started off just doing it for fun to make my house pretty and more me. When we moved into our Charleston home, it was new construction, so it was a total blank slate with not a lot of personality, so decorating it piece by piece and making it my own was a blast. After sharing the process, it was really exciting to see how the posts took off, and I’m looking forward to incorporating more insight into my take on interior design in 2020.

Local Love
Favorite antique store in CHS? Mount Pleasant Mall. It’s a co-op, so there are tons of great booths. You can find anything you need, and I always love to get my ginger jars there.
Favorite place to get decor in CHS? GDC Home, Steven Shell, and One of a Find Charleston
Favorite event space in CHS?Middleton Place has a uniquely European feel for a Charleston plantation, plus AMAZING views of the Ashley River. I actually had my wedding rehearsal dinner here!
Best place to stay in CHS?Bolt Farm Luxury Treehouses take glamping to a new level and are the perfect place to get away and unwind among the trees.
Favorite CHS quick bite? I’m obsessed with Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls!
If someone is coming to Charleston for one day, what is the one thing they MUST do? Eat ALL the things! I have traveled all around the world and Charleston cuisine is hard to beat. Make sure you grab fresh pralines on Market Street, fried chicken at Leon’s, a classic southern meal at Magnolias, and fresh oysters at The Darling Oyster Bar. I also think watching the sunset on Sullivan’s Island is pretty spectacular.