Six Picks: G. Blake Sams of Wentworth
Founded by serial collector, design aficionado, and celebrated event planner Gregory Blake Sams, Wentworth is a thoughtfully layered mix of new and antique finds in Charleston, South Carolina. The curation spans the unexpected and the essential — from a silk scarf and a cult-favorite soap to sculpted Edwardian silver. With a throughline of beauty, quality, and utility, Wentworth is an invitation to live well.
We were honored to chat inspiration, current design projects (lighting!), and favorite Shoppe Online finds with Gregory “G.” Blake Sams. Scroll on to discover his favorite picks.
What kind of products or objects are you most drawn to right now?
We’re creating a series of espalier-inspired lamps with New York-based artist Zac Zimmerman. Each piece is handmade and features a different citrus or fruit motif, almost like a trellised garden in ceramic form. I love how the espalier technique gives everything this beautiful tension between geometry and growth, and the fruit adds a sense of whimsy. They nod to vintage pieces but feel very alive.
What is the best purchase you’ve made for yourself this year?
A farm in Vermont. I split my time between Charleston and New York, so having a place with meadows, woods, and old barns offers a kind of grounding I’d been craving. I’ve always been drawn to places with history, and this one has it in spades. It’s quiet, rooted in the land, and already feels like the kind of place where you can both retreat and gather. I love the idea of giving these barns a new life and creating something that lasts.
Name an item that you can’t seem to keep in stock!
The Erode soaps and boutons fly out the door. They feel quietly luxurious — a beautiful little gesture that instantly elevates a powder room. We can barely keep them on the shelves.
What’s your personal go to for retail therapy? Like, where do you shop to feel good?
March in San Francisco. The curation, the atmosphere, everything is intentional. The space itself has this calm, almost monastic feeling to it, and the way things are displayed makes even the simplest object feel special. I love how considered everything is: a copper ladle, a stack of linen, a marble platter. Nothing tries too hard.
You walk in and immediately feel inspired to live more beautifully, but in a way that’s grounded and real. I never leave empty-handed.
Favorite Shoppe Online brand discovery?
Serax. I’ve followed their work for years — they’ve been around since the late eighties in Antwerp — but rediscovering them in the context of Shoppe Online reminded me just how good they are.
I love their point of view: they’re masters at creating pieces that straddle utility and beauty in this very quiet, very assured way. They’ve collaborated with some of my favorite designers — Ann Demeulemeester, Vincent Van Duysen, Marie Michielssen — and everything they do has this Belgian restraint to it. They make objects that can anchor a room or subtly disappear into it, which to me is the mark of truly good design.
BLAKE’s PICKS
No. 1
SQUARE TAPERS
GREENTREE HOME CANDLE
“I can’t resist an obelisk. It’s classic, it’s strong, and it has presence. These candles do what I love most... they start out sharp and sculptural, then turn romantic as they burn. It’s a little architectural drama for the dinner table."
No. 2
FOULARD N°743 BOTTLE GREEN
MOISMONT
“Moismont does this beautiful thing where classic shapes meet fresh color. I love the structure of the graphic motif here — it’s a little geometric, a little French, and endlessly wearable.”
No. 3
PAWN SIDE TABLE
SERAX
“These Serax side tables have been a staple at Wentworth since day one. I love their versatility — the palette ranges from ochre to aubergine, and they work anywhere. I’ll use them as a side table next to a club chair, tuck one under a console for extra dimension, or cluster a few as a sculptural moment. They have presence without ever feeling fussy.”
No. 4
DUNE BOWL
SERAX
“This bowl is pure sculpture. The veining has this natural movement to it, like sand under water. It looks incredible piled with citrus or simply on its own.”
No. 5
PAPER SCISSORS
STUDIO CARTA
"A house staple. They have this beautiful weight and balance that makes even the most practical task feel thoughtful. As handsome as they are sharp... A good pair of scissors isn’t something you think about until you’ve used a great one, and these are exactly that.”
No. 6
SIRINGA CARAFE
BITTERS CO.
“I love the shape of this carafe. It’s based on a traditional Syrian design, which gives it an interesting shape and perfect balance in the hand. It works for water, wine, flowers—whatever—and it always looks good on the table.”