We are wrapping up the Carson Kressley mini-series with a bang! For his grand finale, Carson invites his dear friend and the "grand dame" of Charleston, Patricia Altschul—star of Bravo’s hit show Southern Charm.

Carson and Miss Pat discuss her fascinating background as an elite art advisor in the 1980s and 90s, her long-standing collaboration with the legendary decorator Mario Buatta (the "Prince of Chintz"), and the history of her stunning 1853 Greek Revival home in Charleston. She also shares her expert tips for navigating online auctions, the secret to a perfect martini, and why classic English country design never goes out of style.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Do Your Homework Before Buying Art: Pat recommends visiting museums, galleries, and auction houses just to look before you start buying. Once you find your style, always check the condition of a piece—she suggests investing in a portable blacklight to spot any repairs, cracks, or in-painting on antique art.

Shop the Apps for Hidden Gems: You don't have to spend a fortune to get great pieces. Pat swears by local auctions and the LiveAuctioneers app to find everything from French porcelain to vintage jewelry. She also highly recommends Stair Galleries for scoring incredible upholstered pieces from the estates of famous decorators.

The Timelessness of Mario Buatta: Pat worked with Mario Buatta on four homes over 30 years. She notes that his rooms stand the test of time because he adopted the English country style—focusing on classic floor plans, the right scale, and high-quality, comfortable upholstered pieces that look even better when they are a little faded and lived-in.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome to the final episode of the Carson Kressley Takeover!

01:30 Meet Patricia Altschul: Art advisor, author, and star of Southern Charm

04:30 Growing up in Richmond, Virginia with an eclectic mix of French antiques and Chinese rugs

07:00 Pat’s career as an art advisor in the 80s and 90s (and flying the Concorde)

10:30 How to start collecting art and why you need a portable blacklight

13:00 The best auction sites: Stair Galleries and the LiveAuctioneers app

16:30 The history of Pat’s Charleston home: The 1853 Isaac Jenkins Mikell House

19:00 Working with legendary decorator Mario Buatta over 30 years

23:00 Why Mario's classic "English country" rooms still look fresh today

32:30 Pat's former home on Oyster Bay in Long Island

38:00 How Pat ended up on Southern Charm

40:00 Charleston must-dos and the city's incredible food scene

44:00 The secret to the perfect Southern martini

47:30 Entertaining in New York City in the 1990s

51:30 Pat's collection of Ballard Designs crystal lanterns

Also Mentioned:

Pat's Book (referred to by Carson as Eat, Drink, and Remarry)

LiveAuctioneers App

Stair Galleries

Shop the Carson Kressley Collection at Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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