Lofty AMBITIONS •

With clever small-space tactics, interior designer Susan Galvani crafts an airy and cheerful home in a Charleston, SC, rental.

- LAURA FENTON,BRIE WILLIAMS,LILI DIALLO

Interior designer Susan Galvani knows her way around a small space—a skill sharpened during her years in New York City. To make the most of her two-bedroom Charleston, SC, apartment, Susan drew inspiration from near and far—its river views and the lofts of Manhattan. The former led her to keep the decor understated so the view is primary, while the latter prompted her to channel downtown style. Perhaps most appealing to the design pro: The apartment was a blank canvas—and the rental building would let her wallpaper. “I wanted to be able to make my mark on it,” she says.