Charleston, South Carolina, is one of America’s best cities for experiencing classic, sophisticated Southern charm, and Helen Rice, a native, is part of the reason why. Water views, cobblestone streets, and excellent restaurants have kept the 42-year-old local. Still, she has forged a path for exciting endeavors in the city, creating jobs for the burgeoning creative class and serving as a beacon of good taste.
Almost 20 years ago, Rice co-founded Fuzzco, an independent creative studio, working with clients ranging from East Fork Pottery to Figma (an interface-design tool) and Mailchimp (the e-mail marketing company). As the company grew, Rice and her team took advantage of design opportunities where they could “show our aesthetic in everything we touch,” she says. When they needed an office, their first thought was “Let’s buy a building. Let’s renovate it. Let’s make it feel like us. Let’s impress our brand into the actual environment that we’re working in,” she says. A headquarters in Charleston was followed by 10 other Fuzzco renovations, including their most recent project, 28 Pitt Street, an 1820s Federal-style house that Rice used to ride her bike by as a child.
