CHARLESTON HAS ALWAYS HAD STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT DESIGN.

It’s baked into nearly every detail of the city, from the historical architecture to the attention to detail in homes, and the way residents tend to care about how things look and how they’re made. One of the reasons people love Charleston is that good taste here isn’t a trend; it’s just how things are done. When Construction Resources announced it was opening a new one-stop design center in Mount Pleasant that welcomes designers, builders and homeowners, it made perfect sense.

“Charleston is a natural choice for our next Construction Resources Design Center,” says CEO Mitch Hires. “The region’s design influence is nationally recognized, and the Seaside Farms neighborhood in Mount Pleasant offers an ideal setting to become part of a vibrant community where people live, shop and create.”

The new center is located at 1981 Riviera Dr., inside The Shoppes at Seaside Farms, a mixed-use development with boutique retailers, restaurants and residential neighbors close by. At over 45,000 square feet, it will bring all 10 of Construction Resource’s specialty product categories together under one roof: appliances, cabinets, countertops, decorative plumbing, fireplaces, lighting, garage doors, outdoor living, shower doors and mirrors, and tile and flooring. Construction Resources is partnering with local developer The Beach Company and Atlanta-based firms ASD|SKY, The Collab and Winter Construction on the project.

The company started in 1970, when Fred Hires founded it in Decatur, Georgia, as Atlanta Marble Manufacturing with one category and one idea: Take what a client imagines and make it real. His sons, Mitch and Sonny, eventually took over, and the business grew into a network of more than 60 locations, spanning manufacturing, fabrication, distribution and showrooms up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

Along the way, Construction Resources has made a run of acquisitions that reflect where it’s headed. In December 2024, it picked up Bell Cabinetry, a well-regarded name in custom cabinetry. Three months later it added MVP Granite, a surface fabrication business based in Charleston. By April 2025, it had added Opustone, one of South Florida’s leading distributors of luxury stone and tile, followed by Vitoria International, a major distributor of natural stone and quartz. The common thread is giving builders, designers and homeowners control over the process, from raw material selection to how a finished room looks and feels.

“We identified a need in the market for a true single-source solution where clients or our design consultants can guide their customers through all interior selections in one location,” says Whitney Bruns, Construction Resources’ vice president of showrooms. “With our broad product range, in-house installation teams and deep commitment to service and design, we’re uniquely positioned to fill that gap and create a seamless experience.”

The Mount Pleasant design center follows the template Construction Resources established last June at Westside Paper, a repurposed office and retail complex on Atlanta’s Westside. At 50,000 square feet, it was the first Construction Resources location to bring the company’s entire product portfolio together under one roof, including Sub-Zero and Wolf, Cambria, Kohler, Bell Cabinetry, Forum Quartz and more. The response from Atlanta’s design community has been strong, and the Charleston location is built on the same model but adapted to a city with its own set of expectations.

Kohler’s Wellness collection has been one of the more talked-about lines in the showroom since it arrived. Buyers have shifted how they think about bathrooms: less as a utilitarian room to pass through in the morning, and more as a place to actually reset and unwind. The Construction Resources team is seeing that shift in project specs, and builders and designers are paying attention.

The new Wellness collection covers a lot of ground. There are indoor and outdoor saunas, the Ice Bath by Kohler x Remedy Place, a cold plunge tub that handles both cold-water immersion and warm soaking, and the Underscore Heated BubbleMassage bath, which combines hydrotherapy jets with a heated backrest and programmable mood lighting. The Anthem+ smart showering system manages water, steam, sound and light from a single interface, with up to 12 water outlets and 11 programmable spa experiences.

“We’re really excited about Kohler’s Wellness line because it reflects a broader shift in how people think about the home, especially the bathroom,” says Laura McGee, strategic sales director for plumbing. “It’s evolving into a space for relaxation and daily routines that support overall well-being. It’s also a natural fit for our showroom. Builders and designers are looking for ways to elevate their projects, and wellness-focused products give them a meaningful way to do that while helping clients create spaces that feel as good as they look.”

In Charleston, where renovation budgets run high and clients tend to walk in knowing exactly what they want, having this kind of product accessible matters. And the builders, architects and designers serving that market need resources that can keep pace.

Construction Resources has always built its business around those professionals. The showroom workflow reflects that: A client comes in with a vision, and the team helps bring it to life, guiding them through selections across every category over the course of the project. Measurements are taken, quotes are prepared and Construction Resources manages delivery and installation. It suits a builder running several projects at once just as well as a homeowner who wants to work through decisions without bouncing between a dozen different geographically disconnected vendors.

“Builders often refer their clients to us for assistance with product selections, while designers regularly use our spaces to guide their clients through the decision-making process,” Bruns says. “Whether they prefer a hands-on approach from our design consultants or a more self-guided experience, we tailor our support to meet their needs.”

The company also hosts continuing education events and stays involved in local industry associations, partly to give back and partly because staying close to what builders and designers actually need ensures Construction Resources remains a useful and valuable resource.

“Few companies invest as deeply in their clients’ success as we do through our showrooms, expert staff and comprehensive offerings,” Bruns says. “Our breadth of premium brands, full-service capabilities and unwavering commitment to the customer experience set us apart.”

After months of construction, the Mount Pleasant showroom opens this fall. For a city that has never lacked design ambition, it’s a resource that’s been worth waiting for. *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.